AGRITOPE INC
8-K, EX-2.1, 2000-09-14
COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Previous: AGRITOPE INC, 8-K, 2000-09-14
Next: AGRITOPE INC, 8-K, EX-99.1, 2000-09-14




















================================================================================

                AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION


                                     among:

                                 EXELIXIS, INC.
                            a Delaware corporation;


                           ATHENS ACQUISITION CORP.,
                          a Delaware corporation; and


                                AGRITOPE, INC.,
                             a Delaware corporation



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

                         Dated as of September 7, 2000

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




================================================================================




















<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE



1.    DESCRIPTION OF TRANSACTION..............................................1

      1.1   Merger of Merger Sub into the Company.............................1

      1.2   Effect of the Merger..............................................1

      1.3   Closing; Effective Time...........................................2

      1.4   Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws; Directors and Officers...2

      1.5   Conversion of Shares..............................................2

      1.6   Closing of the Company's Transfer Books...........................4

      1.7   Exchange of Certificates..........................................4

      1.8   Tax Consequences..................................................5

      1.9   Accounting Consequences...........................................5

      1.10  Further Action....................................................6

      1.11  Appraisal Rights..................................................6

2.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY...........................6

      2.1   Due Organization; Subsidiaries; Etc...............................6

      2.2   Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws...........................7

      2.3   Capitalization, Etc...............................................7

      2.4   SEC Filings; Financial Statements.................................9

      2.5   Absence of Changes...............................................10

      2.6   Title to Assets..................................................12

      2.7   Receivables; Customers...........................................13

      2.8   Real Property; Leasehold.........................................13

      2.9   Proprietary Assets...............................................13

      2.10  Contracts........................................................15

      2.11  Liabilities......................................................18

      2.12  Compliance with Legal Requirements...............................18

      2.13  Reserved.........................................................19

      2.14  Certain Business Practices.......................................19

      2.15  Governmental Authorizations......................................19

      2.16  Tax Matters......................................................20

      2.17  Employee and Labor Matters; Benefit Plans........................21


                                       i.


<PAGE>


                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

                                                                            PAGE



      2.18  Environmental Matters............................................23

      2.19  Insurance........................................................24

      2.20  Transactions with Affiliates.....................................25

      2.21  Legal Proceedings; Orders........................................25

      2.22  Authority; Inapplicability of Anti-takeover Statutes; Binding
            Nature of Agreement..............................................25

      2.23  Inapplicability of Section 2115 of California Corporations Code..26

      2.24  No Discussions...................................................26

      2.25  Section 203 of the DGCL Not Applicable...........................26

      2.26  Company Rights Agreement.........................................26

      2.27  Vote Required....................................................26

      2.28  Non-Contravention; Consents......................................27

      2.29  Fairness Opinion; Financial Advisor..............................28

      2.30  Full Disclosure..................................................28

3.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB................28

      3.1   Organization, Standing and Power.................................29

      3.2   Capitalization, Etc..............................................29

      3.3   SEC Filings; Financial Statements................................29

      3.4   Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement...........................29

      3.5   Non-Contravention; Consents......................................30

      3.6   Valid Issuance...................................................30

      3.7   Disclosure.......................................................30

      3.8   No Vote Required.................................................30

4.    CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.......................................31

      4.1   Access and Investigation.........................................31

      4.2   Operation of the Company's Business..............................31

      4.3   No Solicitation..................................................35

5.    ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES....................................36

      5.1   Registration Statement; Prospectus/Proxy Statement...............36

      5.2   Company Stockholders' Meeting....................................37



                                       ii.


<PAGE>


                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

                                                                            PAGE



      5.3   Regulatory Approvals.............................................38

      5.4   Assumption of Stock Options; Termination of ESPP.................38

      5.5   Employee Benefits................................................40

      5.6   Indemnification of Officers and Directors........................41

      5.7   Additional Agreements............................................41

      5.8   Disclosure.......................................................42

      5.9   Affiliate Agreements.............................................42

      5.10  Tax Matters......................................................42

      5.11  Letter of the Company's Accountants..............................43

      5.12  Listing..........................................................43

      5.13  Resignation of Officers and Directors............................43

      5.14  Termination of Profit Sharing and Savings Plans..................43

      5.15  No Amendment of Company Rights Agreement.........................43

      5.16  Operation of Parent's Business...................................43

6.    CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB...........44

      6.1   Accuracy of Representations......................................44

      6.2   Performance of Covenants.........................................45

      6.3   Effectiveness of Registration Statement..........................45

      6.4   Stockholder Approval.............................................45

      6.5   Consents.........................................................45

      6.6   Agreements and Documents.........................................45

      6.7   Employees........................................................46

      6.8   No Material Adverse Effect.......................................46

      6.9   HSR Act..........................................................46

      6.10  Listing..........................................................46

      6.11  No Restraints....................................................46

      6.12  No Governmental Litigation.......................................46

      6.13  No Other Litigation..............................................47

      6.14  Company Rights Agreement.........................................47

7.    CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY......................47



                                      iii.


<PAGE>


                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

                                                                            PAGE



      7.1   Accuracy of Representations......................................47

      7.2   Performance of Covenants.........................................48

      7.3   Effectiveness of Registration Statement..........................48

      7.4   Stockholder Approval.............................................48

      7.5   Documents........................................................48

      7.6   HSR Act..........................................................48

      7.7   Listing..........................................................48

      7.8   No Restraints....................................................48

      7.9   No Material Adverse Effect.......................................48

8.    TERMINATION............................................................48

      8.1   Termination......................................................48

      8.2   Effect of Termination............................................50

      8.3   Expenses; Termination Fees.......................................50

9.    MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS...............................................51

      9.1   Amendment........................................................51

      9.2   Waiver...........................................................51

      9.3   No Survival of Representations and Warranties....................51

      9.4   Entire Agreement; Counterparts...................................51

      9.5   Applicable Law; Jurisdiction.....................................51

      9.6   Disclosure Schedule..............................................52

      9.7   Attorneys' Fees..................................................52

      9.8   Assignability....................................................52

      9.9   Notices..........................................................52

      9.10  Cooperation......................................................53

      9.11  Construction.....................................................53









                                      iv.


<PAGE>


                 AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION



     THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION  ("Agreement") is made
and entered  into as of  September  7, 2000,  by and among:  EXELIXIS,  INC.,  a
Delaware   corporation   ("Parent");   ATHENS   ACQUISITION  CORP.,  a  Delaware
corporation  and  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  Parent  ("Merger  Sub");  and
AGRITOPE,  INC., a Delaware  corporation  (the "Company").  Certain  capitalized
terms used in this Agreement are defined in Exhibit A.

                                    RECITALS

     A.   Parent, Merger Sub and the Company intend to effect a merger of Merger
Sub into the Company in accordance with this Agreement and the Delaware  General
Corporation Law (the "Merger"). Upon consummation of the Merger, Merger Sub will
cease to exist, and the Company will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.

     B.   It is intended that the Merger qualify as a reorganization  within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code").  For financial  reporting  purposes,  it is intended that the Merger be
accounted for as a "purchase."

     C.   The  respective  boards of  directors  of  Parent,  Merger Sub and the
Company have approved this Agreement and approved the Merger.

     D.   In  order to  induce  Parent  to  enter  into  this  Agreement  and to
consummate  the Merger,  concurrently  with the  execution  and delivery of this
Agreement,  certain  stockholders who are directors,  officers or represented on
the board of  directors  of the Company  are  entering  into  voting  agreements
pursuant  to which they are  agreeing  to vote in favor of the  adoption of this
Agreement and the approval of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.

                                    AGREEMENT

     The parties to this  Agreement,  intending  to be legally  bound,  agree as
follows:

1. DESCRIPTION OF TRANSACTION

     1.1  MERGER OF MERGER SUB INTO THE  COMPANY.  Upon the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined in
Section  1.3),  Merger Sub shall be merged  with and into the  Company,  and the
separate  existence of Merger Sub shall cease.  The Company will continue as the
surviving corporation in the Merger (the "Surviving Corporation").

     1.2  EFFECT OF THE MERGER.  The Merger  shall have the effects set forth in
this  Agreement  and in  the  applicable  provisions  of  the  Delaware  General
Corporation Law (the "DGCL").





                                       1.
<PAGE>


     1.3  CLOSING;   EFFECTIVE  TIME.  The   consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the  "Closing")  shall take place at the offices
of Cooley  Godward LLP,  located at Five Palo Alto Square,  3000 El Camino Real,
Palo Alto,  California,  at 10:00 a.m. on a date to be designated by Parent (the
"Closing  Date"),  which shall be no later than the fifth business day after the
satisfaction  or  waiver  of the  conditions  set  forth  in  Sections  6 and 7.
Contemporaneously  with or as promptly as  practicable  after the  Closing,  the
parties hereto shall cause a properly executed  certificate of merger conforming
to the  requirements of the DGCL (the  "Certificate of Merger") to be filed with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Merger shall take effect at
the time the  Certificate  of Merger is filed with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware or at such later time as may be specified  in the  Certificate
of Merger (the "Effective Time").

     1.4  CERTIFICATE  OF  INCORPORATION  AND BYLAWS;  DIRECTORS  AND  OFFICERS.
Unless otherwise determined by Parent prior to the Effective Time:

          (A)  the  certificate of  incorporation  of the Surviving  Corporation
shall be amended and restated as of the Effective Time to substantially  conform
to the certificate of incorporation of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior
to the Effective Time;

          (B)  the bylaws of the  Surviving  Corporation  shall be  amended  and
restated  as of the  Effective  Time to  substantially  conform to the bylaws of
Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time; and

          (C)  the  directors   and  officers  of  the   Surviving   Corporation
immediately after the Effective Time shall be the respective individuals who are
directors and officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time.

     1.5  CONVERSION OF SHARES.

          (A)  Subject to the other subsections  of this Section 1.5 and Section
1.11, at the Effective  Time,  by  virtue of the  Merger and without any further
action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or  any stockholder of the
Company:

               (I)    any  shares  of Company  Capital  Stock then  held  by the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (or held in  the  Company's  treasury),
together with any  associated rights (the  "Rights") issuable under that certain
Rights  Agreement,  dated  as of  November 14, 1997,   between  the Company  and
ChaseMellon  Shareholder  Services,  L.L.C., as  amended  (the  "Company  Rights
Agreement"), shall  be canceled  at the  Effective  Time,  and no  consideration
shall be delivered in exchange therefor;

               (II)   any  shares of Company  Capital Stock then held by Parent,
Merger Sub or any other  Subsidiary of Parent shall be canceled at the Effective
Time, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor;

               (III)  each  share  of  the common  stock, $0.001  par  value per
share, of  Merger  Sub then  outstanding  shall be  converted into one  share of
common stock of the Surviving Corporation; and





                                       2.
<PAGE>


               (IV)   except as  provided  in clauses  "(1)"  and  "(2)" of this
sentence  and subject to Section  1.5(b),  Section  1.5(c),  Section  1.5(d) and
Section  1.11,  each share of Company  Capital Stock then  outstanding  shall be
converted  into the right to receive that  fraction of a share of Parent  Common
Stock  equal to the  "Exchange  Ratio." The  Exchange  Ratio shall be equal to a
fraction  (rounded to the nearest  fifth  decimal  point),  (A) the numerator of
which shall be equal to $14.00 and (B) the  denominator  of which shall be equal
to the Parent Average Closing Price (as defined below);  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  as
follows:

                      (1)   In the event the Parent Average  Closing Price shall
be less than or equal to $40.00, then the Exchange Ratio  shall be equal to 0.35
and

                      (2)   In the event the Parent Average Closing Price  shall
be greater than or equal to $50.00,  then the  Exchange Ratio shall be  equal to
0.28.

For purposes of this Agreement, "Parent Average Closing Price" means the average
of the closing  sale price of a share of Parent  Common Stock as reported on the
Nasdaq  National  Market for the 20 trading days ending on, and  including,  the
fifth trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date (rounded to the nearest
hundredth).

          (B)  If,  between the date of this  Agreement and the Effective  Time,
the  outstanding  shares of  Company  Common  Stock or Parent  Common  Stock are
changed into a different number or class of shares by reason of any stock split,
division  or  subdivision  of  shares,  stock  dividend,  reverse  stock  split,
consolidation  of shares,  reclassification,  recapitalization  or other similar
transaction, then the Exchange Ratio shall be appropriately adjusted.

          (C)  If any shares of Company  Capital Stock  outstanding  immediately
prior to the Effective Time are unvested or are subject to a repurchase  option,
risk of forfeiture or other  condition  under any  applicable  restricted  stock
purchase  agreement  or other  agreement  with the  Company  or under  which the
Company  has any  rights,  then the  shares of  Parent  Common  Stock  issued in
exchange  for such shares of Company  Capital  Stock will also be  unvested  and
subject to the same repurchase  option,  risk of forfeiture or other  condition,
and the  certificates  representing  such  shares  of  Parent  Common  Stock may
accordingly be marked with appropriate legends. The Surviving  Corporation shall
take all  action  that may be  necessary  to  ensure  that,  from and  after the
Effective  Time,  Parent is entitled to exercise any such  repurchase  option or
other right set forth in any such restricted  stock purchase  agreement or other
agreement.

          (D)  No  fractional  shares of Parent  Common Stock shall be issued in
connection with the Merger, and no certificates or scrip for any such fractional
shares shall be issued.  Any holder of Company Capital Stock who would otherwise
be  entitled  to receive a fraction  of a share of Parent  Common  Stock  (after
aggregating  all  fractional  shares of Parent  Common  Stock  issuable  to such
holder)  shall,  in lieu of such fraction of a share and, upon surrender of such
holder's  Company  Stock  Certificate(s)  (as defined in Section 1.6) be paid in
cash the dollar amount  (rounded to the nearest whole cent),  without  interest,
determined by multiplying such fraction by the closing sales price of a share of
Parent Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq  National Market on the second day
preceding the Closing Date.




                                       3.
<PAGE>


     1.6  CLOSING OF THE COMPANY'S  TRANSFER  BOOKS.  At the Effective Time: (a)
all  shares  of  Company  Capital  Stock  outstanding  immediately  prior to the
Effective Time shall automatically be canceled,  and all holders of certificates
representing  shares of Company Capital Stock that were outstanding  immediately
prior to the Effective  Time shall cease to have any rights as  stockholders  of
the Company;  and (b) the stock  transfer  books of the Company  shall be closed
with  respect to all shares of Company  Capital  Stock  outstanding  immediately
prior to the Effective  Time. No further  transfer of any such shares of Company
Capital  Stock shall be made on such stock  transfer  books after the  Effective
Time. If, after the Effective Time, a valid certificate previously  representing
any shares of Company Capital Stock (a "Company Stock Certificate") is presented
to  the  Exchange  Agent  (as  defined  in  Section  1.7)  or to  the  Surviving
Corporation  or Parent,  such Company  Stock  Certificate  shall be canceled and
shall be exchanged as provided in Section 1.7.

     1.7  EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES.

          (A)  On or prior to the Closing Date,  Parent shall select a reputable
bank or trust  company  reasonably  acceptable to the Company to act as exchange
agent in the Merger (the "Exchange  Agent").  As soon as  practicable  after the
Effective  Time,  Parent shall deposit with the Exchange Agent (i)  certificates
representing the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Section
1 and (ii) cash  sufficient  to make  payments in lieu of  fractional  shares in
accordance  with  Section  1.5(d).  The shares of Parent  Common  Stock and cash
amounts so deposited  with the Exchange  Agent,  together  with any dividends or
distributions  received by the Exchange  Agent with respect to such shares,  are
referred to collectively as the "Exchange Fund."

          (B)  As soon as reasonably  practicable  after the Effective Time, the
Exchange Agent will mail to the record holders of Company Stock Certificates (i)
a letter of  transmittal in customary  form and  containing  such  provisions as
Parent and the Company may reasonably specify (including a provision  confirming
that delivery of Company Stock Certificates shall be effected,  and risk of loss
and title to Company Stock  Certificates  shall pass, only upon delivery of such
Company Stock  Certificates to the Exchange Agent) and (ii) instructions for use
in  effecting  the  surrender  of Company  Stock  Certificates  in exchange  for
certificates representing Parent Common Stock. Upon surrender of a Company Stock
Certificate  to the Exchange  Agent for exchange,  together with a duly executed
letter of transmittal and such other documents as may be reasonably  required by
the Exchange Agent or Parent,  (1) the holder of such Company Stock  Certificate
shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a certificate representing the
number of whole shares of Parent  Common Stock that such holder has the right to
receive  pursuant  to the  provisions  of  Section  1.5 (and cash in lieu of any
fractional  share of Parent Common Stock) and (2) the Company Stock  Certificate
so  surrendered  shall be  canceled.  In the event of a transfer of ownership of
Company  Capital Stock which is not  registered  in the transfer  records of the
Company, a certificate representing the proper number of shares of Parent Common
Stock  may be  issued  to a  transferee  if the  Company  Stock  Certificate  is
presented  to the  Exchange  Agent,  accompanied  by all  documents  required to
evidence and effect such  transfer  and by evidence  that any  applicable  stock
transfer taxes have been paid. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section
1.7(b),  each  Company  Stock  Certificate  shall be deemed,  from and after the
Effective  Time, to represent  only the right to receive shares of Parent Common
Stock  (and  cash in lieu of any  fractional  share of Parent  Common  Stock) as
contemplated  by Section 1. If any  Company  Stock  Certificate  shall have been
lost,  stolen or  destroyed,  Parent may, in its




                                       4.
<PAGE>


discretion  and as a condition  precedent  to the  issuance  of any  certificate
representing  Parent  Common  Stock,  require the owner of such lost,  stolen or
destroyed Company Stock  Certificate to provide an appropriate  affidavit and to
deliver a bond, if (and in the amount)  required by the Exchange  Agent in order
to issue certificates for Parent Common Stock,  and/or an indemnity agreement as
indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Exchange Agent,  Parent
or the Surviving Corporation with respect to such Company Stock Certificate.

          (C)  No dividends or other distributions declared or made with respect
to Parent Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid
to the holder of any unsurrendered Company Stock Certificate with respect to the
shares of Parent  Common  Stock which such holder has the right to receive  upon
surrender thereof until such holder surrenders such Company Stock Certificate in
accordance  with this  Section 1.7 (at which time such holder shall be entitled,
subject to the effect of applicable escheat or similar laws, to receive all such
dividends and distributions, without interest).

          (D)  Any portion of the Exchange  Fund that remains  undistributed  to
holders of Company Stock  Certificates as of the date 360 days after the date on
which the Merger becomes effective shall be delivered to Parent upon demand, and
any holders of Company Stock  Certificates who have not theretofore  surrendered
their  Company  Stock  Certificates  in  accordance  with this Section 1.7 shall
thereafter  look only to Parent  for  satisfaction  of their  claims  for Parent
Common Stock,  cash in lieu of fractional  shares of Parent Common Stock and any
dividends or distributions with respect to Parent Common Stock.

          (E)  Each of the Exchange Agent, Parent and the Surviving  Corporation
shall be  entitled  to deduct and  withhold  from any  consideration  payable or
otherwise  deliverable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder or former holder
of Company  Common  Stock such  amounts as may be  required  to be  deducted  or
withheld  therefrom  under the Code or any provision of state,  local or foreign
tax law or under any other  applicable  Legal  Requirement.  To the extent  such
amounts are so  deducted  or  withheld,  such  amounts  shall be treated for all
purposes  under this  Agreement  as having  been paid to the Person to whom such
amounts would otherwise have been paid.

          (F)  Neither Parent nor the Surviving  Corporation  shall be liable to
any holder or former holder of Company  Common Stock or to any other Person with
respect to any shares of Parent Common Stock (or dividends or distributions with
respect  thereto),  or for any cash  amounts,  delivered to any public  official
pursuant to any applicable  abandoned property law, escheat law or similar Legal
Requirement.

     1.8  TAX  CONSEQUENCES.  For  federal  income tax  purposes,  the Merger is
intended to constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the
Code.  The parties to this  Agreement  hereby adopt this Agreement as a "plan of
reorganization"  within the meaning of Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) of the
United States Treasury Regulations.

     1.9  ACCOUNTING CONSEQUENCES.  For financial reporting purposes, the Merger
is intended to be accounted for as a "purchase."




                                       5.
<PAGE>


     1.10 FURTHER ACTION.  If, at any time after the Effective Time, any further
action is  determined  by Parent to be  necessary  or desirable to carry out the
purposes of this Agreement or to vest the Surviving Corporation with full right,
title and  possession  of and to all rights and  property  of Merger Sub and the
Company,  the officers and  directors of the  Surviving  Corporation  and Parent
shall be fully authorized (in the name of Merger Sub, in the name of the Company
and otherwise) to take such action.

     1.11 APPRAISAL RIGHTS.

          (A)  Notwithstanding  anything  to  the  contrary  contained  in  this
Agreement,  any shares of Company  Capital Stock that, as of the Effective Time,
are or may become  "dissenting  shares" within the meaning of Section 262 of the
DGCL ("Dissenting  Shares"),  shall not be converted into or represent the right
to receive  Parent Common Stock in accordance  with Section 1.5 (or cash in lieu
of  fractional  shares in  accordance  with Section  1.5(d)),  and the holder or
holders of such shares  shall be entitled  only to such rights as may be granted
to such holder or holders in Section 262 of the DGCL; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if
the status of any such shares as  Dissenting  Shares  shall not be  perfected in
accordance  with Section 262 of the DGCL, or if any such shares shall lose their
status as Dissenting Shares,  then, as of the later of the Effective Time or the
time of the  failure to perfect  such  status or the loss of such  status,  such
shares shall  automatically be converted into and shall represent only the right
to receive (upon the surrender of the certificate or  certificates  representing
such shares)  Parent  Common Stock in  accordance  with Section 1.5 (and cash in
lieu of fractional shares in accordance with Section 1.5(d)).

          (B)  The Company  shall give  Parent (i) prompt  notice of any written
demand  received  by the  Company  prior to the  Effective  Time to require  the
Company to purchase Dissenting Shares pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL and of
any other  demand,  notice or  instrument  delivered to the Company prior to the
Effective  Time pursuant to the DGCL and (ii) the  opportunity to participate in
all  negotiations  and  proceedings  with respect to any such demand,  notice or
instrument.  The Company shall not make any payment or settlement offer prior to
the  Effective  Time with  respect to any such demand  unless  Parent shall have
consented in writing to such payment or settlement offer.

2.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     The Company  represents  and warrants  to and for the benefit of Parent and
Merger Sub as follows:

     2.1  DUE ORGANIZATION; SUBSIDIARIES; ETC.

          (A)  The  Company  has  no  Subsidiaries,   except  for  the  Entities
identified in Part 2.1(a)(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule; and neither the
Company  nor any of the  other  Entities  identified  in Part  2.1(a)(i)  of the
Company Disclosure Schedule owns any capital stock of, or any equity interest of
any nature in, any other  Entity,  other than the  Entities  identified  in Part
2.1(a)(ii)  of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule.  (The  Company and each of its
Subsidiaries  are referred to  collectively  in this  Agreement as the "Acquired
Corporations.")  Except  as  set  forth  in  Part  2.1(a)(iii)  of  the  Company
Disclosure  Schedule,  none  of  the  Acquired  Corporations  has  agreed  or is
obligated  to make,  or is  bound  by any  Contract  under  which it may  become




                                       6.
<PAGE>


obligated to make, any future investment in or capital contribution to any other
Entity.  Except  as set  forth  in Part  2.1(a)(iv)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  none of the Acquired  Corporations  has, at any time,  been a general
partner  of,  or has  otherwise  been  liable  for  any of the  debts  or  other
obligations of, any general partnership, limited partnership or other Entity.

          (B)  Except as set  forth in Part  2.1(b)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  each of the Acquired  Corporations  is a corporation  duly organized,
validly  existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation  and has all  necessary  power and  authority:  (i) to conduct its
business in the manner in which its business is currently being conducted;  (ii)
to own and use its assets in the manner in which its assets are currently  owned
and used; and (iii) to perform its  obligations  under all Contracts by which it
is bound.

          (C)  Each of the Acquired  Corporations is qualified to do business as
a  foreign  corporation,  and  is in  good  standing,  under  the  laws  of  all
jurisdictions  where the nature of its business requires such  qualification and
where the  failure to be so  qualified  would  reasonably  be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on such Acquired Corporation.

     2.2  CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS.  The Company has delivered to
Parent accurate and complete copies of the certificate of incorporation,  bylaws
and other charter or similar organizational documents of the respective Acquired
Corporations, including all amendments thereto.

     2.3  CAPITALIZATION, ETC.

          (A)  The  authorized   capital  stock  of  the  Company  consists  of:
30,000,000  shares of Company Common Stock, of which 4,141,591  shares have been
issued and are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement; and (ii) 10,000,000
shares of Company  Preferred  Stock,  of which (i)  1,000,000  shares  have been
designated  Series A Preferred  Stock,  of which  714,285  shares are issued and
outstanding as of the date of this  Agreement,  and (ii) 30,000 shares have been
designated  Series B Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock,  none of which are
issued  and are  outstanding  as of the date of this  Agreement.  Each  share of
Company Series A Preferred Stock is convertible into one share of Company Common
Stock.  The Company has not  repurchased  any shares of its capital stock. As of
the date of this Agreement, the Company holds no shares of Company Capital Stock
in its treasury.  All of the  outstanding  shares of Company  Capital Stock have
been duly authorized and validly issued,  and are fully paid and  nonassessable.
As of the date of this  Agreement,  there are no shares of Company Capital Stock
held by any of the  other  Acquired  Corporations.  Except  as set forth in Part
2.3(a)(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule: (i) none of the outstanding shares
of Company Capital Stock is entitled or subject to any preemptive  right,  right
of first offer or any  similar  right  created by the  Company or imposed  under
applicable  law with respect to capital  stock of the Company;  (ii) none of the
outstanding  shares of  Company  Capital  Stock is subject to any right of first
refusal in favor of the  Company;  and (iii)  there is no  Acquired  Corporation
Contract  relating to the voting or  registration  of, or restricting any Person
from purchasing,  selling,  pledging or otherwise  disposing of (or granting any
option or similar right with respect to), any shares of Company  Capital  Stock.
None of the Acquired  Corporations is under any  obligation,  or is bound by any
Contract  pursuant to which it may become  obligated,  to repurchase,  redeem or
otherwise  acquire any  outstanding  shares of Company Capital Stock. No Company
Common Stock,  Company




                                       7.
<PAGE>


Preferred Stock or other securities of the Company, the  Surviving  Corporation,
Parent  or any of  their  respective  affiliates  will be  subject  to  issuance
pursuant to the Company Rights  Agreement as a result of the Merger or the other
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement and the Voting  Agreement,  and no
Distribution  Date  (as  defined  in the  Company  Rights  Agreement)  or  Stock
Acquisition  Date (as  defined  in the  Company  Rights  Agreement)  shall  have
occurred  as a result of the Merger or the other  transactions  contemplated  by
this Agreement and the Voting Agreement.

          (B)  As of the date of this Agreement,  the Company has reserved:  (i)
2,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock for issuance under its 1997 Stock Award
Plan (the  "1997  Stock  Award  Plan") to  employees,  advisory  board  members,
officers or directors of, or  consultants  to, the Company,  of which options to
acquire  1,900,743  shares of Company  Common  Stock have been  granted  and are
outstanding;  (ii) an  additional  583,333  shares of Company  Common  Stock for
issuance upon exercise of Company Common Stock Warrants; (iii) 125,000 shares of
Company Series A Preferred Stock for issuance upon exercise of Company Preferred
Stock  Warrants and an  additional  714,285  shares of Company  Common Stock for
issuance upon the  conversion of the Company Series A Preferred  Stock;  (iv) an
additional  250,000 shares of Company Common Stock for issuance  pursuant to the
Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP"); (v) no additional shares of
Company Common Stock for issuance  pursuant to the Company's 1997 Employee Stock
Ownership  Plan  (the  "ESOP");  and (vi) all of the  shares  of Series B Junior
Participating  Preferred  Stock for issuance  upon exercise of the rights issued
pursuant to the Company Rights Agreement. The Company has delivered to Parent as
of the  date  hereof  a true and  complete  list  setting  forth  the  following
information  with respect to each Company  Option  outstanding as of the date of
this Agreement:  (i) the particular plan (if any) pursuant to which such Company
Option was granted; (ii) the name of the optionee; (iii) the number of shares of
Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option;  (iv) the exercise price of
such Company Option; (v) the date on which such Company Option was granted; (vi)
the applicable  vesting  schedules  (which  applicable  vesting  schedule may be
provided by means of a general  description of the vesting schedules  applicable
to outstanding Company Options),  and the extent to which such Company Option is
vested and exercisable as of the date of this  Agreement;  and (vii) the date on
which such Company Option expires.  The Company has delivered to Parent accurate
and complete  copies of all stock option plans pursuant to which the Company has
ever granted stock options, the forms of all stock option agreements  evidencing
such options.  The Company has delivered to Parent  accurate and complete copies
of the Company  Warrants.  The exercise price of each Company  Warrant as of the
date of this  Agreement  is set forth in Part 2.3(b) of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule.

          (C)  Except  as  set  forth  in  Section  2.3(b),  there  is  no:  (i)
outstanding  subscription,  option,  call,  warrant  or  right  (whether  or not
currently  exercisable)  to  acquire  any shares of the  capital  stock or other
securities of the Company; (ii) outstanding  security,  instrument or obligation
that is or may become  convertible  into or  exchangeable  for any shares of the
capital stock or other securities of the Company;  (iii) stockholder rights plan
(or similar  plan  commonly  referred to as a "poison  pill") or Contract  under
which the  Company is or may become  obligated  to sell or  otherwise  issue any
shares of its capital stock or any other securities; or (iv) to the knowledge of
the Company,  condition or circumstance that may give rise to or provide a basis
for the  assertion  of a claim by any Person to the effect  that such  Person is
entitled to acquire or receive any shares of capital  stock or other  securities
of the Acquired Corporations.




                                       8.
<PAGE>


          (D)  All outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock,  all outstanding
shares of Company Series A Preferred Stock, all outstanding Company Options, all
outstanding Company Warrants and all outstanding shares of capital stock of each
Subsidiary  of the Company  have been issued and  granted in  compliance  in all
material  respects with (i) all applicable  securities laws and other applicable
Legal Requirements, and (ii) all requirements set forth in applicable Contracts.

          (E)  Except as set  forth in Part  2.3(e)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  all of the  outstanding  shares of capital  stock or other  ownership
interests of the Entities  identified  in Part 2.1(a) of the Company  Disclosure
Schedule that have been issued to the Company have been duly  authorized and are
validly issued,  are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned beneficially and
of record by the Company, free and clear of any Encumbrances.

     2.4  SEC FILINGS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

          (A)  The Company has delivered or made  available  (including  through
the SEC EDGAR system) to Parent accurate and complete copies of all registration
statements, proxy statements and other statements, reports, schedules, forms and
other  documents  filed by the Company with the SEC since  December 24, 1997 and
all amendments thereto (the "Company SEC Documents").  All statements,  reports,
schedules,  forms and other documents required to have been filed by the Company
with the SEC have been so filed.  As of the time it was filed  with the SEC (or,
if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this  Agreement,  then
on the date of such filing):  (i) each of the Company SEC Documents  complied in
all material respects with the applicable  requirements of the Securities Act or
the  Exchange  Act (as the case  may  be);  and  (ii)  none of the  Company  SEC
Documents  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.

          (B)  The  consolidated  financial  statements  (including  any related
notes)  contained in the Company SEC  Documents:  (i) complied as to form in all
material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC applicable
thereto;  (ii) were prepared in accordance  with generally  accepted  accounting
principles  applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered (except
as may be indicated in the notes to such financial statements or, in the case of
unaudited statements,  as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC, and except that the
unaudited  financial  statements  may not contain  footnotes  and are subject to
normal and recurring year-end adjustments which will not, individually or in the
aggregate,  be material in amount),  and (iii) fairly  present the  consolidated
financial  position  of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  as of the  respective
dates thereof and the  consolidated  results of operations and cash flows of the
Company and its Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby.

          (C)  The Company has  delivered  to Parent an  unaudited  consolidated
balance  sheet of the  Company  and its  subsidiaries  as of June 30,  2000 (the
"Unaudited  Interim  Balance  Sheet" and the  "Unaudited  Interim  Balance Sheet
Date") as filed by the Company in its  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q filed with
the  SEC,  and the  related  unaudited  consolidated  statement  of  operations,
statement of stockholders' equity and statement of cash flows of the Company and
its  subsidiaries  for the nine  months  then ended.  The  financial  statements
referred




                                       9.
<PAGE>


to in this Section  2.4(c):  (i) were  prepared  in  accordance  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles applied on a basis consistent with the basis on
which the  financial  statements  referred to in Section  2.4(b)  were  prepared
(except that such financial  statements do not contain footnotes and are subject
to normal and recurring year-end adjustments which will not,  individually or in
the aggregate,  be material in amount), and (ii) fairly present the consolidated
financial  position  of the  Company and its  subsidiaries  as of the  Unaudited
Interim Balance Sheet Date and the  consolidated  results of operations and cash
flows of the Company and its subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby.

     2.5  ABSENCE  OF  CHANGES.  Except as set forth in Part 2.5 of the  Company
Disclosure SCHEDULE, since September 30, 1999:

          (A)  there has not been any material  adverse  change in the business,
condition,  assets,  liabilities,  operations  or results of  operations  of the
Acquired  Corporations  taken as a whole,  and no event has occurred,  in either
case that would  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Acquired Corporations;

          (B)  there has not been any material loss,  damage or destruction  to,
or any  material  interruption  in the use of,  any of the  assets of any of the
Acquired  Corporations  (whether  or not covered by  insurance)  that has had or
would  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect on the Acquired
Corporations;

          (C)  none of the Acquired Corporations has (i) declared,  accrued, set
aside or paid any  dividend  or made any other  distribution  in  respect of any
shares of capital stock, or (ii) repurchased,  redeemed or otherwise  reacquired
any shares of capital stock or other securities;

          (D)  except as reflected in the financial  statements  included in the
Company SEC Documents filed from and after January 1, 2000, none of the Acquired
Corporations  has sold,  issued or granted,  or authorized the issuance or grant
of, (i) any capital  stock or other  security  (except for Company  Common Stock
issued upon the valid exercise of outstanding Company Options in accordance with
the terms of the option  agreement  pursuant to which such  Company  Options are
outstanding and shares of Company Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the ESPP
or the ESOP),  (ii) any  option,  call,  warrant or right to acquire any capital
stock or any other security (except (A) for Company Options described in Section
2.3(b)(i), (B) subject to Section 4.2(b)(ii), for future grants of options under
the  Company's  stock option  plans,  and (C) pursuant to the ESPP or ESOP),  or
(iii) any instrument  convertible  into or exchangeable for any capital stock or
other security;

          (E)  the Company has not amended or waived any of its material  rights
under, or permitted the  acceleration of vesting under, (i) any provision of any
of the  Company's  stock  option  plans,  (ii) any  provision  of any  agreement
evidencing any outstanding Company Option,  Company Warrant or other security or
(iii) any restricted stock purchase agreement;

          (F)  there has been no amendment to the certificate of  incorporation,
bylaws or other  charter  or  organizational  documents  of any of the  Acquired
Corporations, and none of the Acquired Corporations has effected or been a party
to  any  merger,   consolidation,   amalgamation,   share   exchange,   business
combination, recapitalization, reclassification of shares, stock split,




                                       10.
<PAGE>


division or subdivision  of shares, reverse stock split, consolidation of shares
or similar transaction;

          (G)  none of the Acquired  Corporations  has formed any  Subsidiary or
acquired any equity interest or other interest in any other Entity;

          (H)  except as reflected in the financial  statements  included in the
Company  SEC  Documents  filed  from and after  January  1,  2000 and  except as
contemplated  by the  Agrinomics  LLC operating  plan furnished to Parent on the
date hereof, none of the Acquired  Corporations has made any capital expenditure
which,  when  added to all  other  capital  expenditures  made on  behalf of the
Acquired  Corporations  since  September  30,  1999,  exceeds  $250,000  in  the
aggregate;

          (I)  except as reflected in the Company SEC  Documents  filed from and
after  January  1, 2000,  and  except in the  ordinary  course of  business  and
consistent  with  past  practices,  none of the  Acquired  Corporations  has (i)
entered into or permitted  any of the assets owned or used by it to become bound
by any  Material  Contract (as defined in Section  2.10(a)),  or (ii) amended or
terminated, or waived any material right or remedy under, any Material Contract;

          (J)  except as reflected in the financial  statements  included in the
Company SEC Documents filed from and after January 1, 2000, none of the Acquired
Corporations has written off as uncollectible,  or established any extraordinary
reserve with respect to, any account receivable or other indebtedness  exceeding
in the aggregate $75,000;

          (K)  except in the  ordinary  course of business and  consistent  with
past  practices  or as set  forth  on  Part  2.5(k)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule, none of the Acquired Corporations has (i) acquired, leased or licensed
any material right or other  material asset from any other Person,  (ii) sold or
otherwise  disposed  of, or  leased or  licensed,  any  material  right or other
material asset to any other Person, or (iii) waived or relinquished any right;

          (L)  except as reflected in the financial  statements  included in the
Company SEC Documents filed from and after January 1, 2000, none of the Acquired
Corporations has made any pledge of any of its assets or otherwise permitted any
of its assets to become  subject to any  Encumbrance,  except (i) for pledges of
immaterial  assets made in the ordinary  course of business and consistent  with
past  practices,  (ii) for liens  for  current  taxes  which are not yet due and
payable,  and (iii) for  easements,  covenants,  rights of way or other  similar
restrictions and imperfections of title which have not adversely affected in any
material respect,  and which are not reasonably  expected to adversely affect in
any  material  respect,  the  business  or  operations  of any  of the  Acquired
Corporations;

          (M)  except as reflected in the financial  statements  included in the
Company SEC  Documents  filed from and after  January 1, 2000 or as set forth on
Part  2.5(m)  of  the  Company  Disclosure   Schedule,   none  of  the  Acquired
Corporations has (i) lent money to any Person,  except for advances to employees
for valid business purposes or loans for relocation  expenses,  in each case, in
the ordinary  course of business and  consistent  with past  practices,  or (ii)
incurred or guaranteed any indebtedness for borrowed money;




                                       11.
<PAGE>


          (N)  except as set  forth on Part  2.5(n)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  none of the Acquired  Corporations has (i) established or adopted any
Plan (as defined in Section 2.17(a)), or (ii) caused or permitted any Plan to be
amended in any material respect;

          (O)  none of the Acquired  Corporations has paid any bonus or made any
profit-sharing or similar payment to, or materially  increased the amount of the
wages,   salary,   commissions,   fringe  benefits  or  other   compensation  or
remuneration payable to, any of its directors, officers or employees, except (i)
pursuant to existing  bonus plans and other Plans referred to in Part 2.17(a) of
the Company  Disclosure  Schedule;  and (ii) for normal  bonuses or increases in
wages,  salaries or commissions to non-officer employees in accordance with each
Acquired  Corporation's  customary  review  process  or  otherwise  in a  manner
consistent with each Acquired Corporation's past practices;

          (P)  none of the Acquired  Corporations has changed any of its methods
of accounting or accounting practices in any material respect;

          (Q)  none of the  Acquired  Corporations  has  made any  material  Tax
election;

          (R)  none of the Acquired  Corporations  has  commenced or settled any
Legal Proceeding;

          (S)  except as reflected in the Company SEC  Documents  filed from and
after January 1, 2000,  none of the Acquired  Corporations  has entered into any
material  transaction or taken any other material  action that has had, or would
reasonably  be  expected  to have,  a Material  Adverse  Effect on the  Acquired
Corporations;

          (T)  except as reflected in the Company SEC  Documents  filed from and
after January 1, 2000,  none of the Acquired  Corporations  has entered into any
material  transaction  or taken any other  material  action outside the ordinary
course of business or inconsistent with past practices; and

          (U)  except as reflected in the Company SEC  Documents  filed from and
after January 1, 2000, none of the Acquired Corporations has agreed or committed
to take any of the actions  referred  to in the  foregoing  subsections  of this
Section 2.5.

     2.6  TITLE TO  ASSETS.  Except  as set  forth  in Part  2.6 of the  Company
Disclosure  Schedule,  the  Acquired  Corporations  own, and have good and valid
title  to,  all  tangible  personal  property  purported  to be  owned  by them,
including: (i) all tangible personal property reflected on the Unaudited Interim
Balance  Sheet  (except  for  inventory  sold or  otherwise  disposed  of in the
ordinary  course of business  since the date of the  Unaudited  Interim  Balance
Sheet);  and (ii) all other  assets  reflected  in the books and  records of the
Acquired Corporations as being owned by the Acquired  Corporations.  All of said
items of tangible personal property are owned by the Acquired  Corporations free
and clear of any Encumbrances, except for (1) any lien for current taxes not yet
due and  payable,  (2) minor  liens that have arisen in the  ordinary  course of
business and that do not (in any case or in the  aggregate)  materially  detract
from the value of the tangible  personal  property subject thereto or materially
impair the operations of any of the Acquired  Corporations,  (3) liens described
in Part 2.6 of the Company Disclosure Schedule and (4) liens except as reflected
in the Company SEC Documents filed from and after January 1, 2000.




                                       12.
<PAGE>


     2.7  RECEIVABLES;  CUSTOMERS.  Except  as set  forth in Part  2.7(a) of the
Company Disclosure  Schedule,  all existing accounts  receivable of the Acquired
Corporations  (including  those accounts  receivable  reflected on the Unaudited
Interim  Balance  Sheet  that have not yet been  collected  and  those  accounts
receivable that have arisen since June 30, 2000 and have not yet been collected)
represent valid  obligations of customers of the Acquired  Corporations  arising
from bona fide  transactions  entered into in the  ordinary  course of business.
Part  2.7(b) of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule  accurately  identifies,  and
provides an accurate and complete  breakdown of the revenues received from, each
customer  or other  Person  that  accounted  for (i) more than  $175,000  of the
consolidated  gross  revenues of the  Acquired  Corporations  in the fiscal year
ended  September 30, 1999 or (ii) more than $250,000 of the  consolidated  gross
revenues   of  the  Acquired   Corporations  in   the  nine-month  period  ended
June 30, 2000. Except as  set forth  in Part  2.7(c) of  the Company  Disclosure
Schedule, the Company  has not  received  any notice or other communication  (in
writing or otherwise),  and, to the  knowledge of the  Company, has not received
any other information,  indicating  that (a) any  material  customer  is  likely
to cease dealing with the Company or (b) any  material customer is  dissatisfied
in any material  respect  with the operation of any product,  system  or program
currently maintained,  sold or licensed by any of the  Acquired Corporations  or
with   any  services  performed   by  any  of   the  Acquired Corporations since
January 1, 1998.

     2.8  REAL  PROPERTY;  LEASEHOLD.  All material items of equipment and other
tangible assets owned by or leased to the Acquired Corporations are adequate for
the uses to which they are being put, are in good and safe  condition and repair
(ordinary  wear and tear  excepted)  and are  adequate  for the  conduct  of the
business of the Acquired  Corporations  in the manner in which such  business is
currently  being  conducted.  None of the  Acquired  Corporations  own any  real
property or any interest in real property, except for (i) the leaseholds created
under  the  real  property  leases  identified  in Part  2.8(i)  of the  Company
Disclosure  Schedule and (ii) the land  described in Part 2.8(ii) of the Company
Disclosure  Schedule to which the Company has good and  marketable fee title and
which is owned by the Company free and clear of any Encumbrances, except for the
Encumbrances identified in Part 2.8(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

     2.9  PROPRIETARY ASSETS.

          (A)  Part  2.9(a)(i) of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule  sets forth,
with respect to each  Proprietary  Asset owned by, licensed to or otherwise used
by any of the Acquired  Corporations  in their  business as planned or presently
conducted and registered with any Governmental  Body or for which an application
has been filed  with any  Governmental  Body,  (i) a brief  description  of such
Proprietary  Asset,  and (ii)  the  names of the  jurisdictions  covered  by the
applicable   registration  or  application.   Part  2.9(a)(ii)  of  the  Company
Disclosure  Schedule  identifies  and  provides  a  brief  description  of  each
Proprietary  Asset  (excluding  trade  secrets)  owned  by any  of the  Acquired
Corporations  that is material to the business of the Acquired  Corporations  as
planned or  presently  conducted.  Part  2.9(a)(iii)  of the Company  Disclosure
Schedule  identifies  and provides a brief  description  of, and  identifies any
ongoing  royalty  or payment  obligations  in excess of  $10,000  annually  with
respect to, each Proprietary  Asset that is licensed or otherwise made available
to  any of the  Acquired  Corporations  by any  Person  and is  material  to the
business of the Acquired  Corporations (except for any Proprietary Asset that is
licensed to any  Acquired  Corporation  under any third party  software  license
generally available




                                       13.
<PAGE>


to the public),  and identifies  the Contract under which such Proprietary Asset
is being  licensed or otherwise  made  available to such  Acquired  Corporation.
Except as set forth in Part 2.9(a)(iv) of the Company Disclosure  Schedule,  the
Acquired  Corporations have good and valid title to, and exclusive  ownership of
or  exclusive  license to use, all of their  Proprietary  Assets  identified  or
required to be  identified  in Parts  2.9(a)(i)  and  2.9(a)(ii)  of the Company
Disclosure  Schedule  that are  material to the  conduct of the  business of the
Acquired Corporations,  free and clear of all Encumbrances. All of the rights of
the  Acquired  Corporations  in  all  of  such  Proprietary  Assets  are  freely
transferable  and the Acquired  Corporations  have a valid right to use, license
and otherwise  exploit all Proprietary  Assets identified in Part 2.9(a)(iii) of
the Company  Disclosure  Schedule.  Except as set forth in Part 2.9(a)(v) of the
Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  none of the Acquired  Corporations has developed
jointly with any other Person any Acquired Corporation Proprietary Asset that is
material to the business of the Acquired  Corporations and with respect to which
such other Person has any rights.  Except as set forth in Part 2.9(a)(vi) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule,  there is no Acquired Corporation Contract pursuant
to which any Person has any right (whether or not currently exercisable) to use,
license or otherwise exploit any Acquired Corporation Proprietary Asset.

          (B)  Except as set forth in Part  2.9(b)(i) of the Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  all such Proprietary Assets have been duly registered in, filed in or
issued by the United  States  Patent and  Trademark  Office,  the United  States
Register of Copyrights,  or the corresponding  offices of other jurisdictions as
identified in the Company Disclosure Schedule, and have been properly maintained
and  renewed  in  accordance   with  all   applicable   provisions  of  law  and
administrative  regulations of the United States and each such jurisdiction and,
except as stated in Part 2.9(b)(ii) of the Company Disclosure  Schedule,  all of
the rights and Proprietary  Assets of the Acquired  Corporations  thereunder are
freely  assignable  without  the  consent  of any  person or entity  and will be
transferred or assigned to Parent and Merger Sub at Closing.

          (C)  Part 2.9(c)(i) of the Company Disclosure  Schedule sets forth all
licenses or other agreements  under which the Acquired  Corporations are granted
rights in Proprietary Assets.  Except as set forth in Part 2.9(c)(ii),  all said
licenses or other agreements are in full force and effect,  there is no material
default by any Acquired  Corporation or, to the knowledge of the Company, by any
other party thereto,  and, except as set forth in Part  2.9(c)(iii),  all of the
rights of the Acquired Corporations thereunder are freely assignable without the
consent of any person or entity. Except as set forth in Part 2.9(c)(iv),  to the
knowledge of the Acquired  Corporations  and Parent,  the  licensors  under said
licenses and other  agreements have and had all requisite power and authority to
grant the rights purported to be conferred thereby.  True and complete copies of
all such licenses or other  agreements,  and any amendments  thereto,  have been
provided to Parent.

          (D)  The  Acquired  Corporations  have taken  reasonable  measures and
precautions  to protect and maintain the  confidentiality,  secrecy and value of
all  material   Acquired   Corporation   Proprietary   Assets  (except  Acquired
Corporation  Proprietary  Assets whose value would be unimpaired by disclosure).
Without  limiting the generality of the  foregoing,  except as set forth in Part
2.9(d) of the Company Disclosure  Schedule,  (i) each current or former employee
of any Acquired  Corporation  who is or was involved in, or who has  contributed
to, the creation or development of any material Acquired Corporation Proprietary
Asset has  executed  and  delivered to such  Acquired  Corporation  an agreement
(containing no




                                       14.
<PAGE>


exceptions   to  or  exclusions   from  the  scope  of  its  coverage)  that  is
substantially  identical  to the  form  of the  Company's  Agreement  Concerning
Inventions,  Discoveries,  Improvements,  Trade  Secrets and Other  Confidential
Information previously delivered by the Company to Parent, and (ii) each current
and former consultant and independent contractor to any Acquired Corporation who
is or was involved in, or who has contributed to, the creation or development of
any material Acquired  Corporation  Proprietary Asset has executed and delivered
to the Company an agreement  (containing no material exceptions to or exclusions
from the scope of its coverage) that is  substantially  identical to the form of
the Company's Agreement Concerning Inventions, Discoveries,  Improvements, Trade
Secrets and Other Confidential  Information  previously  delivered to Parent. No
current  or former  employee,  officer,  director,  stockholder,  consultant  or
independent  contractor  has any right,  claim or interest in or with respect to
any Acquired Corporation Proprietary Asset.

          (E)  To the  knowledge  of the Company:  (i) all patents,  trademarks,
service marks and copyrights held by any of the Acquired Corporations are valid,
enforceable and subsisting;  (ii) none of the Acquired  Corporation  Proprietary
Assets and no Proprietary  Asset that is currently being developed by any of the
Acquired   Corporations   (either   by  itself   or  with  any   other   Person)
misappropriates any Proprietary Asset owned or used by any other Person, and the
use of Acquired Corporation Proprietary Assets in their intended or contemplated
manner does not require a license  under or other rights to use any  Proprietary
Asset  owned  by  any  other  Person;  (iii)  none  of  the  products,  formula,
compositions of matter, inventions,  designs, technology,  proprietary rights or
other  intellectual  property  rights or  intangible  assets that is or has been
designed,  created,  developed,  assembled,  manufactured  or sold by any of the
Acquired Corporations is infringing,  misappropriating or making any unlawful or
unauthorized use of any Proprietary Asset owned or used by any other Person, and
none of such  products has at any time  infringed,  misappropriated  or made any
unlawful or unauthorized use of any Proprietary Asset owned or used by any other
Person; (iv) none of the Acquired  Corporations has received any notice or other
communication  (in writing or  otherwise)  of any actual,  alleged,  possible or
potential infringement, misappropriation or unlawful or unauthorized use of, any
Proprietary Asset owned or used by any other Person;  and (v) no other Person is
infringing,  misappropriating  or making any unlawful or unauthorized use of any
material Acquired Corporation Proprietary Asset.

          (F)  To  the  knowledge  of  the  Company,  the  Acquired  Corporation
Proprietary Assets constitute all the Proprietary Assets necessary to enable the
Acquired  Corporations  to conduct  their  business  in the manner in which such
business is presently being conducted and is currently proposed to be conducted.
Except as set forth in Part 2.9(f) of the Company Disclosure  Schedule,  none of
the  Acquired  Corporations  has  (i)  licensed  any  of the  material  Acquired
Corporation  Proprietary  Assets to any Person on an  exclusive  basis,  or (ii)
entered into any covenant not to compete or Contract  limiting or  purporting to
limit the ability of any  Acquired  Corporation  to exploit  fully any  material
Acquired Corporation Proprietary Assets or to transact business in any market or
geographical area or with any Person.

     2.10 CONTRACTS.


          (A)  Part 2.10 of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule  identifies  each
Acquired  Corporation  Contract that constitutes a "Material Contract" as of the
date of this Agreement.  For




                                       15.
<PAGE>


purposes of  this Agreement, each of the following Contracts (to the extent that
any of the Acquired  Corporations  has (or may have) any liability or obligation
thereunder or with respect  thereto after the date of this  Agreement)  shall be
deemed to constitute a "Material Contract":

               (I)    any Contract  relating  to  the   employment  of,  or  the
performance  of services  by, any employee or  consultant  (other than any offer
letter  provided  to any  employee  of any of the  Acquired  Corporations  which
provides for "at will"  employment);  any Contract  pursuant to which any of the
Acquired  Corporations  is or  may  become  obligated  to  make  any  severance,
termination  or similar  payment to any current or former  employee or director;
and any Contract  pursuant to which any of the Acquired  Corporations  is or may
become  obligated to make any bonus or similar  payment  (other than payments in
respect of salary) in excess of  $25,000 to any  current or former  employee  or
director;

               (II)   any  Contract (A) with any customer of any of the Acquired
Corporations  except for standard  purchase  orders;  or (B) with respect to the
distribution or marketing of any product of any of the Acquired Corporations;

               (III)  any  Contract  relating  to  the  acquisition,   transfer,
development,  sharing  or  license  of any  Proprietary  Asset  (except  for any
Contract  pursuant  to which any  Proprietary  Asset is  licensed  by any of the
Acquired Corporations to any Person on a non-exclusive basis);

               (IV)   any  Contract  which  provides for indemnification  of any
officer, director, employee or agent;

               (V)    any  Contract imposing any  restriction  on the  right  or
ability of any Acquired Corporation (A) to compete with any other Person, (B) to
acquire  any  material  product or other  asset or any  services  from any other
Person, (C) to solicit, hire or retain any Person as an employee,  consultant or
independent contractor, (D) to develop, sell, supply, distribute, offer, support
or service  any  product or any  technology  or other  asset to or for any other
Person, (E) to perform services for any other Person or (F) to transact business
or deal in any other manner with any other Person;

               (VI)   any  Contract (A)  relating to the acquisition,  issuance,
voting, registration, sale or transfer of any securities, other than pursuant to
the Company Rights Agreement,  Company Options,  Company Warrants or the ESPP or
the  ESOP,  (B)  providing  any  Person  with  any  preemptive  right,  right of
participation,  right of  maintenance  or any similar  right with respect to any
securities or (C) providing any of the Acquired  Corporations  with any right of
first  refusal with respect to, or right to purchase or otherwise  acquire,  any
securities;

               (VII)  any  Contract incorporating  or relating to  any guaranty,
any  warranty  or any  indemnity  or similar  obligation,  except  for Contracts
entered into in the ordinary course of business;

               (VIII) any Contract relating to any currency hedging;




                                       16.
<PAGE>


               (IX)   any Contract  imposing any  confidentiality  obligation on
any of the Acquired  Corporations  other than nondisclosure  agreements  entered
into in the ordinary course of business;

               (X)    any Contract to which  any Governmental  Body  is a party;
and any other Contract directly or indirectly benefiting any  Governmental  Body
(including any  subcontract or other Contract  between any Acquired  Corporation
and any  contractor  or  subcontractor  to any  Governmental  Body),  except for
Contracts  entered  into in the  ordinary  course of business  for the  license,
maintenance or service of products;

               (XI)   any  Contract with  obligations in excess of $50,000  that
has a term of more than 60 days and that may not be  terminated  by an  Acquired
Corporation (without penalty) within 60 days after the delivery of a termination
notice by such Acquired Corporation;

               (XII)  any Contract  that contemplates or involves the payment or
delivery of cash or other consideration in an amount or having a value in excess
of $50,000 in the  aggregate,  or  contemplates  or involves the  performance of
services having a value in excess of $50,000 in the aggregate;

               (XIII) any   Contract  requiring   that  any  of   the   Acquired
Corporations give any notice or provide any  information to any  Person prior to
considering  or accepting  any  Acquisition  Proposal  or similar  proposal,  or
prior to entering into any discussions,  agreement, arrangement or understanding
relating to any Acquisition Transaction or similar transaction;

               (XIV)  any Contract that (A) contemplates or involves the payment
or delivery of cash or other  consideration by any of the Acquired  Corporations
in an  amount or having a value in excess  of  $100,000  in the  aggregate,  (B)
contemplates or involves the payment or delivery of cash or other  consideration
to any of the Acquired  Corporations in an amount or having a value in excess of
$100,000 in the aggregate or (C)  contemplates  or involves the  performance  of
services  by any of the  Acquired  Corporations  having  a value  in  excess  of
$100,000 in the aggregate;

               (XV)   any  Contract that could reasonably  be expected to have a
material  effect  on  (A)  the  business,  condition,  capitalization,   assets,
liabilities,  operations,  financial  performance  or  prospects  of  any of the
Acquired  Corporations  or (B) the  ability of the Company to perform any of its
obligations  under, or to consummate any of the  transactions  contemplated  by,
this Agreement; and

               (XVI)  any Contract (not otherwise  identified  in clauses  "(i)"
through "(xv)" of this sentence),  if a breach of such Contract could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Acquired Corporations.

          (B)  The Company has delivered to Parent and to Cooley  Godward LLP an
accurate and complete  copy of (i) each  Material  Contract;  (ii) each Acquired
Corporation  Contract (to the extent that any of the Acquired  Corporations  has
(or may have) any  liability or obligation  thereunder  or with respect  thereto
after  the date of this  Agreement)  with any  customer  of any of the  Acquired
Corporations;  and (iii) each other Acquired Corporation Contract (not




                                       17.
<PAGE>


otherwise  identified  in clauses  "(i)" and "(ii)" of  this  sentence)  that is
material to the business of any of the Acquired Corporations.

          (C)  Each Acquired Corporation Contract is valid and in full force and
effect, and is enforceable in accordance with its terms,  subject to (i) laws of
general  application  relating  to  bankruptcy,  insolvency  and the  relief  of
debtors,  and (ii)  applicable  rules  of law  governing  specific  performance,
injunctive relief and other equitable  remedies,  except where the failure to be
valid and binding and in full force and effect would not  individually or in the
aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect on the Acquired Corporations.

          (D)  Except as set forth in Part  2.10(d)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule:  (i) none of the Acquired  Corporations  has violated or breached,  or
committed  any default  under,  any Acquired  Corporation  Contract,  except for
violations,  breaches and defaults that have not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Acquired Corporations; and, to
the  knowledge  of the Company,  no other  Person has  violated or breached,  or
committed  any default  under,  any Acquired  Corporation  Contract,  except for
violations,  breaches or defaults that have not had and would not  reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Acquired Corporations; (ii) to
the knowledge of the Company,  no event has  occurred,  and no  circumstance  or
condition exists,  that (with or without notice or lapse of time) will, or would
reasonably  be expected  to, (A) result in a  violation  or breach of any of the
provisions of any Acquired Corporation  Contract,  (B) give any Person the right
to  declare a default or  exercise  any remedy  under any  Acquired  Corporation
Contract,  (C) give any  Person  the  right to  receive  or  require  a  rebate,
chargeback  or penalty  under any Acquired  Corporation  Contract,  (D) give any
Person the right to  accelerate  the  maturity or  performance  of any  Acquired
Corporation Contract,  or (E) give any Person the right to cancel,  terminate or
modify any Acquired Corporation Contract, except in each such case for defaults,
acceleration  rights,  termination rights and other rights that have not had and
would not  reasonably  be  expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on the
Acquired  Corporations;  and (iii) since  January 1, 1998,  none of the Acquired
Corporations has received any notice or other communication regarding any actual
or possible  violation or breach of, or default under, any Acquired  Corporation
Contract,   except  in  each  such  case  for  defaults,   acceleration  rights,
termination  rights and other rights that have not had and would not  reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Acquired Corporations.

     2.11 LIABILITIES.  None  of the  Acquired  Corporations  has  any  accrued,
contingent  or other  liabilities  of any nature,  either  matured or unmatured,
except for: (a) liabilities included in the Unaudited Interim Balance Sheet; (b)
normal and recurring current liabilities that have been incurred by the Acquired
Corporations  since  June  30,  2000 in the  ordinary  course  of  business  and
consistent  with past practices;  and (c) liabilities  described in Part 2.11 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule.

     2.12 COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL  REQUIREMENTS.  Except as set forth in Part 2.12
of the Company Disclosure  Schedule,  each of the Acquired  Corporations is, and
has at all times since January 1, 1998 been, in compliance  with all  applicable
Legal  Requirements  (including,  without  limitation,  applicable  policies and
regulations  of (1)  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  regarding
research,  product  development,  transportation  and commercial  application of
genetically  engineered  plants  and  plant  products,  (2) the  Food  and  Drug
Administration




                                       18.
<PAGE>


regarding  plant  products  that are  used for  human or  animal  food,  (3) the
Environmental  Protection  Agency  regarding  the field  testing and  commercial
application  of plants  genetically  engineered to contain  pesticides,  and (4)
various other regulations  promulgated under the Occupational  Safety and Health
Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and
other statutes  related to water, air and  environmental  quality and import and
export   controls),   except  where  the  failure  to  comply  with  such  Legal
Requirements  has not had,  and based on  applicable  Legal  Requirements  as in
effect on the date hereof would not  reasonably  be expected to have, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Acquired Corporations. Except as set forth in Part 2.12 of
the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  since January 1, 1998,  none of the Acquired
Corporations   has  received  any  notice  or  other   communication   from  any
Governmental  Body or other  Person  regarding  any actual or possible  material
violation of, or failure to comply with, any Legal Requirement.

     2.13 RESERVED.

     2.14 CERTAIN BUSINESS PRACTICES.  None of the Acquired Corporations nor (to
the knowledge of the Company) any director, officer, agent or employee of any of
the Acquired  Corporations  has (i) used any funds for  unlawful  contributions,
gifts,  entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity,
(ii) made any unlawful  payment to foreign or domestic  government  officials or
employees or to foreign or domestic  political  parties or campaigns or violated
any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or (iii)
made any other unlawful payment.

     2.15 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS.

          (A)  The Acquired  Corporations  hold all Governmental  Authorizations
necessary  to enable  the  Acquired  Corporations  to conduct  their  respective
businesses in the manner in which such businesses are currently being conducted,
except where the failure to hold such Governmental  Authorizations  has not had,
and based on applicable Legal Requirements as in effect on the date hereof would
not  reasonably be expected to have, a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Acquired
Corporations.   Each   Acquired  Corporation  is,   and  at   all  times   since
January 1, 1998  has  been,  in  substantial   compliance  with  the  terms  and
requirements of such Governmental  Authorizations,  except where the  failure to
be   in  compliance  with  the  terms  and  requirements  of  such  Governmental
Authorizations has not  had, and based on  applicable Legal  Requirements as  in
effect on the date hereof would not reasonably  be  expected to have, a Material
Adverse  Effect on the  Acquired Corporations.  Since  January 1, 1998,  none of
the  Acquired Corporations has received any written notice from any Governmental
Body regarding (a) any actual or possible violation of or failure to comply with
any term or  requirement of any material Governmental Authorization,  or (b) any
actual or possible revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation, termination
or modification of any material Governmental Authorization.

          (B)  Part 2.15(b) of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule  describes  the
material terms of each currently active grant,  incentive or subsidy provided or
made  available to or for the benefit of any of the Acquired  Corporations  from
any Governmental  Body. Each of the Acquired  Corporations is in full compliance
with all of the terms and requirements of each currently active grant, incentive
and  subsidy  identified  or required to be  identified  in Part  2.15(b) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule.  Neither the execution,  delivery or performance of
this




                                       19.
<PAGE>


Agreement,  nor the consummation of the Merger or  any of the other transactions
contemplated by this  Agreement,  will (with or without notice or lapse of time)
give any Person the right to revoke,  withdraw,  suspend,  cancel,  terminate or
modify, any currently active grant,  incentive or subsidy identified or required
to be identified in Part 2.15(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

     2.16 TAX MATTERS.

          (A)  Each Tax  Return  required  to be filed  by or on  behalf  of the
respective Acquired  Corporations with any Governmental Body with respect to any
taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date (the  "Acquired  Corporation
Returns") (i) has been or will be filed on or before the applicable due date, as
extended by such  Governmental  Body,  and (ii) has been, or will be when filed,
prepared  in all  material  respects in  compliance  with all  applicable  Legal
Requirements. All amounts shown on the Acquired Corporation Returns to be due on
or before the  Closing  Date have been or will be paid on or before the  Closing
Date.

          (B)  The  Acquired   Corporations  (i)  had no   unpaid  Taxes  as  of
June 30, 2000 and no benefit for the Acquired  Corporations' deferred tax assets
has been recognized  and (ii) will not exceed by any amount the reserve for  tax
liability (rather  than any reserve  for  deferred taxes established  to reflect
timing differences  between  book and  tax income) as set forth on the Unaudited
Interim Balance Sheet as adjusted for  operations and  transactions  through the
Closing  Date  in  accordance   with  the  past  custom  and  practice  of   the
Acquired Corporations  in  filing their Tax  Returns.  Since September 30, 1999,
none of the Acquired  Corporations  has incurred any liability for any Tax other
than in the ordinary course of its business.

          (C)  Except as set forth in Part  2.16(c)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  with respect to Tax Returns  filed with respect to years ending on or
before September 30, 1999, no Acquired  Corporation Return has been audited,  or
to the knowledge of the Company examined, by any Governmental Body. No extension
or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any of the Acquired Corporation
Returns has been granted  which is still in effect (by any Acquired  Corporation
or any other  Person),  and no such  extension or waiver has been requested from
any Acquired Corporation.

          (D)  No claim or Legal  Proceeding  is pending or, to the knowledge of
the  Company,  has been  threatened  against  or with  respect  to any  Acquired
Corporation in respect of any material Tax. There are no unsatisfied liabilities
for material Taxes  (including  liabilities  for interest,  additions to tax and
penalties thereon and related expenses) with respect to any notice of deficiency
or similar  document  received by any Acquired  Corporation  with respect to any
material Tax (other than liabilities for Taxes asserted under any such notice of
deficiency or similar  document  which are being  contested in good faith by the
Acquired  Corporations  and with respect to which adequate  reserves for payment
have been  established on the Unaudited  Interim  Balance  Sheet).  There are no
liens  for  material  Taxes  upon  any of  the  assets  of  any of the  Acquired
Corporations except liens for current Taxes not yet due and payable. None of the
Acquired  Corporations  has entered  into or become  bound by any  agreement  or
consent  pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Code (or any comparable  provision of
state or foreign Tax laws). None of the Acquired Corporations has been, and none
of the Acquired  Corporations  will be,  required to include any  adjustment  in
taxable income for any tax period (or portion  thereof)  pursuant to




                                       20.
<PAGE>


Section  481 or 263A of the Code (or any  comparable  provision  under  state or
foreign Tax laws) as a result of transactions or events occurring, or accounting
methods employed, prior to the Closing.

          (E)  Except as set forth in Part 2.16(e)(i) of the Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  there is no agreement,  plan,  arrangement or other Contract covering
any  employee  or  independent  contractor  or former  employee  or  independent
contractor of any of the Acquired Corporations that, considered  individually or
considered collectively with any other such Contracts, will, or could reasonably
be expected to, give rise  directly or  indirectly  to the payment of any amount
that would not be deductible  pursuant to Section 280G or Section  162(m) of the
Code (or any comparable  provision under state or foreign Tax laws). None of the
Acquired  Corporations  is a party to any Contract to compensate  any individual
for excise taxes paid pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.  Except as set forth
in Part  2.16(e)(ii) of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  none of the Acquired
Corporations  is,  or has ever  been,  a party to or bound by any tax  indemnity
agreement,  tax sharing agreement, tax allocation agreement or similar Contract.
Except as set forth in Part  2.16(e)(iii)  of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,
none  of  the  Acquired  Corporations  is  or  has  ever  been  a  "distributing
corporation"  within the meaning of Section  355(a)(1) of the Code,  and none of
the  Acquired  Corporations  has been a member of an  affiliated  group filing a
consolidated  federal  income Tax Return other than a group the common parent of
which was the Company.

     2.17 EMPLOYEE AND LABOR MATTERS; BENEFIT PLANS.

          (A)  Part 2.17(a) of the Company Disclosure  Schedule  identifies each
salary, bonus, deferred compensation,  incentive  compensation,  stock purchase,
stock  option,  severance  pay,  termination  pay,   hospitalization,   medical,
insurance,  supplemental  unemployment  benefits,  profit-sharing,   pension  or
retirement  plan,  program or  material  agreement,  whether or not in  writing,
maintained, sponsored, contributed to or required to be contributed to by any of
the Acquired  Corporations  for the benefit of any current or former employee of
any of the Acquired  Corporations or pursuant to which any of Parent, Merger Sub
or any of the Acquired Corporations could incur liability.  (All plans, programs
and  material  agreements  of the type  referred  to in the prior  sentence  are
referred to in this Agreement as the "Plans.")

          (B)  Except as set forth in Part  2.17(a)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule, none of the Acquired Corporations  maintains,  sponsors or contributes
to,  and  none  of  the  Acquired  Corporations  has  maintained,  sponsored  or
contributed to, any employee pension benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of
the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974,  as amended  ("ERISA")),
whether or not excluded  from  coverage  under  specific  Titles or Subtitles of
ERISA),  for the benefit of any current or former employee or director of any of
the Acquired Corporations (a "Pension Plan").

          (C)  Except as set forth in Part  2.17(a)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule, none of the Acquired Corporations  maintains,  sponsors or contributes
to any: (i) employee welfare benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA),
whether or not excluded  from  coverage  under  specific  Titles or Subtitles of
ERISA,  for the benefit of any current or former  employee or director of any of
the Acquired  Corporations  (a "Welfare  Plan"),  or (ii)  self-funded




                                       21.
<PAGE>


medical,  dental or other  similar  Plan.  None  of the Plans  identified in the
Company  Disclosure  Schedule  is a  multiemployer  plan  (within the meaning of
Section 3(37) of ERISA).

          (D)  With respect to each Plan,  the Company has  delivered to Parent:
(i) an  accurate  and  complete  copy of such  Plan  (including  all  amendments
thereto);  (ii) an accurate and complete copy of the annual report,  if required
under ERISA,  with respect to such Plan for each of the last three years;  (iii)
an accurate  and  complete  copy of the most recent  summary  plan  description,
together with each Summary of Material  Modifications,  if required under ERISA,
with  respect to such Plan,  (iv) if such Plan is funded  through a trust or any
third party funding vehicle, an accurate and complete copy of the trust or other
funding agreement  (including all amendments  thereto) and accurate and complete
copies the most recent financial  statements thereof;  (v) accurate and complete
copies of all  Contracts  relating  to such  Plan,  including  service  provider
agreements,   insurance   contracts,   minimum  premium   contracts,   stop-loss
agreements,  investment  management  agreements,  subscription and participation
agreements and recordkeeping agreements;  and (vi) an accurate and complete copy
of the most recent opinion  letter  received from the Internal  Revenue  Service
with  respect  to such  Plan (if such Plan is  intended  to be  qualified  under
Section 401(a) of the Code).

          (E)  None of the Acquired Corporations is or has ever been required to
be treated as a single  employer with any other Person under Section  4001(b)(1)
of ERISA or Section  414(b),  (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.  None of the Acquired
Corporations has ever been a member of an "affiliated  service group" within the
meaning of Section  414(m) of the Code.  None of the Acquired  Corporations  has
ever made a complete or partial  withdrawal from a  multiemployer  plan, as such
term is defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA, resulting in "withdrawal  liability,"
as such  term is  defined  in  Section  4201 of  ERISA  (without  regard  to any
subsequent  reduction or waiver of such  liability  under either Section 4207 or
4208 of ERISA).

          (F)  None of the Acquired  Corporations  has any plan or commitment to
create any Welfare Plan or any Pension Plan, or to modify or change any existing
Welfare  Plan or Pension  Plan (other than to comply with  applicable  law) in a
manner that would  affect any  current or former  employee or director of any of
the Acquired Corporations.

          (G)  No Plan provides death,  medical or health  benefits  (whether or
not insured)  with respect to any current or former  employee or director of any
of the Acquired  Corporations  after any termination of service of such employee
or director  (other  than (i)  benefit  coverage  mandated  by  applicable  law,
including coverage provided pursuant to Section 4980B of the Code, (ii) deferred
compensation  benefits  accrued as liabilities on the Unaudited  Interim Balance
Sheet,  and (iii) benefits the full cost of which are borne by current or former
employees  or  directors  of  any  of  the  Acquired   Corporations   (or  their
beneficiaries)).

          (H)  The  provisions of Section 4980B of the Code  ("COBRA") have been
complied with in all material  respects with respect to any Plan  constituting a
group health plan within the meaning of Section 4980B(g)(2) of the Code.

          (I)  Except as set forth in Part  2.17(i)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  to the knowledge of the Company,  each of the Plans has been operated
and  administered in all




                                       22.
<PAGE>


material  respects in accordance with  applicable  Legal Requirements, including
ERISA and the Code.

          (J)  Each of the Plans  intended to be qualified  under Section 401(a)
of the Code has received a favorable  opinion  letter from the Internal  Revenue
Service,  and the Company is not aware of any reason why any such  determination
letter could be revoked.

          (K)  Except as set forth in Part  2.17(k)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule, neither the execution,  delivery or performance of this Agreement, nor
the consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement,  will result in any bonus, golden parachute,  severance or other
payment or  obligation  to any current or former  employee or director of any of
the  Acquired  Corporations  (whether  or not under  any  Plan),  or  materially
increase  the  benefits  payable or  provided  under any Plan,  or result in any
acceleration of the time of payment,  provision or vesting of any such benefits.
Without  limiting the  generality of the  foregoing  (and except as set forth in
Part 2.17(k) of the Company Disclosure Schedule), the consummation of the Merger
will not result in the acceleration of vesting of any unvested Company Options.

          (L)  The Company has delivered to Parent on the date hereof a true and
complete list identifying each employee of each of the Acquired  Corporations as
of the date of this Agreement, and correctly reflects, in all material respects,
the  current  salary  and  any  other  compensation  payable  to  such  employee
(including  compensation  payable  pursuant to bonus,  deferred  compensation or
commission  arrangements),  such employee's employer,  date of hire and position
and the principal office of such employee.  None of the Acquired Corporations is
a party to any  collective  bargaining  contract or other  Contract with a labor
union  involving  any  of its  employees.  Except  as  identified  on  the  list
referenced in the first  sentence of this Section,  there has never been, and to
the knowledge of the Company no Person has threatened to commence, any slowdown,
work stoppage, labor dispute or union organizing activity or similar activity or
dispute.  Except as identified on the list  referenced in the first  sentence of
this Section,  all of the employees of the Acquired  Corporations  are "at will"
employees.

          (M)  Part 2.17(m) of the Company Disclosure  Schedule  identifies each
employee  of any of the  Acquired  Corporations  who is not fully  available  to
perform  work because of  disability  or other leave and sets forth the basis of
such  disability  (to  the  extent  known  by the  Company)  or  leave  and  the
anticipated date of such employee's return to full service.

          (N)  Each  of  the  Acquired  Corporations  is in  compliance  in  all
material respects with all applicable Legal  Requirements and Contracts relating
to employment,  employment practices, wages, bonuses and terms and conditions of
employment, including employee compensation matters.

          (O)  Each of the Acquired  Corporations has good labor relations,  and
the Company has no knowledge of any facts  indicating that (i) the  consummation
of the Merger or any of the other  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement
will  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  labor  relations  of any of the
Acquired  Corporations,  or (ii) except as would not  reasonably  be expected to
result in a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Acquired  Corporations,  any of the




                                       23.
<PAGE>


employees of any of the Acquired  Corporations  intends to terminate  his or her
employment with such Acquired Corporation.

     2.18 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. Except as set forth in Part 2.18 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule or as expressly disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed
on or after January 1, 2000, each of the Acquired  Corporations is in compliance
in  all  material  respects  with  all  applicable   Environmental  Laws,  which
compliance  includes the possession by each of the Acquired  Corporations of all
permits and other Governmental  Authorizations required of them under applicable
Environmental  Laws, and compliance in all material  respects with the terms and
conditions thereof. To the knowledge of the Company, since January 1, 1998, none
of the Acquired  Corporations has received any notice or other communication (in
writing  or  otherwise),  whether  from a  Governmental  Body,  citizens  group,
employee or otherwise, that alleges that any of the Acquired Corporations is not
in  compliance  in all  material  respects  with any  Environmental  Law. To the
knowledge  of the Company,  no current or prior owner of any property  leased by
any of the Acquired  Corporations has received any notice or other communication
(in writing or  otherwise),  whether from a  Government  Body,  citizens  group,
employee or  otherwise,  that alleges that such current or prior owner or any of
the Acquired Corporations is not in compliance in all material respects with any
Environmental  Law. To the  knowledge  of the Company (a) all  property  that is
leased  to or  used  by  the  Acquired  Corporations,  and  all  surface  water,
groundwater  and soil  associated  with such  property  is free of any  material
environmental contamination of any nature, (b) none of the property leased to or
used by any of the Acquired  Corporations  presently  contains  any  underground
storage tanks,  asbestos,  equipment using PCBs or underground  injection wells,
and  (c)  none  of the  property  leased  to or  used  by  any  of the  Acquired
Corporations  presently contains any septic tanks in which process wastewater or
any Materials of Environmental  Concern have been disposed.  To the knowledge of
the Company,  no Acquired  Corporation has sent or  transported,  or arranged to
send or  transport,  any  Materials  of  Environmental  Concern  to a site that,
pursuant  to any  applicable  Environmental  Law  (i)  has  been  placed  on the
"National  Priorities  List" of hazardous waste sites or any similar state list,
(ii) is otherwise  designated or identified as a potential site for remediation,
cleanup,  closure or other environmental  remedial activity, or (iii) is subject
to a Legal Requirement to take "removal" or "remedial' action as detailed in any
applicable  Environmental Law or to make payment for the cost of cleaning up the
site.  For  purposes of this Section  2.18:  (A)  "Environmental  Law" means any
federal,  state,  local or foreign  Legal  Requirement  relating to pollution or
protection of human health from Materials of Environmental Concern or protection
of the environment  (including  ambient air, surface water,  ground water,  land
surface or  subsurface  strata),  including  any law or  regulation  relating to
emissions,   discharges,   releases  or  threatened  releases  of  Materials  of
Environmental  Concern,  or otherwise  relating to the manufacture,  processing,
distribution,  use,  treatment,  storage,  disposal,  transport  or  handling of
Materials of Environmental Concern; and (B) "Materials of Environmental Concern"
means chemicals, pollutants,  contaminants,  wastes, toxic substances, petroleum
and  petroleum  products  and  any  other  substance  that is  regulated  by any
Governmental Body with respect to the environment.

     2.19 INSURANCE.  The Company has delivered to Parent a copy of all material
insurance  policies and all material self  insurance  programs and  arrangements
relating to the business,  assets and  operations of the Acquired  Corporations.
Except as set forth in Part 2.19 of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  each of
such insurance policies is in full force and effect. Since January 1,




                                       24.
<PAGE>


1998,  none of the  Acquired  Corporations  has  received  any  notice or  other
communication  regarding any actual or possible (a) cancellation or invalidation
of any  insurance  policy,  (b)  refusal of any  coverage  or  rejection  of any
material  claim under any  insurance  policy or (c) material  adjustment  in the
amount of the premiums   payable  with  respect  to any  insurance  policy.  The
Company's   workers'   compensation   insurance    carrier   estimated   as   of
August 31, 2000  that  the  Acquired   Corporations'   aggregate   liability for
workers' compensation  claims  is less  than   $100,000,  which claims are fully
covered by insurance.  The total dollar  amount  of  the premiums  paid  by  the
Company for the three-year period ending December 31, 2000  and the  year ending
December 31, 2001  with  respect  to  the  existing  policy  of  directors'  and
officers'  liability insurance  maintained  by the  Company  as of the  date  of
this  Agreement  was $337,000 and $55,000, respectively.

     2.20 TRANSACTIONS  WITH AFFILIATES.  Except as set forth in the Company SEC
Documents and Part 2.20 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  since the date of
the  Company's  last proxy  statement  filed with the SEC, no event has occurred
that would be required  to be  reported  by the Company  pursuant to Item 404 of
Regulation  S-K  promulgated  by the SEC.  Part 2.20 of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule  identifies  each  person  who  is (or  who  may  be  deemed  to be) an
"affiliate"  (as that term is used in Rule 145 under the Securities  Act) of the
Company as of the date of this Agreement.

     2.21 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS; ORDERS.

          (A)  Except  as set  forth  in  Part  2.21 of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  there is no pending  Legal  Proceeding,  and (to the knowledge of the
Company) no Person has  threatened  to commence any Legal  Proceeding:  (i) that
involves any of the Acquired  Corporations or any of the assets owned or used by
any of the  Acquired  Corporations  and that,  if  adversely  determined,  would
reasonably  be  expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on the  Acquired
Corporations;  or  (ii)  that  challenges,  or  that  may  have  the  effect  of
preventing,  delaying,  making illegal or otherwise interfering with, the Merger
or any  of  the  other  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement.  To the
knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred,  and no claim, dispute or other
condition or  circumstance  exists,  that would  reasonably be expected to, give
rise to or serve as a basis for the commencement of any such Legal Proceeding.

          (B)  There is no material order, writ, injunction,  judgment or decree
to which any of the Acquired Corporations, or any of the assets owned or used by
any of the Acquired  Corporations,  is subject. To the knowledge of the Company,
no officer or key employee of any of the Acquired Corporations is subject to any
order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree that prohibits such officer or other
key employee from engaging in or  continuing  any conduct,  activity or practice
relating to the business of any of the Acquired Corporations.

     2.22 AUTHORITY;  INAPPLICABILITY OF ANTI-TAKEOVER STATUTES;  BINDING NATURE
OF AGREEMENT.  The Company has the right,  power and authority to enter into and
to perform its obligations  under this Agreement.  The board of directors of the
Company  (at a  meeting  duly  called  and held on  September  7,  2000) has (a)
determined  (pursuant  to a  unanimous  vote  of all  members  of the  board  of
directors of the Company)  that the Merger is advisable and fair and in the best
interests  of the Company and its  stockholders,  (b)  authorized  and  approved
(pursuant  to a unanimous  vote of all members of the board of  directors of the
Company)  the  execution,




                                       25.
<PAGE>


delivery  and  performance  of  this  Agreement  by  the  Company  and  approved
(pursuant  to a unanimous  vote of all members of the board of  directors of the
Company)  the Merger,  (c)  recommended  (pursuant  to a  unanimous  vote of all
members of the board of directors of the Company) the adoption of this Agreement
and the approval of the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement by the  stockholders  of the Company and directed that this Agreement,
the  Merger  and  the  other  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  be
submitted  for  consideration  by the  Company's  stockholders  at  the  Company
Stockholders'  Meeting  (as  defined  in  Section  5.2)  and  (d) to the  extent
necessary,  adopted (pursuant to a unanimous vote of all members of the board of
directors of the Company) a resolution  having the effect of causing the Company
not to be subject to any state  takeover law or similar Legal  Requirement  that
might  otherwise  apply  to  the  Merger  or  any  of  the  other   transactions
contemplated  by this Agreement.  This Agreement  constitutes  legal,  valid and
binding  obligations  of  the  Company,   enforceable  against  the  Company  in
accordance with its terms,  subject to (i) laws of general application  relating
to  bankruptcy,  insolvency  and the  relief of  debtors,  and (ii) rules of law
governing specific performance,  injunctive relief and other equitable remedies.
Prior to the execution of those certain Voting  Agreements of even date herewith
(the "Voting  Agreements")  between Parent and each of the persons identified in
Part 2.22 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  the Board of  Directors  of the
Company  approved  said  Voting  Agreements  and the  transactions  contemplated
thereby.

     2.23 INAPPLICABILITY  OF SECTION 2115 OF CALIFORNIA  CORPORATIONS CODE. The
Company is not subject to Section 2115 of the California Corporations Code.

     2.24 NO   DISCUSSIONS.   None  of  the   Acquired   Corporations,   and  no
Representative  of any of the  Acquired  Corporations,  is engaged,  directly or
indirectly, in any discussions or negotiations with any other Person relating to
any Acquisition Proposal.

     2.25 SECTION 203 OF THE DGCL NOT  APPLICABLE.  As of the date hereof and at
all times on or prior to the  Effective  Time,  the  restrictions  applicable to
business  combinations  contained  in Section 203 of the DGCL are,  and will be,
inapplicable to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and to
the consummation of the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement.  Prior to the  execution of those certain  Voting  Agreements of even
date herewith between Parent and each of the Persons  identified in Part 2.25 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule,  the Board of Directors of the Company approved
said Voting Agreements and the transactions contemplated thereby.

     2.26 COMPANY RIGHTS  AGREEMENT.  The Company has amended the Company Rights
Agreement to provide that (i) neither  Parent nor Merger Sub, nor any  affiliate
of Parent or Merger Sub,  shall be deemed to be an Acquiring  Person (as defined
in the Company Rights  Agreement),  (ii) neither a Distribution Date (as defined
in the Company Rights Agreement) nor a Stock Acquisition Date (as defined in the
Company Rights  Agreement)  shall be deemed to occur,  (iii) the Rights will not
separate from the Company Common Stock as a result of the execution, delivery or
performance of this Agreement or the Voting  Agreements or the  consummation  of
the Merger or any of the other transactions  contemplated  hereby or thereby and
(iv) none of the Company,  Parent, Merger Sub or the Surviving Corporation,  nor
any of their respective affiliates, shall have any obligations under the Company
Rights  Agreement to any holder (or former  holder) of Rights as of or following
the Effective Time.




                                       26.
<PAGE>


     2.27 VOTE REQUIRED.  The  affirmative  vote of the holders of a majority of
the shares of Company  Common  Stock and the Company  Series A  Preferred  Stock
outstanding  on the record date for the Company  Stockholders'  Meeting,  voting
together as a single class (the "Required  Company  Stockholder  Vote"),  is the
only vote of the holders of any class or series of the  Company's  capital stock
necessary  to  adopt  this  Agreement  and  approve  the  Merger  and the  other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     2.28 NON-CONTRAVENTION;  CONSENTS. Except as would not result in a Material
Adverse Effect on the Acquired Corporations and except as may be required by the
Exchange Act, the DGCL,  the HSR Act and the National  Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. Bylaws (as they relate to the Form S-4 Registration  Statement and
the Prospectus/Proxy  Statement) ("NASD Bylaws") and except as set forth in Part
2.28 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither (1) the execution,  delivery or
performance of this Agreement by the Company,  nor (2) the  consummation  of the
Merger or any of the other  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement by the
Company, will (with or without notice or lapse of time):

          (A)  contravene,  conflict with or result in a violation of (i) any of
the provisions of the certificate of  incorporation,  bylaws or other charter or
similar organizational  documents of any of the Acquired  Corporations,  or (ii)
any  resolution  adopted  by the  stockholders,  the board of  directors  or any
committee of the board of directors of any of the Acquired Corporations;

          (B)  contravene,  conflict  with or result in a violation of any Legal
Requirement,  or give  any  Governmental  Body or  other  Person  the  right  to
challenge  the  Merger or any of the  other  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement or to exercise any remedy or obtain any relief under any order,  writ,
injunction, judgment or decree to which any of the Acquired Corporations, or any
of the assets owned or used by any of the Acquired Corporations, is subject;

          (C)  contravene,  conflict with or result in a violation of any of the
terms or  requirements  of, or give any  Governmental  Body the right to revoke,
withdraw,  suspend, cancel, terminate or modify, any Governmental  Authorization
that is held by any of the Acquired  Corporations  or that otherwise  relates to
the business of any of the Acquired  Corporations  or to any of the assets owned
or used by any of the Acquired Corporations;

          (D)  except as set forth in Part  2.9(b)(iii) and Part  2.9(c)(iii) of
the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  contravene,  conflict  with or  result in a
material  violation  or breach of, or result in a material  default  under,  any
provision of any Material Contract,  or give any Person the right to (i) declare
a default  or  exercise  any  remedy  under  any such  Material  Contract,  (ii)
accelerate the maturity or performance of any such Material  Contract,  or (iii)
cancel, terminate or modify any term of such Material Contract; or

          (E)  result in the imposition or creation of any  Encumbrance  upon or
with  respect  to any asset  owned or used by any of the  Acquired  Corporations
(except  for  minor  liens  that  will  not,  in any  case or in the  aggregate,
materially  detract from the value of the assets  subject  thereto or materially
impair the operations of any of the Acquired Corporations).




                                       27.
<PAGE>


Except as may be required by the  Exchange  Act,  the DGCL,  the HSR Act and the
NASD  Bylaws  and  except as set forth in Part  2.28 of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  none of the Acquired Corporations was, is or will be required to make
any filing with or give any notice to, or to obtain any Consent from, any Person
in connection with (x) the execution,  delivery or performance of this Agreement
or any of the  other  agreements  referred  to in  this  Agreement,  or (y)  the
consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

     2.29 FAIRNESS OPINION;  FINANCIAL ADVISOR. The Company's board of directors
has  received  the  written  opinion  of  Prudential  Vector  Healthcare  Group,
financial advisor to the Company ("Financial  Advisor"),  dated the date of this
Agreement,  to  the  effect  that  the  consideration  to  be  received  by  the
stockholders  of the  Company in the Merger is fair to the  stockholders  of the
Company from a financial  point of view.  Except for the Financial  Advisor,  no
broker,  finder or investment  banker is entitled to any brokerage,  finder's or
other  fee or  commission  in  connection  with the  Merger  or any of the other
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement based upon  arrangements made by or
on behalf of any of the  Acquired  Corporations.  The Company has  furnished  to
Parent accurate and complete copies of all agreements under which any such fees,
commissions or other amounts have been paid to and all indemnification and other
agreements related to the engagement of the Financial Advisor.  The total of all
fees,  commissions  and  other  amounts  that  will  be  paid  by  the  Acquired
Corporations  to the  Financial  Advisor if the Merger is  consummated  will not
exceed the amount set forth in such agreements.

     2.30 FULL DISCLOSURE.

          (A)  This Agreement  (including the Company Disclosure  Schedule) does
not, and the certificate referred to in Section 6.6(e) will not, (i) contain any
representation, warranty or information that is false or misleading with respect
to any material fact, or (ii) omit to state any material fact necessary in order
to make the  representations,  warranties  and  information  contained and to be
contained herein and therein (in the light of the circumstances under which such
representations,  warranties and  information  were or will be made or provided)
not false or misleading.

          (B)  None  of the  information  supplied  or to be  supplied  by or on
behalf of the Company for  inclusion or  incorporation  by reference in the Form
S-4 Registration Statement will, at the time the Form S-4 Registration Statement
becomes  effective under the Securities Act,  contain any untrue  statement of a
material fact or omit to state any 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 are made, not misleading. None of the information
supplied  or to be supplied  by or on behalf of the  Company  for  inclusion  or
incorporation by reference in the  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement will, at the time
the  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement is mailed to the stockholders of the Company or
at the time of the Company Stockholders'  Meeting,  contain any untrue statement
of a material  fact or omit to state any  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  are  made,   not   misleading.   The
Prospectus/Proxy  Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with
the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations  promulgated by
the SEC  thereunder,  except that no  representation  or warranty is made by the
Company with respect to statements  made or  incorporated  by reference  therein
based on




                                       28.
<PAGE>


information  supplied  by Parent for  inclusion  or  incorporation  by reference
in the Prospectus/Proxy Statement.

3.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

     Parent and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

     3.1  ORGANIZATION,  STANDING AND POWER.  Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of  Delaware  and has all  necessary  power and  authority:  (a) to
conduct its  business in the manner in which its  business  is  currently  being
conducted;  (b) to own and use its  assets in the manner in which its assets are
currently owned and used; and (c) to perform its obligations under all Contracts
by which it is bound.  Each of Parent  and Merger  Sub is duly  qualified  to do
business as a foreign  corporation,  and is in good standing,  under the laws of
all jurisdictions  where the nature of its business requires such  qualification
and where the failure to be so qualified would have a Material Adverse Effect on
Parent or Merger Sub.

     3.2  CAPITALIZATION,  ETC. The authorized  capital stock of Parent consists
of 100,000,000  shares of Parent Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred
stock of Parent.  As of July 31, 2000,  44,948,329 shares of Parent Common Stock
were  issued and  outstanding.  As of the date of this  Agreement,  no shares of
preferred  stock of Parent are  outstanding.  All of the  outstanding  shares of
Parent Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued,  and are fully
paid and  nonassessable.  As August 31, 2000,  2,300,971 shares of Parent Common
Stock were reserved for future issuance pursuant to outstanding stock options.

     3.3  SEC FILINGS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

          (A)  Parent has delivered or made available to the Company  (including
through the SEC EDGAR system) accurate and complete copies  (excluding copies of
exhibits) of each report,  registration statement and definitive proxy statement
filed  by  Parent  with  the SEC  between  April  7,  2000  and the date of this
Agreement (the "Parent SEC  Documents").  Since April 7, 2000,  all  statements,
reports,  schedules,  forms and other  documents  required to have been filed by
Parent with the SEC have been so filed. As of the time it was filed with the SEC
(or, if amended or superseded  by a filing prior to the date of this  Agreement,
then on the date of such filing):  (i) each of the Parent SEC Documents complied
in all material respects with the applicable  requirements of the Securities Act
or the  Exchange  Act (as the case may be);  and  (ii)  none of the  Parent  SEC
Documents  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.

          (B)  The financial  statements  contained in the Parent SEC Documents:
(i) complied as to form in all material  respects with the  published  rules and
regulations of the SEC applicable thereto; (ii) were prepared in accordance with
generally  accepted   accounting   principles  applied  on  a  consistent  basis
throughout the periods  covered (except as may be indicated in the notes to such
financial statements and, in the case of unaudited  statements,  as permitted by
Form 10-Q of the SEC, and except that  unaudited  financial  statements  may not




                                       29.
<PAGE>


contain  footnotes  and are subject to year-end  audit  adjustments);  and (iii)
fairly  present  the  financial  position of Parent as of the  respective  dates
thereof and the results of operations of Parent for the periods covered thereby.

     3.4  AUTHORITY; BINDING NATURE OF AGREEMENT. Parent and Merger Sub have the
absolute  and  unrestricted   right,   power  and  authority  to  perform  their
obligations under this Agreement; and the execution, delivery and performance by
Parent  and  Merger  Sub of this  Agreement  have  been duly  authorized  by all
necessary  action  on the part of Parent  and  Merger  Sub and their  respective
boards of directors.  This Agreement  constitutes  the legal,  valid and binding
obligation of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against them in accordance with
its terms,  subject to (i) laws of general  application  relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency and the relief of debtors,  and (ii) rules of law governing  specific
performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies.

     3.5  NON-CONTRAVENTION;  CONSENTS.  Neither the  execution  and delivery of
this  Agreement  by Parent  and Merger  Sub nor the  consummation  by Parent and
Merger Sub of the Merger will (a)  conflict  with or result in any breach of any
provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Parent or Merger Sub,
(b)  result in a default  by Parent or Merger  Sub under any  Contract  to which
Parent or Merger  Sub is a party,  except for any  default  that has not had and
will not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent,  or (c) result in a violation
by Parent or Merger Sub of any order,  writ,  injunction,  judgment or decree to
which Parent or Merger Sub is subject, except for any violation that has not had
and will not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. Except as may be required
by the Securities  Act, the Exchange Act,  state  securities or "blue sky" laws,
the DGCL,  the HSR Act, any foreign  antitrust  law or  regulation  and the NASD
Bylaws   (as  they   relate   to  the  S-4   Registration   Statement   and  the
Prospectus/Proxy Statement),  Parent is not and will not be required to make any
filing with or give any notice to, or to obtain any Consent from,  any Person in
connection with the execution,  delivery or performance of this Agreement or the
consummation of the Merger.

     3.6  VALID ISSUANCE. The Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger and
to be issued  upon  exercise  of the  assumed  Company  Options  and the assumed
Company Warrants, if any, will, when issued in accordance with the provisions of
this Agreement, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     3.7  DISCLOSURE.  None of the information  supplied or to be supplied by or
on behalf of Parent for inclusion in the Form S-4  Registration  Statement will,
at the time the Form S-4  Registration  Statement  becomes  effective  under the
Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any 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 are
made, not misleading.  None of the information  supplied or to be supplied by or
on  behalf  of  Parent  for  inclusion  or  incorporation  by  reference  in the
Prospectus/Proxy  Statement will, at the time the Prospectus/Proxy  Statement is
mailed  to  the  stockholders  of the  Company  or at the  time  of the  Company
Stockholders'  Meeting,  contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any 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 are made, not misleading.  The Prospectus/Proxy Statement will comply as to
form in all material  respects  with the  provisions of the Exchange Act and the
rules  and  regulations  promulgated  by the  SEC




                                       30.
<PAGE>


thereunder,  except that no  representation  or warranty is  made by Parent with
respect  to  statements  made or  incorporated  by  reference  therein  based on
information  supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference
in the Prospectus/Proxy Statement.

     3.8  NO VOTE  REQUIRED.  No vote of the holders of Parent  Common  Stock is
required to authorize the Merger.

4.   CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

     4.1  ACCESS AND  INVESTIGATION.  During  the  period  from the date of this
Agreement  through the Effective Time (the  "Pre-Closing  Period"),  the Company
shall,  and  shall  cause  the  respective   Representatives   of  the  Acquired
Corporations to: (a) provide Parent and Parent's Representatives with reasonable
access to the Acquired Corporations'  Representatives,  personnel and assets and
to all existing books, records, Tax Returns, work papers and other documents and
information  relating to the Acquired  Corporations;  and (b) provide Parent and
Parent's  Representatives  with such copies of the existing books,  records, Tax
Returns,  work  papers  and other  documents  and  information  relating  to the
Acquired Corporations,  and with such additional financial,  operating and other
data  and  information  regarding  the  Acquired  Corporations,  as  Parent  may
reasonably request. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during the
Pre-Closing Period, the Company shall promptly provide Parent with copies of:

               (I)    all material  operating and financial  reports prepared by
the Company and its Subsidiaries for the Company's senior management,  including
(A)  copies  of  the unaudited  quarterly  consolidated  balance sheets  of  the
Acquired   Corporations   and  the  related  unaudited  quarterly   consolidated
statements of operations,  statements of stockholders' equity and  statements of
cash flows and (B) copies of any sales forecasts,  development plans and  hiring
reports prepared for the Company's senior management;

               (II)   any  written  materials  or communications  sent  by or on
behalf of the Company to its stockholders;

               (III)  any material notice, document or other communication  sent
by or on behalf of any of the Acquired Corporations to any party to any Acquired
Corporation Contract or sent to any of the Acquired Corporations by any party to
any Acquired  Corporation  Contract (other than any  communication  that relates
solely to routine commercial  transactions  between any Acquired Corporation and
the other party to any such  Acquired  Corporation  Contract  and that is of the
type  sent  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business  and  consistent  with  past
practices);

               (IV)   any notice, report or other document filed with or sent to
any  Governmental  Body  in  connection  with  the  Merger  or any of the  other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

               (V)    any material notice, report or other document  received by
any of the Acquired Corporations from any Governmental Body.

     4.2  OPERATION OF THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS.




                                       31.
<PAGE>


          (A)  During the Pre-Closing  Period: (i) the Company shall ensure that
each of the Acquired  Corporations  conducts its business and  operations (A) in
the ordinary course and in accordance with past practices and (B) in substantial
compliance with all applicable Legal Requirements and the material  requirements
of all Material  Contracts;  (ii) the Company shall use commercially  reasonable
efforts to ensure that each of the Acquired  Corporations  preserves  intact its
current  business  organization,  keeps  available  the  services of its current
officers and other  employees  and maintains its relations and goodwill with all
suppliers,  customers, landlords, creditors, licensors, licensees, employees and
other  Persons  having  business  relationships  with  the  respective  Acquired
Corporations;  and (iii) the Acquired  Corporations  shall keep in full force or
renew all insurance policies referred to in Section 2.19.

          (B)  During the Pre-Closing Period, the Company shall not (without the
prior written consent of Parent), and shall not permit any of the other Acquired
Corporations to:

               (I)    declare, accrue, set aside or pay any dividend or make any
other  distribution  in respect of any shares of capital  stock,  or repurchase,
redeem or otherwise reacquire any shares of capital stock or other securities;

               (II)   sell, issue, grant or  authorize the  issuance or grant of
(A) any capital stock or other security, (B) any option,  call, warrant or right
to  acquire  any  capital  stock  or  other  security,  or  (C)  any  instrument
convertible  into  or  exchangeable  for  any capital stock  or  other  security
(except that (1) the Company may issue (x) shares of Company  Common Stock  upon
the  valid  exercise  of  Company  Options  or  Company Common  Stock   Warrants
outstanding  as of  the date  of  this  Agreement,  or  (y)  shares  of  Company
Common  Stock upon the valid conversion  of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding
as of the  date of  this Agreement  or issued   pursuant to the  exercise of any
Company  Preferred  Stock Warrant outstanding as of the date of this  Agreement,
or (z)  pursuant to the ESPP  or the ESOP, (2)  the Company may  issue shares of
Company Series A Preferred  Stock upon the valid  exercise of Company  Preferred
Stock Warrants outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (3) the Company
may  issue,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business and  consistent  with  past
practices,  grant options under its stock  option plans to purchase no more than
a total of 5,000  shares of  Company Common Stock to employees  of the  Acquired
Corporations);

               (III)  amend or waive any of its rights under,  or  accelerate or
permit the  acceleration  of the  vesting  under,  any  provision  of any of the
Company's  stock option plans,  any provision of any  agreement  evidencing  any
outstanding  stock  option  or  any  restricted  stock  purchase  agreement,  or
otherwise  modify any of the terms of any outstanding  option,  warrant or other
security or any related Contract;

               (IV)   amend  or  permit  the adoption  of  any amendment  to its
certificate  of  incorporation  or bylaws  or other  charter  or  organizational
documents,   or  effect  or  become  a  party  to  any  merger,   consolidation,
amalgamation,   share   exchange,   business   combination,    recapitalization,
reclassification  of shares,  stock split,  division or  subdivision  of shares,
reverse stock split, consolidation of shares or similar transaction;

               (V)    form  any  Subsidiary  or acquire any  equity  interest or
other interest in any other Entity;




                                       32.
<PAGE>


               (VI)   make any  capital  expenditure (except  that  the Acquired
Corporations  may make capital  expenditures  contemplated by the Agrinomics LLC
operating plan furnished to Parent on the date hereof or in the ordinary  course
of business and  consistent  with past practices  that,  when added to all other
capital  expenditures  made on behalf of the  Acquired  Corporations  during the
Pre-Closing Period, do not exceed $150,000 in the aggregate);

               (VII)  enter into or become bound by, or permit any of the assets
owned or used by it to become  bound by any Material  Contract  (except that the
Acquired  Corporations  may enter into or become bound by Contracts and Material
Contracts  in  the  ordinary   course  of  business  and  consistent  with  past
practices);

               (VIII) amend or  terminate,  or waive or  exercise  any  material
right or remedy under, any Material Contract, other than in the ordinary  course
of business consistent with past practices;

               (IX)   (A) acquire,  lease or  license any  right or other  asset
from any other  Person or sell or otherwise dispose of, or lease or license, any
right or other  asset to any  other Person  (except in  the  ordinary  course of
business and  consistent  with past  practices) or (B) waive or  relinquish  any
material right;

               (X)    make any  pledge of any of assets or otherwise  permit any
asset of any Acquired  Corporation to become subject to any Encumbrance,  except
(i) for pledges of immaterial assets made in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past  practices,  (ii) for liens for current taxes which are not
yet due and payable, and (iii) for easements,  covenants, rights of way or other
similar  restrictions  and  imperfections  of title  which  have  not  adversely
affected  in any  material  respect,  and which are not  reasonably  expected to
adversely affect in any material  respect,  the business or operations of any of
the Acquired Corporations;

               (XI)   lend  money  to any  Person, or  incur  or  guarantee  any
indebtedness  (except  that  the  Acquired  Corporations  may (A)  make  routine
borrowings in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices
under its current  line of credit with Wells Fargo Bank,  National  Association;
and (B) (in the ordinary  course of business and consistent with past practices)
make advances to employees for valid business purposes);

               (XII)  establish, adopt or  amend any employee  benefit plan, pay
any bonus or make any  profit-sharing  or similar  payment to, or  increase  the
amount of the wages,  salary, commissions, fringe benefits or other compensation
or remuneration payable to, any of its directors, officers or employees  (except
that the  Acquired  Corporations  may in the  ordinary  course of  business  and
consistent with past practices (A) make routine,  reasonable salary increases in
connection with the Acquired  Corporations'  customary  employee review process,
(B) pay customary bonuses in accordance with existing bonus plans referred to in
Part 2.17(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule or new bonus or commission plans
consistent with existing bonus and commission plans (including bonuses paid with
respect to fiscal  2000  pursuant  to the plan  attached  to the  minutes of the
meeting of the compensation  committee of the board of directors of the Company,
dated November 5, 1999, and the  subsequent  consent action of the  compensation
committee,  dated  November  30,  1999) and (C) make  profit  sharing or similar
payments);




                                       33.
<PAGE>


               (XIII) hire any employee at the level of vice president or above,
or with an annual base salary in excess of $100,000;

               (XIV)  change of its pricing policies, product  return  policies,
product maintenance polices,  service policies,  product modification or upgrade
policies,  personnel policies or other business policies,  or any of its methods
of accounting or accounting practices in any material respect;

               (XV)   make any Tax election inconsistent with past practices;

               (xvi)  commence,  settle or take any other material  action  with
respect to any Legal Proceeding;

               (XVII) enter  into  any material transaction  or take  any  other
material  action outside the ordinary  course of business or  inconsistent  with
past practices; or

               (XVIII)agree or commit to take any  of the  actions  described in
the foregoing subsections of this Section 4.2(b).

Without  limiting  any  other  provision  of this  Section  4.2(b),  during  the
Pre-Closing  Period,  the Company  agrees to consult  with  Parent a  reasonable
period of time prior to: (A)  permitting  any of the  Acquired  Corporations  to
enter into any Contract of the type referred to in Section 2.10(a)(iii), and (B)
hiring  any  employee  who would not be  subject  to the  provision  of  Section
4.2(b)(xiii)  (it being understood that the actions referred to in this sentence
shall not require the prior written consent of Parent).

          (C)  During the Pre-Closing  Period, the Company shall promptly notify
Parent in writing of: (i) the discovery by the Company of any event,  condition,
fact or  circumstance  that  occurred or existed on or prior to the date of this
Agreement  and  that  caused  or  constitutes  a  material   inaccuracy  in  any
representation  or  warranty  made by the  Company in this  Agreement;  (ii) any
event,  condition,  fact or circumstance that occurs, arises or exists after the
date of this Agreement and that would cause or constitute a material  inaccuracy
in any  representation  or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement if (A)
such  representation or warranty had been made as of the time of the occurrence,
existence or discovery of such event,  condition,  fact or circumstance,  or (B)
such event, condition,  fact or circumstance had occurred,  arisen or existed on
or  prior  to the date of this  Agreement;  (iii)  any  material  breach  of any
covenant or obligation of the Company;  and (iv) any event,  condition,  fact or
circumstance  that would make the timely  satisfaction  of any of the conditions
set forth in Section 6 or Section 7  impossible  or  unlikely or that has had or
could  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect on the Acquired
Corporations.  Without  limiting the  generality of the  foregoing,  the Company
shall  promptly  advise  Parent in writing of any Legal  Proceeding  or material
claim  threatened,  commenced or asserted  against or with respect to any of the
Acquired Corporations.  No notification given to Parent pursuant to this Section
4.2(c) shall limit or otherwise affect any of the  representations,  warranties,
covenants or obligations of the Company contained in this Agreement.

          (D)  If any event, condition, fact or circumstance that is required to
be  disclosed  pursuant  to Section  4.2(c)  requires  any change in the Company
Disclosure Schedule, or




                                       34.
<PAGE>


if any such event, condition,  fact or circumstance would  require such a change
assuming  the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule  were  dated  as of the date of the
occurrence,   existence  or  discovery  of  such  event,   condition,   fact  or
circumstance, then the Company shall promptly deliver to Parent an update to the
Company  Disclosure  Schedule  specifying  such change.  No such update shall be
deemed to supplement or amend the Company Disclosure Schedule for the purpose of
(i) determining the accuracy of any of the  representations  and warranties made
by the  Company  in  this  Agreement  or  (ii)  determining  whether  any of the
conditions set forth in Section 6 has been satisfied.

     4.3  NO SOLICITATION.

          (A)  Except  as set  forth  on  Part  4.3 of  the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule, the Company shall not directly or indirectly,  and shall not authorize
or permit any of the other Acquired Corporations or any Representative of any of
the Acquired  Corporations  directly or  indirectly  to, (i) solicit,  initiate,
encourage,  induce or facilitate the making,  submission or  announcement of any
Acquisition  Proposal (including by amending,  or granting any waiver under, the
Company Rights  Agreement) or take any action that could  reasonably be expected
to lead to an Acquisition  Proposal,  (ii) furnish any information regarding any
of the Acquired  Corporations to any Person in connection with or in response to
an  Acquisition  Proposal or an inquiry or  indication  of  interest  that could
reasonably  be  expected to lead to an  Acquisition  Proposal,  (iii)  engage in
discussions  or  negotiations  with any Person with  respect to any  Acquisition
Proposal,  (iv) approve,  endorse or recommend any  Acquisition  Proposal or (v)
enter  into  any  letter  of  intent  or  similar   document  or  any   Contract
contemplating or otherwise  relating to any Acquisition  Transaction;  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,  that prior to the approval of this  Agreement by the Required  Company
Stockholder  Vote,  this  Section  4.3(a)  shall not  prohibit  the Company from
furnishing  nonpublic  information  regarding the Acquired  Corporations  to, or
entering into  discussions  or  negotiations  with,  any Person in response to a
Superior  Offer  that is  submitted  to the  Company  by such  Person  (and  not
withdrawn)  if (1)  neither the  Company  nor any  Representative  of any of the
Acquired  Corporations shall have breached or taken any action inconsistent with
any of the  provisions set forth in this Section 4.3, (2) the board of directors
of the Company  concludes  in good faith,  after  having  taken into account the
advice of its  outside  legal  counsel,  that  failure  to take  such  action is
inconsistent with the Company's board of directors' fiduciary obligations to the
Company's  stockholders  under  applicable law, (3) at the same time the Company
furnishes  nonpublic  information to, or enters into discussions or negotiations
with,  such Person,  the Company gives Parent  written notice of the identity of
such Person and the fact that the Company is  furnishing  nonpublic  information
to, or entering into  discussions or  negotiations  with,  such Person,  and the
Company  receives  from  such  Person  an  executed  confidentiality   agreement
containing  customary  limitations  on the use and  disclosure  of all nonpublic
written  and oral  information  furnished  to such Person by or on behalf of the
Company and  containing  confidentiality  and  "standstill"  provisions  no less
favorable to the Company than the "standstill" provisions contained in Section 9
of that  certain  Confidentiality  Agreement,  dated May 24,  2000,  between the
Company and Parent (the  "Confidentiality  Agreement")  and (4) at the same time
the Company furnishes any such nonpublic information to such Person, the Company
furnishes  such  nonpublic  information  to Parent (to the extent such nonpublic
information has not been previously furnished by the Company to Parent). Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing,  the Company  acknowledges  and agrees
that any  violations of the  provisions  set forth in this Section 4.3(a) by any
Representative  of  any of  the




                                       35.
<PAGE>


Acquired Corporations,  whether or not  such Representative is purporting to act
on behalf of any of the Acquired  Corporations,  shall be deemed to constitute a
breach of this Section 4.3 by the Company.

          (B)  The Company  shall  promptly (and in no event later than 24 hours
after receipt of any Acquisition Proposal, any inquiry or indication of interest
that  could  lead  to an  Acquisition  Proposal  or any  request  for  nonpublic
information)  advise Parent orally and in writing of any  Acquisition  Proposal,
any inquiry or indication of interest that could  reasonably be expected to lead
to an Acquisition Proposal or any request for nonpublic  information relating to
any of the Acquired Corporations (including the identity of the Person making or
submitting  such  Acquisition  Proposal,  inquiry,  indication  of  interest  or
request,  and the terms  thereof) that is made or submitted by any Person during
the Pre-Closing  Period.  The Company shall keep Parent informed with respect to
the status of any such Acquisition Proposal,  inquiry, indication of interest or
request and any modification or proposed modification thereto.

          (C)  The Company and its  Representatives  shall immediately cease any
existing discussions with any Person that relate to any Acquisition Proposal.

          (D)  The  Company  agrees not to release or permit the  release of any
Person  from,  or to waive  or  permit  the  waiver  of any  provision  of,  any
confidentiality,  "standstill" or similar agreement to which any of the Acquired
Corporations is a party or under which any of the Acquired  Corporations has any
rights,  and will use its best  efforts to enforce or cause to be enforced  each
such agreement at the request of Parent.  The Company also will promptly request
each Person that has executed,  on or after  January 1, 1999, a  confidentiality
agreement  in  connection  with  its  consideration  of a  possible  Acquisition
Transaction  or  equity  investment  to  return  all  confidential   information
heretofore  furnished  to such  Person by or on  behalf  of any of the  Acquired
Corporations.

5.   ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

     5.1  REGISTRATION STATEMENT; PROSPECTUS/PROXY STATEMENT.

          (A)  As  promptly  as  practicable  after the date of this  Agreement,
Parent  and the  Company  shall  prepare  and cause to be filed with the SEC the
Prospectus/Proxy  Statement, and Parent shall prepare and cause to be filed with
the SEC the Form S-4  Registration  Statement,  in  which  the  Prospectus/Proxy
Statement will be included as a prospectus. Each of Parent and the Company shall
use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Form S-4 Registration Statement
and the  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement  to comply  with the rules and  regulations
promulgated  by the SEC, to respond  promptly to any  comments of the SEC or its
staff and to have the Form S-4 Registration  Statement  declared effective under
the Securities  Act as promptly as  practicable  after it is filed with the SEC.
The   Company   will  use   commercially   reasonable   efforts   to  cause  the
Prospectus/Proxy  Statement  to be mailed to its  stockholders  as  promptly  as
practicable  after the Form S-4  Registration  Statement  is declared  effective
under the Securities Act.  Parent and the Company shall promptly  furnish to the
other  information   concerning  Parent  or  the  Company  or  their  respective
stockholders that may be required or reasonably requested in connection with any
action  contemplated  by this Section  5.1. If any event  relating to any of the
Acquired  Corporations or Parent occurs, or if either party becomes




                                       36.
<PAGE>


aware of any information that should be disclosed in  an amendment or supplement
to the Form S-4 Registration Statement or the Prospectus/Proxy  Statement,  then
such party shall promptly  inform the other party thereof and shall cooperate in
filing such amendment or supplement with the SEC and, if appropriate, in mailing
such amendment or supplement to the stockholders of the Company.

          (B)  Prior  to the  Effective  Time,  Parent  shall  use  commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain all regulatory  approvals needed to ensure that the
Parent  Common Stock to be issued in the Merger will be  registered or qualified
under the securities law of every jurisdiction of the United States in which any
registered holder of Company Common Stock has an address of record on the record
date for determining the  stockholders  entitled to notice of and to vote at the
Company  Stockholders'  Meeting;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that Parent  shall not be
required  (i)  to  qualify  to do  business  as a  foreign  corporation  in  any
jurisdiction  in which it is not now qualified or (ii) to file a general consent
to service of process in any jurisdiction.

     5.2  COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING.

          (A)  The Company shall take all action  necessary under all applicable
Legal  Requirements  to call,  give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of the
holders of Company Common Stock to consider, act upon and vote upon the adoption
and  approval of this  Agreement  (the  "Company  Stockholders'  Meeting").  The
Company  Stockholders' Meeting will be held on a date selected by the Company as
promptly  as  practicable  and in any event  within  45 days  after the Form S-4
Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act so long as
such Form S-4  Registration  Statement  remains in effect and not subject to any
stop orders during such 45-day period;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company may adjourn or
postpone  the Company  Stockholder's  Meeting to the extent  necessary to ensure
that any necessary supplement or amendment to the Prospectus/Proxy  Statement is
provided  to the  Company's  stockholders  in  advance  of a vote on the  Merger
Agreement or, if as of the time for which the Company  Stockholders'  Meeting is
originally scheduled (as set forth in the Prospectus/Proxy  Statement) there are
insufficient  shares of Company Common Stock represented (either in person or by
proxy) to  constitute a quorum  necessary to conduct the business of the Company
Stockholders'  Meeting. The Company shall ensure that the Company  Stockholders'
Meeting is called, noticed,  convened, held and conducted,  and that all proxies
solicited in connection with such Company  Stockholders'  Meeting are solicited,
in compliance with all applicable Legal Requirements.  The Company's  obligation
to call, give notice of, convene and hold its respective  Stockholders'  Meeting
in  accordance  with this  Section  5.2(a)  shall not be  limited  or  otherwise
affected by the  commencement,  disclosure,  announcement  or  submission of any
Superior Offer or other Acquisition Proposal, or by any withdrawal, amendment or
modification of the recommendation of the board of directors of the Company with
respect to the Merger.


          (B)  Subject  to Section  5.2(c):  (i) the board of  directors  of the
Company shall  unanimously  recommend  that the Company's  stockholders  vote in
favor of and adopt this  Agreement  at the Company  Stockholders'  Meeting  (the
recommendation   of  the  Company's   board  of  directors  that  the  Company's
stockholders  vote in favor of and adopt this Agreement being referred to as the
"Company  Board  Recommendation");  (ii) the Proxy  Statement  shall include the
Company  Board  Recommendation;  and (iii) neither the board of directors of the




                                       37.
<PAGE>


Company nor any committee thereof shall withdraw, amend or modify, or propose or
resolve to withdraw, amend or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent, the Company
Board  Recommendation.  For  purposes  of  this  Agreement,  the  Company  Board
Recommendation  shall be deemed to have been  modified  in a manner  adverse  to
Parent if the Company Board Recommendation shall no longer be unanimous.

          (C)  Nothing in Section 5.2(b) shall prevent the board of directors of
the  Company  from   withdrawing,   amending  or  modifying  the  Company  Board
Recommendation  at any  time  prior to the  adoption  of this  Agreement  by the
Required Company Stockholder Vote if (i) a Superior Offer is made to the Company
and is not  withdrawn,  (ii) neither the Company nor any of its  Representatives
shall have violated any of the  restrictions set forth in Section 4.3, (iii) the
board of  directors of the Company  concludes in good faith,  after having taken
into account the advice of the Company's outside legal counsel,  that failure to
take such action is inconsistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Company's
stockholders  under  applicable  law, and (iv) the Company  provides Parent with
reasonable  prior notice of any meeting of the  Company's  board of directors at
which such board of  directors  is  expected to consider  such  Superior  Offer.
Nothing  contained in this Section 5.2 shall limit the  Company's  obligation to
call,  give  notice  of,  convene  and hold the  Company  Stockholders'  Meeting
(regardless  of  whether  the  Company  Board  Recommendation  shall  have  been
withdrawn, amended or modified).

     5.3  REGULATORY  APPROVALS.  Each party shall use  commercially  reasonable
efforts to file, as promptly as  practicable  after the date of this  Agreement,
all notices, reports and other documents required to be filed by such party with
any  Governmental  Body with  respect to the  Merger and the other  transactions
contemplated  by  this   Agreement,   and  to  submit  promptly  any  additional
information  requested  by any such  Governmental  Body.  Without  limiting  the
generality of the  foregoing,  the Company and Parent shall,  promptly after the
date of this Agreement,  prepare and file the  notifications  required under the
HSR Act, if any, in  connection  with the Merger.  The Company and Parent  shall
respond as promptly as  practicable  to (i) any  inquiries or requests  received
from the Federal Trade  Commission or the  Department of Justice for  additional
information or  documentation  and (ii) any inquiries or requests  received from
any  state  attorney  general  or other  Governmental  Body in  connection  with
antitrust or related matters.  Each of the Company and Parent shall (1) give the
other party prompt  notice of the  commencement  of any Legal  Proceeding  by or
before  any  Governmental  Body with  respect  to the Merger or any of the other
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  (2) keep the other party informed
as to the status of any such Legal Proceeding, and (3) promptly inform the other
party  of any  communication  to or  from  the  Federal  Trade  Commission,  the
Department of Justice or any other  Governmental Body regarding the Merger.  The
Company  and Parent  will  consult  and  cooperate  with one  another,  and will
consider  in good  faith  the  views  of one  another,  in  connection  with any
analysis,  appearance,  presentation,  memorandum,  brief, argument,  opinion or
proposal  made or submitted in  connection  with any Legal  Proceeding  under or
relating to the HSR Act or any other  federal or state  antitrust  or fair trade
law. In addition, except as may be prohibited by any Governmental Body or by any
Legal Requirement,  in connection with any Legal Proceeding under or relating to
the HSR Act or any other  federal  or state  antitrust  or fair trade law or any
other  similar  Legal  Proceeding,  each of the  Company  and Parent will permit
authorized  Representatives  of the other party to be present at each meeting or
conference  relating to any such Legal  Proceeding  and to have access to and be
consulted in connection with any




                                       38.
<PAGE>


document, opinion  or proposal  made or submitted  to  any Governmental  Body in
connection with any such Legal Proceeding.

     5.4  ASSUMPTION OF STOCK OPTIONS; TERMINATION OF ESPP.

          (A)  Subject to Section 5.4(b), at the Effective Time, all rights with
respect to Company Common Stock under each Company Option then outstanding shall
be converted  into and become rights with respect to Parent  Common  Stock,  and
Parent shall assume each such Company Option in accordance with the terms (as in
effect as of the date of this Agreement) of the stock option plan under which it
was issued, the stock option agreement by which it is evidenced.  From and after
the Effective  Time,  (i) each Company Option assumed by Parent may be exercised
solely for shares of Parent  Common  Stock,  (ii) the number of shares of Parent
Common Stock subject to each such Company Option shall be equal to the number of
shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option  immediately prior
to the Effective  Time  multiplied by the Exchange  Ratio,  rounding down to the
nearest whole share,  (iii) the per share exercise price under each such Company
Option  shall be adjusted by dividing  the per share  exercise  price under such
Company  Option by the Exchange  Ratio and rounding up to the nearest whole cent
and (iv) any  restriction  on the  exercise  of any such  Company  Option  shall
continue in full force and effect and the term, exercisability, vesting schedule
and other  provisions of such Company Option shall otherwise  remain  unchanged;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that each Company Option assumed by Parent in accordance with
this Section 5.4(a) shall,  in accordance  with its terms, be subject to further
adjustment as appropriate to reflect any stock split, division or subdivision of
shares,   stock  dividend,   reverse  stock  split,   consolidation  of  shares,
reclassification,  recapitalization or other similar  transaction  subsequent to
the  Effective  Time.  Parent shall file with the SEC,  within 30 days after the
date on which the Merger becomes effective, a registration statement on Form S-8
relating  to the shares of Parent  Common  Stock  issuable  with  respect to the
Company Options  assumed by Parent in accordance  with this Section  5.4(a).  As
soon as practicable after the Effective Time (but in no event later than 30 days
thereafter),  Parent  shall  deliver  to each  holder  of a  Company  Option  an
appropriate  notice  setting  forth such  holder's  rights with  respect to such
Company Option and indicating  that such Company Option shall continue in effect
on the same  terms and  conditions  as were in effect  immediately  prior to the
Effective Time (subject to the adjustments required pursuant to Section 5.4(a)).

          (B)  Notwithstanding  anything  to  the  contrary  contained  in  this
Section 5.4, in lieu of assuming  outstanding Company Options in accordance with
Section  5.4(a),  Parent may, at its election,  cause such  outstanding  Company
Options to be replaced by issuing  replacement  stock options with terms no less
favorable in substitution therefor ("Replacement Options"). The vesting schedule
of any  Replacement  Option  shall  be the  same  as that  of the  option  being
replaced.  The number of shares of Parent  Common Stock subject to a Replacement
Option,  as well as the per share  exercise  price of such  Replacement  Option,
shall be determined in the manner specified in Section 5.4(a).  If Parent elects
to  substitute  Replacement  Options  in lieu of  assuming  outstanding  Company
Options,  Parent  shall take all  corporate  action  necessary  to  approve  the
Replacement  Options  described  in this Section  5.4(b) in a manner  qualifying
under Section 424(a) of the Code and shall deliver an agreement  evidencing such
Replacement Options to each applicable holder of a Company Option within 30 days
after the Effective Time. Shares of Parent Common Stock issuable pursuant to the
Replacement  Options granted pursuant to this




                                       39.
<PAGE>


Section  5.4(b) shall be  registered  on  the Form  S-8  Registration  Statement
referred to in Section 5.4(a).

          (C)  Prior to the  Effective  Time,  the Company shall take all action
that may be necessary  (under the plans  pursuant to which  Company  Options are
outstanding  and otherwise) to effectuate the provisions of this Section 5.4 and
to ensure that,  from and after the Effective  Time,  holders of Company Options
have no rights with respect  thereto other than those  specifically  provided in
this Section 5.4.


          (D)  As of the  Effective  Time,  the ESPP  shall be  terminated.  The
rights of  participants  in the ESPP with  respect to any  offering  period then
underway  under the ESPP shall be  determined  by treating the last business day
prior  to the  Effective  Time as the last day of such  offering  period  and by
making such other pro-rata  adjustments as may be required  pursuant to the ESPP
to reflect the reduced  offering  period but  otherwise  treating  such offering
period as a fully  effective and completed  offering  period for all purposes of
such Plan.  Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take all actions that
are necessary to give effect to the  transactions  contemplated  by this Section
5.4(d); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the change in the offering period referred to in
this Section 5.4(d) shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the Merger.

     5.5  EMPLOYEE  BENEFITS.  Parent  agrees that all employees of the Acquired
Corporations who continue  employment with Parent after the Effective Time shall
be eligible to  participate  in Parent's  health,  vacation  and other  employee
benefit  plans,  to the same extent as employees of Parent in similar  positions
and at similar grade levels (it being  understood that such employees'  shall be
eligible to begin to  participate  (i) in Parent's  employee stock purchase plan
upon the commencement of the first new offering period that commences  following
the  Effective  Time,  and (ii) in  Parent's  other  employee  benefit  plans in
accordance with the terms of such plans; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, (A) that in the case
of plans  for which  the  Company  maintains  a plan  offering  the same type of
benefit,  such eligibility need not be offered by Parent until the corresponding
plan of the  Company  ceases to be  available  after the  Effective  Time),  (B)
nothing in this Section 5.5 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall limit the right
of Parent or the  Surviving  Corporation  to amend or terminate  any such health
and/or  welfare  benefit  plan at any time and (C) if  Parent  or the  Surviving
Corporation  terminates  any such health  and/or  welfare  benefit  plan,  then,
subject to any appropriate  transition  period, the continuing Company employees
shall be  eligible  to  participate  in  Parent's  health,  vacation  and  other
non-equity  based employee  benefit plans, to  substantially  the same extent as
similarly  situated  employees of Parent. As soon as  administratively  feasible
following the Effective Time, Parent agrees to take whatever action is necessary
to  transition  Company  employees  into  Parent's  employee  benefits  plans as
contemplated by the first sentence of this Section 5.5. Further, until such time
that the continuing Company employees are covered under an employee benefit plan
of Parent,  they shall  continue to be covered under the  corresponding  Company
Plan that  offers the same type of benefit.  Parent also agrees to provide  each
such  continuing  employee  with full  credit for  service as an employee of the
Company or any affiliate  thereof prior to the Effective  Time for the following
purposes only: for purposes of  eligibility,  vesting and  determination  of the
level of benefits under any employee  benefit plan or arrangement  maintained by
Parent,  including  Parent's  401(k) plan,  and for Parent's  vacation  program.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  to the extent permitted by law, Parent reserves
the right to enforce,  on a  nondiscriminatory  basis, any otherwise  applicable
pre-existing  condition  limitation  under its medical  plan with respect to any
Company  employee  who




                                       40.
<PAGE>


does not enroll in Parent's  medical plan at  the time Parent's  medical plan is
first made  available to such Company  employee.  Nothing in this Section 5.5 or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall be construed to create a right in any employee
to employment  with Parent,  the Surviving  Corporation or any Subsidiary of the
Surviving  Corporation  and, subject to any other binding  agreement  between an
employee  and  Parent,  the  Surviving  Corporation  or  any  Subsidiary  of the
Surviving Corporation,  the employment of each continuing Company employee shall
be "at will"  employment.  The Company agrees to take (or cause to be taken) all
actions  necessary or appropriate to terminate,  effective  immediately prior to
the Effective  Time, any employee  benefit plan sponsored by any of the Acquired
Corporations (or to which any of the Acquired Corporations participates) that is
intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code.

     5.6  INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.

          (A)  All rights to indemnification  existing in favor of those Persons
who are directors  and officers of the Company as of the date of this  Agreement
(the  "Indemnified  Persons")  for acts  and  omissions  occurring  prior to the
Effective Time, as provided in the Company's Bylaws (as in effect as of the date
of this Agreement) and as provided in the indemnification agreements between the
Company  and  said  Indemnified  Persons  (as in  effect  as of the date of this
Agreement),  shall  survive the Merger and shall be  observed  by the  Surviving
Corporation to the fullest extent  available  under Delaware law for a period of
five years from the Effective Time.

          (B)  If the Surviving  Corporation does not have sufficient capital to
comply  with its  obligations  under  Section  5.6,  Parent  shall  provide  the
Surviving Corporation with such capital.

          (C)  This Section shall  survive the  consummation  of the Merger,  is
intended  to  benefit  the  indemnified  parties,  shall  be  binding  upon  all
successors  and  assigns of the  Surviving  Corporation  and Parent and shall be
enforceable by the indemnified parties.

          (D)  Parent shall  provide,  for a period ending on December 31, 2006,
to the  Company's  directors  and officers  immediately  prior to the Closing an
insurance and indemnification policy that provides coverage for events occurring
prior to the  Effective  Time  that is on  terms  and  conditions  substantially
similar  to the  Company's  existing  policy  or,  if  substantially  equivalent
insurance coverage is unavailable, the most comparable coverage.

     5.7  ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS.

          (A)  Subject  to Section  5.7(b),  Parent  and the  Company  shall use
commercially  reasonable  efforts  to take,  or cause to be taken,  all  actions
necessary to effectuate  the Merger and make  effective  the other  transactions
contemplated  by  this  Agreement.   Without  limiting  the  generality  of  the
foregoing, but subject to Section 5.7(b), each party to this Agreement (i) shall
make all filings (if any) and give all notices (if any)  required to be made and
given by such party in  connection  with the  Merger and the other  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement,  (ii) shall use commercially  reasonable efforts
to obtain  each  Consent  (if any)  required  to be  obtained  (pursuant  to any
applicable  Legal  Requirement  or  Contract,  or  otherwise)  by such  party in
connection with the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement,  and




                                       41.
<PAGE>


(iii)  shall  use   commercially  reasonable  efforts  to  lift  any  restraint,
injunction or other legal bar to the Merger.  The Company shall promptly deliver
to Parent a copy of each such filing made,  each such notice given and each such
Consent obtained by the Company during the Pre-Closing Period.

          (B)  Notwithstanding  anything  to  the  contrary  contained  in  this
Agreement,  Parent shall not have any obligation  under this  Agreement:  (i) to
dispose or transfer or cause any of its  Subsidiaries  to dispose of or transfer
any assets, or to commit to cause any of the Acquired Corporations to dispose of
any assets;  (ii) to discontinue or cause any of its Subsidiaries to discontinue
offering  any  product  or  service,  or to commit to cause any of the  Acquired
Corporations to discontinue offering any product or service; (iii) to license or
otherwise  make  available,  or cause  any of its  Subsidiaries  to  license  or
otherwise make  available,  to any Person,  any technology or other  Proprietary
Asset,  or to commit to cause any of the  Acquired  Corporations  to  license or
otherwise  make  available  to any Person any  technology  or other  Proprietary
Asset;  (iv) to hold separate or cause any of its  Subsidiaries to hold separate
any assets or operations (either before or after the Closing Date), or to commit
to cause  any of the  Acquired  Corporations  to hold  separate  any  assets  or
operations;  or (v) to  make  or  cause  any of its  Subsidiaries  to  make  any
commitment  (to  any  Governmental  Body  or  otherwise)  regarding  its  future
operations or the future operations of any of the Acquired Corporations.

     5.8  DISCLOSURE.  Parent  and the  Company  shall  consult  with each other
before issuing any press release or otherwise  making any public  statement with
respect  to the  Merger or any of the other  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,  the Company shall
not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries or any  Representative  of any
of the Acquired Corporations to, make any disclosure regarding the Merger or any
of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement unless (a) Parent shall
have approved such  disclosure or (b) the Company shall have been advised by its
outside legal counsel that such disclosure is required by applicable law.

     5.9  AFFILIATE  AGREEMENTS.  The Company shall use commercially  reasonable
efforts to cause each Person  identified in Part 2.20 of the Company  Disclosure
Schedule  and each other  Person  who is or becomes  (or may be deemed to be) an
"affiliate"  (as that term is used in Rule 145 under the Securities  Act) of the
Company to execute  and  deliver to Parent,  prior to the date of the mailing of
the  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement  to the  Company's  stockholders,  an Affiliate
Agreement in the form of Exhibit B.

     5.10 TAX  MATTERS.  At or prior to the filing of the Form S-4  Registration
Statement,  the Company and Parent shall  execute and deliver to Cooley  Godward
LLP and to  Tonkon  Torp LLP tax  representation  letters  in the form  attached
hereto as Exhibit C.  Parent,  Merger Sub and the Company  shall each confirm to
Cooley  Godward LLP and to Tonkon Torp LLP the accuracy and  completeness  as of
the Effective Time and  thereafter,  where relevant,  of the tax  representation
letters delivered pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence. Parent and the
Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts prior to the Effective Time to
cause the Merger to qualify as a tax free reorganization under Section 368(a)(1)
of the Code.  Following delivery of the tax representations  letters pursuant to
the first  sentence of this Section  5.10,  each of Parent and the Company shall
use its commercially  reasonable  efforts to cause Cooley Godward LLP and Tonkon
Torp  LLP,  respectively,  to  deliver  to  it  a  tax  opinion  satisfying  the




                                       42.
<PAGE>


requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act.
In rendering  such  opinions,  each of such counsel shall be entitled to rely on
the tax  representation  letters  referred to in this Section 5.10.  The parties
hereto shall report the Merger as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code,  and neither  Parent,  Merger Sub nor the Company shall take
any action prior to or following  the Closing that would  reasonably be expected
to cause the Merger to fail to qualify as a reorganization.

     5.11 LETTER  OF  THE   COMPANY'S   ACCOUNTANTS.   The  Company   shall  use
commercially  reasonable  efforts  to cause to be  delivered  to Parent  and the
Company a "comfort"  letter  prepared  by Arthur  Andersen  in  accordance  with
Statement of Auditing  Standards  No. 72 "Letters For  Underwriters  and Certain
Other Requesting  Parties," subject to receipt by Arthur Andersen of a customary
representation  letter from Parent,  dated no more than two business days before
the date on which the Form S-4  Registration  Statement  becomes  effective (and
reasonably  satisfactory in form and substance to Parent and the Company),  that
is  customary  in  scope  and  substance  for  "comfort"  letters  delivered  by
independent  public  accountants  in  connection  with  registration  statements
similar to the Form S-4 Registration Statement.

     5.12 LISTING. Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the
shares of Parent  Common  Stock being  issued in the Merger to be  approved  for
listing as of the  Effective  Time (subject to notice of issuance) on the Nasdaq
National Market.

     5.13 RESIGNATION  OF  OFFICERS  AND   DIRECTORS.   The  Company  shall  use
commercially  reasonable  efforts to obtain and deliver to Parent on or prior to
the Closing the  resignation  of each officer and director from  positions as an
officer and director of each of the Acquired Corporations.

     5.14 TERMINATION  OF  PROFIT  SHARING  AND  SAVINGS  PLANS.  To the  extent
requested by Parent,  the Company  shall ensure that the ESOP and the  Company's
401(k)  Profit  Sharing Plan be  terminated  immediately  prior to the Effective
Time.

     5.15 NO AMENDMENT OF COMPANY RIGHTS AGREEMENT. Except as expressly required
by Section 6.15 or permitted by Section 4.3,  prior to the Closing,  Company and
its Board of  Directors  shall not amend or modify or take any other action with
regard to the Company  Rights  Agreement in any manner or take another action so
as to (i) render the Company Rights Agreement inapplicable to any transaction(s)
other than the Merger and other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement, or
(ii) permit any person or group who would  otherwise be an Acquiring  Person (as
defined in the Company Rights Agreement) not to be an Acquiring Person, or (iii)
provide that a Distribution  Date (as such term is defined in the Company Rights
Agreement)  or similar  event does not occur by reason of the  execution  of any
agreement  or  transaction  other  than this  Agreement  and the  Merger and the
agreements and transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby, or (iv) except as
specifically  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  otherwise  affect the rights of
holders of Rights.

     5.16 OPERATION OF PARENT'S BUSINESS.

          (A)  During  Pre-Closing  Period,  Parent  shall,  and shall cause the
respective  Representatives  of Parent  to:  (a)  provide  the  Company  and the
Company's  Representatives  with




                                       43.
<PAGE>


reasonable access to Parents' Representatives,  personnel and  assets and to all
existing  books,  records,  Tax  Returns,  work papers and other  documents  and
information  relating to Parent;  and (b) provide the Company and the  Company's
Representatives  with such copies of the existing books,  records,  Tax Returns,
work papers and other  documents and  information  relating to Parent,  and with
such additional  financial,  operating and other data and information  regarding
Parent, as the Company may reasonably request.

          (B)  During the Pre-Closing  Period,  Parent shall promptly notify the
Company in writing of: (i) the discovery by Parent of any event, condition, fact
or  circumstance  that  occurred  or  existed  on or  prior  to the date of this
Agreement  and  that  caused  or  constitutes  a  material   inaccuracy  in  any
representation  or warranty  made by Parent in this  Agreement;  (ii) any event,
condition,  fact or circumstance that occurs, arises or exists after the date of
this  Agreement and that would cause or constitute a material  inaccuracy in any
representation  or  warranty  made by  Parent  in  this  Agreement  if (A)  such
representation  or  warranty  had been  made as of the  time of the  occurrence,
existence or discovery of such event,  condition,  fact or circumstance,  or (B)
such event, condition,  fact or circumstance had occurred,  arisen or existed on
or  prior  to the date of this  Agreement;  (iii)  any  material  breach  of any
covenant  or  obligation  of  Parent;  and (iv) any  event,  condition,  fact or
circumstance  that would make the timely  satisfaction  of any of the conditions
set forth in Section 6 or Section 7  impossible  or  unlikely or that has had or
could  reasonably  be  expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on Parent.
Without  limiting the generality of the foregoing,  Parent shall promptly advise
the Company in writing of any Legal  Proceeding  or material  claim  threatened,
commenced or asserted  against or with respect to it. No  notification  given to
the Company pursuant to this Section 5.16(b) shall limit or otherwise affect any
of the representations, warranties, covenants or obligations of Parent contained
in this Agreement.


          (C)  During the Pre-Closing  Period,  Parent shall not amend or permit
the adoption of any amendment to its certificate of  incorporation  or bylaws if
such amendment  materially  adversely  affects the rights of the stockholders of
the Company.

6.   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

     The  obligations  of Parent  and  Merger  Sub  to  effect  the  Merger  and
otherwise consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject
to the  satisfaction,  at or  prior  to the  Closing,  of each of the  following
conditions:

     6.1  ACCURACY OF REPRESENTATIONS.

          (A)  The  representations  and warranties of the Company  contained in
this Agreement shall have been accurate in all material  respects as of the date
of this Agreement (it being  understood  that,  for purposes of determining  the
accuracy of such  representations  and  warranties,  (i) all  "Material  Adverse
Effect"  qualifications and other materiality  qualifications  contained in such
representations  and warranties  shall be disregarded  and (ii) any update of or
modification to the Company  Disclosure  Schedule made or purported to have been
made after the date of this Agreement shall be disregarded).




                                       44.
<PAGE>


          (B)  The  representations  and warranties of the Company  contained in
this  Agreement  shall be accurate in all  respects as of the Closing Date as if
made  on and as of the  Closing  Date,  except  that  any  inaccuracies  in such
representations  and warranties will be disregarded if the circumstances  giving
rise to all such inaccuracies (considered  collectively) do not constitute,  and
could not  reasonably  be expected  to have,  a Material  Adverse  Effect on the
Acquired Corporations;  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, for purposes of determining the
accuracy of such  representations  and  warranties,  (i) all  "Material  Adverse
Effect"  qualifications and other materiality  qualifications  contained in such
representations  and warranties  shall be disregarded  and (ii) any update of or
modification to the Company  Disclosure  Schedule made or purported to have been
made after the date of this Agreement shall be disregarded.

     6.2  PERFORMANCE OF COVENANTS. Each covenant or obligation that the Company
is required  to comply with or to perform at or prior to the Closing  shall have
been complied with and performed in all material respects.

     6.3  EFFECTIVENESS  OF REGISTRATION  STATEMENT.  The Form S-4  Registration
Statement  shall have become  effective in accordance with the provisions of the
Securities Act, and no stop order shall have been issued by the SEC with respect
to the Form S-4 Registration Statement.

     6.4  STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. This Agreement shall have been duly adopted, and
the Merger and the other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement shall have
been duly approved,  by the Required Company  Stockholder Vote, and stockholders
holding no more than 10% of the outstanding  shares of the Company Capital Stock
shall have exercised  appraisal  rights  pursuant to Section 262 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law.

     6.5  CONSENTS.  All Consents required to be obtained in connection with the
Merger  and the  other  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  (i) from
Government Entities,  (ii) identified on Schedule 6.5 hereto or (iii) if failure
to obtain such Consents would  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Acquired  Corporations,  shall have been  obtained and shall be in
full force and effect.

     6.6  AGREEMENTS  AND  DOCUMENTS.  Parent shall have  received the following
agreements and documents, each of which shall be in full force and effect:

          (A)  Affiliate  Agreements  in the form of Exhibit B, executed by each
Person who would  reasonably be deemed to be an  "affiliate"  of the Company (as
that term is used in Rule 145 under the Securities Act);

          (B)  a letter from Arthur  Andersen,  dated as of the Closing Date and
addressed  to  Parent  and the  Company,  reasonably  satisfactory  in form  and
substance to Parent, updating the "comfort" letter referred to in Section 5.11;

          (C)  a legal  opinion of Cooley  Godward  LLP dated as of the  Closing
Date and  addressed to Parent,  to the effect that the Merger will  constitute a
reorganization  within  the  meaning  of  Section  368 of  the  Code  (it  being
understood that (i) in rendering such opinion,  Cooley Godward LLP may rely upon
the tax  representation  letters  referred to in Section 5.10 and (ii) if Cooley
Godward LLP does not render such opinion or withdraws or modifies  such opinion,




                                       45.
<PAGE>


this  condition  shall  nonetheless be deemed to be satisfied if Tonkon Torp LLP
renders such opinion to Parent); and

          (D)  a  certificate  executed  on behalf of the  Company  by its Chief
Executive Officer confirming that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.1, 6.2,
6.4 and 6.5 have been duly satisfied.

     6.7  EMPLOYEES.  Neither of the  individuals  identified  on  Schedule  6.7
hereto shall have  expressed an intention to terminate his  employment  with the
Company and each of the individuals identified on Schedule 6.7 hereto shall have
executed  employment  agreements  with  Parent,  dated  as of the  date  of this
Agreement,  and such  agreements  shall not have been  rescinded and shall be in
full force and effect as of the Closing Date.

     6.8  NO MATERIAL  ADVERSE EFFECT.  Since the date of this Agreement,  there
shall  not  have   occurred  any  Material   Adverse   Effect  on  the  Acquired
Corporations, and no event shall have occurred or circumstance shall exist that,
in  combination  with any other events or  circumstances,  could  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Acquired Corporations.

     6.9  HSR ACT. The waiting  period  applicable  to the  consummation  of the
Merger under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated,  and there shall
not be in effect any voluntary  agreement  between  Parent and the Federal Trade
Commission or the Department of Justice  pursuant to which Parent has agreed not
consummate the Merger for any period of time;  any similar  waiting period under
any applicable  foreign  antitrust law or regulation or other Legal  Requirement
shall have  expired  or been  terminated;  and any  Consent  required  under any
applicable  foreign antitrust law or regulation or other Legal Requirement shall
have been obtained. 6.10 LISTING. The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued
in the  Merger  shall  have been  approved  for  listing  (subject  to notice of
issuance) on the Nasdaq National Market.

     6.11 NO  RESTRAINTS.   No  temporary  restraining  order,   preliminary  or
permanent  injunction or other order  preventing the  consummation of the Merger
shall  have been  issued by any court of  competent  jurisdiction  and remain in
effect,  and  there  shall  not be  any  Legal  Requirement  enacted  or  deemed
applicable to the Merger that makes consummation of the Merger illegal.

     6.12 NO  GOVERNMENTAL  LITIGATION.  There  shall not be  pending or overtly
threatened any Legal  Proceeding in which a  Governmental  Body is or is overtly
threatened to become a party or is otherwise  involved,  and neither  Parent nor
the Company shall have received any communication  from any Governmental Body in
which such  Governmental  Body indicates the probability of commencing any Legal
Proceeding or taking any other action: (a) challenging or seeking to restrain or
prohibit the consummation of the Merger;  (b) relating to the Merger and seeking
to  obtain  from  Parent  or  any of its  Subsidiaries,  or any of the  Acquired
Corporations,  any damages or other relief that would be material to Parent; (c)
seeking to prohibit or limit in any material  respect  Parent's ability to vote,
receive  dividends with respect to or otherwise  exercise  ownership rights with
respect  to the  stock of any of the  Acquired  Corporations;  (d)  which  would




                                       46.
<PAGE>


materially  and  adversely  affect  the right of  Parent or any of the  Acquired
Corporations  to own  the  assets  or  operate  the  business  of  the  Acquired
Corporations;  or (e) seeking to compel Parent or the Company, or any Subsidiary
of Parent or the Company,  to dispose of or hold separate any material assets as
a result of the  Merger or any of the other  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement.

     6.13 NO OTHER  LITIGATION.  There shall not be pending any Legal Proceeding
in which  there is a  reasonable  likelihood  of an  outcome  that  would have a
Material  Adverse  Effect on the  Acquired  Corporations  or a Material  Adverse
Effect on Parent:  (a)  challenging  or  seeking to  restrain  or  prohibit  the
consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;  (b)  relating to the Merger and seeking to obtain from Parent or any
of its Subsidiaries,  or any of the Acquired Corporations,  any damages or other
relief that would be material to Parent; (c) seeking to prohibit or limit in any
material respect Parent's ability to vote,  receive dividends with respect to or
otherwise  exercise  ownership  rights  with  respect to the stock of any of the
Acquired  Corporations;  (d) that would affect  adversely the right of Parent or
any of the  Acquired  Corporations  to own the assets or operate the business of
the Acquired  Corporations;  or (e) seeking to compel Parent or the Company,  or
any  Subsidiary  of Parent or the  Company,  to dispose of or hold  separate any
material  assets  as a result of the  Merger  or any of the  other  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

     6.14 COMPANY RIGHTS  AGREEMENT.  All necessary action shall have been taken
to ensure that neither the entering into of this Agreement nor the  consummation
of the Merger  will cause the  Rights  issued  pursuant  to the  Company  Rights
Agreement to become exercisable,  cause Parent to become an Acquiring Person (as
such  term is  defined  in the  Company  Rights  Agreement),  or give  rise to a
Distribution  Date or a Stock Acquisition Date (as such terms are defined in the
Company Rights  Agreement).  All actions  necessary to extinguish and cancel all
outstanding  Rights under the Company Rights Agreement at the Effective Time and
to render such rights inapplicable to the Merger shall have been taken.

7.   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY

     The  obligation   of  the  Company  to  effect  the  Merger  and  otherwise
consummate the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement are subject to the
satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of the following conditions:

     7.1  ACCURACY OF REPRESENTATIONS.

          (A)  The  representations  and  warranties  of Parent  and  Merger Sub
contained in this Agreement shall have been accurate in all material respects as
of the date of this  Agreement  (it  being  understood  that,  for  purposes  of
determining  the  accuracy of such  representations  and  warranties,  "Material
Adverse Effect" qualifications and other materiality qualifications contained in
such representations and warranties shall be disregarded).

          (B)  The  representations  and  warranties  of Parent  and  Merger Sub
contained in this Agreement  shall be accurate in all respects as of the Closing
Date as if made on and as of the Closing Date,  except that any  inaccuracies in
such  representations  and warranties  will be disregarded if the  circumstances
giving  rise  to  all  such  inaccuracies   (considered   collectively)  do




                                       47.
<PAGE>


not constitute, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that,  for purposes of  determining  the
accuracy of such  representations and warranties,  all "Material Adverse Effect"
qualifications   and  other   materiality   qualifications   contained  in  such
representations and warranties shall be disregarded.

     7.2  PERFORMANCE OF COVENANTS.  All of the covenants and  obligations  that
Parent and Merger Sub are  required  to comply with or to perform at or prior to
the  Closing  shall  have  been  complied  with and  performed  in all  material
respects.

     7.3  EFFECTIVENESS  OF REGISTRATION  STATEMENT.  The Form S-4  Registration
Statement  shall have become  effective in accordance with the provisions of the
Securities Act, and no stop order shall have been issued by the SEC with respect
to the Form S-4 Registration Statement.

     7.4  STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. This Agreement shall have been duly adopted, and
the Merger and the other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement shall have
been duly approved, by the Required Company Stockholder Vote.

     7.5  DOCUMENTS. The Company shall have received the following documents:

          (A)  a legal opinion of Tonkon Torp LLP, dated as of the Closing Date,
to the effect  that the  Merger  will  constitute  a  reorganization  within the
meaning of Section 368 of the Code (it being  understood  that (i) in  rendering
such  opinion,  Tonkon  Torp LLP may rely  upon the tax  representation  letters
referred  to in Section  5.10 and (ii) if Tonkon  Torp LLP does not render  such
opinion or withdraws or modifies such opinion,  this condition shall nonetheless
be deemed to be  satisfied  if Cooley  Godward LLP renders  such  opinion to the
Company); and

          (B)  a  certificate  executed  on behalf  of  Parent  by an  executive
officer of Parent,  confirming that conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.2
have been duly satisfied.

     7.6  HSR ACT. The waiting  period  applicable  to the  consummation  of the
Merger under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated.

     7.7  LISTING.  The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger
shall have been  approved  for listing  (subject to notice of  issuance)  on the
Nasdaq National Market.

     7.8  NO  RESTRAINTS.   No  temporary  restraining  order,   preliminary  or
permanent injunction or other order preventing the consummation of the Merger by
the Company  shall have been issued by any court of competent  jurisdiction  and
remain in effect, and there shall not be any Legal Requirement enacted or deemed
applicable  to the Merger that makes  consummation  of the Merger by the Company
illegal.

     7.9  NO MATERIAL  ADVERSE EFFECT.  Since the date of this Agreement,  there
shall not have  occurred any  Material  Adverse  Effect on Parent,  and no event
shall have occurred or  circumstance  shall exist that, in combination  with any
other events or  circumstances,  could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent.

8.   TERMINATION




                                       48.
<PAGE>


     8.1  TERMINATION.  This Agreement may be terminated  prior to the Effective
Time  (whether  before or after  approval of the Merger by the Required  Company
Stockholder Vote):

          (A)  by mutual written consent of Parent and the Company;

          (B)  by either Parent or the Company if the Merger shall not have been
consummated by February 28, 2001 (unless the failure to consummate the Merger is
attributable  to a failure on the part of the party  seeking to  terminate  this
Agreement  to perform any material  obligation  required to be performed by such
party at or prior to the Effective Time);

          (C)  by  either  Parent  or  the  Company  if  a  court  of  competent
jurisdiction  or  other   Governmental  Body  shall  have  issued  a  final  and
nonappealable  order,  decree or ruling,  or shall have taken any other  action,
having the effect of permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting
the Merger;

          (D)  by either Parent or the Company if (i) the Company  Stockholders'
Meeting  (including any adjournments and postponements  thereof) shall have been
held and completed and the Company's  stockholders shall have taken a final vote
on a proposal to adopt this  Agreement,  and (ii) this Agreement  shall not have
been  adopted  at the  Company  Stockholders'  Meeting  (and shall not have been
adopted at any  adjournment  or  postponement  thereof) by the Required  Company
Stockholder Vote; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that (A) a party shall not be permitted to
terminate this Agreement  pursuant to this Section 8.1(d) if the failure to have
this Agreement adopted by the Required Company  Stockholder Vote is attributable
to a failure on the part of such party to perform  any  material  obligation  in
this  Agreement  required  to be  performed  by such  party  at or  prior to the
Effective  Time,  and (B) the Company  shall not be permitted to terminate  this
Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(d) unless the Company shall have made the
payment  required to be made to Parent pursuant to Section 8.3(a) and shall have
paid to Parent the fee required to be paid to Parent pursuant to Section 8.3(b);

          (E)  by Parent (at any time prior to the adoption and approval of this
Agreement  and  the  Merger  by the  Required  Company  Stockholder  Vote)  if a
Triggering Event shall have occurred;

          (F)  by  Parent  if  (i)  any  of the  Company's  representations  and
warranties  contained in this  Agreement  shall be  inaccurate as of the date of
this Agreement,  or shall have become  inaccurate as of a date subsequent to the
date of this  Agreement  (as if made on such  subsequent  date),  such  that the
condition set forth in Section 6.1 would not be satisfied  (it being  understood
that,  for  purposes of  determining  the accuracy of such  representations  and
warranties as of the date of this  Agreement or as of any  subsequent  date, (A)
all   "Material   Adverse   Effect"   qualifications   and   other   materiality
qualifications,   and   any   similar   qualifications,    contained   in   such
representations  and warranties  shall be  disregarded  and (B) any update of or
modification to the Company  Disclosure  Schedule made or purported to have been
made after the date of this Agreement shall be disregarded),  or (ii) any of the
Company's  covenants  contained in this Agreement  shall have been breached such
that the condition  set forth in Section 6.2 would not be  satisfied;  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,  that if an  inaccuracy  in any of the  Company's  representations  and
warranties as of a date  subsequent to the date of this Agreement or a breach of
a covenant  by the  Company is curable by the  Company  and,  following  written
notice from Parent, the Company is




                                       49.
<PAGE>


continuing  to  exercise  all  reasonable  efforts  to cure such  inaccuracy  or
breach,  then Parent may not terminate this Agreement  under this Section 8.1(f)
on account of such inaccuracy or breach; or

          (G)  by  the  Company  if  (i)  any of  Parent's  representations  and
warranties  contained in this  Agreement  shall be  inaccurate as of the date of
this Agreement,  or shall have become  inaccurate as of a date subsequent to the
date of this  Agreement  (as if made on such  subsequent  date),  such  that the
condition set forth in Section 7.1 would not be satisfied  (it being  understood
that,  for  purposes of  determining  the accuracy of such  representations  and
warranties as of the date of this  Agreement or as of any  subsequent  date, all
"Material Adverse Effect"  qualifications and other materiality  qualifications,
and any similar qualifications, contained in such representations and warranties
shall be disregarded),  or (ii) if any of Parent's  covenants  contained in this
Agreement  shall have been breached such that the condition set forth in Section
7.2 would not be satisfied;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that if an inaccuracy in any of
Parent's  representations  and warranties as of a date subsequent to the date of
this  Agreement  or a breach of a covenant  by Parent is curable by Parent  and,
following written notice from the Company,  Parent is continuing to exercise all
reasonable  efforts to cure such inaccuracy or breach,  then the Company may not
terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(g) on account of such inaccuracy
or breach.

     8.2  EFFECT  OF  TERMINATION.  In the  event  of the  termination  of  this
Agreement  as provided in Section  8.1,  this  Agreement  shall be of no further
force or effect (and,  except as provided in this Section 8.2, there shall be no
liability or  obligation  hereunder on the part of any of the parties  hereto or
their respective  officers,  directors,  stockholders or affiliates);  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,  that  (i)  this  Section  8.2,  Section  8.3  and  Section  9 and  the
Confidentiality  Agreement  shall survive the  termination of this Agreement and
shall  remain  in full  force  and  effect,  and  (ii) the  termination  of this
Agreement  shall not relieve any party from any liability for any willful breach
of any representation, warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement.

     8.3  EXPENSES; TERMINATION FEES.

          (A)  Except as set forth in this  Section  8.3,  all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement  shall be paid by the party  incurring such expenses,  whether or
not the Merger is consummated;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that Parent and the Company
shall share equally all fees and expenses,  other than attorneys' fees, incurred
in connection with the filing, printing and mailing of the Form S-4 Registration
Statement and the  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement and any amendments or supplements
thereto.

          (B)  If (i) this  Agreement  is  terminated  by Parent or the  Company
pursuant to Section  8.1(b) or Section 8.1(d) and at or prior to the time of the
termination of this Agreement an Acquisition Proposal shall have been disclosed,
announced, commenced, submitted or made, or (ii) this Agreement is terminated by
Parent pursuant to Section 8.1(e), then the Company shall pay to Parent, in cash
at the time  specified  in the next  sentence  (and in  addition  to the amounts
payable pursuant to Section 8.3(a)),  a nonrefundable fee in the amount equal to
$3,600,000.  The fee referred to in the preceding  sentence shall be paid by the
Company no later than 60  calendar  days after the date of  termination  of this
Agreement.




                                       50.
<PAGE>



          (C)  If the  Company  fails to pay when due any amount  payable  under
this Section 8.3, then (i) the Company shall reimburse  Parent for all costs and
expenses  (including fees and  disbursements of counsel)  incurred in connection
with the collection of such overdue amount and the  enforcement by Parent of its
rights under this Section 8.3, and (ii) the Company shall pay to Parent interest
on such overdue  amount (for the period  commencing  as of the date such overdue
amount was  originally  required to be paid and ending on the date such  overdue
amount is  actually  paid to  Parent  in full) at a rate per annum  equal to the
"prime  rate" (as  announced  by Bank of America or any  successor  thereto)  in
effect on the date such overdue amount was originally required to be paid.

9.   MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     9.1  AMENDMENT.  This  Agreement  may be amended  with the  approval of the
respective  boards of directors  of the Company and Parent at any time  (whether
before or after the adoption and approval of this  Agreement and the approval of
the Merger by the stockholders of the Company);  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that after
any such  adoption and approval of this  Agreement and approval of the Merger by
the  Company's  stockholders,  no amendment  shall be made which by law requires
further approval of the stockholders of the Company without the further approval
of such stockholders.  This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument
in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

     9.2  WAIVER.

          (A)  No failure  on the part of either  party to  exercise  any power,
right,  privilege  or remedy under this  Agreement,  and no delay on the part of
either  party in  exercising  any power,  right,  privilege or remedy under this
Agreement,  shall operate as a waiver of such power, right, privilege or remedy;
and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right,  privilege or remedy
shall  preclude  any other or further  exercise  thereof or of any other  power,
right, privilege or remedy.

          (B)  Neither  party shall be deemed to have  waived any claim  arising
out of this  Agreement,  or any power,  right,  privilege  or remedy  under this
Agreement, unless the waiver of such claim, power, right, privilege or remedy is
expressly  set forth in a written  instrument  duly  executed  and  delivered on
behalf of such party;  and any such waiver shall not be  applicable  or have any
effect except in the specific instance in which it is given.

     9.3  NO  SURVIVAL  OF   REPRESENTATIONS   AND   WARRANTIES.   None  of  the
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any certificate
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Merger.

     9.4  ENTIRE   AGREEMENT;   COUNTERPARTS.   This  Agreement  and  the  other
agreements  referred to herein constitute the entire agreement and supersede all
prior  agreements and  understandings,  both written and oral, among the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that
the  Confidentiality  Agreement shall not be superseded and continues in effect.
This Agreement may be executed in several  counterparts,  each of which shall be
deemed an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument




                                       51.
<PAGE>


     9.5  APPLICABLE LAW; JURISDICTION. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance  with, the laws of the State of Delaware,  regardless of
the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of
laws thereof.  In any action  between the parties  arising out of or relating to
this Agreement or any of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement:  (a)
each of the parties irrevocably and unconditionally  consents and submits to the
exclusive  jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in the
State of California; (b) if any such action is commenced in a state court, then,
subject to  applicable  law, no party shall object to the removal of such action
to any federal court located in the Northern District of California; (c) each of
the parties  irrevocably  waives the right to trial by jury; and (d) each of the
parties  irrevocably  consents  to service of process by first  class  certified
mail, return receipt  requested,  postage prepaid,  to the address at which such
party is to receive notice in accordance with Section 9.9.

     9.6  DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE. The Company Disclosure Schedule shall be arranged
in separate parts  corresponding to the numbered and lettered Sections contained
in Section 2, and the  information  disclosed in any  numbered or lettered  part
shall be deemed to relate to and to qualify only the  particular  representation
or warranty  set forth in the  corresponding  numbered  or  lettered  Section in
Section 2, and any other  representation  or warranty to which the  relevance of
any representation or warranty is reasonably apparent.

     9.7  ATTORNEYS'  FEES.  In any  action at law or suit in equity to  enforce
this  Agreement or the rights of any of the parties  hereunder,  the  prevailing
party  in such  action  or suit  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  a sum for its
reasonable  attorneys' fees and all other reasonable costs and expenses incurred
in such action or suit.

     9.8  ASSIGNABILITY.  This  Agreement  shall be binding  upon,  and shall be
enforceable  by and inure solely to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their
respective  successors  and  assigns;  PROVIDED,   HOWEVER,  that  neither  this
Agreement  nor any of the  Company's  rights  hereunder  may be  assigned by the
Company  without  the  prior  written  consent  of  Parent,  and  any  attempted
assignment of this  Agreement or any of such rights by the Company  without such
consent  shall be void and of no effect.  Except as  otherwise  contemplated  in
Section 5.6(d), nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or
shall  confer  upon any  Person  any  right,  benefit  or remedy  of any  nature
whatsoever  under or by reason of this  Agreement.  Parent shall promptly notify
the Company of any  successor  in  interest  or assignee of Parent's  rights and
obligations under this Agreement.

     9.9  NOTICES. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be
delivered  to any party  under this  Agreement  shall be in writing and shall be
deemed properly delivered, given and received (a) upon receipt when delivered by
hand, or (b) two business  days after sent by  registered  mail or by courier or
express delivery service, or by facsimile, provided that in each case the notice
or other  communication is sent to the address or facsimile telephone number set
forth  beneath  the  name of such  party  below  (or to such  other  address  or
facsimile  telephone  number as such  party  shall have  specified  in a written
notice given to the other parties hereto):

       If to Parent or Merger Sub:    EXELIXIS, INC.
                                      170 Harbor Way
                                      South San Francisco, CA 94083





                                       52.
<PAGE>


                                      Attn: Chief Financial Officer
                                      Facsimile: (650)837-8300

                                      ATHENS ACQUISITION CORP.
                                      c/o Exelixis, Inc.
                                      170 Harbor Way
                                      South San Francisco, CA 94083
                                      Attn: Chief Financial Officer
                                      Facsimile: (650)837-8300

                                      IN EACH CASE WITH A COPY TO:

                                      Cooley Godward LLP
                                      Five Palo Alto Square
                                      3000 El Camino Real
                                      Palo Alto, CA 94306
                                      Attn: Robert L. Jones and Suzanne Sawochka
                                      Hooper
                                      Facsimile: (650) 849-7400

       If to the Company              AGRITOPE, INC.
                                      16160 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road
                                      Portland, OR 97224-7744
                                      Attn: Chief Financial Officer
                                      Facsimile: (503) 403-5790

                                      WITH A COPY TO:

                                      Tonkon Torp LLP
                                      888 SW 5th Avenue
                                      Portland, OR 97204
                                      Attn:  Brian G. Booth and Thomas P. Palmer
                                      Facsimile: (503)274-8779


     9.10 COOPERATION. The Company and Parent agree to cooperate fully with each
other  and  to  execute  and  deliver  such  further  documents,   certificates,
agreements and  instruments  and to take such other actions as may be reasonably
requested by the other to evidence or reflect the  transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement and to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.

     9.11 CONSTRUCTION.

          (A)  For purposes of this  Agreement,  whenever the context  requires:
the singular  number shall  include the plural,  and vice versa;  the  masculine
gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders;  the feminine gender shall
include the  masculine and neuter  genders;  and the neuter gender shall include
masculine and feminine genders.




                                       53.
<PAGE>


          (B)  The parties  hereto  agree that any rule of  construction  to the
effect that  ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not
be applied in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

          (C)  As used in this Agreement,  the words "include" and  "including,"
and  variations  thereof,  shall not be deemed  to be terms of  limitation,  but
rather shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation."

          (D)  Except as otherwise  indicated,  all references in this Agreement
to "Sections,"  "Exhibits" and  "Schedules" are intended to refer to Sections of
this Agreement and Exhibits or Schedules to this Agreement.

          (E)  The  bold-faced  headings  contained  in this  Agreement  are for
convenience  of  reference  only,  shall  not be  deemed  to be a part  of  this
Agreement and shall not be referred to in connection  with the  construction  or
interpretation of this Agreement.































                                       54.
<PAGE>




      IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed
as of the date first above written.



                                    EXELIXIS, INC.



                                    By:      /s/ George A. Scangos
                                          ------------------------------
                                          Name:  George A. Scangos
                                          Title:  President and Chief Executive
                                                  Officer



                                    ATHENS ACQUISITION CORP.



                                    By:      /s/ George A. Scangos
                                          ------------------------------
                                          Name:  George A. Scangos
                                          Title:  President and Chief Executive
                                                  Officer



                                    AGRITOPE, INC.



                                    By:      /s/ Adolph J. Ferro
                                          ------------------------------
                                          Name:  Adolph J. Ferro
                                          Title:  President and Chief Executive
                                                  Officer



















                                       55.
<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBITS
                                    --------



Exhibit A   -   Certain Definitions

Exhibit B   -   Form of Affiliate Agreement

Exhibit C   -   Form of Tax Representation Letter































                                      B-1.
<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT A

                               CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

      For purposes of the Agreement (including this Exhibit A):

      ACQUIRED CORPORATION CONTRACT.  "Acquired Corporation Contract" shall mean
any Contract:  (a) to which any of the Acquired  Corporations is a party; (b) by
which  any of the  Acquired  Corporations  or any  asset of any of the  Acquired
Corporations  is or may  become  bound  or  under  which  any  of  the  Acquired
Corporations  has, or may become subject to, any obligation;  or (c) under which
any of the Acquired Corporations has or may acquire any right or interest.

      ACQUIRED CORPORATION  PROPRIETARY ASSET. "Acquired Corporation Proprietary
Asset"  shall mean any  Proprietary  Asset  owned by or  licensed  to any of the
Acquired Corporations or otherwise used by any of the Acquired Corporations.

      ACQUISITION  PROPOSAL.   "Acquisition  Proposal"  shall  mean  any  offer,
proposal or inquiry (other than an offer or proposal by Parent) contemplating or
otherwise relating to any Acquisition Transaction.

      ACQUISITION  TRANSACTION.  "Acquisition   Transaction"  shall   mean   any
transaction  or series of transactions involving:

            (A)  any  merger,  consolidation,   amalgamation,   share  exchange,
      business combination,  issuance of securities,  acquisition of securities,
      tender offer, exchange offer or other similar transaction (i) in which any
      of the Acquired  Corporations  is a constituent  company,  (ii) in which a
      Person  or  "group"  (as  defined  in  the  Exchange  Act  and  the  rules
      promulgated  thereunder)  of Persons  directly or indirectly  acquires the
      Company  or  more  than  19% of the  Company's  business  or  directly  or
      indirectly   acquires   beneficial  or  record   ownership  of  securities
      representing,  or exchangeable  for or convertible  into, more than 19% of
      the outstanding securities of any class of voting securities of any of the
      Acquired Corporations,  or (iii) in which any of the Acquired Corporations
      issues securities representing more than 19% of the outstanding securities
      of any class of voting securities of the Company;

            (B) any sale, lease,  exchange,  transfer,  license,  acquisition or
      disposition of any business or businesses or assets that would  constitute
      or account for more than 19% of the consolidated net revenues,  net income
      or total assets of the Company; or

            (C)   any liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

      AGREEMENT.  "Agreement"  shall  mean  the Agreement and Plan of Merger and
Reorganization  to which  this Exhibit A  is attached, as it may be amended from
time to time.

      COMPANY CAPITAL STOCK. "Company Capital Stock" shall  mean,  collectively,
the Company Common Stock and the Company Series A Preferred Stock.



                                      A-1.
<PAGE>


      COMPANY COMMON STOCK.  "Company Common Stock" shall mean the common stock,
$0.01 par value per share, of the Company,  together with the associated  Rights
under the Company Rights Agreement.

      COMPANY COMMON STOCK WARRANTS. "Company Common Stock Warrants"  shall mean
those certain  warrants to purchase 583,333  shares of Company Common Stock held
by Yili Holdings Ltd.; Mega Pacific  International Ltd.; Vitali  Maritime Corp.;
Mizebourne Investment  Corp.;  Banque   Pour   L'Industrie   Francaise;   France
Finance  IV;   Lombard,   Odier  &  Cie;  Courcoux-Bouvet;   Republic   New York
Securities Corp.; and VSII Stockholders Trust II.

      COMPANY DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE.  "Company Disclosure Schedule" shall mean the
Company Disclosure  Schedule that has been prepared by the Company in accordance
with  the  requirements  of  Section  9.6 of the  Agreement  and  that  has been
delivered  by the Company to Parent on the date of the  Agreement  and signed by
the President of the Company.

      COMPANY OPTIONS. "Company Options" shall  mean the stock  options  granted
by the Company pursuant to the Company's stock option plans and otherwise.

      COMPANY PREFERRED STOCK. "Company  Preferred Stock" shall mean the Company
Series A Preferred Stock and the Company Series B Junior Participating Preferred
Stock.

      COMPANY PREFERRED STOCK WARRANTS. "Company Preferred Stock Warrants" shall
mean those  certain  warrants to  purchase  125,000  shares of Company  Series A
Preferred Stock held by Vilmorin Clause & Cie.

      COMPANY SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK. "Company Series A Preferred Stock" shall
mean the Series A Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company.

      COMPANY SERIES B JUNIOR PARTICIPATING  PREFERRED STOCK.  "Company Series B
Junior   Participating   Preferred   Stock"  shall  mean  the  Series  B  Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company.

      COMPANY WARRANTS. "Company Warrants" shall mean, collectively, the Company
Common Stock Warrants and the Company Preferred Stock Warrants.

      CONSENT.   "Consent"  shall   mean  any  approval, consent,  ratification,
permission, waiver or authorization (including any Governmental Authorization).

      CONTRACT.  "Contract"  shall mean any  written,  oral or other  agreement,
contract, subcontract, lease, understanding, instrument, note, option, warranty,
purchase order, license,  sublicense,  insurance policy, benefit plan or legally
binding commitment or undertaking of any nature.

      ENCUMBRANCE.  "Encumbrance"  shall mean any lien,  pledge,  hypothecation,
charge,  mortgage,   security  interest,   encumbrance,   claim,   infringement,
interference,  option,  right  of first  refusal,  preemptive  right,  community
property interest or restriction of any nature (including any restriction on the
voting of any security, any restriction on the transfer of any security or other
asset,  any restriction on the receipt of any income derived from any asset, any
restriction  on the

                                      A-2.


<PAGE>


use of any  asset  and any  restriction on the  possession, exercise or transfer
of any other attribute of ownership of any asset).

      ENTITY.  "Entity"  shall mean any  corporation  (including  any non-profit
corporation),   general  partnership,  limited  partnership,  limited  liability
partnership,  joint  venture,  estate,  trust,  company  (including  any company
limited by shares,  limited  liability  company or joint stock  company),  firm,
society or other enterprise, association, organization or entity.

      EXCHANGE ACT.  "Exchange  Act" shall mean  the Securities Exchange  Act of
1934,  as amended.

      FORM S-4 REGISTRATION  STATEMENT.  "Form S-4 Registration Statement" shall
mean the  registration  statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the SEC by Parent
in  connection  with  issuance of Parent  Common  Stock in the  Merger,  as said
registration statement may be amended prior to the time it is declared effective
by the SEC.

      GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION.  "Governmental  Authorization" shall mean any:
(a) permit, license, certificate,  franchise,  permission,  variance, clearance,
registration, qualification or authorization issued, granted, given or otherwise
made available by or under the authority of any Governmental Body or pursuant to
any Legal  Requirement;  or (b) right under any Contract  with any  Governmental
Body.

      GOVERNMENTAL BODY.  "Governmental Body" shall mean any: (a) nation, state,
commonwealth,  province,  territory,  county,  municipality,  district  or other
jurisdiction of any nature; (b) federal,  state,  local,  municipal,  foreign or
other  government;  or (c) governmental or  quasi-governmental  authority of any
nature (including any governmental  division,  department,  agency,  commission,
instrumentality,  official,  ministry, fund, foundation,  center,  organization,
unit, body or Entity and any court or other tribunal).

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

      LEGAL  PROCEEDING.   "Legal  Proceeding"  shall  mean  any  action,  suit,
litigation,    arbitration,   proceeding   (including   any   civil,   criminal,
administrative, investigative or appellate proceeding), hearing, inquiry, audit,
examination  or  investigation  commenced,  brought,  conducted  or  heard by or
before,  or otherwise  involving,  any court or other  Governmental  Body or any
arbitrator or arbitration panel.

      LEGAL  REQUIREMENT.  "Legal  Requirement"  shall mean any federal,  state,
local,  municipal,  foreign or other law,  statute,  constitution,  principle of
common law, resolution, ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, regulation, ruling
or requirement issued, enacted, adopted,  promulgated,  implemented or otherwise
put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Body (or under the
authority of the Nasdaq National Market).

      MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT. An event, violation, inaccuracy,  circumstance or
other matter will be deemed to have a "Material  Adverse Effect" on the Acquired
Corporations if such event, violation, inaccuracy,  circumstance or other matter
(considered together with all other matters that would constitute  exceptions to
the  representations  and  warranties of the Company set forth

                                      A-3.


<PAGE>


in  the  Agreement,  disregarding  any of  "Material  Adverse  Effect"  or other
materiality   qualifications,   or   any   similar   qualifications,   in   such
representations  and warranties)  had or could  reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on (i) the business, condition, capitalization,  assets,
liabilities,  operations,  financial  performance  or  prospects of the Acquired
Corporations taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Company to consummate the
Merger or any of the other  transactions  contemplated  by the  Agreement  or to
perform any of its obligations under the Agreement, or (iii) Parent's ability to
vote,  receive dividends with respect to or otherwise  exercise ownership rights
with respect to the stock of the Surviving Corporation;  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
none of the  following  shall be deemed,  in and of  itself,  to have a Material
Adverse  Effect  on  the  Acquired  Corporations:   (A)  an  event,   violation,
inaccuracy,  circumstance or other matter that results from conditions affecting
the U.S. economy in general; (B) an event, violation,  inaccuracy,  circumstance
or other matter that results from  conditions  affecting the Company's  industry
generally,  so  long  as  such  conditions  do not  affect  any of the  Acquired
Corporations in a materially  disproportionate  manner; (C) an event, violation,
inaccuracy,  circumstance  or other  matter that  results from the taking of any
action  expressly  required by this Agreement and (D)  continuing  losses of the
Acquired  Corporations from operations not in excess of $1,500,000.00 per fiscal
quarter. An event, violation,  inaccuracy,  circumstance or other matter will be
deemed to have a "Material  Adverse Effect" on Parent if such event,  violation,
inaccuracy,  circumstance  or other matter  (considered  together with all other
matters that would constitute  exceptions to the  representations and warranties
of Parent set forth in the Agreement, disregarding any "Material Adverse Effect"
or other  materiality  qualifications,  or any similar  qualifications,  in such
representations  and warranties)  had or could  reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on (i) the business, condition, capitalization,  assets,
liabilities,  operations,  financial  performance or prospects of Parent and its
Subsidiaries  taken as a whole or (ii) the ability of Parent to  consummate  the
Merger or any of the other  transactions  contemplated  by the  Agreement  or to
perform any of its obligations under the Agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that none
of the following shall be deemed,  in and of itself,  to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent:  (A) an event,  violation,  inaccuracy,  circumstance or other
matter that results from conditions  affecting the U.S. economy in general;  (B)
an event, violation, inaccuracy,  circumstance or other matter that results from
conditions affecting Parent's industry generally,  so long as such conditions do
not  affect  Parent  in a  materially  disproportionate  manner;  (C) an  event,
violation, inaccuracy, circumstance or other matter that results from the taking
of any  action  expressly  required  by this  Agreement;  and (D) a  decline  in
Parent's stock price.

      PARENT COMMON  STOCK. "Parent  Common  Stock" shall mean the common stock,
$.001 par value per share, of Parent.

      PERSON. "Person" shall mean any individual, Entity or Governmental Body.

      PROPRIETARY ASSET.  "Proprietary Asset" shall mean any: (a) patent, patent
application,   trademark   (whether   registered  or  unregistered),   trademark
application,  trade  name,  fictitious  business  name,  service  mark  (whether
registered  or  unregistered),  service  mark  application,  copyright  (whether
registered  or  unregistered),   copyright   application,   maskwork,   maskwork
application,  trade secret, know-how, customer list, franchise, system, computer
software,   computer  program,  source  code,  algorithm,   invention,   design,
proprietary  product,  technology,

                                      A-4.


<PAGE>


proprietary  right  or  other  intellectual property  right or intangible asset;
or (b) right to use or exploit any of the foregoing.

      PROSPECTUS/PROXY  STATEMENT.  "Prospectus/Proxy  Statement" shall mean the
proxy statement to be sent to the Company's  stockholders in connection with the
Company Stockholders' Meeting.

      REPRESENTATIVES.  "Representatives"   shall   mean  officers,   directors,
employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, advisors and representatives.

      REQUIRED COMPANY  STOCKHOLDER  VOTE.  "Required  Company Stockholder Vote"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.27.

      SEC. "SEC"  shall   mean  the  United   States   Securities   and Exchange
Commission.

      SECURITIES ACT. "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

      SUBSIDIARY.  An entity  shall be deemed to be a  "Subsidiary"  of  another
Person if such Person  directly or indirectly  owns,  beneficially or of record,
(a) an amount of voting  securities  of other  interests  in such Entity that is
sufficient to enable such Person to elect at leased a majority of the members of
such Entity's board of directors or other governing body, or (b) at least 50% of
the outstanding equity or financial interests or such Entity.

      SUPERIOR  OFFER.  "Superior  Offer" shall mean an  unsolicited,  bona fide
written offer made by a third party to purchase or otherwise acquire (whether by
means  of  a  merger,  consolidation,  amalgamation,  share  exchange,  business
combination,  issuance of securities,  acquisition of securities,  tender offer,
exchange  offer or other  similar  transaction)  50% or more of the  outstanding
shares of Company  Common  Stock,  which the board of  directors  of the Company
determines,  in its  reasonable  judgment,  after  receiving  the  advice  of an
independent  financial advisor of nationally  recognized  reputation,  has terms
more favorable to the Company's stockholders from a financial point of view than
the terms of the  Merger;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that any such offer shall not be
deemed to be a "Superior  Offer" if any  financing  required to  consummate  the
transaction  contemplated  by such offer is not committed and is not  reasonably
capable of being obtained by such third party.

      TAX. "Tax" shall mean any tax  (including  any income tax,  franchise tax,
capital gains tax, gross receipts tax,  value-added tax, surtax,  estimated tax,
unemployment  tax,  national  health  insurance tax, excise tax, ad valorem tax,
transfer  tax,  stamp tax,  sales tax,  use tax,  property  tax,  business  tax,
withholding tax or payroll tax), levy,  assessment,  tariff, duty (including any
customs duty),  deficiency or fee, and any related  charge or amount  (including
any fine, penalty or interest),  imposed,  assessed or collected by or under the
authority of any Governmental Body.

      TAX RETURN.  "Tax Return" shall mean any return (including any information
return),   report,   statement,   declaration,   estimate,   schedule,   notice,
notification, form, election, certificate or other document or information filed
with or  submitted  to,  or  required  to be filed  with or  submitted  to,  any
Governmental Body in connection with the determination,  assessment,  collection
or payment of any Tax or in connection with the  administration,  implementation
or enforcement of or compliance with any Legal Requirement relating to any Tax.

                                      A-5.


<PAGE>


      TRIGGERING  EVENT.  A "Triggering  Event" shall be deemed to have occurred
if: (i) the board of  directors  of the Company  shall have failed to  recommend
that the  Company's  stockholders  vote to adopt the  Agreement,  or shall  have
withdrawn  or  modified  in  a  manner  adverse  to  Parent  the  Company  Board
Recommendation, or shall have taken any other action clearly evidencing that the
board of  directors  of the  Company  does not  support  the  Merger or does not
believe that the Merger is in the best interests of the Company's  stockholders;
(ii) the Company shall have failed to include in the Prospectus/Proxy  Statement
the Company Board  Recommendation or a statement to the effect that the board of
directors of the Company has  determined  and believes that the Merger is in the
best  interests of the Company's  stockholders;  (iii) the board of directors of
the  Company  shall have  approved,  endorsed  or  recommended  any  Acquisition
Proposal;  (iv) the  Company  shall  have  entered  into any letter of intent or
similar document or any Contract relating to any Acquisition  Proposal;  (v) the
Company shall have failed to hold the Company  Stockholders' Meeting as promptly
as practicable  and in any event within 45 days after the Form S-4  Registration
Statement  is declared  effective  under the  Securities  Act;  (vi) a tender or
exchange  offer  relating to securities of the Company shall have been commenced
and the Company shall not have sent to its securityholders,  within ten business
days after the  commencement  of such  tender or  exchange  offer,  a  statement
disclosing  that the  Company  recommends  rejection  of such tender or exchange
offer;  (vii) an  Acquisition  Proposal is publicly  announced,  and the Company
fails to issue a press release  announcing  its  opposition to such  Acquisition
Proposal within ten business days after such Acquisition  Proposal is announced;
or (viii) any of the Acquired  Corporations or any  Representative of any of the
Acquired  Corporations  shall have violated any of the  provisions  set forth in
Section 4.3 in any material respect.


























                                      A-6.


<PAGE>


                           FORM OF AFFILIATE AGREEMENT

      THIS  AFFILIATE  AGREEMENT  ("Affiliate  Agreement") is being executed and
delivered as of __________ __, 2000 by ________________ ("Stockholder") in favor
of and for the benefit of EXELIXIS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Parent").

                                    RECITALS

      A.    Stockholder  is  a  stockholder  of,  and  is  an  officer  and/or
director of, AGRITOPE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

      B.  Parent,  the  Company and Athens  Acquisition  Corp.,  a wholly  owned
subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"),  have entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger  and  Reorganization  dated as of August  7,  2000  (the  "Reorganization
Agreement"),  providing  for the  merger of  Merger  Sub into the  Company  (the
"Merger").  The Reorganization Agreement contemplates that, upon consummation of
the  Merger,  (i) holders of shares of the  capital  stock of the  Company  will
receive shares of common stock of Parent ("Parent Common Stock") in exchange for
their shares of capital  stock of the Company and (ii) the Company will become a
wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  Parent.  It  is  accordingly   contemplated  that
Stockholder will receive shares of Parent Common Stock in the Merger.

      C.  Stockholder  understands  that the Parent Common Stock being issued in
the Merger will be issued pursuant to a registration  statement on Form S-4, and
that  Stockholder may be deemed an "affiliate" of Parent as such term is defined
for purposes of paragraphs  (c) and (d) of Rule 145 under the  Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").

                                    AGREEMENT

      Stockholder, intending to be legally bound, agrees as follows:

      1.    REPRESENTATIONS    AND   WARRANTIES  OF   STOCKHOLDER.   Stockholder
represents and warrants to Parent as follows:

            (A)  Stockholder is the holder and "beneficial owner" (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the number
of  outstanding  shares  of  capital  stock of the  Company  set  forth  beneath
Stockholder's signature on the signature page hereof (the "Company Shares"), and
Stockholder  has good and valid title to the Company  Shares,  free and clear of
any liens,  pledges,  security  interests,  adverse claims,  equities,  options,
proxies,  charges,  encumbrances or restrictions of any nature.  Stockholder has
the sole right to vote and to dispose of the Company Shares.

            (B)  Stockholder  is the holder of options to purchase the number of
shares of capital stock of the Company set forth beneath Stockholder's signature
on the signature page hereof (the "Company  Options"),  and Stockholder has good
and valid title to the Company  Options,  free and clear of any liens,  pledges,
security  interests,   adverse  claims,  equities,  options,  proxies,  charges,
encumbrances or restrictions of any nature.



<PAGE>


            (C)  Stockholder is the holder of warrants to purchase the number of
shares of capital stock of the Company set forth beneath Stockholder's signature
on the signature page hereof (the "Company Warrants").  Stockholder has good and
valid title to the Company  Warrants,  as the case may be, free and clear of any
liens, pledges, security interests,  adverse claims, equities, options, proxies,
charges, encumbrances or restrictions of any nature.

            (D)  Stockholder does not own, of record or  beneficially,  directly
or  indirectly,  any  securities of the Company  other than the Company  Shares,
Company Options and Company Warrants.

            (E)  Stockholder has carefully read this Affiliate Agreement and, to
the  extent   Stockholder  felt  necessary,   has  discussed  with  counsel  the
limitations  imposed on  Stockholder's  ability to sell,  transfer or  otherwise
dispose of the Company Shares, Company Options,  Company Warrants, the shares of
Parent  Common Stock that  Stockholder  is to receive in the Merger (the "Parent
Shares")  and the  options  to  purchase  shares of  Parent  Common  Stock  that
Stockholder is to receive in respect of the Company  Options in connection  with
the  Merger.  Stockholder  fully  understands  the  limitations  this  Affiliate
Agreement  places upon  Stockholder's  ability to sell,  transfer  or  otherwise
dispose of securities of the Company and securities of Parent.

            (F)  Stockholder  understands that the  representations,  warranties
and  covenants  set forth in this  Affiliate  Agreement  will be relied  upon by
Parent and its counsel and  accountants  for  purposes  of  determining  whether
Parent should proceed with the Merger.

      2.    PROHIBITIONS AGAINST TRANSFER. Stockholder agrees  that  Stockholder
shall not effect any sale,  transfer or other disposition of any Parent Shares
unless:

            (A)  such sale,  transfer or other  disposition is effected pursuant
to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act;

            (B)  such sale,  transfer or other disposition is made in conformity
with the  requirements  of Rule 145 under the Securities  Act, as evidenced by a
broker's   letter  and  a   representation   letter   executed  by   Stockholder
(satisfactory in form and content to Parent) stating that such requirements have
been met;

            (C)  counsel  reasonably  satisfactory  to Parent shall have advised
Parent in a written opinion letter (satisfactory in form and content to Parent),
upon which Parent may rely, that such sale,  transfer or other  disposition will
be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act; or

            (D)  an  authorized  representative  of the SEC shall have  rendered
written  advice to  Stockholder to the effect that the SEC would take no action,
or that the staff of the SEC would not recommend that the SEC take action,  with
respect to such proposed sale, transfer or other disposition, and a copy of such
written advice and all other related communications with the SEC shall have been
delivered to Parent.

      3.    STOP TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS; LEGEND.



<PAGE>


            Stockholder   acknowledges   and  agrees  that  (a)  stop   transfer
instructions will be given to Parent's transfer agent with respect to the Parent
Shares,  and (b) each  certificate  representing any of such shares shall bear a
legend identical or similar in effect to the following legend (together with any
other  legend  or  legends  required  by  applicable  state  securities  laws or
otherwise):

            "THE  SHARES  REPRESENTED  BY  THIS  CERTIFICATE  WERE  ISSUED  IN A
            TRANSACTION  TO WHICH  RULE  145(d)  OF THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933
            APPLIES  AND MAY NOT BE  OFFERED,  SOLD  OR  OTHERWISE  TRANSFERRED,
            ASSIGNED,  PLEDGED OR  HYPOTHECATED  EXCEPT IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH THE
            PROVISIONS  OF SUCH  RULE AND IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  THE  TERMS OF AN
            AGREEMENT  DATED AS OF AUGUST  ___,  2000,  BETWEEN  THE  REGISTERED
            HOLDER  HEREOF  AND THE  ISSUER,  A COPY OF  WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE
            PRINCIPAL OFFICES OF THE ISSUER."

      4.    INDEPENDENCE  OF  OBLIGATIONS.  The  covenants  and  obligations  of
Stockholder  set  forth  in this  Affiliate  Agreement  shall  be  construed  as
independent of any other agreement or arrangement  between  Stockholder,  on the
one hand, and the Company or Parent, on the other. The existence of any claim or
cause of  action  by  Stockholder  against  the  Company  or  Parent  shall  not
constitute a defense to the  enforcement of any of such covenants or obligations
against Stockholder.

      5.    SPECIFIC  PERFORMANCE.  Stockholder  agrees that in the event of any
breach or threatened breach by Stockholder of any covenant,  obligation or other
provision  contained in this Affiliate  Agreement,  Parent shall be entitled (in
addition to any other  remedy that may be  available to Parent) to: (a) a decree
or order of specific  performance  or mandamus  to enforce  the  observance  and
performance  of  such  covenant,  obligation  or  other  provision;  and  (b) an
injunction  restraining such breach or threatened  breach.  Stockholder  further
agrees that  neither  Parent nor any other person or entity shall be required to
obtain,  furnish or post any bond or similar instrument in connection with or as
a  condition  to  obtaining  any  remedy  referred  to in this  Section  5,  and
Stockholder  irrevocably  waives any right he may have to require the obtaining,
furnishing or posting of any such bond or similar instrument.

      6.    OTHER  AGREEMENTS.  Nothing in this Affiliate  Agreement shall limit
any of the rights or remedies of Parent under the Reorganization  Agreement,  or
any of the rights or remedies of Parent or any of the obligations of Stockholder
under  any  agreement  between  Stockholder  and  Parent or any  certificate  or
instrument  executed  by  Stockholder  in favor of  Parent;  and  nothing in the
Reorganization  Agreement or in any other  agreement,  certificate or instrument
shall limit any of the rights or remedies of Parent or any of the obligations of
Stockholder under this Affiliate Agreement.

      7.    NOTICES. Any notice or other communication  required or permitted to
be delivered to Stockholder or Parent under this Affiliate Agreement shall be in
writing  and  shall be  deemed  properly  delivered,  given  and  received  when
delivered to the address or  facsimile  telephone  number set forth  beneath the
name of such party below (or to such other address or



<PAGE>


facsimile telephone number as such  party  shall  have  specified  in a  written
notice  given to the other party):

       If to Parent or Merger Sub:    EXELIXIS, INC.
                                      170 Harbor Way
                                      South San Francisco, CA 94083
                                      Attn: Chief Financial Officer
                                      Facsimile: (650) 837-8300

                                      ATHENS ACQUISITION CORP.
                                      c/o Exelixis, Inc.
                                      170 Harbor Way
                                      South San Francisco, CA 94083
                                      Attn: Chief Financial Officer
                                      Facsimile: (650) 837-8300

                                      IN EACH CASE WITH A COPY TO:

                                      Cooley Godward LLP
                                      Five Palo Alto Square
                                      3000 El Camino Real
                                      Palo Alto, CA 94306
                                      Attn:  Robert  L.  Jones  and  Suzanne
                                             Sawochka Hooper
                                      Facsimile: (650) 849-7400


       If to Stockholder:             -----------------------------
                                      -----------------------------
                                      -----------------------------
                                      -----------------------------



      8.    SEVERABILITY.  If any provision of this  Affiliate  Agreement or any
part of any such  provision  is held  under any  circumstances  to be invalid or
unenforceable  in any  jurisdiction,  then (a) such  provision  or part  thereof
shall, with respect to such  circumstances and in such  jurisdiction,  be deemed
amended to conform to applicable  laws so as to be valid and  enforceable to the
fullest  possible  extent,  (b)  the  invalidity  or  unenforceability  of  such
provision  or part thereof  under such  circumstances  and in such  jurisdiction
shall not  affect the  validity  or  enforceability  of such  provision  or part
thereof under any other  circumstances or in any other  jurisdiction and (c) the
invalidity  or  unenforceability  of such  provision or part  thereof  shall not
affect the validity or  enforceability of the remainder of such provision or the
validity or enforceability  of any other provision of this Affiliate  Agreement.
Each  provision  of this  Affiliate  Agreement  is  separable  from every  other
provision of this Affiliate  Agreement,  and each part of each provision of this
Affiliate Agreement is separable from every other part of such provision.



<PAGE>


      9.    APPLICABLE  LAW;  JURISDICTION.  THIS  AFFILIATE  AGREEMENT  IS MADE
UNDER,  AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED  AND  ENFORCED IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH,  THE LAWS OF
DELAWARE  APPLICABLE  TO  AGREEMENTS  MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED  SOLELY  THEREIN,
WITHOUT  GIVING EFFECT TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. In any action  between
or among any of the parties,  whether arising out of this Affiliate Agreement or
otherwise,  (a) each of the parties irrevocably and unconditionally consents and
submits to the exclusive  jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts
located in the State of  California;  (b) if any such action is  commended  in a
state  court,  then,  subject to  applicable  law, no party shall  object to the
removal of such action to any federal court located in the Northern  District of
California;  (c) each of the  parties  irrevocably  waives the right to trial by
jury; and (d) each of the parties irrevocably  consents to service of process by
first class certified mail, return receipt requested,  postage prepared,  to the
address at which such party is to receive notice in accordance with Section 7.

      10.   WAIVER;  TERMINATION.  No failure on the part of Parent to  exercise
any power,  right,  privilege or remedy under this Affiliate  Agreement,  and no
delay on the part of Parent in exercising any power, right,  privilege or remedy
under this Affiliate Agreement,  shall operate as a waiver of such power, right,
privilege or remedy; and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right,
privilege or remedy shall preclude any other or further  exercise  thereof or of
any other power, right,  privilege or remedy. Parent shall not be deemed to have
waived any claim arising out of this Affiliate  Agreement,  or any power, right,
privilege or remedy under this  Affiliate  Agreement,  unless the waiver of such
claim,  power,  right,  privilege or remedy is expressly  set forth in a written
instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of Parent;  and any such waiver
shall not be applicable  or have any effect  except in the specific  instance in
which it is given. If the Reorganization Agreement is terminated, this Affiliate
Agreement shall thereupon terminate.

      11.   CAPTIONS. The captions contained in this Affiliate Agreement are for
convenience  of  reference  only,  shall  not be  deemed  to be a part  of  this
Affiliate  Agreement  and  shall  not be  referred  to in  connection  with  the
construction or interpretation of this Affiliate Agreement.

      12.   FURTHER  ASSURANCES.  Stockholder  shall execute  and/or cause to be
delivered to Parent such  instruments  and other  documents  and shall take such
other  actions as Parent may  reasonably  request to  effectuate  the intent and
purposes of this Affiliate Agreement.

      13.   ENTIRE  AGREEMENT.  This  Affiliate  Agreement,  the  Reorganization
Agreement  and  any  Voting  Agreement  or   Noncompetition   Agreement  between
Stockholder and Parent collectively set forth the entire understanding of Parent
and Stockholder  relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede
all other prior  agreements and  understandings  between Parent and  Stockholder
relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

      14.   NON-EXCLUSIVITY. The rights and remedies of Parent hereunder are not
exclusive of or limited by any other  rights or remedies  which Parent may have,
whether at law,  in equity,  by  contract  or  otherwise,  all of which shall be
cumulative (and not alternative).



<PAGE>


      15.   AMENDMENTS.  This Affiliate Agreement may not be amended,  modified,
altered  or  supplemented  other  than by means  of a  written  instrument  duly
executed and delivered on behalf of Parent and Stockholder.

      16.   ASSIGNMENT.   This  Affiliate   Agreement  and  all  obligations  of
Stockholder  hereunder are personal to Stockholder and may not be transferred or
delegated by Stockholder at any time. Parent may freely assign any or all of its
rights under this Affiliate Agreement,  in whole or in part, to any other person
or entity without obtaining the consent or approval of Stockholder.

      17.   BINDING NATURE. Subject to Section 16, this Affiliate Agreement will
inure to the  benefit  of Parent  and its  successors  and  assigns  and will be
binding  upon   Stockholder  and   Stockholder's   representatives,   executors,
administrators, estate, heirs, successors and assigns.

      18.   SURVIVAL.  Each of the  representations,  warranties,  covenants and
obligations contained in this Affiliate Agreement shall survive the consummation
of the Merger.
































<PAGE>


      Stockholder  has  executed  this  Affiliate  Agreement  on the date  first
written above.

                                    ------------------------------------------
                                                   (SIGNATURE)

                                    ------------------------------------------
                                                  (Print Name)

NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OF
CAPITAL STOCK OF THE COMPANY
HELD BY STOCKHOLDER:

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

NUMBER OF SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK
OF THE COMPANY SUBJECT TO OPTIONS
HELD BY STOCKHOLDER:

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


NUMBER OF SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK
OF THE COMPANY SUBJECT TO WARRANTS
HELD BY STOCKHOLDER:

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

009093\00036\355718 V001
























<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT C


                  FORM OF COMPANY TAX REPRESENTATION LETTER


_____________, 2000

Cooley Godward LLP                        Tonkon Torp LLP
Five Palo Alto Square                     1600 Pioneer Tower
3000 El Camino Real                       888 SW Fifth Avenue
Palo Alto, CA  94306                      Portland, OR  97205-2099

      RE:   MERGER   PURSUANT   TO  THE   AGREEMENT   AND  PLAN  OF  MERGER  AND
            REORGANIZATION,   INCLUDING  EXHIBITS  AND  SCHEDULES  THERETO  (THE
            "MERGER  AGREEMENT"),  DATED AS OF  AUGUST  __,  2000,  BY AND AMONG
            CRETE, A DELAWARE CORPORATION ("PARENT"),  ATHENS ACQUISITION CORP.,
            A  DELAWARE  CORPORATION  ("MERGER  SUB"),  AND  ATHENS,  A DELAWARE
            CORPORATION (THE "COMPANY").

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      This  letter is  supplied  to you in  connection  with your  rendering  of
opinions  regarding  certain  federal  income  tax  consequences  of  the  above
captioned merger (the "Merger").  Unless otherwise indicated,  capitalized terms
not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement.

      After  consulting  with its counsel and auditors  regarding the meaning of
and factual support for the following  representations,  the undersigned  hereby
certifies and represents that the following facts are now true and will continue
to be true through the Effective Time and thereafter where relevant:

      1.  Pursuant  to the  Merger,  Merger  Sub  will  merge  with and into the
Company,  and the  Company  will  acquire all of the assets and  liabilities  of
Merger Sub. At least  ninety  percent  (90%) of the fair market value of the net
assets and at least seventy  percent (70%) of the fair market value of the gross
assets held by the Company  immediately prior to the Merger, and at least ninety
percent  (90%) of the fair market  value of the net assets and at least  seventy
percent  (70%) of the fair market  value of the gross  assets held by Merger Sub
immediately  prior to the Merger will be held by the  Company  after the Merger.
For the purpose of  determining  the  percentage of net and gross assets held by
the Company  immediately  following  the Merger,  the  following  assets will be
treated  as  property  held by the  Company or Merger  Sub,  as the case may be,
immediately prior to the Merger but not by the Company subsequent to the Merger:
(i)  assets  disposed  of by the  Company  or  Merger  Sub  (other  than  assets
transferred  by Merger Sub to the Company in the Merger)  prior to or subsequent
to the Merger and in contemplation thereof (including,  without limitation,  any
asset  disposed  of by the  Company or Merger  Sub,  other than in the  ordinary
course of  business,  pursuant  to a plan or intent  existing  during the period
ending at the Effective Time and beginning with the commencement of negotiations
(whether formal or




                                       1.
<PAGE>


informal)  with Parent  regarding the Merger (the  "Pre-Merger  Period")),  (ii)
assets used by the Company or Merger Sub to pay expenses or liabilities incurred
in connection with the Merger, (iii) assets used by the Company or Merger Sub to
make payments to Company stockholders  perfecting appraisal rights or in lieu of
fractional shares of Parent Common Stock, and (iv) assets used by the Company or
Merger Sub to make  distribution,  redemption  or other  payments  in respect of
Company  stock or rights to acquire such stock  (including  payments  treated as
such for tax purposes) that are made in  contemplation  of the Merger or related
thereto;

      2. The Company has made no  transfer of any of its assets  (including  any
distribution  of  assets  with  respect  to,  or in  redemption  of,  stock)  in
contemplation  of the Merger or during the  Pre-Merger  Period other than (i) in
the  ordinary  course of business and (ii)  payments  for  expenses  incurred in
connection with the Merger;

      3. The Merger is being  undertaken  for  business  reasons and not for the
purpose of tax avoidance;

      4. At the Effective  Time,  the Company will have no stock or other equity
interests  outstanding  other than those set forth in Section  2.3 of the Merger
Agreement and will not have any warrants, options, convertible securities or any
other type of right  outstanding  pursuant to which any person could acquire any
shares of Company  stock or any other equity  interest in the Company  that,  if
exercised  or  converted,  could  affect  Parent's  acquisition  or retention of
"Control" of the Company (as defined in Section  368(c) of the Internal  Revenue
Code of  1986,  as  amended  (the  "Code")).  As  used  herein,  "Control"  of a
corporation  shall  consist of direct  ownership  of stock  possessing  at least
eighty percent (80%) of the total combined  voting power of all classes of stock
entitled to vote and at least eighty percent (80%) of the total number of shares
of each other class of stock of the  corporation.  For  purposes of  determining
Control,  a person shall not be considered to own voting stock if rights to vote
such stock (or to  restrict or  otherwise  control the voting of such stock) are
held by a third party  (including  a voting  trust)  other than an agent of such
person;

      5. In the  Merger,  shares of Company  stock  representing  Control of the
Company  will be exchanged  solely for voting  stock of Parent.  For purposes of
this  certificate,  shares of Company stock exchanged in the Merger for cash and
other property (including, without limitation, cash paid to Company stockholders
perfecting  appraisal  rights or in lieu of  fractional  shares of Parent Common
Stock) will be treated as shares of Company stock outstanding on the date of the
Merger but not exchanged for voting stock of Parent;

      6. The liabilities of the Company have been incurred by the Company in the
ordinary course of its business;

      7.  The  Company  does not and will  not at the  Effective  Time  have any
liability (i) to any Company stockholder  incurred in exchange for cash or other
asset transferred to the Company, or (ii) to Parent or Merger Sub;

      8. No Company stockholder has guaranteed any Company  indebtedness that is
currently outstanding or will be outstanding at the Effective Time;




                                       2.
<PAGE>


      9. The fair market value of the  Company's  assets will,  at the Effective
Time,  exceed  the  aggregate  liabilities  of the  Company  plus the  amount of
liabilities, if any, to which such assets are subject;

      10.  Other than  shares of  Company  stock or  Company  Options  issued as
compensation  to  present  or  former  service  providers  (including,   without
limitation,  employees and  directors) of the Company in the ordinary  course of
business,  no issuances of Company stock or rights to acquire Company stock have
occurred  or will occur  during the  Pre-Merger  Period  other than  pursuant to
options, warrants or agreements outstanding prior to the Pre-Merger Period or as
otherwise specifically identified in the Merger Agreement;

      11. Cash or other  property  paid to employees  of the Company  during the
Pre-Merger  Period has been or will be in the  ordinary  course of  business  or
pursuant to agreements entered into prior to the Pre-Merger Period;

      12.  The  Company  is  not  and  will  not  be at the  Effective  Time  an
"investment company" within the meaning of Section 368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of
the Code;

      13. The Company is not under the  jurisdiction of a court in a Title 11 or
similar case within the meaning of Section 368(a)(3)(A) of the Code;

      14. The Company (i) has not  redeemed and will not redeem any of its stock
prior to and in connection  with the Merger,  and (ii) has not made and will not
make  any   extraordinary   distributions   (within   the   meaning  of  Section
1.368-1T(e)(1)  of the Treasury  Regulations) with respect to its stock prior to
and in  connection  with the Merger.  For the  purposes of this  representation,
extraordinary  distributions  will  not  include  periodic  dividends  that  are
consistent with the Company's historic dividend practices;

      15. No person  related  to the  Company  (within  the  meaning  of Section
1.368-1(e)(3)   of  the  Treasury   Regulations,   without   regard  to  Section
1.368-1(e)(3)(i)(A)) has acquired or will acquire any stock of the Company prior
to and in connection with the Merger;

      16.  Except  with  respect to  payments  of cash to  Company  stockholders
perfecting  appraisal  rights or in lieu of  fractional  shares of Parent Common
Stock, one hundred percent (100%) of the Company stock  outstanding  immediately
prior to the Merger will be exchanged  solely for Parent voting stock. The total
market value of all consideration  other than shares of Parent Common Stock that
will be paid for  shares of  Company  stock  exchanged  pursuant  to the  Merger
Agreement will be less than ten percent (10%) of the aggregate fair market value
of the shares of Company stock outstanding immediately prior to the Merger;

      17. At the  Effective  Time,  the fair market  value of the Parent  Common
Stock received by each Company  stockholder will be  approximately  equal to the
fair market value of the Company stock surrendered in exchange therefor, and the
aggregate  consideration  received by the Company stockholders,  as described in
Section 1.5 of the Merger Agreement, in exchange for their Company stock will be
approximately equal to the fair market value of all of the outstanding shares of
Company stock immediately prior to the Merger;




                                       3.
<PAGE>


      18. Parent,  Merger Sub, the Company and the  stockholders  of the Company
will each pay separately its or their own expenses,  if any, in connection  with
the Merger (other than expenses  directly related to the transaction  within the
guidelines set forth in Revenue Ruling 73-54, 1973-1 C.B. 187);

      19. The terms of the Merger  Agreement  and all other  agreements  entered
into in connection therewith are the product of arm's-length negotiations;

      20.  None  of  the  payments  received  by  any  stockholder-employees  or
stockholder-independent  contractors  of the  Company  that  are  designated  as
compensation are actually  separate  consideration  for, or allocable to, any of
their  shares of  Company  stock;  none of the  shares of  Parent  Common  Stock
received by any stockholder-employees or stockholder-independent  contractors of
the  Company  in  exchange  for shares of Company  stock are  actually  separate
consideration  for,  or  allocable  to,  any  employment  agreement,  consulting
agreement  covenant not to compete or release;  and the compensation paid to any
stockholder-employees or stockholder-independent contractors of the Company will
be for services  actually rendered and will be commensurate with amounts paid to
third parties bargaining at arm's length for similar services;

      21. No direct or indirect  subsidiary (whether or not incorporated) of the
Company owns any share of Company stock;

      22. The  Company,  to its best  knowledge  and belief,  will  continue its
historic  business or use a significant  portion of its historic business assets
in a business following the Merger;

      23. There is no  intercorporate  indebtedness  existing between Parent and
the Company or between Merger Sub and the Company;

      24. The  payment  of cash in lieu of  fractional  shares of Parent  Common
Stock in  connection  with the  consummation  of the  Merger is  solely  for the
purpose  of  avoiding  the  expense  and  inconvenience  to  Parent  of  issuing
fractional shares and does not represent separately bargained-for consideration.
The  total  cash  consideration  that  will  be paid in the  Merger  to  Company
stockholders  instead of issuing  fractional  shares of Parent Common Stock will
not exceed one percent  (1%) of the total  consideration  that will be issued in
the  transaction  to Company  stockholders  in  exchange  for their  stock.  The
fractional share interests of each stockholder will be aggregated and no Company
stockholder will receive cash in an amount equal to or greater than the value of
one full share of Parent Common Stock;

      25. With respect to each instance, if any, in which shares of stock of the
Company have been purchased by a stockholder of Parent (a "Stockholder")  during
the Pre-Merger Period (a "Stock Purchase"):  (i) to the knowledge of the Company
(A) the Stock Purchase was made by such  Stockholder  on its own behalf,  rather
than as a representative,  or for the benefit,  of Parent (B) the Stock Purchase
was entered  into solely to satisfy the separate  interests of such  Stockholder
and was the product of arm's length  negotiations;  and (ii) the Stock  Purchase
was not a formal or informal condition to consummation of the Merger;

      26. The Merger will be consummated  in compliance  with the material terms
of the Merger Agreement,  none of the material terms and conditions therein have
been waived or




                                       4.
<PAGE>


modified,  and the Company has no plan or  intention to waive or modify any such
material terms and conditions;

      27.  Each  of the  representations  made  by  the  Company  in the  Merger
Agreement and any other documents associated therewith is true and accurate; and

      28.  The   undersigned   officer  is   authorized   to  make  all  of  the
certifications and representations on behalf of the Company set forth herein.

      The undersigned  recognizes that (i) your opinions will be based on, among
other things,  the accuracy of the  representations  set forth herein and on the
statements contained in the Merger Agreement and documents related thereto, (ii)
your  opinions  will  be  subject  to  certain  limitations  and  qualifications
including that they may not be relied upon if any such  representations  are not
accurate in all material  respects,  or if any of the covenants and  obligations
set forth in the Merger Agreement are not satisfied in all material respects and
(iii) your opinions will not address any tax  consequences  of the Merger or any
action  taken in  connection  therewith  except as  expressly  set forth in such
opinions.

      Notwithstanding  anything herein to the contrary, the undersigned makes no
representations  regarding  any  actions or conduct of the  Company  pursuant to
Parent's exercise of control over the Company after the Merger.

      The  Company  undertakes  to  inform  you  immediately  should  any of the
foregoing statements or representations  become untrue,  incorrect or incomplete
in any respect on or prior to the Effective Time.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          ATHENS, a Delaware corporation



                                          By:
                                              --------------------------------
                                          Printed Name:
                                                            ------------------

                                          Title:
                                                 -----------------------------
















                                       5.


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission