EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORP
8-K, 2000-03-22
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                         Date of Report: March 7, 2000

                        EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



        DELAWARE                      0-30260                   77-0466366
- ----------------------------        ------------          ----------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction        (Commission              (I.R.S. Employer
     of Incorporation)              File Number)          Identification Number)


         455 W. MAUDE AVENUE, SUNNYVALE, CA                  94086
       ----------------------------------------            ----------
       (Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)

                                 (408) 733-7400
                         -------------------------------
                         (Registrant's telephone number,
                              including area code)

<PAGE>

Item 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

         On March 7, 2000, Big Science Company ("BSC"), a Georgia corporation,
merged with and into eGain Communications Corporation,  a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization
(the "Reorganization Agreement"), dated as of February 7, 2000, by and among the
Company, BSC and certain shareholders of BSC. Pursuant to the terms of the
Reorganization Agreement, each outstanding share of BSC common stock was
converted into 0.02159069 shares of the Company's common stock. The
Reorganization Agreement provides that 15% of the shares to be issued to the BSC
shareholders will be put in escrow pursuant to the Escrow Agreement dated as of
March 7, 2000 by and among US Bank, N.A. (as escrow agent), the Company, BSC and
the BSC shareholder representatives, until March 7, 2001. In addition, each
option to acquire BSC common stock outstanding immediately prior to the
effective time of the merger has been converted into an option to purchase that
number of shares of the Company into which the shares of BSC common stock
underlying the option would have been converted in the merger.  The Company
issued 739,583 shares of Common Stock in the Merger and assumed options that can
be exercised for approximately 49,962 shares of the Company's common stock.

         The exchange ratios were determined through negotiations between the
managements of the Company and BSC, and were approved by the respective boards
of directors of each company.  Shareholders of BSC approved the Merger through
written consents to action in lieu of a shareholder meeting.

Item 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(a)      Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

                  The financial statements of BSC are unavailable as of the date
         of this filing. Such information will be filed on or before the
         sixtieth day following the filing date of this Current Report on Form
         8-K.

(b)      Pro Forma Financial Information.

                  The pro forma financial information is unavailable as of the
         date of this filing. Such information will be filed on or before the
         sixtieth day following the filing date of this Current Report of Form
         8-K.

(c)      Exhibits.

                  The following exhibit is filed herewith:

                           2.1    Agreement and Plan of Merger and
                                  Reorganization dated February 7, 2000,
                                  together with Exhibits.

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

         Dated:  March 21, 2000

                                          eGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION



                                          By        /s/ Ashutosh Roy
                                            -----------------------------------
                                                       Ashutosh Roy
                                                  Chief Executive Officer

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT NO.                        DESCRIPTION

  2.1         Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization dated February 7,
              2000, together with Exhibits

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


                 AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION


                                     among:


                        EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION,
                             a Delaware corporation


                                       and


                              BIG SCIENCE COMPANY,
                             a Georgia corporation.




                        -------------------------------
                          Dated as of February 7, 2000
                        -------------------------------


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

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE


SECTION 1.  DESCRIPTION OF TRANSACTION.........................................1
    1.1     Merger of the Company into Parent..................................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     Maximum Shares to Be Issued; Effect on Capital Stock...............2
    1.6     Conversion of Shares...............................................2
    1.7     Employee Stock Options.............................................4
    1.8     Closing of the Company's Transfer Books............................4
    1.9     Exchange of Certificates...........................................5
    1.10    Appraisal Rights...................................................6
    1.11    Escrow of Parent Common Stock......................................6
    1.12    Tax Consequences...................................................7
    1.13    Accounting Treatment...............................................7

SECTION 2.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY......................7
    2.1     Due Organization; No Subsidiaries; Authority; Etc..................7
    2.2     Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws; Records...................8
    2.3     Capitalization, Etc................................................8
    2.4     Financial Statements...............................................9
    2.5     Absence of Changes................................................10
    2.6     Title to Assets...................................................11
    2.7     Bank Accounts; Receivables........................................12
    2.8     Equipment; Leasehold..............................................12
    2.9     Proprietary Assets................................................12
    2.10    Contracts.........................................................15
    2.11    Liabilities; Fees, Costs and Expenses.............................17
    2.12    Compliance with Legal Requirements................................17
    2.13    Governmental Authorizations.......................................17
    2.14    Tax Matters.......................................................18
    2.15    Employee and Labor Matters; Benefit Plans.........................19
    2.16    Environmental Matters.............................................21
    2.17    Insurance.........................................................22
    2.18    Related Party Transactions........................................22
    2.19    Legal Proceedings; Orders.........................................22
    2.20    Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement............................23
    2.21    Non-Contravention; Consents.......................................23
    2.22    Customers.........................................................24
    2.23    Product Development...............................................24
    2.24    Full Disclosure...................................................25

                                      -i-

<PAGE>

SECTION 3.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB...........25
    3.1     Corporate Existence and Power.....................................25
    3.2     Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement............................25
    3.3     Capitalization....................................................25
    3.4     SEC Filings; Financial Statements.................................25
    3.5     No Conflict.......................................................26
    3.6     Valid Issuance....................................................26
SECTION 4.  CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY..................................27
    4.1     Access and Investigation..........................................27
    4.2     Operation of the Company's Business...............................27
    4.3     Notification; Updates to Disclosure Schedule......................29
    4.4     No Negotiation....................................................29

SECTION 5.  ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES...............................31
    5.1     Filings and Consents..............................................31
    5.2     Stockholder Consent...............................................31
    5.3     Public Announcements..............................................32
    5.4     Best Efforts......................................................32
    5.5     Employment Agreements and Confidential Information and
            Invention Assignment Agreements...................................32
    5.6     Employees.........................................................32
    5.7     Release...........................................................32
    5.8     Termination of Employee Plans.....................................32
    5.9     FIRPTA Matters....................................................32
    5.10    Investment Letters................................................32

SECTION 6.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB......33
    6.1     Accuracy of Representations.......................................33
    6.2     Performance of Covenants..........................................33
    6.3     Stockholder Approval..............................................33
    6.4     Consents..........................................................33
    6.5     Agreements and Documents..........................................33
    6.6     No Restraints.....................................................34
    6.7     No Governmental Litigation........................................34
    6.8     No Other Litigation...............................................34
    6.9     Termination of Employee Plans.....................................35
    6.10    FIRPTA Compliance.................................................35
    6.11    Securities Law Requirements.......................................35

SECTION 7.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY................35
    7.1     Accuracy of Representations.......................................35
    7.2     Performance of Covenants..........................................35
    7.3     Documents.........................................................35
    7.4     Stockholder Approval..............................................36
    7.5     Listing...........................................................36
    7.6     No Restraints.....................................................36

                                      -ii-

<PAGE>

    7.7     Securities Law Requirements.......................................36
    7.8     Registration Rights...............................................36

SECTION 8.  TERMINATION.......................................................36
    8.1     Termination Events................................................36
    8.2     Termination Procedures............................................37
    8.3     Effect of Termination.............................................38

SECTION 9.  INDEMNIFICATION, ETC..............................................38
    9.1     Survival of Representations, Etc..................................38
    9.2     Indemnification...................................................38
    9.3     Threshold.........................................................39
    9.4     Right of Offset of Indemnification Claims.........................39
    9.5     No Contribution...................................................39
    9.6     Defense of Third Party Claims.....................................40
    9.7     Exercise of Remedies by Indemnitees Other Than Parent.............40
    9.8     Fraud.............................................................40

SECTION 10. REGISTRATION RIGHTS...............................................40
    10.1    Restrictions on Transferability...................................40
    10.2    Restrictive Legend................................................41
    10.3    Notice of Proposed Transfers......................................41
    10.4    Requested Registration............................................42

SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS..........................................42
    11.1    Company Stockholders'Representatives..............................42
    11.2    Further Assurances................................................42
    11.3    Fees and Expenses.................................................42
    11.4    Attorneys'Fees....................................................43
    11.5    Notices...........................................................43
    11.6    Time of the Essence...............................................44
    11.7    Headings..........................................................44
    11.8    Counterparts......................................................44
    11.9    Governing Law.....................................................44
    11.10   Successors and Assigns............................................44
    11.11   Remedies Cumulative; Specific Performance.........................44
    11.12   Waiver............................................................44
    11.13   Amendments........................................................45
    11.14   Severability......................................................45
    11.15   Parties in Interest...............................................45
    11.16   Entire Agreement..................................................45
    11.17   Construction......................................................45

                                     -iii0

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBITS

Exhibit A      Certain definitions

Exhibit B      Form of Escrow Agreement

Exhibit C      Form of Employment Agreements

Exhibit D      Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreements

Exhibit E      Form of Stockholder Release

Exhibit F      Form of Investment Letter

Exhibit G      Form of legal opinion of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP

Exhibit H      Form of legal opinion of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP

Exhibit I      Amendment to Amended and Restated Investors' Rights Agreement

                                      -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 February 7, 2000, by and among EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), BIG SCIENCE COMPANY, a Georgia
corporation (the "Company"), and, for the purposes of Section 2 hereof, TOM
REARICK ("REARICK"), JOEL ACKERMAN ("Ackerman") and PEDRO CORTOPASSI
("Cortopassi") (Rearick, Ackerman and Cortopassi collectively, the "Founders").
Certain other capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Exhibit A.

                                    RECITALS

     A. Parent and the Company intend to effect a statutory merger of the
Company into Parent (the "Merger") in accordance with this Agreement, the
Georgia Business Corporation Code (the "GBCC") and the Deleware General
Corporation Law ("DGCL"). Upon consummation of the Merger, the Company will
cease to exist, and Parent will be the surviving corporation.

     B. It is intended that the Merger qualify as a tax-free reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"). For accounting purposes, it is intended that the Merger be
treated as a "purchase."

     C. This Agreement has been approved by the respective boards of directors
of Parent and the Company.

     D. In connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, certain
stockholders of the Company are executing and delivering to Parent a Voting
Agreement of even date herewith.

                                    AGREEMENT

     The parties to this Agreement agree as follows:

SECTION 1.     DESCRIPTION OF TRANSACTION

     1.1 Merger of the Company Into Parent. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined in
Section 1.3), the Company shall be merged with and into Parent, and the separate
existence of the Company shall cease. Parent will continue as the surviving
corporation in the Merger. Parent, as the surviving corporation after the
Merger, is hereinafter sometimes referred to as 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 GBCC and 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 Pillsbury Madison & Sutro llp, 2550 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, California
94304 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, on a date to be designated by Parent
which shall not be more than 10 business days after the date on which the
condition set forth in Section 6.3 is satisfied (or waived by Parent); PROVIDED
HOWEVER, that if any condition set forth in Section 6 or 7 has not been
satisfied as of the date so designated by Parent, then Parent may, by delivering
a written extension notice to the Company, extend the time of the Closing for a
period of up to 30 days. The time and date as of which the Closing takes place
is referred to in this Agreement as the "Closing Date." Contemporaneously with
or as promptly as practicable after the Closing, the parties shall cause the
Merger to be consummated by filing a properly executed certificate of merger
conforming to the requirements of the DGCL and the GBCC with the Secretaries of
State of Delaware and Georgia. The Merger shall become effective at the time
such certificate of merger is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware (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 Parent as in effect immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation, until thereafter amended by Parent;

     (b) the Bylaws of Parent, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, until thereafter amended
by Parent; and

     (c) the directors and officers of Parent, as in effect immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall be directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation.

     1.5 Maximum Shares to be Issued; Effect On Capital Stock. The maximum
number of shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued (including Parent Common
Stock to be reserved for issuance upon exercise of any of the Company's options
and warrants to purchase shares of Company Common Stock to be assumed by Parent)
in exchange for the acquisition by Parent of all outstanding Company Capital
Stock and all unexpired and unexercised options and warrants to acquire Company
Capital Stock shall be determined by dividing (X) an amount equal to $35,000,000
less the sum of the Additional Liabilities (as defined in Exhibit A hereto) by
(Y) $42.25 (the "Stock Consideration"), reduced as a result of any Dissenting
Shares (as defined in Section 1.9 herein). No adjustment shall be made in the
number of shares of Parent Common Stock issued in the Merger as a result of any
cash proceeds received by the Company from the date hereof to the Closing Date
pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants to acquire Company Capital
Stock. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, as of the
Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of
Merger Sub, the Company or the holder of any shares of the Company Capital
Stock, the following shall occur:

     1.6 Conversion of Shares. By virtue of the Merger and without any action on
the part of Parent, Company or the holders of any of Company's Capital Stock:

                                      -2-


<PAGE>

     (A) Conversion of Company Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock of the
Company ("COMPANY COMMON STOCK") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time (other than any Dissenting Shares and shares canceled pursuant to
Section 1.6(b) herein) will be canceled and extinguished and be converted
automatically into that number of shares of Parent Common Stock as is equal to
the Exchange Ratio (as defined in paragraph (ii) of subsection (c) below), it
being understood that certain shares of Parent Common Stock issuable pursuant to
this Section 1.6 shall be held in escrow in accordance with Section 1.11 herein.

     (b) Cancellation of Company Capital Stock Owned by Company. At the
Effective Time, all shares of Company Capital Stock that are owned by Company as
treasury stock, immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and
extinguished without conversion thereof.

     (C) Other Consideration. In addition to the Stock Consideration, the
holders of Company Capital Stock shall receive at the Effective Time an amount
per share equal to $554,530 divided by the Fully Diluted Share Amount (as
defined in Section 1.6(c)(ii)) (the "Cash Consideration").

          (i) The "Merger Consideration" receivable by a holder of capital stock
of the Company shall consist of (A) the Cash Consideration and Stock
Consideration (other than Escrow Shares) issuable to such holder in accordance
with Sections 1.6(a) and (c) upon the surrender of the certificate or
certificates representing capital stock of the Company held by such holder, (B)
the rights of such holder with respect to the Escrow Shares held by the Escrow
Agent on behalf of such holder, and (C) the right of such holder to receive cash
in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock in accordance with Section
1.9(a).

          (ii) The "Exchange Ratio" shall mean the Stock Consideration divided
by the sum of the following outstanding as of the Closing Date: all outstanding
shares of Company Capital Stock, all outstanding Company Options and all other
outstanding options, warrants and other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire
shares of Company Common Stock (collectively, the "Fully Diluted Share Amount").

     (d) Adjustments to Exchange Ratio. The Exchange Ratio shall be adjusted to
reflect fully the effect of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock divided
(including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into Parent
Common Stock or Company Common Stock), reorganization, recapitalization or other
like change with respect to Parent Common Stock or Company Common Stock
occurring (or for which the record date occurs) after the date hereof and prior
to the Effective Time.

     (e) If any shares of Company Common 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, stock option agreement or other agreement with the Company, then the
shares of Parent Common Stock issued in exchange for such shares of Company
Common 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

                                      -3-


<PAGE>

Company 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.

     (f) Each share of common stock of Merger Sub outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be converted into one share of common stock of the
Surviving Corporation.

     1.7 Employee Stock Options. At the Effective Time, each then outstanding
Company Option (as defined in Section 2.3(b)) and each other outstanding option
to purchase Common Stock of the Company issued in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, whether vested or unvested, shall be assumed by Parent in
accordance with the terms (as in effect as of the date of this Agreement) of
such Company Stock Option Plan under which such Company Option was issued and
the stock option agreement by which such Company Option is evidenced. All rights
with respect to Company Common Stock under outstanding Company Options shall
thereupon be converted into rights with respect to Parent Common Stock and cash.
Accordingly, from and after the Effective Time, (a) each Company Option assumed
by Parent may be exercised solely for shares of Parent Common Stock, (b) the
number of shares of Parent Common Stock subject to each such assumed Company
Option shall be equal to the number of shares of Company Common Stock that were
subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time
multiplied by the Exchange Ratio, rounded down to the nearest whole number of
shares of Parent Common Stock, (c) the per share exercise price for the Parent
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of each such assumed Company Option shall be
determined by dividing the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock
subject to such Company Option, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time, by the Exchange Ratio, subtracting an amount equal to the Cash
Consideration and rounding the resulting exercise price up to the nearest whole
cent, and (d) all restrictions on the exercise of each such assumed 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 such assumed Company Option shall,
in accordance with its terms, be subject to further adjustment as appropriate to
reflect any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization
or other similar transaction effected by Parent after the Effective Time. The
Company and Parent shall take all action that may be necessary (under all
Company Stock Option Plans and otherwise) to effectuate the provisions of this
Section 1.7.

     1.8 Closing of the Company's Transfer Books. At the Effective Time, holders
of certificates representing shares of the Company Capital Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any
rights as stockholders of the Company, and the stock transfer books of the
Company shall be closed with respect to all shares of such capital stock of the
Company outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. No further transfer
of any such shares of capital stock of the Company 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 the Company Capital Stock (a
"Company Stock Certificate") is presented to the Surviving Corporation or
Parent, such Company Stock Certificate shall be canceled and shall be exchanged
as provided in Section 1.9.

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

     1.9 Exchange of Certificates.

     (a) As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Parent will send to
each of the registered holders of Company Stock Certificates a letter of
transmittal in customary form and containing such provisions as Parent may
reasonably specify and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of
Company Stock Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration. Upon
surrender of a Company Stock Certificate to Parent for exchange, together with a
duly executed letter of transmittal and such other documents as may be
reasonably required by Parent, Parent shall (i) deliver to the holder of such
Company Stock Certificate, such holder's pro rata portion of the Cash
Consideration and a certificate representing 85% of the number of shares of
Parent Common Stock that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to
Section 1.6, and (ii) deliver to the Escrow Agent under the Escrow Agreement (as
defined below) on behalf of such holder a certificate in the name of the Escrow
Agent representing 15% of the number of shares of Parent Common Stock that such
holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 1.6, provided that the
certificates representing Parent Common Stock to be delivered to the holder of a
Company Stock Certificate under clause (i) above and to the Escrow Agent under
clause (ii) above shall, in each case, represent only whole shares of Parent
Common Stock and in lieu of any fractional shares to which such holder would
otherwise be entitled, the holder of such Company Stock Certificate shall be
paid in cash an amount equal to the sum of (1) the dollar amount (rounded to the
nearest whole cent) determined by multiplying $42.25 by the fraction of a share
of Parent Common Stock that would otherwise be deliverable to such holder under
clause (i) above and (2) the dollar amount (rounded to the nearest whole cent)
determined by multiplying $42.25 by the fraction of a share of Parent Common
Stock that would otherwise be deliverable to the Escrow Agent under clause (ii)
above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent may deliver to the Escrow Agent one
certificate representing the total number of shares of Parent Common Stock to be
held in escrow pursuant to this Section 1.9(a) in lieu of issuing separate
certificates representing 15% of the total shares of Parent Common Stock
issuable to each holder of Company capital stock pursuant to Section 1.6(a). All
Company Stock Certificates so surrendered shall be canceled. Until surrendered
as contemplated by this Section 1.9, each Company Stock Certificate shall be
deemed, from and after the Effective Time, to represent only the right to
receive the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Agreement. If any
Company Stock Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, Parent may,
in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance of any
certificate representing Parent Common Stock or the payment of cash in lieu of
fractional shares, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed Company
Stock Certificate to provide an appropriate affidavit and to deliver a bond (in
such sum as Parent may reasonably direct) as indemnity against any claim that
may be made against Parent or the Surviving Corporation with respect to such
Company Stock Certificate.

     (b) 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 represented thereby, and no cash payment in lieu
of any fractional share shall be paid to any such holder, until such holder
surrenders such Company Stock Certificate in accordance with this Section 1.8
(at which time such holder shall be entitled to receive all such dividends and
distributions and such cash payment).

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

     (c) Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and
withhold from any consideration payable or otherwise deliverable to any holder
or former holder of capital stock (or options or other rights to acquire capital
stock) of the Company pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as Parent or the
Surviving Corporation may be required to deduct or withhold therefrom under the
Code or under any provision of state, local or foreign tax law. 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.

     (d) Neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation shall be liable to any
holder or former holder of capital stock (or options or other rights to acquire
capital stock) of the Company for 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,
escheat or similar law.

     1.10 Appraisal Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, shares of capital stock of the Company held by a holder who, pursuant
to Section 14-2-1327 of the GBCC or any successor provision, has the right to
demand and properly demands an appraisal of such shares of capital stock of the
Company ("Dissenting Shares"), shall not be converted into the right to receive
Parent Common Stock and cash as set forth in Section 1.6, unless such holder
fails to perfect or otherwise loses such holder's right to such appraisal, if
any. If, after the Effective Time, such holder fails to perfect or loses any
such right to appraisal, such holder's Dissenting Shares shall be treated as
having been converted as of the Effective Time into the right to receive the
Merger Consideration. At the Effective Time, any holder of Dissenting Shares
shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the rights provided
in Section 14-2-1327 of the GBCC or any successor provision and as provided in
the immediately preceding sentence. The Company shall give prompt notice to
Parent of any demands received by the Company for appraisal of shares of capital
stock of the Company and the opportunity to participate in all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to any such demand. 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.

     1.11 Escrow of Parent Common Stock. Upon the Closing, Parent shall withhold
the shares of Parent Common Stock to be delivered to the Escrow Agent pursuant
to Section 1.8(a)(ii) (the "Escrow Shares") and deliver such shares to U.S. Bank
Trust National Association, as escrow agent, or such other financial institution
reasonably acceptable to the Company (the "Escrow Agent"), to be held by the
Escrow Agent as collateral to secure the rights of the Indemnitees under Section
9. The Escrow Shares shall be held pursuant to the provisions of an escrow
agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B (the "Escrow Agreement"). The
Escrow Shares will be represented by a certificate or certificates issued in the
name of the Escrow Agent and will be held by the Escrow Agent for a period of
one year from the Closing Date (the "Escrow Period"); PROVIDED HOWEVER that in
the event any Indemnitee has made a claim under Section 9 prior to the end of
the Escrow Period, then the Escrow Period shall continue until such claim is
fully and finally resolved. In the event that this Agreement is adopted by the
Company's stockholders, then all such stockholders shall, without any further
act of any Company stockholder, be deemed to have consented to and approved (i)
the use of the

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

Escrow Shares as collateral to secure the rights of the Indemnitees under
Section 9 in the manner set forth herein and in the Escrow Agreement, and (ii)
the appointment of the Company Stockholders' Representative (as defined in
Section 11.1) as the representative under the Escrow Agreement of the Persons
receiving Stock Consideration under this Agreement and as the attorney-in-fact
and agent for and on behalf of each such Person (other than holders of
Dissenting Shares).

     1.12 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.

     1.13 Accounting Treatment. For accounting purposes, the Merger is intended
to be treated as a "purchase."

SECTION 2.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     The Company and each of the Founders hereby represent and warrant, to and
for the benefit of eCo, as follows:

     2.1 Due Organization; No Subsidiaries; Authority; Etc.

     (a) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Georgia 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 Company Contracts.

     (b) Except as set forth in Part 2.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
the Company has not conducted any business under or otherwise used, for any
purpose or in any jurisdiction, any fictitious name, assumed name, trade name or
other name, other than the name "Big Science Company."

     (c) The Company is not and has not been required to be qualified,
authorized, registered or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation in
any jurisdiction other than the jurisdictions identified in Part 2.1(c)(i) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, except where the failure to be so qualified,
authorized, registered or licensed has not had and will not have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company is in good standing as a foreign
corporation in each of the jurisdictions identified in Part 2.1(c)(ii) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule.

     (d) Part 2.1(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule accurately sets forth
(i) the names of the members of the Company's board of directors, (ii) the names
of the members of each committee of the Company's board of directors, and (iii)
the names and titles of the Company's officers.

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

     (e) The Company does not own any controlling interest in any Entity and,
except for the equity interests identified in Part 2.1(e) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, the Company has never owned, beneficially or otherwise, any
shares or other securities of, or any direct or indirect equity interest in, any
Entity. The Company has not agreed and is not obligated to make any future
investment in or capital contribution to any Entity. The Company has not
guaranteed and is not responsible or liable for any obligation of any of the
Entities in which it owns or has owned any equity interest.

     2.2 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws; Records. The Company has
delivered to Parent accurate and complete copies of: (1) the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws, including all amendments thereto; (2)
the stock records of the Company; and (3) except as set forth in Part 2.2 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, the minutes and other records of the meetings and
other proceedings (including any actions taken by written consent or otherwise
without a meeting) of the stockholders of the Company, the board of directors of
the Company and all committees of the board of directors of the Company. There
have been no formal meetings or other proceedings of the stockholders of the
Company, the board of directors of the Company or any committee of the board of
directors of the Company that are not fully reflected in such minutes or other
records. There has not been any violation of any of the provisions of the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws, and the Company has not taken
any action that is inconsistent in any material respect with any resolution
adopted by the Company's stockholders, the Company's board of directors or any
committee of the Company's board of directors. The books of account, stock
records, minute books and other records of the Company are accurate, up-to-date
and complete in all material respects, and have been maintained in accordance
with prudent business practices.

     2.3 Capitalization, Etc.

     (a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of: (i)
100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, no par value, of which [33,962,500] shares
have been issued and are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement; and (ii)
1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share, none of which
have been issued or outstanding as of the date of this Agreement. All of the
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly
issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable. All outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock, and all outstanding Company Options, have been issued and granted
in compliance with (i) all applicable securities laws and other applicable Legal
Requirements, and (ii) all requirements set forth in applicable Contracts. Part
2.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule provides an accurate and complete
description of the terms of each repurchase option which is held by the Company
and to which any shares of capital stock of the Company is subject.

     (b) The Company has reserved 1,008,875 shares of Company Common Stock for
issuance under the Company Stock Option Plans, of which options to purchase
[1,019,219] shares are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement. Part 2.3(b)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule accurately sets forth, with respect to each
option to purchase Common Stock of the Company outstanding as of the date hereof
(whether vested or unvested) (the "Company Options"): (i) the name of the holder
of such Company Option; (ii) the total number of shares of Company Common Stock
that are subject to such Company Option and the number of shares of

                                      -8-


<PAGE>

Company Common Stock with respect to which such Company Option is immediately
exercisable; (iii) the date on which such Company Option was granted and the
term of such Company Option; (iv) the vesting schedule for such Company Option;
(v) the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock purchasable under such
Company Option; and (vi) whether such Company Option has been designated an
"incentive stock option" as defined in Section 422 of the Code. Except as set
forth in Part 2.3(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there is no: (i)
outstanding subscription, option, call, warrant or right (whether or not
currently exercisable) to acquire any shares of 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 capital
stock or other securities of the Company; (iii) 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 of the Company; 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 Company.

     (c) The Company has no Subsidiaries except for the corporations identified
in Part 2.3(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. All outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company Subsidiaries 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.

     (d) Except as set forth in Part 2.3(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
the Company has never repurchased, redeemed or otherwise reacquired any shares
of capital stock or other securities of the Company. All securities so
reacquired by the Company were reacquired in compliance with (i) the applicable
provisions of the GBCC and all other applicable Legal Requirements, and (ii) all
requirements set forth in applicable restricted stock purchase agreements and
other applicable Contracts.

     2.4 Financial Statements.

     (a) The Company has delivered to Parent the following financial statements
and notes (collectively, the "Company Financial Statements"):

          (i) The unaudited balance sheets of the Company as of December 31,
1999, 1998 and 1997, and the related unaudited income statements, statements of
stockholders' equity and statements of cash flows of the Company for the years
then ended, together with the notes thereto.

     (b) Except as set forth in Part 2.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the
Company Financial Statements are accurate and complete in all material respects
and present fairly the financial position of the Company as of the respective
dates thereof and the results of operations and (in the case of the financial
statements referred to in Section 2.4(a)(i)) cash flows of the Company for the
periods covered thereby. The Company Financial Statements have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis throughout the periods covered.

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

     2.5 Absence of Changes. Except as set forth in Part 2.5 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 1999:

     (a) there has not been any material adverse change in the Company's
business, condition, assets, liabilities, operations, financial performance or
prospects, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred that
will, or could reasonably be expected to, have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company;

     (b) there has not been any material loss, damage or destruction to, or any
material interruption in the use of, any of the Company's assets (whether or not
covered by insurance);

     (c) the Company has not declared, accrued, set aside or paid any dividend
or made any other distribution in respect of any shares of capital stock of the
Company, and has not repurchased, redeemed or otherwise reacquired any shares of
capital stock or other securities of the Company;

     (d) the Company has not sold, issued or authorized the issuance of (i) any
capital stock or other securities of the Company (except for Company Common
Stock issued upon the exercise of outstanding Company Options), (ii) any option
or right to acquire any capital stock or any other securities of the Company
(except for Company Options described in Part 2.3 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule), or (iii) any instrument convertible into or exchangeable for any
capital stock or other securities of the Company;

     (e) the Company has not amended or waived any of its rights under, or
permitted the acceleration of vesting under, (i) any provision of any Company
Stock Option Plan, (ii) any provision of any agreement evidencing any
outstanding Company Option, or (iii) any restricted stock purchase agreement;

     (f) there has been no amendment to the Company's certificate of
incorporation or bylaws, and the Company has not effected or been a party to any
Acquisition Transaction, recapitalization, reclassification of shares, stock
split, reverse stock split or similar transaction;

     (g) the Company has not formed any subsidiary or acquired any equity
interest or other interest in any other Entity;

     (h) the Company has not made any capital expenditure which, when added to
all other capital expenditures made on behalf of the Company since December 31,
1999, exceeds $25,000;

     (i) the Company has not (i) entered into or permitted any of the assets
owned or used by it to become bound by any Contract that is or would constitute
a Material Contract (as defined in Section 2.10(a)), or (ii) amended or
prematurely terminated, or waived any material right or remedy under, any such
Contract;

     (j) the Company has not (i) acquired, leased or licensed any right or other
asset from any other Person, (ii) sold or otherwise disposed of, or leased or
licensed, any right or other asset to any other Person, or (iii) waived or
relinquished any right, except for immaterial rights or

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

other immaterial assets acquired, leased, licensed or disposed of in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with the Company's past practices;

     (k) the Company has not written off as uncollectible, or established any
extraordinary reserve with respect to, any account receivable or other
indebtedness;

     (l) the Company has not made any pledge of any of its assets or otherwise
permitted any of its assets to become subject to any Encumbrance, except for
pledges of immaterial assets made in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with the Company's past practices;

     (m) the Company has not (i) lent money to any Person (other than pursuant
to routine travel advances made to employees in the ordinary course of
business), or (ii) incurred or guaranteed any indebtedness for borrowed money;

     (n) the Company has not (i) established or adopted any Employee Benefit
Plan, (ii) paid any bonus or made any profit-sharing or similar payment to, or
increased the amount of the wages, salary, commissions, fringe benefits or other
compensation or remuneration payable to, any of its directors, officers or
employees, or (iii) hired any new employee;

     (o) the Company has not changed any of its methods of accounting or
accounting practices in any respect;

     (p) the Company has not made any Tax election;

     (q) the Company has not commenced or settled any Legal Proceeding;

     (r) the Company has not entered into any material transaction or taken any
other material action outside the ordinary course of business or inconsistent
with its past practices; and

     (s) the Company has not agreed or committed to take any of the actions
referred to in clauses "(c)" through "(r)" above.

     2.6 Title to Assets.

     (a) The Company owns, and has good, valid and marketable title to, all
assets purported to be owned by it, including: (i) all assets reflected on the
unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 1999; (ii) all assets
referred to in Parts 2.7 and 2.9 of the Company Disclosure Schedule and all of
the Company's rights under the Material Contracts; and (iii) all other assets
reflected in the Company's books and records as being owned by the Company.
Except as set forth in Part 2.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all of
said assets are owned by the Company free and clear of any liens or other
Encumbrances, except for (x) any lien for current taxes not yet due and payable,
and (y) 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 assets subject thereto or materially impair the operations of the Company.

     (b) Part 2.6(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies all assets
that are material to the business of the Company and that are being leased or
licensed to or by the Company. All such leases and licenses are valid and
enforceable against the parties thereto.

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

     2.7 Bank Accounts; Receivables.

     (a) Part 2.7(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule provides accurate
information with respect to each account maintained by or for the benefit of the
Company at any bank or other financial institution including the name of the
bank or financial institution, the account number and the balance as of the date
hereof.

     (b) Part 2.7(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule provides an accurate and
complete breakdown and aging of all accounts receivable, notes receivable and
other receivables of the Company as of December 31, 1999. Except as set forth in
Part 2.7(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all existing accounts receivable
of the Company (including those accounts receivable that have arisen since
December 31, 1999 and have not yet been collected) (i) represent valid
obligations of customers of the Company arising from bona fide transactions
entered into in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) are current and will
be collected in full when due, without any counterclaim or set off (net of an
allowance for doubtful accounts not to exceed $25,000 in the aggregate).

     2.8 Equipment; Leasehold.

     (a) All material items of equipment and other tangible assets owned by or
leased to the Company are adequate for the uses to which they are being put, are
in good condition and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and are adequate
for the conduct of the Company's business in the manner in which such business
is currently being conducted.

     (b) The Company does not own any real property or any interest in real
property, except for the leasehold created under the real property lease
identified in Part 2.8 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 the Company 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 all other Proprietary Assets owned by the
Company that are material to the business of the Company. 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
with respect to, each Proprietary Asset that is licensed or otherwise made
available to the Company by any Person and is material to the business of the
Company, and identifies the Contract under which such Proprietary Asset is being
licensed or otherwise made available to the Company. The Company has good, valid
and marketable title to all of the Company Proprietary Assets identified in
Parts 2.9(a)(i) and 2.9(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, free and
clear of all Encumbrances, except for (i) any lien for current taxes not yet due
and payable, and (ii) minor liens that have arisen in the ordinary course of
business and that do not (individually or in the aggregate) materially detract
from the value of the assets subject thereto or materially impair the operations
of the Company. The Company has a valid

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

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)(iv) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has not developed
jointly with any other Person any Company Proprietary Asset that is material to
the business of the Company with respect to which such other Person has any
rights. Except as set forth in Part 2.9(a)(v) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, there is no Company Contract (with the exception of end user license
agreements in the form previously delivered by the Company to Parent) pursuant
to which any Person has any right (whether or not currently exercisable) to use,
license or otherwise exploit any Company Proprietary Asset.

     (b) The Company has taken reasonable measures and precautions to protect
and maintain the confidentiality, secrecy and value of all material Company
Proprietary Assets (except Company Proprietary Assets whose value would be
unimpaired by disclosure). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
except as set forth in Part 2.9(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) all
current and former employees of the Company who are or were involved in, or who
have contributed to, the creation or development of any material Company
Proprietary Asset have executed and delivered to the Company an agreement
(containing no exceptions to or exclusions from the scope of its coverage) that
is substantially identical to the form of Confidential Information and Invention
Assignment Agreement previously delivered by the Company to Parent, and (ii) all
current and former consultants and independent contractors to the Company who
are or were involved in, or who have contributed to, the creation or development
of any material Company Proprietary Asset have executed and delivered to the
Company an agreement (containing no exceptions to or exclusions from the scope
of its coverage) that is substantially identical to the form of Consultant
Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement previously delivered
to Parent. No current or former employee, officer, director, stockholder,
consultant or independent contractor of or to the Company has any right, claim
or interest in or with respect to any Company Proprietary Asset.

     (c) To the knowledge of the Company: (i) all patents, trademarks, service
marks and copyrights held by the Company are valid, enforceable and subsisting;
(ii) none of the Company Proprietary Assets and no Proprietary Asset that is
currently being developed by the Company (either by itself or with any other
Person) infringes, misappropriates or conflicts with any Proprietary Asset owned
or used by any other Person; (iii) none of the products that are or have been
designed, created, developed, assembled, manufactured or sold by the Company 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, and the Company has not 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; (iv) no other Person is
infringing, misappropriating or making any unlawful or unauthorized use of, and
no Proprietary Asset owned or used by any other Person infringes or conflicts
with, any material Company Proprietary Asset.

     (d) The Company Proprietary Assets constitute all the Proprietary Assets
necessary to enable the Company to conduct its business in the manner in which
such business has been and is being conducted. The Company has not (i) licensed
any of the material Company Proprietary

                                      -13-

<PAGE>

Assets to any Person on an exclusive basis, or (ii) entered into any covenant
not to compete or Contract limiting its ability to exploit fully any material
Company Proprietary Assets or to transact business in any market or geographical
area or with any Person.

     (e) Except as set forth in Part 2.9(e)(i) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company has not disclosed or delivered to any Person, or permitted
the disclosure or delivery to any escrow agent or other Person, of any Company
Source Code. No event has occurred, and no circumstance or condition exists,
that (with or without notice or lapse of time) will, or could reasonably be
expected to, result in the disclosure or delivery to any Person of any Company
Source Code. Part 2.9(e)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies each
Contract pursuant to which the Company has deposited or is required to deposit
with an escrowholder or any other Person any Company Source Code, and further
describes whether the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of any of
the transactions contemplated hereby could reasonably be expected to result in
the release or disclosure of any Company Source Code.

     (f) To the knowledge of the Company, except as set forth in Part 2.9(f)(i)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each computer, computer program and other
item of software (whether installed on a computer or on any other piece of
equipment, including firmware) that is owned, licensed or used by the Company
for its internal business operations is Year 2000 Compliant. Except as set forth
in Part 2.9(f)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each computer program and
other item of software that has been designed, developed, sold, licensed or
otherwise made available to any Person by the Company is Year 2000 Compliant.
Except as set forth in Part 2.9(f)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the
Company has conducted sufficient Year 2000 compliance testing for each computer,
computer program and item of software referred to in the preceding two sentences
to be able to determine whether such computer, computer program and item of
software is Year 2000 Compliant, and has obtained warranties or other written
assurances from each of its suppliers to the effect that the products and
services provided by such suppliers to the Company is Year 2000 Compliant other
than when the failure to conduct such testing or obtain such assurances would
not have a Material Adverse Effect. As used in this Section 2.9, "Year 2000
Compliant" means, with respect to a computer, computer program or other item of
software (i) the functions, calculations, and other computing processes of the
computer, program or software (collectively, "Processes") perform in a
consistent and correct manner without interruption regardless of the date on
which the Processes are actually performed and regardless of the date input to
the applicable computer system, whether before, on, or after January 1, 2000;
(ii) the computer, program or software accepts, calculates, compares, sorts,
extracts, sequences, and otherwise processes date inputs and date values, and
returns and displays date values, in a consistent and correct manner regardless
of the dates used whether before, on, or after January 1, 2000; (iii) the
computer, program or software accepts and responds to year input, if any, in a
manner that resolves any ambiguities as to century in a defined, predetermined,
and appropriate manner; (iv) the computer, program or software stores and
displays date information in ways that are unambiguous as to the determination
of the century; and (v) leap years will be determined by the following standard
(A) if dividing the year by 4 yields an integer, it is a leap year, except for
years ending in 00, but (B) a year ending in 00 is a leap year if dividing it by
400 yields an integer.

     (g) Except with respect to demonstration or trial copies, to the knowledge
of the Company, no product, system, program or software module designed,
developed, sold, licensed

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

or otherwise made available by the Company to any Person contains any "back
door," "time bomb," "Trojan horse," "worm," "drop dead device," "virus" or other
software routines or hardware components designed to permit unauthorized access
or to disable or erase software, hardware or data without the consent of the
user.

     2.10 Contracts.

     (a) Part 2.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies:

          (i) each Company Contract relating to the employment of, or the
performance of services by, any employee, consultant or independent contractor;

          (ii) each Company Contract relating to the acquisition, transfer, use,
development, sharing or license of any technology or any Proprietary Asset;

          (iii) each Company Contract imposing any restriction on the Company's
right or ability (A) to compete with any other Person, (B) to acquire any
product or other asset or any services from any other Person, to sell any
product or other asset to or perform any services for any other Person or to
transact business or deal in any other manner with any other Person, or (C)
develop or distribute any technology;

          (iv) each Company Contract creating or involving any agency
relationship, distribution arrangement or franchise relationship;

          (v) each Company Contract relating to the acquisition, issuance or
transfer of any securities;

          (vi) each Company Contract relating to the creation of any Encumbrance
with respect to any asset of the Company;

          (vii) each Company Contract involving or incorporating any guaranty,
any pledge, any performance or completion bond, any indemnity or any surety
arrangement;

          (viii) each Company Contract creating or relating to any partnership
or joint venture or any sharing of revenues, profits, losses, costs or
liabilities;

          (ix) each Company Contract relating to the purchase or sale of any
product or other asset by or to, or the performance of any services by or for,
any Related Party (as defined in Section 2.18);

          (x) each Company Contract constituting or relating to a Government
Contract or Government Bid;

          (xi) any other Company Contract that has a term of more than 60 days
and that may not be terminated by the Company (without penalty) within 60 days
after the delivery of a termination notice by the Company;

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

          (xii) any other Company Contract that contemplates or involves (A) the
payment or delivery of cash or other consideration in an amount or having a
value in excess of $10,000 in the aggregate, or (B) the performance of services
having a value in excess of $10,000 in the aggregate; and

          (xiii) each Company Contract constituting a commitment of any Person
to purchase products (including products in development) of the Company.

(Company Contracts in the respective categories described in clauses "(i)"
through "(xiii)" above are referred to in this Agreement as "Material
Contracts.")

     (b) The Company has delivered to Parent accurate and complete copies of all
written Material Contracts, including all amendments thereto. Part 2.10(b) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule provides an accurate description of the terms of
each Material Contract that is not in written form. Each Contract identified in
Part 2.10(a) and Part 2.10(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule is valid and in
full force and effect, and, to the knowledge of the Company, is enforceable by
the Company in accordance with its terms.

     (c) Except as set forth in Part 2.10(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule:

          (i) the Company has not violated or breached, or committed any default
under, any Company Contract, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no other
Person has violated or breached, or committed any default under, any Company
Contract;

          (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 could reasonably be expected to, (A) result in a violation or breach of
any of the provisions of any Company Contract, (B) give any Person the right to
declare a default or exercise any remedy under any Company Contract, (C) give
any Person the right to accelerate the maturity or performance of any Company
Contract, or (D) give any Person the right to cancel, terminate or modify any
Company Contract;

          (iii) since the Company's inception, the Company has not received any
notice or other communication regarding any actual or possible violation or
breach of, or default under, any Company Contract; and

          (iv) the Company has not waived any of its material rights under any
Material Contract.

     (d) No Person is renegotiating, or has a right pursuant to the terms of any
Company Contract to renegotiate, any amount paid or payable to the Company under
any Material Contract or any other material term or provision of any Material
Contract.

     (e) The Material Contracts collectively constitute all of the Contracts
necessary to enable the Company to conduct its business in the manner in which
its business is currently being conducted.

                                      -16-

<PAGE>

     (f) Part 2.10(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies and provides
a brief description of each proposed Contract as to which any bid, offer, award,
written proposal, term sheet or similar document has been submitted or received
by the Company that is still active.

     (g) Part 2.10(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule provides an accurate
description and breakdown of the Company's backlog under Company Contracts.

     2.11 Liabilities; Fees, Costs and Expenses.

     (a) The Company has no accrued, contingent or other liabilities of any
nature, either matured or unmatured (whether or not required to be reflected in
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, and whether due or to become due), except for: (i) liabilities
identified as such in the "liabilities" column of the Company's Balance Sheet
for the period ending December 31, 1999; (ii) accounts payable or accrued
salaries that have been incurred by the Company since December 31, 1999 in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with the Company's past practices;
(iii) liabilities under the Material Contracts, to the extent the nature and
magnitude of such liabilities can be specifically ascertained by reference to
the text of such Company Contracts; and (iv) the liabilities identified in Part
2.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

     (b) The total amount of all fees, costs and expenses incurred by or for the
benefit of the  Company in  connection  with the  negotiation,  preparation  and
review of this Agreement and all  agreements,  certificates,  opinions and other
instruments  and documents  delivered or to be delivered in connection  with the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement, do not in the aggregate exceed the
amounts  set  forth  in  clauses  (b)  and (c)  under  the  heading  "Additional
Liabilities" of Exhibit A to this Agreement.

     2.12  Compliance  With Legal  Requirements.  The Company is, and has at all
times  since  its  inception  been,  in  compliance  with all  applicable  Legal
Requirements,  except  where the failure to comply with such Legal  Requirements
has not had and will not have a Material  Adverse Effect on the Company.  Except
as set  forth  in Part  2.12  of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  since  its
inception  the Company has not received any notice or other  communication  from
any Governmental Body regarding any actual or possible  violation of, or failure
to comply with, any Legal Requirement.

     2.13  Governmental  Authorizations.  Part  2.13 of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule  identifies  each  material  Governmental  Authorization  held  by  the
Company, and the Company has delivered to Parent accurate and complete copies of
all  Governmental   Authorizations  identified  in  Part  2.13  of  the  Company
Disclosure Schedule. The Governmental  Authorizations identified in Part 2.13 of
the Company  Disclosure  Schedule  are valid and in full force and  effect,  and
collectively constitute all Governmental  Authorizations necessary to enable the
Company to conduct its business in the manner in which its business is currently
being conducted.  The Company is, and at all times since its inception has been,
in  substantial  compliance  with the terms and  requirements  of the respective
Governmental  Authorizations  identified in Part 2.13 of the Company  Disclosure
Schedule.  Since the date of its  inception,  the Company has not  received  any
notice or other  communication  from any  Governmental  Body  regarding  (a) any
actual  or  possible  violation  of or  failure  to  comply  with  any  term  or
requirement  of any  Governmental

                                      -17-

<PAGE>

Authorization,  or (b) any actual or possible revocation, withdrawal,
suspension, cancellation, termination or modification of any Governmental
Authorization.

     2.14     Tax Matters.

     (a) All Tax  Returns  required  to be filed by or on behalf of the  Company
with any  Governmental  Body with  respect to any  taxable  period  ending on or
before the Closing Date (the  "Company  Returns") (i) have been or will be filed
on or before the  applicable  due date  (including  any  extensions  of such due
date),  and (ii) have been,  or will be when filed,  accurately  and  completely
prepared  in all  material  respects in  compliance  with all  applicable  Legal
Requirements.  All amounts  shown on the Company  Returns to be due on or before
the Closing  Date have been or will be paid on or before the Closing  Date.  The
Company has  delivered to Parent  accurate  and  complete  copies of all Company
Returns filed since December 31, 1997 which have been requested by Parent.

     (b) The Company Financial Statements fully accrue all actual and contingent
liabilities for Taxes with respect to all periods through the dates thereof in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company will
establish, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with its past
practices, reserves adequate for the payment of all Taxes for the period from
December 31, 1999 through the Closing Date, and the Company will disclose the
dollar amount of such reserves to Parent on or prior to the Closing Date.

     (c) No Company  Return  relating to income Taxes has ever been  examined or
audited by any  Governmental  Body.  Except as set forth in Part  2.14(c) of the
Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  there have been no examinations or audits of any
Company Return. The Company has delivered to Parent accurate and complete copies
of all audit  reports  and similar  documents  (to which the Company has access)
relating  to the  Company  Returns.  Except as set forth in Part  2.14(c) of the
Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  no extension or waiver of the limitation  period
applicable to any of the Company Returns has been granted (by the Company or any
other  Person),  and no such  extension  or waiver has been  requested  from the
Company.

     (d) Except as set forth in Part 2.14(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
no claim or Proceeding is pending or has been threatened against or with respect
to the Company in respect of any Tax. There are no unsatisfied  liabilities  for
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 the Company  with  respect to any 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 Company and with respect
to which  adequate  reserves  for payment have been  established).  There are no
liens for Taxes upon any of the assets of the Company  except  liens for current
Taxes not yet due and payable.  The Company has not entered into or become bound
by any agreement or consent  pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Code. The Company
has not been, and the Company will not be, required to include any adjustment in
taxable income for any tax period (or portion  thereof)  pursuant to 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.

                                      -18-

<PAGE>

     (e) Except as set forth in Part 2.14(e) 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 the
Company 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 of the Code. The Company is not, and has never been,
a party to or bound by any tax indemnity agreement, tax sharing agreement, tax
allocation agreement or similar Contract.

     2.15     Employee and Labor Matters; Benefit Plans.

     (a) Part 2.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies each salary,
bonus, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, stock purchase, stock
option, severance pay, termination pay, hospitalization, medical, life or other
insurance, supplemental unemployment benefits, profit-sharing, pension or
retirement plan, program or agreement (collectively, the "Plans") sponsored,
maintained, contributed to or required to be contributed to by the Company for
the benefit of any employee of the Company ("Employee"), except for Plans which
would not require the Company to make payments or provide benefits having a
value in excess of $10,000 in the aggregate. Part 2.15(a) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule sets forth the citizenship status of every employee of the
Company (whether such employee is a United States citizen or otherwise) and,
with respect to non-United States citizens, identifies the visa or other similar
permit under which such employee is working for the Company and the dates of
issuance and expiration of such visa or other similar permit.

     (b) Except as set forth in Part 2.15(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
the Company does not maintain,  sponsor or contribute  to, and, to the knowledge
of the  Company,  has  not at any  time in the  past  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 Merger  Subtitles
of ERISA) for the benefit of Employees or former Employees (a "Pension Plan").

     (c) The Company  maintains,  sponsors or contributes only to those employee
welfare  benefit  plans (as  defined  in Section  3(1) of ERISA,  whether or not
excluded from coverage under specific  Titles or Merger  Subtitles of ERISA) for
the benefit of Employees or former Employees which are described in Part 2.15(c)
of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule (the "Welfare  Plans"),  none of which 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  and/or the Code,  with  respect to such Plan for the last two
years;

                                      -19-

<PAGE>

          (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, and all material employee
communications relating 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 determination
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) The  Company  is not  required  to be,  and,  to the  knowledge  of the
Company,  has never 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. The Company has never been a member of an  "affiliated  service
group" within the meaning of Section 414(m) of the Code. To the knowledge of the
Company,  the  Company has never 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 subsequent reduction or waiver of such liability under either
Section 4207 or 4208 of ERISA).

     (f) The  Company  does  not  have  any plan or  commitment  to  create  any
additional 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 Employee.

     (g) Except as set forth in Part 2.15(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
no Welfare  Plan  provides  death,  medical or health  benefits  (whether or not
insured)  with  respect  to any  current  or  former  Employee  after  any  such
Employee's  termination of service (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 the Employees' beneficiaries)).

     (h) With respect to each of the Welfare Plans  constituting  a group health
plan within the meaning of Section  4980B(g)(2)  of the Code,  the provisions of
Section  4980B of the Code  ("COBRA")  have been  complied  with in all material
respects.

     (i) Each of the Plans has been  operated and  administered  in all material
respects in accordance with  applicable  Legal  Requirements,  including but not
limited to ERISA and the Code.

                                      -20-

<PAGE>

     (j) Each of the Plans intended to be qualified  under Section 401(a) of the
Code has received a favorable  determination  from the Internal Revenue Service,
and the  Company is not aware of any reason  why any such  determination  letter
should be revoked nor of any operational defects that could affect the qualified
status of the Plans.

     (k) Except as set forth in Part 2.15(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 payment (including any bonus, golden parachute or
severance  payment) to any current or former Employee or director of the Company
(whether or not under any Plan),  or  materially  increase the benefits  payable
under any Plan, or result in any  acceleration of the time of payment or vesting
of any such benefits.

     (l) Part 2.15(l) of the Company Disclosure  Schedule contains a list of all
salaried  employees  of the  Company  as of the  date  of  this  Agreement,  and
correctly  reflects,  in  all  material  respects,  their  salaries,  any  other
compensation payable to them (including  compensation payable pursuant to bonus,
deferred compensation or commission arrangements), their dates of employment and
their  positions.  The  Company  is not a  party  to any  collective  bargaining
contract or other  Contract with a labor union  involving any of its  Employees.
All of the Company's employees are "at will" employees.

     (m)  Part  2.15(m)  of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule  identifies  each
Employee who is not fully  available to perform  work because of  disability  or
other leave and sets forth the basis of such leave and the  anticipated  date of
return to full service.

     (n)  The  Company  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) Except as set forth in Part 2.15(o) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
the Company has good labor relations,  and has no reason to believe 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 Company's labor relations,
or  (ii)  any  of  the  Company's  employees  intends  to  terminate  his or her
employment with the Company.

     2.16  Environmental  Matters.  The Company is in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable  Environmental  Laws, which compliance includes the
possession by the Company of all permits and other  Governmental  Authorizations
required under applicable  Environmental Laws, and compliance with the terms and
conditions   thereof.   The  Company  has  not  received  any  notice  or  other
communication  (in writing or  otherwise),  whether  from a  Governmental  Body,
citizens group,  employee or otherwise,  that alleges that the Company is not in
compliance  with any  Environmental  Law,  and, to the knowledge of the Company,
there are no  circumstances  that may prevent or  interfere  with the  Company's
compliance  with any  Environmental  Law in the future.  To the knowledge of the
Company,  no current or prior owner of any property  leased or controlled by the
Company  has  received  any  notice  or  other   communication  (in  writing  or
otherwise),  whether  from a  Governmental  Body,  citizens  group,  employee or
otherwise,  that  alleges that such current or prior owner or the Company is not
in

                                      -21-

<PAGE>

compliance  with any  Environmental  Law.  All  Governmental  Authorizations
currently held by the Company pursuant to  Environmental  Laws are identified in
Part 2.16 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule.  (For  purposes of this  Section
2.16: (i) "Environmental  Law" means any federal,  state, local or foreign Legal
Requirement  relating  to  pollution  or  protection  of  human  health  or  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 (ii) "Materials of  Environmental  Concern" include
chemicals,  pollutants,  contaminants,  wastes, toxic substances,  petroleum and
petroleum products and any other substance that is now or hereafter regulated by
any Environmental  Law or that is otherwise a danger to health,  reproduction or
the environment.)

     2.17 INSURANCE. Part 2.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies all
insurance  policies  maintained  by, at the expense of or for the benefit of the
Company and identifies any material claims made thereunder,  and the Company has
delivered  to Parent  accurate  and complete  copies of the  insurance  policies
identified  on  Part  2.17  of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule.  Each  of the
insurance policies identified in Part 2.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule is
in full force and effect.  Since the  Company's  inception,  the Company has not
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 claim under any insurance  policy,  or (c) material
adjustment  in the amount of the premiums  payable with respect to any insurance
policy.

     2.18 Related  Party  Transactions.  Except as set forth in Part 2.18 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule:  (a) no Related Party has, and no Related Party has
at any time since the Company's  inception had, any direct or indirect  interest
in any  material  asset used in or  otherwise  relating  to the  business of the
Company;  (b) no  Related  Party  is,  or has at any time  since  the  Company's
inception been, indebted to the Company; (c) since the Company's  inception,  no
Related  Party has entered  into,  or has had any direct or  indirect  financial
interest in, any material  Contract,  transaction or business dealing  involving
the Company;  (d) no Related  Party is  competing,  or has at any time since the
Company's inception competed,  directly or indirectly, with the Company; and (e)
no Related Party has any claim or right  against the Company  (other than rights
under Company Options and rights to receive  compensation for services performed
as an employee of the  Company).  (For purposes of this Section 2.18 each of the
following shall be deemed to be a "Related  Party":  (i) each individual who is,
or who has at any time  since  the  Company's  inception  been,  an  officer  or
director of the  Company;  (ii) each Person  deemed an Affiliate of the Company;
(iii) each member of the immediate  family of each of the Persons referred to in
clauses "(i) and (ii)" above; and (iv) any trust or other Entity (other than the
Company)  in which any one of the  individuals  referred  to in  clauses  "(i),"
"(ii)" and "(iii)"  above  holds (or in which more than one of such  individuals
collectively hold), beneficially or otherwise, a material voting, proprietary or
equity interest.)

     2.19 Legal Proceedings; Orders.

     (a) Except as set forth in Part 2.19 of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule,
there is no pending Legal  Proceeding,  and to the knowledge of the Company,  no
Person has  threatened to

                                      -22-

<PAGE>

commence any Legal Proceeding:  (i) that involves the Company or any of the
assets  owned or used by the Company or any Person whose  liability  the Company
has or may have  retained or assumed,  either  contractually  or by operation of
law;  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, except as set forth in Part 2.19(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
no event has occurred,  and no claim, dispute or other condition or circumstance
exists,  that will,  or that could  reasonably  be expected  to, give rise to or
serve as a basis for the commencement of any such Legal Proceeding.

     (b) Except as set forth in Part 2.19(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
no Legal  Proceeding has ever been commenced by or has ever been pending against
the Company.

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

     2.20 Authority;  Binding Nature of Agreement.  The Company has the absolute
and  unrestricted  right,  power and  authority to enter into and to perform its
obligations under this Agreement; and the execution, delivery and performance by
the Company of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary  action
on the part of the Company and its board of directors and this Agreement and the
Merger have been unanimously  approved by the board of directors of the Company.
The  affirmative  vote of a majority of the shares of Company  Common Stock that
are outstanding on the first date on which a signed written consent of a Company
stockholder approving this Agreement is received by the Company is the only vote
of the  stockholders  of the Company  needed to approve and adopt this Agreement
and approve the Merger and the transactions  contemplated  hereby (the "Required
Company  Stockholder  Vote").  This Agreement  constitutes the legal,  valid and
binding obligation 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.

     2.21 Non-Contravention;  Consents.  Except as set forth in Part 2.21 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, neither (1) the execution,  delivery or performance
of this Agreement or any of the other agreements  referred to in this Agreement,
nor  (2)  the  consummation  of the  Merger  or any  of the  other  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement,  will directly or indirectly  (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 Company's  certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or (ii) any
resolution  adopted  by the  Company's  stockholders,  the  Company's  board  of
directors or any committee of the Company's board of directors;

     (b)  contravene,  conflict  with or result in a  violation  of, or give any
Governmental Body or other Person the right to challenge any of the transactions
contemplated  by this

                                      -23-

<PAGE>

Agreement  or to exercise any remedy or obtain any relief under, any Legal
Requirement or any order, writ, injunction,  judgment or decree to which the
Company,  or any of the assets  owned or used by the  Company,  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 the Company or that  otherwise  relates to the Company's  business or to
any of the assets owned or used by the Company;

     (d)  contravene,  conflict  with or result in a violation  or breach of, or
result in a default  under,  any  provision of any Company  Contract  that is or
would  constitute  a  Material  Contract,  or give any  Person  the right to (i)
declare a default or exercise any remedy under any such Company  Contract,  (ii)
accelerate the maturity or performance  of any such Company  Contract,  or (iii)
cancel, terminate or modify any such Company Contract; or

     (e) result in the  imposition or creation of any lien or other  Encumbrance
upon or with respect to any asset owned or used by the Company (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
the Company).

Except as set forth in Part 2.21 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  the
Company  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 (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.

     2.22 Customers.  Part 2.22 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule  identifies
each Person that has committed  (whether oral or written and whether pursuant to
an agreement or purchase  order or otherwise) to purchase  existing  products or
services or products or services being developed by the Company,  and sets forth
for each such Person the quantities or amounts of such products or services that
such Person has committed to purchase (the "Purchase  Commitments")  and whether
such commitment is oral or written.  The Company has provided to Parent true and
complete copies of all documents  evidencing such written Purchase  Commitments.
All such written  Purchase  Commitments  are in full force and effect,  have not
been  withdrawn,  amended,  modified or terminated  and are  enforceable  by the
Company and, upon  consummation  of the Merger,  will be  enforceable by Parent,
against the other party to such written Purchase Commitments. No fact, condition
or circumstance  exists that would give any party the right to withdraw,  amend,
modify or terminate any written Purchase  Commitment and no Person has given any
notice to the  Company.  The Company  has no reason to believe,  that any Person
intends to withdraw, amend, modify or terminate any Purchase Commitment.

     2.23 Product Development. Part 2.23 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth for each product or service being developed by or on behalf of the Company
a true and correct development status. No fact, condition or circumstance exists
that would  materially  impair or delay the  development of any such products or
services.

                                      -24-

<PAGE>

     2.24 Full Disclosure.

     (a) This  Agreement  (including  the  Disclosure  Schedule)  does 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)  The  information   supplied  by  the  Company  for  inclusion  in  the
Information  Statement  (as defined in Section 5.2) will not, as of the date the
Required Company Stockholder Vote is obtained, (i) contain any statement that is
inaccurate  or  misleading  with respect to any material  fact,  or (ii) omit to
state any  material  fact  necessary in order to make such  information  (in the
light of the circumstances under which it is provided) not false or misleading.

SECTION 3.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

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

     3.1 Corporate Existence and Power. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a
corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of their jurisdiction of incorporation, and has all corporate power
required to conduct its business as now conducted, and is duly qualified to do
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of
its business or the ownership or leasing of its properties requires such
qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a
material adverse effect on Parent's business, financial condition or results of
operations.

     3.2 Authority; Binding Nature of Agreement. Parent and Merger Sub have the
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 (including the contemplated issuance of Parent Common Stock in the
Merger in accordance with this Agreement) have been duly authorized by all
necessary action on the part of Parent and Merger Sub and their respective
boards of directors. No vote of Parent's stockholders is needed to adopt this
Agreement or approve the Merger. 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.

     3.3 Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of Parent consists of: (i)
50,000,000 shares of Common Stock ($.001 par value per share), of which
28,836,694 shares have been issued and are outstanding as of February 7, 2000;
and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock ($.001 par value per share), none
of which is outstanding as of the date of this Agreement. An aggregate of
6,500,000 shares of Parent Common Stock are reserved for issuance under Parent's
1998 Stock Plan, of which options to purchase [3,982,113] shares were
outstanding as of February 7, 2000. As of February 7, 2000 options to purchase
an additional [713,196] shares of Parent Common Stock were outstanding under the
Sitebridge 1997 Stock Plan assumed by

                                      -25-

<PAGE>

Parent in 1999; an aggregate of 750,000 shares of Parent Common Stock were
reserved for issuance under Parent's 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; and an
additional 159,554 shares of Parent Common Stock were reserved for issuance
upon exercise of outstanding warrants. Except as set forth above, 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 Parent; (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 Parent; or (iii) Contract under which Parent is or
may become obligated to sell or otherwise issue any shares of capital stock or
any other securities of Parent.

     3.4      SEC Filings; Financial Statements.

     (a) Each report, registration statement (on a form other than Form S-8) and
definitive proxy statement filed by Parent with the SEC between September 23,
1999 and the date of this Agreement (the "Parent SEC Documents") is publicly
available from the SEC and Parent will deliver to the Company accurate and
complete copies (excluding copies of exhibits) of each Parent SEC Document prior
to the Closing. 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  consolidated  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 consolidated financial statements and (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  year-end  audit
adjustments;  and (iii) fairly present the  consolidated  financial  position of
Parent as of the  respective  dates  thereof  and the  consolidated  results  of
operations of Parent for the periods covered thereby.

     3.5 No  Conflict.  The  execution  and delivery of this  Agreement  and the
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby by Parent and Merger Sub
are not  prohibited  by, and will not violate or conflict with, any provision of
the certificate of incorporation  (or certificate of incorporation) or bylaws of
Parent or Merger Sub.

     3.6 Valid Issuance.  Subject to Section 1.6(e), the shares of Parent Common
Stock to be issued  pursuant to Section  1.6(a) will,  when issued in accordance
with the  provisions  of this  Agreement,  be  validly  issued,  fully  paid and
nonassessable  and shall be issued in accordance with all applicable  securities
laws.

                                      -26-

<PAGE>

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

     4.2 Operation of the Company's Business. During the Pre-Closing Period:

     (a) the Company shall  conduct its business and  operations in the ordinary
course and in substantially the same manner as such business and operations have
been conducted prior to the date of this Agreement;

     (b) the Company  shall use its best efforts to preserve  intact its current
business  organization,  keep available the services of its current officers and
employees  and  maintain  its  relations  and  good  will  with  all  suppliers,
customers,  landlords,  creditors,  employees and other Persons having  business
relationships with the Company;

     (c) the Company shall keep in full force and effect all insurance  policies
identified in Part 2.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule;

     (d) the Company  shall cause its  officers to report  regularly  (but in no
event  less  frequently  than  weekly)  to Parent  concerning  the status of the
Company's business;

     (e) the Company shall not declare, accrue, set aside or pay any dividend or
make any other  distribution  in respect  of any shares of capital  stock of the
Company,  and shall not repurchase,  redeem or otherwise reacquire any shares of
capital stock or other  securities  of the Company  (except that the Company may
repurchase  Company Common Stock from former employees  pursuant to the terms of
existing restricted stock purchase agreements);

     (f) the Company shall not sell,  issue or authorize the issuance of (i) any
capital stock or other  securities  of the Company,  (ii) any option or right to
acquire any  capital  stock or other  securities  of the  Company,  or (iii) any
instrument  convertible  into or  exchangeable  for any  capital  stock or other
securities  of the Company  (except that the Company shall be permitted to issue
shares of Company  Common Stock (x) to employees and directors upon the exercise
of Company  Options,  and (y) to issue  shares of Company  Common Stock upon the
conversion  of shares of Preferred  Stock of the Company  outstanding  as of the
date of this Agreement);

     (g) the Company shall not amend or waive any of its rights under, or permit
the  acceleration of vesting (except  pursuant to agreements  existing as of the
date of this  Agreement)  under,  (i) any  provision of any Company Stock Option
Plan,  (ii) any provision of any agreement  evidencing any  outstanding  Company
Option,  or (iii) any  provision  of any  restricted  stock

                                      -27-

<PAGE>

purchase  agreement (unless acceleration of vesting is required under any
Company Stock Option Plan, Company Option or other agreement);

     (h) the Company  shall not amend or permit the adoption of any amendment to
the Company's  certificate of incorporation  or bylaws,  or effect or permit the
Company  to  become a party to any  Acquisition  Transaction,  recapitalization,
reclassification  of  shares,  stock  split,  reverse  stock  split  or  similar
transaction  (except that the Company may issue  shares of Company  Common Stock
upon the conversion of shares of outstanding Preferred of the Company Stock);

     (i) the  Company  shall  not form any  subsidiary  or  acquire  any  equity
interest or other interest in any other Entity;

     (j) the Company shall not make any capital expenditure,  except for capital
expenditures  that, when added to all other capital  expenditures made on behalf
of the Company during the Pre-Closing Period, do not exceed $10,000 per month;

     (k) the Company shall not (i) enter into, or permit any of the assets owned
or used by it to become  bound by, any  Contract  that is or would  constitute a
Material Contract, or (ii) amend or prematurely terminate, or waive any material
right or remedy under, any such Contract;

     (l) the Company shall not (i) acquire,  lease or license any right or other
asset from any other  Person,  (ii) sell or  otherwise  dispose  of, or lease or
license,  any  right  or other  asset to any  other  Person,  or (iii)  waive or
relinquish any right, except for assets acquired,  leased,  licensed or disposed
of by the Company pursuant to Contracts that are not Material Contracts;

     (m) the  Company  shall not (i) lend money to any Person  (except  that the
Company may make routine travel  advances to employees in the ordinary course of
business),  or (ii) incur or guarantee  any  indebtedness  for  borrowed  money,
except for loans and advances from Parent;

     (n) the  Company  shall  not (i)  establish,  adopt or amend  any  Employee
Benefit  Plan,  (ii)  pay any  bonus or make any  profit-sharing  payment,  cash
incentive  payment 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,  or (iii) hire any new
employee whose aggregate annual compensation exceeds $35,000;

     (o) the  Company  shall not change  any of its  methods  of  accounting  or
accounting practices in any material respect;

     (p) the Company shall not make any Tax election;

     (q) the Company shall not commence or settle any material Legal Proceeding;

     (r) the  Company  shall  not  agree or  commit  to take any of the  actions
described in clauses "(e)" through "(q)" above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may take any action described in
clauses "(e)" through "(r)" above if Parent gives its prior written consent to
the taking of such action by the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld (it being understood that Parent's

                                      -28-

<PAGE>

withholding of consent to any action will not be deemed unreasonable if Parent
determines in good faith that the taking of such action would not be in the best
interests of Parent or would not be in the best interests of the Company).

     4.3 Notification; Updates to Disclosure Schedule.

     (a) 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 an inaccuracy in or breach of 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 an
inaccuracy in or breach of 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 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  condition set forth in Section 6 or Section 7
impossible or unlikely.

     (b) If any event,  condition,  fact or circumstance  that is required to be
disclosed  pursuant  to  Section  4.3(a)  requires  any  change  in the  Company
Disclosure Schedule, or 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 condition set forth in Section 6 has been satisfied.

     4.4 No Negotiation.

     (a) During the  Pre-Closing  Period,  the Company  shall not, and shall not
authorize  or  permit  any   Representative  of  the  Company  to,  directly  or
indirectly:

          (i) solicit or encourage the  initiation  of any inquiry,  proposal or
offer  from  any  Person  (other  than  Parent)   relating  to  a  possible
Acquisition Transaction;

                                      -29-

<PAGE>

          (ii)  participate in any discussions or negotiations or enter into any
agreement with, or provide any non-public information to, any Person (other
than  Parent)  relating  to or in  connection  with a possible  Acquisition
Transaction; or

          (iii)  consider,  entertain  or accept any  proposal or offer from any
Person (other than Parent) relating to a possible Acquisition Transaction.

The Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing
discussions with any Person that relate to any Acquisition Transaction. The
Company shall promptly notify Parent in writing of any inquiry, proposal or
offer relating to a possible Acquisition Transaction that is received by the
Company during the Pre-Closing Period.

     (b) Nothing in this  Agreement  shall prevent the Board of Directors of the
Company from withholding,  withdrawing, amending or modifying its recommendation
in favor of the Merger if (i) a Superior Offer (as defined below) 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(a),  and (iii) the Board of Directors of the Company  concludes in good faith,
after  consultation  with its outside  counsel,  that, in light of such Superior
Offer,   the  withholding,   withdrawal,   amendment  or  modification  of  such
recommendation is required in order for the Board of Directors of the Company to
comply  with  its  fiduciary  obligations  to  the  Company  and  the  Company's
shareholders  under  applicable  law.  Nothing  contained in this Section 4.4(b)
shall  limit  the   Company's   obligation  to  hold  and  convene  the  Company
Stockholders'  Meeting (regardless of whether the recommendation of the Board of
Directors of the Company shall have been  withdrawn,  amended or modified).  For
purposes of this Agreement,  "Superior  Offer" shall mean an  unsolicited,  bona
fide  written  offer made by a third party to  consummate  any of the  following
transactions:    (i)   a   merger,    consolidation,    business    combination,
recapitalization,  liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving the
Company pursuant to which the shareholders of the Company immediately  preceding
such  transaction  hold less than 51% of the equity interest in the surviving or
resulting entity of such  transaction;  (ii) a sale or other  disposition by the
Company of assets  (excluding  inventory and used equipment sold in the ordinary
course of  business)  representing  in excess of 50% of the fair market value of
the Company's business  immediately prior to such sale, or (iii) the acquisition
by any person or group  (including by way of a tender offer or an exchange offer
or issuance by the Company),  directly or indirectly, of beneficial ownership or
a right to acquire beneficial  ownership of shares representing in excess of 50%
of the  voting  power of the then  outstanding  shares of  capital  stock of the
Company,  in each  case on terms  that the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company
determines,  in its  reasonable  judgment  (based  on a  written  opinion  of an
investment bank of nationally recognized reputation) to be more favorable to the
Company shareholders from a financial point of view than the terms of the Merger
and the  consideration  of which  reasonably  likely  exceeds  the  value of the
consideration  in the Merger  (after  taking into account all relevant  factors,
including any conditions to the Superior Offer,  the timing of the  consummation
of the transaction  pursuant to the Superior Offer, the risk of  nonconsummation
thereof and the need for any required  governmental or other  consents,  filings
and approvals); 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.

                                      -30-

<PAGE>

SECTION 5.  ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

     5.1 Filings and Consents. As promptly as practicable after the execution of
this Agreement, each party to this Agreement (a) 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,  and (b) shall use all commercially  reasonable efforts to obtain all
Consents  (if any)  required to be obtained  (pursuant to any  applicable  Legal
Requirement  or Contract,  or otherwise)  by such party in  connection  with the
Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement.  The Company
shall (upon request) 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.

     5.2  Stockholder Consent.

     (a) As promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement, Parent and
the Company  shall prepare  disclosure  material  concerning  the parties to the
proposed  Merger,  to be  sent to the  Company  stockholders  (the  "Information
Statement").  Each of Parent and the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to
cause  the  Information  Statement  to comply  with the  rules  and  regulations
promulgated  by the SEC.  The  Company  shall  promptly  furnish  to Parent  all
information  concerning the Company and the stockholders of the Company that may
be required or reasonably  requested in connection with any action  contemplated
by this  Section  5.2. If any event  relating to the Company  occurs,  or if the
Company  becomes  aware  of any  information  that  should  be  disclosed  in an
amendment or supplement  to the  Information  Statement,  then the Company shall
promptly inform Parent thereof and shall cooperate with Parent in preparing such
amendment  or  supplement  and, if  appropriate,  in mailing  such  amendment or
supplement to the stockholders of the Company.

     (b) The Company shall take all action  necessary under all applicable Legal
Requirements to solicit the written  consent of the  stockholders of the Company
entitled  to vote upon the  adoption  and  approval  of this  Agreement  and the
approval of the Merger and will promptly mail to each holder of capital stock of
the Company a copy of the Information  Statement,  a form of written consent and
such other documents as Parent deems are necessary to comply with applicable law
or are otherwise reasonably appropriate.  The Company shall use its best efforts
to  ensure  that the  Required  Company  Stockholder  Vote will be  obtained  as
promptly as practicable  (and in any event within 15 days) after the Information
Statement is first sent to the  stockholders  of the Company.  The Company shall
ensure that the Required Company Stockholder Vote is obtained in compliance with
all applicable Legal Requirements.

     (c) The board of directors of the Company shall unanimously  recommend that
the  Company's  stockholders  adopt and approve this  Agreement  and approve the
Merger.  The Information  Statement shall include a statement to the effect that
the board of  directors  of the Company  has  unanimously  recommended  that the
Company's  stockholders adopt and approve this Agreement and approve the Merger.
Neither the board of directors of the 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  unanimous  recommendation  of the board of
directors of the Company that the Company's  stockholders adopt and approve this
Agreement  and  approve  the  Merger.  For  purposes  of  this  Agreement,  said
recommendation  of the board of

                                      -31-

<PAGE>
directors of the Company shall be deemed to have been  modified  in a manner
adverse to Parent if said  recommendation  shall no longer be unanimous.

     5.3 Public  Announcements.  During the Pre-Closing  Period, (a) the Company
shall not (and the Company shall not permit any of its Representatives to) issue
any press release or make any public  statement  regarding this Agreement or the
Merger,  or  regarding  any of  the  other  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement,  without  Parent's  prior  written  consent,  and (b) Parent will use
reasonable  efforts  to consult  with the  Company  prior to  issuing  any press
release or making any  public  statement  regarding  the  Merger  provided  that
nothing  herein  shall be deemed to  prohibit  Parent  from  making  any  public
disclosure Parent deems necessary or appropriate under applicable laws.

     5.4 Best Efforts.  During the Pre-Closing Period, (a) the Company shall use
its best efforts to cause the  conditions set forth in Section 6 to be satisfied
on a timely basis, and (b) Parent and Merger Sub shall use their best efforts to
cause the conditions set forth in Section 7 to be satisfied on a timely basis.

     5.5  Employment  Agreements  and  Confidential  Information  and  Invention
Assignment Agreements.  Prior to the Closing,  Parent shall use its best efforts
to cause each of the  employment  agreements  to Tom Rearick,  Joel Ackerman and
Pedro Cortopassi (the "Founders")  attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Employment
Agreements")   and  the  Confidential   Information  and  Invention   Assignment
Agreements  substantially  in  the  form  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  D  (the
"Invention Assignment  Agreements") to be executed by the applicable parties and
delivered to Company and the Founders.

     5.6  Employees.  Parent and the Company  shall consult with each other with
respect to the disclosure of the Merger to the employees of the Company.

     5.7 Release. At the Closing,  each stockholder of the Company shall execute
and deliver to the Company a Release in the form of Exhibit E.

     5.8  Termination  of Employee  Plans.  At the  Closing,  the Company  shall
terminate the Company Stock Option Plans and all other employee benefit plans of
the Company.

     5.9 FIRPTA Matters. At the Closing, (a) the Company shall deliver to Parent
a statement (in such form as may be  reasonably  requested by counsel to Parent)
conforming  to the  requirements  of Section  1.897 -  2(h)(1)(i)  of the United
States Treasury  Regulations,  and (b) the Company shall deliver to the Internal
Revenue Service the  notification  required under Section 1.897 - 2(h)(2) of the
United States Treasury Regulations.

     5.10 Investment Letters. Each of the Company stockholders as of immediately
prior to the  Effective  Time shall  execute and deliver to Parent an Investment
Letter in the form of Exhibit F.

                                      -32-

<PAGE>

SECTION 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  or waiver,  at or prior to the Closing,  of each of the  following
conditions:

     6.1 Accuracy of Representations. Each of the representations and warranties
made by the Company in this  Agreement and in each of the other  agreements  and
instruments delivered to Parent in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this  Agreement  shall have been accurate in all material  respects as of the
date of this Agreement  (without giving effect to any "Material  Adverse Effect"
or other materiality qualifications, or any similar qualifications, contained or
incorporated directly or indirectly in such representations and warranties), and
shall be accurate in all material  respects as of the Closing Date as if made on
the Closing Date (without giving effect to any update to the Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  and without giving effect to any "Material  Adverse  Effect" or other
materiality  qualifications,   or  any  similar  qualifications,   contained  or
incorporated directly or indirectly in such representations and warranties).

     6.2 Performance of Covenants. All of the covenants and obligations 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  Stockholder  Approval.  This Agreement shall have been duly adopted by
the Required Company  Stockholder Vote. None of the holders of shares of capital
stock of the Company shall be entitled to have such shares treated as Dissenting
Shares.

     6.4 Consents.  All Consents  required to be obtained in connection with the
Merger and the other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement (including the
Consents identified in Part 2.21 of the Company Disclosure  Schedule) shall have
been obtained and shall be in full force and effect.

     6.5  Agreements and  Documents.  Parent shall have received,  or shall have
waived its right to receive,  the following  agreements and  documents,  each of
which shall be in full force and effect:

     (a) the  Employment  Agreements  and the  Invention  Assignment  Agreements
attached hereto as Exhibits C and D,  respectively,  shall have been executed by
the Founders;

     (b) a  Release  in  the  form  of  Exhibit  E,  executed  by  each  of  the
stockholders of the Company;

     (c)   confidential   invention  and   assignment   agreements,   reasonably
satisfactory in form and content to Parent, executed by all employees and former
employees of the Company and by all consultants and independent  contractors and
former  consultants and former  independent  contractors to the Company who have
not already signed such agreements (including the individuals identified in Part
2.9(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule);


                                      -33-

<PAGE>
     (d)  Investment  Letters in the form of  Exhibit F  executed  by all of the
Company stockholders as of the Closing Date;

     (e) a legal opinion of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough  LLP, dated as of
the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit G;

     (f) a written  opinion from Parent's  counsel to the effect that the Merger
will be treated for Federal income tax purposes as a  Reorganization  within the
meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code;

     (g) an Escrow  Agreement in the form of Exhibit B,  executed by the Company
Stockholders' Representatives and the Escrow Agent;

     (h) a  certificate  signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief  Executive
Officer  and  the  Chief  Financial  Officer  of the  Company  representing  and
warranting  that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 have been duly
satisfied (the "Company Compliance Certificate");

     (i) a detailed and complete  description  of all expenses set forth in Part
2.11 of the Company Disclosure Schedule;

     (j) a written acknowledgement from each officer and director of the Company
that any indemnification  agreement between the Company and such person will not
in any way mitigate such person's  liability under Section 9.8 of this Agreement
or for fraud in connection with the Merger.

     6.6 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.

     6.7 No  Governmental  Litigation.  There shall not be pending or threatened
any Legal Proceeding in which a Governmental  Body is or is 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 possibility of commencing any Legal  Proceeding or taking any
other  action:   (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 the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,  any damages or
other relief that may 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 the Company
or any of its  Subsidiaries;  or (d) which would materially and adversely affect
the right of Parent or the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries to own the assets
or operate the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

     6.8 No Other Litigation. There shall not be pending any Legal Proceeding in
which, in the reasonable judgment of Parent,  there is a reasonable  possibility
of an outcome that could

                                      -34-

<PAGE>

have a Material  Adverse Effect on the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  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  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries,  any damages or other  relief that may 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 the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries;  or (d) which
would  affect  adversely  the  right  of  Parent  or the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries  to own the assets or operate the business of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries.

          6.9  Termination  of Employee  Plans.  The Company shall have provided
     Parent  with  evidence,  reasonably  satisfactory  to  Parent,  as  to  the
     termination of the benefit plans referred to in Section 5.10.

     6.10 FIRPTA  Compliance.  Parent shall have received the statement referred
to in Section 5.11(a) and the Company shall have filed with the Internal Revenue
Service the notification referred to in Section 5.11(b).

     6.11  Securities  Law  Requirements.  All permits,  licenses,  consents and
approvals necessary under any laws relating to the sale of securities shall have
been issued or given and no such permit, license, consent or approval shall have
been  revoked,  concluded,  terminated,  suspended  or made  subject of any stop
orders or proceeding therefor.

SECTION 7.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY

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

     7.1 Accuracy of Representations. Each of the representations and warranties
made by Parent and Merger Sub in this Agreement  shall have been accurate in all
material respects as of the date of this Agreement (without giving effect to any
materiality  qualifications or similar qualifications  contained or incorporated
directly or indirectly in such  representations  and  warranties),  and shall be
accurate  in all  material  respects  as of the  Closing  Date as if made on the
Closing Date (without giving effect to any materiality qualifications or similar
qualifications   contained  or  incorporated  directly  or  indirectly  in  such
representations and warranties).

     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 Documents. The Company shall have received the following documents:

     (a) a legal  opinion  of  Pillsbury  Madison & Sutro  llp,  dated as of the
Closing Date, in the form of Exhibit H;

                                      -35-

<PAGE>

     (b) a written  opinion from the Company's  legal counsel to the effect that
the Merger will be treated for Federal  income tax purposes as a  Reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code;

     (c) an Escrow  Agreement  in the form of Exhibit B,  executed by Parent and
the Escrow Agent; and

     (d) a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by the Chief Executive Officer
and the Chief Financial  Officer of Parent  representing and warranting that the
conditions set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 have been duly satisfied.

     7.4 Stockholder  Approval.  This Agreement shall have been duly adopted and
approved  and the Merger shall have been duly  approved by the Required  Company
Stockholder Vote.

     7.5 Listing.  The shares of Parent  Common Stock to be issued in the Merger
shall have been  approved for  quotation  (subject to notice of issuance) on the
Nasdaq.

     7.6 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.

     7.7  Securities  Law  Requirements.  All  permits,  licenses,  consents and
approvals necessary under any laws relating to the sale of securities shall have
been issued or given and no such permit, license, consent or approval shall have
been  revoked,  concluded,  terminated,  suspended  or made  subject of any stop
orders or proceeding therefor.

     7.8 Registration  Rights.  The Amendment to Investors'  Rights Agreement in
the form attached as Exhibit G shall have been executed by Parent and holders of
a majority in interest of Parent's "Registrable Securities," as defined therein.

SECTION 8.  TERMINATION

     8.1  Termination  Events.  This  Agreement may be  terminated  prior to the
Closing:

     (a) by Parent if Parent reasonably  determines that the timely satisfaction
of any condition set forth in Section 6 has become  impossible  (other than as a
result of any  failure  on the part of Parent  or Merger  Sub to comply  with or
perform  any  covenant or  obligation  of Parent or Merger Sub set forth in this
Agreement);

     (b) by the Company if the  Company  reasonably  determines  that the timely
satisfaction  of any  condition  set forth in  Section 7 has  become  impossible
(other than as a result of any failure on the part of the Company to comply with
or perform any  covenant or  obligation  set forth in this  Agreement  or in any
other agreement or instrument delivered to Parent);

                                      -36-

<PAGE>

     (c) by Parent at or after the  Scheduled  Closing Time if any condition set
forth in Section 6 has not been satisfied by the Scheduled Closing Time;

     (d)  by  Parent  if any of the  Company's  representations  and  warranties
contained in this Agreement shall have been materially inaccurate as of the date
of  this  Agreement  or  shall  have  become  materially  inaccurate  as of  any
subsequent date (as if made on such subsequent date), or if any of the Company's
covenants  contained in this Agreement  shall have been breached in any material
respect;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that Parent may not terminate this Agreement under
this Section 8.1(d) on account of an inaccuracy in the Company's representations
and  warranties  that is curable  by the  Company or on account of a breach of a
covenant by the Company that is curable by the Company  unless the Company fails
to cure such inaccuracy or breach within 15 days after receiving  written notice
from Parent of such inaccuracy or breach;

     (e) by the Company at or after the Scheduled  Closing Time if any condition
set forth in Section 7 has not been satisfied by the Scheduled Closing Time;

     (f)  by the  Company  if any of  Parent's  representations  and  warranties
contained in this Agreement shall have been materially inaccurate as of the date
of  this  Agreement  or  shall  have  become  materially  inaccurate  as of  any
subsequent  date (as if made on such  subsequent  date),  or if any of  Parent's
covenants  contained in this Agreement  shall have been breached in any material
respect;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that the Company may not terminate this Agreement
under  this   Section   8.1(f)  on  account  of  an   inaccuracy   in   Parent's
representations  and  warranties  that is  curable  by Parent or on account of a
breach of a covenant by Parent that is curable by Parent  unless Parent fails to
cure such  inaccuracy or breach within 15 days after  receiving  written  notice
from the Company of such inaccuracy or breach;

     (g) by Parent if the  Closing  has not taken  place on or before  March 31,
2000 (other than as a result of any failure on the part of Parent to comply with
or perform any covenant or obligation of Parent set forth in this Agreement);

     (h) by the Company if the  Closing  has not taken place on or before  March
31,  2000  (other  than as a result of the failure on the part of the Company to
comply with or perform any covenant or obligation set forth in this Agreement or
in any other agreement or instrument delivered to Parent); or

     (i) by the mutual consent of Parent and the Company.

     8.2  Termination  Procedures.  If Parent wishes to terminate this Agreement
pursuant to Section 8.1(a),  Section  8.1(c),  Section 8.1(d) or Section 8.1(g),
Parent  shall  deliver to the Company a written  notice  stating  that Parent is
terminating this Agreement and setting forth a brief description of the basis on
which Parent is terminating  this Agreement.  If the Company wishes to terminate
this Agreement  pursuant to Section 8.1(b),  Section  8.1(e),  Section 8.1(f) or
Section  8.1(h),  the Company shall deliver to Parent a written  notice  stating
that the  Company  is  terminating  this  Agreement  and  setting  forth a brief
description of the basis on which the Company is terminating this Agreement.


                                      -37-

<PAGE>

     8.3 Effect of  Termination.  If this  Agreement is  terminated  pursuant to
Section 8.1, all further  obligations of the parties under this Agreement  shall
terminate;  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that: (a) neither the Company nor Parent shall be
relieved of any  obligation  or liability  arising from any  inaccuracy or prior
breach  by  such  party  of any  representation,  warranty,  covenant  or  other
provision of this Agreement;  (b) the parties shall, in all events, remain bound
by and continue to be subject to the provisions set forth in Section 10; and (c)
the Company shall, in all events,  remain bound by and continue to be subject to
Section 5.3.

SECTION 9.  INDEMNIFICATION, ETC.

     9.1  Survival of Representations, Etc.

       (a) The representations and warranties made by the Company (including the
representations and warranties set forth in Section 2 and the representations
set forth in the Company Compliance Certificate) shall survive the Closing and
shall expire on the first anniversary of the Closing Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the representations set forth in Sections 2.14 and 2.15 shall survive until
expiration of applicable statutes of limitations and provided further that if,
at any time prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, any Indemnitee
(acting in good faith) delivers to the Company Stockholders' Representative a
written notice alleging the existence of an inaccuracy in or a breach of any of
the representations and warranties made by the Company (and setting forth in
reasonable detail the basis for such Indemnitee's belief that such an inaccuracy
or breach may exist) and asserting a claim for recovery under Section 9.2 based
on such alleged inaccuracy or breach, then the claim asserted in such notice
shall survive the first anniversary of the Closing until such time as such claim
is fully and finally resolved. All representations and warranties made by Parent
and Merger Sub shall terminate and expire as of the Effective Time, and any
liability of Parent or Merger Sub with respect to such representations and
warranties shall thereupon cease.

     (b) The  representations,  warranties,  covenants  and  obligations  of the
Company,  and the rights and remedies that may be exercised by the  Indemnitees,
shall not be limited or otherwise  affected by or as a result of any information
furnished  to,  or  any  investigation  made  by or  knowledge  of,  any  of the
Indemnitees or any of their Representatives.

     (c) For  purposes  of this  Agreement,  each  statement  or  other  item of
information set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule or in any update to the
Company Disclosure  Schedule shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty
made by the Company in this Agreement.

     9.2 Indemnification.

     (a) From and after the Closing Date (but subject to Section  9.1(a)),  each
Indemnitee shall be held harmless and indemnified from and against, and shall be
compensated,  reimbursed  and paid  for,  any  Damages  which  are  directly  or
indirectly suffered or incurred by any Indemnitee or to which any Indemnitee may
otherwise  become  subject  (regardless of whether or not such Damages relate to
any  third-party  claim) and which arise from or as a result of, or are directly
or  indirectly   connected  with:  (i)  any  inaccuracy  in  or  breach  of  any
representation  or warranty of the Company set forth in this Agreement  (without
giving  effect  to  any   "Material   Adverse   Effect"  or  other   materiality
qualification or any similar qualification contained or

                                      -38-

<PAGE>
incorporated  directly or indirectly  in such  representation  or warranty,  and
without giving effect to any update to the Company Disclosure Schedule delivered
by the Company to Parent  prior to the  Closing)  or in the  Company  Compliance
Certificate;  (ii) any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty
made by the Company in this  Agreement  (without  giving effect to any "Material
Adverse Effect" or other materiality  qualification or any similar qualification
contained or  incorporated  directly or  indirectly  in such  representation  or
warranty,  and without  giving  effect to any update to the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule  delivered  by the  Company to Parent  prior to the  Closing) or in the
Company Compliance  Certificate as if such  representation or warranty were made
on and as of the Closing Date, (iii) any breach of any covenant or obligation of
the Company (including the covenants set forth in Sections 4 and 5); or (iv) any
Legal Proceeding relating to any inaccuracy or breach of the type referred to in
clauses "(i)" "(ii)" or "(iii)" above (including any Legal Proceeding  commenced
by any  Indemnitee  for the purpose of  enforcing  any of its rights  under this
Section 9).

     (b) In the event the  Surviving  Corporation  suffers,  incurs or otherwise
becomes  subject  to any  Damages  as a  result  of or in  connection  with  any
inaccuracy in or breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation,
then  (without  limiting any of the rights of the  Surviving  Corporation  as an
Indemnitee) Parent shall also be deemed, by virtue of its ownership of the stock
of the Surviving  Corporation,  to have  incurred  Damages as a result of and in
connection with such inaccuracy or breach.

     9.3 Threshold. No indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification  pursuant
to  Section  9.2(a)  for any  inaccuracy  in or breach  of any of the  Company's
representations  and  warranties  set  forth in this  Agreement  or the  Company
Compliance  Certificate  until  such  time as the total  amount  of all  Damages
(including  the Damages  arising  from such  inaccuracy  or breach and all other
damages   arising   from  any  other   inaccuracies   in  or   breaches  of  any
representations or warranties) that have been directly or indirectly suffered or
incurred by any one or more of the  Indemnitees,  or to which any one or more of
the  Indemnitees  has or have  otherwise  become  subject ,  exceeds  $50,000 in
aggregate,  provided  that if the total amount of such Damages  excess  $50,000,
then any Indemnitee  that has suffered or incurred any Damages shall be entitled
to be indemnified  against and compensated,  reimbursed and paid for all of such
Damages and not merely that portion of such Damages exceeding $50,000.

     9.4 Right of Offset of Indemnification  Claims.  Subject to Section 9.3, in
the event any Indemnitee  shall suffer any Damages for which such  Indemnitee is
entitled  to  indemnification  under this  Section 9, such  Indemnitee  shall be
entitled  to recover  such  Damages  solely by  obtaining  that number of Escrow
Shares equal in value (as determined in accordance with the terms and conditions
of the Escrow Agreement) to the aggregate amount of such Damages.

     9.5 No Contribution.  The Company stockholders shall not have and shall not
exercise  or  assert  (or   attempt  to  exercise  or  assert),   any  right  of
contribution,  right of indemnity or other right or remedy against the Surviving
Corporation  in  connection  with any  indemnification  obligation  or any other
liability to which such  stockholders  may become subject under or in connection
with this Agreement or the Escrow Agreement.

                                      -39-

<PAGE>
     9.6  Defense  of Third  Party  Claims.  In the  event of the  assertion  or
commencement by any Person of any claim or Legal Proceeding (whether against the
Surviving Corporation,  against Parent or against any other Person) with respect
to which any of the Indemnitees may be entitled to  indemnification or any other
remedy pursuant to this Section 9, Parent shall have the right, at its election,
to proceed  with the  defense of such claim or Legal  Proceeding  on its own. If
Parent so proceeds with the defense of any such claim or Legal  Proceeding:  (a)
all  reasonable  expenses  relating  to the  defense  of  such  claim  or  Legal
Proceeding  shall be satisfied  out of the Escrow Shares in the manner set forth
in the Escrow Agreement; and

     (b) Parent shall have the right to settle,  adjust or compromise such claim
or  Legal   Proceeding   with  the   consent   of  the   Company   Stockholders'
Representative;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that such consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.

Parent shall give the Company Stockholders'  Representative prompt notice of the
commencement  of any such  Legal  Proceeding  against  Parent  or the  Surviving
Corporation;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that any  failure on the part of Parent to so
notify  the  Company  Stockholders'  Representative  shall  not limit any of the
Indemnitees'  rights to  indemnification  under  this  Section 9 (except  to the
extent such failure materially prejudices the defense of such Legal Proceeding).
If Parent does not elect to proceed  with the defense of any such claim or Legal
Proceeding,  the  Company  Stockholders'  Representative  may  proceed  with the
defense of such claim or Legal Proceeding with counsel  reasonably  satisfactory
to Parent; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company Stockholders'  Representative may
not settle,  adjust or compromise any such claim or Legal Proceeding without the
prior  written  consent  of  Parent  (which  consent  may  not  be  unreasonably
withheld).

     9.7 Exercise of Remedies by  Indemnitees  Other Than Parent.  No Indemnitee
(other  than  Parent  or any  successor  thereto  or  assign  thereof)  shall be
permitted to assert any indemnification claim or exercise any other remedy under
this  Agreement or under the Escrow  Agreement  unless  Parent (or any successor
thereto  or assign  thereof)  shall  have  consented  to the  assertion  of such
indemnification claim or the exercise of such other remedy.

     9.8 Fraud. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary,
the  liability  of a  stockholder  for fraud  shall not be  limited as set forth
above, and any claim with respect to such liability need not be presented within
the time  limits  set  forth in  Section  9.1(a)  and shall be  subject  only to
applicable statutes of limitation.

SECTION 10.  REGISTRATION RIGHTS

     10.1  Restrictions  on  Transferability.  The shares of Parent Common Stock
issued in the Merger shall not be sold, assigned,  transferred or pledged except
upon the conditions  specified in this Section 10, which conditions are intended
to ensure  compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act. The Company and
the  stockholders  of the Company will cause any proposed  purchaser,  assignee,
transferee or pledgee of such shares of Parent  Common Stock in any  transaction
other than a registered  transaction  to agree to take and hold such  securities
subject to the provisions and upon the conditions specified in this Section 10.

                                      -40-

<PAGE>

     10.2 Restrictive Legend. Each certificate representing the shares of Parent
Common Stock issued in the Merger and any other securities  issued in respect of
such shares upon any stock  split,  stock  dividend,  recapitalization,  merger,
consolidation  or  similar  event,  shall  (unless  otherwise  permitted  by the
provisions  of Section  10.3) be stamped or  otherwise  imprinted  with a legend
substantially  in the following  form (in addition to any legend  required under
applicable state securities laws):

         THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR
         INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
         1933. SUCH SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF
         SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS THE CORPORATION RECEIVES AN OPINION OF
         COUNSEL REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO IT STATING THAT SUCH SALE OR TRANSFER
         IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF
         SAID ACT. COPIES OF THE AGREEMENT COVERING THE PURCHASE OF THESE SHARES
         AND RESTRICTING THEIR TRANSFER MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN
         REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE
         SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE
         CORPORATION.

Each Holder consents to Parent making a notation on its records and giving
instructions to any transfer agent of the Parent Common Stock as and if
necessary in order to implement the restrictions on transfer established in this
Section 10.

     10.3  Notice  of  Proposed  Transfers.   The  holder  of  each  certificate
representing Restricted Securities by acceptance thereof agrees to comply in all
respects with the  provisions of this Section 10.3.  Prior to any proposed sale,
assignment,  transfer  or  pledge of any  Restricted  Securities  (other  than a
transfer not  involving a change in  beneficial  ownership),  unless there is in
effect a registration  statement  under the Securities Act covering the proposed
transfer,  the  holder  thereof  shall  give  written  notice  to Parent of such
holder's  intention to effect such transfer,  sale,  assignment or pledge.  Each
such  notice  shall  describe  the  manner  and  circumstances  of the  proposed
transfer,  sale,  assignment  or  pledge  in  sufficient  detail,  and  shall be
accompanied,  at such holder's  expense by either (a) a written opinion of legal
counsel who shall be, and whose legal opinion shall be, reasonably  satisfactory
to Parent,  addressed to Parent, to the effect that the proposed transfer of the
Restricted  Securities may be effected without registration under the Securities
Act, or (b) a "no action" letter from the SEC to the effect that the transfer of
such securities without  registration will not result in a recommendation by the
staff of the SEC that action be taken with respect thereto, whereupon the holder
of such  Restricted  Securities  shall be entitled to transfer  such  Restricted
Securities in accordance with the terms of the notice delivered by the holder to
Parent.  Each certificate  evidencing the Restricted  Securities  transferred as
above provided shall bear,  except if such transfer is made pursuant to Rule 144
or in a registered transaction,  the appropriate restrictive legend set forth in
Section  10.2,  except  that such  certificate  shall not bear such  restrictive
legend if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for such holder and Parent, such
legend is not required in order to establish  compliance  with any  provision of
the Securities Act.

                                      -41-

<PAGE>

     10.4 Requested Registration.

         Parent shall use best efforts to cause its Amended and Restated
Investors' Rights Agreement dated as of July 12, 1999 to be amended
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit J in order to provide to
the stockholders of the Company the registration rights thereunder.

SECTION 11.  MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     11.1  Company  Stockholders'  Representatives.   The  stockholders  of  the
Company,  by adopting this Agreement and the transactions  contemplated  hereby,
hereby  irrevocably  appoint Tom Rearick and Joel  Ackerman as their  agents for
purposes  of  Section 9 and the Escrow  Agreement  (the  "Company  Stockholders'
Representatives"),  and each of Tom Rearick and Joel Ackerman hereby accepts his
appointment as a Company Stockholders'  Representative for purposes of Section 9
and the Escrow Agreement.  Parent shall be entitled to deal exclusively with the
Company  Stockholders'  Representatives on all matters relating to Section 9 and
the  Escrow  Agreement,  and shall be  entitled  to rely  conclusively  (without
further evidence of any kind  whatsoever) on any document  executed or purported
to be executed on behalf of any Company  stockholder by a Company  Stockholders'
Representative, and on any other action taken or purported to be taken on behalf
of any Company stockholder by a Company Stockholders'  Representative,  as fully
binding upon such Company stockholder. If a Company Stockholders' Representative
shall  die,   become   disabled   or   otherwise   be  unable  to  fulfill   his
responsibilities    as   agent   of   the   Company    stockholders,    then   a
majority-in-interest  of the holders of Escrowed  Shares shall,  within ten days
after such death or disability,  appoint a successor  representative  reasonably
satisfactory to Parent. Any such successor shall become a "Company Stockholders'
Representative" for purposes of Section 9, the Escrow Agreement and this Section
11.1. If for any reason there is no Company Stockholders'  Representative at any
time, all references herein to the Company Stockholders' Representative shall be
deemed to refer to Tom Rearick and Joel Ackerman.

     11.2 Further  Assurances.  Each party hereto shall  execute and cause to be
delivered to each other party hereto such instruments and other  documents,  and
shall take such other actions, as such other party may reasonably request (prior
to, at or after the Closing) for the purpose of carrying out or  evidencing  any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     11.3 Fees and  Expenses.  Subject to Section  1.5 of this  Agreement,  each
party  to this  Agreement  shall  bear  and pay all  fees,  costs  and  expenses
(including  legal fees and accounting  fees) that have been incurred or that are
incurred by such party in connection with the transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement,  including  all fees,  costs and  expenses  incurred by such party in
connection with or by virtue of (a) the  investigation  and review  conducted by
Parent and its  Representatives  with respect to the Company's business (and the
furnishing of information to Parent and its  Representatives  in connection with
such investigation and review),  (b) the negotiation,  preparation and review of
this Agreement  (including the Company Disclosure  Schedule) and all agreements,
certificates,  opinions and other  instruments and documents  delivered or to be
delivered in connection  with the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
(c) the  preparation  and submission of any filing or notice required to be made
or  given  in  connection  with  any of the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement,  and  the

                                      -42-

<PAGE>

obtaining of any Consent  required to be obtained in connection with any of such
transactions, and (d) the consummation of the Merger; provided however, that, to
the extent the total amount of all such fees, costs and expenses  incurred by or
for the benefit of the Company  exceeds in the aggregate the amount set forth in
clauses (b) and (c) of Exhibit A under the heading "Additional  Liability," such
fees, costs and expenses shall be paid and satisfied by the cancellation of that
number of Escrow  Shares equal in value to the amount by which such fees,  costs
and expenses exceed the Stated Amounts.

     11.4  Attorneys'  Fees.  If any  action  or  proceeding  relating  to  this
Agreement  or the  enforcement  of any  provision  of this  Agreement is brought
against  any party  hereto,  the  prevailing  party shall be entitled to recover
reasonable  attorneys' fees, costs and  disbursements  (in addition to any other
relief to which the prevailing party may be entitled).

     11.5 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  when  delivered  (by hand,  by
registered  mail, by courier or express delivery service or by facsimile) 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:

                  EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
                  455 West Maude Avenue
                  Sunnyvale, CA  94086
                  Attn:  Ashutosh Roy
                         William McGrath
                  Fax:  (408) 737-8400

                  WITH A COPY TO:

                  PILLSBURY MADISON & SUTRO LLP
                  2550 Hanover Street
                  Palo Alto, CA 94303
                  Attn: Stanley F. Pierson, Esq.
                  Fax:  (650) 233-4545

                  IF TO THE COMPANY:

                  BIG SCIENCE COMPANY
                  4555 Mansell Road
                  Suite 300
                  Alpharetta, GA  30022
                  Attn:  Tom Rearick
                  Fax:  (770) 521-4200

                                      -43-

<PAGE>
                  WITH A COPY TO:

                  NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH, LLP
                  999 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1400
                  Atlanta, GA 30309
                  Attn: Robert Pannell, Esq.
                  Fax: (404) 817-6050

     11.6 Time of the Essence. Time is of the essence of this Agreement.

     11.7 Headings.  The underlined 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.

     11.8 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts,
each of  which  shall  constitute  an  original  and all of  which,  when  taken
together, shall constitute one agreement.

     11.9 Governing Law. This Agreement  shall be construed in accordance  with,
and governed in all respects  by, the internal  laws of the State of  California
(without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws).

     11.10  Successors  and Assigns.  This  Agreement  shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their  successors and assigns (if
any).  The Company shall not assign this  Agreement or any rights or obligations
hereunder (by operation of law or otherwise) to any Person.

     11.11 Remedies Cumulative; Specific Performance. The rights and remedies of
the parties  hereto shall be cumulative  (and not  alternative).  The parties to
this  Agreement  agree that, in the event of any breach or threatened  breach by
any party to this Agreement of any covenant,  obligation or other  provision set
forth in this  Agreement  for the benefit of any other party to this  Agreement,
such other party shall be entitled  (in addition to any other remedy that may be
available to it) 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.

     11.12  Waiver.  No failure on the part of any Person to exercise any power,
right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, and no delay on the part of any
Person 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.  No Person 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 Person;  and any such waiver shall not be  applicable or have any
effect except in the specific instance in which it is given.

                                      -44-

<PAGE>

     11.13 Amendments.  This Agreement may not be amended,  modified, altered or
supplemented  other  than by means of a written  instrument  duly  executed  and
delivered on behalf of all of the parties  hereto.  11.14  Severability.  In the
event that any  provision  of this  Agreement,  or the  application  of any such
provision  to any  Person or set of  circumstances,  shall be  determined  to be
invalid,  unlawful,  void or unenforceable to any extent,  the remainder of this
Agreement,  and the  application of such  provision to Persons or  circumstances
other than those as to which it is determined to be invalid,  unlawful,  void or
unenforceable, shall not be impaired or otherwise affected and shall continue to
be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

     11.15 Parties in Interest.  Except for the  provisions of Sections 1.5, 1.6
and 9, none of the  provisions  of this  Agreement  is  intended  to provide any
rights or  remedies  to any  Person  other  than the  parties  hereto  and their
respective successors and assigns (if any).

     11.16 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other agreements referred to
herein set forth the entire  understanding of the parties hereto relating to the
subject  matter  hereof and  thereof  and  supersede  all prior  agreements  and
understandings  among or between  any of the  parties  relating  to the  subject
matter hereof and thereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Confidentiality Agreement
executed by Parent and the  Company on December 1, 1999 shall not be  superseded
by this Agreement and shall remain in effect in accordance  with its terms until
the  earlier  of (a)  the  Effective  Time,  or  (b)  the  date  on  which  such
Confidentiality Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms.

     11.17 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 the
masculine and feminine genders.

     (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"  and  "Exhibits"  are intended to refer to Sections of this Agreement
and Exhibits to this Agreement.

<PAGE>

                                      -45-

     The parties  hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered
as of the date first set forth above.

                                          EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
                                          a Delaware corporation



                                          By:         /s/
                                             -----------------------------------

                                          Print Name:___________________________

                                          Title:________________________________



                                          BIG SCIENCE COMPANY
                                          a Georgia corporation



                                         By:  /s/ Thomas C. Rearick
                                             ----------------------------------

                                          Print Name:  Thomas C. Rearick
                                                     --------------------------

                                          Title:   President
                                                -------------------------------

                                      -46-

<PAGE>

                                          For purposes of Section 2 only:


                                           /s/ Tom Rearick
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Tom Rearick


                                           /s/ Joel Ackerman
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Joel Ackerman


                                           /s/ Pedro Cortopassi
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Pedro Cortopassi


                                          COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS' REPRESENTATIVES


                                           /s/ Tom Rearick
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Tom Rearick


                                           /s/ Joel Ackerman
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Joel Ackerman

                                      -47-
<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT A

                               CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

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

     ACQUISITION   TRANSACTION.   "Acquisition   Transaction"   shall  mean  any
transaction involving:

     (a) the sale, lease, exchange, transfer license, disposition or acquisition
of more than 20% of the assets of the Company's business or assets;

     (b) the issuance,  disposition  or  acquisition of (i) any capital stock or
other  equity  securities  of the Company  (other than  Common  Stock  issued to
employees of the Company  upon  exercise of Company  Options),  (ii) any option,
call,  warrant or right (whether or not immediately  exercisable) to acquire any
capital stock or other equity securities of the Company,  or (iii) any security,
instrument or obligation that is or may become  convertible into or exchangeable
for any capital stock or other equity securities of the Company; or

     (c) any merger,  consolidation,  business  combination,  reorganization  or
similar transaction involving the Company.

     ADDITIONAL LIABILITIES . "Additional Liabilities" shall mean the sum of the
following:

     (a) $554,530 payable to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to Section
1.6(c);

     (b) all  consideration  payable by the  Company to Marion  Bass  Securities
Corporation,  the Company's  financial  adviser (the  "Adviser"),  consisting of
$740,940 in cash,  $250,000 in shares of Parent Common Stock at an assumed value
of $42.25 and  reimbursement of the Adviser's out of pocket expenses incurred on
behalf of the Company;

     (c) the legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses incurred
by Company in connection with the Merger not to exceed [$75,000];

     (d) any  amounts  borrowed  by Company  from  Parent as of the date of this
Agreement;

     (e) the $10,000 loan from Tom Rearick to the Company in January 2000; and

     (f) any material  liabilities  which exceed  $50,000 in the  aggregate  and
which are not  reflected  in the Company  Financial  Statements,  except for the
following liabilities:

          (i) that  certain loan by Pedro  Cortopassi  to the Company in January
2000 in the amount of $25,000;

          (ii) the travel  expenses owed to Joel Ackerman not to exceed  $15,000
and provided such expenses are documented; and

                                      A-1
<PAGE>

          (iii) salary accrued to each of the Founders since January 1, 2000, in
the amount of $10,000 per month.

     AFFILIATE.  "Affiliate"  shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 144 under
the Securities Act.

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

     COMPANY CAPITAL STOCK.  "Company Capital Stock" shall mean collectively the
Company Common Stock,  [Company Preferred Stock] and all other shares of capital
stock of the Company.

     COMPANY CONTRACT.  "Company Contract" shall mean any Contract: (a) to which
the Company is a party;  (b) by which the Company or any of its assets is or may
become  bound or under  which the  Company  has,  or may become  subject to, any
obligation;  or (c) under  which the  Company  has or may  acquire  any right or
interest.

     COMPANY DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE.  "Company Disclosure Schedule" shall mean the
schedule  (dated as of the date of the Agreement)  delivered to Parent on behalf
of the Company.

     COMPANY  PROPRIETARY  ASSET.  "Company  Proprietary  Asset"  shall mean any
Proprietary  Asset owned by or licensed to the Company or otherwise  used by the
Company.

     COMPANY SOURCE CODE.  "Company  Source Code" shall mean source code for any
Company Proprietary Assets,  including,  but not to limited to TMT, Clarity, CKO
and ATP.

     COMPANY  STOCK OPTION  PLANS.  "Company  Stock Option Plans" shall mean the
Company's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.

     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,  warranty,
insurance policy,  benefit plan or legally binding  commitment or undertaking of
any nature.

     DAMAGES.  "Damages"  shall  include any loss,  damage,  injury,  decline in
value, lost opportunity,  liability, claim, demand, settlement, judgment, award,
fine, penalty,  Tax, fee (including  reasonable  attorneys' fees),  charge, cost
(including costs of investigation) or expense 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 limited
liability   company  or  joint  stock  company),   firm  or  other   enterprise,
association, organization or entity.

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

     GOVERNMENT BID. "Government Bid" shall mean any quotation,  bid or proposal
submitted  to  any  Governmental  Body  or  any  proposed  prime  contractor  or
higher-tier subcontractor of any Governmental Body.

     GOVERNMENT CONTRACT.  "Government  Contract" shall mean any prime contract,
subcontract,  letter  contract,  purchase  order or delivery  order  executed or
submitted to or on behalf of any  Governmental  Body or any prime  contractor or
higher-tier  subcontractor,  or under  which any  Governmental  Body or any such
prime  contractor  or  subcontractor  otherwise  has or may acquire any right or
interest.

     GOVERNMENTAL  AUTHORIZATION.  "Governmental  Authorization" shall mean any:
(a)   permit,   license,   certificate,    franchise,   permission,   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,  organization, unit, body or Entity and any court or
other tribunal).

     INDEMNITEES.  "Indemnitees"  shall mean the following Persons:  (a) Parent;
(b)  Parent's   current  and  future   Affiliates   (including   the   Surviving
Corporation);  (c) the respective  Representatives of the Persons referred to in
clauses "(a)" and "(b)" above; and (d) the respective  successors and assigns of
the Persons referred to in clauses "(a)", "(b)" and "(c)" above.

     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,

                                       A-3

<PAGE>

promulgated,  implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority
of any Governmental Body.

     MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT. A violation or other matter will be deemed to have
a "Material  Adverse  Effect" on the Company if such  violation  or other matter
(considered together with all other matters that would constitute  exceptions to
the  representations and warranties set forth in the Agreement or in the Company
Compliance  Certificate  but for the  presence of "Material  Adverse  Effect" or
other  materiality  qualifications,  or  any  similar  qualifications,  in  such
representations  and warranties) has had or could have a material adverse effect
on  the  Company's  business,   condition,   prospects,   assets,   liabilities,
operations,   financial   performance   customer   relationships   or   Purchase
Commitments.

     NASDAQ. "Nasdaq" shall mean the Nasdaq National Stock Market.

     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, invention,  design, blueprint,  engineering drawing,
proprietary  product,  technology,   proprietary  right  or  other  intellectual
property  right or intangible  asset;  or (b) right to use or exploit any of the
foregoing.

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

     RESTRICTED SECURITIES. "Restricted Securities" shall mean the securities of
Parent required to bear the legend set forth in Section 10.2.

     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.  Any  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  or other  interests  in such Entity that is
sufficient  to enable such Person to elect at least 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 of such Entity.

     TAX.  "Tax" shall mean any tax  (including  any income tax,  franchise tax,
capital gains tax, gross receipts tax,  value-added tax, surtax,  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.

                                      A-4

<PAGE>

     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>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                                ESCROW AGREEMENT


                                       B-1

<PAGE>

                                ESCROW AGREEMENT

     THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT is entered into as of March 7, 2000 by and among
EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), BIG SCIENCE
COMPANY, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), U.S. BANK TRUST, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION (the "Escrow Agent"), and TOM REARICK and JOEL ACKERMAN (each a
"Company Stockholders' Representative", collectively the "Company Stockholders'
Representatives"). Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise
defined shall have the meanings given them in the Merger Agreement (as defined
below).

                                    RECITALS

     A. Parent and the Company have entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger and Reorganization dated as of February 7, 2000 (the "Merger Agreement")
pursuant to which the Company will be merged with and into Parent whereby Parent
will be the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation").

     B. The Merger Agreement provides that an escrow account will be
established as collateral for certain indemnification obligations owed to the
Indemnitees by the holders of the Company's capital stock (the "Company
Stockholders") under the Merger Agreement, which indemnification obligations
will be limited to the collateral in the escrow account.

     C. The parties hereto desire to establish the terms and conditions
pursuant to which such escrow account will be established and maintained.

                                    AGREEMENT

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:

     1. ESCROW ACCOUNT.

     (A) ESCROW OF SHARES.  On the Closing  Date,  Parent  shall  deliver to the
Escrow Agent a  certificate  or  certificates  for  110,938.23  shares of Parent
Common Stock (the "Escrow  Shares") to be issued in the name of the Escrow Agent
or its nominee.  The Escrow Shares shall be held as an escrow  account and shall
not be subject to any lien,  attachment,  trustee  process or any other judicial
process of any creditor of any party  hereto.  The Escrow Agent agrees to accept
delivery of the Escrow Shares and to hold the Escrow Shares in an escrow account
(the "Escrow Account") subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

     (B)  DIVIDENDS,  ETC.  Any  securities  distributable  in  respect of or in
exchange for any of the Escrow Shares,  whether by way of stock dividend,  stock
splits or otherwise, shall be delivered to the Escrow Agent, who shall hold such
securities in the Escrow Account. Such securities shall be issued in the name of
the Escrow Agent or its nominee and shall be  considered  Escrow  Shares for all
purposes  hereof.   Any  cash  dividend  or  property  (other  than  securities)
distributable to the Company  Stockholders in respect of the Escrow Shares shall
be distributed to

<PAGE>

the Escrow Agent,  who shall promptly  distribute such dividends upon receipt to
the Company Stockholders.

     (C)  VOTING OF  SHARES.  For so long as voting  securities  are held in the
Escrow  Account,  on any matter brought before the  stockholders of Parent for a
vote, each Company Stockholder shall deliver notice to the Escrow Agent ("Voting
Notice")  setting  forth  the  manner in which the  Escrow  Shares  held by such
Company Stockholder shall be voted by the Escrow Agent. Each Company Stockholder
shall deliver such Voting Notice to the Escrow Agent at least five days prior to
the date of the taking of any vote of the  stockholders  of Parent (the  "Voting
Notice  Date").  The Escrow  Agent shall have no  obligation  to vote any of the
Escrow Shares if no Voting Notice is received prior to the Voting Notice Date or
if such notice  does not clearly set forth the manner in which the Escrow  Agent
shall vote the Escrow Shares.

     (D)  TRANSFERABILITY.  The  interests  of the Company  Stockholders  in the
Escrow Shares shall not be assignable or  transferable,  other than by operation
of law.  Notice of any such  assignment or transfer by operation of law shall be
given to the Escrow Agent and Parent,  and no such  assignment or transfer shall
be valid until such notice is given.

     (E) ESCROW  AGENT'S POWER TO TRANSFER.  The Escrow Agent is hereby  granted
the power to effect any transfer of the Escrow Shares  permitted under the terms
of this Agreement.

     2. ADMINISTRATION OF ESCROW ACCOUNT.  The Escrow Agent shall administer the
Escrow Account as follows:

     (A) DELIVERY OF CLAIM NOTICE.  If any  Indemnitee  has incurred or suffered
any  Damages for which it is or may be  entitled  to  indemnification  under the
Merger Agreement, the Parent shall, on behalf of such Indemnitee and on or prior
to the Termination Date (as defined below), give written notice of such claim (a
"Claim  Notice") to the  Company  Stockholders'  Representatives  and the Escrow
Agent.  Each Claim Notice shall state the basis for such claim and the amount of
Damages  incurred or suffered by such  Indemnitee  (the  "Claimed  Amount").  No
Indemnitee   shall  make  any  claim  for  Damages  after  March  6,  2001  (the
"Termination Date").

     (B) RESPONSE NOTICE; UNCONTESTED CLAIMS. Within 20 days of the date a Claim
Notice  was sent to the  Company  Stockholders'  Representatives  and the Escrow
Agent (the "Response Date"),  the Company  Stockholders'  Representatives  shall
provide to Parent  and to the Escrow  Agent a written  response  (the  "Response
Notice") in which the Company  Stockholders'  Representatives  shall:  (i) agree
that Escrow Shares having a Fair Market Value (as calculated pursuant to Section
4 hereof)  equal to the full  Claimed  Amount  may be  released  from the Escrow
Account to the  Indemnitee,  (ii) agree that Escrow  Shares having a Fair Market
Value equal to part,  but not all, of the Claimed  Amount (the "Agreed  Amount")
may be released from the Escrow  Account to the Indemnitee or (iii) contest that
any of the  Escrow  Shares  may be  released  from  the  Escrow  Account  to the
Indemnitee. The Company Stockholders' Representatives may contest the release of
Escrow  Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to all or a portion of a Claimed
Amount  only  based  upon a good faith  belief  that all or such  portion of the
Claimed Amount does not constitute  Damages for which the Indemnitee is entitled
to  indemnification  under  the  Merger  Agreement.  If no  Response  Notice  is
delivered by the Company  Stockholders'

                                        2

<PAGE>

Representatives   to  the  Escrow  Agent  by  the  Response  Date,  the  Company
Stockholders'  Representatives shall be deemed to have agreed that Escrow Shares
having a Fair Market Value equal to the entire Claimed Amount may be released to
the Indemnitee from the Escrow Account.

     (C) UNCONTESTED CLAIM. If the Company Stockholders' Representatives, in the
Response Notice,  agree or are deemed to have agreed that Escrow Shares having a
Fair Market  Value equal to the Claimed  Amount may be released  from the Escrow
Account to the Indemnitee,  the Escrow Agent shall, no later than ten days after
receipt of the Response Notice, transfer, deliver, and assign to such Indemnitee
such  number of Escrow  Shares held in the Escrow  Account  having a Fair Market
Value equal to the Claimed  Amount (or such lesser number of Escrow Shares as is
then held in the Escrow Account).

     (D)   PARTIALLY   CONTESTED   CLAIMS.   If   the   Company    Stockholders'
Representatives,  in the Response Notice, agree that Escrow Shares having a Fair
Market Value equal to part,  but not all, of the Claimed  Amount may be released
from the Escrow  Account to such  Indemnitee,  the Escrow Agent shall,  no later
than ten days after  receipt of the  Response  Notice,  transfer,  deliver,  and
assign  to such  Indemnitee  such  number of Escrow  Shares  held in the  Escrow
Account  which have a Fair  Market  Value  equal to the  Agreed  Amount (or such
lesser number of Escrow Shares as is then held in the Escrow Account).

     (E) CONTESTED CLAIMS. If the Company Stockholders' Representatives,  in the
Response Notice,  contest the release of all or part of the Escrow Shares having
a Fair Market Value equal to all or part of the Claimed  Amount (the  "Contested
Amount"), the matter shall be settled by binding arbitration held in Santa Clara
County,  California.  All  claims  shall  be  settled  by three  arbitrators  in
accordance with the Commercial  Arbitration Rules then in effect of the American
Arbitration Association (the "Rules"). The Company Stockholders' Representatives
and Parent shall each designate one arbitrator within 15 days of the delivery of
the Response Notice contesting the Claimed Amount.  Such designated  arbitrators
shall  mutually  agree upon and shall  designate a third  arbitrator;  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,  that (i) in the event  the two  designated  arbitrators  fail to reach
agreement with respect to the designation of the third arbitrator within 15 days
of delivery of the Response  Notice,  the third arbitrator shall be appointed in
accordance  with  the  Rules  and  (ii)  if  either  the  Company  Stockholders'
Representatives  or Parent fail to timely  designate an arbitrator,  the dispute
shall be  resolved  by the one  arbitrator  timely  designated.  There  shall be
limited discovery prior to the arbitration hearing, subject to the discretion of
the  arbitrators,  as  follows:  (a)  exchange  of  witness  lists and copies of
documentary evidence and documents related to or arising out of the issues to be
arbitrated,  (b)  depositions  of  all  party  witnesses,  and  (c)  such  other
depositions as may be allowed by the  arbitrators  upon a showing of good cause.
Depositions  shall be conducted in accordance  with the California Code of Civil
Procedure.  Each party shall pay its own costs and expenses  (including  counsel
fees) of any such arbitration.  The Company  Stockholders'  Representatives  and
Parent  shall  pay the  fees  and  expenses  of  their  respectively  designated
arbitrators  and  shall  bear  equally  the  fees  and  expenses  of  the  third
arbitrator.  The arbitrators  shall decide the matter to be arbitrated  pursuant
hereto  within  60 days  after  the  appointment  of the  last  arbitrator.  The
arbitrators'  decision  shall  relate  solely to whether  Parent is  entitled to
receive the Contested Amount (or a portion  thereof)  pursuant to the applicable
terms of the Merger  Agreement  and this  Agreement.  The final  decision of the
majority of the  arbitrators  shall be  furnished  to the Company  Stockholders'

                                        3
<PAGE>

Representatives,  Parent and the Escrow Agent in writing and shall  constitute a
conclusive  determination  of the issue in  question,  binding  upon the Company
Stockholders' Representatives, the Company Stockholders, the Company, Parent and
the Escrow Agent and shall not be contested by any of them. Such decision may be
used in a court  of law only  for the  purpose  of  seeking  enforcement  of the
arbitrators'  award. After delivery of a Response Notice that the Claimed Amount
is  contested  by the Company  Stockholders'  Representatives,  the Escrow Agent
shall  continue to hold in the Escrow Account a number of Escrow Shares having a
Fair Market Value equal to one hundred  percent  (100%) of the Contested  Amount
(up to the  number of Escrow  Shares  then  available  in the  Escrow  Account),
notwithstanding  the occurrence of the Termination Date, until (x) delivery of a
copy of a settlement agreement executed by Parent and the Company  Stockholders'
Representatives  setting forth instructions to the Escrow Agent as to release of
Escrow Shares from the Escrow  Account,  if any, that shall be made with respect
to the  Contested  Amount,  or (y)  delivery of a copy of the final award of the
majority of the arbitrators setting forth instructions to the Escrow Agent as to
the release of Escrow Shares from the Escrow Account, if any, that shall be made
with respect to the Contested  Amount.  The Escrow Agent shall thereupon release
Escrow Shares from the Escrow Account (to the extent Escrow Shares are then held
in the Escrow Account) in accordance with such agreement or instructions.

     3. RELEASE OF ESCROW SHARES.

     (A) Within 15 days after the  Termination  Date,  the  Escrow  Agent  shall
distribute  to the Company  Stockholders  all of the Escrow  Shares then held in
escrow.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  if any Indemnitee shall have asserted a
claim for  indemnification  prior to the Termination Date and such claim has not
yet been resolved, the Escrow Agent shall retain in the Escrow Account after the
Termination  Date a number of Escrow  Shares  having a Fair Market  equal to one
hundred  percent (100%) of the Claimed Amount or Contested  Amount,  as the case
may be (as well as any  amounts  the  Escrow  Agent  reasonably  determines  are
necessary to satisfy the fees and expenses  contemplated by Section 5(a)), which
has not then been resolved, upon the terms set forth in Section 2.

     (B) Any  distribution  of all or a  portion  of the  Escrow  Shares  to the
Company  Stockholders shall be made in accordance with the percentages set forth
opposite  such  holders'  respective  names on  ATTACHMENT  A hereto;  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Escrow Agent shall withhold the distribution of the portion of
the Escrow Shares otherwise  distributable to the Company  Stockholders who have
not,  according to written notice provided by Parent to the Escrow Agent,  prior
to such distribution, surrendered their respective Company Stock Certificates in
accordance with Section 1.8 of the Merger  Agreement.  Any such withheld amounts
shall be delivered to Parent promptly after the  Termination  Date, and shall be
delivered by Parent to the Company  Stockholders  to whom such shares would have
otherwise  been  distributed  upon surrender of their  respective  Company Stock
Certificates. Distributions to the Company Stockholders shall be made by mailing
stock certificates in the names of such holders to the address of the applicable
Company  Stockholder  shown on  ATTACHMENT  A (or such  other  address as may be
provided in writing to the Escrow Agent and Parent by the Company Stockholders).

                                        4
<PAGE>

     (C) No fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall be distributed to the
Company  Stockholders  pursuant  to this  Agreement.  In lieu of any  fractional
shares to which such Company  Stockholder  would  otherwise  be  entitled,  such
Company  Stockholder  shall  be paid in cash an  amount  equal to the sum of the
dollar amount (rounded to the nearest whole cent)  determined by multiplying the
Fair Market Value by the  fraction of a share of Parent  Common Stock that would
otherwise be  deliverable  to such  Company  Stockholder  hereunder.  As soon as
practicable  after  the  Termination  Date,  Parent  shall  deposit  cash  in  a
sufficient  amount to pay all fractional  shares in accordance with this Section
3(c).

     4. VALUATION OF ESCROW  SHARES.  For purposes of this  Agreement,  the Fair
Market  Value of the Escrow  Shares shall be  determined  based upon the average
closing price of Parent Common Stock on the Nasdaq  National Stock Market during
the ten trading days immediately preceding the Closing Date.

     5. FEES AND EXPENSES.

     (A) Upon  execution  of this  Agreement  and initial  deposit of the Escrow
Shares, an acceptance fee and  administration  fee will be payable to the Escrow
Agent as set forth on ATTACHMENT B hereto. The administration fee will cover the
initial  twelve  months of the escrow.  If the period  which the Escrow Agent is
required to maintain the Escrow Account  continues  beyond the Termination  Date
pursuant to Section  3(a),  fees will be payable in  accordance  with the Escrow
Agent's fee  schedules  set forth on Attachment B. The Escrow Agent will also be
entitled to reimbursement for extraordinary  expenses incurred in performance of
its duties hereunder as set forth on Attachment B.

     (B) Parent  shall pay the fees and  expenses  of the  Escrow  Agent for the
services to be rendered by the Escrow Agent hereunder.

     (C) All reasonable  expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees) incurred by the
Company  Stockholders'  Representatives  in connection  with the  performance of
their duties hereunder shall be paid by the Company  Stockholders.  Parent shall
have no liability  whatsoever for any fees, costs, or other expenses incurred by
the Company Stockholders'  Representatives.  In all questions arising under this
Agreement,  the Escrow Agent may rely on the advice of counsel, and for anything
done,   omitted  or  suffered  in  good  faith  by  the  Company   Stockholders'
Representatives based on such advice, the Company Stockholders'  Representatives
shall not be liable to anyone. The Company  Stockholders'  Representatives shall
not be required to take any action  hereunder  involving any expense  unless the
payment  of  such  expense  is  made  or  provided  for in a  manner  reasonably
satisfactory to the Company Stockholders'  Representatives.

     6. DUTIES OF ESCROW AGENT.

     (A) The Escrow  Agent shall be  entitled to rely upon any order,  judgment,
certificate,  demand,  notice,  instrument  or  other  writing  delivered  to it
hereunder  without  being  required to  investigate  the  validity,  accuracy or
content  thereof nor shall the Escrow Agent be  responsible  for the validity or
sufficiency of this  Agreement.  In all questions  arising under this Agreement,
the  Escrow  Agent may rely on the advice of  counsel,  and for  anything  done,
omitted or suffered in good faith by the Escrow Agent based on such advice,  the
Escrow Agent shall not


                                        5
<PAGE>

be liable to anyone.  The Escrow  Agent shall not be required to take any action
hereunder  involving  any expense  unless the payment of such expense is made or
provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to it.

     (B) In the event  conflicting  demands are made or conflicting  notices are
served upon the Escrow Agent with respect to the Escrow Shares, the Escrow Agent
will have the absolute  right, at the Escrow Agent's  election,  to do either or
both of the  following:  (i)  resign  as  Escrow  Agent  so a  successor  can be
appointed  pursuant  to  clause  (d) of this  Section  6, or (ii) file a suit in
interpleader  and  obtain  an  order  from a  court  of  competent  jurisdiction
requiring  the parties to  interplead  and litigate in such court their  several
claims and rights  among  themselves.  In the event  such  interpleader  suit is
brought, the Escrow Agent will thereby be fully released and discharged from all
further  obligations  imposed upon it under this Agreement,  and Parent will pay
the Escrow Agent all costs,  expenses and reasonable attorneys' fees expended or
incurred  by the Escrow  Agent  pursuant to the  exercise of the Escrow  Agent's
rights under this Section 6(b) (such costs, fees and expenses will be treated as
extraordinary fees and expenses for the purposes of Section 5 hereof).

     (C)  The  Escrow  Agent  shall  not  be  liable,  except  for  its  or  its
representatives, own gross negligence or willful misconduct and, with respect to
claims not based  upon such gross  negligence  or  willful  misconduct  that are
successfully   asserted  against  the  Escrow  Agent,  Parent  and  the  Company
Stockholders  shall,  jointly and  severally,  indemnify  and hold  harmless the
Escrow  Agent (and any  successor  Escrow  Agent)  from and  against any and all
losses, liabilities, claims, actions, damages and expenses, including reasonable
attorneys'  fees and  disbursements,  arising out of and in connection with this
Agreement.

     (D) The Escrow  Agent shall have no interest in the Escrow  Shares,  but is
serving as escrow holder only and having only possession thereof.

     (E) The  Escrow  Agent may  resign as Escrow  Agent at any time and for any
reason  whatsoever.  In the event the Escrow  Agent  desires to resign as Escrow
Agent under this  Agreement,  the Escrow Agent shall  deliver a notice to Parent
and the Company Stockholders'  Representatives  stating the date upon which such
resignation  shall be effective;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that any such resignation
shall not be effective  until at least the 30th day after Parent and the Company
Stockholders'  Representatives receive such notice. Upon the receipt of any such
notice  from the Escrow  Agent,  Parent may  appoint a  successor  escrow  agent
without the consent of the Company Stockholders' Representatives so long as such
successor is a bank or trust company with assets of at least $500  million,  and
may appoint  any other  successor  escrow  agent with the consent of the Company
Stockholders' Representatives, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
In the case of the  appointment  of any  successor  escrow agent  requiring  the
consent  of  the  Company  Stockholders'  Representatives  as set  forth  in the
preceding sentence,  Parent and the Company Stockholders'  Representatives shall
deliver a written notice to the Escrow Agent  designating  the successor  escrow
agent. Upon the effectiveness of the resignation of the Escrow Agent, the Escrow
Agent shall  deliver the Escrow Shares to any  successor  escrow agent  properly
designated  hereunder,  whereupon the Escrow Agent shall be discharged  from any
and all further  obligations  arising  hereunder.  If upon the effective date of
resignation  of the  Escrow  Agent a  successor  escrow  agent has not been duly
designated,  Escrow Agent may petition  any court of competent  jurisdiction  to
name a successor escrow agent and the


                                        6
<PAGE>

Escrow  Agent's  sole  responsibility  after  that time  shall be to retain  and
safeguard the Escrow Shares until receipt of a designation  of successor  escrow
agent or a final nonappealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

     7.  TERMINATION.  This  Agreement  shall  terminate  upon the  later of the
Termination  Date or the release by the Escrow Agent of all of the Escrow Shares
in accordance with this Agreement.

     8.  NOTICES.  All  notices,  instructions  and other  communications  given
hereunder  or in  connection  herewith  shall be in  writing.  Any such  notice,
instruction or communication shall be sent either (i) by registered or certified
mail,  return  receipt  requested,  postage  prepaid,  or (ii)  via a  reputable
nationwide  overnight  courier  service,  in each case to the  address set forth
below.  Any such notice,  instruction or  communication  shall be deemed to have
been delivered three business days after it is sent prepaid, or one business day
after it is sent via a reputable nationwide overnight courier service.

         If to Parent:                    EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
                                          455 West Maude Avenue
                                          Sunnyvale, CA 94086
                                           Attn:  Ashutosh Roy
                                           William McGrath
                                           Fax:  (408) 737-8400

         With a copy to:                  PILLSBURY MADISON & SUTRO LLP
                                          2550 Hanover Street
                                          Palo Alto, CA  94304
                                          Attn:  Stanley F. Pierson, Esq.
 .                                         Fax: (650) 233-4545


         If to the Company Stockholders'
         Representatives:                 TOM REARICK
                                          620 Jones Road
                                          Roswell, GA 30075


                                          JOEL ACKERMAN
                                          4348 Pilgrim Mill Road
                                          Cumming, GA 30041


         With a copy to:                  NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH LLP
                                          999 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1400
                                          Atlanta, GA  30309
                                          Attn:  Robert Pannell, Esq.
 .                                         Fax: (404) 817-6050


                                        7
<PAGE>




         If to the Escrow Agent:          U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A.
                                          One California
                                          Suite 400
                                          San Francisco, CA 94111
                                          Attn: Ann Gadsby
                                          Fax: (415) 273-4593

Any party may give any notice, instruction or communication in connection with
this Agreement using any other means (including personal delivery, facsimile or
ordinary mail), but no such notice, instruction or communication shall be deemed
to have been delivered unless and until it is actually received by the party to
whom it was sent. Any party may change the address to which notices,
instructions or communications are to be delivered by giving the other parties
to this Agreement notice thereof in the manner set forth in this Section 8.

     9. AGENT. For purposes of this Agreement,  each of the Company Stockholders
hereby  consents to the  appointment  of Tom  Rearick  and Joel  Ackerman as the
Company Stockholders' Representatives and as attorneys-in-fact for and on behalf
of  the  Company  Stockholder,  and  the  taking  by the  Company  Stockholders'
Representatives  of any and all actions and the making of any decisions required
or  permitted  to be  taken  by him  under  this  Agreement,  including  without
limitation,  the  exercise  of  the  power  to  (i)  authorize  delivery  to any
Indemnitee of Escrow Shares in satisfaction  of any Damages or Claimed  Amounts,
(ii) agree to negotiate,  enter into settlements and compromises with respect to
such Damages or Claimed Amounts, (iii) resolve any claims or disputes hereunder,
and (iv) take all actions necessary in the judgment of the Company Stockholders'
Representatives  for the  accomplishment  of the  foregoing and all of the other
terms, conditions and limitations contained in this Agreement.

     10. GENERAL.

     (A) GOVERNING LAW. The validity, interpretation, construction, performance,
enforcement  and remedies of or relating to this  Agreement,  and the rights and
obligations of the parties hereunder, shall be governed by the laws of the State
of California  without  regard to  principles of conflicts of laws,  and any and
every legal or other proceeding (including any arbitration proceedings conducted
in  accordance  with Section  2(e))  arising out of or in  connection  with this
Agreement shall be brought in the appropriate  courts of Santa Clara County,  in
the State of California,  each of the parties hereby consenting to the exclusive
jurisdiction of said courts for this purpose.

     (B)   COUNTERPARTS.   This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  two  or  more
counterparts,  each of  which  shall be  deemed  an  original,  but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     (C) ENTIRE  AGREEMENT.  Except as set forth in the Merger  Agreement,  this
Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of the parties with
respect  to the  subject  matter  of this  Agreement  and  supersedes  all prior
agreements or understandings,  written or oral, between the parties with respect
to the subject matter hereof.



                                        8
<PAGE>

     (D)  WAIVERS.  No  waiver by any party  hereto of any  condition  or of any
breach of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective  unless in writing.
No waiver by any party of any such  condition  or breach,  in any one  instance,
shall be deemed to be a further or  continuing  waiver of any such  condition or
breach  or a waiver  of any other  condition  or  breach of any other  provision
contained herein.

     (E) AMENDMENT.  This Agreement may be amended only with the written consent
of Parent, the Escrow Agent and the Company  Stockholders'  Representatives  (or
their duly designated successors).

     (F) SEVERABILITY.  In the event that any provision of this Agreement, shall
be determined to be invalid,  unlawful, void or unenforceable to any extent, the
remainder  of this  Agreement  shall not be impaired or  otherwise  affected and
shall continue to be valid and  enforceable  to the fullest extent  permitted by
law.

                     [THIS SPACE INTENTIOIANLLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       9

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.

PARENT:                                   EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION



                                          By:__________________________________

                                          Name:________________________________

                                          Title:_______________________________


THE COMPANY:                              BIG SCIENCE COMPANY


                                          By:__________________________________

                                          Name:________________________________

                                          Title:_______________________________



COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS' REPRESENTATIVE:     TOM REARICK


                                          _____________________________________



                                          JOEL ACKERMAN


                                          _____________________________________



ESCROW AGENT:                             U.S. BANK TRUST, N. A.


                                          By:__________________________________

                                          Name:________________________________

                                          Title:_______________________________


                               [ESCROW AGREEMENT]

<PAGE>

                                  ATTACHMENT A

                    COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS PERCENTAGE OWNERSHIP









                               [ESCROW AGREEMENT]

<PAGE>

                                  ATTACHMENT B

                                    U.S. BANK

                            CORPORATE TRUST SERVICES

                      SCHEDULE OF FEES FOR ESCROW SERVICES
              EGain Communicatons Corporation / Big Science Company


ACCEPTANCE FEE
     010  The acceptance fee includes the review of all documents,    $4,000.00
          initial set-up of the account, and other reasonably
          required services up to and including the closing. This is
          a one-time fee, payable at inception.


ADMINISTRATION/AGENT FEES
     Annual  account  administration  fee covers the normal duties
     of the escrow agent  associated with the management of the account.
     Administration  fees are payable in advance and are not proratable

     470  Depository Escrow Agent                                     $1,000.00


TRANSACTION FEES
     880  DISBURSEMENT/DRAW                                           $20.00
          Charge per item disbursed.  Includes the wire or check fee.
     100  TRADES-OPEN MARKET/DIRECTED                                 $100.00
          Charge per trade to buy or sell permitted investments.
          This excludes U.S. Bank investment  transactions.
     101  RECEIPTS                                                    $20.00
          Charge per item received.


INDIRECT OUT OF POCKET
          Charge for miscellaneous expenses such as fax, messenger
          service, overnight mail, stationery, and postage
          (excluding large mailings).
     166  This charge is applied against your total Administration/   3%
          AgentFees, and will not be prorated.

EXTRAORDINARY  SERVICES  Charge  for  duties or  responsibilities  of an unusual
nature  not  provided  for in the  indenture  or  otherwise  set  forth  in this
schedule.  A  reasonable  charge will be made based on the nature of the service
and the responsibility  involved.  These charges will be billed as a flat fee or
our hourly rate then in effect, at our option.

Final account  acceptance  is subject to review of documents.  Fees are based on
our  understanding  of the  transaction  and  are  subject  to  revision  if the
structure is changed.  In the event this transaction does not close, any related
out-of-pocket  expenses will be billed to you at cost. Fees for any services not
specifically covered will be based on appraisal of services rendered.

With general reference to all of our charges,  it should be understood that they
are subject to adjustment from time to time, upon written notification.

The fees in this  schedule  are the terms under which you agree to do  business.
Closing the  transaction  constitutes  agreement to this fee  schedule,  as does
payment of the invoice received after subsequent fee adjustment notification.

Absent your  instructions to sweep or otherwise  invest  balances,  no interest,
earnings, or other compensation for uninvested balances will be paid to you.

DATED:  MARCH 9, 2000                                              CONFIDENTIAL

<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT C

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

                                      C-1
<PAGE>

                        EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     This  Employment  Agreement (the  "Agreement")  is made as of the Effective
Date (as defined below) by and between _________________  ("Employee") and EGAIN
COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  Employee  is a founder,  a  stockholder  and an  employee  of Big
Science Company ("BSC"); and

     WHEREAS,  BSC,  the  Company  and certain  stockholders  of BSC  (including
Employee) have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of February
__, 2000 (the "Merger Agreement"),  which provides for the merger (the "Merger")
of BSC into the Company; and

     WHEREAS, as a result of the Merger, Employee shall receive from the Company
significant  consideration in the form of shares of capital stock of the Company
in exchange for shares of capital stock of BSC held by Employee; and

     WHEREAS,  as a condition  to the Merger,  and to preserve  the value of the
business  being acquired by the Company after the Merger,  the Merger  Agreement
contemplates, among other things, that Employee enter into this Agreement, which
includes a restriction  on Employee's  ability to compete with the Company for a
period of time; and

     WHEREAS,  in  connection  with the Merger,  the  Company  desires to employ
Employee,  and Employee  desires to accept  employment with the Company,  on the
terms and conditions of this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS,  the closing date of the Merger shall be the  "Effective  Date" of
this Agreement:

     NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  mutual  promises  made  herein,
Employee and the Company hereby agree as follows:

     1. TERM OF AGREEMENT.  This Agreement  shall commence on the Effective Date
and shall have a term of two (2) years (the "Original Term"). This Agreement may
be  terminated  by either  party,  with or without  cause,  on thirty (30) days'
written notice, as described in Section 3 and subject to the terms of Section 6.
This  Agreement may be extended by the Company and Employee by mutual  agreement
after the end of the Original Term.

     2. DUTIES.

     (A) POSITION.  Employee  shall be employed as Director of  __________,  and
will initially report to the ___________of the Company.

                                       -1-
<PAGE>

     (B)  OBLIGATIONS  TO THE COMPANY.  Employee  agrees that to the best of his
ability and experience he will at all times loyally and conscientiously  perform
all of the duties and obligations  required of and from Employee pursuant to the
express  and  implicit  terms  hereof  and  consistent   with  his  position  as
__________,  and to the reasonable  satisfaction of the Company. During the term
of Employee's employment relationship with the Company,  Employee further agrees
that he shall devote all of his business  time and  attention to the business of
the Company and, except with the prior written consent of the Company, shall not
render commercial or professional services to any other person or organization.

     3. AT-WILL  EMPLOYMENT;  TERMINATION.  This Agreement shall commence on the
Effective  Date and shall  continue  until  terminated by either party on thirty
(30)  days  written  notice  to  the  other  party.  The  Company  and  Employee
acknowledge that, subject to the terms of this Agreement,  Employee's employment
is and shall continue to be at-will,  as defined under  applicable law, and that
Employee's  employment with the Company may be terminated by either party at any
time for any or no reason.  If  Employee's  employment  is  terminated by either
party for any reason, Employee shall not be entitled to any payments,  benefits,
damages or compensation other than as provided in this Agreement. The rights and
duties  created  by this  Section 3 may not be  modified  in any way except by a
written  agreement  executed  by the  Company's  Board  of  Directors  or  Chief
Executive Officer.

     4.  COMPENSATION.  For the duties and  services to be performed by Employee
hereunder,  the Company shall pay Employee,  and Employee agrees to accept,  the
salary and other benefits described below in this Section 4.

     (A) SALARY. Employee shall receive a monthly salary of $_________, which is
equivalent to  $__________  on an annualized  basis.  Employee's  salary will be
payable  bimonthly in accordance  with the Company's  normal payroll  practices.
Employee's base salary shall be reviewed on an annual basis.

     (B) STOCK OPTIONS.  Company shall grant to Employee  options to purchase an
aggregate of ______ shares of common stock  exercisable at the fair market value
of eGain Common Stock on the date of grant ("Options"),  which date shall be the
first meeting of the Company's Board of Directors  following the Effective Date.
Options  shall  vest over four (4) years at the rate of 1/48th of the shares per
month.  The Options  will be issued  pursuant to and subject to the terms of the
Company's 1998 Stock Plan.

     (C) RELOCATION. To facilitate Employee's relocation to Northern California,
the  Company  shall  reimburse  Employee's  out-of-pocket  expenses  incurred in
relocating  Employee,  Employee's  family  and  Employee's  belongings,  up to a
maximum $________, unless otherwise agreed by the Company.

     (D)  ADDITIONAL  BENEFITS.  Employee will be eligible to participate in the
Company's employee benefit plans of general application as may from time to time
be adopted (including plans covering medical and life insurance),  in accordance
with the rules  established  for individual  participation  in any such plan and
under  applicable law.  Employee will be eligible for vacation and sick leave in
accordance  with the policies in effect  during the term of this  Agreement

                                       -2-
<PAGE>

and will receive such other  benefits as the Company  generally  provides to its
other employees of comparable position and experience.

     5. REPURCHASE OPTION.

     (a) Employee is a holder of  __________  shares of Common Stock of BSC (the
"Merger Shares"), which as of the Effective Date will be exchangeable for shares
of Common  Stock of the  Company  pursuant  to  Sections  1.6 (a) and (e) of the
Merger  Agreement.  Employee and the Company agree that,  effective  immediately
prior to the Closing of the Merger,  the Company shall have a repurchase  option
as set forth below as to _________ of the Merger Shares (including the shares of
the Company's  Common Stock issuable upon exchange of the Merger Shares pursuant
to the Merger Agreement) (the "Vesting Shares").

     (b) In the event of the termination of employment or consulting services of
Employee with the Company,  the Company shall, upon the date of such termination
(the "Termination Date"), have an irrevocable, exclusive option (the "Repurchase
Option")  for a  period  of  ninety  (90)  days  from  the  Termination  Date to
repurchase  all or any portion of the Vesting  Shares held by Employee as of the
Termination Date which have not yet been released from the Repurchase  Option at
the  original  purchase  price of  [$.____]  per share,  adjusted to reflect the
Exchange Ratio for the Merger.

     (c) The  Repurchase  Option  shall be  exercised  by the Company by written
notice to Employee  and, at the  Company's  option,  (i) by delivery to Employee
with such notice of a check in the amount of the purchase  price for the Vesting
Shares  being  purchased,  or (ii) in the  event  Employee  is  indebted  to the
Company,  by cancellation by the Company of an amount of such indebtedness equal
to  the  purchase  price  for  the  shares  being  repurchased,  or  (iii)  by a
combination  of (i) and (ii) so that the combined  payment and  cancellation  of
indebtedness  equals  such  purchase  price.  Upon  delivery  of such notice and
payment of the purchase  price in any of the ways described  above,  the Company
shall  become  the  legal  and  beneficial  owner of the  Vesting  Shares  being
repurchased  and all rights and  interest  therein or related  thereto,  and the
Company  shall have the right to  transfer to its own name the number of Vesting
Shares being repurchased by the Company, without further action by Employee.

     (d) The  Vesting  Shares  held by  Employee  shall  be  released  from  the
Repurchase Option as follows  (provided in each case that Employee's  employment
or consulting  services have not been  terminated  prior to the date of any such
release):  1/36th of the total number of Vesting  Shares shall be released  from
the  Repurchase  Option at the end of each full month  following  the  Effective
Date,  until  all  Vesting  Shares  are  released  from the  Repurchase  Option.
Fractional shares shall be rounded to the nearest whole share.

     (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of (i) a Termination
without Cause,  as defined in and subject to Section 6(b) below or (ii) a Change
of Control,  the Repurchase Option shall immediately  terminate with respect to,
and  Employee  shall  acquire a vested  interest  in, all of the then  remaining
unvested  Vesting  Shares  previously  subject  to the  Repurchase  Option.  For
purposes of this Agreement, "Change of Control" shall mean

                                       -3-
<PAGE>

               (i) the consummation of the acquisition of 51% or more of the
outstanding stock of the Company pursuant to a tender offer validly made under
any federal or state law (other than a tender offer by the Company);

               (ii)  the  consummation  of  a  merger,  consolidation  or  other
reorganization  of the Company  (other than a  reincorporation  of the Company),
if after giving effect to such merger,  consolidation or other reorganization of
the Company,  the stockholders of the Company  immediately prior to such merger,
consolidation or other reorganization do not represent a majority in interest of
the holders of voting  securities  (on a fully diluted  basis) with the ordinary
voting power to elect directors of the surviving or resulting  entity after such
merger, consolidation or other reorganization; or

               (iii) the sale of all or  substantially  all of the assets of the
Company to a third party who is not an affiliate of the Company.

     6. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; BENEFITS.

     (b) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.  This Agreement may be terminated during its
Original Term (or any extension  thereof),  subject to the notice provisions set
forth in Section 1, upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

          (i) The  Company's  termination  of Employee  for Cause (as defined in
Section 7 below) ("Termination for Cause");

          (ii)  The  Company's  determination  that it is  terminating  Employee
without Cause,  which  determination may be made by the Company at any time at
the  Company's  sole  discretion,  for  any or no  reason  ("Termination
Without Cause"); or

          (iii) The effective  date of a written notice sent to the Company from
Employee stating that Employee is electing to terminate his employment with the
Company ("Voluntary Termination").

     (b)  SEVERANCE  BENEFITS.  Employee  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  upon
termination of employment  acceleration  of his unvested Merger Shares and other
benefits  only as set forth in this  Section  6(b) and in Exhibit A hereto,  and
receipt of such benefits  shall be  conditioned  upon  execution and delivery by
Employee to the Company of a full release, releasing any and all claims Employee
may have against the Company, its officers, directors,  stockholders, agents and
affiliates,  in form and substance  satisfactory to counsel for the Company.  In
the event Employee materially breaches any material provision of this Agreement,
all severance benefits shall stop immediately.

          (i)  VOLUNTARY  TERMINATION.  If Employee's  employment  terminates by
Voluntary  Termination,  then  Employee  shall not be  entitled  to receive
acceleration of vesting or any other any severance benefits.  Employee will
receive  payment(s)  for all salary and unpaid  vacation  accrued as of the
date of Employee's termination of employment,  and Employee's benefits will
be terminated or continued under the

                                       -4-
<PAGE>

Company's then existing benefit plans and policies in accordance with such plans
and  policies  in  effect  on the date of  termination  and in  accordance  with
applicable law.

               (ii)  INVOLUNTARY   TERMINATION.   If  Employee's  employment  is
Terminated  Without  Cause,  or due to death  or  disability,  Employee  will be
entitled to receive  severance  benefits as follows:  The  Company's  repurchase
option will  lapse,  and  Employee  will be fully  vested in the Merger  Shares.
Medical insurance  benefits with the coverage  provided to Employee  immediately
prior to the termination  will be provided at the Company's cost for a period of
thirty (30) days, but all other benefits will terminate.

               (iii)   TERMINATION  FOR  CAUSE.  If  Employee's   employment  is
terminated for Cause (as defined below),  then Employee shall not be entitled to
receive  acceleration  of vesting or other  severance  benefits.  Employee  will
receive  payment(s) for all salary and unpaid vacation accrued as of the date of
Employee's termination of employment, and Employee's benefits will be terminated
or continued  under the Company's  then  existing  benefit plans and policies in
accordance with such plans and policies in effect on the date of termination and
in accordance with applicable law.

     7.  DEFINITION  OF CAUSE.  For  purposes  of this  Agreement,  "Cause"  for
Employee's termination will exist at any time after the happening of one or more
of the following events:

     (a) Employee's willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of
his duties  hereunder,  including  Employee's  refusal to comply in any material
respect with the legal  directives of the Company so long as such directives are
not inconsistent with Employee's position and duties, and such refusal to comply
is not  remedied  within ten (10)  working  days after  written  notice from the
Company,  which  written  notice shall state that failure to remedy such conduct
may result in termination for Cause;

     (b) Fraudulent conduct, a deliberate attempt to do a material injury to the
Company,  use or appropriation  for Employee's  personal use or benefit,  of any
funds,  assets or properties of the Company not  authorized by the Company to be
so used or appropriated, or conduct that is intended to materially discredit the
Company or is of material detriment to the reputation of the Company,  including
conviction of a felony;

     (c) Employee's  willfully  engaging or  participating in any activity which
violates Section 9 of this Agreement; or

     (d)   Employee's   incurable   material   breach  of  any  element  of  the
Confidentiality  Agreement (as defined  below),  including  without  limitation,
Employee's  theft  or  other   misappropriation  of  the  Company's  proprietary
information.

     8. CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. Employee shall sign a Proprietary Information
and  Employee-Generated  Intellectual  Property Agreement (the  "Confidentiality
Agreement")  with the  Company,  in the form  attached  as Exhibit  B.  Employee
further  agrees  that the  provisions  of the  Confidentiality  Agreement  shall
survive  any   termination  of  this  Agreement  or  of  Employee's   employment
relationship  with the Company.  Employee  acknowledges that with respect to his
employment by BSC prior to the Effective  Date, he remains  subject to the terms
of his

                                       -5-
<PAGE>

Employment  Confidential  Information and Invention  Assignment Agreement
executed in favor of BSC.

     9. COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE OR SOLICIT.

     (a) Beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of
the Effective Date (the "Non-Competition  Period"),  Employee shall not directly
or  indirectly  (other than on behalf of the Company or BSC),  without the prior
written consent of the Company,  engage anywhere in the Restricted  Territory in
(whether as an employee,  agent,  consultant,  advisor,  independent contractor,
proprietor,  partner,  officer,  director or  otherwise),  or have any ownership
interest in (except  for  ownership  of one  percent  (1%) or less of any entity
whose  securities  have  been  registered  under the  Securities  Act of 1933 or
Section  12 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934),  or  participate  in the
financing,   operation,   management  or  control  of,  any  firm,  partnership,
corporation,  entity or  business  (other  than the  Company)  that  engages  or
participates  in a "Competing  Business  Purpose." The term  Competing  Business
Purpose shall mean any business relating to the design,  development,  marketing
or sale of software or services for on-line  customer  interaction  for customer
service, sales and marketing  applications.  The term Restricted Territory shall
mean  each  and  every  country,   province,  state,  city  or  other  political
subdivision of the United States,  of Europe or of Japan in which the Company or
BSC is  engaged  currently  or  during  the two (2) year  term of this  covenant
engages in business or otherwise sells its products.

     (b) During the  Non-Competition  Period,  Employee  shall not  directly  or
indirectly,  solicit,  encourage  or take any other  action which is intended to
induce or encourage,  any employee of BSC or the Company to terminate his or her
employment  with BSC or the  Company,  provided  that this  shall  not  restrict
Employee from making general public solicitations  through advertising or search
firms. Likewise, Employee shall not solicit or divert any business or clients or
customers of the Company made known to Employee  during his employment  with the
Company and shall not induce customers,  clients, suppliers,  agents, or persons
under  contract  with or  associated  with the  Company to reduce or alter their
association or business with the Company.

     (c) The covenants contained in paragraph (a) shall be construed as a series
of separate  covenants,  one for each country,  province,  state,  city or other
political  subdivision  of  the  Restricted  Territory.  Except  for  geographic
coverage,  each such separate covenant shall be deemed identical in terms to the
covenant  contained in paragraph  (a). If, in any judicial  proceeding,  a court
refuses to enforce any of such separate  covenants (or any part  thereof),  then
such  unenforceable  covenant  (or such  part)  shall be  eliminated  from  this
Agreement to the extent necessary to permit the remaining separate covenants (or
portions  thereof)  to be  enforced.  In the event that the  provisions  of this
Section  9(c) are deemed to exceed  the time,  geographic  or scope  limitations
permitted  by  applicable  law,  then such  provisions  shall be reformed to the
maximum time, geographic or scope limitations,  as the case may be, permitted by
applicable law.

     (d)  Employee  acknowledges  that  (i) the  goodwill  associated  with  the
existing  business,  customers  and  assets  of BSC  prior to the  Merger  is an
integral  component  of the value of BSC to the Company and is  reflected in the
value of the Merger consideration payable under the Reorganization Agreement and
(ii) Employee's agreement as set forth herein is necessary to

                                       -6-
<PAGE>

preserve the value of BSC for the Company  following  the Merger.  Employee also
acknowledges  that the  limitations  of time,  geography  and scope of  activity
agreed to in this Agreement are reasonable because,  among other things, (i) BSC
and the Company are engaged in a highly competitive industry,  (ii) Employee has
unique  access to, and will  continue to have  access to, the trade  secrets and
know-how of BSC and the  Company,  including  without  limitation  the plans and
strategy  (including  the  competitive  strategy),  (iii)  Employee is receiving
significant  compensation  in  connection  with the Merger and (iv) in the event
Employee's  employment with the Company ended,  Employee would be able to obtain
suitable and satisfactory employment without violation of this Agreement.

     (e) Employee's  obligations  under this Section 9 shall remain in effect if
Employee's employment with the Company is terminated for any reason.

     10. CONFLICTS. Employee represents that his performance of all the terms of
this Agreement will not breach any other agreement to which Employee is a party.
Employee has not, and will not during the term of this Agreement, enter into any
oral or  written  agreement  in  conflict  with  any of the  provisions  of this
Agreement.  Employee further  represents that he is entering into or has entered
into an employment relationship with the Company of his own free will.

     11.  SUCCESSORS.  Any successor to the Company  (whether direct or indirect
and  whether by  purchase,  merger,  consolidation  or  otherwise)  or to all or
substantially  all of the  Company's  business  and/or  assets  shall assume the
obligations  under this Agreement and agree expressly to perform the obligations
under this  Agreement  in the same  manner and to the same extent as the Company
would be required to perform such  obligations  in the absence of a  succession.
The terms of this Agreement and all of Employee's  rights  hereunder shall inure
to  the  benefit  of,  and be  enforceable  by,  Employee's  personal  or  legal
representatives,  executors,  administrators,  successors,  heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees.

     12. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

     (a) NO DUTY TO  MITIGATE.  Employee  shall not be required to mitigate  the
amount of any payment  contemplated  by this  Agreement  (whether by seeking new
employment or in any other manner),  nor,  except as otherwise  provided in this
Agreement,  shall any such payment be reduced by any earnings  that Employee may
receive from any other source.

     (b) PLEDGE OF SHARES.  In the event that during the term of this  Agreement
Employee  seeks to pledge  all or a portion  of his  Merger  Shares  that are no
longer  subject  to the  Repurchase  Option  in  order to  obtain a loan  from a
financial  institution,  subject to compliance  with all  applicable  laws,  the
Company shall consent to, and take no action that would  preclude  Employee from
entering into, such pledge.

     (c)  AMENDMENTS  AND WAIVERS.  Any term of this Agreement may be amended or
waived only with the written consent of the parties.

     (d)  SOLE  AGREEMENT.  This  Agreement,   including  any  Exhibits  hereto,
constitutes   the  sole  agreement  of  the  parties  and  supersedes  all  oral
negotiations and prior writings with respect to the subject matter hereof.

                                       -7-
<PAGE>

     (e) NOTICES. Any notice required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed sufficient upon receipt,  when delivered  personally
or by a nationally recognized delivery service (such as Federal Express or UPS),
or forty-eight (48) hours after being deposited in the U.S. mail as certified or
registered mail with postage  prepaid,  if such notice is addressed to the party
to be notified  at such  party's  address as set forth below or as  subsequently
modified by written notice.

     (f)  CHOICE  OF  LAW.  The  validity,   interpretation,   construction  and
performance  of this  Agreement  shall be  governed  by the laws of the State of
California, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws.

     (g)  SEVERABILITY.  If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to
be  unenforceable  under  applicable law, the parties agree to renegotiate  such
provision in good faith.  In the event that the parties  cannot reach a mutually
agreeable  and  enforceable  replacement  for  such  provision,  then  (i)  such
provision  shall be  excluded  from  this  Agreement,  (ii) the  balance  of the
Agreement  shall be  interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and (iii)
the balance of the Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

     (h) COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,  each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one
and the same instrument.

     (i) ARBITRATION.  Any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with
this  Agreement  will be finally  settled by binding  arbitration in Santa Clara
County,  California  in  accordance  with the rules of the American  Arbitration
Association  by one  arbitrator  appointed in  accordance  with said rules.  The
arbitrator shall apply  California law, without  reference to rules of conflicts
of law or rules of  statutory  arbitration,  to the  resolution  of any dispute.
Judgment  on the award  rendered by the  arbitrator  may be entered in any court
having  jurisdiction  thereof.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the parties may
apply  to any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  for  preliminary  or  interim
equitable  relief,  or to compel  arbitration in accordance with this paragraph,
without breach of this arbitration provision. This Section 12(i) shall not apply
to the Confidentiality Agreement.

     (j) ADVICE OF COUNSEL.  EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT  ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, IN
EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT,  SUCH PARTY HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK THE ADVICE
OF INDEPENDENT  LEGAL COUNSEL,  AND HAS READ AND UNDERSTOOD ALL OF THE TERMS AND
PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AGAINST ANY
PARTY BY REASON OF THE DRAFTING OR PREPARATION HEREOF.



                                       -8-
<PAGE>

     The parties have executed this Employment  Agreement the date first written
above.

                                          COMPANY

                                          EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION


                                          By __________________________________

                                          Title _______________________________

                                          Address:   455 West Maude Avenue
                                                     Sunnyvale, CA 94086


                                          EMPLOYEE


                                          _____________________________________


                                          Address:   __________________________
                                                     __________________________

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT D

          CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENTS


                                       D-1

<PAGE>

                            PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
             AND EMPLOYEE-GENERATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT


         As an employee of eGain Communications Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("Company"), I recognize that the Company is engaged in a continuous
program of research, development and production with respect to its business
pertaining to computer software development, marketing, sales and service,
present and future.

                                    RECITALS

         I understand that:

         A. Definitions for certain of the capitalized terms used in this
Proprietary Information And Employee-Generated Intellectual Property Agreement
("Agreement") are contained in Exhibit A attached to this Agreement.

         B. My employment creates a relationship of confidence and trust between
the Company and me with respect to any information (i) applicable to the
business of the Company pertaining to computer software development, marketing,
sales and service; or (ii) applicable to the business of any customer of the
Company; or (iii) which the Company is under a contractual obligation to keep
confidential which may be made known to me by the Company or by any customer of
the Company, or learned by me during the period of my employment.

         C. The Company possesses and will continue to possess Proprietary
Information.

         This Agreement is in consideration for my employment with the Company.
I hereby agree as follows:

         1  PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION.

         1.1 All Proprietary Information shall be the sole property of the
Company and its assigns or a third party, as applicable, and the Company and its
assigns or such third party shall be the sole owner of all patents and other
rights in connection with such Proprietary Information. I hereby assign to the
Company any rights I may have or acquire in any or all Proprietary Information.

         1.2 During the term of my employment by the Company and any time
thereafter, I will keep in confidence and trust all Proprietary Information, and
I will not directly or indirectly disclose, sell, use, lecture upon or publish
any Proprietary Information or anything relating to it without the written
consent of the Company, except as may be necessary in the ordinary course of
performing my duties as an employee of the Company.

         1.3 I will comply with any specific directions, limitations, or other
obligations related to Proprietary Information that the Company receives from a
third party. Subject to the preceding obligations, my obligations regarding
Proprietary Information shall continue until such time as the Proprietary
Information is publicly known without fault on my own part.

         2 AVOID CONFLICT OF INTEREST. I agree that during the period of my
employment by the Company, I will not, without the Company's express written
consent, engage in any employment or activity in any business competitive with
the Company.

         3 RETURN OF MATERIALS. All apparatus, computers, computer files and
media, data, documents,

<PAGE>

drawings,  engineering  log  books,  equipment,  inventor  notebooks,  programs,
prototypes,  records,  samples,  equipment  and other  information  and physical
property,  whether or not  pertaining to Proprietary  Information  and no matter
where located, furnished to me by the Company or produced by myself or others in
connection  with my  employment  shall be and  remain the sole  property  of the
Company and shall be returned  promptly to the Company as and when  requested by
the Company.  Should the Company not so request,  I shall return and deliver all
such property upon  termination  of my employment  for any reason and I will not
take with me any such  property or any  reproduction  of such property upon such
termination.  I  further  agree  that any  property  situated  on the  Company's
premises or at my home and owned by the Company,  including computers,  computer
files, e-mail, voicemail,  disks and other electronic storage media, prototypes,
samples,  engineering log books, notebooks, filing cabinets or other work areas,
is  subject  to  inspection  by  Company  personnel  at any time with or without
notice.

         4 NON-SOLICITATION. I agree that during the period of my employment and
for a period of one (1) year following termination of my employment with the
Company, I will not directly or indirectly (i) solicit or in any manner
encourage employees or consultants of the Company to leave its employ or work
for any business that is in competition in any manner whatsoever with the
business of the Company pertaining to computer software development, marketing,
sales and service; or (ii) other than on behalf of the Company, solicit the
business of any customer of the Company with whom I became acquainted during the
course of my employment or any customer if such solicitation involves the use of
Proprietary Information. By signing this Agreement, I acknowledge and agree that
the names, addresses and product specifications of the Company's customers
constitute Company Proprietary Information and that the sale or unauthorized use
or disclosure of this or any other Company Proprietary Information that I
obtained during the course of this Agreement would constitute unfair competition
with the Company. I promise not to engage in any unfair competition with the
Company either during the term of my employment or at any time thereafter.

         5 DEVELOPED INFORMATION. I will promptly disclose to the Company, or
any persons designated by it, any and all Developed Information; such disclosure
shall continue for one (1) year after termination of this Agreement with respect
to any and all Developed Information made, conceived, reduced to practice or
learned during such one (1) year term. If any application for any United States
or foreign patent related to or useful in the business of the Company or any
customer of the Company shall be filed by me or for me during the period of one
(1) year after my employment is terminated, the subject matter covered by such
application shall be presumed to have been conceived during my employment with
the Company.

         6  OWNERSHIP AND PROTECTION OF DEVELOPED INFORMATION.

         6.1 THE COMPANY OWNS DEVELOPED INFORMATION. I agree that any and all
Developed Information shall be the sole property of the Company and its assigns,
and the Company and its assigns shall be the sole owner of all patents and other
rights in connection with such Developed Information.

         6.2 DEVELOPED INFORMATION PROTECTION. I hereby assign to the Company
any rights I may have or acquire in Developed Information. I further agree as to
any and all Developed Information to assist the Company in every proper way (but
at the Company's expense) to obtain and from time to time enforce patents,
copyrights, trademarks and other rights on Developed Information in any and all
countries, and to that end I will execute all documents for use in applying for
and obtaining such patents, copyrights, trademarks and other protections on
Developed Information and enforcing the same, as the Company may desire,
together with any assignments of such protections to the Company or persons
designated by it. My obligation to assist the Company in obtaining and enforcing
patents, copyrights, trademarks and other protections on Developed Information
in any and all countries shall

<PAGE>

continue beyond the termination of my employment,  but, after such  termination,
the Company shall  compensate me at a reasonable rate for time actually spent by
me at the Company's  request on such  assistance.  I  acknowledge  that I may be
unavailable  when the  Company  needs to  secure my  signature  for  lawful  and
necessary  documents  required to apply for or execute  any  patent,  copyright,
trademark or other protection with respect to Developed  Information  (including
renewals,  extensions,  continuations,  divisions  or  continuations  in part of
patent  applications).  Therefore,  I agree to irrevocably designate and appoint
the  Company  and its duly  authorized  officers  and  agents,  as my agents and
attorneys-in-fact, to act for and in my behalf and instead of me, to execute and
file any such  application(s)  and to do all other  lawfully  permitted  acts to
further the  prosecution  and issuance of patents,  copyrights,  trademarks  and
other protections on Developed  Information with the same legal force and effect
as if executed by me. The Company  shall also have the right to keep any and all
Developed Information as trade secrets.

         7 LIST OF PRE-EMPLOYMENT INVENTIONS. I have attached to this Agreement
as Exhibit B a complete list of all developments, discoveries, improvements,
inventions, trade secrets or works of authorship which I have made or conceived
or first reduced to practice alone or jointly with others prior to my engagement
by the Company which are not subject to a confidentiality agreement that would
bar such listing (collectively "Pre-Employment Inventions"); and I covenant that
such list is complete. If no such list is attached to this Agreement, I
represent that I have made no such Pre-Employment Inventions at the time of
signing this Agreement. The Company will not require me to assign any rights I
may have in any of the listed Pre-Employment Inventions. Furthermore, the listed
Pre-Employment Inventions will not be classified as Proprietary Information or
Developed Information. I acknowledge and agree that the Company and its
subsidiaries or affiliates are free to compete or develop information,
inventions and products within the areas and types of inventions described in
such list.

         8  NONINTERFERENCE WITH THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS.

         8.1 I represent that my performance of all the terms of this Agreement
and that my employment by the Company does not and will not breach any agreement
to keep in confidence Proprietary Information acquired by me in confidence or in
trust prior to my employment by the Company. I have not entered into, and I
agree I will not enter into, any agreement either written or oral in conflict
with this Agreement.

         8.2 As part of the consideration for the offer of employment extended
to me by the Company and of my employment or continued employment by the
Company, I have not brought and will not bring with me to the Company or use in
the performance of my responsibilities at the Company any equipment, supplies,
facility, electronic media, software, trade secret or other information or
property of any former employer or organization to which I provided services
when such former employer or organization may have exclusive ownership rights in
such information or property or when such information or property is not
generally available to the public, unless I have obtained written authorization
for their possession and use. I agree to promptly notify the Company in writing
if I am asked to assign or transfer any intellectual property rights to such
former employer or organization.

         8.3 I also understand that, in my employment with the Company, I am not
to breach any obligation of confidentiality that I have to others, and I agree
that I shall fulfill all such obligations during my employment with the Company.

         9. EQUITABLE RELIEF. I agree that in addition to any other rights and
remedies available to the Company for any breach by me of my obligations under
this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to enforcement of such obligations
by court injunction, without posting bond or other security. I will indemnify
Company against any costs, including reasonable legal fees, incurred in
obtaining relief

<PAGE>

 against my breach of this Agreement.

         10. MODIFICATIONS.  No modification of this Agreement shall be
valid unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

         11. SEVERABILITY. If any term or provision of the Agreement shall be
declared invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such term or provision shall be
amended to achieve as nearly as possible the same effect of protecting
Proprietary Information as the original term or provision, and all remaining
provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

         12. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT. I understand and agree that employment with the
Company is not for a specific term and can be terminated by myself or by the
Company at any time for any reason, with or without cause. I also understand
that the Company requests that all of its employees, to the extent possible,
give the Company advance notice if they intend to resign. I further understand
and agree that the foregoing terms shall be the terms of my employment and that
any additions to or modifications of these terms shall be in writing and signed
by myself and an officer of the Company.

         13. SECTION 2870 INVENTIONS. This Agreement does not apply to
inventions which qualify fully for protection under section 2870 of the
California Labor Code ("Section 2870").

         13.1 Currently, Section 2870 applies to inventions for which no
equipment, supplies, facility or trade secret information of the Company was
used and which was developed entirely on my own time, and (i) which does not
relate, at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the invention, to
the business of the Company, or to the Company's actual or demonstrably
anticipated research or development, or (ii) which does not result from any work
performed by me for the Company.

         13.2 Notwithstanding this Section 13, during the term of my employment,
I shall disclose in confidence to the Company any invention in order to permit
the Company to make a determination as to compliance by me with the terms and
conditions of this Agreement. I understand that I bear the full burden of
proving to the Company that the invention qualifies fully under Section 2870.

         14. SURVIVAL OF OBLIGATIONS. This Agreement shall survive termination
of my employment, regardless of the circumstances of such termination.

         15.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Agreement shall be effective as of the first
day of my employment by the Company.

         16. BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding upon my heirs,
executors, administrators or other legal representatives and shall inure to the
benefit of successors and assigns of the Company.

         17. INTEGRATED AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the full, complete
and exclusive agreement between the Company and me with regard to this
Agreement's subject matter. This Agreement supersedes any previous agreements or
representations, whether oral or written, express or implied between the Company
and me with respect to this Agreement's subject matter.

         18.  EXHIBITS.  The following Exhibits are made a part of and
incorporated by reference in this Agreement:

                         Exhibit A:  Definitions;
                         Exhibit B:  List of Pre-Employment Inventions.

<PAGE>

         19.  GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of California.


         Dated:  __________, 1999


                                    EMPLOYEE:

                                    By  _____________________________

                                    Name ____________________________

                                    Social Security No.  ____________

                                    Address:  _______________________

                                    _________________________________


ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO BY:

EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

By _____________________________

Name ___________________________

Title __________________________


<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT A


1. DEFINITIONS.  As used in the foregoing  Agreement,  the following terms shall
have the meanings as defined  below.  Where the context so indicates,  a word in
the singular form shall include the plural and vice-versa.

         1.1 COMPANY as used herein, shall include any subsidiary or affiliate
of EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION.

         1.2 DEVELOPED INFORMATION means all data, discoveries, designs,
developments, formulae, ideas, improvements, inventions, know-how, processes,
programs, and techniques, whether or not patentable or registrable under
copyright, trademark or similar statutes, and all designs, trademarks and
copyrightable works that I made or conceived or reduced to practice or learned,
either alone or jointly with others, during the period of my employment which
(i) are related or useful in the business of the Company or to the Company's
actual or demonstrably anticipated research, design, development, experimental
production, financing, manufacturing, licensing, distribution or marketing
activity carried on by the Company, or (ii) result from tasks assigned me by the
Company, or (iii) result from use of premises or equipment owned, leased or
contracted for by the Company.

         1.3 PROPRIETARY INFORMATION shall mean information that has been
created, discovered or developed, or has otherwise become known to the Company
(including without limitation information created, discovered, developed or made
known by or to me during the period of or arising out of my employment by the
Company), and/or in which property rights have been assigned or otherwise
conveyed to the Company, which information has commercial value in the business
in which the Company is engaged. By way of illustration but not limitation,
"Proprietary Information" includes: (i) inventions, confidential knowledge,
trade secrets, ideas, data, programs, works of authorship, know-how,
improvements, discoveries, designs, techniques and sensitive information the
Company receives from its customers or receives from a third party under
obligation to keep confidential; (ii) technical information relating to the
Company's existing and future products, including, where appropriate and without
limitation, manufacturing techniques and procedures, production controls,
software, firmware, information, patent disclosures, patent applications,
development or experimental work, formulae, engineering or test data, product
specification and part lists, names of suppliers, structures, models,
techniques, processes and apparatus relating to the same disclosed by the
Company to me or obtained by me through observation or examination of
information or developments; (iii) confidential marketing information (including
without limitation marketing strategies, customer names and requirements and
product and services, prices, margins and costs); (iv) confidential future
product plans; (v) confidential financial information provided to me by the
Company; (vi) personnel information (including without limitation employee
compensation); and (vii) other confidential business information.

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                        LIST OF PRE-EMPLOYMENT INVENTIONS


         This List of Pre-Employment Inventions, along with any attached pages,
is part of and incorporated by reference into the attached PROPRIETARY
INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE-GENERATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT

         The following is a complete list of all developments, discoveries,
improvements, inventions, trade secrets and works of authorship which I have
made or conceived or first reduced to practice alone or jointly with others
prior to my engagement by the Company which are not subject to a confidentiality
agreement that would bar such listing (collectively "Pre-Employment
Inventions"). I understand that the Company will not require me to assign any
rights I may have in any of the listed Pre-Employment Inventions. I further
understand that the listed Pre-Employment Inventions will not be classified as
Proprietary Information or Developed Information. I represent that this list of
Pre-Employment Inventions is complete.


         ______ No Pre-Employment Inventions to report.
         ______ See below.
         ______ Additional sheets attached.



                                        _______________________________________
                                                  Name of Employee


                                        _______________________________________
                                                       Date


Proprietary Information and Employee-Generated Intellectual Property Agreement
(from 12487355) ver. 2.12.98.doc

<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT E

                                 FORM OF RELEASE


                                       E-1

<PAGE>

                                 GENERAL RELEASE

         THIS GENERAL RELEASE ("General Release") is being executed and
delivered as of ______________, 2000, on behalf of the parties identified on
Schedule A hereto (all of whom are referred to collectively as the "Releasors,"
and each of whom is referred to individually as a "Releasor") to and in favor
of, and for the benefit of, EGAIN CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation
("Company"), BIG SCIENCE COMPANY, a Georgia corporation ("Purchaser"), BSC
ACQUISITION CORP., a Georgia corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of
Purchaser ("Merger Sub"), and the other Releasees (as defined in Section 2).

                                    RECITALS

         A. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this General
Release, certain of the Releasors have entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger and Reorganization (the "Merger Agreement") among Purchaser, Merger Sub,
Company and certain stockholders of Company.

         B. Purchaser and Merger Sub have required, as a condition to
consummating the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, that the
Releasors execute and deliver this General Release.

                                    AGREEMENT

         In order to induce Purchaser and Merger Sub to consummate the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and for other valuable
consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by
the Releasors), the Releasors hereby covenant and agree as follows:

     1. RELEASE. Each Releasor,  for himself,  herself or itself and for each of
such Releasor's  Associated Parties (as defined in Section 2), hereby generally,
irrevocably, unconditionally and completely releases and forever discharges each
of the  Releasees  (as  defined  in Section  2) from,  and  hereby  irrevocably,
unconditionally  and completely  waives and  relinquishes,  each of the Released
Claims (as defined in Section 2).

     2. DEFINITIONS.

     (a) The term  "Associated  Parties,"  when used  herein  with  respect to a
Releasor, shall mean and include: (i) such Releasor's predecessors,  successors,
executors,  administrators, heirs and estate; (ii) such Releasor's past, present
and future  assigns,  agents and  representatives;  (iii) each  entity that such
Releasor has the power to bind (by such  Releasor's  acts or  signature) or over
which such Releasor  directly or  indirectly  exercises  control;  and (iv) each
entity of which such Releasor owns, directly or indirectly,  at least 50% of the
outstanding equity, beneficial, proprietary, ownership or voting interests.

     (b) The term  "Releasees"  shall  mean and  include:  (i)  Purchaser;  (ii)
Company;  (iii) Merger Sub; (iv) each of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of
Company;  (v) each other affiliate of Company; and (vi) the successors and past,
present and future assigns, directors,  officers,  employees,  agents, attorneys
and  representatives of the respective entities

                                        1
<PAGE>

identified  or  otherwise  referred to in clauses  "(i)"  through  "(v)" of this
sentence, other than the Releasors.

     (c) The term "Claims"  shall mean and include all past,  present and future
disputes,  claims,  controversies,  demands, rights,  obligations,  liabilities,
actions  and  causes of  action of every  kind and  nature,  including:  (i) any
unknown,  unsuspected or undisclosed  claim; (ii) any claim or right that may be
asserted  or  exercised  by  a  Releasor  in  such  Releasor's   capacity  as  a
stockholder,  director, officer or employee of Company or in any other capacity;
and  (iii) any  claim,  right or cause of action  based  upon any  breach of any
express, implied, oral or written contract or agreement.

     (d) The term "Released  Claims" shall mean and include each and every Claim
that (i) any  Releasor or any  Associated  Party of any Releasor may have had in
the past,  may now have or may have in the future  against any of the Releasees,
and (ii) has arisen or arises directly or indirectly out of, or relates directly
or indirectly to, any circumstance, agreement, activity, action, omission, event
or matter  occurring or existing on or prior to the date of this General Release
(excluding only such Releasor's rights, if any, under the Merger Agreement,  the
Escrow Agreement, the Noncompetition Agreement and the Stockholder Agreement).

          3. [INTENTIONALLY OMMITTED]

          4.  REPRESENTATIONS  AND  WARRANTIES.  Each  Releasor  represents  and
     warrants that:

     (a) such  Releasor  has not  assigned,  transferred,  conveyed or otherwise
disposed of any Claim  against any of the  Releasees,  or any direct or indirect
interest in any such Claim, in whole or in part;

     (b) to the best of such Releasor's knowledge, no other person or entity has
any interest in any of the Released Claims;

     (c) no  Associated  Party of such Releasor has or had any Claim against any
of the Releasees;

     (d) no Associated  Party of such Releasor will in the future have any Claim
against any Releasee that arises directly or indirectly from or relates directly
or indirectly to any circumstance,  agreement, activity, action, omission, event
or matter occurring or existing on or before the date of this General Release;

     (e) this General  Release has been duly and validly  executed and delivered
by such Releasor;

     (f) this General Release is a valid and binding obligation of such Releasor
and such Releasor's Associated Parties, and is enforceable against such Releasor
and each of such Releasor's Associated Parties in accordance with its terms;

     (g) there is no  action,  suit,  proceeding,  dispute,  litigation,  claim,
complaint or investigation by or before any court, tribunal,  governmental body,
governmental  agency or  arbitrator  pending or, to the best of the knowledge of
such  Releasor,  threatened  against  such

                                        2
<PAGE>

Releasor or any of such Releasor's  Associated  Parties that challenges or would
challenge the  execution  and delivery of this General  Release or the taking of
any of the actions  required  to be taken by such  Releasor  under this  General
Release;

     (h) neither the  execution  and  delivery of this  General  Release nor the
performance  hereof will (i) result in any  violation or breach of any agreement
or other instrument to which such Releasor or any of such Releasor's  Associated
Parties  is a  party  or by  which  such  Releasor  or  any of  such  Releasor's
Associated  Parties is bound,  or (ii) result in a violation  or any law,  rule,
regulation,  treaty, ruling,  directive,  order,  arbitration award, judgment or
decree to which such Releasor or any of such  Releasor's  Associated  Parties is
subject; and

     (i) no  authorization,  instruction,  consent or  approval of any person or
entity is required to be  obtained  by such  Releasor or any of such  Releasor's
Associated Parties in connection with the execution and delivery of this General
Release or the performance hereof.

     5.  INDEMNIFICATION.  Without  in any way  limiting  any of the  rights  or
remedies otherwise available to any Releasee,  each Releasor shall indemnify and
hold harmless each Releasee  against and from any loss,  damage,  injury,  harm,
detriment, lost opportunity,  liability,  exposure,  claim, demand,  settlement,
judgment,   award,  fine,  penalty,  tax,  fee,  charge  or  expense  (including
attorneys' fees) that is directly or indirectly suffered or incurred at any time
by such Releasee,  or to which such Releasee  otherwise  becomes  subject at any
time, and that arises  directly or indirectly out of or by virtue of, or relates
directly  or  indirectly  to, (a) any  failure on the part of such  Releasor  to
observe, perform or abide by, or any other breach of, any restriction, covenant,
obligation, representation, warranty or other provision contained herein, or (b)
the  assertion  or purported  assertion  of any of the  Released  Claims by such
Releasor or any of such Releasor's Associated Parties.

     6. MISCELLANEOUS.

     (a) This General Release sets forth the entire understanding of the parties
relating to the subject matter hereof and  supersedes  all prior  agreements and
understandings  among or between any of the Releasors and Releasees  relating to
the subject matter hereof.

     (b) If any  provision  of this  General  Release  or any  part of any  such
provision is held under any  circumstances to be invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction,  then (i) 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,  (ii) 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  (iii)  such  invalidity  or
enforceability  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 General Release.  If any provision
of  this  General  Release  or  any  part  of  such  provision  is  held  to  be
unenforceable against any Releasor,  then the unenforceability of such provision
or part  thereof  against  such  Releasor  shall not affect  the  enforceability
thereof  against any other  Releasor.  Each provision of this General Release is
separable from every other

                                        3
<PAGE>

provision  of this  General  Release,  and each part of each  provision  of this
General Release is separable from every other part of such provision.

     (c) This  General  Release  shall be  construed  in  accordance  with,  and
governed  in all  respects  by, the laws of the [State of  California]  (without
giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws).

     (d) Any legal  action or other legal  proceeding  relating to this  General
Release or the  enforcement  of any  provision  of this  General  Release may be
brought or otherwise  commenced  by any  Releasee in any state or federal  court
located in the State of California. Each Releasor:

     (i) expressly and irrevocably  consents and submits to the  jurisdiction of
each state and federal  court  located in the State of  California in connection
with any such legal proceeding;

     (ii)  agrees  that each  state and  federal  court  located in the State of
California shall be deemed to be a convenient forum; and

     (iii) agrees not to assert (by way of motion,  as a defense or  otherwise),
in any such legal proceeding  commenced in any state or federal court located in
the State of California,  any claim that such Releasor is not subject personally
to the  jurisdiction of such court,  that such legal proceeding has been brought
in an inconvenient  forum, that the venue of such proceeding is improper or that
this General  Release or the subject  matter of this General  Release may not be
enforced in or by such court.

Nothing contained in this General Release shall be deemed to limit or otherwise
affect the right of any Releasee (1) to commence any legal proceeding or to
otherwise proceed against any of the Releasors or any other person or entity in
any other forum or jurisdiction, or (2) to raise this Release as a defense in
any legal proceeding in any other forum or jurisdiction.

     (e) This General Release may be executed in several  counterparts,  each of
which shall constitute an original and all of which, when taken together,  shall
constitute one agreement.

     (f) Each  Releasor  shall  execute  and/or  cause to be  delivered  to each
Releasee  such  instruments  and  other  documents,  and shall  take such  other
actions, as such Releasee may reasonably request for the purpose of carrying out
or evidencing any of the actions contemplated by this General Release.

     (g) If any legal action or other legal proceeding  relating to this General
Release or the enforcement of any provision hereof is brought by any Releasor or
Releasee,   the  prevailing  party  shall  be  entitled  to  recover  reasonable
attorneys'  fees, costs and  disbursements  to the extent actually  incurred (in
addition to any other relief to which the prevailing party may be entitled).

                                        4
<PAGE>

     (h) This General  Release shall be effective  with respect to, and shall be
binding upon and  enforceable  against,  each Releasor who executes this General
Release,  regardless of whether any of the other Releasors executes this General
Release.

(i) Whenever required by the context, the singular number shall include the
plural, and vice versa; the masculine gender shall include the feminine and
neuter genders; and the neuter gender shall include the masculine and feminine
genders.

     (j) 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 General Release.

     (k) As used in this General  Release,  the words "include" and "including,"
and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, and shall
be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation."


                      [THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                      5

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Releasors have caused this General Release to
be executed as of the date first above written.

                                            RELEASORS:

                                            [CORPORATION]



                                            ___________________________________
                                            (Printed Name)_____________________



                                            By: _______________________________
                                            Name: _____________________________
                                            Title: ____________________________


                                            [INDIVIDUAL]




                                            ___________________________________
                                            (Printed Name)_____________________


                        [GENERAL RELEASE SIGNATURE PAGE]

                                       6

<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE A

                              SCHEDULE OF RELEASORS


<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT F

                            FORM OF INVESTMENT LETTER

                                      F-1

<PAGE>

                                INVESTMENT LETTER

     This  Investment  Letter (the  "Investment  Letter") is entered  into as of
February __, 2000, between eGain Corporation,  a Delaware corporation ("Parent")
and the  undersigned  stockholder  ("Stockholder")  of Big  Science  Company,  a
Georgia corporation ("Company").

     Stockholder  acknowledges  that Stockholder has received and reviewed (i) a
copy of that  certain  Agreement  and Plan of  Merger  and  Reorganization  (the
"Merger  Agreement"),  dated as of February 7, 2000, by and between Parent,  BSC
Acquisition  Corp., a Georgia  corporation  ("Merger Sub") , the Company and the
Founders (together the "Parties") pursuant to which the Parties have agreed that
Merger  Sub  will  merge  with  and into the  Company  with the  Company  as the
surviving  corporation (the "Merger");  (ii) a copy of Parent's Prospectus dated
September 23, 1999;  (iii) a copy of Parent's  quarterly report on Form 10-Q for
the three months ended  September 30, 1999;  and (iv) an  Information  Statement
(collectively, the "Disclosure Documents").

     1. Defined Terms.  Capitalized terms used in this Investment Letter and not
otherwise defined shall have the meanings given them in the Merger Agreement.

     2. Acknowledgements and Understandings of the Stockholder.

     (a) Merger of Merger Sub into the Company.  Stockholder  acknowledges  that
pursuant to Section 1.1 of the Merger  Agreement,  at the Effective Time, Merger
Sub will merge with and into the Company,  the separate  existence of Merger Sub
will cease and the Company will  continue as the  surviving  corporation  in the
Merger. Stockholder further acknowledges that, in accordance with Section 1.6 of
the Merger  Agreement,  at the Effective Time, the  Stockholder  will receive in
exchange for Stockholder's shares of Company Common Stock held immediately prior
to the  Effective  Time,  certain  consideration  as  set  forth  in the  Merger
Agreement, including shares of Parent Common Stock (the "Shares").

     (b)  Unregistered  Stock.  Stockholder  is  fully  aware  that  the  Shares
Stockholder  will  receive  are  being   distributed  under  an  exemption  from
registration   provided  for  in  Section  4(2)  of  the  Securities  Act,  that
Stockholder  is acquiring  the Shares  without  being  offered or furnished  any
offering literature or prospectus other than the Disclosure Documents, that this
transaction  has not  been  approved  or  reviewed  by the U.S.  Securities  and
Exchange   Commission  or  by  any   administrative   agency  charged  with  the
administration  of the securities law of any state,  that financial  statements,
and other documents pertaining to Parent and Company have been made available to
the  Stockholder  and  Stockholder's  representatives,  including  Stockholder's
attorney and accountant.

     (c) Rule 144.  Stockholder  is fully aware that because the issuance of the
Shares has not been  registered  under the Securities Act, the Shares are deemed
to  constitute  "restricted  securities"  under Rule 144  promulgated  under the
Securities Act and that the Shares must be held indefinitely unless their resale
or other  disposition is subsequently  registered under the Securities Act or an
exemption  from such  registration  is  available.  Stockholder  is aware of the
provisions  of Rule 144  promulgated  under the  Securities  Act  which  permits
limited  resale  of

                                        1
<PAGE>

shares purchased in a private  placement  subject to the satisfaction of certain
conditions,  including among other things,  the existence of a public market for
the shares,  the  availability of certain current public  information  about the
issuer, the resale occurring not less than one year after an exchange,  the sale
being  through a  "broker's  transaction"  or in  transactions  directly  with a
"market  maker" (as provided by Rule 144(f)) and the number of shares being sold
during any three-month period not exceeding  specified  limitations  (unless the
sale is within the requirements of Rule 144(k)).

     (d) No Duty to Register.  Stockholder  realizes that, in the absence of the
availability   of  Rule  144  under  the  Securities  Act,  any  disposition  by
Stockholder  of the Shares may require  compliance  with an exemption  under the
Securities Act or a registration  under the Securities  Act, and that the Parent
is under no obligation,  except as explicitly  provided for in Section 10 of the
Merger Agreement,  to take any action to make any such registration or exemption
so available.

     (e) Experience.  Stockholder has such knowledge and experience in financial
and business  matters that  Stockholder  is capable of evaluating the merits and
risks of the Merger and the transactions related thereto.

     (f)  Investment.  Stockholder  is acquiring the Shares for  investment  for
Stockholder's  own account  and not with a view to, or for resale in  connection
with, any  unregistered  distribution  thereof,  and  Stockholder has no current
intention to sell, convey, dispose of or otherwise distribute any interest in or
risk related to the Shares.  Stockholder understands that the Shares Stockholder
shall receive has not been  registered  under the  Securities Act by reason of a
specific exemption from the registration  provisions of the Securities Act which
depends upon, among other things,  the bona fide nature of the investment intent
as expressed herein.

     (g) Risk Awareness.  Stockholder confirms that Stockholder  understands and
has  fully  considered  for  purposes  of  this  investment  the  risks  of this
investment and that (i) this  investment is suitable only for an investor who is
able  to  bear  the  economic   consequences  of  losing   Stockholder's  entire
investment,  (ii) the Shares are a speculative  investment which involves a high
degree of risk of loss by Stockholder of Stockholder's  investment therein,  and
(iii) there are substantial  restrictions on the  transferability of the Shares,
and   accordingly,   it  may  not  be  possible  for  Stockholder  to  liquidate
Stockholder's investment in the case of emergency.

     (h) Ability to Bear Risk. Stockholder confirms that Stockholder is able (i)
to bear the  economic  risk of this  investment,  (ii) to hold the  Shares for a
substantial period of time, and (iii) presently to afford a complete loss of his
or her investment.

     (i) Opportunity to  Investigate.  Stockholder  confirms that  Stockholder's
representatives  and advisors have been given the  opportunity  to ask questions
of, and to receive answers from,  persons acting on behalf of Company and Parent
concerning the terms and conditions of the Merger and the business and prospects
of Company and Parent, and to obtain any additional  information,  to the extent
such persons  possess such  information  or can acquire it without  unreasonable
effort or expense and without breach of confidentiality  obligations,  necessary
to verify the accuracy of the information set forth in the Disclosure Documents.

                                        2
<PAGE>

     3.  Reliance  on  Representations,  Warranties  and  Acknowledgements.  The
representations,  warranties and  acknowledgments  of Stockholder herein (a) are
made by the  undersigned  with  the  intent  that  they  may be  relied  upon in
determining Stockholder's suitability as an investor in Parent, (b) are true and
accurate  as of the date of this  Investment  Letter  and (c)  shall be true and
accurate  as of the date of  delivery  to and  acceptance  by  Parent  and shall
survive the issuance of the Shares;  Stockholder  acknowledges that certificates
representing the Shares may bear the following legend:

         "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR
         INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
         1933. SUCH SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF
         SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS THE CORPORATION RECEIVES AN OPINION OF
         COUNSEL REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO IT STATING THAT SUCH SALE OR TRANSFER
         IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF
         SAID ACT. COPIES OF THE AGREEMENT COVERING THE ISSUANCE OF THESE SHARES
         AND RESTRICTING THEIR TRANSFER MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN
         REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE
         SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE
         CORPORATION."

                      [THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                        3
<PAGE>

     In Witness  Whereof,  the  undersigned  has hereby executed this Investment
Letter as of this ____ day of __________, 2000.

                                By: ___________________________________________
                                Printed Name: _________________________________
                                Address: ______________________________________


                       [Investment Letter Signature Page]

                                      4
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT G

                            FORM OF LEGAL OPINION OF
                     NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH, LLP

                                       G-1

<PAGE>

                         [FORM OF TARGET LEGAL OPINION]


                                February __, 2000


eGain Communications Corporation
455 W. Maude Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94086

     Re:    eGain Communications Corporation - Big Science Company Merger

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel for Big Science Company, a Georgia corporation
(the "Company"), in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger and
Reorganization dated as of February __, 2000 (the "Reorganization Agreement"),
by and among the Company, you and certain other parties named therein. This
letter is provided to you in satisfaction of the requirement set forth in
Section 6.5(e) of the Reorganization Agreement. Terms not otherwise defined
herein have the meanings given to them in the Reorganization Agreement. This
opinion letter is limited by, and is in accordance with, the Interpretive
Standards attached hereto which are incorporated in this opinion letter by this
reference.

     In connection with the foregoing, we have examined the Reorganization
Agreement, the Company Disclosure Schedule to the Reorganization Agreement, the
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Investors' Rights Agreement (the "Rights
Amendment"), records of proceedings of the directors and stockholders of the
Company, the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (the
"Articles"), Bylaws of the Company, as amended (the "Bylaws"), certificates of
officers of the Company and public officials, and such other documentation as we
have deemed necessary or advisable in order to render the opinions expressed
herein. As to questions of fact material to such opinions, we have relied upon
certificates of officers of the Company without investigation.

     Based upon the foregoing and except as set forth on the Schedule of
Exceptions, it is our opinion that:

     1. The Company has been duly incorporated and organized and is a validly
existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Georgia and
has the requisite corporate power to own its property and assets and to conduct
its business as it is currently being conducted. The Company has qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation in the State of Washington.

     2. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute
and deliver the Reorganization Agreement and to carry out and perform its
obligations under the terms of the Reorganization Agreement.

<PAGE>

eGain Communications Corporation
February __, 2000
Page 2


     3. The Reorganization Agreement has been duly and validly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company, constitutes a valid and binding agreement
of the Company (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by
all the other parties to the agreement), and is enforceable against the Company
in accordance with its terms.

     4. The capital stock of the Company immediately prior to the Closing is as
follows:

          (a)  PREFERRED  STOCK.   1,000,000  shares  of  Preferred  Stock  (the
     "Preferred  Stock")  have been  authorized,  none of which are  issued  and
     outstanding immediately prior to the Closing.

          (b)  COMMON  STOCK.  100,000,000  shares  of  Common  Stock  have been
     authorized, of which _________ shares are outstanding.  All such issued and
     outstanding  shares of Common Stock have been duly  authorized  and validly
     issued,  are fully  paid and non  assessable.  Assuming  the  accuracy  and
     completeness of the  information  provided to the Company by the purchasers
     of such shares and the absence of general  solicitation  in connection with
     the offer  and sale  thereof,  all such  shares  were  issued  pursuant  to
     available  exemptions from  registration  under Section 5 of the Securities
     Act of 1933 and applicable  state  securities laws. Such shares are free of
     any preemptive or similar rights contained in the Articles or Bylaws of the
     Company.  Except for (i) shares  reserved for issuance under the 2000 Stock
     Incentive  Plan _________ of which options to purchase  [1,019,214]  shares
     have been issued and are outstanding and _________  shares remain available
     for future issuance, (ii) the possible right of Japan Entry Inc. to certain
     shares in  payment of the  Company's  retainer  obligation,  and (iii) Paul
     Eurek's  right to exchange a  promissory  note in the  principal  amount of
     $100,000 for certain shares, to our knowledge, without investigation, there
     are no other  options,  warrants,  conversion  privileges  or other  rights
     presently  outstanding to purchase or otherwise  acquire any authorized but
     unissued shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company.

     5. The execution, delivery and performance of the Reorganization Agreement
by the Company on or prior to the Closing do not violate any provision of the
Company's Articles or Bylaws, and do not constitute a material default under the
provisions of any material agreement set forth on the Company Disclosure
Schedule to the Reorganization Agreement and to which the Company is a party or
by which it is bound, and do not violate or contravene (a) any governmental
statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company of which we are aware
without investigation or (b) any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree,
determination or award which has been entered against the Company and of which
we are aware without investigation, the violation or contravention of which
would materially and adversely affect the Company, its assets, financial
condition or operations.

<PAGE>

eGain Communications Corporation
February __, 2000
Page 3

     6. To our knowledge, without investigation, there is no action, proceeding
or investigation pending or overtly threatened against the Company before any
court or administrative agency that questions the validity of the Reorganization
Agreement, or that might result, either individually or in the aggregate, in any
material adverse change in the assets, financial condition, or operations of the
Company.

     7. All consents, approvals, authorizations, or orders of, and filings,
registrations, and qualifications with any regulatory authority or governmental
body in the United States required to be made by the Company for the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement,
have been made or obtained, except for filings such as may be required to be
filed pursuant to applicable federal and state securities laws prior to or
subsequent to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the
Reorganization Agreement.

     The foregoing opinion is subject to such matters as are set forth in the
Schedule of Exceptions to the Reorganization Agreement and the following
qualifications:

     Our opinion in paragraph 1 above is based solely upon a review of a
certificates of good standing from the States of Georgia and Washington.

     In addition to the limitations set forth in the Interpretive Standards,
our opinion in paragraph 3 above is subject to and limited by the effect of
applicable court decisions, invoking statutes or principles of equity, which
have held that certain covenants and provisions of agreements are unenforceable
where the breach of such covenants or provision imposes restrictions or burdens
upon a party and it cannot be demonstrated that the enforcement of such
restrictions or burdens is necessary for the protection of the other party.

     Our opinion in paragraph 4 above is based solely on an officer's
certificate of the Company and a review of the Board of Directors minutes and
other records of the Company provided to us and described in the officer's
certificate as complete minutes and records of all actions of the stockholders
and directors; however, although we have made no other investigation with
respect to such matters, we have no reason to believe such certificate is
inaccurate and that such records are not complete based on our representation of
the Company in connection with this transaction.

     Our opinion in paragraph 5 above is based on our review of the
documents provided to us by the Company and described in an officer's
certificate as true and complete copies of the agreements set forth on the
Company Disclosure Schedule to the Reorganization Agreement.

     We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of
all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents
of all documents submitted to us as photostatic or telecopied originals, the
legal capacity of all natural persons, and as to documents executed by entities
other than the Company, that each such entity has complied with any applicable
requirement to file tax returns and pay taxes under California Franchise Tax law

<PAGE>

eGain Communications Corporation
February __, 2000
Page 2


and had the power to enter into and perform its obligations under such
documents, and that such documents have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by, and are binding upon and enforceable against such entities. This
opinion is limited in all respects to matters governed by the laws of the State
of Georgia and the laws of the United States, and we express no opinion
concerning the laws or regulations of any other jurisdiction or jurisdictions.

     We assume that you know of no agreements, understandings or
negotiations between the parties not set forth in the Reorganization Agreement
that would modify the terms or rights and obligations of the parties thereunder.

     Whenever a statement herein is qualified by "to the best of our
knowledge," "we are not aware" or similar phrase, it indicates that in the
course of our representation of the Company no information that would give us
current actual knowledge of the inaccuracy of such statement has come to the
attention of the attorneys in this firm who have rendered legal services in
connection with this transaction. We have not made any independent investigation
to determine the accuracy of such statement, except as expressly described
herein.

     This opinion is being delivered to you by us as counsel to the Company
and may not be delivered to or relied upon by any other person without our
express written approval.

                                Yours very truly,

                                NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH, L.L.P.


                                By: ___________________________________________

Enclosure

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I

                             INTERPRETIVE STANDARDS

                          APPLICABLE TO LEGAL OPINIONS
                   TO THIRD PARTIES IN CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS



                   PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF INTERPRETIVE STANDARDS

         The purpose of these Interpretive Standards is to explain the meaning
of Opinion Letters (which incorporate these interpretive standards by reference)
addressed to non-client third parties in connection with corporate acquisition
or financing transactions. Included in these Interpretive Standards are general
qualifications to legal opinions, common assumptions as to fact and law,
standards governing an opinion that an agreement is "enforceable" and
interpretations of certain recurring legal opinions and confirmations of fact.
Incorporation in an Opinion Letter of these Interpretive Standards is intended
to shorten the content of the letter while expanding the mutual understanding of
its meaning. Any part of these Interpretive Standards, however, may be
overridden by a specific statement in an Opinion Letter which supersedes a
contrary Interpretive Standard.

               DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED IN INTERPRETIVE STANDARDS

         The following capitalized terms have the following meanings when used
in these Interpretive Standards:

         AGREEMENT means the primary legal document which evidences the
Transaction.

         ASSETS means all of the tangible and intangible real and personal
property of Company.

         COMPANY means the entity (or entities) which is (or are) the client (or
clients) of Opinion Giver and on whose behalf the Opinion Letter is given.

         DOCUMENTS means the Agreement, together with any other document
identified in the Opinion Letter, which contains one or more obligations of
Company related to the Transaction.

         LAW(S), whether or not a capitalized term, means the constitution,
statutes, judicial and administrative decisions, and rules and regulations of
governmental agencies of the Opining Jurisdiction and, unless otherwise
specified, federal law.

         LOCAL LAW means the statutes, administrative decisions, and rules and
regulations of any county, municipality or subdivision, whether created at the
federal, state or regional level.

                                       1

<PAGE>

         OPINING JURISDICTION means a jurisdiction, the law of which Opinion
Giver addresses.

         OPINION, whether or not a capitalized term, means a legal opinion
contained in an Opinion Letter.

         OPINION GIVER means the law firm or lawyer giving an Opinion.

         OPINION LETTER, whether or not a capitalized term, means the letter
containing one or more Opinions or confirmations of fact by Opinion Giver.

         OPINION RECIPIENT means the person or persons to whom the Opinion
Letter is addressed.

         OTHER AGREEMENTS mean documents (other than the Documents) to which
Company is a party or by which Company is bound.

         OTHER COUNSEL means counsel (other than Opinion Giver) providing a
legal opinion or confirmation of fact on aspects of the Transaction directed to
Opinion Recipient or Opinion Giver or both.

         OTHER JURISDICTION means any jurisdiction (other than the Opining
Jurisdiction) the law of which is stipulated to be the governing law.

         PERSONAL PROPERTY means all of the tangible and intangible personal
property of Company.

         PRIMARY LAWYER GROUP has the meaning discussed in Interpretative
Standard 7 below.

         PUBLIC AUTHORITY DOCUMENTS means certificates issued by a governmental
office or agency, such as the Secretary of State, or by a private organization
having access to and regularly reporting on government files and records, as to
a person's property or status.

         REMEDIES OPINION means an Opinion dealing with the enforceability
against Company or the Selling Shareholders of one or more Documents.

         TRANSACTION means the transaction with respect to which the Opinion
Letter is given.

                                       2
<PAGE>


                         QUALIFICATIONS TO EACH OPINION


         1.  LAW ADDRESSED BY OPINION.

         If Opinion Letter is expressly limited to the Law of one or more
specified jurisdictions or to one or more discrete laws within one or more
jurisdictions, an Opinion with respect to any other law, or the effect of any
other law, is disclaimed.

         2.  SCOPE OF OPINION.

         An Opinion covers only those matters both essential to the conclusion
stated by the Opinion and, based upon prevailing norms and expectations found
among experienced legal practitioners in the Opining Jurisdiction, reasonable in
the circumstances. Other matters are not included in an Opinion by implication.
The following matters, including their effects and the effects of noncompliance,
are not covered by implication or otherwise in any Opinion, unless coverage is
specifically addressed in the Opinion Letter as provided by Interpretative
Standard 11:

               (1)  Local Law

               (2)  Law relating to permissible rates,  computation or
                    disclosure of interest, E.G., usury

               (3)  Antitrust and unfair competition law

               (4)  Securities law

               (5)  Fiduciary obligations

               (6)  Pension and employee benefit law, E.G., ERISA

               (7)  Regulations  G, T, U and X of the Board of  Governors of the
                    Federal Reserve System

               (8)  Fraudulent transfer law

               (9)  Environmental law

               (10) Land use and subdivision law

               (11) Except  with   respect  to  the  No  Consent   Opinion  in
                    (Interpretative Standard 28), Hart-Scott-Rodino, Exon-Florio
                    and other laws related to

                                       3
<PAGE>

                    filing requirements, other than charter-related filing
                    requirements, such as the requirements for filing articles
                    of merger

                                       4

<PAGE>

               (12) Except with respect to a No Violation Opinion  (Interpretive
                    Standards 27), concerning creation, attachment, perfection
                    or priority of a security interest in any Assets

               (13) Bulk transfer law

               (14) Tax law

               (15) Patent, copyright, trademark and other intellectual property
                    law

               (16) Racketeering law, E.G., RICO

               (17) Criminal statutes of general  application,  E.G., mail fraud
                    and wire fraud

               (18) Health and safety law, E.G., OSHA

               (19) Labor law

               (20) Law concerning national or local emergency

               (21) Communications, public utility or common carrier law

         3.  UNWARRANTED RELIANCE.

         Opinion Giver may not rely for purposes of the Opinion Letter upon
information, whether or not in a Public Authority Document, or (except in the
case of arbitrary or hypothetical assumptions contained in an overriding
agreement referred to in Interpretive Standard 11, or as stated in Interpretive
Standard 22 with respect to choice of law) upon an assumption otherwise
appropriate, if Opinion Giver has knowledge that such information or assumption
is false, or recognizes factors that compel the conclusion that reliance upon
such information or assumption would be unreasonable. "Knowledge" or
"recognizes" for purposes of the foregoing sentence and wherever used in these
Interpretive Standards means the current awareness of information by any lawyer
in the Primary Lawyer Group.

         4.  RELIANCE ON OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION.

         Subject to Interpretive Standard 3, Opinion Giver may rely, without
investigation, upon facts established by a Public Authority Document, facts
provided by an agent of Company or others and, if disclosed in the Opinion
Letter, facts asserted by a party to the Transaction in a representation or
warranty embodied in the Documents, provided:

               (1) if not established by a Public Authority Document, the
         facts do not constitute a statement, directly or in practical effect,
         of the legal conclusion in question;

                                       5

<PAGE>

               (2) the  person  providing  facts  is,  in  Opinion  Giver's
          professional judgment, an appropriate source; and

               (3) if the facts are set forth in a certificate, Opinion Giver
         has used reasonable professional judgment as to its form and content.

         5.  SCOPE OF OPINION GIVER'S INQUIRY.

         Opinion Giver is presumed to have reviewed such documents and given
consideration to such matters of law and fact as Opinion Giver deemed
appropriate in order to give an Opinion or confirmation of fact, unless Opinion
Giver has expressly limited the scope of inquiry in the Opinion Letter. A
recital of specific documents reviewed or specific procedures followed, without
more, is not a limitation on the scope of Opinion Giver's inquiry for purposes
of the foregoing presumption.

         6.  OPINION OR CONFIRMATION QUALIFIED BY KNOWLEDGE OF OPINION GIVER.

         Whenever an Opinion Letter qualifies an Opinion or confirmation of fact
by the words "to our knowledge," "known to us" or words of similar meaning, the
quoted words mean the current awareness by lawyers in the Primary Lawyer Group
of information such lawyers recognize as relevant to the Opinion or confirmation
so qualified. The quoted words do not include within what is "known" information
not within such current awareness that might be revealed if a canvass of lawyers
outside the Primary Lawyer Group were made, if the Opinion Giver's files were
searched or if any other investigation were made.

         7.  "PRIMARY LAWYER GROUP".

         "Primary Lawyer Group" means that lawyer in Opinion Giver's
organization who signs the Opinion Letters and, solely as to information
relevant to an Opinion or confirmation issue, any lawyer in Opinion Giver's
organization who is primarily responsible for providing the response concerning
the particular issue or who provided substantive attention to such issue in
connection with the Transaction.

         8.  WHO MAY RELY ON OPINION.

         Opinion Recipient and designated principals of Opinion Recipient, if
Opinion Recipient is identified in the Opinion Letter as an agent for designated
principals, are the only persons entitled to rely upon any Opinion or
confirmation of fact contained in the Opinion Letter, and then only for purposes
of the Transaction.

         9.  OTHER COUNSEL.

         Opinion Giver's responsibility for the opinion of Other Counsel depends
upon what is stated in the Opinion Letter. A statement that Opinion Giver has
relied on an opinion of Other

                                        6
<PAGE>

Counsel  means  only that  Opinion  Giver  believes  that (i) based  upon  Other
Counsel's professional  reputation,  it is competent to render such opinion, and
(ii) such opinion on its face appears to address the matters upon which  Opinion
Giver places  reliance.  A statement  that Opinion  Giver  believes that Opinion
Recipient is justified in relying on an Opinion of Other Counsel means only that
Opinion Giver believes that, based upon Other Counsel's professional reputation,
it is competent to render such opinion.  A statement  that Opinion Giver concurs
in an  opinion  of Other  Counsel  means  that  Opinion  Giver has  assumed  the
responsibility for verifying the accuracy of the opinion of Other Counsel. If no
concurrence by Opinion Giver is expressed, no concurrence is implied. If Opinion
Giver merely  identifies or remains  silent with respect to the opinion of Other
Counsel,  Opinion Giver assumes no responsibility  for Other Counsel's  opinion,
and Opinion  Recipient  may not assume that Opinion  Giver has relied upon Other
Counsel's opinion.

         10.  UPDATING.

         An Opinion Letter speaks as of the date of its delivery, and Opinion
Giver has no obligation to advise Opinion Recipient or anyone else of any matter
of fact or law thereafter occurring, whether or not brought to the attention of
Opinion Giver, even though that matter affects any analysis or conclusion in the
Opinion Letter.

         11.  OVERRIDING AGREEMENT.

         Opinion Giver and Opinion Recipient may agree upon arbitrary or
hypothetical assumptions that may not be true and upon qualifications, standards
or interpretations inconsistent with these Interpretive Standards. Any such
agreement with respect to such assumptions, qualifications, standards or
interpretations, when described with reasonable particularity in the Opinion
Letter, will supersede any contrary provision of these Interpretive Standards.

                                   ASSUMPTIONS

         12.  ASSUMPTIONS AS TO PARTIES OTHER THAN COMPANY.

         Opinion Recipient in the Transaction has acted in good faith and
without notice of any defense against enforcement of rights created by, or
adverse claim to any property transferred as part of, the Transaction. Each
party to the Transaction other than Company has complied with all laws
applicable to it that affect the Transaction.

         13.      ASSUMPTIONS AS TO NATURAL PERSONS AND DOCUMENTS.

         Each natural person acting on behalf of any party to the Transaction
has sufficient legal competency to carry out such person's role in the
Transaction. Each document submitted to Opinion Giver for review is accurate and
complete, each document purporting to be original is

                                        7
<PAGE>

authentic,  each  document  purporting  to be a copy  conforms  to an  authentic
original, and each signature on a document is genuine.

         14.  ASSUMPTIONS AS TO TRANSACTION.

         The Transaction complies with any test required by law of good faith or
fairness. Each party will act in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Documents.

         15.  ASSUMPTION AS TO ACCESSIBILITY TO LAWS.

         Each Law for which Opinion Giver is deemed to be responsible is
published, accessible and generally available to lawyers practicing in the
Opining Jurisdiction.

         16.      ASSUMPTIONS AS TO COMPANY.

         No discretionary act of Company or on its behalf will be taken after
the date of the Transaction if such act might result in a violation of law or
breach or default under any agreement, decree, writ, judgment or court order.
After the date of the Transactions, the Company will obtain all permits and
governmental approvals and take all other actions which are both (i) relevant to
performance of the Documents or consummation of the Transaction, and (ii)
required in the future under applicable law. Company holds the requisite title
and rights to its Assets.

         17.      ASSUMPTIONS AS TO OTHER AGREEMENT.

         Any Other Agreement will be enforced as written.

         18.      ASSUMPTION AS TO UNDERSTANDINGS.

         There is no understanding or agreement not embodied in a Document among
parties to the Transaction that would modify any term of a Document or any right
or obligation of a party.

         19.      ASSUMPTION AS TO ABSENCE OF MISTAKE OR FRAUD.

         With respect to the Transaction and the Documents, there has been no
mutual mistake of fact and there exists no fraud or duress.

         20.      ASSUMPTION AS TO INVALIDITY.

         No issue of unconstitutionality or invalidity of a relevant Law exists
unless a reported case has so held.

                           REMEDIES OPINION STANDARDS


<PAGE>

         21.      MEANING OF REMEDIES OPINION.

         A. GENERAL MEANING. The Remedies Opinion, with respect to any
referenced Document, and subject to the limitations contained in these
Interpretive Standards and in the Opinion Letter, means that:

               (i) a contract  has been formed under the law of contracts of the
          jurisdiction applicable under Interpretive Standard 22; and

               (ii) under laws normally applicable to contracts like the
         Document, to parties like the Company and to transactions like the
         Transaction, each obligation imposed on Company by the Document, each
         agreement made by Company in the Document, and each right, benefit and
         remedy conferred by Company in the Document, will be given effect as
         stated in the Document.

         B. EXISTENCE OF CONTRACT. The professional judgment reflected in
subparagraph A(i) above requires the Opinion Giver to conclude that:

               (i) All legal requirements under contract law for the
         formation of a contract of the type involved in the referenced Document
         effective against Company (other than requirements that would be
         covered by a Corporate Status Opinion, Corporate Powers Opinion and a
         Corporate Acts Opinion discussed at Interpretive Standards 24, 25 and
         26) are met, such as necessary formalities (including compliance with
         any applicable statute of frauds), consideration (where necessary),
         definiteness, and the inclusion of essential terms.

               (ii) The Document does not violate a law as to formation of
         contracts that would prevent a court presented with the Document from
         enforcing it.

               (iii) Company does not presently have available any
         contractual defense to the Document, such as the statute of
         limitations.

         22.      CHOICE OF LAW IN REMEDIES OPINION.

         If a Document covered by the Remedies Opinion contains no governing law
provision, or contains a governing law provision which names the Opining
Jurisdiction, the Remedies Opinion means that if Company is brought before a
proper court of the Opining Jurisdiction to enforce rights under the Document,
and if such court applies the substantive law of the Opining Jurisdiction, the
result will be as stated in the Opinion and these Interpretive Standards.

         If the Document contains a governing law provision which names a
jurisdiction other than the Opining Jurisdiction, the Remedies Opinion does not
opine whether any court of any jurisdiction will give effect to the governing
law provision in the Agreement, but assumes that

                                        9
<PAGE>

if Company is  brought  before a proper  court of the  Opining  Jurisdiction  to
enforce rights under the Document,  such court will apply the substantive law of
the Opining  Jurisdiction,  notwithstanding  the  governing law provision in the
Document,  and based upon such  assumption  the result  will be as stated in the
Opinion and these Interpretive Standards.

         The Remedies Opinion does not extend to the content or effect of any
law other than the law of the Opining Jurisdiction and federal law.

         23.      EXCEPTIONS TO THE REMEDIES OPINION.

         Any Remedies Opinion contained in an Opinion Letter which incorporates
these Interpretive Standards by reference will be deemed not to address the
matters excluded in Interpretive Standard 2 and subject to the following
exceptions:

                  (i) The effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
         moratorium and other similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of
         creditors. This includes the effect of the Federal Bankruptcy Code in
         its entirety, including matters of contract rejection, fraudulent
         conveyance and obligation, turn-over, preference, equitable
         subordination, automatic stay, conversion of a non-recourse obligation
         into a recourse obligation, and substantive consolidation. This also
         includes state laws regarding fraudulent transfers, obligations, and
         conveyances, and state receivership laws.

                  (ii) The effect of general principles of equity, whether
         applied by a court of law or equity. This includes the following
         concepts: (a) principles governing the availability of specific
         performance, injunctive relief or other traditional equitable remedies;
         (b) principles affording traditional equitable defenses (e.g., waiver,
         laches and estoppel); (c) good faith and fair dealing; (d)
         reasonableness; (e) materiality of the breach; (f) impracticability or
         impossibility of performance; (g) the effect of obstruction, failure to
         perform or otherwise to act in accordance with an agreement by any
         person other than Company; (h) the effect of section 1-102(3) of the
         Uniform Commercial Code; and (i) unconscionability.

                  (iii) The effect and possible unenforceability of contractual
         provisions providing for choice of governing law.

                  (iv) The possible unenforceability of provisions purporting to
         waive certain rights of guarantors.

                  (v) The possible unenforceability of provisions requiring
         indemnification for, or providing exculpation, release or exemption
         from liability for, action or inaction, to the extent such action or
         inaction involves negligence or willful misconduct or to the extent
         otherwise contrary to public policy.

                                       10
<PAGE>

                  (vi) The possible unenforceability of provisions purporting to
         require arbitration of disputes.

                  (vii) The possible unenforceability of provisions prohibiting
         competition, the solicitation or acceptance of customers, of business
         relationships or of employees, the use or disclosure of information, or
         other activities in restraint of trade.

                  (viii) The possible unenforceability of provisions imposing
         increased interest rates or late payment charges upon delinquency in
         payment or default or providing for liquidated damages, or for premiums
         on prepayment, acceleration, redemption, cancellation, or termination,
         to the extent any such provisions are deemed to be penalties or
         forfeitures.

                  (ix) The possible unenforceability of waivers or advance
         consents that have the effect of waiving statutes of limitation,
         marshalling of assets or similar requirements, or as to the
         jurisdiction of courts, the venue of actions, the right to jury trial
         or, in certain cases, notice.

                  (x) The possible unenforceability of provisions that waivers
         or consents by a party may not be given effect unless in writing or in
         compliance with particular requirements or that a person's course of
         dealing, course of performance, or the like or failure or delay in
         taking actions may not constitute a waiver of related rights or
         provisions or that one or more waivers may not under certain
         circumstances constitute a waiver of other matters of the same kind.

                  (xi) The effect of course of dealing, course of performance,
         or the like, that would modify the terms of an agreement or the
         respective rights or obligations of the parties under an agreement.

                  (xii) The possible unenforceability of provisions that
         enumerated remedies are not exclusive or that a party has the right to
         pursue multiple remedies without regard to other remedies elected or
         that all remedies are cumulative.

                  (xiii) The effect of laws related to attorneys fees.

                  (xiv) The possible unenforceability of provisions that
         determinations by a party or a party's designee are conclusive.

                  (xv) The possible unenforceability of provisions permitting
         modifications of an agreement only in writing.

                  (xvi) The possible unenforceability of provisions that the
         provisions of an agreement are severable.


                                       11
<PAGE>

                  (xvii) The effect of laws requiring mitigation of damages.

                  (xviii) The possible unenforceability of provisions permitting
         the exercise, under certain circumstances, of rights without notice or
         without providing opportunity to cure failures to perform.

                  (xix) The effect of agreements as to rights of set off
         otherwise than in accordance with the applicable law.

         24.      CORPORATE STATUS OPINION.

         An Opinion to the effect that Company was duly organized as a
corporation and is existing in good standing under the laws of the State of its
incorporation (Corporate Status Opinion) is subject to the following
understandings:

                  (1) "duly organized" means that Company (i) properly complied
         with the statutory requirements for incorporation, and (ii) thereafter
         properly complied with the statutory requirements for organization;

                  (2) "is existing" means that Company is a corporation which
         has not ceased to exist;

                  (3) the Opinion refers to the status of Company only for
         purposes of and under the statutory requirements; and

                  (4) "good standing", which has no meaning under the Corporate
Code, means for purposes of the Opinion that the Company has filed no notice of
intent to dissolve and has not been administratively dissolved.

         25.      CORPORATE POWERS OPINION.

         An Opinion to the effect that Company has the corporate power to
execute and deliver a Document, to perform its obligations under a Document, to
own and use its Assets and to conduct its business (Corporate Powers Opinion) is
subject to the following understandings:

                  (1) the Opinion refers only to the statutory requirements and
          the Company's certificate of incorporation as sources of corporate
          power;

                  (2) "power" refers only to whether the acts referenced in the
          Opinion are ULTRA VIRES;

                  (3) the Opinion is built upon an assumption that the Corporate
          Status Opinion could also be given;

                                       12
<PAGE>

                  (4) "own and use" refers to every right Company has in the
          Assets;

                  (5) the Opinion refers to Assets owned and used and business
         conducted on the date of the Opinion, and not those contemplated for
         future ownership, use or conduct except to the extent the acquisition
         of the Assets or conduct of the business is concurrent with, and
         recognized by Opinion Giver as constituting part of, the consummation
         of the Transaction.

         26.      CORPORATE ACTS OPINION.

         An Opinion to the effect that Company has duly authorized the execution
and delivery of, and performance by Company under, the Documents and has duly
executed and delivered the Documents (Corporate Acts Opinion) is subject to the
following understandings:

                  (1) the Opinion affirms compliance with all corporate action
         necessary under the statutory requirements, Company's articles of
         incorporation and bylaws and, if applicable, Company's duly adopted
         policies and practices for delegation of authority, in order to
         authorize the execution and delivery of, and performance under, the
         Documents;

                  (2) the Opinion affirms that the execution and delivery of the
         Documents was, and Company's performance of its obligations under the
         Documents in accordance with the Documents as written will be, in
         accordance with the authorizations;

                  (3) the Opinion is built upon an assumption that the Corporate
         Status Opinion and the Corporate Powers Opinion could also be given;

                  (4) the Opinion addresses no law other than the statutory law
         of the Opining Jurisdiction and applicable law of agency.

         27.  NO VIOLATION OPINION.

         An Opinion to the effect that Company's execution and delivery of the
Documents do not, and if Company were now to perform its obligations under the
Documents such performance would not, result in (i) a violation of Company's
articles of incorporation, bylaws or any law to which the Company or its Assets
are subject, or (ii) a breach of or default under described agreements, or (iii)
a creation or imposition of contractual liens or security interests arising out
of described agreements, or (iv) a violation of any known judicial or
administrative decree, writ, judgment or order to which the Company or its
assets are subject (No Violation Opinion) is subject to the following
understandings:

                  (1) a "violation" or "breach or default" means any act or
         omission that, by itself or upon notice or the passage of time or both,
         would constitute a violation, breach or default giving rise to a remedy
         under the document or law instrument in question;

                                       13
<PAGE>

                  (2) the Opinion addresses only the relevant facts and law as
          they exist on the date of the Opinion Letter;

                  (3) "agreements" refers to agreements, indentures, documents
          and other instruments in writing, identified in the Opinion Letter;

                  (4) references to any law or to "decree, writ, judgment or
         order" or the like include only those (i) which either prohibit
         performance by Company under the Documents or subject Company to a
         fine, penalty or other sanction, and (ii) which a lawyer, using
         customary professional diligence, would reasonably recognize as
         applicable to Company and the Transaction;

                  (5) the Opinion addresses only whether the specific terms of
         the relevant Document violate law or cause a breach of or default under
         the specific terms of an obligation created by a described Other
         Agreement, taking into account information provided in accordance with
         Interpretive Standard 4 and other facts known to Opinion Giver;

                  (6) the Opinion does not address acts permitted or
         contemplated but not required, or inferred but not set forth, by the
         relevant Document, except to the extent such acts are concurrent with,
         and recognized by Opinion Giver as constituting part of, the
         consummation of the Transaction;

                  (7) to the extent the interpretation of words in described
          agreements requires resort to law, the law is that of the Opinion
          Jurisdiction; and

                  (8) the Opinion does not address liens or security interests
         created by or in favor of Opinion Recipient, created under a Document
         or arising by operation of law.

         28.      NO CONSENT OPINION.

         An Opinion to the effect that no consent, approval, authorization or
filing or other action by, or filing with, any governmental authority is
required for Company's execution and delivery of the Documents and consummation
of the Transaction (No Consent Opinion) is subject to the understandings set
forth in Interpretive Standards 2 and 27(2) and (4). "Required" means that there
is no governmental consent, approval, authorization or filing, the absence of
which would either prohibit performance by Company of its obligations under the
Documents or subject Company to a fine, penalty or other similar sanction.

         29.      CAPITALIZATION OPINION.

                                       14
<PAGE>

         An Opinion to the effect that described shares have been duly
authorized and are, or upon issuance will be, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable (Capitalization Opinion) is subject to the following
understandings:

                  (1) the Opinion affirms compliance with all corporate action
         necessary to create and issue the shares under the corporate law of the
         Opining Jurisdiction in effect at the time of such creation and
         issuance ("Corporate Code") and Company's articles of incorporation and
         bylaws;

                  (2) "duly authorized" means Company had the corporate power to
         create the shares, the shares so created have the rights and attributes
         required by the Corporate Code, and the rights and attributes of the
         shares so created were permitted by the Corporate Code and Company's
         articles of incorporation and bylaws;

                  (3) "validly issued" means that at the time of issuance
         Company had sufficient authorized and unissued shares to permit the
         shares to be issued, Company took the steps necessary to accord
         shareholder status to the persons to whom the shares were issued and
         Company has taken no step to deprive the shares of the "validly issued"
         status;

                  (4) "fully paid and nonassessable" means that the
         consideration received upon issuance of the (i) was legally sufficient,
         (ii) satisfied the requirements of the Corporate Code, Company's
         articles of incorporation and bylaws, and relevant corporate
         resolutions, and (iii) was approved (e.g., as to value of property or
         services) by the directors or shareholders, as required; and

                  (5) the Opinion is based upon the assumption that the
         Corporate Status Opinion could also be given and that the consideration
         for the shares was in fact received.

         30.      SHARE TRANSFER OPINION.

         The only laws addressed in any Opinion as to the rights of a seller in
shares of Company acquired by any purchaser are the Corporate Code and Article 8
of the UCC, and no Opinion is given regarding liens (other than UCC security
interests) that may be perfected without filing or possession of the share
certificate. The Opinion is based upon the assumption that the Capitalization
Opinion could also be given.

         31.      PERSONAL PROPERTY TRANSFER OPINION.

         An Opinion as to Company's transfer of Personal Property expresses no
opinion as to Company's title. See Interpretive Standard 16.

         32.      FOREIGN QUALIFICATION OPINION.

                                       15
<PAGE>

         An Opinion to the effect that Company is qualified to transact business
as a foreign corporation in any one or more named jurisdictions is a statement
based solely upon one or more certificates referenced in the Opinion Letter and
limited in meaning to the words of each certificate. No implication arises from
such confirmation that certificates have been acquired from all jurisdictions in
which Company is required to be qualified, or that certificates obtained are
from the appropriate public officials in the jurisdictions referenced.

         33.      LITIGATION OPINION.

         An Opinion regarding litigation pending or threatened in writing
against Company or any Assets derives from Opinion Giver's knowledge as defined
at Interpretive Standard 6 and certificate reliance discussed as Interpretive
Standard 4, but not from any reviews of public or court records or files, other
than those of the Opinion Giver or the Company.

                        INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE ACCORD

         34. These Interpretive Standards may be incorporated by reference in
the Opinion Letter by a statement similar to the following:

                  This Opinion Letter is limited by, and is in accordance with,
                  the Interpretive Standards attached hereto which are
                  incorporated in this Opinion Letter by this reference.

                                       16

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT H

                            FORM OF LEGAL OPINION OF
                          PILLSBURY MADISON & SUTRO LLP


                                       H-1

<PAGE>

                                                               Attorneys at Law
                                                            2550 Hanover Street
                                              Palo Alto, California  94304-1115
                                 TELEPHONE: (650) 233-4500  FAX: (650) 233-4545
                                                     INTERNET: PILLSBURYLAW.COM


                                February __, 2000


Big Science Company
______________________
______________________

     Re:   eGain Communications Corporation, Inc. -- Big Science Company Merger

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel  for eGain  Communications  Corporation,  Inc.,  a
Delaware corporation (the "eGain"), in connection with the Agreement and Plan of
Reorganization dated as of February 7, 2000 (the "Reorganization Agreement"), by
and among the eGain,  Big Science  Company  (the  "Company")  and certain  other
parties named  therein.  This letter is provided to you in  satisfaction  of the
requirement  set forth in Section 7.3(a) of the  Reorganization  Agreement.  The
Reorganization  Agreement  provides  for,  among other  things,  the issuance of
shares of eGain's Common Stock (the "Common Stock"). Terms not otherwise defined
herein have the meanings given to them in the Reorganization Agreement.

     In  connection  with the  foregoing,  we have  examined the  Reorganization
Agreement, the Company Schedule of Exceptions,  the Amendment to the Amended and
Restated  Investors'  Rights  Agreement (the "Rights  Amendment"),  certificates
evidencing  the  Common  Stock,  records of  proceedings  of the  directors  and
stockholders  eGain,  the Certificate of Incorporation of eGain, as amended (the
"Certificate") and Bylaws of eGain, certificates of officers of eGain and public
officials, and such other documentation as we have deemed necessary or advisable
in order to render  the  opinions  expressed  herein.  As to  questions  of fact
material to such opinions,  we have when relevant  facts were not  independently
established, relied upon certificates of officers of eGain.

     Based  upon the  foregoing  and  except  as set  forth on the  Schedule  of
Exceptions, it is our opinion that:

     1. eGain has been duly incorporated and organized and is a validly existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the
requisite  corporate  power to own its  property  and assets and to conduct  its
business as it is currently being conducted.  eGain has qualified to do business
as a foreign corporation in the State of California.


<PAGE>

Big Science Company
February __, 2000
Page 2


     2. eGain has all  requisite  corporate  power and  authority to execute and
deliver the  Reorganization  Agreement  and the Rights  Amendment,  to issue the
Common  Stock  pursuant  to the  Reorganization  Agreement  and to carry out and
perform its obligations under the terms of the Reorganization  Agreement and the
Rights Amendment.

     3. The Reorganization Agreement and the Rights Amendment have been duly and
validly  authorized,  executed  and  delivered  by eGain,  constitute  valid and
binding agreements of eGain (assuming due authorization,  execution and delivery
thereof  by all the  other  parties  to such  agreements),  and are  enforceable
against  eGain in  accordance  with  their  respective  terms,  except as may be
limited  by  applicable  laws  and  except  as  enforcement  may be  limited  by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,  reorganization,  arrangement,  moratorium or
other similar laws affecting  creditors'  rights,  and subject to general equity
principles and to limitations on  availability  of equitable  relief,  including
specific performance.

     4. The capital stock of eGain is as follows:

        (a)   PREFERRED STOCK.  5,000,000 shares of undesignated Preferred Stock
     (the "Preferred Stock") have been authorized, none of which is issued and
     outstanding.

        (b)   COMMON STOCK.  50,000,000 shares of Common Stock have been
     authorized.  The shares of Common  Stock  issuable  pursuant to the Merger,
     when  issued  in  compliance  with  the  provisions  of the  Reorganization
     Agreement,  will be validly issued,  fully paid and non-assessable.  Except
     (i)  6,500,000  shares  reserved  for  issuance  under the 1998 Stock Plan;
     ______________ shares reserved for issuance under the Sitebridge stock plan
     assumed by the  Company;  an  aggregate  of 750,000  shares of Common Stock
     reserved  under for issuance  under  eGain's 1999 Employee  Stock  Purchase
     Plan;  and (ii)  warrants  to  purchase  159,554  shares of Common,  to our
     knowledge, there are no other options,  warrants,  conversion privileges or
     other rights  presently  outstanding  to purchase or otherwise  acquire any
     authorized  but unissued  shares of capital  stock or other  securities  of
     eGain.

     5. The execution,  delivery and performance of the Reorganization Agreement
and the Rights Amendment by eGain on or prior to the Closing and the issuance of
the shares of Common Stock pursuant  thereto do not violate any provision of the
eGain's  Certificate  or  Bylaws,  and do not  violate  or  contravene  (a)  any
governmental  statute,  rule or  regulation  applicable to eGain of which we are
aware or (b) any order, writ,  judgment,  injunction,  decree,  determination or
award  which  has been  entered  against  eGain and of which we are  aware,  the
violation or contravention of which would materially and adversely affect eGain,
its assets, financial condition or operations.

     6. To our  knowledge,  there  is no  action,  proceeding  or  investigation
pending or overtly  threatened  against eGain before any court or administrative
agency that questions the validity of the Reorganization Agreement or the Rights
Agreement, or that might result, either individually or in the aggregate, in any
material  adverse change in the assets,  financial  condition,  or operations of
eGain.

<PAGE>

Big Science Company
February __, 2000
Page 3


     7. All  consents,  approvals,  authorizations,  or orders of, and  filings,
registrations,  and qualifications with any regulatory authority or governmental
body in the United States  required to be made by eGain for the  consummation by
eGain of the  transactions  contemplated  by the  Agreement,  have  been made or
obtained,  except for filings  such as may be  required to be filed  pursuant to
applicable  federal  and state  securities  laws prior to or  subsequent  to the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement.

     8.  The  issuance  of the  Common  Stock  pursuant  to  the  Reorganization
Agreement will be exempt from the  registration  requirements  of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended to date.

     9. Upon the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State
of Georgia,  the Merger will have been validly  consummated  in accordance  with
applicable law.

     The  foregoing  opinion is subject to such  matters as are set forth in the
Schedule  of  Exceptions  to the  Reorganization  Agreement  and  the  following
qualifications:

     Our  opinion  in  paragraph  1 above is  based  solely  upon a review  of a
certificate of good standing from the State of Delaware.

     Our  opinion in  paragraph  3 above is  subject  to and  limited by (a) the
effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, conservatorship,
arrangement,  moratorium  or other laws  affecting  or relating to the rights of
creditors  generally;  (b) the rules  governing  the  availability  of  specific
performance,   injunctive  relief  or  other  equitable   remedies  and  general
principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law; (c) the effect of applicable  court decisions,  invoking  statutes or
principles of equity,  which have held that certain  covenants and provisions of
agreements  are  unenforceable  where the breach of such  covenants or provision
imposes  restrictions or burdens upon a party and it cannot be demonstrated that
the enforcement of such  restrictions or burdens is necessary for the protection
of the other  party.  We also  express no opinion  as to the  enforceability  of
Section 1.7 of the Rights Agreement,  to the extent that enforcement thereof may
be limited by public policy or otherwise.

     Our opinion in  paragraph 4 above with  respect to the number of issued and
outstanding  shares is based solely on an officer's  certificate  of the Company
and a review of the Board of Directors  minutes and other records of the Company
provided  to  us;   however,   although  we  have  made  no  other   independent
investigation  with respect to such  matters,  we have no reason to believe such
certificate  is inaccurate  and that such records are not complete  based on our
representation of the Company in connection with this transaction.

     We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures,  the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals,  the conformity to original documents of
all documents submitted to us as photostatic or telecopied originals,  the legal
capacity of all natural persons,  and as to documents executed by entities other
than the  Company,  that each  such  entity  has  complied  with any  applicable
requirement to file tax returns and pay taxes under California Franchise Tax law

<PAGE>

Big Science Company
February __, 2000
Page 4


and had the  power  to  enter  into  and  perform  its  obligations  under  such
documents,  and that such  documents  have been duly  authorized,  executed  and
delivered by, and are binding upon and enforceable  against such entities.  This
opinion is limited in all respects to matters  governed by the laws of the State
of California,  the Delaware General  Corporation Law and the laws of the United
States,  and we express no opinion  concerning  the laws or  regulations  of any
other  jurisdiction or  jurisdictions.  For purposes of the opinion expressed in
paragraph 9 above, we have assumed that, to the extent the Merger is governed by
the general  corporate law of the State of Georgia,  that the general  corporate
law of the State of  Georgia  is the same as the  general  corporate  law of the
State of Delaware.  We express no opinion as to the effect on the transaction of
the antitrust laws of any state or the United States.

     We assume that you know of no agreements,  understandings  or  negotiations
between  the parties not set forth in the  Reorganization  Agreement  that would
modify the terms or rights and obligations of the parties thereunder.

     Whenever a statement herein is qualified by "to the best of our knowledge,"
"we are not aware" or similar  phrase,  it  indicates  that in the course of our
representation  of the Company no information  that would give us current actual
knowledge of the  inaccuracy of such  statement has come to the attention of the
attorneys in this firm who have rendered legal services in connection  with this
transaction.  We have not made any  independent  investigation  to determine the
accuracy of such statement, except as expressly described herein.

     This opinion is being  delivered to you by us as counsel to the Company and
may not be delivered  to or relied upon by any other person  without our express
written approval.

                                           Very truly yours,


E-12984

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT I

                        AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
                           INVESTORS' RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                                       I-1


                        EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

                                  AMENDMENT TO

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED

                           INVESTORS' RIGHTS AGREEMENT


         THIS AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS' RIGHTS AGREEMENT
(this "Amendment"), made and entered into as of the ___ day of March, 2000 by
and among EGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), those investors in the Company listed on EXHIBIT A attached hereto
(the "Original Investors"), those investors in the Company listed on EXHIBIT B
attached hereto (the "BSC Investors") who are holders of shares of common stock
of Big Science Company, a Georgia Corporation ("BSC), and ASHUTOSH ROY and
GUNJAN SINHA (the "Founders").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Company, BSC and certain shareholders of BSC have entered
into that certain Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated February 7, 2000
(the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which BSC will be merged with and into the
Company with the Company as the surviving corporation (the "Merger");

         WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to the consummation of the Merger,
the Merger Agreement provides that the holders shares of BSC common stock shall
be granted certain registration rights with respect to the shares of common
stock of the Company ("Company Common Stock") that are issued to such holders in
the Merger;

         WHEREAS, the Amended and Restated Investors' Rights Agreement dated
July 21, 1999 (the "Original Agreement") allows the Company to grant
registration rights to investors from time to time provided such investors
become parties to the Original Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant registration rights under the
Original Agreement to the BSC Investors being issued Company Common Stock
pursuant to the Merger Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, the Original Agreement shall be amended to grant registration
rights to the BSC Investors and the BSC Investors shall become parties to the
Original Agreement, with such modifications as set forth herein:

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
set forth herein, and for other consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which
are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.   Section 1.1(g)  shall be deleted in its entirety and amended to read
in its entirety as follows:


                                       -1-
<PAGE>


                  "Registrable Securities" shall mean (i) shares of Common Stock
         issued to Investors or issued or issuable pursuant to the conversion of
         the Shares; (ii) any Common Stock issued as a dividend or other
         distribution with respect to or in exchange for or in replacement of
         the shares referenced in (i) above, provided, however, that Registrable
         Securities shall not include any shares of Common Stock which have
         previously been registered or which have been sold to the public; (iii)
         shares of Common Stock of the Company held by the BSC Investors and
         (iv) shares of Common Stock of the Company held by the Founders
         ("Founders Stock"); provided, however, that such Founders Stock shall
         not be deemed "Registrable Securities" for purposes of Section 1.2
         hereof."

     2.   Section 1.5(a)  shall be deleted in its entirety and amended to read
in its entirety as follows:

         "1.5  REGISTRATION ON FORM S-3.

                  "(a) After its initial public offering, the Company shall use
         its best efforts to qualify for registration on Form S-3 or any
         comparable or successor form or forms. After the Company has qualified
         for the use of Form S-3, in addition to the rights contained in the
         foregoing provisions of this Section 1, the holders of at least (X)
         thirty percent (30%) of Registrable Securities, or, (Y) a majority of
         the Registrable Securities held by the BSC Investors, have the right to
         request registrations on Form S-3 (such requests shall be in writing
         and shall state the number of shares of Registrable Securities to be
         disposed of and the intended methods of disposition of such shares by
         such Holder or Holders), provided, however, that the Company shall not
         be obligated to effect any such registration if (i) the Holders,
         together with the holders of any other securities of the Company
         entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable
         Securities and such other securities (if any) on Form S-3 at an
         aggregate price to the public of less than $1,000,000, or (ii) in the
         event the Company shall furnish the certification described in
         paragraph 1.2(b)(ii) (but subject to the limitations set forth
         therein), or (iii) the Company has, within the six (6) month period
         preceding the date of such request already effected one registration on
         Form S-3 for the Holders pursuant to this Section 1.5."

     3.   Each of the undersigned BSC Investors, by the execution hereof,
covenant and agrees to become a party to the Original Agreement attached hereto
as EXHIBIT C and hereby undertakes all of the representations, warranties,
obligations and duties of an "Investor" and "Holder" under the Original
Agreement and agrees to be bound by the provisions of the Original Agreement.

     4.   Except as modified by this Amendment, all other terms and conditions
in the    Original Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and this
Amendment shall be governed by all provisions thereof.

                                       -2-
<PAGE>

     5.   This Amendment may be executed in separate counterparts, all of which
taken together shall constitute a single instrument.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment
effective as of the day and year first above written.

                                      eGAIN COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION



                                      By_______________________________________
                                                    Ashutosh Roy
                                              Chief Executive Officer


                                      FOUNDERS




                                      _________________________________________
                                                  Ashutosh Roy



                                      _________________________________________
                                                  Gunjan Sinha

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

                                      ORIGINAL INVESTORS

                                      FW VENTURES I, L.P.



                                      By ______________________________________

                                      Title ___________________________________



                                      CHARTER VENTURES III, LLC

                                      By ______________________________________

                                      Title ___________________________________



                                      FAYEZ SAROFIM INVESTMENT
                                      PARTNERSHIP NO. 5 L.P.


                                      By ______________________________________

                                      Title ___________________________________


   Counterpart Signature Page to eGain Communication Corporation Amendment to
                 Amended and Restated Investors Rights Agreement

<PAGE>

                                      _________________________________________
                                                 Steve Goldsworthy



                                      RICHARD P. & AMY C. MAGNUSON,
                                      TRUSTEES OF THE MAGNUSON REVOCABLE
                                      TRUST DATED JANUARY 14, 1994



                                      By ______________________________________
                                             Richard P. Magnuson, Trustee



                                      By ______________________________________
                                               Amy C. Magnuson, Trustee



                                      _________________________________________
                                               Frederick K. Fluegel




                                      _________________________________________
                                                  William Miller



                                      _________________________________________
                                                    Mike Volpi



                                      PM&S VENTURE FUND II, LLC



                                      By ______________________________________

                                      Title ___________________________________


   Counterpart Signature Page to eGain Communication Corporation Amendment to
                 Amended and Restated Investors Rights Agreement

<PAGE>

                                      _________________________________________
                                                  Stanley F. Pierson



                                      _________________________________________
                                                   Jorge del Calvo



                                      IMPERIAL BANK


                                      By ______________________________________

                                      Title ___________________________________



                                      PHOENIX LEASING INCORPORATED


                                      By ______________________________________

                                      Title ___________________________________



                                      _________________________________________
                                                 Benjamin Diesbach



                                      _________________________________________
                                                  David Lowenfeld



                                      _________________________________________
                                                    John Wilson

   Counterpart Signature Page to eGain Communication Corporation Amendment to
                 Amended and Restated Investors Rights Agreement

<PAGE>

                                      _________________________________________
                                                    Chris McGuire



                                      _________________________________________
                                                    Harry Bott



                                      _________________________________________
                                                  Brian Trager



                                      _________________________________________
                                                   Brian Parker



                                      _________________________________________
                                                   Rebecca Parker



                                      _________________________________________
                                                   David Villeger



                                      _________________________________________
                                                   Bill Hoffman



                                      _________________________________________
                                                   Kenneth Hoffman



                                      _________________________________________
                                                   Chris Starace

   Counterpart Signature Page to eGain Communication Corporation Amendment to
                 Amended and Restated Investors Rights Agreement

<PAGE>


                                      _________________________________________
                                                   Key Compton


                                      _________________________________________
                                                   Beverly Compton



                                      _________________________________________
                                                   Clay Enos



                                      _________________________________________
                                                   John Borthwick



                                      _________________________________________
                                                   Scott Gietler



                                      _________________________________________
                                                   Deanna Brown



                                      _________________________________________
                                                   Robin Neustein



                                      WINDCREST PARTNERS


                                      By ______________________________________

                                      Title ___________________________________

   Counterpart Signature Page to eGain Communication Corporation Amendment to
                 Amended and Restated Investors Rights Agreement

<PAGE>


                                      _________________________________________
                                                   Stephen Friedman



                                      INCENTIVE INVESTMENT



                                      By ______________________________________

                                      Title ___________________________________



                                      LINKS VENTURES, LLC


                                      By ______________________________________

                                      Title ___________________________________



                                      _________________________________________
                                                    Peter Bermont



                                      _________________________________________
                                                    Vincent Hubner



                                      WW READE STREET CORP.



                                      By ______________________________________

                                      Title ___________________________________

   Counterpart Signature Page to eGain Communication Corporation Amendment to
                 Amended and Restated Investors Rights Agreement

<PAGE>


                                      U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION



                                      By ______________________________________

                                      Title ___________________________________



                                      BSC INVESTORS:



                                      _________________________________________
                                                    Print Name

                                      By ______________________________________

                                      Title ___________________________________
                                                  (if Applicable)



                                      _________________________________________
                                                    Print Name

                                      By ______________________________________

                                      Title ___________________________________
                                                  (if Applicable)


   Counterpart Signature Page to eGain Communication Corporation Amendment to
                 Amended and Restated Investors Rights Agreement

<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT A

                         SCHEDULE OF ORIGINAL INVESTORS


                                      A-1

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B

                            SCHEDULE OF BSC INVESTORS


                                      B-1

<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT C

                               ORIGINAL AGREEMENT


                                      C-1


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