VARIAN INC
10-Q, 1999-05-17
LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS
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<PAGE>
 
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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, DC 20549
 
                               ----------------
 
                                   FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
 
    [X]  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
                                EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
                  For the quarterly period ended April 2, 1999
 
                                      OR
 
   [_]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
                                EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
              For the transition period from          to
 
                       Commission File Number 000-25393
 
                               ----------------
 
                                 VARIAN, INC.
            (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>
                Delaware                                    77-0501995
      (State or Other Jurisdiction                        (IRS Employer
   of Incorporation or Organization)                  Identification Number)
 
 3120 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, California                     94304-1030
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)
</TABLE>
 
                                (650) 213-8000
             (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
               3050 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, California 94304-1000
                               (Former Address)
 
   Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 of 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [_] No [X]
 
   The number of shares of the Registrant's common stock outstanding as of May
7, 1999 was 30,422,792 shares of $0.01 par value common stock.
 
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<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
 <C>      <S>                                                               <C>
 Part I.  Financial Information..........................................     1
 Item 1.  Financial Statements...........................................     1
          Combined Statements of Operations..............................     1
          Combined Balance Sheets........................................     2
          Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows....................     3
          Notes to the Combined Financial Statements.....................     4
          Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
 Item 2.  Results of Operations..........................................    10
 Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk......    19
 Part II. Other Information..............................................    20
 Item 5.  Other Information..............................................    20
 Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K...............................    20
</TABLE>
 
              RISK FACTORS RELATING TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
   This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains "forward-looking" statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
which provides a "safe harbor" for these types of statements. These forward-
looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results of Varian, Inc. (the "Company") to differ materially from
management's current expectations. Those risks and uncertainties include,
without limitation: new product development and commercialization; demand and
acceptance for the Company's products; competitive products and pricing;
economic conditions in the Company's product and geographic markets, including
Asia markets; foreign currency fluctuations; market investment in capital
equipment; the ability to realize anticipated cost-savings from the recently-
initiated reorganization and restructuring; increasing operating margins on
higher sales; costs of investigating and remediating environmentally-
contaminated sites; successful implementation by the Company and certain third
parties of corrective action to address the impact of the Year 2000; the risks
detailed in the Company's registration statement on Form 10/A filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission; and other risks detailed from time to time
in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Company assumes and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-
looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART I.
                             FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                     Varian, Inc. and Subsidiary Companies
                       Combined Statements of Operations
                    (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                  (Unaudited)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    Quarter Ended             Six Months Ended
                             --------------------------- ---------------------------
                             April 2, 1999 April 3, 1998 April 2, 1999 April 3, 1998
                             ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
   <S>                       <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
   Sales                       $ 148,936     $ 140,965     $ 282,232     $ 281,913
                               ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------
 
   Operating Costs and
    Expenses
   Cost of sales                 101,712        85,228       182,378       171,660
   Research and development        9,277         7,775        16,440        15,005
   Marketing                      34,180        28,068        64,276        55,340
   General and
    administrative                10,760         9,246        18,462        19,630
   Restructuring charges          10,974           --         10,974           --
                               ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------
   Total Operating Expenses      166,903       130,317       292,530       261,635
                               ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------
 
   Operating Earnings
    (Loss) Before Taxes          (17,967)       10,648       (10,298)       20,278
   Income tax (benefit)
    expense                       (7,993)        4,248        (4,580)        8,117
                               ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------
   Net Earnings (Loss)         $  (9,974)    $   6,400     $  (5,718)    $  12,161
                               =========     =========     =========     =========
 
   Pro Forma Net Earnings
    (Loss) Per Share:
     Basic                     $   (0.33)    $    0.21     $   (0.19)    $    0.40
                               =========     =========     =========     =========
     Diluted                   $   (0.33)    $    0.21     $   (0.19)    $    0.40
                               =========     =========     =========     =========
 
   Shares Used in Pro Forma
    Per Share Computations:
     Basic                        30,423        30,423        30,423        30,423
                               =========     =========     =========     =========
     Diluted                      30,423        30,587        30,423        30,587
                               =========     =========     =========     =========
</TABLE>
 
 
 
See accompanying Notes to the Combined Financial Statements.
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
 
                     Varian, Inc. and Subsidiary Companies
                            Combined Balance Sheets
               (In thousands, except share and par value amounts)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         April 2,   October 2,
                                                           1999        1998
                                                        ----------- ----------
                                                        (Unaudited)
<S>                                                     <C>         <C>
ASSETS
 
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents                                $  12,093  $     --
Accounts receivable                                        142,974    143,836
Inventories                                                 67,482     71,575
Other current assets                                        31,834     26,260
                                                         ---------  ---------
Total Current Assets                                       254,383    241,671
Property, plant and equipment                              194,087    219,385
Accumulated depreciation and amortization                 (108,073)  (124,666)
                                                         ---------  ---------
Net Property, Plant and Equipment                           86,014     94,719
Other Assets                                                66,425     67,709
                                                         ---------  ---------
Total Assets                                             $ 406,822  $ 404,099
                                                         =========  =========
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
Current Liabilities
Notes payable                                            $  11,428  $     --
Accounts payable--trade                                     28,347     34,320
Accrued expenses                                           111,243    102,470
Product warranty                                             7,907      7,608
Advance payments from customers                              8,234      5,180
                                                         ---------  ---------
Total Current Liabilities                                  167,159    149,578
Long-Term Accrued Expenses                                   7,929      6,862
Deferred Taxes                                               4,460      4,192
Notes Payable                                               52,517        --
                                                         ---------  ---------
Total Liabilities                                          232,065    160,632
                                                         ---------  ---------
 
Contingencies (Note 7)
 
 
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred Stock--par value $.01, authorized --
 1,000,000 shares; issued--none                                --         --
Common Stock -- par value $.01, authorized --
 99,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding--30,422,792
 shares at April 2, 1999 and none historical                   304        --
Capital in excess of par value                             174,453        --
Divisional equity                                              --     243,467
                                                         ---------  ---------
Total Stockholders' Equity                                 174,757    243,467
                                                         ---------  ---------
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity               $ 406,822  $ 404,099
                                                         =========  =========
</TABLE>
 
See accompanying Notes to the Combined Financial Statements.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                     Varian, Inc. and Subsidiary Companies
                  Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
                                 (In thousands)
                                  (Unaudited)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         Six Months Ended
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                    April 2, 1999 April 3, 1998
                                                    ------------- -------------
   <S>                                              <C>           <C>
   Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities          $  8,584      $ 19,407
                                                      --------      --------
 
   Investing Activities
   Purchase of property, plant and equipment           (10,546)       (9,710)
                                                      --------      --------
   Net Cash Used in Investing Activities               (10,546)       (9,710)
                                                      --------      --------
 
   Financing Activities
   Net transfers from (to) Varian Associates, Inc.      14,792       (10,139)
                                                      --------      --------
   Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing
    Activities                                          14,792       (10,139)
                                                      --------      --------
 
   Effects of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash               (737)          442
                                                      --------      --------
   Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
    equivalents                                         12,093           --
   Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
    period                                                 --            --
                                                      --------      --------
 
   Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period         $ 12,093      $    --
                                                      ========      ========
   Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
   Debt assumed/transferred from Varian
    Associates, Inc.                                  $ 77,100
                                                      ========
   Transfer of property, plant and equipment          $  9,900
                                                      ========
</TABLE>
 
 
 
 
See accompanying Notes to the Combined Financial Statements.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                     VARIAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
 
                  NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                                  (Unaudited)
 
Note 1. Interim Combined Financial Statements
 
   These interim combined financial statements of Varian, Inc. and its
subsidiary companies (collectively, the "Company") have been prepared pursuant
to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and
regulations. The year ended October 2, 1998 balance sheet data was derived
from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures
required by generally accepted accounting principles. These interim combined
financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements and the notes thereto included in the registration statement on the
Company's Form 10/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the
opinion of the Company's management, the interim combined financial statements
include all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the
information required to be set forth therein. The results of operations for
the second quarter and six months ended April 2, 1999 are not necessarily
indicative of the results to be expected for a full year or for any other
periods.
 
Note 2. Basis of Presentation
 
   Until April 2, 1999, the Company's business was operated as part of Varian
Associates, Inc. ("VAI"). VAI contributed its Instruments business ("IB") to
the Company, then on April 2, 1999 distributed to the holders of record of VAI
common stock on March 24, 1999 one share of common stock of the Company for
each share of VAI common stock outstanding on April 2, 1999 (the
"Distribution"). At the same time, VAI contributed its Semiconductor Equipment
business to Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. ("VSEA") and
distributed to the holders of record of VAI common stock on March 24, 1999 one
share of common stock of VSEA for each share of VAI common stock outstanding
on April 2, 1999. VAI retained its Health Care Systems business and changed
its name to Varian Medical Systems, Inc. ("VMS") effective as of April 3,
1999. These transactions were accomplished under the terms of an Amended and
Restated Distribution Agreement dated as of January 14, 1999 by and among the
Company, VAI and VSEA (the "Distribution Agreement"). For purposes of
providing an orderly transition and to define certain ongoing relationships
between and among the Company, VMS and VSEA after the Distribution, the
Company, VMS and VSEA also entered into certain other agreements which include
an Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement, an Intellectual Property Agreement,
a Tax Sharing Agreement and a Transition Services Agreement (collectively, the
"Distribution Related Agreements").
 
   The interim combined financial statements generally reflect the results of
operations, financial position and cash flows of IB, which was transferred to
the Company in connection with the Distribution. Accordingly, the interim
combined financial statements have been carved out from the interim financial
statements of VAI using the historical results of operations and historical
bases of the assets and liabilities of IB. The statements include the accounts
of IB after elimination of inter-business balances and transactions. The
interim combined financial statements include, among other things, allocations
of certain VAI corporate assets (including pension assets), liabilities
(including profit sharing and pension benefits), and expenses (including
legal, accounting, employee benefits, insurance services, information
technology services, treasury and other corporate overhead) to IB. These
amounts have been allocated to IB on the basis that is considered by
management to reflect most fairly or reasonably the utilization of the
services provided to or the benefit obtained by IB. Typical measures and
activity indicators used for allocation purposes include headcount, sales
revenue and payroll expense. The Company's management believes that the
methods used to allocate these amounts are reasonable. However, these
allocations are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would have been
or that will be recorded by the Company on a stand-alone basis. The interim
combined financial statements do not reflect any changes that may occur in the
financing and operations of the Company as a result of the Distribution.
 
   The Company's fiscal year is the 52- or 53-week period ending on the Friday
nearest September 30. Fiscal year 1999 will comprise the 52-week period ending
October 1, 1999, and fiscal year 1998 comprises the 53-week
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                     VARIAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
 
            NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
 
                                  (Unaudited)
 
period ended October 2, 1998. The fiscal quarters ended April 2, 1999 and
April 3, 1998 each comprise 13 weeks. For purposes of interim reporting, the
six-month period ended April 2, 1999 comprises 26 weeks, and the six-month
period ended April 3, 1998 comprises 27 weeks.
 
Note 3. Balance Sheet Detail
 
 Inventories
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            April 2, October 2,
                                                              1999      1998
                                                            -------- ----------
                                                                (Dollars in
                                                                 millions)
     <S>                                                    <C>      <C>
     Raw materials and parts...............................  $35.9     $32.1
     Work in process.......................................    5.6       6.7
     Finished goods........................................   26.0      32.8
                                                             -----     -----
       Total inventories...................................  $67.5     $71.6
                                                             =====     =====
</TABLE>
 
   Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market (net realizable
value) using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) cost for the U.S. inventories. All
other inventories are valued principally at average cost. If the first-in,
first-out (FIFO) method had been used for those operations valuing inventories
on a LIFO basis, inventories would have been higher than reported by $14.2
million at April 2, 1999 and $13.7 million at October 2, 1998.
 
 Other Assets
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             April 2, October 2,
                                                               1999      1998
                                                             -------- ----------
                                                                 (Dollars in
                                                                  millions)
     <S>                                                     <C>      <C>
     Net goodwill...........................................  $60.2     $59.6
     Other..................................................    6.2       8.1
                                                              -----     -----
       Total other assets...................................  $66.4     $67.7
                                                              =====     =====
</TABLE>
 
 Accrued Expenses
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             April 2, October 2,
                                                               1999      1998
                                                             -------- ----------
                                                                 (Dollars in
                                                                  millions)
     <S>                                                     <C>      <C>
     Payroll and employee benefits..........................  $ 29.8    $ 33.1
     Foreign income taxes payable...........................     6.5      19.2
     Deferred income........................................    16.2      14.7
     Group and risk insurance...............................     7.2       7.7
     Net amount due to VMS/VSEA.............................    13.2       --
     Restructuring..........................................     7.1       --
     Other..................................................    31.2      27.8
                                                              ------    ------
                                                              $111.2    $102.5
                                                              ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
Note 4. Forward Exchange Contracts
 
   IB has entered and the Company will enter into forward exchange contracts
to mitigate the balance sheet exposures to fluctuations in foreign currency
exchange rates. When these foreign exchange contracts hedge operational
exposure, the effects of movements in currency exchange rates on these
instruments are recognized in income when the related revenue and expenses are
recognized. When foreign exchange contracts hedge
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                     VARIAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
 
            NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
 
                                  (Unaudited)
 
balance sheet exposure, such effects are recognized in income when the
exchange rate changes. Because the impact of movements in currency exchange
rates on foreign exchange contracts generally offsets the related impact on
the underlying items being hedged, these instruments do not subject IB or the
Company to risk that would otherwise result from changes in currency exchange
rates. Gains and losses on hedges of existing assets or liabilities are
included in the carrying amounts of those assets or liabilities and are
ultimately recognized in income as part of those carrying amounts. Gains and
losses related to qualifying hedges of firm commitments also are deferred and
are recognized in income or as adjustments of carrying amounts when the hedged
transaction occurs. Any deferred gains or losses are included in accrued
expenses in the balance sheet. If a hedging instrument is sold or terminated
prior to maturity, gains and losses continue to be deferred until the hedged
item is recognized in income. If a hedging instrument ceases to qualify as a
hedge, any subsequent gains and losses are recognized currently in income.
There were no significant forward exchange contracts outstanding as of April
2, 1999.
 
Note 5. Pro Forma Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share
 
   IB's pro forma basic earnings (loss) per share is calculated based on net
earnings (loss) and the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during
the reported period. For purposes of the pro forma calculation, the weighted-
average number of shares outstanding during the reporting period was assumed
to be the number of shares of common stock outstanding as of the Distribution
on April 2, 1999. Pro forma diluted earnings (loss) per share includes
additional dilution from potential common stock shares such as common stock
issuable pursuant to the exercise of outstanding stock options. For purposes
of the pro forma diluted earnings (loss) per share calculation, the additional
shares issuable upon exercise of stock options were determined using the
treasury stock method based on the number of replacement stock options issued
as of the Distribution on April 2, 1999.
 
   All options to purchase common stock were excluded from the computation of
diluted loss per share for the quarter and six-month period ended April 2,
1999 because their effect was anti-dilutive. For the quarter and six-month
period ended April 3, 1998, options to purchase 3,030,355 potential common
stock shares with exercise prices in excess of the market value on April 2,
1999 of such common stock were excluded from the computation.
 
Note 6. Debt and Credit Facilities
 
   The Distribution Agreement provided for the division among the Company,
VSEA and VMS of VAI's cash and debt as of April 2, 1999. Under the
Distribution Agreement, the Company was to assume 50% of VAI's term loans and
receive an amount of cash from VAI such that it would have net debt (defined
in the Distribution Agreement as the amount outstanding under the term loans
and notes payable, less cash and cash equivalents) equal to approximately 50%
of the net debt of the Company and VMS, subject to such adjustment as was
necessary to provide VMS with a net worth (as defined in the Distribution
Agreement) of between 40% and 50% of the aggregate net worth of the Company
and VMS, and subject to further adjustment to reflect the Company's
approximately 50% share of the estimated proceeds, if any, to be received by
VMS after the Distribution from the sale of VAI's long-term leasehold interest
at certain of its Palo Alto facilities, together with certain related
buildings and other corporate assets and the Company's obligation for
approximately 50% of any estimated transaction expenses to be paid by VMS
after the Distribution (in each case reduced for estimated taxes payable or
tax benefits received from all sales and transaction expenses). Since the
amounts transferred immediately prior to the Distribution were based on
estimates, adjustments may be required within 180 days following the
Distribution. In addition, certain other pre-Distribution transactions may
require
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                     VARIAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
 
            NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
 
                                  (Unaudited)
 
adjustment within 90 days following the Distribution under the provisions of
the Distribution Agreement. As a result of these adjustments, the Company may
be required to make cash payments to VMS or may be entitled to receive cash
payments from VMS. The amount of any such adjustments cannot be estimated.
 
   As part of the Distribution, a total of $63.9 million in debt was assumed
by or transferred to the Company, which debt consisted of $58.5 million in
term loans and $5.4 million in notes payable. As of April 2, 1999, interest
rates on the term loans ranged from 6.70% to 7.49%, and the weighted average
interest rate on the term loans was 7.02%. As of April 2, 1999, interest rates
on the notes payable ranged from 1.50% to 4.00%, and the weighted average
interest rate on the notes payable was 2.95%. The term loans contain certain
covenants that limit future borrowings and the payment of cash dividends and
require the maintenance of certain levels of working capital and operating
results.
 
   As of April 2, 1999, the Company entered into $40.0 million in uncommitted
credit facilities for working capital purposes. As of April 2, 1999, none of
these credit facilities were utilized and no amount was outstanding. Following
April 2, 1999, the Company entered into additional uncommitted credit
facilities for $15.0 million for working capital purposes. All of these credit
facilities contain certain conditions and events of default customary for such
facilities.
 
   Future principal payments on notes payable and long-term debt outstanding
on April 2, 1999 will be $8.4 million, $6.0 million, $6.0 million, $6.0
million, $2.5 million, $2.5 million and $32.5 million during the six months
ended October 1, 1999, the fiscal years ended 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
and thereafter, respectively.
 
Note 7. Contingencies
 
 Environmental Matters
 
   In the Distribution Agreement, the Company agreed to indemnify VMS and VSEA
for one-third of certain environmental investigation and remediation costs
(after adjusting for any insurance proceeds and tax benefits recognized or
realized for such costs), as further described below.
 
   VAI has been named by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or third
parties as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, at
eight sites where VAI is alleged to have shipped manufacturing waste for
recycling or disposal. VAI is also involved in various stages of environmental
investigation and/or remediation under the direction of, or in consultation
with, foreign, federal, state and/or local agencies at certain current or
former VAI facilities.
 
   For certain of these sites and facilities, various uncertainties make it
difficult to assess the likelihood and scope of further investigation or
remediation activities or to estimate the future costs of such activities if
undertaken. As of April 2,1999, it was nonetheless estimated that the future
exposure for environmental-related investigation and remediation costs for
these sites and facilities ranged in the aggregate from $21.0 million to $48.3
million. The time frame over which these costs are expected to be incurred
varies with each site and facility, ranging up to approximately 30 years as of
April 2, 1999. No amount in the foregoing range of estimated future costs is
believed to be more probable of being incurred than any other amount in such
range and therefore VAI accrued $21.0 million in estimated environmental costs
as of April 2, 1999. The amount accrued was not discounted to present value.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
                     VARIAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
 
            NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
 
                                  (Unaudited)
 
 
   As to other sites and facilities, sufficient knowledge has been gained to
be able to better estimate the scope and costs of future environmental
activities. As of April 2, 1999, it was estimated that the future exposure for
environmental related investigation and remediation costs for these sites and
facilities ranged in the aggregate from $39.2 million to $73.0 million. The
time frame over which these costs are expected to be incurred varies with each
site and facility, ranging up to approximately 30 years as of April 2, 1999.
As to each of these sites and facilities, it was determined that a particular
amount within the range of estimated costs was a better estimate of the future
environmental liability than any other amount within the range, and that the
amount and timing of these futures costs were reliably determinable. Together,
these amounts totaled $50.6 million at April 2, 1999. Accordingly, VAI accrued
$21.9 million as of April 2, 1999, which represents the best estimate of the
future costs discounted at 4%, net of inflation. This accrual is in addition
to the $21.0 million described in the preceding paragraph.
 
   Since the Company is obligated to reimburse VMS for one-third of the
foregoing environmental-related costs and expenses (after adjusting for any
insurance proceeds and tax benefits recognized or realized by VMS for such
costs or expenses) that are paid after April 2, 1999, IB recorded $7.7 million
as its portion of these estimated future costs and expenses as of April 2,
1999. The foregoing amounts are only estimates of anticipated future
environmental-related costs, and the amounts actually spent may be greater or
less than such estimates. The aggregate range of cost estimates reflects
various uncertainties inherent in many environmental investigation and
remediation activities and the large number of sites and facilities involved.
The Company believes that most of these cost ranges will narrow as
investigation and remediation activities progress.
 
   The Company's management believes that its reserves for the foregoing and
certain other environmental-related matters are adequate, but as the scope of
its obligation becomes more clearly defined, these reserves may be modified
and related charges against earnings may be made. Although any ultimate
liability arising from environmental-related matters described herein could
result in significant expenditures that, if aggregated and assumed to occur
within a single fiscal year, would be material to the Company's financial
statements, the likelihood of such occurrence is considered remote. Based on
information currently available and its best assessment of the ultimate amount
and timing of environmental-related events, the Company's management believes
that the costs of these environmental-related matters are not reasonably
likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial
statements.
 
 Legal Proceedings
 
   In the Distribution Agreement, the Company agreed to reimburse VMS for one-
third of certain costs and expenses (adjusted for any insurance proceeds and
tax benefits recognized or realized by VMS for such costs and expenses) that
are paid after April 2, 1999 and arise from actual or potential claims or
legal proceedings relating to discontinued, former or corporate operations of
VAI. These shared liabilities will generally be managed by VMS, and expenses
and losses (adjusted for any insurance proceeds and tax benefits recognized or
realized by VMS for such costs and expenses) will generally be borne one-third
each by the Company, VMS and VSEA. Also, from time to time, the Company is
involved in a number of legal actions and could incur an uninsured liability
in one or more of them. While the ultimate outcome of all of the above legal
matters is not determinable, management believes that the resolution of these
matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial
condition, results of operations or cash flows.
 
Note 8. Stockholders' Equity
 
   On April 2, 1999, stockholders of record of VAI on March 24, 1999 received
in the Distribution one share of the Company's common stock for each share of
VAI common stock held on April 2, 1999. Immediately following the
Distribution, the Company had 30,422,792 shares of common stock outstanding.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
                     VARIAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
 
            NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
 
                                  (Unaudited)
 
 
   Each stockholder also received one Right for each share of common stock
distributed, entitling the stockholder to purchase one one-thousandth of a
share of Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, for $75.00,
subject to adjustment. The Participating Preferred Stock is designed so that
each one one-thousandth of share has economic and voting terms similar to
those of one share of common stock.
 
   The Company will begin accumulating retained earnings on April 3, 1999, the
date after the Distribution.
 
   In connection with the Distribution, certain holders of options to purchase
shares of VAI common stock received replacement options from the Company to
purchase shares of the Company's common stock. The Company granted such
replacement options to purchase 4,299,639 shares of the Company's common stock
with an average exercise price of $11.16 per share. Such stock options vest
over the same vesting periods as the original VAI stock options, typically
three years. At issuance, options to purchase 3,459,508 shares with an average
exercise price of $10.66 were immediately exercisable.
 
Note 9. Restructuring Charges
 
   During the second quarter of fiscal year 1999, IB's management approved a
program to consolidate field sales and service organizations in Europe,
Australia and the United States so as to fall within the direct responsibility
of management at IB's principal factories in those countries in order to
reduce costs, simplify management structure and benefit from the
infrastructure existing in those factories. This restructuring entailed
consolidating certain sales, service and support operations. The consolidation
resulted in exiting of a product line, closing or downsizing of sales offices
and termination of approximately 100 personnel. The following table sets forth
certain details associated with this restructuring during the second quarter
of fiscal year 1999:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Cash      Accrual at
                                       Restructuring Payments/Other  April 2,
                                          Charges      Reductions      1999
                                       ------------- -------------- ----------
                                               (Dollars in thousands)
<S>                                    <C>           <C>            <C>
Lease payments and other facility
 expenses.............................    $ 2,205        $  240       $1,965
Severance and other related employee
 benefits.............................      7,171         1,988        5,183
Exited product line...................      1,598         1,598          --
                                          -------        ------       ------
  Total...............................    $10,974        $3,826       $7,148
                                          =======        ======       ======
</TABLE>
 
Note 10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
   In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 131, "Disclosures
about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information." This statement
changes standards for the way that public business enterprises identify and
report operating segments in annual and interim financial statements. This
statement requires selected information about an enterprise's operating
segments and related disclosure about products and services, geographic areas
and major customers. The Company expects to report multiple segments when it
adopts SFAS No. 131 at fiscal year-end 1999.
 
   In June 1998, FASB issued SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities." This statement establishes accounting and
reporting standards for derivative instruments and requires recognition of all
derivatives as assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position
and measurement of those instruments at fair value. This statement is
effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 1999. The Company will
adopt SFAS No. 133 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2000 and is in the
process of determining the impact that adoption will have on its consolidated
financial statements.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
        RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
   Until April 2, 1999, the Company's business was operated as part of Varian
Associates, Inc. ("VAI"). VAI contributed its Instruments business ("IB") to
the Company, then on April 2, 1999 distributed to the holders of record of VAI
common stock on March 24, 1999 one share of common stock of the Company for
each share of VAI common stock outstanding on April 2, 1999 (the
"Distribution"). At the same time, VAI contributed its Semiconductor Equipment
business to Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. ("VSEA") and
distributed to the holders of record of VAI common stock on March 24, 1999 one
share of common stock of VSEA for each share of VAI common stock outstanding
on April 2, 1999. VAI retained its Health Care Systems business and changed
its name to Varian Medical Systems, Inc. ("VMS") effective as of April 3,
1999. IB includes VAI's business units that design, manufacture, sell and
service analytical and research instrumentation and vacuum technologies, and a
business unit that provides contract electronics assembly.
 
   These transactions were accomplished under the terms of an Amended and
Restated Distribution Agreement dated as of January 14, 1999 by and among the
Company, VAI and VSEA (the "Distribution Agreement"). For purposes of
providing an orderly transition and to define certain ongoing relationships
between and among the Company, VMS and VSEA after the Distribution, the
Company, VMS and VSEA also entered into certain other agreements which include
an Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement, an Intellectual Property Agreement,
a Tax Sharing Agreement and a Transition Services Agreement (collectively, the
"Distribution Related Agreements").
 
   The interim combined financial statements generally reflect the results of
operations, financial position and cash flows of IB, which was transferred to
the Company in connection with the Distribution. Accordingly, the interim
combined financial statements have been carved out from the interim financial
statements of VAI using the historical results of operations and historical
bases of the assets and liabilities of IB. The statements include the accounts
of IB after elimination of inter-business balances and transactions. The
interim combined financial statements include, among other things, allocations
of certain VAI corporate assets (including pension assets), liabilities
(including profit-sharing and pension benefits) and expenses (including legal,
accounting, employee benefits, insurance services, information technology
services, treasury and other corporate overhead) to IB using the allocation
methodology described in Note 2 of the Notes to the Company's interim combined
financial statements. The Company's management believes that the methods used
to allocate these amounts are reasonable. The interim combined financial
statements do not reflect any changes that may occur in the financing and
operations of the Company as a result of the Distribution.
 
   This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of
operations is based upon and should be read in conjunction with the interim
combined financial statements of the Company and the notes thereto, as well as
the Instruments Business of Varian Associates, Inc. Combined Financial
Statements and notes thereto and the information contained under the headings
"Business," "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's registration
statement on Form 10/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
   The Company's fiscal year is the 52- or 53-week period ending on the Friday
nearest September 30. Fiscal year 1999 comprises the 52-week period ending
October 1, 1999, and fiscal year 1998 comprises the 53-week period ended
October 2, 1998. The fiscal quarters ended April 2, 1999 and April 3, 1998
each comprise 13 weeks. For purposes of interim reporting, the six-month
period ended April 2, 1999 comprises 26 weeks, and the six-month period ended
April 3, 1998 comprises 27 weeks.
 
Results of Operations
 
 Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 1999 Compared to Second Quarter of Fiscal Year
 1998
 
   Sales. IB's sales were $148.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal year
1999, compared to sales of $141.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal year
1998. The primary reasons for this 5.7% increase in sales
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
were higher volume in the Analytical Instruments business (driven in large
part by Chrompack International B.V. ("Chrompack"), which was acquired in the
fourth quarter of fiscal year 1998), and an increase in sales by IB's
Electronics Manufacturing (formerly Tempe Electronics Center) business. These
increases were partially off-set by lower sales in the Vacuum Technologies
(formerly Vacuum Products) business, which declined largely due to the
continuing slow-down in capital spending, particularly in Asian markets, and
continuing weakness in semiconductor equipment demand. NMR Systems (formerly
NMR Instruments) also experienced lower sales due to the timing of shipments
of NMR Systems products.
 
   Geographically, sales in North America of $80.1 million and Europe of $49.1
million in the second quarter of fiscal year 1999 represented increases of
2.0% and 29.0%, respectively, from the second quarter of fiscal year 1998,
while sales in Asia of $14.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 1999
represented a decrease of 18.0% from the second quarter of fiscal year 1998.
The increase in Europe resulted largely from the acquisition of Chrompack in
the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1998, and the decrease in Asia resulted
largely from weak economic conditions in that region.
 
   IB's orders during the second quarter of fiscal year 1999 were $154.2
million, compared to $138.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 1999
and $136.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 1998. All IB
businesses contributed to the sequential orders growth, with only the Vacuum
Technologies business showing a slight decline compared to the year-ago
quarter (although it showed a 33% sequential increase).
 
   Gross Profit. IB's gross profit was $47.2 million (representing 31.7% of
sales) in the second quarter of fiscal year 1999, compared to $55.7 million
(representing 39.5% of sales) in the second quarter of fiscal year 1998. The
decline in gross profit resulted primarily from actions taken as part of an
overall reorganization of IB, which included actions to prepare IB to separate
from VAI and become a stand-alone company, other organizational changes and a
comprehensive product review, which resulted in a decision to accelerate
transition from certain older to newer products necessitating the writedown of
certain excess and obsolete inventories and the lowering of prices to
accelerate the liquidation of older products. The impact on gross profit of
these actions were in addition to the restructuring charges discussed below.
The decline in gross profit was also the result of lower sales of Vacuum
Technologies products.
 
   Research and Development. IB's research and development expenses were $9.3
million (representing 6.2% of sales) in the second quarter of fiscal year
1999, compared to research and development expenses of $7.8 million
(representing 5.5% of sales) in the second quarter of fiscal year 1998. This
increase related primarily to the research and development expenses of
Chrompack, which was acquired in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1998, and
accelerated development costs incurred to complete a new gas chromatograph
product.
 
   Marketing. IB's marketing expenses were $34.2 million (representing 22.9%
of sales) in the second quarter of fiscal year 1999, compared to $28.1 million
(representing 19.9% of sales) in the second quarter of fiscal year 1998. Some
of the increase was due to marketing expenses of Chrompack, which was acquired
in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1998. Additionally, the increase in
marketing expenses resulted from actions taken as part of the above-described
reorganization, including costs to move people and equipment to new
consolidated locations, writedown of field demonstration equipment following
the accelerated transition to newer products, and other higher than normal
costs related to the reorganization. These charges were in addition to the
restructuring charges discussed below.
 
   General and Administrative. IB's general and administrative expenses were
$10.8 million (representing 7.2% of sales) in the second quarter of fiscal
year 1999, compared to $9.2 million (representing 6.5% of sales) in the second
quarter of fiscal year 1998. The primary reason for this increase was the
additional general and administrative costs of Chrompack, which was acquired
in the fourth fiscal quarter of fiscal 1998.
 
   Restructuring Charges. During the second quarter of fiscal year 1999, IB's
management approved a program to consolidate field sales and service
organizations in Europe, Australia and the United States so as to fall within
the direct responsibility of management at IB's principal factories in those
countries in order to reduce
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
costs, simplify management structure and benefit from the infrastructure
existing in those factories. This restructuring entailed consolidating certain
sales, service and support operations. The consolidation resulted in exiting
of a product line, closing or downsizing of sales offices and termination of
approximately 100 personnel. The following table sets forth certain details
associated with this restructuring in the second quarter of fiscal year 1999:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Cash      Accrual at
                                        Restructuring Payments/Other  April 2,
                                           Charges      Reductions      1999
                                        ------------- -------------- ----------
                                                (Dollars in thousands)
     <S>                                <C>           <C>            <C>
     Lease payments and other facility
      expenses........................     $ 2,205        $  240       $1,965
     Severance and other related
      employee benefits...............       7,171         1,988        5,183
     Exited product line..............       1,598         1,598          --
                                           -------        ------       ------
       Total..........................     $10,974        $3,826       $7,148
                                           =======        ======       ======
</TABLE>
 
   Taxes on Earnings. IB's effective income tax rate was 44.5% in the second
quarter of fiscal year 1999, compared to 40.0% in the second quarter of fiscal
year 1998. The fiscal year 1999 rate is higher than the fiscal year 1998 rate
because the Company expects to realize a larger proportion of high-tax foreign
country income during fiscal year 1999 than it did during fiscal year 1998.
 
   Net Loss. The net loss of $10.0 million ($0.33 pro forma net loss per
share) in the second quarter of fiscal year 1999 was the result of IB's
overall reorganization described above, which resulted in incremental costs
primarily included in cost of sales, marketing and restructuring charges.
Although some of these costs will continue at significantly reduced levels for
several quarters, management believes that the Company will return to
profitability during the third quarter of fiscal year 1999.
 
 First Half of Fiscal Year 1999 Compared to First Half of Fiscal Year 1998
 
   Sales. IB's sales were $282 million in the first half of fiscal year 1999,
the same as in the first half of fiscal year 1998. Sales by the Analytical
Instruments and the Electronics Manufacturing businesses were higher during
the six-month period relative to the year-ago period, in the case of the
former due in part to Chrompack, which was acquired in the fourth quarter of
fiscal year 1998. These increases were off-set by lower sales in the Vacuum
Technology business, which declined largely due to the continuing slow-down in
capital spending, particularly in Asian markets, and continuing weakness in
semiconductor equipment demand. NMR Systems also experienced lower sales, due
to the timing of shipments of NMR Systems products.
 
   Geographically, sales in North America of $149.3 million and Europe of
$92.0 million in the first half of fiscal year 1999 represented a decline of
4.5% and an increase of 15.3%, respectively, as compared to the first half of
fiscal year 1998, while sales in Asia of $29.0 million in the first half of
fiscal year 1999 declined by 11.7% from the first half of fiscal year 1998,
reflecting the general slow-down in Asian markets. The decline in North
America was predominantly due to the slow-down in the semiconductor equipment
industry.
 
   IB's orders in the first half of fiscal year 1999 were $292.7 million,
compared to $270.3 million in the first half of fiscal year 1998. All IB
businesses except the Vacuum Technologies business contributed to the orders
growth.
 
   Gross Profit. IB's gross profit was $99.9 million (representing 35.4% of
sales) in the first half of fiscal year 1999, compared to $110.3 million
(representing 39.1% of sales) in the first half of fiscal year 1998. The
decline in gross profit resulted primarily from actions taken as part of an
overall reorganization of IB, which included actions to prepare IB to separate
from VAI and become a stand-alone company, other organizational changes and a
comprehensive product review, which resulted in a decision to accelerate
transition from certain older to newer products necessitating the writedown of
certain excess and obsolete inventories and the lowering
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
of prices to accelerate the liquidation of older products. The impact on gross
profit of these actions were in addition to the restructuring charges
discussed below. The decline in gross profit was also the result of lower
sales of Vacuum Technologies products.
 
   Research and Development. IB's research and development expenses were $16.4
million (representing 5.8% of sales) in the first half of fiscal year 1999,
compared to research and development expenses of $15.0 million (representing
5.3% of sales) in the first half of fiscal year 1998. The increase related
primarily to the additional research and development expense of Chrompack,
which was acquired in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1998, and accelerated
development costs incurred to complete a new gas chromatograph product.
 
   Marketing. IB's marketing expenses were $64.3 million (representing 22.8%
of sales) in the first half of fiscal year 1999, compared to $55.3 million
(representing 19.6% of sales) in the first half of fiscal year 1998. Some of
the increase was due to marketing expenses of Chrompack, which was acquired in
the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1998. Additionally, the increase in
marketing expenses resulting from actions taken as part of the above-described
reorganization, including costs to move people and equipment to new
consolidated locations, writedown of field demonstration equipment following
the accelerated transition to newer products, and other higher than normal
costs related to the reorganization. These charges were in addition to the
restructuring charges discussed below.
 
   General and Administrative. IB's general and administrative expenses were
$18.5 million (representing 6.5% of sales) in the first half of fiscal year
1999, compared to $19.6 million (representing 7.0% of sales) in the first half
of fiscal year 1998. The primary reason for this decrease was due to lower
profit-sharing and management incentive compensation costs in the first half
of fiscal year 1999, the additional general and administrative costs of
Chrompack, which was acquired in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1998.
 
   Restructuring Charges. During the second quarter of fiscal year 1999, IB's
management approved a program to consolidate field sales and service
organizations in Europe, Australia and the United States so as to fall within
the direct responsibility of management at IB's principal factories in those
countries in order to reduce costs, simplify management structure and benefit
from the infrastructure existing in those factories. This restructuring
entailed consolidating certain sales, service and support operations. The
consolidation resulted in exiting of a product line, closing or downsizing of
sales offices and termination of approximately 100 personnel. The following
table sets forth certain details associated with this restructuring during the
second quarter of fiscal year 1999:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Cash      Accrual at
                                        Restructuring Payments/Other  April 2,
                                           Charges      Reductions      1999
                                        ------------- -------------- ----------
                                                (Dollars in thousands)
     <S>                                <C>           <C>            <C>
     Lease payments and other facility
      expenses........................     $ 2,205        $  240       $1,965
     Severance and other related
      employee benefits...............       7,171         1,988        5,183
     Exited product line .............       1,598         1,598          --
                                           -------        ------       ------
       Total..........................     $10,974        $3,826       $7,148
                                           =======        ======       ======
</TABLE>
 
   Taxes on Earnings. IB's effective income tax rate was 44.5% in the first
half of fiscal year 1999, compared to 40.0% in the first half of fiscal year
1998. The fiscal year 1999 rate is higher than the fiscal year 1998 rate
because the Company expects to realize a larger proportion of high-tax foreign
country income during fiscal year 1999 than it did during fiscal year 1998.
 
   Net Loss. The net loss of $5.7 million ($0.19 pro forma net loss per share)
in the first half of fiscal year 1999 was the result of IB's overall
reorganization described above, which resulted in incremental costs primarily
included in cost of sales, marketing and restructuring charges.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
   VAI Cash and Debt Allocations. The Distribution Agreement provided for the
division among the Company, VSEA and VMS of VAI's cash and debt as of April 2,
1999. Under the Distribution Agreement, the
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
Company was to assume 50% of VAI's term loans and receive an amount of cash
from VAI such that it would have net debt (defined in the Distribution
Agreement as the amount outstanding under the term loans and notes payable,
less cash and cash equivalents) equal to approximately 50% of the net debt of
the Company and VMS, subject to such adjustment as was necessary to provide
VMS with a net worth (as defined in the Distribution Agreement) of between 40%
and 50% of the aggregate net worth of the Company and VMS, and subject to
further adjustment to reflect the Company's approximately 50% share of the
estimated proceeds, if any, to be received by VMS after the Distribution from
the sale of VAI's long-term leasehold interest at certain of its Palo Alto
facilities, together with certain related buildings and other corporate assets
and the Company's obligation for approximately 50% of any estimated
transaction expenses to be paid by VMS after the Distribution (in each case
reduced for estimated taxes payable or tax benefits received from all sales
and transaction expenses). Since the amounts transferred immediately prior to
the Distribution were based on estimates, adjustments may be required within
180 days following the Distribution. In addition, certain other pre-
Distribution transactions may require adjustment within 90 days following the
Distribution under the provisions of the Distribution Agreement. As a result
of these adjustments, the Company may be required to make cash payments to VMS
or may be entitled to receive cash payments from VMS. The amount of any such
adjustments cannot be estimated.
 
   Debt and Credit Facilities. IB's debt was historically incurred or managed
by VAI. In connection with the Distribution, a portion of VAI's debt was
assumed by the Company as of April 2, 1999. In addition, the Company entered
into new debt arrangements as of and after April 2, 1999.
 
   As part of the Distribution, a total of $63.9 million in debt was assumed
by or transferred to the Company, which debt consisted of $58.5 million in
term loans and $5.4 million in notes payable. As of April 2, 1999, interest
rates on the term loans ranged from 6.70% to 7.49%, and the weighted average
interest rate on the term loans was 7.02%. As of April 2, 1999, interest rates
on the notes payable ranged from 1.50% to 4.00%, and the weighted average
interest rate on the notes payable was 2.95%. The term loans contain certain
covenants that limit future borrowings and the payment of cash dividends and
require the maintenance of certain levels of working capital and operating
results.
 
   As of April 2, 1999, the Company entered into $40.0 million in uncommitted
credit facilities for working capital purposes. As of April 2, 1999, none of
these credit facilities were utilized and no amount was outstanding. Following
April 2, 1999, the Company entered into additional uncommitted credit
facilities for $15.0 million for working capital purposes. All of these credit
facilities contain certain conditions and events of default customary for such
facilities.
 
   Future principal payments on notes payable and long-term debt outstanding
on April 2, 1999 will be $8.4 million, $6.0 million, $6.0 million, $6.0
million, $2.5 million, $2.5 million and $32.5 million during the six months
ended October 1, 1999, the fiscal years ended 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
and thereafter, respectively.
 
   Cash and Cash Equivalents. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement as
described above, the Company received a cash contribution from VAI in the
amount of $12.1 million as of April 2, 1999.
 
   IB generated $8.6 million of cash from operations in the first half of
fiscal year 1999, which compares to $19.4 million in the first half of fiscal
year 1998. The primary reason for this decrease in cash generated was the
lower earnings which reflect increased spending from the reorganization
activities. IB used $10.5 million of cash for investing activities in the
first half of fiscal year 1999, which compares to $9.7 million in the first
half of fiscal year 1998. The primary reason for this increase was capital
equipment expenditures by Chrompack.
 
   The cash flow impact of certain actions relating to the above-described
overall reorganization of IB will occur for several more quarters after April
2, 1999. Management believes that the cash flow impact will be approximately
$4.8 million in the remainder of fiscal year 1999 and $2.4 million in fiscal
year 2000.
 
   The Company currently has no plans to materially modify or expand its
facilities or to make other material capital expenditures.
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
   The Distribution Agreement provides that the Company is responsible for
certain litigation to which VAI was a party, and further provides that the
Company will indemnify VMS and VSEA for one-third of the costs, expenses and
other liabilities relating to certain discontinued, former and corporate
operations of VAI, including certain environmental liabilities (see
"Environmental Matters" below).
 
   The Company's liquidity is affected by many other factors, some based on
the normal ongoing operations of the business and others related to the
uncertainties of the industry and global economies. Although the Company's
cash requirements will fluctuate based on the timing and extent of these
factors, management believes that cash generated from operations, together
with the Company's borrowing capability, will be sufficient to satisfy
commitments for capital expenditures and other cash requirements for the
current fiscal year and fiscal year 2000.
 
Environmental Matters
 
   The Company's operations are subject to various foreign, federal, state
and/or local laws regulating the discharge of materials into the environment
or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment. This includes
discharges into soil, water and air, and the generation, handling, storage,
transportation and disposal of waste and hazardous substances. In addition,
several countries are reviewing proposed regulations that would require
manufacturers to dispose of their products at the end of their useful life.
These laws have the effect of increasing costs and potential liabilities
associated with the conduct of such operations.
 
   In addition, under the Distribution Agreement, the Company agreed to
indemnify VMS and VSEA for one-third of environmental investigation and
remediation costs (after adjusting for any insurance proceeds and tax benefits
recognized or realized for such costs), as further described below.
 
   VAI has been named by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or third
parties as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, at
eight sites where VAI is alleged to have shipped manufacturing waste for
recycling or disposal. VAI is also involved in various stages of environmental
investigation and/or remediation under the direction of, or in consultation
with, foreign, federal, state and/or local agencies at certain current or
former VAI facilities.
 
   For certain of these sites and facilities, various uncertainties make it
difficult to assess the likelihood and scope of further investigation or
remediation activities or to estimate the future costs of such activities if
undertaken. As of April 2,1999, it was nonetheless estimated that the future
exposure for environmental-related investigation and remediation costs for
these sites and facilities ranged in the aggregate from $21.0 million to $48.3
million. The time frame over which these costs are expected to be incurred
varies with each site and facility, ranging up to approximately 30 years as of
April 2, 1999. No amount in the foregoing range of estimated future costs is
believed to be more probable of being incurred than any other amount in such
range and therefore VAI accrued $21.0 million in estimated environmental costs
as of April 2, 1999. The amount accrued was not discounted to present value.
 
   As to other sites and facilities, sufficient knowledge has been gained to
be able to better estimate the scope and costs of future environmental
activities. As of April 2, 1999, it was estimated that the future exposure for
environmental related investigation and remediation costs for these sites and
facilities ranged in the aggregate from $39.2 million to $73.0 million. The
time frame over which these costs are expected to be incurred varies with each
site and facility, ranging up to approximately 30 years as of April 2, 1999.
As to each of these sites and facilities, it was determined that a particular
amount within the range of estimated costs was a better estimate of the future
environmental liability than any other amount within the range, and that the
amount and timing of these futures costs were reliably determinable. Together,
these amounts totaled $50.6 million at April 2, 1999. Accordingly, VAI accrued
$21.9 million as of April 2, 1999, which represents the best estimate of the
future costs discounted at 4%, net of inflation. This accrual is in addition
to the $21.0 million described in the preceding paragraph.
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
   Since the Company is obligated to reimburse VMS for one-third of the
foregoing environmental-related costs and expenses (after adjusting for any
insurance proceeds and tax benefits recognized or realized by VMS for such
costs or expenses) that are paid after April 2, 1999, IB recorded $7.7 million
as its portion of these estimated future costs for environmental liabilities
of VAI as of April 2, 1999. The foregoing amounts are only estimates of
anticipated future environmental-related costs, and the amounts actually spent
may be greater or less than such estimates. The aggregate range of cost
estimates reflects various uncertainties inherent in many environmental
investigation and remediation activities and the large number of sites and
facilities involved. Management believes that most of these cost ranges will
narrow as investigation and remediation activities progress.
 
   Management believes that its reserves for the foregoing and certain other
environmental-related matters are adequate, but as the scope of its obligation
becomes more clearly defined, these reserves may be modified and related
charges against earnings may be made. Although any ultimate liability arising
from environmental-related matters described herein could result in
significant expenditures that, if aggregated and assumed to occur within a
single fiscal year, would be material to the Company's financial statements,
the likelihood of such occurrence is considered remote. Based on information
currently available and its best assessment of the ultimate amount and timing
of environmental-related events, management believes that the costs of these
environmental-related matters are not reasonably likely to have a material
adverse effect on the Company's financial statements.
 
Year 2000
 
   General. The "Year 2000" problem refers to computer programs and other
equipment with embedded microprocessors ("non-IT systems") which use only the
last two digits to refer to a year, and which therefore might not properly
recognize a year that begins with "20" instead of the familiar "19." As a
result, those computer programs and non-IT systems might be unable to operate
or process accurately certain date-sensitive data before or after January 1,
2000. Because the Company relies heavily on computer programs and non-IT
systems, and relies on third parties which themselves rely on computer
programs and non-IT systems, the Year 2000 problem, if not addressed, could
adversely effect the Company's business, results of operations and financial
condition.
 
   State of Readiness. VAI and IB previously initiated a comprehensive
assessment of potential Year 2000 problems with respect to (1) IB's internal
systems, (2) IB's products, and (3) significant third parties with which the
IB does business. The Company is continuing that assessment for its
businesses, although under the terms of the Transition Services Agreement
among VMS, VSEA and the Company, VMS is taking certain actions and otherwise
assisting the Company with respect to certain Year 2000 implications with
internal systems.
 
   IB has substantially completed its assessment of potential Year 2000
problems in internal systems, which systems have been categorized as follows,
in order of importance: (a) enterprise information systems; (b) enterprise
networking and telecommunications; (c) factory-specific information systems;
(d) non-IT systems; (e) computers and packaged software; and (f) facilities
systems. With respect to enterprise information systems, VAI initiated in 1994
replacement of its existing systems with a single company-wide system supplied
by SAP America, Inc., which system is designed and tested by SAP for Year 2000
capability. Installation of the SAP enterprise information system has been
staged to replace first those existing systems that are not Year 2000 capable.
Installation of the SAP system is approximately 70% complete, with 90%
completion expected by July 1999 and full completion expected by the end of
1999; upgrade of networking and telecommunications systems is complete;
upgrade of factory-specific information systems is approximately 90% complete,
with 95% completion expected by July 1999 and 100% completion expected by
December 1999; and upgrade of non-IT systems, computers and packaged software,
and facilities systems are approximately 95% complete, with 100% completion
expected by July 1999.
 
   The Company has initiated an assessment of potential Year 2000 problems in
its current and previously-sold products. With respect to current products,
that assessment and corrective actions are complete, and the Company believes
that all of its current products are Year 2000 capable; however, that
conclusion is based in
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
part on Year 2000 assurances or warranties from suppliers of computer programs
and non-IT systems which are integrated into or sold with the Company's
current products. With respect to previously-sold products, the Company does
not intend to assess Year 2000 preparedness of every product it has ever sold,
but rather is focusing its assessments on products that will be under written
warranties or are still relatively early in their useful life, are more likely
to be dependent on non-IT systems that are not Year 2000 capable, and/or
cannot be easily upgraded with readily available externally-utilized computers
and packaged software. These assessments are expected to be substantially
completed by July 1999. Where the Company identifies previously-sold products
that are not Year 2000 capable, the Company intends in some cases to develop
and offer to sell upgrades or retrofits, identify corrective measures which
the customer could itself undertake or identify for the customer other
suppliers of upgrades or retrofits. There may be instances where the Company
will be required to repair and/or upgrade such products at its own expense.
Schedules for completing those corrective actions vary considerably among the
Company's businesses and products, but are generally expected to be
substantially completed by July 1999.
 
   The Company is still assessing potential Year 2000 problems of third
parties with which the Company has material relationships, which will be
primarily suppliers of products or services. These assessments will identify
and prioritize critical suppliers, review those suppliers' written assurances
on their own assessments and correction of Year 2000 problems and develop
appropriate contingency plans for those suppliers which might not be
adequately prepared for Year 2000 problems. These assessments are expected to
be substantially completed by August 1999.
 
   Costs. The Company estimates that IB had incurred approximately $1,021,000
as of April 2, 1999 to assess and correct Year 2000 problems. Although
difficult to assess, based on its assessment to date, the Company estimates
that it will incur approximately $350,000 in additional costs to assess and
correct Year 2000 problems, which costs are expected to be incurred throughout
fiscal year 1999 and the first half of fiscal year 2000. All of these costs
have been and will continue to be expensed as incurred.
 
   This estimate of future costs has not been reduced by expected recoveries
from certain third parties, which are subject to indemnity, reimbursement or
warranty obligations for Year 2000 problems. In addition, the Company expects
that certain costs will be offset by revenues generated by the sale of
upgrades and retrofits and other customer support services relating to Year
2000 problems. However, there can be no assurance that the Company's actual
costs to assess and correct Year 2000 problems will not be higher than the
foregoing estimate.
 
   Risks. Failure by the Company or its key suppliers to accurately assess and
correct Year 2000 problems would likely result in interruption of certain of
the Company's normal business operations, which could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial
condition. If the Company does not adequately identify and correct Year 2000
problems in its information systems, it could experience an interruption in
its operations, including manufacturing, order processing, receivables
collection, cash management and accounting, such that there would be delays in
product shipments, lost data and a consequential impact on revenues,
expenditures, cashflow and financial reporting. If the Company does not
adequately Risks. Failure by the Company or its key suppliers to accurately
assess and correct Year 2000 problems would likely result in interruption of
certain of the Company's normal business operations, which could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and
financial condition. If the Company does not adequately identify and correct
Year 2000 problems in its information systems, it could experience an
interruption in its operations, including manufacturing, order processing,
receivables collection, cash management and accounting, such that there would
be delays in product shipments, lost data and a consequential impact on
revenues, expenditures, cashflow and financial reporting. If the Company does
not adequately identify and correct Year 2000 problems in its non-IT systems,
it could experience an interruption in its manufacturing and related
operations, such that there would be delays in product shipments and a
consequential impact on revenues. If the Company does not adequately identify
and correct Year 2000 problems in previously-sold products, it could
experience warranty or product liability claims by users of products which do
not function correctly. If the Company does not adequately identify and
correct Year 2000 problems of the significant third parties with which it does
business, it could experience an interruption in the supply of key components
or services from those parties, such that there would be delays in product
shipments or services and a consequential
 
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
impact on revenues. The most difficult risks to assess and prepare for relate
to basic infrastructure services (such as electricity, water, gas,
telecommunications, transportation, distribution and banking) provided by
third parties.
 
   Management believes that the assessments and corrective actions described
above have been or will be accomplished within the cost and time estimates
stated. Although it is not expected that the Company will be 100% Year 2000
compliant by the end of 1999, management does not currently believe that any
Year 2000 non-compliance in the Company's information systems would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations or
financial condition. However, given the inherent complexity and implications
of the Year 2000 problem, there can be no assurance that actual costs will not
be higher than currently anticipated or that corrective actions will not take
longer than currently anticipated to complete. Risk factors which might result
in higher costs or delays include the ability to identify and correct in a
timely fashion Year 2000 problems; regulatory or legal obligations to correct
Year 2000 problems in previously-sold products; ability to retain and hire
qualified personnel to perform assessments and corrective actions; the
willingness and ability of critical suppliers to assess and correct their own
Year 2000 problems, including the products they supply to the Company; and the
additional complexity which will likely be caused by undertaking during fiscal
year 1999 and fiscal year 2000 the separation (as a result of the
Distribution) of enterprise information systems which the Company currently
shares with VMS and VSEA.
 
   Because of uncertainties as to the extent of Year 2000 problems with the
Company's previously-sold products and the extent of any legal obligation for
the Company to correct Year 2000 problems in those products, the Company
cannot yet assess risks to the Company with respect to those products. Because
its assessments are not yet complete, the Company also cannot yet conclude
that the failure of critical suppliers to assess and correct Year 2000
problems is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the
Company's results of operations, and indeed the failure of certain suppliers
to provide essential infrastructure services will likely have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial
condition.
 
   Contingency Plans. With respect to the Company's enterprise information
systems, the Company has a contingency plan if the SAP system is not fully
installed before December 31, 1999. That plan primarily involves installation
where necessary of a Year 2000 capable upgrade of existing information systems
pending complete installation of the SAP system. That upgrade is currently in
acceptance testing, and, if functional, will be held for contingency purposes.
 
   With respect to products and significant third parties, the Company
intends, as part of its on-going assessment of potential Year 2000 problems,
to develop contingency plans for the more critical problems that might not be
corrected December 31, 1999. It is currently anticipated that the focus of
these contingency plans will be the possible interruption of supply of key
components or services from third parties.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
   In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 131, "Disclosures
about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information." This statement
changes standards for the way that public business enterprises identify and
report operating segments in annual and interim financial statements. This
statement requires selected information about an enterprise's operating
segments and related disclosure about products and services, geographic areas
and major customers. The Company expects to report multiple segments when it
adopts SFAS No. 131 at fiscal year-end 1999.
 
   In June 1998, FASB issued SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities." This statement establishes accounting and
reporting standards for derivative instruments and requires recognition of all
derivatives as assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position
and measurement of those instruments at fair value. This statement is
effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 1999. The Company will
adopt SFAS No. 133 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2000 and is in the
process of determining the impact that adoption will have on its combined
financial statements.
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
 
   With global operations and activities, the Company faces exposure to
adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates. This exposure may change
over time as the Company's business practices evolve and could have a material
adverse impact on the Company's financial results. Historically, IB's primary
exposures have related to non-U.S. dollar denominated sales and purchases
throughout Europe and Asia. The Euro was adopted as a common currency for
members of the European Monetary Union on January 1, 1999. The Company is
evaluating, among other issues, the impact of the Euro conversion on its
foreign currency exposure. Based on its evaluation to date, the Company does
not expect the Euro conversion to create any change in its currency exposure
due to the Company's existing hedging practices.
 
   IB historically hedged its currency exposures associated with certain
assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies and with
anticipated foreign currency cash flows. IB did not enter into forward
exchange contracts for trading purposes. IB's forward exchange contracts
generally ranged from one to three months in original maturity, and no forward
exchange contract had an original maturity greater than one year. There were
no significant forward exchange contracts outstanding as of April 2, 1999.
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
   The Company's exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates
primarily to the Company's investment portfolio, notes payable and long-term
debt obligations. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments in
its investment portfolio, and the Company's investment portfolio only includes
highly liquid instruments with an original maturity to the Company of three
months or less. The Company primarily enters into debt obligations to support
general corporate purposes, including working capital requirements, capital
expenditures and acquisitions.
 
   The Company is subject to fluctuating interest rates that may impact,
adversely or otherwise, its results of operations or cash flows for its
variable rate notes payable and cash and cash equivalents. Fluctuations in
interest rates may also impact, adversely or otherwise, the estimated fair
value of the Company's fixed rate long-term obligations. The Company has no
cash flow exposure due to rate changes for long-term debt obligations.
 
   The table below presents principal amounts and related weighted-average
interest rates by year of maturity for the Company's cash and cash equivalents
and debt obligations.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          Six months                  Fiscal year
                         ended Oct. 1, ----------------------------------------------
                             1999      2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  Thereafter Total
                         ------------- ----  ----  ----  ----  ----  ---------- -----
                                          (Dollars in millions)
<S>                      <C>           <C>   <C>   <C>   <C>   <C>   <C>        <C>
Assets
  Cash and cash
   equivalents(1).......     $12.1      --    --    --    --    --       --     $12.1
Liabilities
  Notes payable.........     $ 5.4      --    --    --    --    --       --     $ 5.4
    Average interest
     rate...............       3.0%     --    --    --    --    --       --       3.0%
  Long-term debt
   (including current
   portion).............     $ 3.0     $6.0  $6.0  $6.0  $2.5  $2.5    $32.5    $58.5
    Average interest
     rate...............       7.3%     7.3%  7.3%  7.3%  7.2%  7.2%     6.8%     7.0%
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of non-interest bearing
    operating accounts located throughout the foreign subsidiaries.
 
   The estimated fair value of the Company's cash and cash equivalents
approximates the principal amounts reflected above based on the short
maturities of these financial instruments. The estimated fair value of the
Company's debt obligations approximates the principal amounts reflected above
based on rates currently available to the Company for debt with similar terms
and remaining maturities.
 
   Although payments under certain of the Company's operating leases for its
facilities are tied to market indices, the Company is not exposed to material
interest rate risk associated with its operating leases.
 
                                      19
<PAGE>
 
                                   PART II.
                               OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
 
   Pursuant to the Company's By-Laws, and in accordance with Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") Rule 14a-5(e), (1) stockholder proposals submitted
pursuant to the requirements of SEC Rule 14a-8 must be received by the
Company's Secretary not later than September 17, 1999 at the Company's address
set forth on the cover page of this Form 10-Q and must otherwise meet the
requirements of SEC Rule 14a-8, and (2) stockholder proposal submitted outside
the processes of SEC Rule 14a-8 must be received by the Company's Secretary
not later than November 16, 1999 and not earlier than October 17, 1999 at the
Company's address set forth on the cover page of this Form 10-Q and must
otherwise meet the requirements set forth in the Company's By-Laws. In
addition, in accordance with SEC Rule 14a-4(c)(1), stockholder proxies
obtained by the Board of Directors of the Company in connection with the
Company's 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will confer on the proxy holders
discretionary authority to vote on any matters presented at the meeting,
unless notice of the matter is provided to the Company's Secretary not later
than December 1, 1999 and the Company's address set forth on the cover page of
this Form 10-Q.
 
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
 
   (a) Exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   Exhibit No.                            Description
   -----------                            -----------
   <C>         <S>
      2.1      Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement among Varian
               Associates, Inc., Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates,
               Inc. and Varian, Inc. dated as of January 14, 1999.*
 
      3.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Varian, Inc.
 
      3.2      Certificate of Designation and Terms of Participating Preferred
               Stock of Varian, Inc.
 
      3.3      By-Laws of Varian, Inc.
 
      10.1     Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement dated as of April 2, 1999
               among Varian Associates, Inc., Varian Semiconductor Equipment
               Associates, Inc. and Varian, Inc.*
 
      10.2     Intellectual Property Agreement dated as of April 2, 1999 among
               Varian Associates, Inc., Varian Semiconductor Equipment
               Associates, Inc. and Varian, Inc.*
 
      10.3     Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of April 2, 1999 among Varian
               Associates, Inc., Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates,
               Inc. and Varian, Inc.
 
      10.4     Transition Services Agreement dated as of April 2, 1999 among
               Varian Associates, Inc., Varian Semiconductor Equipment
               Associates, Inc. and Varian, Inc.*
 
      10.5     Supplemental Retirement Plan of Varian, Inc.
 
      10.6     Varian, Inc. Amended and Restated Note Purchase and Private
               Shelf Agreement and Assumption Dated as of April 2, 1999.*
 
      27.1     Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
- --------
 * Certain exhibits and schedules omitted.
 
   (b) Reports on Form 8-K filed during the quarter ended April 2, 1999:
 
     None.
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
                                  SIGNATURES
 
   Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
                                          VARIAN, INC.
                                           (Registrant)
 
                                                 /s/ G. Edward McClammy
                                          By __________________________________
                                                    G. Edward McClammy
                                            Vice President and Chief Financial
                                                          Officer
                                               (Duly Authorized Officer and
                                               Principal Financial Officer)
Date: May 17, 1999
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 Exhibit No.                            Description
 -----------                            -----------
 <C>         <S>
   2.1       Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement among Varian
             Associates, Inc., Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
             and Varian, Inc. dated as of January 14, 1999.*
 
   3.1       Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Varian, Inc.
 
   3.2       Certificate of Designation and Terms of Participating Preferred
             Stock of Varian, Inc.
 
   3.3       By-Laws of Varian, Inc.
 
  10.1       Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement dated as of April 2, 1999
             among Varian Associates, Inc., Varian Semiconductor Equipment
             Associates, Inc. and Varian, Inc.*
 
  10.2       Intellectual Property Agreement dated as of April 2, 1999 among
             Varian Associates, Inc., Varian Semiconductor Equipment
             Associates, Inc. and Varian, Inc.*
 
  10.3       Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of April 2, 1999 among Varian
             Associates, Inc., Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
             and Varian, Inc.
 
  10.4       Transition Services Agreement dated as of April 2, 1999 among
             Varian Associates, Inc., Varian Semiconductor Equipment
             Associates, Inc. and Varian, Inc.*
 
  10.5       Supplemental Retirement Plan of Varian, Inc.
 
  10.6       Varian, Inc. Amended and Restated Note Purchase and Private Shelf
             Agreement and Assumption Dated as of April 2, 1999.*
 
  27.1       Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
- --------
* Certain exhibits and schedules omitted.

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 2.1

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


                             AMENDED AND RESTATED
                            DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
                                     AMONG
                           VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.,
                VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
                                      AND
                                 VARIAN, INC.
                                  Dated as of
                               January 14, 1999


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                                             Page
<S>                                                                                                          <C> 
ARTICLE I             DEFINITIONS........................................................................       1
                                                                                                                 
         Section 1.01.        General....................................................................       1
                                                                                                                 
         Section 1.02.        References; Interpretation.................................................      17
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE II            PRE-DISTRIBUTION TRANSACTIONS; CERTAIN COVENANTS...................................      17
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.01.        Corporate Reorganization Transactions; Dispositions........................      17
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.02.        Conveyance of Assets.......................................................      18
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.03.        Transfer and Assignment of Certain Licenses and Permits....................      18
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.04.        Transfer and Assignment of Certain Agreements..............................      19
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.05.        Certain Financial and Other Arrangements...................................      19
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.06.        Assumption and Satisfaction of Liabilities.................................      21
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.07.        Stock Issuance; Dividends..................................................      21
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.08.        Charters; By-laws; Rights Plans............................................      22
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.09.        Directors, Officers and Employees..........................................      22
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.10.        Other Transactions.........................................................      22
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.11.        Meeting; Proxy Statement; Other Filings....................................      23
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.12.        State Securities Laws......................................................      23
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.13.        Listing Application........................................................      23
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.14.        Transfers Not Effected Before the Distributions; Transfers Deemed                  
                              Effective as of the Effective Time.........................................      23
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.15.        Ancillary Agreements.......................................................      23
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.16.        Operations in Ordinary Course..............................................      24
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE III           THE DISTRIBUTIONS..................................................................      24
                                                                                                                 
         Section 3.01.        Record Date and Distribution Date..........................................      24
                                                                                                                 
         Section 3.02.        The Distributions..........................................................      24
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE IV            CONDITIONS TO THE DISTRIBUTIONS....................................................      24
                                                                                                                 
         Section 4.01.        Conditions Precedent to the Distributions..................................      24
                                                                                                                 
         Section 4.02.        Waivers....................................................................      26
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE V             COVENANTS..........................................................................      26
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.01.        Further Assurances; Consents...............................................      26
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.02.        Intellectual Property Matters..............................................      26
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.03.        Employees; Employee Benefits...............................................      26
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.04.        Tax Matters................................................................      26
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.05.        No Representations or Warranties...........................................      27
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.06.        Removal of Certain Guarantees; Releases from Liabilities...................      27
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.07.        Intercompany Agreements....................................................      28
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.08.        Nondisclosure Agreements...................................................      28 
</TABLE> 

                                      -i-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (continued)

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                                             Page
<S>                                                                                                          <C> 
         Section 5.09.        Receipts after the Distribution Date.........................................    28 
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.10.        Post-Distribution Audit......................................................    28
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE VI            ACCESS TO INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY...............................................    29
                                                                                                                 
         Section 6.01.        Provision, Transfer and Delivery of Applicable Corporate Records.............    29
                                                                                                                 
         Section 6.02.        Access to Books and Records..................................................    29
                                                                                                                 
         Section 6.03.        Confidentiality..............................................................    30
                                                                                                                 
         Section 6.04.        Witness Services.............................................................    30
                                                                                                                 
         Section 6.05.        Reimbursement; Other Matters.................................................    30
                                                                                                                 
         Section 6.06.        Retention of Records.........................................................    30
                                                                                                                 
         Section 6.07.        Privileged Matters...........................................................    31
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE VII           INDEMNIFICATION......................................................................    31
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.01.        Survival of Agreements.......................................................    31
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.02.        Taxes........................................................................    32
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.03.        Indemnification by HCS.......................................................    32
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.04.        Indemnification by SEB.......................................................    32
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.05.        Indemnification by IB........................................................    32
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.06.        Limitations on Indemnification Obligations...................................    32
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.07.        Procedures for Indemnification...............................................    34
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.08.        Indemnification Payments.....................................................    36
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.09.        Certain Legal Proceedings....................................................    36
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.10.        Survival of Indemnities......................................................    36
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.11.        Contribution.................................................................    36
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.12.        Exclusive Mechanism; Waiver of Jury Trial....................................    36
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.13.        Failure to Satisfy Indemnification Obligation................................    36
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.14.        Treatment of Shared Assets...................................................    37
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE VIII          INSURANCE............................................................................    37
                                                                                                                 
         Section 8.01.        Policies and Rights Included within Assets...................................    37
                                                                                                                 
         Section 8.02.        Claims.......................................................................    38
                                                                                                                 
         Section 8.03.        Administration; Other Matters................................................    39
                                                                                                                 
         Section 8.04.        Retrospectively Calculated Insurance Premiums................................    40
                                                                                                                 
         Section 8.05.        Allocation of Insurance Proceeds; Cooperation................................    40
                                                                                                                 
         Section 8.06.        Reimbursement of Expenses....................................................    40
                                                                                                                 
         Section 8.07.        Insurer Insolvency or Coverage Controversy...................................    41
                                                                                                                 
         Section 8.08.        Agreement for Waiver of Conflict and Shared Defense..........................    41
                                                                                                                 
         Section 8.09.        Direct Responsibility for Claims; Additional Insurance; No Modifications.....    41 
</TABLE> 

                                     -ii-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (continued)

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                                             Page
<S>                                                                                                          <C> 
ARTICLE IX            DISPUTE RESOLUTION...................................................................    41
                                                                                                                 
         Section 9.01.        Separation Committee.........................................................    41
                                                                                                                 
         Section 9.02.        Binding Arbitration..........................................................    42
                                                                                                                 
         Section 9.03.        Disputes Regarding Closing Balance Sheets; Payments..........................    43
                                                                                                                 
         Section 9.04.        Post-Distribution Adjustment in Respect of Transaction Expenditures and            
                              Disposition Proceeds.........................................................    44
                                                                                                                 
         Section 9.05.        Discretionary Restructuring Amounts..........................................    45
                                                                                                                 
         Section 9.06.        Specific Performance.........................................................    45
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE X             MISCELLANEOUS........................................................................    45
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.01.       Complete Agreement; Construction.............................................    45
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.02.       Ancillary Agreements.........................................................    45
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.03.       Counterparts.................................................................    45
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.04.       Responsibility for Expenses..................................................    45
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.05.       Notices......................................................................    45
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.06.       Waivers......................................................................    47
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.07.       Amendments...................................................................    47
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.08.       Assignment...................................................................    47
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.09.       Successors and Assigns.......................................................    47
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.10.       Termination..................................................................    47
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.11.       Third Party Beneficiaries....................................................    48
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.12.       Exhibits and Schedules.......................................................    48
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.13.       Governing Law................................................................    48
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.14.       Severability.................................................................    48
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.15.       Subsidiaries.................................................................    48
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.16.       Titles and Headings..........................................................    48
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.17.       Consent to Jurisdiction......................................................    48 


Exhibit A  Corporate Reorganization Transactions...........................................................   A-1 
                                                                                                               
Exhibit B  Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement..........................................................   B-1
                                                                                                               
Exhibit C  Intellectual Property Agreement.................................................................   C-1
                                                                                                               
Exhibit D  Tax Sharing Agreement...........................................................................   D-1
                                                                                                               
Exhibit E  Transition Services Agreement...................................................................   E-1
                                                                                                               
Exhibit F  HCS Pro Forma Balance Sheet.....................................................................   F-1
                                                                                                               
Exhibit G  IB Pro Forma Balance Sheet......................................................................   G-1
                                                                                                               
Exhibit H  SEB Pro Forma Balance Sheet.....................................................................   H-1
                                                                                                               
Exhibit I  HCS Subsidiaries................................................................................   I-1 

</TABLE> 

                                                               -iii-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (continued)

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                                           Page
<S>                                                                                                        <C> 
Exhibit J  IB Subsidiaries...............................................................................   J-1
                                                                                                               
Exhibit K  SEB Subsidiaries..............................................................................   K-1
                                                                                                               
Exhibit L  Varian By-Laws................................................................................   L-1 
</TABLE> 

                                     -iv-
<PAGE>
 
                  AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

     THIS AMENDED and RESTATED DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT effective as of the 14th
day of January, 1999, among VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Varian"), VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC., a Delaware
corporation ("SEB"), and VARIAN, INC., a Delaware corporation ("IB").

                                R E C I T A L S

     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Varian has deemed it appropriate and
desirable to:

     (a) separate and divide the existing businesses of Varian so that (i) the
business of the manufacture, sale and service of ion implanters for
semiconductor equipment fabrication facilities will be owned and conducted
directly or indirectly by SEB, (ii) the business of the manufacture, sale and
service of analytical and research instruments and high vacuum products and
fabrication of circuit boards and electronic subassemblies will be owned and
conducted directly or indirectly by IB, and (iii) the business of the
manufacture, sale and service of integrated cancer-care systems, including
medical linear accelerators and brachytherapy systems for treatment, simulators
for therapy planning and verification, and ancillary equipment, software and
networking systems and related data management, and of x-ray tubes for the
diagnostic imaging industry and imaging subsystems, will be retained and
conducted directly or indirectly by Varian, which will be renamed Varian Medical
Systems, Inc. immediately following the Distributions (as hereinafter defined);
and

     (b) distribute, after such separation and division, as a dividend to the
holders of shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Varian (the
"VAI Common Stock"), all of the then-outstanding shares of common stock, par
value $.01 per share, of SEB (the "SEB Common Stock"), and all of the then-
outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of IB (the "IB
Common Stock"); and

     WHEREAS, each of Varian, SEB and IB has determined that it is necessary and
desirable to set forth the principal corporate transactions required to effect
such separation, division and Distributions and to set forth agreements that
will govern certain other matters before and after the Distributions.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and
covenants contained in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I
                                  DEFINITIONS

     Section 1.01.  General. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have
                    -------   
the following meanings:

     "AAA" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.02(b).
      ---                                                           

     "AAA Rules" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.02(c).
      ---------                                                           

     "Action" means any action, suit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or
      ------                                                             
investigation by or before any Governmental Authority or any arbitration
tribunal.

     "Affiliate" means, when used with respect to a specified Person, another
      ---------                                                              
Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls
or is controlled by or is under common control with the Person specified.

     "After-tax Differential" means the positive or negative amount determined
      ----------------------                                                  
by adding the amounts of the Disposition Proceeds received after the Effective
Time and the Tax Benefit and subtracting therefrom the amounts of the
Transaction Expenditures paid after the Effective Time and the Tax Cost.

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
     "Agent" means First Chicago Trust Company of New York, or such other trust
      -----                                                                    
company or bank designated by Varian, who shall act as agent for the holders of
VAI Common Stock in connection with the Distributions.

     "Agreement" means this Distribution Agreement among Varian, SEB and IB,
      ---------                                                             
including all amendments hereto and all Schedules and Exhibits hereto.

     "Agreement Date" means the date set forth in the first paragraph of this
      --------------                                                         
Agreement.

     "Agreement Disputes" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
      ------------------                                                  
9.01(a).

     "Aircraft Disposition" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
      --------------------                                                  
2.01(b).

     "Ancillary Agreements" means, collectively, the Employee Benefits
      --------------------                                            
Allocation Agreement, the Tax Sharing Agreement, the Transition Services
Agreement and the Intellectual Property Agreement.

     "Arbitration Demand Notice" has the meaning ascribed to such term in
      -------------------------                                          
Section 9.02(b).

     "Assets" means assets, properties and rights (including goodwill), wherever
      ------                                                                    
located (including in the possession of vendors or other third parties or
elsewhere), whether real, personal or mixed, tangible, intangible or contingent,
in each case whether or not recorded or reflected or required to be recorded or
reflected on the books and records or financial statements of any Person,
including:

     (i)    all accounting and other books, records and files whether in paper,
microfilm, microfiche, computer tape or disc, magnetic tape or any other form;

     (ii)   all apparatus, computers and other electronic data processing
equipment, fixtures, machinery, equipment, capital and other spares, furniture,
office equipment, automobiles, trucks, aircraft and other transportation
equipment, special and general tools, test devices, prototypes and models and
other tangible personal property;

     (iii)  all inventories of materials, parts, raw materials, supplies, work-
in-process, consigned goods, finished goods, packaging and all products and
product samples;

     (iv)   all interests in real property of whatever nature, including
easements, leases and licenses, whether as owner, mortgagee or holder of a
Security Interest in real property, lessor, sublessor, lessee, sublessee or
otherwise;

     (v)    all buildings and other improvements to real property;

     (vi)   all interests in any capital stock or other equity interests of any
Subsidiary or any other Person, all bonds, notes, debentures or other securities
issued by any Subsidiary or any other Person, all loans, advances or other
extensions of credit or capital contributions to any Subsidiary or any other
Person and all other investments in securities of any Person;

     (vii)  all license agreements, leases of personal property, open purchase
orders for raw materials, supplies, parts or services, unfilled orders for the
manufacture and sale of products, other sales or purchase agreements,
distributions arrangements, and other contracts, agreements or commitments;

     (viii) all deposits, letters of credit and performance and surety bonds;

     (ix)   all technical information, data, research and development
information, engineering drawings, operating and maintenance manuals, and
materials and analyses prepared by consultants and other third parties;

     (x)    all Intellectual Property;

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     (xi)    all cost information, sales and pricing data, customer prospect
lists, supplier records, customer and supplier lists, customer and vendor data,
correspondence and lists, product literature, artwork, design, development and
manufacturing files, vendor and customer drawings, formulations and
specifications, quality records and reports and other books, records, studies,
surveys, reports, plans and documents;

     (xii)   all prepaid expenses, trade accounts and other accounts and notes
receivables;

     (xiii)  all rights under contracts, agreements, warranties or guarantees,
all claims or rights or judgments against any Person, all rights in connection
with any bids or offers and all claims, choses in action, rights of recovery and
rights of set-off or similar rights, whether accrued or contingent, and refunds
and deposits;

     (xiv)   all rights under insurance policies and all rights in the nature of
insurance, indemnification or contribution;

     (xv)    all licenses, permits, approvals and authorizations which have been
issued by any Governmental Authority;

     (xvi)   and marketing materials and other printed or written
materials;

     (xvii)  employee contracts, including any rights thereunder to restrict an
employee or former employee from competing in certain respects and personnel and
medical files and records;

     (xviii) all computer programs and other software (in executable or source
code format), including operating software, applications, networks software,
firmware, middleware, design software, design tools, test and diagnostic
software and systems configurations (and all documentation, schematics,
drawings, designs, manuals, reports, records, instructions, studies, surveys,
plans, books or other written materials (whether in hard copy or magnetic form)
relating to or including the foregoing) but excluding product-related computer
programs and other software;

     (xix)   Cash and Cash Equivalents, bank accounts, lock boxes and other
deposit arrangements; and

     (xx)    interest rate, currency, commodity or other swap, collar, cap or
other hedging or similar agreements or arrangements.

     "Assignee" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.04(b).
      --------                                                           

     "Auditors" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.10(a).
      --------                                                           

     "Books and Records" means all books, records, manuals, agreements and other
      -----------------                                                         
materials (in any form or medium), including all mortgages, licenses,
indentures, contracts, financial data, customer lists, marketing materials and
studies, advertising materials, price lists, correspondence, distribution lists,
supplier lists, production data, sales and promotional materials and records,
purchasing materials and records, personnel records, manufacturing and quality
control records and procedures, blue prints, research and development files,
records, data and laboratory books, accounts records, sales order files,
litigation files, computer files, microfiche, tape recordings and photographs.

     "Cash and Cash Equivalents" has the meaning ascribed to such term under
      -------------------------                                             
GAAP.

     "Claims Administration" means the processing of claims made under the
      ---------------------                                               
Company Policies, including the reporting of losses, management and defense of
claims (except to the extent settlement authority remains with another party as
contemplated by Section 7.07) and providing for appropriate releases upon
settlement of claims.

     "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
      ----                                                      

     "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
      ----------                                               

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     "Company Policies" means all Policies, current or past, which are as of the
      ----------------                                                          
Effective Time, or at any time were, maintained by, on behalf of, or for the
benefit or protection of Varian or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its
predecessors which relate to any Shared Liability, the Instruments Business, the
Health Care Systems Business or the Semiconductor Equipment Business, or current
or past directors, officers, employees or agents of any of the foregoing.

     "Consent" means any approval, consent or waiver required to be obtained
      -------                                                               
from any Governmental Authority or other third party for the consummation of a
specified transaction, including any option, right of first refusal or other
similar right of a third party triggered by a specified transaction.

     "Consolidated Debt" means with respect to any Person (without duplication),
      -----------------                                                         
every obligation of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries (i) for money
borrowed, (ii) evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar
instruments, (iii) for reimbursement with respect to letters of credit, bankers'
acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such Person or its
consolidated Subsidiaries, (iv) for the deferred purchase price of property or
services if, and to the extent that, such obligation would appear as a Liability
upon a balance sheet of such Person or its consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in
accordance with GAAP (but excluding trade accounts payable or accrued
Liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business), excluding capital
leases, and (v) to guarantee or otherwise be liable for, any obligation of the
type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of another Person.

     "Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments" means, collectively, the various
      ---------------------------------------                                  
written agreements, instruments and other documents to be entered into to effect
the Corporate Reorganization Transactions or otherwise to effect the transfer of
Assets and the assumption of Liabilities in the manner contemplated by this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

     "Corporate Reorganization Transactions" means, collectively, each of the
      -------------------------------------                                  
distributions, transfers, conveyances, contributions, assignments and other
transactions described and set forth on Exhibit A, and those described or
contemplated by the Proxy Statement and the private ruling request submissions
made to the Internal Revenue Service in connection therewith, which are intended
to separate and divide the existing businesses of Varian so that, except as
otherwise expressly provided on Exhibit A:

     (i)   the Semiconductor Equipment Assets, Semiconductor Equipment
Liabilities and Semiconductor Equipment Business shall be owned or held,
directly or indirectly, by SEB;

     (ii)  the Instruments Assets,  Instruments Liabilities and Instruments
Business shall be owned or held, directly or indirectly, by IB; and

     (iii) the businesses, Assets and Liabilities of Varian that remain after
the transactions described in clauses (i) and (ii) above, after giving effect to
the Distributions, including the Health Care Systems Assets, Health Care Systems
Liabilities and Health Care Systems Business shall be owned or held, directly or
indirectly, by HCS.

     "Cost" means (i) the salary, fringe benefits and overhead expense of
      ----                                                               
personnel (or an allocable portion thereof) plus (ii) out-of-pocket expenses.

     "DGCL" means the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended.
      ----                                                         

     "Dispositions" means, collectively, the Palo Alto Property Disposition and
      ------------                                                             
the Aircraft Disposition.

     "Disposition Proceeds" means the proceeds from the Palo Alto Property
      --------------------                                                
Disposition (or any of its component parts) or the Aircraft Disposition, net of
the expenses of such sale or other disposition.

     "Disputing Party" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.03(a).
      ---------------                                                           

     "Distribution Date" means the date determined by the Board of Directors of
      -----------------                                                        
Varian as of which the Distributions shall be effected.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     "Distribution Proposals" means, collectively,  Proposals One through Ten
      ----------------------                                                 
set forth in the Proxy Statement.

     "Distribution Record Date" means the time designated by the Board of
      ------------------------                                           
Directors of Varian for the purpose of determining the holders of record of VAI
Common Stock entitled to receive the Distributions.

     "Distributions" means, collectively, the SEB Distribution and the IB
      -------------                                                      
Distribution.

     "Effective Time" means 11:59 p.m. California time on the Distribution Date.
      --------------                                                            

     "Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement" means the Employee Benefits
      --------------------------------------                             
Allocation Agreement among Varian, SEB and IB (including all exhibits and
schedules thereto) substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

     "Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state, local and foreign
      ------------------                                                     
statutes, Laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, principles of common law,
judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses,
agreements or other governmental restrictions (including the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. 9601, et
seq.), whether now or hereafter in existence, relating to the environment,
natural resources, human health or safety, endangered or threatened species of
fish, wildlife and plants, or to emissions, discharges or releases of
pollutants, contaminants, petroleum or petroleum products, chemicals or
industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment
(including indoor or outdoor air, surface water, groundwater and surface or
subsurface soils), or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of
pollutants, contaminants, petroleum or petroleum products, chemicals or
industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes or the investigation,
cleanup or other remediation thereof.

     "Environmental Matters" means all matters relating in any way to (i) soil,
      ---------------------                                                    
air and water and groundwater pollution or contamination, including any on-site
or off-site pollution or contamination, (ii) damages to the natural environment
or natural resources, (iii) Releases or discharges of waste, Hazardous
Materials, or pollutants or contaminants, or (iv) recycling or disposal of
Hazardous Materials or wastes (including garbage, refuse, slag, sludge and other
discarded materials, whether solid, liquid, semisolid or gaseous and whether on-
site or off-site).

     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
      ------------                                                        

     "GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles and
      ----                                                                  
practices, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, as promulgated by the
Financial Accounting Standards Board and its predecessors.

     "Governmental Authority" means any government or any agency, bureau, board,
      ----------------------                                                    
commission, court, department, official, political subdivision, tribunal or
other instrumentality of any government, whether federal, state or local,
domestic or foreign.

     "Group" means (i) with respect to HCS, the Health Care Systems Group, (ii)
      -----                                                                    
with respect to SEB, the Semiconductor Equipment Group, and (iii) with respect
to IB, the  Instruments Group.

     "Hazardous Materials" means those elements, compounds and substances
      -------------------                                                
identified in any of the Environmental Laws as "hazardous materials," "hazardous
substances," or "hazardous waste," as well as any other elements, compounds or
substances which are listed or identified as "pollutants," "contaminants,"
"hazardous," "toxic" (or other term of similar meaning) under any Environmental
Law.  The term "Hazardous Materials" expressly includes radioactive materials,
petroleum products and asbestos.

     "HCS" means Varian, after giving effect to the Corporate Reorganization
      ---                                                                   
Transactions and the Distributions or as if the Corporate Reorganization
Transactions and the Distributions had occurred, as the context requires.

     "HCS Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet" has the meaning ascribed to such term
      ----------------------------------                                       
in Section 9.03(b).

     "HCS Closing Balance Sheet" has the meaning ascribed to such term in
      -------------------------                                          
Section 5.10(a).

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     "HCS Common Stock" means VAI Common Stock after the Distributions.
      ----------------                                                 

     "HCS Discretionary Restructuring Amount" means the total of the out-of-
      --------------------------------------                               
pocket costs of any discretionary restructuring of the Health Care Systems Group
between October 2, 1998 and the Distribution Date, including but not limited to
all amounts paid to employees (other than employees terminated for cause) for
accrued personal paid leave and severance amounts, as well as any amounts paid
in connection with the termination of leases and other contracts in connection
with such discretionary restructuring.

     "HCS Dispute" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.03(a).
      -----------                                                           

     "HCS Indemnitees" means HCS, the HCS Subsidiaries and each Affiliate
      ---------------                                                    
thereof after giving effect to the Corporate Reorganization Transactions and the
Distributions, and each of the past, present and future directors, officers,
employees and agents of any of the foregoing and each of the heirs, executors,
successors and assigns of such directors, officers, employees and agents.

     "HCS Pro Forma Balance Sheet" means the pro forma balance sheet of HCS at
      ---------------------------                                             
October 2, 1998, attached as Exhibit F and the accounting records supporting
such balance sheet.

     "HCS Records" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.01(c).
      -----------                                                           

     "HCS Subsidiaries" means the Subsidiaries of Varian listed on Exhibit I and
      ----------------                                                          
all other Subsidiaries of Varian other than IB, SEB, the IB Subsidiaries and the
SEB Subsidiaries.

     "Health Care Systems Assets" means, collectively, all the Assets that are
      --------------------------                                              
owned or held by HCS or any HCS Subsidiary as of the Effective Time (and those
Assets to be transferred to HCS or a HCS Subsidiary at a later time as provided
in Section 2.14), including:

     (i)   the capital stock of, or other ownership interests in, the HCS
Subsidiaries;

     (ii)  all the Assets included on the HCS Pro Forma Balance Sheet that are
owned or held by HCS or any HCS Subsidiary as of the Effective Time;

     (iii) all the Assets acquired by Varian or any of its Subsidiaries after
the date of the HCS Pro Forma Balance Sheet which are owned or held by Varian or
any of its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time and which are of a nature or
type that would have resulted in such Assets being included as Assets on the HCS
Pro Forma Balance Sheet had they been acquired on or before the date of the HCS
Pro Forma Balance Sheet, determined on a basis consistent with the determination
of the Assets included on the HCS Pro Forma Balance Sheet;

     (iv)  all the Assets expressly allocated to or retained by HCS or any HCS
Subsidiary under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, including the
Corporate Reorganization Transactions;

     (v)   rights to the Company Policies to the extent set forth in Article
VIII; and

     (vi)  the rights of HCS and the HCS Subsidiaries under this Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements.

           Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Health Care Systems Assets shall
not include any and all Assets that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement
or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be allocated to or retained by any
member of the Instruments Group or the Semiconductor Equipment Group.

     "Health Care Systems Business" means the business that, after giving effect
      ----------------------------                                              
to the Corporate Reorganization Transactions and the Distributions, is conducted
by HCS, the HCS Subsidiaries and/or any other member of the Health Care Systems
Group.

     "Health Care Systems Group" means HCS, the HCS Subsidiaries and the Persons
      -------------------------                                                 
that become Subsidiaries of HCS after the consummation of the Corporate
Reorganization Transactions and the Distributions.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
     "Health Care Systems Liabilities" means, collectively, all the Liabilities
      -------------------------------                                          
of HCS, the HCS Subsidiaries and the other members of the Health Care Systems
Group after giving effect to the Corporate Reorganization Transactions and the
Distributions, including:

     (i)    all the Liabilities included on the HCS Pro Forma Balance Sheet that
remain outstanding as of the Effective Time;

     (ii)   all the Liabilities of Varian arising or assumed after the date of
the HCS Pro Forma Balance Sheet and that remain outstanding as of the Effective
Time, which are of a nature or type that would have resulted in such Liabilities
being included as Liabilities on the HCS Pro Forma Balance Sheet had they arisen
or been assumed on or before the date of the HCS Pro Forma Balance Sheet,
determined on a basis consistent with the determination of the Liabilities of
HCS on the HCS Pro Forma Balance Sheet;

     (iii)  all the Liabilities expressly assumed or retained by HCS, any HCS
Subsidiary and any other member of the Health Care Systems Group under this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, including the Corporate Reorganization
Transactions;

     (iv)   the obligations of HCS, the HCS Subsidiaries and any other member of
the Health Care Systems Group under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements;

     (v)   all actual or alleged Liabilities (regardless of whether any claim
with respect to such Liabilities is asserted before, on or after the
Distribution Date) relating to Environmental Matters or arising under any
Environmental Laws (including all claims for death, bodily injury, personal
injury and property damage relating to Environmental Matters or arising under
any Environmental Laws) arising out of, relating to or resulting from (A) the
activities, operations, acts or omissions at, from or with respect to the Health
Care Systems Business or the Health Care Systems Assets before, on or after the
Distribution Date, and (B) Remediation of any Release arising out of, relating
to or resulting from activities, operations, acts or omissions at, from or with
respect to the Health Care Systems Business or the Health Care Systems Assets
before, on or after the Distribution Date wherever such Remediation may be
performed;

     (vi)   all actual or alleged Liabilities of HCS and any other member of the
Health Care Systems Group to third parties (regarding of whether any claim with
respect to such Liabilities is asserted before, on or after the Distribution
Date) arising out of, relating to or resulting from the transportation,
handling, possession, processing, treatment, storage, disposal, manufacture,
further manufacture, use, reuse, sale or resale of any goods manufactured,
processed, sold or distributed at any time on or before the Distribution Date by
the Health Care Systems Business, including all such Liability for personal
injury, bodily injury (including death or aggravation of previously existing
illness, injury disability or condition) or property damage;

     (vii)  all Liabilities to persons employed by Varian or its Subsidiaries on
or before the Effective Time, the services of whom were primarily dedicated to
the Health Care Systems Business, including Liabilities arising out of, relating
to or resulting  from the termination or alleged termination of such person's
employment as a result of the Corporate Reorganization Transactions or the
Distributions and Liabilities arising out of, relating to or resulting from the
assertion by any such person of employment by a member of another Group as a
result of the Corporate Reorganization Transactions; and

     (viii) all the Liabilities of the parties or their respective Subsidiaries
(whether arising before, on or after the Distribution Date) arising out of,
relating to or resulting from the management or conduct before, on or after the
Distribution Date of the Health Care Systems Business or ownership of the Health
Care Systems Assets (including Securities Liabilities to the extent arising out
of, relating to or resulting from information concerning the management,
business or operations of HCS, the HCS Subsidiaries or the other members of the
Health Care Systems Group in the Registration Statements or the Proxy
Statement), except as otherwise expressly provided herein.

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Health Care Systems Liabilities
     shall not include:

            (x)  any Liability set forth on Schedule 1.01(a); or

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
          (y)  any and all Liabilities that are expressly contemplated by this
     Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Liabilities to be assumed or
     retained by any member of the Instruments Group or the Semiconductor
     Equipment Group.

     "IB" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the first paragraph of this
      --                                                                      
Agreement.

     "IB Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet" has the meaning ascribed to such term
      ---------------------------------                                       
in Section 9.03(b).

     "IB Claim" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.01(b).
      --------                                                           

     "IB Closing Balance Sheet" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
      ------------------------                                                  
5.10(a).

     "IB Common Shares" means the shares of IB Common Stock owned by Varian
      ----------------                                                     
immediately before the Distributions.

     "IB Common Stock" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals to
      ---------------                                                          
this Agreement.

     "IB Discretionary Restructuring Amount" means the total of the out-of-
         ----------------------------------                               
pocket costs of any discretionary restructuring of the Instruments Group between
October 2, 1998 and the Distribution Date, including but not limited to, all
amounts paid to employees (other than employees terminated for cause) for
accrued personal paid leave and severance amounts, as well as any amounts paid
in connection with the termination of leases and other contracts in connection
with such discretionary restructuring.

     "IB Distribution" means the distribution, on the Distribution Date, as a
      ---------------                                                        
dividend by Varian to the Varian Holders of the IB Common Shares on the basis
provided in Section 3.02.

     "IB Dispute" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.03(a).
      ----------                                                           

     "IB Indemnitees" means IB, the IB Subsidiaries and each Affiliate thereof
      --------------                                                          
after giving effect to the Corporate Reorganization Transactions and the
Distributions, and each of the past, present and future directors, officers,
employees and agents of the foregoing and each of the heirs, executors,
successors and assigns of such directors, officers, employees and agents.

     "IB Pro Forma Balance Sheet" means the pro forma balance sheet of IB at
      --------------------------                                            
October 2, 1998, attached as Exhibit G and the accounting records supporting
such balance sheet.

     "IB Records" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.01(b).
      ----------                                                           

     "IB Notes Payable" means the Notes Payable assumed by IB pursuant to
      ----------------                                                   
Sections 2.05(c) and (d).

     "IB Subsidiaries" means the Subsidiaries listed on Exhibit J.
      ---------------                                             

     "IB Term Loans" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
      -------------                                                  
2.05(c)(i).

     "Income Tax" means (i) any Tax imposed by Subtitle A or F of the Code, (ii)
      ----------                                                                
any Tax imposed by any state of the United States or by any political
subdivision of any such state which is imposed on or measured by net income,
including state and local franchise or similar Taxes measured by net income, and
(iii) any Tax imposed by any foreign country or any possession of the United
States, or by any political subdivision of any foreign country or United States
possession that is an income tax as defined in Treasury Regulation Section
1.901-2.

     "Indemnifiable Losses" means, with respect to any Person, any and all
      --------------------                                                
losses, obligations, claims, damages, deficiencies, penalties, judgments,
settlements, payments, fines, interest, costs and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys', accountants', consultants' or other professionals' fees,
investigation expenses and any and all other out-of-pocket expenses) or other
Liabilities whatsoever that are assessed, imposed, awarded against or incurred
by such Person excluding exemplary, special or punitive damages or lost profits
except to the extent actually paid by an 

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
Indemnitee in respect of a Third Party Claim or Action either (i) in
investigating, preparing for, defending against any Actions, any potential or
threatened Actions or any Third Party Claims or potential or threatened Third
Party Claims or in settling any of the foregoing or in satisfaction of any
judgment, fine or penalty rendered in or resulting from any of the foregoing or
otherwise arising out of, relating to or resulting from any Actions, any
potential or threatened Actions or any Third Party Claims or potential or
threatened Third Party Claims for which such Person would be entitled to
indemnification under Article VII hereof, or (ii) in respect of any other event,
occurrence or matter for which such Person would be entitled to indemnification
under Article VII hereof, in each case whether accrued before, on or after the
date of this Agreement.

     "Indemnifying Party" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
      ------------------                                                  
7.06(a).

     "Indemnitee" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.06(a).
      ----------                                                           

     "Independent Auditors" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
      --------------------                                                  
9.03(b).

     "Instruments Assets" means, collectively, all the Assets that are owned or
      ------------------                                                       
held by IB or any IB Subsidiary as of the Effective Time (and those Assets to be
transferred to IB or an IB Subsidiary at a later time as provided in Section
2.14), including:

     (i)   the capital stock of, or other ownership interests in, the IB
Subsidiaries;

     (ii)  all the Assets included on the IB Pro Forma Balance Sheet that are
owned or held by IB or any IB Subsidiary as of the Effective Time;

     (iii) all the Assets acquired by Varian or any of its Subsidiaries after
the date of the IB Pro Forma Balance Sheet which are owned or held by Varian or
any of its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time and which are of a nature or
type that would have resulted in such Assets being included as Assets on the IB
Pro Forma Balance Sheet had they been acquired on or before the date of the IB
Pro Forma Balance Sheet, determined on a basis consistent with the determination
of the Assets included on the IB Pro Forma Balance Sheet;

     (iv)  all the Assets expressly allocated to or retained by IB or any IB
Subsidiary under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, including the
Corporate Reorganization Transactions;

     (v)   rights to the Company Policies to the extent set forth in Article
VIII; and

     (vi)  the rights of IB and the IB Subsidiaries under this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements.

           Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Instruments Assets shall not
include any and all Assets that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement or
any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be allocated to or retained by any member
of the Semiconductor Equipment Group or the Health Care Systems Group.

     "Instruments Business" means the business that, after giving effect to the
      --------------------                                                     
Corporate Reorganization Transactions and the Distributions, is conducted by IB,
the IB Subsidiaries and/or any other member of the Instruments Group.

     "Instruments Group" means IB, the IB Subsidiaries and the Persons that
      -----------------                                                    
become Subsidiaries of IB after the consummation of the Corporate Reorganization
Transactions and the Distributions.

     "Instruments Liabilities" means, collectively, all the Liabilities of IB,
      -----------------------                                                 
the IB Subsidiaries and the other members of the Instruments Group after giving
effect to the Corporate Reorganization Transactions and the Distributions,
including:

     (i)   all the Liabilities included on the IB Pro Forma Balance Sheet that
remain outstanding as of the Effective Time;

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
     (ii)   all the Liabilities of Varian arising or assumed after the date of
the IB Pro Forma Balance Sheet and that remain outstanding as of the Effective
Time, which are of a nature or type that would have resulted in such Liabilities
being included as Liabilities on the IB Pro Forma Balance Sheet had they arisen
or been assumed on or before the date of the IB Pro Forma Balance Sheet,
determined on a basis consistent with the determination of the Liabilities of IB
on the IB Pro Forma Balance Sheet;

     (iii)  all the Liabilities expressly assumed or retained by IB, any IB
Subsidiary and any other member of the Instruments Group under this Agreement or
any Ancillary Agreement, including the Corporate Reorganization Transactions,
the IB Term Loans and the IB Notes Payable;

     (iv)   the obligations of IB, the IB Subsidiaries and any other member of
the Instruments Group under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements;

     (v)    all actual or alleged Liabilities (regardless of whether any claim
with respect to such Liabilities is asserted before, on or after the
Distribution Date) relating to Environmental Matters or arising under any
Environmental Laws (including all claims for death, bodily injury, personal
injury and property damage relating to Environmental Matters or arising under
any Environmental Laws) arising out of, relating to or resulting from (A) the
activities, operations, acts or omissions at, from or with respect to the
Instruments Business or the Instruments Assets before, on or after the
Distribution Date, and (B) Remediation of any Release arising out of, relating
to or resulting from activities, operations, acts or omissions at, from or with
respect to the Instruments Business or the Instruments Assets before, on or
after the Distribution Date wherever such Remediation may be performed;

     (vi)   all actual or alleged Liabilities of IB and any other member of the
Instruments Group to third parties (regarding of whether any claim with respect
to such Liabilities is asserted before, on or after the Distribution Date)
arising out of, relating to or resulting from the transportation, handling,
possession, processing, treatment, storage, disposal, manufacture, further
manufacture, use, reuse, sale or resale of any goods manufactured, processed,
sold or distributed at any time on or before the Distribution Date by the
Instruments Business, including all such Liability for personal injury, bodily
injury (including death or aggravation of previously existing illness, injury
disability or condition) or property damage;

     (vii)  all Liabilities to persons employed by Varian or its Subsidiaries on
or before the Effective Time, the services of whom were primarily dedicated to
the Instruments Business, including Liabilities arising out of, relating to or
resulting from the termination or alleged termination of such person's
employment as a result of the Corporate Reorganization Transactions or the
Distributions and Liabilities arising out of, relating to or resulting from the
assertion by any such person of employment by a member of another Group as a
result of the Corporate Reorganization Transactions; and

     (viii) all the Liabilities of the parties or their respective Subsidiaries
(whether arising before, on or after the Distribution Date) arising out of,
relating to or resulting from the management or conduct before, on or after the
Distribution Date of the Instruments Business or ownership of the Instruments
Assets (including Securities Liabilities to the extent arising out of, relating
to or resulting from information concerning the management, business or
operations of IB, the IB Subsidiaries or the other members of the Instruments
Group in the Registration Statements or the Proxy Statement), except as
otherwise expressly provided herein.

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Instruments Liabilities shall not
     include:

            (x)  any Liability set forth on Schedule 1.01(a) or 1.01(c);

            (y)  any and all Liabilities that are expressly contemplated by this
     Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Liabilities to be assumed or
     retained by any member of the Semiconductor Equipment Group or the Health
     Care Systems Group.

     "Insurance Administration" means, with respect to each Company Policy, the
      ------------------------                                                 
accounting for premiums, retrospectively calculated additional or return
premiums or assessments, policy dividends or audited exposure, defense costs,
indemnity payments, deductibles and retentions, as appropriate, under the terms
and conditions of 

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
each of the Company Policies; the reporting to excess insurance carriers of any
losses or claims that may cause the per occurrence, per claim or aggregate
limits of any Company Policy to be exceeded and the distribution of Insurance
Proceeds as contemplated by this Agreement.

     "Insurance Proceeds" means, with respect to any insured party, those
      ------------------                                                 
monies, net of any applicable premium adjustment, retrospectively calculated
premium, deductible, retention or cost of reserve paid or held by or for the
benefit of such insured, which are either:

     (i)  received by an insured from an insurer; or

     (ii) paid by an insurer on behalf of an insured.

     "Insured Claims" means those Liabilities that, individually or in the
      --------------                                                      
aggregate, are covered within the terms and conditions of any of the Company
Policies, whether or not subject to deductibles, co-insurance, uncollectability
or retrospectively calculated premium adjustments.

     "Intellectual Property" means the intellectual property rights owned,
      ---------------------                                               
licensed to or otherwise held throughout the world by any person, including,
without limitation, all of the rights, title and interests in the following:

     (i)   all United States and foreign patents, patent applications (including
any continuations, continuation-in-part and divisionals), patent applications
under preparation, invention disclosures and invention disclosures under
preparation;

     (ii)  all United States and foreign registered and unregistered copyrights
and mask works, including applications and applications under preparation
therefor;

     (iii) all United States and foreign registered and unregistered trademarks,
trade names, trade dress, service marks, services names, artwork, logos and
other marks, including applications and applications under preparation therefor;

     (iv)  all trade secrets, know-how, ideas, concepts, discoveries,
improvements, processes, procedures, methods, recipes, formulae, data and
specifications;

     (v)  all product-related computer programs and other software (in
executable or source code format), including operating software, applications,
networks software, firmware, middleware, design software, design tools, test and
diagnostic software and systems configurations; and

     (vi)  all documentation, schematics, drawings, designs, manuals, reports,
records, instructions, studies, surveys, plans, books or other written materials
(whether in hard copy or magnetic form) relating to or including any of the (i)
through (v) above.

     "Intellectual Property Agreement" means the Intellectual Property Agreement
      -------------------------------                                           
among Varian, SEB and IB (including all exhibits and schedules thereto),
substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

     "Law" means all laws, statutes, ordinances, regulations, rules, orders and
      ---                                                                      
regulations of any Governmental Authority.

     "Liabilities" means any and all debts, liabilities, obligations,
      -----------                                                    
responsibilities, charges, claims, actions, injuries, losses, damages (whether
compensatory, punitive or treble), fines, penalties and sanctions, absolute or
contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, foreseen or
unforeseen, joint, several or individual, asserted or unasserted, accrued or
unaccrued, known or unknown, whenever arising, including those arising under or
in connection with any Law (including any Environmental Law), Action, threatened
Action, order or consent decree of any Governmental Authority or any award of
any arbitrator, and those arising under any contract, guarantee, commitment or
undertaking, whether sought to be imposed by a Governmental Authority, private
party or party to 

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
this Agreement, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty,
strict liability, criminal or civil statute, or otherwise, and including any
costs, expenses, interest, attorneys' fees, disbursements and expenses of
counsel, experts' and consultants' fees and costs related thereto or to
investigating, preparing for or defending or settling any of the foregoing.

     "Managing Party" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7.07(c).
      --------------                                                           

     "Meeting" means the Combined Annual and Special Meeting of holders of VAI
      -------                                                                 
Common Stock to consider the Distribution Proposals and the other proposals
included by the Board of Directors of Varian in the notice of the Meeting.

     "Meeting Date" means the date determined by the Board of Directors of
      ------------                                                        
Varian for the Meeting.

     "Meeting Record Date" means the time determined by the Board of Directors
      -------------------                                                     
of Varian for the purpose of determining the holders of record of VAI Common
Stock entitled to vote at the Meeting.

     "Nasdaq" means The Nasdaq Stock Market.
      ------                                

     "Net Debt" means the difference between (i) the sum of the Notes Payable
      --------                                                               
and VAI Term Loans assumed or retained  by a party as of the date of
determination and (ii) the amount of Cash and Cash Equivalents of such party as
of the date of determination.

     "Net Worth" has the meaning ascribed to such term under GAAP, as calculated
      ---------                                                                 
in accordance with this Agreement, but without giving effect to any Liabilities
or expenditures related to the discretionary restructuring of a business between
the date hereof and the Effective Time, including reductions in force,
facilities' closures, product line abandonment and revaluing impaired assets.

     "Nondisclosure Agreements" means all of the nondisclosure or
      ------------------------                                   
confidentiality agreements entered into by Varian and its Subsidiaries from time
to time before the Distribution Date.

     "Notes Payable" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Varian's audited
      -------------                                                           
consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 2, 1998.

     "Notice" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.05.
      ------                                                         

     "NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
      ----                                         

     "Palo Alto Property Disposition" has the meaning ascribed to such term in
      ------------------------------                                          
Section 2.01(b).

     "Panel" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.02(c).
      -----                                                           

     "Person" means any natural person, corporation, business trust, joint
      ------                                                              
venture, association, company, partnership, limited liability company or other
entity or any Governmental Authority.

     "Policies" means insurance policies and insurance contracts of any kind
      --------                                                              
(other than life and benefits policies or contracts), including primary, excess
and umbrella policies, commercial general liability policies, officers'
liability, fiduciary liability, automobile, aircraft, property and casualty,
workers' compensation and employee dishonesty insurance policies, bonds and
self-insurance and captive insurance arrangements, together with the rights,
benefits and privileges thereunder.

     "Privilege" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.07(a).
      ---------                                                           

     "Privileged Information" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
      ----------------------                                                  
6.07(b).

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
     "Proxy Statement" means the Proxy Statement sent to the holders of VAI
      ---------------                                                      
Common Stock in connection with the Meeting, including any amendments or
supplements thereto.

     "Registration Statements" means the Registration Statements on Form 10 to
      -----------------------                                                 
be filed by SEB and IB with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder in order to register the
SEB Common Stock and the IB Common Stock, respectively, under the Exchange Act,
including any amendments thereto.

     "Release" means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting,
      -------                                                          
discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing into the
environment of any Hazardous Material, including the abandonment or discarding
of containers and other receptacles containing any Hazardous Materials and any
passive migration of any Hazardous Material.

     "Remediation" means any investigation, remediation, prevention, containment
      -----------                                                               
or abatement of releases or threatened releases of materials into the workplace
or the environment and the assessment and mitigation of risks and/or restoration
of any harm arising therefrom and any related actions.

     "Representative" means, with respect to any Person, any of such Person's
      --------------                                                         
directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors, accountants,
attorneys and representatives.

     "SEB" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the first paragraph of this
      ---                                                                      
Agreement.

     "SEB Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet" has the meaning ascribed to such term
      ----------------------------------                                       
in Section 9.03(b).

     "SEB Claim" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.01(c).
      ---------                                                           

     "SEB Closing Balance Sheet" has the meaning ascribed to such term in
      -------------------------                                          
Section 5.10(a).

     "SEB Common Shares" means the shares of SEB Common Stock owned by Varian
      -----------------                                                      
immediately before the Distributions.

     "SEB Common Stock" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals to
      ----------------                                                          
this Agreement.

     "SEB Dispute" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 9.03(a).
      -----------                                                           

     "SEB Distribution" means the distribution, on the Distribution Date, as a
      ----------------                                                        
dividend by Varian to the Varian Holders of the SEB Common Shares on the basis
provided in Section 3.02.

     "SEB Indemnitees" means SEB, the SEB Subsidiaries and each Affiliate
      ---------------                                                    
thereof after giving effect to the Corporate Reorganization Transactions and the
Distributions, and each of the past, present and future directors, officers,
employees and agents of the foregoing and each of the heirs, executors,
successors and assigns of such directors, officers, employees and agents.

     "SEB Pro Forma Balance Sheet" means the pro forma balance sheet of SEB at
      ---------------------------                                             
October 2, 1998, attached as Exhibit H and the accounting records supporting
such balance sheet.

     "SEB Records" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.01(a).
      -----------                                                           

     "SEB Subsidiaries" means the Subsidiaries listed on Exhibit K.
      ----------------                                             

     "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
      --------------                                               

     "Securities Liabilities" means any Liabilities whatsoever that are
      ----------------------                                           
assessed, imposed, awarded against, incurred or accrued by a Person arising out
of, relating to or resulting from, in whole or in part, any Action, any
potential or threatened Action or any Third Party Claim (or any potential or
threatened Third Party Claim) by any 

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
Governmental Authority or any other Person that is based on any violations or
alleged violations of the Securities Act, Exchange Act, any of the rules or
regulations of the Commission promulgated under the Securities Act or Exchange
Act, or any other securities or other similar Law, or on any alleged breach of
duty by a Person in causing, permitting or failing to prevent any such violation
or alleged violation.

     "Security Interest" means any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien,
      -----------------                                                      
charge, claim, option, right to acquire, voting or other restriction, right-of-
way, covenant, condition, easement, encroachment, restriction on transfer, or
other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever.

     "Semiconductor Equipment Assets" means, collectively, all the Assets that
      ------------------------------                                          
are owned or held by SEB or any SEB Subsidiary as of the Effective Time (and
those Assets to be transferred to SEB or a SEB Subsidiary at a later time as
provided in Section 2.14), including:

     (i)   the capital stock of, or other ownership interests in, the SEB
Subsidiaries;

     (ii)  all the Assets included on the SEB Pro Forma Balance Sheet that are
owned or held by SEB or any SEB Subsidiary as of the Effective Time;

     (iii) all the Assets acquired by Varian or any of its Subsidiaries after
the date of the SEB Pro Forma Balance Sheet which are owned or held by Varian or
any of its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time and which are of a nature or
type that would have resulted in such Assets being included as Assets on the SEB
Pro Forma Balance Sheet had they been acquired on or before the date of the SEB
Pro Forma Balance Sheet, determined on a basis consistent with the determination
of the Assets included on the SEB Pro Forma Balance Sheet;

     (iv)  all the Assets expressly allocated to or retained by SEB or any SEB
Subsidiary under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, including the
Corporate Reorganization Transactions;

     (v)   rights to the Company Policies to the extent set forth in Article
VIII; and

     (vi)  the rights of SEB and the SEB Subsidiaries under this Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements.

           Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Semiconductor Equipment Assets
shall not include any and all Assets that are expressly contemplated by this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be allocated to or retained by
any member of the Instruments Group or the Health Care Systems Group.

     "Semiconductor Equipment Business" means the business that, after giving
      --------------------------------                                       
effect to the Corporate Reorganization Transactions and the Distributions, is
conducted by SEB, the SEB Subsidiaries and/or any other member of the
Semiconductor Equipment Group.

     "Semiconductor Equipment Group" means SEB, the SEB Subsidiaries and the
      -----------------------------                                         
Persons that become Subsidiaries of SEB after the consummation of the Corporate
Reorganization Transactions and the Distributions.

     "Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities" means, collectively, all of the
      -----------------------------------                                 
Liabilities of SEB, the SEB Subsidiaries and the other members of the
Semiconductor Equipment Group after giving effect to the Corporate
Reorganization Transactions and the Distributions, including:

     (i)   all the Liabilities included on the SEB Pro Forma Balance Sheet that
remain outstanding as of the Effective Time;

     (ii)  all the Liabilities of Varian arising or assumed after the date of
the SEB Pro Forma Balance Sheet that remain outstanding as of the Effective
Time, which are of a nature or type that would have resulted in such Liabilities
being included as Liabilities on the SEB Pro Forma Balance Sheet had they arisen
or been assumed on or before the date of the SEB Pro Forma Balance Sheet,
determined on a basis consistent with the determination of the Liabilities of
SEB on the SEB Pro Forma Balance Sheet;

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
     (iii)  all the Liabilities expressly assumed or retained by SEB, any SEB
Subsidiary and any other member of the Semiconductor Equipment Group under this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, including the Corporate Reorganization
Transactions;

     (iv)   the obligations of SEB, the SEB Subsidiaries and any other member of
the Semiconductor Equipment Group under this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements;

     (v)    all actual or alleged Liabilities (regardless of whether any claim
with respect to such Liabilities is asserted before, on or after the
Distribution Date) relating to Environmental Matters or arising under any
Environmental Laws (including all claims for death, bodily injury, personal
injury and property damage relating to Environmental Matters or arising under
any Environmental Laws) arising out of, relating to or resulting from (A) the
activities, operations, acts or omissions at, from or with respect to the
Semiconductor Equipment Business or the Semiconductor Equipment Assets before,
on or after the Distribution Date and (B) Remediation of any Release arising out
of, relating to or resulting from activities, operations, acts or omissions at,
from or with respect to the Semiconductor Equipment Business or the
Semiconductor Equipment Assets before, on or after the Distribution Date
wherever such Remediation may be performed;

     (vi)   all actual or alleged Liabilities of SEB and any other member of the
Semiconductor Equipment Group to third parties (regardless of whether any claim
with respect to such Liabilities is asserted before, on or after the
Distribution Date) arising out of, relating to or resulting from the
transportation, handling, possession, processing, treatment, storage, disposal,
manufacture, further manufacture, use, reuse, sale or resale of any goods
manufactured, processed, sold or distributed at any time on or before the
Distribution Date by the Semiconductor Equipment Business, including all such
Liability for personal injury, bodily injury (including death or aggravation of
previously existing illness, injury disability or condition) or property damage;

     (vii)  all the Liabilities of the parties or their respective Subsidiaries,
(whether arising before, on or after the Distribution Date) arising out of,
relating to or resulting from the management or conduct before, on or after the
Distribution Date of the Semiconductor Equipment Business or ownership of the
Semiconductor Equipment Assets (including Securities Liabilities to the extent
arising out of, relating to or resulting from information concerning the
management, business or operations of SEB, the SEB Subsidiaries or the other
members of the Semiconductor Equipment Group in the Registration Statements and
Proxy Statement), except as otherwise expressly provided herein;

     (viii) all Liabilities to persons employed by Varian or its Subsidiaries
on or before the Effective Time, the services of whom were primarily dedicated
to the Semiconductor Equipment Business, including Liabilities arising out of,
relating to or resulting from the termination or alleged termination of such
person's employment as a result of the Corporate Reorganization Transactions or
the Distributions and Liabilities arising out of, relating to or resulting from
the assertion by any such person of employment by a member of another Group as a
result of the Corporate Reorganization Transactions; and

     (ix)   all Liabilities, including those expressly enumerated in clauses (i)
through (viii), arising out of, related to, or resulting from the Thin Film
Systems Business and the acquisition, ownership, use and disposition of the
Assets related thereto.

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Semiconductor Equipment
     Liabilities shall not include:

            (x) any Liability set forth on Schedule 1.01(a) or 1.01(c); or

            (y) any and all Liabilities that are expressly contemplated by this
     Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Liabilities to be assumed or
     retained by any member of the Instruments Group or the Health Care Systems
     Group.

     "Separation Committee" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
      --------------------                                                  
9.01(a).

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
     "Shared Assets" means (i) the Assets listed on Schedule 1.02, (ii) any
      -------------                                                        
claim or right of Varian or its Subsidiaries (before giving effect to the
Corporate Reorganization Transactions and the Distributions) arising out of,
relating to or resulting from, the management or conduct before the
Distributions of the business of Varian or its Subsidiaries (before giving
effect to the Corporate Reorganization Transactions and the Distributions),
which Asset is not expressly included in the definitions of "Health Care Systems
Assets," "Instruments Assets" or "Semiconductor Equipment Assets" and which
claim or right, whenever arising, has accrued before the Distribution Date and
(iii) any Asset received in respect of a Shared Liability, the amount of which
exceeds the amount of the Shared Liability then due and owing.

     "Shared Liabilities" means (i) the Liabilities listed on Schedule 1.01(a),
      ------------------                                                       
(ii) any Liability (whether arising before, on or after the Distributions) of
Varian or its Subsidiaries (before giving effect to the Corporate Reorganization
Transactions and the Distributions) arising out of, relating to or resulting
from, the management or conduct before the Distributions of the businesses of
Varian or its Subsidiaries (before giving effect to the Corporate Reorganization
Transactions and the Distributions) or their respective Assets, which Liability
is not expressly included in the definitions of "Health Care Systems
Liabilities," "Instruments Liabilities" or "Semiconductor Equipment
Liabilities," including those Liabilities listed on Schedule 1.01(b), Securities
Liabilities of Varian and its Subsidiaries (before giving effect to the
Corporate Reorganization Transactions and Distributions) and/or any of its and
their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or representative at or
before the Distributions (other than Securities Liabilities specifically assumed
by HCS, SEB and IB in this Agreement) and Liabilities arising out of, relating
to or resulting from any alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Board of
Directors of Varian or any member thereof at or before the Distributions, (iii)
the Costs of personnel and third party service providers involved in Insurance
Administration with respect to the Company Policies, and (iv) the cost of any
Policies, letters of credit or surety bonds insuring against or otherwise
covering the Liabilities included in clauses (i) and (ii) and the Costs of
personnel and third party service providers involved in Insurance Administration
or Claims Administration with respect to such Policies.

     "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person:
      ----------                                    

     (i)  any corporation of which at least a majority in interest of the
outstanding voting stock (having by the terms thereof voting power under
ordinary circumstances to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation,
irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any other class or classes
of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the
happening of a contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned or
controlled by such Person or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries;
or

     (ii) any non-corporate entity in which such Person or such Person and one
or more Subsidiaries of such Person either (A) directly or indirectly, at the
date of determination thereof, has at least majority ownership interest, or (B)
at the date of determination is a general partner or an entity performing
similar functions (e.g., manager of a limited liability company or a trustee of
a trust).

     "Tax" or "Taxes" means any income, gross income, gross receipts, profits,
      ---      -----                                                          
capital stock, franchise, withholding, payroll, social security, workers'
compensation, unemployment, registration, disability, property, ad valorem,
stamp, excise, severance, occupation, service, sales, use, license, lease,
transfer, import, export, value added, alternative minimum, estimated, or other
similar tax (including any fee, assessment or other charge in the nature of or
in lieu of any tax) imposed by any Governmental Authority, and any interest,
penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts in respect of the foregoing.

     "Tax Benefit" means the product determined by multiplying the sum of all
      -----------                                                            
Transaction Expenditures (whether paid before, on or after the Effective Time)
that are deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes by 38%.

     "Tax Cost" means the sum of the products determined by multiplying the
      --------                                                             
gains on the Dispositions (whether recognized before, on or after the Effective
Time) for U.S. federal income tax purposes by 38%.

     "Tax Sharing Agreement" means the Tax Sharing Agreement among Varian, IB
      ---------------------                                                  
and SEB (including all exhibits or schedules thereto) substantially in the form
of Exhibit D.

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
     "Thin Film Systems Business" means the business of the development,
      --------------------------                                        
manufacture, sale and service of products for physical vapor disposition and
chemical vapor disposition of thin films sold to Novellus Systems, Inc.
effective June 13, 1997.

     "Third Party Claim" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
      -----------------                                                  
7.07(a).

     "Transaction Expenditures" means all cash costs, expenses or other
      ------------------------                                         
expenditures incurred before or after the date hereof in connection with the
preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements and the effectuation of the Corporate Reorganization Transactions and
the Distributions, including the items listed on Schedule 1.03, but excluding
(i) taxes, (ii) the costs associated with the termination of personnel employed
other than in the United States, (iii) Liabilities and expenditures related to
the discretionary restructuring of a business, and (iv) Shared Liabilities.

     "Transition Services Agreement" means the Transition Services Agreement
      -----------------------------                                         
among SEB, IB and Varian (including all exhibits or schedules thereto),
substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

     "VAI Common Stock" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals to
      ----------------                                                          
this Agreement.

     "VAI Term Loans" means the indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Notes
      --------------                                                           
of Varian issued and outstanding under the Master Shelf Agreement dated as of
May 11, 1992 and the Note Purchase and Private Master Shelf Agreement dated as
of October 18, 1996.

     "Varian" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the first paragraph of
      ------                                                                 
this Agreement.

     "Varian Holders" means the holders of record of VAI Common Stock as of the
      --------------                                                           
Distribution Record Date.

     Section 1.02.  References; Interpretation. References in this Agreement to
                    --------------------------    
any gender include references to all genders, and references to the singular
include references to the plural and vice versa. The words "include," "includes"
and "including" when used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be followed by
the phrase "without limitation." Unless the context otherwise requires,
references in this Agreement to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall
be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to,
this Agreement. Unless the context otherwise requires, the words "hereof,"
"hereby" and "herein" and words of similar meaning when used in this Agreement
refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular Article,
Section or provision of this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE II
                        PRE-DISTRIBUTION TRANSACTIONS;
                               CERTAIN COVENANTS

     Section 2.01.  Corporate Reorganization Transactions; Dispositions.
                    --------------------------------------------------- 
     (a)  Corporate Reorganization. On or before the Distribution Date (but in
          ------------------------   
all events before the Distributions), each of Varian, IB and SEB shall, and
shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to, as applicable, take such
action or actions as is necessary or appropriate to cause, effect and consummate
the Corporate Reorganization Transactions in accordance with the terms and
provisions set forth in Exhibit A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of
Varian, IB and SEB agrees that before the Distributions, one or more of the
Corporate Reorganization Transactions may be amended, modified, supplemented or
eliminated by Varian in any manner determined by Varian in its sole discretion
to be necessary or appropriate, including to qualify any of such transactions
for tax-free treatment under the Code; provided, however, that no Corporate
                                       --------  -------   
Reorganization Transaction may be amended, modified, supplemented or eliminated
after the Varian stockholders approve the Distributions, unless it would not be
materially adverse to the Varian stockholders.

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
     (b)  Dispositions.
          ------------ 
          (i)  Varian shall use commercially reasonable efforts to sell Varian's
     leasehold interest in and buildings and fixtures for four of its buildings
     in the Stanford Research Park (the Ginzton Research Center at 3075 Hansen
     Way and the three buildings at 3030-3050 Hansen Way, Palo Alto) before the
     Distribution Date (the "Palo Alto Property Disposition").

          (ii) Varian shall use commercially reasonable efforts to sell its Gulf
     Stream III aircraft, model year 1980 before the Distribution Date (the
     "Aircraft Disposition").

     Section 2.02.  Conveyance of Assets. Except as otherwise expressly provided
                    -------------------- 
in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, on or before the Distribution
Date,

     (a)  Health Care Systems Transfers. Varian shall, on behalf of itself and
          -----------------------------    
the HCS Subsidiaries, transfer or cause to be transferred to IB or an IB
Subsidiary all of Varian's and the HCS Subsidiaries' right, title and interest
in the Instruments Assets. Varian shall, on behalf of itself and the HCS
Subsidiaries, transfer or cause to be transferred to SEB or a SEB Subsidiary all
of Varian's and the HCS Subsidiaries' right, title and interest in the
Semiconductor Equipment Assets.

     (b)  Instruments Transfers. IB shall, on behalf of itself and the IB
          ---------------------                                           
Subsidiaries, transfer or cause to be transferred to Varian or a HCS Subsidiary
all of IB's and the IB Subsidiaries' right, title and interest in the Health
Care Systems Assets. IB shall, on behalf of itself and the IB Subsidiaries,
transfer or cause to be transferred to SEB or a SEB Subsidiary, all of IB's and
the IB Subsidiaries' right, title and interest in the Semiconductor Equipment
Assets.

     (c)  Semiconductor Equipment Transfers. SEB shall, on behalf of itself and
          ---------------------------------  
the SEB Subsidiaries, transfer or cause to be transferred to Varian or a HCS
Subsidiary all of SEB's and the SEB Subsidiaries' right, title and interest in
the Health Care Systems Assets. SEB shall, on behalf of itself and the SEB
Subsidiaries, transfer or cause to be transferred to IB or an IB Subsidiary all
of SEB's and the SEB Subsidiaries' right, title and interest in the Instruments
Assets.

     (d)  IT Capital Equipment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each of Varian,
          --------------------    
IB and SEB shall transfer or cause to be transferred to HCS, IB and SEB as
tenants in common each of its and its respective Subsidiaries' right, title and
interest in the Assets identified in the schedules to the Transition Services
Agreement as the "IT Capital Equipment" subject to all Liabilities associated
therewith.

     (e)  Designation of Owner. Each of Varian, IB and SEB may designate the
          --------------------         
member of its Group to which each Asset is to be transferred.

     Section 2.03.  Transfer and Assignment of Certain Licenses and Permits.
                    ------------------------------------------------------- 
Without limiting the generality of Section 2.02 and except as otherwise
expressly provided in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, on or before
the Distribution Date:

     (a)  Semiconductor Equipment Licenses. Each of Varian and IB shall (and, if
          -------------------------------- 
applicable, shall cause any other Person over which it has direct or indirect
control to), duly and validly transfer or cause to be duly and validly
transferred to the appropriate member of the Semiconductor Equipment Group all
transferable licenses, permits and authorizations issued by any Governmental
Authority which are held in the name of any member of the Health Care Systems
Group or the Instruments Group, or any of their respective employees, officers,
directors, stockholders or agents that relate to the Semiconductor Equipment
Business and are not otherwise required by the Health Care Systems Business or
the Instruments Business, respectively.

     (b)  Instruments Licenses. Each of Varian and SEB shall (and, if
          --------------------     
applicable, shall cause any other Person over which it has direct or indirect
control to), duly and validly transfer or cause to be duly and validly
transferred to the appropriate member of the Instruments Group all transferable
licenses, permits and authorizations issued by any Governmental Authority which
are held in the name of any member of the Health Care Systems 

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
Group or the Semiconductor Equipment Group, or any of their respective
employees, officers, directors, stockholders or agents that relate to the
Instruments Business and are not otherwise required by the Health Care Systems
Business or the Semiconductor Equipment Business, respectively.

     (c)  Health Care Systems Licenses.  Each of SEB and IB shall (and, if
          ----------------------------                                    
applicable, shall cause any other Person over which it has direct or indirect
control to), duly and validly transfer or cause to be duly and validly
transferred to the appropriate member of the Health Care Systems Group all
transferable licenses, permits and authorizations issued by any Governmental
Authority which are held in the name of any member of the Semiconductor
Equipment Group or the Instruments Group, or any of their respective employees,
officers, directors, stockholders or agents that relate to the Health Care
Systems Business and are not otherwise required by the Semiconductor Equipment
Group or the Instruments Group, respectively.

     Section 2.04.  Transfer and Assignment of Certain Agreements.
                    --------------------------------------------- 

     (a)  Transfers. Without limiting the generality of Section 2.02 and except
          ---------   
as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements,
on or before the Distribution Date, and subject to the limitations set forth in
this Section 2.04:

          (i)   Each of SEB and IB shall (and, if applicable, shall cause any
     other Person over which it has direct or indirect control to), assign,
     transfer and convey to the appropriate member of the Health Care Systems
     Group all its (or such other Person's) right, title and interest in and to
     any and all agreements that relate exclusively to the Health Care Systems
     Business or any member of the Health Care Systems Group.

          (ii)  Each of Varian and IB shall (and, if applicable, shall cause any
     other Person over which it has direct or indirect control to) assign,
     transfer and convey to the appropriate member of the Semiconductor
     Equipment Group all its (or such other Person's) right, title and interest
     in and to any and all agreements that relate exclusively to the
     Semiconductor Equipment Business or any member of the Semiconductor
     Equipment Group.

          (iii) Each of Varian and SEB shall (and, if applicable, shall cause
     any other Person over which it has direct or indirect control to) assign,
     transfer and convey to the appropriate member of the Instruments Group all
     its (or such other Person's) right, title and interest in and to any and
     all agreements that relate exclusively to the Instruments Business or any
     member of the Instruments Group.

     (b)  Obligations of Assignees. The assignee of any agreement assigned, in
          ------------------------ 
whole or in part, under this Agreement (an "Assignee") shall assume and agree to
pay, perform and fully discharge all obligations of the assignor under such
agreement (whether such obligations arose or were incurred before, on or after
the Distribution Date and irrespective of whether such obligations have been
asserted as of the Distribution Date) or, in the case of a partial assignment,
such Assignee's portion of such obligations.

     (c)  No Assignment of Certain Agreements.  Notwithstanding anything in this
          -----------------------------------                                   
Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement shall not constitute an agreement to
assign any agreement, in whole or in part, or any rights thereunder if the
agreement to assign or attempt to assign, without the consent of a third party,
would constitute a breach thereof or in any way adversely affect the rights of
the Assignee thereof. Until such consent is obtained or if an attempted
assignment thereof would be ineffective or would adversely affect the rights of
any party so that the Assignee would not, in fact, receive all such rights, the
provisions of Section 2.14 shall apply to such agreement.

     Section 2.05.  Certain Financial and Other Arrangements.
                    ---------------------------------------- 

     (a)  Settlement of Intercompany Accounts.  All intercompany receivables,
          -----------------------------------                                
payables and loans (other than receivables, payables and loans otherwise
expressly provided for in this Agreement or an Ancillary Agreement), including
in respect of any cash balances, any cash balances representing deposited checks
or drafts for which only a provisional credit has been allowed or any cash held
in any centralized cash management system, (i) between any member of the
Semiconductor Equipment Group, on the one hand, and any member of the Health
Care Systems Group, on the other hand, (ii) between any member of the Health
Care Systems Group, on the one

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
hand, and any member of the Instruments Group, on the other hand, and (iii)
between any member of the Instruments Group, on the one hand, and any member of
the Semiconductor Equipment Group, on the other hand, shall, as of the Effective
Time, be settled, capitalized or converted into ordinary trade accounts in
accordance with the Corporate Reorganization Transactions and, if applicable,
shall be paid or settled in the ordinary course of business in a manner
consistent with payment or settlement of similar accounts arising from
transactions with third parties.

     (b)  SEB Capital Contribution; Consolidated Debt.
          ------------------------------------------- 

          (i)  Capital Contributions. In addition to any other obligations under
               --------------------- 
     this Agreement, on or before the Distribution Date, Varian shall contribute
     to SEB an amount of Cash and Cash Equivalents such that after giving effect
     to the Corporate Reorganization Transactions (A) the aggregate Cash and
     Cash Equivalents of the members of the Semiconductor Equipment Group as of
     the Effective Time would equal at least $100,000,000 and (B) SEB would have
     a consolidated Net Worth as of the Effective Time of at least $150,000,000.
     Such contribution shall be based on Varian's good faith estimate of the
     Cash and Cash Equivalents of the Semiconductor Equipment Group and the
     consolidated Net Worth of SEB as of the Effective Time and shall be subject
     to adjustment as provided in Section 9.03(c)(i).

          (ii) Consolidated Debt. Varian shall not cause or permit the transfer
               -----------------                                               
     to or retention by any member of the Semiconductor Equipment Group of Notes
     Payable or other Consolidated Debt if, as a result thereof, the
     Consolidated Debt of SEB as of the Effective Time would exceed $5,000,000.
     If after giving effect to the Corporate Reorganization Transactions, the
     Consolidated Debt of SEB would exceed such amount, Varian shall take such
     actions as shall be necessary, which may include but shall not be limited
     to, payment, partial payment or provision for payment in the form of the
     contribution of additional Cash and Cash Equivalents of one or more
     Liabilities comprising such Consolidated Debt to reduce the amount thereof
     to no more than $5,000,000.  The Consolidated Debt caused or permitted to
     be transferred or retained shall be based on Varian's good faith estimate
     of the Notes Payable and other Consolidated Debt of the Semiconductor
     Equipment Group as of the Effective Time and shall be subject to adjustment
     as provided in Section 9.03(c)(i).

     (c)  IB Capital Contribution; Term Loans; Notes Payable.
          -------------------------------------------------- 

          (i)  Term Loans. As of the Effective Time, IB shall assume as an
               ----------         
     Instruments Liability 50% of the VAI Term Loans outstanding as of the
     Effective Time (the "IB Term Loans").

          (ii) Notes Payable; IB Capital Contribution. As of the Effective Time,
               --------------------------------------
     the Instruments Group shall assume or retain as an Instruments Liability an
     amount of the Notes Payable and shall retain or have contributed to it as
     of the Effective Time an aggregate amount of Cash and Cash Equivalents such
     that the Net Debt of IB as of the Effective Time would be equal to 50% of
     the combined Net Debt of HCS and IB as of the Effective Time, after giving
     effect to the Corporate Reorganization Transactions and the provisions of
     Section 2.05(b) but before giving effect to the provisions of Section
     2.05(d). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the assumptions, contributions
     and retentions contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence (after
     giving effect to the Corporate Reorganization Transactions and the
     provisions of Section 2.05(b) but before giving effect to the provisions of
     Section 2.05(d)) would cause the consolidated Net Worth of HCS as of the
     Effective Time (A) to exceed 50% of the combined consolidated Net Worths of
     HCS and IB as of the Effective Time or (B) to be less than 40% of the
     combined consolidated Net Worths of HCS and IB as of the Effective Time,
     then, in the case of (A) the amount of Notes Payable to be assumed or
     retained by the Instruments Group shall be decreased (and/or the Cash and
     Cash Equivalents contributed to IB by Varian increased) such that the
     consolidated Net Worth of HCS as of the Effective Time would equal 50% of
     the combined consolidated Net Worths of HCS and IB as of the Effective Time
     and, in the case of (B) the amount of Notes Payable to be assumed or
     retained by the Instrument Group shall be increased (and/or the Cash and
     Cash Equivalents contributed to IB by Varian decreased) such that the
     consolidated Net Worth of HCS as of the Effective Time would equal 40% of
     the combined consolidated Net Worths of HCS and IB as of the Effective
     Time. For purposes of this Section 2.05(c)(ii), the consolidated Net Worth
     of HCS shall be determined without giving effect to any Transaction
     Expenditures or Dispositions (including associated tax benefit and tax
     cost) that have been accrued, paid or

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
     received by HCS as of the Effective Time. The amounts of Notes Payable,
     Cash and Cash Equivalents and Net Worth used to determine the assumptions,
     contributions and retentions provided in this Section 2.05(c)(ii) shall be
     based on Varian's good faith estimates and shall be subject to adjustment
     as provided in Section 9.03(c)(ii).

     (d)  Additional Allocations. In addition to the Notes Payable to be assumed
          ----------------------     
or retained by the Instruments Group and/or the capital contributions to be made
to IB by Varian contemplated by paragraph (c) above, if the After-tax
Differential is a positive number, then the amount of Notes Payable to be
assumed or retained by the Instruments Group shall be decreased (and/or the Cash
and Cash Equivalents contributed to IB by Varian increased) by an amount equal
to 50% of the After-tax Differential. If, instead, the After-tax Differential is
a negative number, then the amount of Notes Payable to be assumed or retained by
the Instruments Group shall be increased (and/or the Cash and Cash Equivalents
contributed to IB by Varian decreased) by an amount equal to 50% of the absolute
After-tax Differential (i.e., irrespective of its negative sign). The components
of the After-tax Differential which are not determined as of the Effective Time
shall be based on Varian's good faith estimates immediately before the Effective
Time and shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9.04.

     (e)  Discretionary Restructuring Amounts. In addition to the transfers and
          ----------------------------------- 
retentions of Cash and Cash Equivalents and Debt contemplated by Sections
2.05(c) and (d), if the estimated HCS Discretionary Restructuring Amount exceeds
the estimated IB Discretionary Restructuring Amount as of the Effective Time,
the amounts of Notes Payable to be assumed or retained by the Instruments Group
shall be decreased (and/or the Cash and Cash Equivalents contributed to IB by
Varian increased) by an amount equal to 50% of such excess (after giving effect
to any tax benefits) and if the estimated IB Discretionary Restructuring Amount
exceeds the estimated HCS Discretionary Restructuring Amount as of the Effective
Time, the amounts of Notes Payable to be assumed or retained by the Instruments
Group shall be increased (and/or the Cash and Cash Equivalents contributed to IB
by Varian decreased) by an amount equal to 50% of such excess (after giving
effect to any tax benefits). Any such tax benefit shall be determined using a
federal income tax rate of 38%.

     (f)  Renegotiation and Allocation. Varian shall use its reasonable efforts
          ----------------------------
to obtain, before the Distribution Date, all required consents, waivers or
amendments or other actions by the lenders under the VAI Term Loans and the
Notes Payable to permit the transfers, assumptions and retentions contemplated
by Sections 2.05(b), (c) and (d). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Notes Payable
shall first be transferred to or retained by the member of the Group to which
any related Asset is transferred, or by which any related Asset is retained, and
shall only be allocated to another Group to the extent otherwise required by
this Section 2.05.

     Section 2.06.  Assumption and Satisfaction of Liabilities. Except as
                    ------------------------------------------ 
otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, from
and after the Effective Time,

     (a)  Health Care Systems Liabilities.  HCS shall, and shall cause the other
          -------------------------------                                       
members of the Health Care Systems Group to, assume, pay, perform and discharge
all Health Care Systems Liabilities in accordance with their terms, when
determinable, and otherwise in accordance with the practice of the parties
before the Distributions;

     (b)  Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities. SEB shall, and shall cause the
          ----------------------------------- 
other members of the Semiconductor Equipment Group to, assume, pay, perform and
discharge all Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities in accordance with their
terms, when determinable, and otherwise in accordance with the practice of the
parties before the Distributions; and

     (c)  Instruments Liabilities. IB shall, and shall cause the other members
          -----------------------    
of the Instruments Group to, assume, pay, perform and discharge all Instruments
Liabilities in accordance with their terms, when determinable, and otherwise in
accordance with the practice of the parties before the Distributions.

     Section 2.07.  Stock Issuance; Dividends. On or before the Distribution
                    -------------------------   
Date (but in all events before the Distributions),

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
     (a)  IB Common Stock.  IB shall take all necessary actions so that on the
          ---------------                                                     
Distribution Date, the number of shares of IB Common Stock outstanding and held
by Varian is equal to the number of shares of VAI Common Stock outstanding on
the Distribution Record Date.

     (b)  SEB Common Stock.  SEB shall take all necessary actions so that on the
          ----------------                                                      
Distribution Date, the number of shares of SEB Common Stock outstanding and held
by Varian is equal to the number of shares of VAI Common Stock outstanding on
the Distribution Record Date.

     Section 2.08. Charters; By-laws; Rights Plans. On or before the
                   -------------------------------
Distribution Date (but in all events before the Distributions):

     (a)  SEB Governance Matters. Each of Varian and SEB shall take all
          ----------------------  
necessary actions so that as of the Effective Time the Certificate of
Incorporation and By-laws of SEB will be substantially in the forms filed as
exhibits to SEB's Registration Statement at the time it becomes effective and a
Rights Agreement in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to SEB's
Registration Statement at the time it becomes effective shall have been executed
and delivered.

     (b)  IB Governance Matters.  Each of Varian and IB shall take all necessary
          ---------------------
actions so that as of the Effective Time the Certificate of Incorporation and
By-laws of IB will be substantially in the forms filed as exhibits to IB's
Registration Statement at the time it becomes effective and a Rights Agreement
in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to IB's Registration Statement at
the time it becomes effective shall have been executed and delivered.

     (c)  HCS Governance Matters. Varian shall take all necessary actions so
          ----------------------
that immediately after the Effective Time the Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation of Varian will include the amendments approved at the Meeting
by the holders of VAI Common Stock and the By-laws of Varian will be in
substantially the form of Exhibit L.

     Section 2.09.  Directors, Officers and Employees.
                    --------------------------------- 

     (a) Election of Directors of IB and SEB. On or before the Distribution
         -----------------------------------
Date:

         (i)  Each of Varian and SEB shall take all necessary actions so that as
     of the Effective Time the directors of SEB will be as set forth in the
     Proxy Statement.

         (ii) Each of Varian and IB shall take all necessary actions so that as
     of the Effective Time the directors of IB will be as set forth in the Proxy
     Statement.

     (b)  Election of Officers. On or before the Distribution Date, each of
          -------------------- 
Varian, SEB and IB, as applicable, shall take all necessary actions so that as
of the Effective Time the officers of Varian, SEB and IB, respectively, will be
as set forth in the Proxy Statement.

     (c)  Resignations. Subject to the provisions of Sections 2.09(a) and
          ------------
2.09(b), each of Varian, SEB and IB, shall take all necessary action to cause
their respective directors and employees, and those of the members of their
respective Groups, to resign, as of the Effective Time, from all boards of
directors or similar governing bodies of each member of the other Groups on
which they serve, and from all positions as officers or employees of any member
of such other Groups, except as otherwise set forth in the Proxy Statement or
mutually agreed to in writing on or before the Distribution Date by Varian, on
the one hand, and, as applicable, SEB and/or IB, on the other hand.

     Section 2.10.  Other Transactions.  On or before the Distributions, each of
                    ------------------                                          
Varian, IB and SEB shall have consummated those other transactions in connection
with the Corporate Reorganization Transactions and the Distributions that are
contemplated by the Proxy Statement and the ruling request submission by Varian
to the Internal Revenue Service and not specifically referred to in Sections
2.01 through 2.09, subject, however, to the limitation set forth in Section
2.01.

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
     Section 2.11.  Meeting; Proxy Statement; Other Filings.
                    --------------------------------------- 
     (a)  Meeting.  The Board of Directors of Varian shall establish the Meeting
          -------                                                               
Record Date and the Meeting Date and shall take all necessary or appropriate
actions with respect to the Meeting. At the Meeting there shall be submitted to
the Varian stockholders for their vote the Distribution Proposals and such other
proposals as are included in the notice of the Meeting.

     (b)  Proxy Statement; Registration Statements; NYSE Notice. Varian, SEB and
          -----------------------------------------------------
IB shall prepare the Proxy Statement and the Registration Statements. Varian
shall file the Proxy Statement with the Commission and shall mail the Proxy
Statement to the holders of VAI Common Stock as of the Meeting Record Date. Each
of SEB and IB shall file their respective Registration Statements with the
Commission. Varian shall, to the extent possible, give the NYSE not less than
ten days advance notice of the Distribution Record Date in compliance with Rule
10b-17 under the Exchange Act. Each of Varian, SEB and IB shall use reasonable
commercial efforts to cause the Registration Statements to become effective
under the Exchange Act on or before the Distribution Date.

     (c)  Other Filings. Varian, SEB and IB shall cooperate in preparing, filing
          -------------  
with the Commission under the Securities Act and causing to become effective any
registration statements or amendments thereto that are appropriate to reflect
the establishment of or amendments to any employee benefit plan contemplated by
the Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement, the Proxy Statement or otherwise as
necessary to reflect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     Section 2.12. State Securities Laws. Before the Distribution Date, each of
                   --------------------- 
Varian, SEB and IB shall take all necessary or appropriate actions under the
securities or blue sky Laws of states or other political subdivisions of the
United States in order to effect the Distributions.

     Section 2.13. Listing Application. Before the Distribution Date, IB and SEB
                   -------------------  
shall prepare and file with a national securities exchange or Nasdaq listing
applications and related documents and shall take all other necessary or
appropriate actions in order to cause a national securities exchange to list, or
Nasdaq to approve for quotation on its National Market, on or before the
Distribution Date the SEB Common Shares and the IB Common Shares.

     Section 2.14. Transfers Not Effected Before the Distributions; Transfers
                   ----------------------------------------------------------
Deemed Effective as of the Effective Time. If any transfers contemplated by this
- -----------------------------------------
Article II are not consummated at or before the Effective Time, the parties
shall (and shall cause their respective Affiliates and members of their
respective Groups to) cooperate to effect such transfers as promptly as
practicable after the Effective Time.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to require
the transfer of any Assets or the assumption of any Liabilities which by their
terms or operation of Law cannot be transferred or assumed; provided, however,
                                                            --------  ------- 
that the parties shall (and shall cause their respective Affiliates and members
of their respective Groups to) cooperate to seek to obtain any necessary
Consents for the transfer of all Assets and Liabilities contemplated to be
transferred pursuant to this Article II.  Where any transfer of Assets or
Liabilities has not been consummated at or before the Effective Time, from and
after the Effective Time the party retaining such Asset or Liability (or, as
applicable, such other member or members of such party's Group) shall hold such
Asset in trust for the use and benefit of the party entitled thereto (at the
expense of the party entitled thereto) or retain such Liability for the account
of the party by whom such Liability is to be assumed, as the case may be, and
take such other action as may be reasonably requested by the party to whom such
Asset is to be transferred, or by whom such Liability is to be assumed, as the
case may be, in order to place such party, to the extent reasonably possible, in
the same position as it would have been had such Asset or Liability been
transferred or assumed as contemplated by this Agreement.  As, when and if any
such Asset or Liability becomes transferable or assumable, such transfer or
assumption shall be effected as promptly as practicable.  As of the Effective
Time, each party (or, if applicable, such other member or members of such
party's Group) shall be deemed to have acquired (or, as applicable, retained)
complete and sole beneficial ownership over all Assets, together with all
rights, powers and privileges incident thereto, and shall be deemed to have
assumed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement all the Liabilities, and
all duties, obligations and responsibilities incident thereto, which such party
(or any member of such party's Group) is entitled to acquire or required to
assume under this Agreement.

     Section 2.15. Ancillary Agreements. On or before the Distribution Date,
                   --------------------   
each of Varian, SEB and IB shall enter into, and/or where applicable shall cause
such other members of their respective Groups to enter into, (a)

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
the Ancillary Agreements, (b) the Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments, and
(c) any other agreements in respect of the Distributions as are reasonably
necessary or appropriate in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

     Section 2.16. Operations in Ordinary Course. Except as otherwise expressly
                   -----------------------------
provided in this Agreement, between the Agreement Date and the Effective Time,
each of Varian, SEB and IB shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, conduct
its business in a manner substantially consistent with current and past
operating practices and in the ordinary course, including with respect to the
payment and administration of accounts payable and the collection and
administration of accounts receivable, the purchase of capital assets and
equipment and the management of inventories.

                                  ARTICLE III
                               THE DISTRIBUTIONS

     Section 3.01. Record Date and Distribution Date. Subject to the
                   --------------------------------- 
satisfaction or, if applicable, waiver of the conditions set forth in Section
4.01, the Board of Directors of Varian shall establish the Distribution Record
Date and the Distribution Date and any appropriate procedures in connection with
the Distributions.

     Section 3.02.  The Distributions.
                    ----------------- 
     (a)  On or before the Distribution Date, Varian shall:

          (i)   deliver to the Agent the certificates representing the IB Common
     Shares and the SEB Common Shares, in each case, endorsed by Varian in
     blank, for the benefit of the Varian Holders; and

          (ii)  instruct the Agent to distribute, on or as soon as practicable
     after the Distribution Date, to the Varian Holders,

                (A) one share of IB Common Stock for each share of VAI Common
          Stock; and

                (B) one share of SEB Common Stock for each share of VAI Common
          Stock.

     (b)  Duties and Responsibilities of SEB and IB. All shares of SEB Common
          -----------------------------------------   
Stock issued in the SEB Distribution shall be duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable and free of any preemptive (or similar) rights. All
shares of IB Common Stock issued in the IB Distribution shall be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of any
preemptive (or similar) rights. As soon as practicable after the Distribution
Date, certificates for shares of IB Common Stock and SEB Common Stock shall be
mailed by the Agent to the Varian Holders, unless the Agent uses a book entry
system of stock record keeping, in which event no certificates for shares of IB
Common Stock or SEB Common Stock will be used unless a stockholder so requests.
If certificates are used, each of SEB and IB shall provide, or cause to be
provided, to the Agent sufficient certificates representing SEB Common Stock and
IB Common Stock, respectively, in such denominations as the Agent may request in
order to effect the Distributions.

     (c)  Unclaimed Stock or Cash.  Any shares of SEB Common Stock, shares of IB
          -----------------------
Common Stock or any dividends or distributions, if any, with respect to SEB
Common Stock or IB Common Stock that remain unclaimed 180 days after the
Distribution Date shall be returned to HCS and the Persons entitled thereto
shall look only to HCS for such shares of SEB Common Stock, shares of IB Common
Stock, and any dividends or distributions, subject in each case to applicable
escheat or other abandoned property Laws.

                                  ARTICLE IV
                        CONDITIONS TO THE DISTRIBUTIONS

     Section 4.01. Conditions Precedent to the Distributions. The obligations of
                   -----------------------------------------  
the parties to consummate the Distributions are subject to the satisfaction or
waiver as determined by Varian in its sole discretion (except as provided in
Section 4.02 below), of each of the following conditions:

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
     (a)  Declaration of Distributions and Establishment of Distribution Date.
          -------------------------------------------------------------------
The Board of Directors of Varian shall have, in its sole discretion and subject
to and in accordance with the applicable rules of the NYSE and provisions of the
DGCL, declared the Distributions and established the Distribution Record Date,
the Distribution Date, the date on which shares of SEB Common Stock and IB
Common Stock, and any cash in lieu of fractional shares shall be mailed to the
Varian Holders and all appropriate procedures in connection with the
Distributions to the extent not provided in this Agreement.

     (b)  Tax Sharing Agreement.  Varian, SEB and IB shall have executed and
          ---------------------                                             
delivered the Tax Sharing Agreement and such agreement shall be in full force
and effect.

     (c)  Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement.  Varian, SEB and IB shall have
          --------------------------------------                                
executed and delivered the Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement and such
agreement shall be in full force and effect.

     (d)  Transition Services Agreement. Varian, SEB and IB shall have executed
          ----------------------------- 
and delivered the Transition Services Agreement and such agreement shall be in
full force and effect.

     (e)  Intellectual Property Agreement. Varian, SEB and IB shall have
          -------------------------------
executed and delivered the Intellectual Property Agreement and such agreement
shall be in full force and effect.

     (f)  Effective Date of Registration Statements. The Registration Statements
          -----------------------------------------
shall have been declared effective by order of the Commission and no stop order
shall have been entered, and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been
initiated or threatened by the Commission with respect thereto.

     (g)  Listing.  The SEB Common Stock and the IB Common Stock shall have been
          -------                                                               
approved for listing on a national securities exchange or quotation on the
Nasdaq National Market, on or before consummation of the Distributions.

     (h)  Tax Ruling. Varian shall have received rulings from the Internal
          ----------
Revenue Service in form and substance satisfactory to the Board of Directors of
Varian, which rulings shall be in full force and effect as of the Distribution
Date.

     (i)  Pre-Distribution Transactions. Each of the transactions and other
          -----------------------------
matters contemplated by Article II (including each of the distributions,
transfers, conveyances, contributions, assignments or other transactions
included in, or otherwise necessary to consummate, the Corporate Reorganization
Transactions) shall have been consummated in all material respects.

     (j)  Covenants. The covenants contained in Article V of this Agreement that
          ---------
are required to be performed on or before the Distribution Date shall have been
fully performed.

     (k)  No Prohibitions. No temporary, preliminary or permanent injunction or
          ---------------
other order, decree or ruling issued by a Governmental Authority and no statute,
rule, regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any Governmental
Authority shall be in effect materially restricting, preventing or prohibiting
the consummation of the Distributions.

     (l)  Consents.  Each of Varian, SEB and IB and the other members of their
          --------                                                            
respective Groups shall have obtained all Consents the failure of which to
obtain would, in the determination of the Board of Directors of Varian, have a
material adverse effect on HCS, SEB or IB.

     (m)  Stockholder Approval.  The Distribution Proposals (other than Proposal
          --------------------                                                  
Four) shall have been approved by the requisite vote of the holders of VAI
Common Stock in accordance with the DGCL and the provisions of Varian's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation.

     (n)  Fairness Opinion. Warburg Dillon Read LLC shall have delivered its
          ----------------  
written opinion to the Board of Directors of Varian dated as of the date the
Distributions are declared confirming that the Distributions are fair, from a
financial point of view, to the Varian Holders, and such opinion shall not have
been withdrawn or rescinded.

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
     Section 4.02. Waivers. After the Varian stockholders approve the
                   -------
Distribution Proposals, the conditions set forth in Section 4.01 may only be
waived if the Board of Directors of Varian determines such waiver would not be
materially adverse to the Varian stockholders. Further, the Board of Directors
may only waive the condition set forth in Section 4.01(h) with respect to
receipt of Internal Revenue Service tax rulings if it has received an opinion of
counsel substantially to the effect that, for federal income tax purposes, no
gain or loss will be recognized by any holder of VAI Common Stock as a result of
the Distributions and no gain or loss will be recognized by the Company upon the
Distributions, which opinion shall not have been withdrawn or rescinded as of
the Effective Time.

                                   ARTICLE V
                                   COVENANTS

     Section 5.01.  Further Assurances; Consents.  In addition to the actions
                    ----------------------------                             
otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, each party shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to (a) execute and deliver, or cause to be
executed and delivered, such instruments and documents and take, or cause to be
taken, such further or other actions as any other party may reasonably request
to effectuate the purposes of this Agreement and carry out the terms hereof, and
(b) take or cause to be taken all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all
things reasonably necessary or appropriate under applicable Laws, agreements or
otherwise to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including (notwithstanding Section 5.05(c)) using its commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain any Consents, to enter into amendatory agreements
and to make any filings and applications necessary or appropriate in order to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however,
                                                            --------  ------- 
that no party shall be obligated to pay any consideration therefor (except for
filing fees and other similar charges) to any third party from whom such
Consents or amendments are requested or to take any action or omit to take any
action if the taking or omission would be unreasonable burdensome to the party
or its Group or the Group's business.

     Section 5.02.  Intellectual Property Matters.
                    ----------------------------- 

     (a)  Intellectual Property Agreement Controls. Each party acknowledges
          ----------------------------------------        
that, after the Distribution Date, it shall have no interest in nor any right to
use or display the name or any Intellectual Property of another party in any
way, except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement or in any
Ancillary Agreement and except for any use which is otherwise permissible as
"fair use" under applicable Law. Each party further understands and agrees that
the rights, obligations and responsibilities of the parties with respect to the
Intellectual Property that is subject to the Intellectual Property Agreement
shall be governed by the Intellectual Property Agreement to the extent therein
provided.

     (b)  No Representation of Affiliation. After the Distribution Date, no
          --------------------------------        
party shall represent or permit to be represented to any third party that it or
any member of its Group has a business affiliation with any other party or any
member of such other party's Group, except as expressly permitted by an
Ancillary Agreement.

     Section 5.03.  Employees; Employee Benefits.
                    ----------------------------
 
     (a)  Treatment of Employees.  As of the Effective Time, except as expressly
          ----------------------                                                
provided in the Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement, (i) those Persons
employed in the Health Care Systems Business shall remain or become employees of
the applicable member of the Health Care Systems Group, (ii) those Persons
employed in the Instruments Business shall become employees of the applicable
member of the Instruments Group, and (iii) those Persons employed in the
Semiconductor Equipment Business shall become employees of the applicable member
of the Semiconductor Equipment Group.

     (b)  Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement Controls.  Each party further
          -----------------------------------------------                     
understands and agrees that the rights, obligations and responsibilities of the
parties with respect to employees and employee benefit matters shall be governed
by the Employee Benefits Allocation Agreement to the extent therein provided.

     Section 5.04. Tax Matters. Each party intends that (a) the contributions of
                   -----------  
Assets to IB and SEB each be treated as a reorganization within the meaning of
section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code with respect to which no gain

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
or loss is recognized by any of the parties, and (b) the Distributions be
treated as tax-free distributions under section 355 of the Code and each such
party shall use its best efforts to cause the Distributions to so qualify. Each
party further understands and agrees that the rights, obligations and
responsibilities of the parties with respect to Tax matters will be governed by
the Tax Sharing Agreement to the extent therein provided.

     Section 5.05.  No Representations or Warranties.
                    -------------------------------- 

     (a)  General.  Each party understands and agrees that, except as otherwise
          -------                                                              
expressly provided in any Ancillary Agreement or paragraph (c) below, no party
is, in this Agreement or in any other agreement or document contemplated by this
Agreement (including the Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments) or otherwise,
making any representation or warranty whatsoever, including representing or
warranting in any way as to the Assets, businesses or Liabilities retained,
transferred or assumed as contemplated by this Agreement, as to the value or
freedom from Security Interests, or any other matter concerning any Assets or
Liabilities of such party, or as to the absence of any defenses or right of set-
off or freedom from counterclaim with respect to any claim or other Asset,
including any account receivable or any Liability of any party, or as to the
legal sufficiency of any assignment, document or instrument delivered under this
Agreement to convey title to any Asset or any other thing of value upon the
execution, delivery and filing thereof.

     (b) Disclaimer of Merchantability or Fitness of Assets. Each party further
         --------------------------------------------------                     
understands and agrees that there are no warranties, express or implied, as to
the merchantability or fitness of any of the Assets either transferred to or
retained by the parties, and that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
expressly provided in the applicable Conveyancing and Assumption Instrument, all
Assets either transferred or retained by the parties shall be "as is, where is"
and that, subject to Section 5.01, the party to which any such Assets are
transferred, or which retains any such Assets, shall bear the economic and legal
risks that any conveyances of such Assets shall prove to be insufficient to vest
in the transferee good and marketable title, free and clear of any Security
Interest.

     (c)  No Representations or Warranties Regarding Consents.  Each party
          ---------------------------------------------------             
understands and agrees that, except as otherwise expressly provided in the
applicable Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments, no party is representing or
warranting in any way that the obtaining of any Consents, the execution and
delivery of any amendatory agreements and the making of any filings or
applications contemplated by this Agreement will satisfy the provisions of any
or all applicable agreements or the requirements of any or all applicable Laws.
Each party further understands and agrees that the party to which any Assets are
transferred pursuant to this Agreement shall bear the economic and legal risk
that any necessary Consents are not obtained, that any necessary amendatory
agreements are not executed and delivered or that the provisions of any
applicable agreements or requirements of applicable Laws are not satisfied.

     Section 5.06.  Removal of Certain Guarantees; Releases from Liabilities.
                    -------------------------------------------------------- 

     (a) Removal of Varian as Guarantor of Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities
         ---------------------------------------------------------------------
and Instruments Liabilities. Except as otherwise expressly provided in an
- --------------------------- 
Ancillary Agreement, each party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
have, on or before the Distribution Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter,
(i) Varian and any other member of the Health Care Systems Group removed as a
guarantor of, or obligor under or for, any Semiconductor Equipment Liability or
Instruments Liability, (ii) SEB and any other member of the Semiconductor
Equipment Group removed as a guarantor of, or obligor under or for, any Health
Care Systems Liability or Instruments Liability, and (iii) IB and any other
member of the Instruments Group removed as a guarantor of, or obligor under or
for, any Health Care Systems Liability or Semiconductor Equipment Liability.

     (b) Indemnification for Guaranties. If (i) a party is unable to obtain, or
         ------------------------------
to cause to be obtained, any removal described in paragraph (a) above, or (ii)
Liabilities arise from and after the Effective Time but before a guarantor or
obligor with reference to any such Liability is removed pursuant to Section
5.06(a), then such guarantor or obligor shall be indemnified for all Liabilities
incurred by it in its capacity as guarantor or obligor by (A) HCS with respect
to any Health Care Systems Liabilities, (B) SEB with respect to any
Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities, and (C) IB with respect to any Instruments
Liabilities. Without limiting the foregoing, each party shall, or shall cause a
member of its Group to, reimburse any such guarantor or obligor as soon as
practicable (but in no event later than 30 days) following receipt of notice of
a payment made pursuant to this Section 5.06(b) in respect of the party's
Liabilities.

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
     (c) Additional Obligations. In the event that at any time before or after
         ----------------------
the Distribution Date, a party identifies any letters of credit, interest rate
or foreign exchange contracts or other contracts (excluding guarantees) that
relate primarily to one business but for which a member of another Group has
contingent, secondary, joint, several or other Liability of any nature
whatsoever, the party the business of which is primarily liable shall, at its
expense, take such actions and enter into such agreements and arrangements as
the other party may reasonably request to effect such party's (or the member of
each party's Group) release or substitution.

     (d) Other Releases. Each party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
         --------------
obtain, or cause to be obtained, any Consent, substitution or amendment required
to novate or assign all obligations under agreements, leases, licenses and other
obligation or Liabilities of any nature whatsoever transferred under this
Agreement, or to obtain in writing the unconditional release of the assignor so
that in each such case, IB shall be solely responsible for the Instruments
Liabilities, HCS shall be solely responsible for the Health Care Systems
Liabilities and SEB shall be solely responsible for the Semiconductor Equipment
Liabilities; provided, however, that no party shall be obligated to pay any
             --------  -------
consideration therefor (except for filing fees or other similar charges) to any
third party from whom such Consents, substitutions, amendments or releases are
requested. Whether or not any such Consent, substitution, amendment or release
is obtained, nothing in this Section 5.06(d) shall in any way limit the
obligations of the parties under Article VII.

     Section 5.07. Intercompany Agreements. As of the Effective Time, each party
                   -----------------------
shall (and shall cause each other member of its Group to) terminate each
agreement between it and any member of any other Groups (other than this
Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, the Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments
and any agreements that do not take effect until the Effective Time); provided,
                                                                      -------- 
however, that such termination shall not affect any of the rights and/or
- -------                                                                 
obligations of the parties to such agreements that accrued or were incurred
before the Effective Time (subject to the terms of Section 2.05(a)).

     Section 5.08. Nondisclosure Agreements. Each of SEB and IB agrees to be
                   ------------------------
bound by and subject to the terms and provisions of each of the Nondisclosure
Agreements for the same period of time and to the same extent as Varian (or the
applicable Subsidiary of Varian that is a party to such Nondisclosure
Agreement). Varian shall not, amend, supplement, terminate or waive any
provisions of the Nondisclosure Agreements (a) that relate to the Instruments
Business without the prior written consent of IB, or (b) that relate to the
Semiconductor Equipment Business without the prior written consent of SEB.

     Section 5.09.  Receipts after the Distribution Date.  From and after the
                    ------------------------------------                     
Distribution Date each party shall (or shall cause the applicable member of its
Group to) promptly transfer to the appropriate other party, or the appropriate
member of such other party's Group, any property it receives that is an Asset of
such other party or a member of the other party's  Group.  Without limiting the
foregoing, funds received by a member of one Group upon payment of accounts
receivable that belong to a member of another Group shall be transferred to the
other Group as soon as practicable (but in no event later than 30 business days)
after receipt of such funds.

     Section 5.10.  Post-Distribution Audit.
                    ----------------------- 

     (a) Preparation of Closing Balance Sheets. As soon as practicable after the
         -------------------------------------
Effective Time, Varian shall cause PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (or another
comparable independent accounting firm selected by Varian (the "Auditors")) to:

         (i)  conduct an audit of IB and the IB Subsidiaries in order to prepare
     and deliver to each of HCS, IB and SEB a consolidated balance sheet for IB
     and the IB Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time (the "IB Closing Balance
     Sheet");

         (ii) conduct an audit of HCS and the HCS Subsidiaries in order to
     prepare and deliver to each of HCS, IB and SEB a consolidated balance sheet
     for HCS and the HCS Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time (the "HCS Closing
     Balance Sheet");

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
          (iii)  conduct an audit of SEB and the SEB Subsidiaries in order to
     prepare and deliver to each of HCS, IB and SEB a consolidated balance sheet
     for SEB and the SEB Subsidiaries, as of the Effective Time (the "SEB
     Closing Balance Sheet");

and to deliver such Closing Balance Sheets within 90 days after the Distribution
Date.

     (b) Audit Requirements. Each of the IB Closing Balance Sheet, the HCS
         ------------------
Closing Balance Sheet and the SEB Closing Balance Sheet shall be prepared on the
basis of an audit conducted by the Auditors in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied and without giving effect to any change in accounting principles
required on account of the consummation of the Distributions, except that, to
the extent that any definition contained herein contemplates inclusion or
exclusion of an item that would not be included or excluded under GAAP, the
Auditors shall compute such item in accordance with such definition. During the
course of the preparation of the IB Closing Balance Sheet, the HCS Closing
Balance Sheet and the SEB Closing Balance Sheet by the Auditors, and during any
period in which there is a dispute regarding either the IB Closing Balance
Sheet, the HCS Closing Balance Sheet and the SEB Closing Balance Sheet, each of
HCS, IB and SEB, as the case may be, shall cooperate with the Auditors and the
other parties and shall have access to all pertinent accounting and each other's
records. Each party also shall use its reasonable efforts to cause the work
papers of the Auditors in respect of its business to be made available to each
of the other parties.

                                  ARTICLE VI
                    ACCESS TO INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY

     Section 6.01. Provision, Transfer and Delivery of Applicable Corporate
                   --------------------------------------------------------
Records. Except as expressly provided in any Ancillary Agreement,
- -------

     (a) Provision, Transfer and Delivery of SEB Records. Each of HCS and IB
         -----------------------------------------------
shall (and shall cause each other member of its Group to) as soon as practicable
after the Distribution Date transport (at SEB's expense) to SEB the Books and
Records in its possession that relate primarily to the Semiconductor Equipment
Assets, the Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities or the Semiconductor Equipment
Business or are necessary to operate the Semiconductor Equipment Business
(collectively, the "SEB Records"), except to the extent such items are already
in the possession of any member of the Semiconductor Equipment Group.

     (b) Provision, Transfer and Delivery of IB Records. Each of HCS and SEB
         ----------------------------------------------
shall (and shall cause each other member of its Group to) as soon as practicable
after the Distribution Date transport (at IB's expense) to IB the Books and
Records in its possession that relate primarily to the Instruments Assets, the
Instruments Liabilities or the Instruments Business or are necessary to operate
the Instruments Business (collectively, the "IB Records"), except to the extent
such items are already in the possession of any member of the Instruments Group.

     (c) Provision, Transfer and Delivery of HCS Records. Each of SEB and IB
         -----------------------------------------------
shall (and shall cause each other member of its Group to) as soon as practicable
after the Distribution Date transport (at HCS's expense) to HCS the Books and
Records in its possession that relate primarily to the Health Care Systems
Assets, the Health Care Systems Liabilities or the Health Care Systems Business
or are necessary to operate the Health Care Systems Business (collectively, the
"HCS Records"), except to the extent such items are already in the possession of
any member of the Health Care Systems Group.

     Section 6.02. Access to Books and Records. Unless otherwise contemplated by
                   --------------------------- 
Section 6.06, from and after the Distribution Date, each of HCS, SEB and IB
shall (and shall cause each other member of its Group to) afford to each other
party and its authorized Representatives reasonable access and duplicating
rights during normal business hours, subject to appropriate restrictions for
classified, privileged or confidential information, to the personnel,
properties, Books and Records and other data and information of such party and
each other member of such party's Group created before the Distributions insofar
as such access is reasonably required by the requesting party for the conduct of
the requesting party's business (but not for competitive purposes).

                                       29
<PAGE>
 
     Section 6.03.  Confidentiality.
                    --------------- 

     (a)   General Restriction on Disclosure. From and after the Distribution
           --------------------------------- 
Date, none of HCS, SEB and IB shall (or permit any other member of its Group to)
use without the prior written consent of the applicable party and shall (and
shall cause each other member of its Group to) hold, and shall cause its
Representatives to (and those of any other member of its Group to) hold, in
strict confidence, all information concerning each other party and the other
members of each other party's Group in its possession, custody or control to the
extent such information either:

           (i)   relates to the period up to the Distribution Date;

           (ii)  relates to any Ancillary Agreement; or

           (iii) is obtained in the course of performing services for the other
     party pursuant to any Ancillary Agreement,

and shall not (and shall cause each other member of its Group not to) otherwise
release or disclose such information to any other Person, except its
Representatives (who shall be bound by this Section 6.03), without the prior
written consent of the applicable party or parties, unless compelled by judicial
or administrative process or, in the opinion of such party's counsel, required
by Law and such party has used commercially reasonable efforts to consult with
the applicable party or parties before such disclosure.

     (b) Exceptions to Confidential Treatment. Notwithstanding paragraph (a), no
         ------------------------------------ 
party shall be prohibited from using or permitting the use of, or required to
hold in confidence and not release or disclose, any information to the extent
that (i) such information has been or is in the public domain through no fault
of such party, (ii) such information was used or held for use in such party's
business before the Distribution Date, (iii) such information is, after the
Distribution Date, lawfully acquired from other sources by such party, (iv) this
Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any other agreement entered into pursuant
to this Agreement permits the use or disclosure of such information by such
party, or (v) such information is necessary for such party to investigate,
evaluate, defend or prosecute any claim or Action involving any other party to
this Agreement.

     Section 6.04. Witness Services. From and after the Distribution Date, each
                   ----------------
of HCS, SEB and IB shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to make
available to each other party, upon reasonable written request, the officers,
directors, employees and agents of each member of its Group for consultation
and/or as witnesses to the extent that (a) such Persons may reasonably be useful
or required in connection with the prosecution or defense of any Action or the
investigation of any claim which involves the interests of the requesting party
or any member of its Group; and (b) there is no conflict in the Action or claim
between the requesting party or any member of its respective Group and the party
to which a request is made pursuant to this Section or any member of such
party's Group. The employing party agrees that such consultant or witness shall
be made available to the requesting party to the same extent that the employing
party would have made such consultant or witness available if the Distributions
had not occurred.

     Section 6.05. Reimbursement; Other Matters. Except as otherwise
                   -----------------------------
contemplated by this Agreement (including circumstances in which indemnification
is sought pursuant to Article VII) or by any Ancillary Agreement, a party
providing Books and Records or access to information or consulting or witness
services to any other party (or such party's Representatives) under this Article
VI shall be entitled to receive from such other party, upon the presentation of
invoices therefor reimbursement for all Costs (including the Costs of employees
providing consulting and witness services in connection with litigation and
Costs of employees providing information), as may be reasonably incurred in
providing such Books and Records or access to information, consulting or witness
services.

     Section 6.06. Retention of Records. Except when a longer period is required
                   -------------------- 
by Law or is expressly provided for in this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement
or the retention policy of Varian as of the date of this Agreement, each party
shall (and shall cause the members of its Group to) retain, for a period of at
least seven years after the Distribution Date, all material information
(including all material Books and Records) relating to such

                                       30
<PAGE>
 
Group and its operations before the Distribution Date. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, when retention of information is no longer required by Law or
expressly provided for in another Section of this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement, any party may offer in writing to deliver to the other parties all or
a portion of such information that relates to members of the offering party's
Group and, if such offer is accepted in writing within 90 days after receipt
thereof, the offering party shall promptly deliver such information (or copies
thereof) to each accepting party (at the expense of the accepting party). If
such offer is not so accepted, the offered information may be destroyed or
otherwise disposed of by the offering party at any time after expiration of such
90-day period.

     Section 6.07.  Privileged Matters.
                    ------------------ 

     (a)  Privileged Information. Each party shall (and shall cause the members
          ----------------------  
of its Group to) use its reasonable efforts to maintain, preserve, protect and
assert all privileges against disclosure (including the attorney-client
privilege, the attorney work product privilege and the self-evaluation
privilege) that apply to any Books and Records or other information of any
member of any other Group relating to any period before the Distribution Date
("Privilege" or "Privileges"). Each party shall use its reasonable efforts not
to waive (or permit any member of its Group to waive) any such Privilege that
could be asserted under applicable Law without the prior written consent of the
other party or parties having the right to assert or waive such Privilege
pursuant to this Section. HCS shall be entitled in perpetuity to require the
assertion, or to decide whether to consent to the waiver, of any and all
Privileges which relate primarily to the Health Care Systems Business or to
Health Care Systems Liabilities; SEB shall be entitled in perpetuity to require
the assertion, or to decide whether to consent to the waiver, of all Privileges
which relate primarily to the Semiconductor Equipment Business or to
Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities; and IB shall be entitled in perpetuity to
require the assertion, or to decide whether to consent to the waiver, of all
Privileges which relate primarily to the Instruments Business or to Instruments
Liabilities.

     (b)  Compelled Disclosure. To the extent that a party is compelled by
          --------------------
judicial or administrative process to disclose any information under
circumstances in which any Privilege would be available ("Privileged
Information"), such party agrees to assert such Privilege in good faith before
making such disclosure. Each party shall consult with each applicable party upon
receipt by a party or any member of its Group of any subpoena, discovery or
other request that calls for production or disclosure of Privileged Information,
or if a party or any member of its Group obtains knowledge that any current or
former employee of such party or any member of its Group has received any
subpoena, discovery or other request which calls for the production or
disclosure of Privileged Information, including regarding whether any Privilege
is available. Each party shall cooperate with each applicable party and its
counsel participating in any hearing or other proceeding in respect of such
disclosure and assertion of Privilege. Nothing in this Section requires any
party to subject itself to sanctions in connection with any compelled
disclosure. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party shall be permitted to
disclose Privileged Information in any proceeding in which such party is in an
adversarial position to any other party to this Agreement.

     (c)  No Waiver. The parties understand and agree that the transfer of any
          ---------
Books and Records or other information between any members of the Health Care
Systems Group, the Semiconductor Equipment Group or the Instruments Group shall
be made in reliance on the agreements of Varian, SEB and IB, as set forth in
Section 6.03 and this Section, to maintain the confidentiality of Privileged
Information and to assert and maintain all applicable Privileges. The Books and
Records being transferred pursuant to Section 6.01, the access to information
being granted pursuant to Section 6.02, the agreement to provide witnesses and
individuals pursuant to Section 6.04 and the transfer of Privileged Information
to any party pursuant to this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of any
Privilege that has been or may be asserted under this Section or otherwise.
Nothing in this Agreement shall operate to reduce, minimize or condition the
rights granted to each party in, or the obligations imposed upon each party by,
this Section.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                                INDEMNIFICATION

     Section 7.01.  Survival of Agreements.  All covenants and agreements of the
                    ----------------------                                      
parties contained in this Agreement and all covenants and agreements of the
parties contained in the Ancillary Agreements shall survive the Distribution
Date except as expressly provided herein and therein, and shall not be merged
into any deeds or other transfer or closing instruments or documents, including
the Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments.

                                       31
<PAGE>
 
     Section 7.02.  Taxes.  This Article VII shall not be applicable to any
                    -----                                                  
Indemnifiable Losses related to (a) Taxes, which shall be governed by the Tax
Sharing Agreement, or (b) which are otherwise expressly provided for in the
Ancillary Agreements.

     Section 7.03.  Indemnification by HCS. Except as expressly provided in this
                    ----------------------
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, and subject to Sections 7.02 and 7.06, (a)
HCS shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the SEB Indemnitees and the IB Indemnitees from and against any and all
Indemnifiable Losses of the SEB Indemnitees and the IB Indemnitees,
respectively, arising out of, relating to or resulting from either (i) the
Health Care Systems Liabilities or (ii) the breach by HCS or Varian of any
provision of this Agreement, or any Ancillary Agreement and (b) HCS shall bear
the cost of and indemnify, defend and hold harmless the SEB Indemnitees and the
IB Indemnitees from one-third of the Indemnifiable Losses, as incurred, arising
out of, relating to or resulting from the Shared Liabilities; provided, however,
                                                              ------------------
that, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement,
in the case of an Indemnifiable Loss in respect of a Shared Liability arising
out of, relating to or resulting from the management or conduct of the Health
Care Systems Business and the Instruments Business or the Health Care Systems
Business and the Semiconductor Equipment Business, HCS shall bear the cost of
and indemnify, defend and hold harmless IB and SEB, respectively, from one-half
of the Indemnifiable Losses, as incurred.

     Section 7.04.  Indemnification by SEB. Except as expressly provided in this
                    ----------------------
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, and subject to Sections 7.02 and 7.06, (a)
SEB shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the HCS Indemnitees and the IB Indemnitees from and against any and all
Indemnifiable Losses of the HCS Indemnitees and the IB Indemnitees,
respectively, arising out of, relating to or resulting from either (i) the
Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities, or (ii) the breach by SEB of any provision
of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, and (b) SEB shall bear the cost of
and indemnify, defend and hold harmless the HCS Indemnitees and the IB
Indemnitees from one-third of the Indemnifiable Losses, as incurred, arising out
of, relating to or resulting from the Shared Liabilities; provided, however,
                                                          ------------------
that, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement,
in the case of an Indemnifiable Loss in respect of a Shared Liability arising
out of, relating to or resulting from the management or conduct of the
Semiconductor Equipment Business and the Instruments Business or the
Semiconductor Equipment Business and the Health Care Systems Business, SEB shall
bear the cost of and indemnify, defend and hold harmless IB and HCS,
respectively, from one-half of the Indemnifiable Losses as incurred.

     Section 7.05.  Indemnification by IB.  Except as expressly provided in this
                    ---------------------                                       
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, and subject to Sections 7.02 and 7.06, (a)
IB shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the HCS Indemnitees and the SEB Indemnitees from and against any and
all Indemnifiable Losses of the HCS Indemnitees and the SEB Indemnitees,
respectively, arising out of, relating to or resulting from either (i) the
Instruments Liabilities or (ii) the breach by IB of any provision of this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, and (b) IB shall bear the cost of and
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the HCS Indemnitees and the SEB Indemnitees
from one-third of the Indemnifiable Losses as incurred, arising out of, relating
to or resulting from the Shared Liabilities; provided, however, that, except as
                                             ------------------                
otherwise provided in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, in the case of
an Indemnifiable Loss in respect of a Shared Liability arising out of, relating
to or resulting from the management or conduct of the Instruments Business and
the Health Care Systems Business or the Instruments Business and the
Semiconductor Equipment Business, IB shall bear the cost of and indemnify,
defend and hold harmless HCS and SEB, respectively, from one-half of the
Indemnifiable Losses, as incurred.

     Section 7.06.  Limitations on Indemnification Obligations.
                    ------------------------------------------ 

     (a) Reductions for Insurance Proceeds and Other Recoveries. The amount that
         ------------------------------------------------------
any party (an "Indemnifying Party") is or may be required to pay to any other
Person (an "Indemnitee") pursuant to Section 7.03, 7.04 or 7.05, as applicable,
shall be reduced (retroactively or prospectively) by any Insurance Proceeds or
other amounts actually recovered from third parties by or on behalf of such
Indemnitee in respect of the related Indemnifiable Loss. The existence of a
claim by an Indemnitee for monies from an insurer or against a third party in
respect of any Indemnifiable Loss shall not, however, delay any payment pursuant
to the indemnification provisions contained herein and otherwise determined to
be due and owing by an Indemnifying Party. Rather the Indemnifying Party shall
make payment in full of the amount determined to be due and owing by it against
an assignment by the
     

                                       32
<PAGE>
 
Indemnitee to the Indemnifying Party of the entire claim of the Indemnitee for
Insurance Proceeds or against such third party. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Agreement, it is the intention of the parties that no insurer
or any other third party shall be (i) entitled to a benefit it would not be
entitled to receive in the absence of the foregoing indemnification provisions,
or (ii) relieved of the responsibility to pay any claims for which it is
obligated. If an Indemnitee has received the payment required by this Agreement
from an Indemnifying Party in respect of any Indemnifiable Loss and later
receives Insurance Proceeds or other amounts in respect of such Indemnifiable
Loss, then such Indemnitee shall hold such Insurance Proceeds or other amounts
in trust for the benefit of the Indemnifying Party (or Indemnifying Parties) and
shall pay to the Indemnifying Party, as promptly as practicable after receipt, a
sum equal to the amount of such Insurance Proceeds or other amounts received, up
to the aggregate amount of any payments received from the Indemnifying Party
pursuant to this Agreement in respect of such Indemnifiable Loss (or, if there
is more than one Indemnifying Party, the Indemnitee shall pay each Indemnifying
Party, its proportionate share (based on payments received from the Indemnifying
Parties) of such Insurance Proceeds).

     (b)  Adjustments for Taxes.  The amount of any Indemnifiable Loss shall be
          ---------------------                                                
appropriately adjusted so that the amount of such Indemnifiable Loss is (i)
increased by the amount of all Income Taxes payable with respect to any payments
received from the Indemnifying Party or Indemnifying Parties, and (ii) reduced
by the amount of all Income Tax benefits from the incurrence or payment of any
such Indemnifiable Loss by the Indemnitee, as determined pursuant to the next
paragraph.

     In computing the amount of Income Taxes payable or Income Tax benefit, (i)
in the absence of any change in treatment under the Code or applicable Tax Law,
payments with respect to contingent Liabilities attributable to periods before
the Distribution Date shall be treated for income tax purposes by the Indemnitee
and the Indemnifying Parties (and if Varian is neither the Indemnitee nor the
Indemnifying Party, by Varian) as distributions or capital contributions, as
appropriate, occurring immediately before the Distributions on the Distribution
Date, (ii) it shall be assumed that the highest marginal Tax rates in effect are
applicable to the Indemnitee, and (iii) such determination shall be made without
regard to whether any actual increase or decrease in Tax is realized by the
Indemnitee.

     If, notwithstanding the manner in which indemnity payments are reported,
there is an adjustment to the Tax Liability of a party as a result of its
receipt of an indemnity payment pursuant to this Agreement, such payment shall
be appropriately adjusted so that the amount of such payment, reduced by the
amount of all Income Taxes payable with respect to the receipt thereof, shall
equal the amount of the payment which the Indemnitee would otherwise be entitled
to receive pursuant to this Agreement.

     (c)  Foreign Currency Adjustments.  In the event that any indemnification
          ----------------------------                                        
payment required to be made hereunder shall be denominated in a currency other
than U.S. Dollars, the amount of such payment shall be translated into U.S.
Dollars using the foreign exchange rate for such currency determined as follows:

          (i)     with respect to any Indemnifiable Loss arising from the
     payment by a financial institution under a guarantee, comfort letter,
     letter of credit, foreign exchange contract or similar instrument, the
     foreign exchange rate for such currency shall be determined as of the date
     on which such financial institution shall have been reimbursed;

          (ii)    with respect to any Indemnifiable Loss covered by insurance,
     the foreign exchange rate for such currency shall be the foreign exchange
     rate employed by the insurer in settling such Indemnifiable Losses with the
     Indemnifying Party; and

          (iii)   with respect to any Indemnifiable Loss not covered by either
clause (i) or (ii) above, the foreign exchange rate for such currency shall be
determined as of the date that notice of the claim with respect to such
Indemnifiable Loss is given to the Indemnitee.

                                       33
<PAGE>
 
     Section 7.07. Procedures for Indemnification. Except as expressly provided
                   ------------------------------
in any Ancillary Agreement:

     (a) Notice of Third Party Claims (Other than Shared Liabilities). If a
         -----------------------------------------------------------
claim or demand is made against an Indemnitee by any Person who is not a party
to this Agreement or a Subsidiary thereof (a "Third Party Claim") for which an
Indemnifying Party may be liable under this Agreement other than with respect to
a Shared Liability, such Indemnitee shall notify the Indemnifying Party in
writing, and in reasonable detail, of the Third Party Claim promptly (and in any
event within 30 business days) after receipt by such Indemnitee of written
notice of the Third Party Claim; provided, however, that no delay by the
                                 --------  -------
Indemnitee in giving such notice shall affect the Indemnitee's right to
indemnification hereunder except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is
actually prejudiced by such delay (except that the Indemnifying Party shall not
be liable for any expenses incurred during the period in which the Indemnitee
failed to give such notice). Thereafter, the Indemnitee shall deliver to the
Indemnifying Party, promptly (and in any event within ten business days) after
the Indemnitee's receipt thereof, copies of all notices and documents (including
court papers) received by the Indemnitee relating to the Third Party Claim.

     (b)  Legal Defense of Third Party Claims.  If a Third Party Claim is made
          -----------------------------------                                 
against an Indemnitee, the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate
in the defense thereof and, if it so chooses and acknowledges in writing its
obligation to indemnify the Indemnitee for the Third Party Claim, to assume the
defense thereof with counsel selected by the Indemnifying Party. Should the
Indemnifying Party assume the defense of a Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying
Party shall not be liable to the Indemnitee for legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense of such
Third Party Claim. The Indemnifying Party shall be liable for the reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel employed by the Indemnitee for any period during
which the Indemnifying Party has failed to assume the defense of the Third Party
Claim (other than the period during which the Indemnitee failed to give notice
of the Third Party Claim). If the Indemnifying Party elects to assume the
defense of any Third Party Claim, all of the Indemnitees shall cooperate with
the Indemnifying Party in the defense or prosecution thereof.

     (c) Third Party Claims (Shared Liabilities). If a Third Party Claim in
         --------------------------------------
respect of a Shared Liability is made against an Indemnitee, such Indemnitee
shall notify the Indemnifying Parties in writing, and in reasonable detail, of
the Third Party Claim promptly (and in any event within 30 business days) after
receipt by such Indemnitee of written notice of the Third Party Claim; provided,
however, that no delay by the Indemnitee in giving such notice shall affect the
Indemnitee's right to indemnification hereunder except to the extent an
Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such delay (except that the
Indemnifying Party or Parties shall not be liable for any expenses incurred
during the period in which the Indemnitee failed to give such notice).
Thereafter, the Indemnitee shall deliver to the Indemnifying Party or Parties,
promptly (and in any event within ten business days) after the Indemnitee's
receipt thereof, copies of all notices and documents (including court papers)
received by the Indemnitee relating to the Third Party Claim.

     The party designated on Schedule 1.01(a) or (b) to have management
responsibility for the related Shared Liability (the "Managing Party") shall
have management and administrative responsibility for the Third Party Claim
(unless no party is so designated, in which case the Managing Party shall be as
agreed among the affected parties). Such management and administrative
responsibility shall entail the defense of such Third Party Claim, negotiation
with claimants and potential claimants (subject to the limitations in the
following paragraph) and other reasonably related activities. Unless the
Managing Party is an Indemnifying Party that does not acknowledge in writing its
obligations to indemnify the Indemnitee for the Third Party Claim to the extent
contemplated by this Agreement, the Managing Party may assume the defense
thereof with counsel selected by such Managing Party. If the Managing Party
assumes the defense of the Third Party Claim, the legal or other expenses in
respect of such Third Party Claim incurred by or on behalf of any Person other
than such Managing Party shall not be Indemnifiable Losses for purposes of this
Agreement, except for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel employed by
the Indemnitee for any period during which the Managing Party has failed to
assume the defense of the Third Party Claim (other than the period during which
the Indemnitee failed to give notice of the Third Party Claim). Each Indemnitee
and each Indemnifying Party shall cooperate with any Managing Party and each
other in the defense or prosecution of such Third Party Claim. All costs and
expenses (including attorneys' fees and all out-of-pocket expenses, together
with the Costs of the Managing Party (if the Managing Party assumes the defense
of the Third Party Claim)) incurred in connection with a Third Party Claim in
respect of a Shared Liability shall be included as a part of the Indemnifiable
Losses.

                                       34
<PAGE>
 
     (d)  Notwithstanding Sections 7.07(b) and 7.07(c):

          (i) an Indemnifying Party (or the Managing Party, as applicable) shall
     not be entitled to assume the defense of any Third Party Claim (and shall
     be liable to the Indemnitee for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
     incurred by the Indemnitee in defending such Third Party Claim to the
     extent contemplated by this Agreement) if the Third Party Claim seeks an
     order, injunction or other equitable relief or relief for other than money
     damages against the Indemnitee which the Indemnitee reasonably determines,
     after conferring with its counsel, cannot be separated from any related
     claim for money damages and is materially prejudicial to the Indemnitee's
     business; provided, however, that if such equitable relief or other relief
               --------  -------                                               
     portion of the Third Party Claim can be so separated from that for money
     damages, the Indemnifying Party (or the Managing Party, as applicable)
     shall be entitled, but not required, to assume the defense of the portion
     relating to money damages;

          (ii)   an Indemnifying Party (or the Managing Party, as applicable)
     shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Third Party Claim (and
     shall be liable to the Indemnitee for the reasonable fees and expenses of
     counsel incurred by the Indemnitee in defending such Third Party Claim to
     the extent contemplated by this Agreement) if, in the Indemnitee's
     reasonable judgment, a conflict of interest between such Indemnitee and any
     Indemnifying Party exists, in respect of such Third Party Claim; and

          (iii) if at any time after assuming the defense of a Third Party Claim
     an Indemnifying Party (or the Managing Party, as applicable) shall fail to
     assume or withdraws from the defense of such Third Party Claim, the
     Indemnitee may resume the defense thereof and the Indemnifying Party (or
     Indemnifying Parties as applicable) shall be liable for the reasonable fees
     and expenses of counsel incurred by the Indemnitee in such defense.

     (e)  Settlement of Third Party Claims.
          --------------------------------
 
          (i)  No Indemnitee (or the Managing Party, as applicable) shall admit
     any liability with respect to, or settle, compromise or discharge, any
     Third Party Claim or consent to the entry of any judgment without each
     Indemnifying Party's prior written consent; provided, however, that the
                                                 --------  -------          
     Indemnitee shall have the right to settle, compromise or discharge such
     Third Party Claim or consent to the entry of any judgment without the prior
     written consent of the Indemnifying Party or Indemnifying Parties if (A)
     the Indemnitee releases each Indemnifying Party from its indemnification
     obligation hereunder with respect to such Third Party Claim and such
     settlement, compromise or discharge would not otherwise materially
     adversely affect the Indemnifying Party or Indemnifying Parties, or (B) the
     Indemnifying Party (or the Managing Party, as applicable) has failed to
     assume the defense of the Third Party Claim within 90 days after the
     receipt of notice thereof.

          (ii) No Indemnifying Party (or Managing Party, as applicable) shall
     settle, compromise or discharge any Third Party Claim or consent to any
     judgment without each Indemnitee's prior written consent unless (A) an
     unconditional term of such settlement, compromise or discharge thereof is
     delivery by the claimant or the plaintiff to the Indemnitee of a written
     release of all Liability in respect of such Third Party Claims, (B) the
     Indemnifying Party pays the full amount of the Liability in connection with
     such Third Party Claim, and (C) such settlement, compromise or discharge
     would not otherwise materially adversely affect the Indemnitee.

     (f)  Other Claims. Any claim for an Indemnifiable Loss which does not
          ------------ 
result from a Third Party Claim shall be asserted by the Indemnitee by written
notice and in reasonable detail to the applicable Indemnifying Party. The
Indemnifying Party shall have 90 days from the date that it receives written
notice during which to notify the Indemnitee in writing of its good faith
objections, if any, to the Indemnitee's notice of claims for indemnification
describing in reasonable detail each of the Indemnifying Party's objections
thereto. If the Indemnifying Party does not deliver a written notice of
objection within such 90-day period, the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed not
have any objections to such notice or such claim. If the Indemnifying Party does
deliver such written notice of objection within such 90-day period, the
Indemnifying Party and the Indemnitee shall attempt in good faith to resolve any
such dispute within 90 days of receipt by the Indemnitee of such written notice
of objection. If the Indemnifying

                                       35
<PAGE>
 
Party and the Indemnitee are unable to resolve any such dispute within such 90-
day period, such dispute shall be submitted to the Separation Committee in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Article IX.

     Section 7.08.  Indemnification Payments.  Indemnification required by this
                    ------------------------                                   
Article VII shall be made by quarterly payments of the amount thereof (other
than individual amounts of $100,000 or more, which shall be paid within ten
business days) during the course of the investigation or defense; provided,
                                                                  -------- 
however, that if the applicable Indemnitee is a Subsidiary of a party that is
- -------                                                                      
organized under a jurisdiction not in the United States, the payments shall, in
lieu thereof, be made to HCS, IB or SEB, as applicable.

     Section 7.09.  Certain Legal Proceedings.
                    ------------------------- 

     (a)  IB Third Party Claims. On the Distribution Date, IB shall assume (or
          ---------------------
shall cause one of its Subsidiaries to assume) (i) the prosecution of all claims
which are Instruments Assets and are pending on the Distribution Date, and (ii)
control of the defense against all Third Party Claims which are Instruments
Liabilities and are pending on the Distribution Date, including, in each case,
those set forth on Schedule 7.09(a).

     (b)  SEB Third Party Claims. On the Distribution Date, SEB shall assume (or
          ----------------------
shall cause one of its Subsidiaries to assume) (i) the prosecution of all claims
which are Semiconductor Equipment Assets and are pending on the Distribution
Date and (ii) control of the defense against all Third Party Claims which are
Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities and are pending on the Distribution Date,
including, in each case, those set forth on Schedule 7.09(b).

     (c)  HCS Third Party Claims. HCS (or its Subsidiaries) shall retain (i) the
          ----------------------
prosecution of all claims which are Health Care Systems Assets and are pending
on the Distribution Date, and (ii) control of the defense against all Third
Party Claims which are Health Care Systems Liabilities and are pending on the
Distribution Date, including, in each case, those set forth on Schedule 7.09(c).

     (d)  Shared Assets/Shared Liabilities.  The Managing Party shall assume or
          --------------------------------                                     
retain the (i) prosecution of all claims that are Shared Assets and are pending
on the Distribution Date and (ii) control of the defense against all Third Party
Claims which are Shared Liabilities and are pending on the Distribution Date,
including, in each case, those set forth on Schedule 7.09(d).

     Section 7.10. Survival of Indemnities.  The obligations of HCS, SEB and IB
                   -----------------------                                     
under this Article VII shall survive the sale or other transfer by any of them
of any Assets or businesses or the assignment by any of them of any Liabilities
with respect to any Indemnifiable Loss of any Indemnitee related to such Assets,
businesses or Liabilities.

     Section 7.11. Contribution. To the extent that indemnification provided for
                   ------------      
under Section 7.03, 7.04 or 7.05 is unavailable to hold harmless an Indemnitee
in respect of any Indemnifiable Loss, then the Indemnifying Party under such
Section, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such Indemnitee as a result of such Indemnifiable Loss in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault (to be
determined through the procedures provided for in Article IX) of the
Indemnifying Party on the one hand and of the Indemnitee on the other hand in
connection with the action, inaction, statements or omissions that resulted in
such Indemnifiable Loss as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

     Section 7.12. Exclusive Mechanism; Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of IB, SEB
                   -----------------------------------------
and HCS, on behalf of itself and each member of its Group, agrees that the
procedures set forth in this Article VII, together with Article IX, shall be the
sole and exclusive mechanism for the resolution of any dispute, controversy or
claim relating to any of the matters set forth in Sections 7.03, 7.04 and 7.05.
Each of IB, SEB and HCS, on behalf of itself and each member of its Group,
irrevocably waives any right to any trial by jury with respect to any dispute,
controversy or claim arising out of, relating to or resulting from this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

     Section 7.13. Failure to Satisfy Indemnification Obligation. In the event
                   ---------------------------------------------
that (a) it is finally determined that an Indemnifying Party is liable to an
Indemnitee hereunder in respect of an Indemnifiable Loss, and (b) a court of
competent jurisdiction prohibits such Indemnifying Party from satisfying all or
a part of its obligations to the

                                       36
<PAGE>
 
Indemnitee hereunder (for indemnification or contribution) in respect of such
Indemnifiable Loss, then the amount of the Indemnifiable Loss that is not
satisfied shall be treated as a Shared Liability of the parties to this
Agreement other than the Indemnifying Party, with each such other party bearing
one-half of such amount.

     Section 7.14.  Treatment of Shared Assets.
                    -------------------------- 

     (a)  Prosecution of Claims. The Managing Party in respect of a Shared
          ---------------------  
Asset, or such other party as the parties hereto shall agree (or, if they cannot
agree, HCS) shall have sole and exclusive authority to commence, prosecute,
settle, manage, control, conduct, waive, forego, release, discharge, forgive and
otherwise determine all matters whatsoever with respect to any Shared Asset.

     (b)  Disposition of Benefit. Any benefit that may be received from a Shared
          ---------------------- 
Asset shall be shared, one-third each, among HCS, IB and SEB, except to the
extent that the benefit relates to a Shared Asset received in respect of a
Shared Liability, the indemnification obligations for which are borne by only
two of the parties pursuant to Sections 7.03, 7.04 or 7.05, in which event such
benefit shall be shared, one-half each, by the parties bearing the
indemnification obligation.

     (c)  Shared Asset Payments. The amount of any benefit from a Shared Asset
          ---------------------
shall be payable by the party receiving the benefit (net of the Costs incurred
in collecting such benefit, if the party is not otherwise indemnified with
respect to such Costs under other provisions of this Article VII) to the other
parties quarterly (other than individual amounts of $100,000 or more, which
shall be paid within ten business days) as such benefits are received.

     (d)  Adjustment for Taxes. The amount of benefits determined pursuant to
          --------------------
this Section 7.14 shall be appropriately adjusted to take into account Income
Taxes in a manner consistent with Section 7.06(b).

                                 ARTICLE VIII
                                   INSURANCE

     Section 8.01.  Policies and Rights Included within Assets.
                    ------------------------------------------ 

     (a)  New and Existing Insurance. As of the Effective Time, each of the
          --------------------------
Groups shall be responsible for arranging separate Policies with respect to
Actions and Liabilities arising after the Effective Time with respect to such
Group and its business. As of the Effective Time, all prepaid and unused
premiums, and all refunds received thereafter with respect to each Company
Policy that inured to the benefit of more than one Group before the Effective
Time, except as provided in Section 8.04, shall be distributed or retained one-
third each to HCS, IB and SEB (or one-half each to the affected parties if only
two parties were insured under the applicable Company Policy). To the extent any
party receives any such refund, the party receiving the refund shall promptly
transfer to the other parties the portion of such refund to which each such
other party is entitled.

     (b)  IB's Insurance. Without limiting the generality of the definition of
          --------------  
the Instruments Assets set forth in Section 1.01 or the effect of Section 2.02,
the Instruments Assets shall include any and all rights of an insured party or
an additional named insured party under the Company Policies and all predecessor
Policies thereto for Actions or Liabilities arising before the Effective Time,
including rights of indemnity and the right to be defended by or at the expense
of the insurer, with respect to all Actions or Liabilities incurred or claimed
to have been incurred before the Distribution Date by any party in connection
with the Instruments Assets or the conduct of the Instruments Business or, to
the extent any claim is made against IB or any IB Subsidiary, the conduct of the
Health Care Systems Business or the Semiconductor Equipment Business (a "IB
Claim"); provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph (b) shall be deemed
         --------  -------
to constitute (or to reflect) an assignment of such Company Policies, or any of
them, to IB. Except for Insurance Proceeds paid to or on behalf of any member of
the Health Care Systems Group or the Semiconductor Equipment Group at the
direction of IB in satisfaction of a claim that would otherwise be subject to
indemnification by IB under Article VII, IB shall be entitled to receive from
Varian any Insurance Proceeds with respect to any IB Claims under the Company
Policies, including reimbursement for Instruments Liabilities.

                                       37
<PAGE>
 
     (c)  SEB's Insurance. Without limiting the generality of the definition of
          ---------------
the Semiconductor Equipment Assets set forth in Section 1.01 or the effect of
Section 2.02, the Semiconductor Equipment Assets shall include any and all
rights of an insured party or an additional named insured party under the
Company Policies and all predecessor Policies thereto for Actions or Liabilities
arising before the Effective Time, including rights of indemnity and the right
to be defended by or at the expense of the insurer, with respect to all Actions
or Liabilities incurred or claimed to have been incurred before the Distribution
Date by any party in connection with the Semiconductor Equipment Assets or the
conduct of the Semiconductor Equipment Business or, to the extent any claim is
made against SEB or any SEB Subsidiary, the conduct of the Instruments Business
or the Health Care Systems Business, (an "SEB Claim"); provided, however, that
nothing in this paragraph (c) shall be deemed to constitute (or to reflect) an
assignment of such Company Policies, or any of them, to SEB. Except for
Insurance Proceeds paid to or on behalf of any member of the Instruments Group
or the Health Care Systems Group at the direction of SEB in satisfaction of a
claim that would otherwise be subject to indemnification by SEB under Article
VII, SEB shall be entitled to receive from Varian any Insurance Proceeds with
respect to any SEB Claims under the Company Policies, including reimbursement
for Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities.

     (d)  HCS's Insurance. Without limiting the generality of the definition of
          ---------------
the Health Care Systems Assets set forth in Section 1.01, the Health Care
Systems Assets shall include any and all rights of an insured party or an
additional named insured party under the Company Policies and all predecessor
Policies thereto including rights of indemnity and the right to be defended by
or at the expense of the insurer, other than the rights that are included in the
Instruments Assets or the Semiconductor Equipment Assets.

     Section 8.02.  Claims.
                    ------ 
 
     (a)  Assignment of Rights to the Instruments Group.
          ---------------------------------------------
 
          (i)  The parties agree that as of the Effective Time, Varian shall be
     deemed (A) to have assigned to the Instruments Group, all the other Groups'
     rights, if any, as an insured party or an additional named insured party
     including rights of indemnity and the right to be defended by or at the
     expense of the insurer, under all of the Company Policies with respect to
     such IB Claims as are pending on the Distribution Date, and (B) to the
     extent necessary to provide the Instruments Group all the benefit of such
     insurance with respect to IB Claims, to designate IB, without need of
     further documentation, as the agent and attorney-in-fact to assert and to
     collect any Insurance Proceeds under such Company Policies; provided,
                                                                 -------- 
     however, that nothing in this Section 8.02(a) shall be deemed to constitute
     -------
     or reflect the assignment of any of the Company Policies to the Instruments
     Group. If, after the Distribution Date, the Instruments Group shall be
     entitled to payment or reimbursement with respect to an IB Claim or any
     Person shall assert an IB Claim, then HCS shall at the time such IB Claim
     arises or is asserted be deemed (A) to assign, without need of further
     documentation, to the Instruments Group all of the Health Care Systems
     Group's rights, if any, as an insured party or an additional named insured
     party, including right of indemnity and the right to be defended by or at
     the expense of the insurer, under the applicable Company Policy with
     respect to such IB Claim and (B) to the extent necessary to provide the
     Instruments Group with the benefit of such insurance with respect to IB
     Claims, to designate IB, without need of further documentation, as the
     agent and attorney-in-fact to assert and to collect any Insurance Proceeds
     under such Company Policies; provided, however, that nothing in this
                                  --------  -------      
     Section 8.02(a) shall be deemed to constitute or reflect the assignment of
     any of the Company Policies to the Instruments Group. In the event an
     insurer refuses to honor such agency or to pay such Insurance Proceeds to
     the Instruments Group, HCS shall use all reasonable efforts to collect such
     Insurance Proceeds and forward them to IB.

          (ii) In the event of payment of an IB Claim by the Instruments Group
     after the Distribution Date, IB, or the applicable member of the
     Instruments Group shall be subrogated to and stand in the place of HCS or
     the applicable member of any other Group as to any rights, events or
     circumstances in respect of which IB or the applicable member of the
     Instruments Group may have any right or claim under this Agreement or
     otherwise against any such insurer relating to such IB Claim. The parties
     shall cooperate with the Instruments Group in a reasonable manner in
     prosecuting any subrogated right or claim.

                                       38
<PAGE>
 
     (b)  Assignment of Rights to the Semiconductor Equipment Group.
          ---------------------------------------------------------
 
          (i)  The parties agree that as of the Effective Time, Varian shall be
     deemed (A) to have assigned to the Semiconductor Equipment Group, all the
     other Groups' rights, if any, as an insured party or an additional named
     insured party including rights of indemnity and the right to be defended by
     or at the expense of the insurer, under all of the Company Policies with
     respect to such SEB Claims as are pending on the Distribution Date, and (B)
     to the extent necessary to provide the Semiconductor Equipment Group all
     the benefit of such insurance with respect to SEB Claims, to designate SEB,
     without need of further documentation, as the agent and attorney-in-fact to
     assert and to collect any Insurance Proceeds under such Company Policies;
     provided, however, that nothing in this Section 8.02(b) shall be deemed to
     --------  -------                                                         
     constitute or reflect the assignment of any of the Company Policies to the
     Semiconductor Equipment Group.  If, after the Distribution Date, the
     Semiconductor Equipment Group shall be entitled to payment or reimbursement
     with respect to a SEB Claim or any Person shall assert a SEB Claim, then
     HCS shall at the time such SEB Claim arises or is asserted be deemed (A) to
     assign, without need of further documentation, to the Semiconductor
     Equipment Group all of the Health Care Systems Group's rights, if any, as
     an insured party or an additional named insured party, including right of
     indemnity and the right to be defended by or at the expense of the insurer,
     under the applicable Company Policy with respect to such SEB Claim and (B)
     to the extent necessary to provide the Semiconductor Equipment Group with
     the benefit of such insurance with respect to SEB Claims, to designate SEB,
     without need of further documentation, as the agent and attorney-in-fact to
     assert and to collect any Insurance Proceeds under such Company Policies;
     provided, however, that nothing in this Section 8.02(b) shall be deemed to
     --------  -------                                                         
     constitute or reflect the assignment of any of the Company Policies to the
     Semiconductor Equipment Group.  In the event an insurer refuses to honor
     such agency or to pay such Insurance Proceeds to the Semiconductor
     Equipment Group, HCS shall use all reasonable efforts to collect such
     Insurance Proceeds and forward them to SEB.

          (ii) In the event of payment of a SEB Claim by the Semiconductor
     Equipment Group after the Distribution Date, SEB, or the applicable member
     of the Semiconductor Equipment Group shall be subrogated to and stand in
     the place of HCS or the applicable member of any other Group as to any
     rights, events or circumstances in respect of which SEB or the applicable
     member of the Semiconductor Equipment Group may have any right or claim
     under this Agreement or otherwise against any such insurer relating to such
     SEB Claim. The parties shall cooperate with the Semiconductor Equipment
     Group in a reasonable manner in prosecuting any subrogated right or claim.

     Section 8.03. Administration; Other Matters. Consistent with the provisions
                   ------------------------------    
of Article VII, after the Distribution Date,

     (a)  HCS's Responsibilities.  HCS shall be responsible for (i) Insurance
          ----------------------                                             
Administration of the Company Policies, and (ii) Claims Administration with
respect to any Health Care Systems Liabilities, any Health Care Systems Assets
or any claims as to which the Health Care Systems Group has retained rights of
reimbursement or subrogation under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement. It
is understood that the retention of the Company Policies by HCS is in no way
intended to limit, inhibit or preclude any right to insurance coverage for any
Insured Claim or any other rights under the Company Policies.

     (b)  IB's Responsibilities. IB shall be responsible for Claims
          ---------------------     
Administration with respect to any Instruments Liabilities, Instruments Assets
or any claims as to which the Instruments Group has rights of reimbursement or
subrogation under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

     (c)  SEB's Responsibilities. SEB shall be responsible for Claims
          ----------------------  
Administration with respect to any Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities,
Semiconductor Equipment Assets or any claims as to which the Semiconductor
Equipment Group has rights of reimbursement or subrogation under this Agreement
or any Ancillary Agreement.

     (d)  The Managing Party's Responsibilities.  The Managing Party shall be
          -------------------------------------                              
responsible for Claims Administration with respect to Insured Claims for
Shared Liabilities.

                                       39
<PAGE>
 
     (e)  Notice. In the event that HCS, SEB or IB makes an Insured Claim under
          ------
a Company Policy, such party shall deliver notice to the other parties of such
Insured Claim and shall keep the other parties periodically updated as to the
status of such Insured Claim.

     Section 8.04.  Retrospectively Calculated Insurance Premiums. Each party
                    ---------------------------------------------
shall pay or receive its share of retrospectively calculated additional or
return premiums or assessments, policy dividends or audited exposures after the
Distribution Date for coverage under the Company Policies with respect to their
respective Liabilities which are Insured Claims under the Company Policies. Such
shares shall be determined consistent with losses incurred or audited exposure
with respect to the Assets or businesses of the parties for that specific line
of insurance coverage, as determined in an independent underwriting analysis.
Each party shall have the right, but not the obligation, to pay any additional
premiums under the Company Policies with respect to the other parties'
Liabilities which are Insured Claims under the Company Policies to the extent
that one or more other parties does not pay such premium, in which event the
non-paying party or parties shall promptly reimburse the payor for any premiums
paid by the payor with respect to such non-paying party's Liabilities.

     Section 8.05.  Allocation of Insurance Proceeds; Cooperation.
                    --------------------------------------------- 

     (a)  Allocation of Insurance Proceeds. Except as otherwise provided in
          --------------------------------     
Section 8.01, Insurance Proceeds received with respect to claims, costs and
expenses under the Company Policies shall be paid to HCS with respect to Health
Care Systems Liabilities that are Insured Claims, to IB with respect to
Instruments Liabilities that are Insured Claims and to SEB with respect to
Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities that are Insured Claims. Payment of the
allocable portions of indemnity costs of Insurance Proceeds resulting from the
Company Policies shall be made to the appropriate party upon receipt from the
insurer. Insurance Proceeds received with respect to Shared Liabilities shall be
paid to the party or other Person bearing the Liability that represents the
Insured Claim.

     (b)  Maximization of Coverage. Each party agrees to use commercially
          ------------------------
reasonable efforts to maximize available coverage under the Company Policies for
all Insured Claims whether or not such party is the expected beneficiary of
Insurance Proceeds under such Company Policies in respect of such Insured
Claims. As part of such efforts to maximize insurance coverage, each party
agrees to take all commercially reasonable actions to recover such amounts as
are or might be due from all other responsible parties in respect of an Insured
Claim, including Insured Claims as to which coverage limits under the Company
Policies would be or would have been exceeded as a result of such Insured Claim
and whether or not such party is expected to benefit directly from such effort
and to engage in reasonable settlement negotiations and consider reasonable
offers of settlement or compromise with respect to any Liabilities that
represent Insured Claims. Each party further agrees to name each other party to
this Agreement as an additional insured (up to a maximum of $10,000,000) under
each liability Policy maintained by such Party during the three-year period
commencing on the Distribution Date for claims under Article VII of this
Agreement.

     (c)  Multiple Claims. Where Health Care Systems Liabilities and/or
          ---------------
Instruments Liabilities and/or Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities, as
applicable, are covered under the same Company Policies for periods before the
Distribution Date, or covering claims made after the Distribution Date with
respect to an event or an occurrence before the Distribution Date, then the
Health Care Systems Group, the Instruments Group and the Semiconductor Equipment
Group, as applicable, may claim coverage for Insured Claims under such Company
Policies to the extent of liability or other coverage of such Company Policies.
Each party may receive Insurance Proceeds in respect of its Insured Claims as
and when payable under the terms of the applicable Company Policies without
regard to whether the Insured Claim covers Health Care Systems Liabilities,
Instruments Liabilities or Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities; provided,
                                                                --------
however, that before receiving payment under a Company Policy, the party making
- -------
the claim shall be required to have retained a portion of the Liability
underlying such Insured Claim equal to the amount of the self insurance
retention or deductible. In the event that the aggregate limits on any Company
Policy is exceeded by the aggregate of paid Insured Claims, no Group shall be
entitled to reimbursement from another Group.

     Section 8.06.  Reimbursement of Expenses. Each of IB or SEB shall reimburse
                    -------------------------
the applicable insurer (or any applicable third-party administrator) to the
extent required under any Company Policy (or service agreement) for any services
performed after the Distribution Date with respect to any and all IB Claims or
SEB Claims, respectively, which are paid, settled, adjusted, defended and/or
otherwise handled by such insurer or third-

                                       40
<PAGE>
 
party administrator under the terms and conditions of such Company Policy (or
any service agreement with any such third-party administrator).

     Section 8.07. Insurer Insolvency or Coverage Controversy. None of IB, HCS
                   ------------------------------------------ 
and SEB shall be liable to one another for claims not reimbursed by insurers for
any reason, including co-insurance provisions, deductibles, adequacy of limits,
self-insurance retentions, bankruptcy or insolvency of any insurer, any coverage
disputes, any failure to timely claim or any defect in such claim or its
processing or exhaustion of Company Policy aggregates.

     Section 8.08. Agreement for Waiver of Conflict and Shared Defense.  In the
                   ---------------------------------------------------         
event that Insured Claims of more than one of the parties exist relating to the
same occurrence, the applicable parties shall jointly defend and waive any
conflict of interest necessary to the conduct of the joint defense.  Nothing in
this Section 8.08 shall be construed to limit or otherwise alter in any way the
obligations of the parties to this Agreement, including those created by this
Agreement, by operation of Law or otherwise.

     Section 8.09. Direct Responsibility for Claims; Additional Insurance; No
                   ----------------------------------------------------------
Modifications.
- -------------
 
     (a)  Notification to Insurers. Varian agrees to use commercially reasonable
          ------------------------
efforts to notify all known liability insurers under the Company Policies of the
Distributions and to seek an endorsement by such insurers that the coverage
provided by such Company Policies will apply to the Health Care Systems Group,
the Instruments Group and the Semiconductor Equipment Group, as organized and
existing on the Distribution Date, with the same force and effect and subject to
the same terms, conditions and exclusions as if the separation of Varian and the
Distributions had not occurred (it being understood that Varian shall be under
no obligation to pay any amounts or otherwise incur any Liabilities in
connection therewith). In the event such endorsement is refused, Varian agrees
to use commercially reasonable efforts to place the Instruments Group and the
Semiconductor Equipment Group in the same position as each would have been had
such endorsement been agreed upon by such insurers (it being understood that
Varian shall be under no obligation to pay any amounts or otherwise incur any
Liabilities in connection therewith). Each of HCS, IB and SEB shall have the
right to use commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate agreements with any
and all insurers or third party administrators for the assumption of direct
responsibility for any and all Liabilities related to it under any Company
Policies, and Varian shall provide commercially reasonable assistance in this
effort.

     (b)  Post-Distribution Date Actions. After the Distribution Date, none of
          ------------------------------
HCS, IB or SEB or any member of their respective Groups shall, without the prior
written consent of the other parties, provide any insurer with a release, or
amend, modify or waive any rights under any Policy or agreement, if such
release, amendment, modification or waiver would adversely affect any rights or
potential rights to coverage of any member of the other Groups thereunder;
provided, however, that, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the
- --------  -------
foregoing shall not (i) preclude any member of any Group from presenting any
claim or, subject to Section 8.05, from exhausting any Policy limit, (ii)
require any member of any Group to pay any premium or other amount or to incur
any Liability, or (iii) require any member of any Group to renew, extend or
continue any Policy in force. Each of HCS, IB and SEB shall share such
information as is reasonably necessary in order to permit the others to manage
and conduct its insurance matters in an orderly fashion.

     (c)  Additional Insurance.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to
          --------------------                                               
restrict any member of the Instruments Group or the Semiconductor Equipment
Group from acquiring, at its own expense, any other insurance policy in respect
of any Liabilities or covering any period to the extent such insurance policy
does not contravene or abrogate any rights of any member of the other Groups
under any of the Company Policies or increase (or potentially increase) premiums
thereunder, whether prospectively or retroactively.

                                  ARTICLE IX
                              DISPUTE RESOLUTION

     Section 9.01.  Separation Committee.
                    -------------------- 

     (a)  Composition and Responsibility of Committee. As of the Effective Time,
          -------------------------------------------   
HCS, IB and SEB shall form a committee (the "Separation Committee") comprised of
one representative designated from time-to-time by

                                       41
<PAGE>
 
the chief executive officer of each of the parties. Except as otherwise
expressly provided in this Agreement, until the tenth anniversary of the
Effective Time, the Separation Committee shall be responsible for resolving any
and all controversies, disputes or claims arising out of, relating to, in
connection with or resulting from this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (or
any amendment hereto or thereto or any transaction contemplated hereby or
thereby), including as to its existence, interpretation, performance, non-
performance, validity, breach or termination, including any claim based on
contract, tort, statute or constitution and any claim raising questions of law,
whether arising before or after termination of this Agreement or any of the
Ancillary Agreements, including any dispute as to (i) whether any Action or
other Liability is an Instruments Liability, a Health Care Systems Liability, a
Semiconductor Equipment Liability or a Shared Liability, (ii) whether any Asset
is a Instruments Asset, a Health Care Systems Asset, a Semiconductor Equipment
Asset or a Shared Asset, (iii) the interpretation of any provision of this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, and (iv) such other matters as are
contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to be resolved by the
Separation Committee (collectively, "Agreement Disputes").

     (b)  Resolution Procedures. In the event of an Agreement Dispute, each of
          ---------------------
the parties shall have the right to refer such Agreement Dispute in writing to
the Separation Committee (or, if the Agreement Dispute involves only two of the
parties, to the representatives of the affected parties that are members
thereof) for resolution. The Separation Committee (or such members) shall seek
to render a unanimous written decision with respect to any Agreement Dispute
within 60 days after receipt of the referral. The decision of the Separation
Committee (or such members) with respect to any Agreement Dispute shall be
binding on the affected parties, the members of their respective Groups and
their respective successors and assigns. In the event that the Separation
Committee (or such members) is unable to reach a unanimous written decision as
to any Agreement Dispute within 60 days after receipt of the referral, any of
the affected parties shall have the right to submit such Agreement Dispute to
arbitration in accordance with the procedures described in Section 9.02. The
parties shall each bear their own expenses and costs in connection with the
procedures described in this Section 9.01.

     Section 9.02.  Binding Arbitration.
                    ------------------- 

     (a)  Submission of Agreement Disputes.  Until 60 days after the tenth
          --------------------------------                                
anniversary of the Effective Time, the resolution of any and all such Agreement
Disputes not resolved in accordance with Section 9.01 shall be exclusively
governed, settled and resolved in accordance with the mandatory binding
arbitration provided for in this Section 9.02.

     (b)  Commencement of Arbitration. Any affected party may commence
          ---------------------------   
arbitration proceedings by delivering a written notice to the other party or
parties, describing in reasonable detail the Agreement Dispute to the other(s),
and expressly requesting arbitration (an "Arbitration Demand Notice") and by
filing with the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") a claim. Any such
arbitration shall be final, conclusive and binding on the parties, the members
of their respective Groups and their respective successors and assigns.

     (c)  Selection of Panel.  The arbitration shall be conducted in Palo Alto,
          ------------------                                                   
California by three arbitrators acting by majority vote (the "Panel"). The
parties involved in the arbitration shall jointly select the three arbitrators
from a list provided by AAA. If the parties are unable to agree as to the Panel
within 30 days after delivery of the Arbitration Demand Notice, the arbitrators
shall be appointed by the AAA pursuant to the commercial arbitration rules of
the American Arbitration Association, as amended from time to time (the "AAA
Rules"). If an arbitrator so selected or appointed becomes unable to serve, his
or her successor shall be similarly selected or appointed. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the affected parties agree, the Panel may consist of one
arbitrator jointly selected by the affected parties. The Panel shall be the sole
judge of the existence and extent of its jurisdiction.

     (d)  Arbitration Procedures. The arbitration shall be conducted under the
          ---------------------- 
AAA Rules.

     (e)  Conduct of Hearing.  All hearings shall be conducted on an expedited
          ------------------                                                  
schedule and all proceedings shall be confidential. Any affected party may at
its expense make a stenographic record thereof, which shall then be shared with
the other affected parties which so request a copy (which parties shall then
share equally in the expense) and which shall be given to the Panel as the
official record of the proceedings. Hearings with respect to an Agreement
Dispute shall begin not later than 120 days after selection or appointment of
the Panel and shall not be more than 30 days in length. The Panel shall be
required to issue a final award within 30 days of the conclusion of the
hearings. The award shall be in writing and shall specify the factual and legal
basis for the award. The Panel

                                       42
<PAGE>
 
shall apportion all costs and expenses of arbitration, including the Panel's
fees and expenses, fees and expenses of experts and reasonable attorneys' fees,
among the affected parties as the Panel deems fair and reasonable. The parties
agree that money damages may be inadequate and that any party shall be entitled
to seek, and that the Panel shall be empowered to enter, equitable and
injunctive relief, including preliminary and temporary injunctive relief, in
addition to any other appropriate relief or remedy. The parties consent to the
jurisdiction of the Panel to award such relief and to the binding nature of any
such relief award by the Panel. Any arbitration award shall be binding and
enforceable against the affected parties and each member of their respective
Groups and judgment may be entered thereon in any court of competent
jurisdiction.

     (f)  Limitation on Damages. In no event may the Panel award exemplary,
          ---------------------
special or punitive damages or lost profits, except to the extent that
exemplary, special or punitive damages or lost profits are actually paid by a
party or a member of a party's Group to a third party.

     Section 9.03.  Disputes Regarding Closing Balance Sheets; Payments.
                    ---------------------------------------------------  
Notwithstanding Sections 9.01 and 9.02, the following shall govern disputes with
respect to the IB Closing Balance Sheet, the HCS Closing Balance Sheet and SEB
Closing Balance Sheet.

     (a)  Disputes Regarding Closing Balance Sheets. Unless (i) in the case of
          -----------------------------------------  
the IB Closing Balance Sheet, IB delivers written notice to HCS and SEB on or
before the 60th day after its receipt of the IB Closing Balance Sheet that it
disputes the value of any item set forth on the IB Closing Balance Sheet (a "IB
Dispute"), or (ii) in the case of the SEB Closing Balance Sheet, SEB delivers
written notice to HCS and IB on or before the 60th day after its receipt of the
SEB Closing Balance Sheet that it disputes the value of any item set forth on
the SEB Closing Balance Sheet (a "SEB Dispute"), or (iii) in the case of the HCS
Closing Balance Sheet, HCS delivers a written notice to IB and SEB on or before
the 60th day after its receipt of the HCS Balance Sheet that it disputes the
value of any item set forth on the HCS Closing Balance Sheet (a "HCS Dispute"),
then the parties shall be deemed to have accepted and agreed to the IB Closing
Balance Sheet, the HCS Closing Balance Sheet or the SEB Closing Balance Sheet,
as applicable, in the form in which it was delivered to it by the Auditors. If
such a notice of a dispute is given by a party (the "Disputing Party") within
such 60-day period, then the parties shall, within 30 days after the giving of
any such notice, attempt to resolve the IB Dispute, HCS Dispute or SEB Dispute,
as the case may be, and agree in writing upon the final content of the affected
Closing Balance Sheet. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the values assigned to
each Asset and Liability on the IB Closing Balance Sheet, the HCS Closing
Balance Sheet and the SEB Closing Balance Sheet will be conclusively presumed to
be correct, and no party shall have the right to dispute the value of any item
if the values assigned to such Assets and Liabilities are the same as the values
recorded on Varian's balance sheet immediately prior to the Effective Time.

     (b)  If the parties are unable to resolve any IB Dispute, HCS Dispute or
SEB Dispute, as the case may be, within such 30-day period, then a mutually
acceptable independent accounting firm (the "Independent Auditors") shall be
employed as arbitrator hereunder to settle such IB Dispute, HCS Dispute and/or
SEB Dispute, as the case may be, as soon as practicable. In resolving such IB
Dispute, HCS Dispute or SEB Dispute, the Independent Auditors shall (i) be
granted access to all documents and facilities necessary to perform its function
as arbitrator; (ii) permit each party and its representatives to make written
and oral presentations to the Independent Auditors; (iii) resolve such IB
Dispute, HCS Dispute and/or SEB Dispute by following relevant internal
accounting methods and policies consistently applied, to the extent such methods
and policies are not inconsistent with GAAP or any term of this Agreement; (iv)
make a final decision regarding such IB Dispute, HCS Dispute and/or SEB Dispute
within such period of time mutually agreed upon by the relevant parties and
specified at the time of appointment of the Independent Auditors; and (v) issue
a written statement explaining the basis for its final decision. The
determination of the Independent Auditors with respect to any IB Dispute, HCS
Dispute and/or SEB Dispute, as the case may be, shall be final and binding on
the applicable parties. Each affected party shall pay its proportionate share of
the fees and expenses of the Independent Auditors for such services. HCS and the
Disputing Party (or Disputing Parties) each agree to execute, if requested by
the Independent Auditors, a reasonable engagement letter. The term "IB Adjusted
Closing Balance Sheet" as used herein shall mean the definitive IB Closing
Balance Sheet agreed to by the parties or, as the case may be, the definitive IB
Closing Balance Sheet resulting from the determinations made by the Independent
Auditors in accordance with this Section 9.03 (in addition to the matters
theretofore agreed to by IB and HCS). The term "HCS Adjusted Closing Balance
Sheet" as used herein shall mean the definitive HCS Balance Sheet agreed to by
the parties or, as the case may be, the definitive HCS Closing Balance Sheet
resulting from the determinations made by the Independent Auditors in accordance
with this

                                       43
<PAGE>
 
Section 9.03 (in addition to the matters theretofore agreed to by HCS and the
Disputing Party or Disputing Parties). The term "SEB Adjusted Closing Balance
Sheet" as used herein shall mean the definitive SEB Closing Balance Sheet agreed
to by the parties or, as the case may be, the definitive SEB Balance Sheet
resulting from the determinations made by the Independent Auditors in accordance
with this Section 9.03 (in addition to the matters theretofore agreed to by SEB
and HCS).

     (c)  Post-Distribution Adjustments, Cash Payments and Other Actions.
          -------------------------------------------------------------- 

          (i)  If the SEB Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet indicates that the
     targets for the minimum Cash and Cash Equivalents provided in Section
     2.05(b)(i)(A) or minimum consolidated Net Worth provided in Section
     2.05(b)(i)(B) or the maximum Consolidated Debt of SEB provided in Section
     2.05(b)(ii) were not met as of the Effective Time, then each of HCS and IB
     shall pay to SEB, in cash, an amount equal to 50% of the amount that would
     have been sufficient to cause SEB to meet such targets, or to reimburse SEB
     for any Consolidated Debt in excess of $5,000,000, as of the Effective
     Time, within ten days after the date the SEB Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet
     is determined and provided to the parties. If the SEB Adjusted Closing
     Balance Sheet indicates that the target for the minimum Cash and Cash
     Equivalents provided in Section 2.05(b)(i)(A) has been exceeded but the
     target for minimum consolidated Net Worth provided in Section 2.05(b)(i)(B)
     has been satisfied, then SEB shall pay to each of HCS and IB, in cash, an
     amount equal to 50% of the amount by which (A) the Cash and Cash
     Equivalents of SEB set forth on the SEB Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet
     exceed (B) the sum of (y) $100,000,000 and (z) the amount, if any, that
     would be required to reimburse SEB for any Consolidated Debt in excess of
     $5,000,000, within ten days after the date the SEB Adjusted Closing Balance
     Sheet is determined and provided to the parties. If the consolidated Net
     Worth set forth on the SEB Adjusting Closing Balance Sheet exceeds
     $225,000,000, then SEB shall pay to each of HCS and IB, in cash, an amount
     equal to 50% of the amount by which the such consolidated Net Worth exceeds
     $225,000,000, within ten days after the date the SEB Adjusted Closing
     Balance Sheet is determined and provided to the parties.

          (ii) If the HCS Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet indicates that the
     consolidated Net Worth of HCS set forth on the HCS Adjusted Closing Balance
     Sheet is less than 40% of the combined consolidated Net Worths of HCS and
     IB set forth on the HCS Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet and the IB Adjusted
     Closing Balance Sheet, then IB shall pay to HCS an amount in cash that
     would have been sufficient to cause the consolidated Net Worth of HCS to
     have equaled 40% of the combined consolidated Net Worths of HCS and IB set
     forth on the HCS Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet and the IB Adjusted Closing
     Balance Sheet as of the Effective Time, within ten days after the later of
     the date the HCS Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet and the IB Adjusted Closing
     Balance Sheet is determined and provided to the parties. If the HCS
     Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet indicates that the consolidated Net Worth of
     HCS set forth on the HCS Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet is more than 50% of
     the combined consolidated Net Worths of HCS and IB set forth on the HCS
     Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet and the IB Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet,
     then HCS shall pay to IB an amount in cash that would have been sufficient
     to cause the consolidated Net Worth of HCS to have equaled 50% of the
     combined consolidated Net Worths of HCS and IB set forth on the HCS
     Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet and the IB Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet as
     of the Effective Time, within ten days after the later of the date the HCS
     Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet and the IB Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet is
     determined and provided to the parties. For purposes of this Section
     9.03(c)(ii), the consolidated Net Worth of HCS shall be determined without
     giving effect to any Transaction Expenditures or Dispositions (including
     associated tax benefit and tax cost) that have been accrued, paid or
     received by HCS as of the Effective Time or any of the transactions
     effected pursuant to Section 2.05(d), but shall include any adjustments
     required by Section 9.03(c)(i).

     Section 9.04.  Post-Distribution Adjustment in Respect of Transaction
                    ------------------------------------------------------
Expenditures and Disposition Proceeds.  On the date that is 180 days after the
- -------------------------------------                                         
Distribution Date (or, if such date is not a business day, the immediately
following business day), HCS and IB shall recompute the After-tax Differential
(including HCS's and IB's good faith estimates of the components thereof that
are not yet determinable as of such 180th day). If the positive or negative
difference between the After-tax Differential determined as of such date and the
After-tax Differential determined pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.05(d)
is more than $1,000,000, then IB shall pay HCS, or HCS shall pay IB (as
applicable to put the parties in the positions they would have been if the
After-tax

                                       44
<PAGE>
 
Differential computed pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.05(d) was equal to
the recomputed After-tax Differential) 50% of the amount of such difference.

     Section 9.05.   Discretionary Restructuring Amounts. On the date that is 90
                     -----------------------------------
days after the Distribution Date (or, if such date is not a business day, the
immediately following business day) HCS and IB shall recompute the HCS
Discretionary Restructuring Amount and the IB Discretionary Restructuring Amount
and IB shall pay HCS or HCS shall pay IB (as applicable) such amounts as shall
be necessary to put such entities in the positions they would have been if the
HCS Discretionary Restructuring Amount and the IB Discretionary Restructuring
Amount computed pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.05(c) were equal to the
recomputed amounts.

     Section 9.06.   Specific Performance. Each party acknowledges that there is
                     -------------------- 
no adequate remedy at Law for the failure by such parties to comply with the
provisions of this Agreement and that such failure would cause immediate harm
that would not be adequately compensable in damages. Accordingly, each party
agrees that the agreement contained in Section 9.02 with respect to arbitration
of Agreement Disputes and in Section 9.03 with respect to resolution of Disputes
by the Independent Auditors may be specifically enforced without the requirement
of posting a bond or other security.

                                   ARTICLE X
                                 MISCELLANEOUS

     Section 10.01.  Complete Agreement; Construction.  This Agreement and the
                     --------------------------------                         
Ancillary Agreements shall constitute the entire agreement among the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior
agreements, negotiations, commitments and writings with respect to such subject
matter.  In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and any
Schedule or Exhibit, the Schedule or Exhibit, as the case may be, shall prevail.
Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement to the contrary, in the
event and to the extent that there is a conflict between the provisions of this
Agreement and the provisions of any Ancillary Agreement, the Ancillary Agreement
shall prevail, except for inconsistencies with respect to Sections 5.05 and 6.07
and Article IX, which shall prevail over any inconsistent provisions of any
Ancillary Agreement other than the Tax Sharing Agreement.

     Section 10.02.  Ancillary Agreements.  This Agreement is not intended to
                     --------------------                                    
address, and should not be interpreted to address, the matters expressly covered
by the Ancillary Agreements.

     Section 10.03.  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
                     ------------
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together shall constitute but one and the same Agreement.

     Section 10.04.  Responsibility for Expenses.
                     ---------------------------
 
     (a)  Transaction Expenditures. Except as otherwise expressly provided in
          ------------------------ 
this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any instrument or agreement
contemplated thereby, and subject to the provisions of this Agreement with
respect to the After-tax Differential, all Transaction Expenditures shall be
charged to and paid by Varian.

     (b)  Expenses Incurred or Accrued after the Distribution Date.  Except as
          --------------------------------------------------------            
otherwise set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, each party
shall bear its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     Section 10.05.  Notices. All notices, consents, requests, waivers, claims
                     -------
or other communications (each a "Notice") required or permitted under this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently given or made (a) if
hand delivered or sent by telecopy (with delivery confirmed by voice or
otherwise), (b) if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, or (c) if
sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested,
and in each case addressed as follows:

                                       45
<PAGE>
 
     If to Varian before the Distributions, at:
     3050 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California  94304
     Attn:  Chief Financial Officer
     Telecopy:  (650) 424-5754

     with a copy to:

     3050 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California  94304
     Attn:  General Counsel
     Telecopy:  (650) 858-2018

     If to HCS before the Distributions, at:
     3100 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California  94304
     Attn:  Elisha W. Finney
     Telecopy:  (650) 424-5358

     with a copy to:

     3050 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California  94304
     Attn:  Joseph B. Phair
     Telecopy:  (650) 858-2018

     If to SEB before the Distributions, at:
     35 Dory Road
     Gloucester, Massachusetts  01930
     Attn:  Ernest L. Godshalk III
     Telecopy:  (978) 281-3152

     If to IB before the Distributions, at:
     3050 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California  94304
     Attn:  Wayne P. Somrak
     Telecopy:  (650) 424-5754

     with a copy to:

     3100 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California  94304
     Attn:  A.W. Homan
     Telecopy:  (650) 424-5998

     If to HCS after the Distributions, at:
     3100 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California 94304
     Attn:  Chief Financial Officer

     With a copy to:

     3100 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California 94304
     Attn:  General Counsel

                                       46
<PAGE>
 
     If to SEB after the Distributions, at:
     35 Dory Road
     Gloucester, Massachusetts  01930
     Attention:  Chief Financial Officer
     Telecopy:  (978) 281-3152

     With a copy to:
     35 Dory Road
     Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
     Attn:  General Counsel
     Telecopy:  (978) 281-3152

     If to IB after the Distributions, at:
     3120 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California  94304
     Attn:  Chief Financial Officer

     with a copy to:

     3120 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California  94304
     Attn:  General Counsel

or such other address as shall be furnished by any of the parties in a Notice.
Any Notice shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when the Notice is
received.

     Section 10.06.  Waivers. The failure of any party to require strict
                     ------- 
performance by any other party of any provision in or rights or remedies with
respect to this Agreement shall not waive or diminish that party's right to
demand strict performance thereafter of that or any other provision hereof or
right or remedy.

     Section 10.07.  Amendments. This Agreement may be amended or supplemented,
                     ----------
or its provisions waived only by an agreement in writing signed by each of the
parties; provided, however, that (i) after the Varian stockholders approve the
         -------- -------
Distributions no such amendment, supplement or waiver may be effected unless it
would not be materially adverse to the Varian stockholders, and (ii) Article VII
may not be amended after the Distributions in respect of third party
beneficiaries thereof without the consent of such Persons.

     Section 10.08.  Assignment.
                     ----------
 
     (a)  No party to this Agreement shall (i) consolidate with or merge into
any Person or permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into such party
(other than a merger or consolidation in which the party is the surviving or
continuing corporation), or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise
dispose of, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, all or
substantially all of its Assets, unless the resulting, surviving or transferee
Person expressly assumes, by instrument in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the other parties, all of the obligations of the party under
this Agreement.

     (b)  Except as expressly provided in paragraph (a) above or Section 7.10,
neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder
shall be assignable, directly or indirectly, by any party without the prior
written consent of the other parties, and any attempt to so assign without such
consent shall be void.

     Section 10.09.  Successors and Assigns. Subject to Section 10.08, this
                     ----------------------
Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the successors and permitted assigns of the parties.

     Section 10.10.  Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated and the
                     -----------                                           
Distributions may be abandoned at any time before the Distributions by Varian in
its sole discretion without the approval of SEB or IB or

                                       47
<PAGE>
 
the Varian stockholders. In the event of such termination, no party shall have
any Liability of any kind to any other party. After the Distributions, this
Agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in writing signed by each
of the parties; provided, however, that Article VII may not be terminated after
                --------  -------                                              
the Distributions in respect of the third party beneficiaries thereof without
the consent of such Persons.

     Section 10.11.  Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as expressly contemplated
                     -------------------------
by Article VII (relating to Indemnitees), this Agreement is solely for the
benefit of the parties and the members of their respective Groups and Affiliates
and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and should not be deemed
to confer upon third parties any remedy, claim, liability, right of
reimbursement, cause of action or other right in excess of those existing
without reference to this Agreement.

     Section 10.12.  Exhibits and Schedules. The Exhibits and Schedules attached
                     ----------------------
to this Agreement shall be construed with and as an integral part of this
Agreement to the same extent as if the same had been set forth verbatim herein.

     Section 10.13.  Governing Law. This Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and
                     -------------
any other agreements entered into in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby (except for the Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments,
which shall be governed by local Law) shall be governed by, and construed and
enforced in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware without regard to
the principles of conflicts of Laws thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. (S)(S)1-15, shall govern the arbitrability
of Agreement Disputes.

     Section 10.14.  Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the
                     ------------                                            
application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined to be invalid,
void or unenforceable in any respect, the remaining provisions hereof, or the
application of such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those as to
which it has been held invalid, void or unenforceable, shall remain in full
force and effect and in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so
long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby
is not affected in any manner adverse to any party.

     Section 10.15.  Subsidiaries.  Each party shall cause to be performed, and
                     ------------                                              
hereby guarantee the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set
forth herein to be performed by any Subsidiary of such party which is
contemplated to be a Subsidiary of such party on and after the Distribution
Date.

     Section 10.16.  Titles and Headings. Titles and headings to sections herein
                     -------------------
are inserted for the convenience of reference only and are not intended to be
part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or of any
Ancillary Agreement.

     Section 10.17.  Consent to Jurisdiction. Without limiting any of the
                     -----------------------
provisions of Article IX, each party hereby submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware and the Federal
courts of the United States of America located in Delaware in respect of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and hereby waives, and agrees not
to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, that it is not subject thereto or that such
action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in such
courts or that the Agreement may not be enforced in or by such courts or that
its property is exempt or immune from execution, that the suit, action or
proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or that the venue of the suit,
action or proceeding is improper.

                                       48
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                 VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.



                                 By   /s/ Richard M. Levy
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                 Name:    Richard M. Levy
                                 Title:   Executive Vice President

                                 VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT
                                 ASSOCIATES, INC.



                                 By   /s/ Richard A. Aurelio
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                 Name:    Richard A. Aurelio
                                 Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

                                 VARIAN, INC.



                                 By   /s/ Allen J. Lauer
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                 Name:    Allen J. Lauer
                                 Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

                                       49

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     Exhibit 3.1

                     RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
                                      OF
                                 VARIAN, INC.
                            A Delaware Corporation


                                   ARTICLE I

                                     NAME

       The name of the corporation is Varian, Inc. (the "Corporation").

                                  ARTICLE II

                          REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

          The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State
of Delaware is The Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of
Wilmington, County of New Castle.  The name of its registered agent at that
address is The Corporation Trust Company.

                                  ARTICLE III

                                   PURPOSES

          The purpose of the Corporation shall be to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware.

                                  ARTICLE IV

                                 CAPITAL STOCK

          The Corporation shall be authorized to issue two classes of stock to
be designated, respectively, "Common Stock" and "Preferred Stock."  The total
number of shares of both classes of stock which the Corporation has authority to
issue is one hundred million (100,000,000) shares, consisting of: ninety nine
million (99,000,000) shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, and one
million (1,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share.

          The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board of Directors")
is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by applicable law and the
provisions of this Article IV, to provide for the issuance of the shares of
Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more series, each of which series
shall have such distinctive designation or title as shall be fixed by the Board
of Directors prior to the issuance of any shares thereof.  Each such series of
Preferred Stock shall have such voting powers, shall consist of such number of
shares, shall be issued for such consideration and shall otherwise have such
powers, designations, preferences and relative,
<PAGE>
 
participating, optional or other rights, if any, and such qualifications,
limitations or restrictions, if any, as shall be stated in such resolution or
resolutions providing for the issue of such series of Preferred Stock as may be
adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors prior to the issuance of any
shares thereof pursuant to the authority hereby expressly vested in it, all in
accordance with applicable law.

          The number of authorized shares of any class or classes of stock may
be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then
outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of
the voting power of the then outstanding Voting Stock, voting together as a
single class.

          The Common Stock shall be subject to the express terms of the
Preferred Stock and any series thereof.  Except as may be provided in this
Certificate of Incorporation or in any Certificate of Designation designating
any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
Article IV that shall be in effect under the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware (a "Preferred Stock Designation"), the holders of shares of
Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share upon all
questions presented to the stockholders, the Common Stock shall have the
exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and for all other
purposes, and holders of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to receive notice
of any meeting of stockholders at which they are not entitled to vote.

          The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the person in whose name
any share of its stock is registered as the owner thereof for all purposes and
shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in,
such share on the part of any other person, whether or not the Corporation shall
have notice thereof, except as expressly provided by applicable law.

          Pursuant to authority granted by this Article IV, the Board of
Directors adopted a resolution creating a series of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par
value per share, and stated the designation and number of shares, and fixed the
powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
rights, if any, of the shares of such series and the qualifications, limitations
or restrictions thereof, if any, as set forth in a Certificate of Designation of
Participating Preferred Stock of Varian, Inc.

                                   ARTICLE V

                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

          Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock
to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of
directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the
Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the then
authorized number of directors of the Corporation, but in no event shall the
number of directors be fewer than three.  The directors, other than those who
may be elected solely by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock (unless
the relevant Preferred Stock Designation shall so provide), shall be divided
into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, designated "Class I,"
"Class II" and "Class III."  Directors of each class shall serve for a term
ending on the third annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting
at which such class was elected, except that the term of office of the initial
Class I

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
director shall expire on the date of the annual meeting in 2000, the term of
office of the initial Class II directors shall expire on the date of the annual
meeting in 2001 and the term of office of the initial Class III directors shall
expire on the date of the annual meeting in 2002.  The foregoing
notwithstanding, each director shall serve until his or her successor shall have
been duly elected and qualified, unless such director shall die, resign, retire
or be disqualified or removed.

          At all elections of directors, the directors chosen to succeed those
directors whose terms then expire shall be identified as being of the same class
as the directors they succeed.  If for any reason the number of directors in the
various classes shall not be as nearly equal as possible, the Board of Directors
may redesignate any director into a different class in order that the balance of
directors in such classes shall be as nearly equal as possible.

          Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock
to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, and unless the
Board of Directors otherwise determines, vacancies in the Board of Directors
resulting from one or more directors' death, resignation, retirement,
disqualification, removal from office or other cause, and newly created
directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors,
may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining
directors, though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, or by a sole
remaining director, and directors so chosen shall hold office for a term
expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office of
the class to which they have been elected expires and until such director's
successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.  No decrease in the number
of authorized directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the
term of any incumbent director.

          Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock
to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, any director may be
removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the then
outstanding Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, at a meeting called
for that purpose.

          Elections of directors of the Corporation need not be by written
ballot except and to the extent the by-laws of the Corporation (the "By-Laws")
so provide.

          Notwithstanding anything contained in this Certificate of
Incorporation to the contrary, and in addition to approval by the Board of
Directors, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66?% of the voting
power of the then outstanding Voting Stock, voting together as a single class,
shall be required to amend, repeal or adopt any provision inconsistent with this
Article V.  For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, "Voting Stock"
shall mean the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE VI

                       POWERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

          In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by
applicable law, the Board of Directors shall have the power to (1) adopt, amend
or repeal By-Laws, subject to the power of the stockholders of the Corporation
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware to adopt, amend or
repeal any By-Law; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provision
of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might
otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative
vote of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock required by applicable law,
this Certificate of Incorporation or any Preferred Stock Designation, the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66?% of the voting power of the then
outstanding Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required
for stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of the By-Laws; and (2)
from time to time determine whether and to what extent, and at what times and
places, and under what conditions and regulations, the accounts and books of the
Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to inspection of stockholders; and,
except as so determined or as expressly provided in this Certificate of
Incorporation or in any Preferred Stock Designation, no stockholder shall have
any right to inspect any account, book or document of the Corporation other than
such rights as may be conferred by applicable law.  Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, and in addition
to approval by the Board of Directors, the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least 66?% of the voting power of the then outstanding Voting Stock, voting
together as a single class, shall be required to amend, repeal or adopt any
provision inconsistent with clause (1) of the preceding sentence.  The
Corporation may in its By-Laws confer powers upon its Board of Directors in
addition to the powers and authorities expressly conferred upon it by applicable
law.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                            LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS

          To the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, as it exists on the date hereof or as it may hereafter be
amended, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the
Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director of the Corporation.  Without limiting the effect of the
preceding sentence, if the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware is
hereafter amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the
liability of a director, then the liability of a director of the Corporation
shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as so amended.

          Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption
of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this
Article VII, shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any
limitation on the personal liability of a director of the Corporation existing
at the time of such amendment, repeal or adoption of such an inconsistent
provision.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE VIII

                                INDEMNIFICATION

          Each person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or
each such person who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including the
heirs, executor, administrators or estate of such person), including service
with respect to employee benefit plans, shall be indemnified and held harmless
by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended
(but, if permitted by applicable law, in the case of any such amendment, only to
the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader
indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior
to such amendment) and any other applicable laws as presently or hereafter in
effect. The Corporation may, by action of the Board of Directors, provide
indemnification to employees and agents of the Corporation, and to any such
persons serving as directors, officers, employees or agents of another
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, at
the request of the Corporation, with the same scope and effect as the foregoing
indemnification of directors and officers. The Corporation shall be required to
indemnify any person seeking indemnification in connection with any action, suit
or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a
"proceeding") (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding
(or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors or is a proceeding to
enforce such person's right to indemnification pursuant to the rights granted by
this Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise by the Corporation. Without
limiting the generality or the effect of the foregoing, the Corporation may
enter into one or more agreements with any person which provide for
indemnification greater than or different from that provided in this Article
VIII.

                                  ARTICLE IX

                            ACTION BY STOCKHOLDERS

          Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of
the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of
stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in
writing in lieu of a meeting of such stockholders. Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, and in addition
to approval by the Board of Directors, the affirmative vote of at least 66?% of
the voting power of the then outstanding Voting Stock, voting together as a
single class, shall be required to amend, repeal or adopt any provision
inconsistent with this Article IX.

                                   ARTICLE X

                                  AMENDMENTS

          Except as may be expressly provided in this Certificate of
Incorporation, the Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to
time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this
Certificate of Incorporation or a Preferred Stock Designation, and any other
provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force
may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed herein or by
applicable law, and all

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
rights, preferences and privileges of whatsoever nature conferred upon
stockholders, directors or any other persons whomsoever by and pursuant to this
Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as hereafter amended are
granted subject to the right reserved in this Article X; provided, however, that
any amendment or repeal of Article VII or Article VIII of this Certificate of
Incorporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection existing
hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment or
repeal; and provided further that no Preferred Stock Designation shall be
amended after the issuance of any shares of the series of Preferred Stock
created thereby, except in accordance with the terms of such Preferred Stock
Designation and the requirements of applicable law.

                                       6

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     Exhibit 3.2

                 FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION AND TERMS
               OF PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK OF VARIAN, INC.
               ------------------------------------------------

                    Pursuant to Section 151 of the General
                   Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
                   ----------------------------------------

We, the undersigned, Allen J. Lauer and Arthur W. Homan, the President and
Secretary, respectively, of Varian, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Corporation"), do hereby certify as follows:

          Pursuant to authority granted by Article IV of the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Corporation and in accordance
with the provisions of Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware, the Board of Directors of the Corporation has adopted the following
resolutions fixing the designation and certain terms, powers, preferences and
other rights of a new series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock, par value
$0.01 per share, and certain qualifications, limitations and restrictions
thereon:

          RESOLVED, that there is hereby established a series of Preferred
     Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation, and the designation
     and certain terms, powers, preferences and other rights of the shares of
     such series, and certain qualifications, limitations and restrictions
     thereon, are hereby fixed as follows:
 
          (i)   The distinctive serial designation of this series shall be
                "Participating Preferred Stock" (hereinafter called "this
                Series"). Each share of this Series shall be identical in all
                respects with the other shares of this Series except as to the
                dates from and after which dividends thereon shall be
                cumulative.

          (ii)  The number of shares in this Series shall initially be 50,000,
                which number may from time to time be increased or decreased
                (but not below the number then outstanding) by the Board of
                Directors. Shares of this Series purchased by the Corporation
                shall be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued
                shares of Preferred Stock undesignated as to series. Shares of
                this Series may be issued in fractional shares, which fractional
                shares shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder's
                fractional share, to all rights of a holder of a whole share of
                this Series.

          (iii) The holders of full or fractional shares of this Series shall be
                entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of
                Directors, but only out of
<PAGE>
 
                funds legally available therefor, dividends, (A) on each date
                that dividends or other distributions (other than dividends or
                distributions payable in Common Stock of the Corporation) are
                payable on or in respect of Common Stock comprising part of the
                Reference Package (as defined below), in an amount per whole
                share of this Series equal to the aggregate amount of dividends
                or other distributions (other than dividends or distributions
                payable in Common Stock of the Corporation) that would be
                payable on such date to a holder of the Reference Package (as
                hereinafter defined) and (B) on the last day of March, June,
                September and December in each year, in an amount per whole
                share of this Series equal to the excess (if any) of $2.50 over
                the aggregate dividends paid per whole share of this Series
                during the three month period ending on such last day. Each such
                dividend shall be paid to the holders of record of shares of
                this Series on the date, not exceeding sixty days preceding such
                dividend or distribution payment date, fixed for the purpose by
                the Board of Directors in advance of payment of each particular
                dividend or distribution. Dividends on each full and each
                fractional share of this Series shall be cumulative from the
                date such full or fractional share is originally issued;
                provided that any such full or fractional share originally
                issued after a dividend record date and on or prior to the
                dividend payment date to which such record date relates shall
                not be entitled to receive the dividend payable on such dividend
                payment date or any amount in respect of the period from such
                original issuance to such dividend payment date.

          The term "Reference Package" shall initially mean 1,000 shares of
     Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share ("Common Stock"), of the
     Corporation.  In the event the Corporation shall at any time after 5:00
     p.m., California time, on April 2, 1999 (A) declare or pay a dividend on
     any Common Stock payable in Common Stock, (B) subdivide any Common Stock or
     (C) combine any Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then and in
     each such case the Reference Package after such event shall be the Common
     Stock that a holder of the Reference Package immediately prior to such
     event would hold thereafter as a result thereof.

          Holders of shares of this Series shall not be entitled to any
     dividends, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of full
     cumulative dividends, as herein provided on this Series.
 
          So long as any shares of this series are outstanding, no dividends
     (other than a dividend in Common Stock or in any other stock ranking junior
     to this Series as to dividends and upon liquidation) shall be declared or
     paid or set aside for payment or other distribution declared or made upon
     the Common Stock or upon any other stock ranking junior to this Series as
     to dividends or upon liquidation, nor shall any Common Stock nor any other
     stock of the Corporation ranking junior to or on a parity with this Series
     as to dividends or upon liquidation be redeemed, purchased or otherwise
     acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available
     for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by
     the Corporation (except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the
     Corporation ranking junior to this Series as to dividends

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     and upon liquidation), unless, in each case, the full cumulative dividends
     (including the dividend to be due upon payment of such dividend,
     distribution, redemption, purchase or other acquisition) on all outstanding
     shares of this Series shall have been, or shall contemporaneously be, paid.

          (iv)  In the event of any merger, consolidation, reclassification or
                other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are
                exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash
                and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
                this Series shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
                changed in an amount per whole share equal to the aggregate
                amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property
                (payable in kind), as the case may be, that a holder of the
                Reference Package would be entitled to receive as a result of
                such transaction.

          (v)   In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
                the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or
                involuntary, the holders of full and fractional shares of this
                Series shall be entitled, before any distribution or payment is
                made on any date to the holders of the Common Stock or any other
                stock of the Corporation ranking junior to this Series upon
                liquidation, to be paid in full an amount per whole share of
                this Series equal to the greater of (A) $100 or (B) the
                aggregate amount distributed or to be distributed prior to such
                date in connection with such liquidation, dissolution or winding
                up to a holder of the Reference Package (such greater amount
                being hereinafter referred to as the "Liquidation Preference"),
                together with accrued dividends to such distribution or payment
                date, whether or not earned or declared. If such payment shall
                have been made in full to all holders of shares of this Series,
                the holders of shares of this Series as such shall have no right
                or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

          In the event the assets of the Corporation available for distribution
     to the holders of shares of this Series upon any liquidation, dissolution
     or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall
     be insufficient to pay in full all amounts to which such holders are
     entitled pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section (v), no such
     distribution shall be made on account of any shares of any other class or
     series of Preferred Stock ranking on a parity with the shares of this
     Series upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up unless
     proportionate distributive amounts shall be paid on account of the shares
     of this Series, ratably in proportion to the full distributable amounts for
     which holders of all such parity shares are respectively entitled upon such
     liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
 
          Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation,
     the holders of shares of this Series then outstanding shall be entitled to
     be paid out of assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its
     Stockholders all amounts to which such holders are entitled pursuant to the
     first paragraph of this Section (v) before any payment

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     shall be made to the holders of Common Stock or any other stock of the
     Corporation ranking junior upon liquidation to this Series.

          For the purposes of this Section (v), the consolidation or merger of,
     or binding share exchange by, the Corporation with any other corporation
     shall not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up
     of the Corporation.

          (vi)  The shares of this Series shall not be redeemable.

          (vii) In addition to any other vote or consent of Stockholders
                required by law or by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
                as amended, of the Corporation, each whole share of this Series
                shall, on any matter, vote as a class with any other capital
                stock comprising part of the Reference Package and voting on
                such matter and shall have the number of votes thereon that a
                holder of the Reference Package would have.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have signed and attested this
certificate on the 29th day of March, 1999.


                                   /s/ Allen J. Lauer
                                   ----------------------
                                       Allen J. Lauer
                                          President

Attest:



/s/ Arthur W. Homan
- ----------------------
    Arthur W. Homan
      Secretary

                                       4

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 3.3
 
                                    BY-LAWS
                                      OF
                                 VARIAN, INC.
                            A Delaware Corporation


       As adopted on February 18, 1999, to be effective on March 30, 1999
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                Page
<S>                                                                                                             <C> 
ARTICLE I             OFFICES..................................................................................  1
                                                                                                                 
         Section 1.        Registered Office...................................................................  1
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.        General Office and Other Offices....................................................  1
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE II            STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS...................................................................  1
                                                                                                                 
         Section 3.        Annual Meeting......................................................................  1
                                                                                                                 
         Section 4.        Business to be Conducted at Annual Meeting..........................................  1
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.        Special Meetings....................................................................  2
                                                                                                                 
         Section 6.        Place of Meetings...................................................................  2
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.        Notice of Meetings..................................................................  3
                                                                                                                 
         Section 8.        Nominations of Directors............................................................  3
                                                                                                                 
         Section 9.        List of Stockholders................................................................  4
                                                                                                                 
         Section 10.       Quorum..............................................................................  4
                                                                                                                 
         Section 11.       Voting and Required Vote............................................................  5
                                                                                                                 
         Section 12.       Proxies.............................................................................  5
                                                                                                                 
         Section 13.       Inspectors of Election; Polls.......................................................  5
                                                                                                                 
         Section 14.       Organization........................................................................  5
                                                                                                                 
         Section 15.       No Stockholder Action by Written Consent............................................  5
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE III           BOARD OF DIRECTORS.......................................................................  6
                                                                                                                 
         Section 16.       General Powers, Number, Term of Office..............................................  6
                                                                                                                 
         Section 17.       Vacancies...........................................................................  6
                                                                                                                 
         Section 18.       Chairman of the Board...............................................................  6
                                                                                                                 
         Section 19.       Regular Meetings....................................................................  7
                                                                                                                 
         Section 20.       Special Meetings....................................................................  7
                                                                                                                 
         Section 21.       Notices.............................................................................  7
                                                                                                                 
         Section 22.       Conference Telephone Meetings.......................................................  7
                                                                                                                 
         Section 23.       Quorum..............................................................................  7
                                                                                                                 
         Section 24.       Organization........................................................................  8
                                                                                                                 
         Section 25.       Resignations........................................................................  8
                                                                                                                 
         Section 26.       Removal.............................................................................  8
                                                                                                                 
         Section 27.       Action Without a Meeting............................................................  8
                                                                                                                 
         Section 28.       Location of Books...................................................................  8
</TABLE> 

                                      -i-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                PAGE
<S>                                                                                                             <C> 
         Section 29.       Dividends...........................................................................  8
                                                                                                                 
         Section 30.       Compensation of Directors...........................................................  8
                                                                                                                 
         Section 31.       Additional Powers...................................................................  9
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE IV            COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS..................................................................  9
                                                                                                                 
         Section 32.       Designation, Power, Alternate Members...............................................  9
                                                                                                                 
         Section 33.       Quorum, Manner of Acting............................................................  9
                                                                                                                 
         Section 34.       Minutes.............................................................................  9

ARTICLE V             ADVISORY DIRECTORS....................................................................... 10
                                                                                                                
         Section 35.       Advisory Directors.................................................................. 10
                                                                                                                
ARTICLE VI            OFFICERS................................................................................. 10
                                                                                                                
         Section 36.       Designation......................................................................... 10
                                                                                                                
         Section 37.       Election and Term................................................................... 10
                                                                                                                
         Section 38.       Removal............................................................................. 10
                                                                                                                
         Section 39.       Resignations........................................................................ 10
                                                                                                                
         Section 40.       Vacancies........................................................................... 10
                                                                                                                
         Section 41.       Chief Executive Officer............................................................. 10
                                                                                                                
         Section 42.       President........................................................................... 11
                                                                                                                
         Section 43.       Vice Presidents..................................................................... 11
                                                                                                                
         Section 44.       Secretary........................................................................... 11
                                                                                                                
         Section 45.       Assistant Secretaries............................................................... 11
                                                                                                                
         Section 46.       Chief Financial Officer............................................................. 11
                                                                                                                
         Section 47.       Treasurer........................................................................... 11
                                                                                                                
         Section 48.       Assistant Treasurers................................................................ 12
                                                                                                                
         Section 49.       Controller.......................................................................... 12
                                                                                                                
         Section 50.       Assistant Controllers............................................................... 12
                                                                                                                
ARTICLE VII           CONTRACTS, INSTRUMENTS AND PROXIES....................................................... 12
                                                                                                                
         Section 51.       Contracts and Other Instruments..................................................... 12
                                                                                                                
         Section 52.       Proxies............................................................................. 12
                                                                                                                
ARTICLE VIII          CAPITAL STOCK............................................................................ 13
                                                                                                                
         Section 53.       Stock Certificates; Book-Entry Accounts............................................. 13
                                                                                                                
         Section 54.       Record Ownership.................................................................... 13
</TABLE> 

                                      -ii-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                Page
<S>                                                                                                             <C>
         Section 55.       Record Dates........................................................................ 13
                                                                                                                
         Section 56.       Transfer of Stock................................................................... 13
                                                                                                                
         Section 57.       Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.............................................. 13
                                                                                                                
         Section 58.       Terms of Preferred Stock............................................................ 14
                                                                                                                
ARTICLE IX            INDEMNIFICATION.......................................................................... 14
                                                                                                                
         Section 59.       Right of Indemnification Generally.................................................. 14
                                                                                                                
         Section 60.       Written Request; Determination of Entitlement....................................... 15
                                                                                                                
         Section 61.       Recovery of Unpaid Claim............................................................ 15
                                                                                                                
         Section 62.       Exclusivity; Subsequent Modification................................................ 15
                                                                                                                
         Section 63.       Insurance........................................................................... 15
                                                                                                                
         Section 64.       Other Indemnification Rights........................................................ 16
                                                                                                                
         Section 65.       Illegality; Unenforceability........................................................ 16
                                                                                                                
         Section 66.       Form and Delivery of Communications................................................. 16
                                                                                                                
ARTICLE X             MISCELLANEOUS............................................................................ 16
                                                                                                                
         Section 67.       Corporate Seal...................................................................... 16
                                                                                                                
         Section 68.       Fiscal Year......................................................................... 16
                                                                                                                
         Section 69.       Auditors............................................................................ 16
                                                                                                                
         Section 70.       Waiver of Notice.................................................................... 17
                                                                                                                
ARTICLE XI            AMENDMENT TO BY-LAWS..................................................................... 17
                                                                                                                
         Section 71.       Amendments.......................................................................... 17
</TABLE> 

                                     -iii-
<PAGE>
 
                                    BY-LAWS
                                      OF
                                 VARIAN, INC.
                            A Delaware Corporation

      As adopted on February 18, 1999, to be effective on March 30, 1999

                                   ARTICLE I

                                    OFFICES

     Section 1.     Registered Office. The name of the registered agent of
                    -----------------
Varian, Inc. (the "Corporation") is The Corporation Trust Company and the
registered office of the Corporation shall be located in the City of Wilmington,
County of New Castle, State of Delaware.

     Section 2.     General Office and Other Offices. The Corporation shall have
                    --------------------------------
its General Offices in the City of Palo Alto, State of California (the "General
Offices"), and may also have offices at such other places in or outside the
State of Delaware as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board of
Directors") may from time to time designate or the business of the Corporation
may require.

                                  ARTICLE II

                            STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS

     Section 3.     Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of stockholders shall be
                    -------------- 
held on such day and at such time as may be designated by the Board of Directors
for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other
business as properly may come before such meeting. Any previously scheduled
annual meeting of the stockholders may be postponed by resolution of the Board
of Directors upon public notice given on or prior to the date previously
scheduled for such annual meeting of stockholders.

     Section 4.     Business to be Conducted at Annual Meeting.
                    ------------------------------------------ 

            (a)     At an annual meeting of stockholders, only such business
shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting (i) pursuant to
the Corporation's notice of the meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the
Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a
stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this
By-Law, who shall be entitled to vote at such meeting and who shall have
complied with the notice procedures set forth in this By-Law.

            (b)     For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting
by a stockholder pursuant to clause (a)(iii) of this By-Law, notice in writing
must be delivered or mailed to the Secretary and received at the General
Offices, not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the first
anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy
materials for the preceding year's annual meeting of stockholders; provided,
however, that in the event that the date of the meeting is advanced by more than
30 days or delayed by more than 60
<PAGE>
 
days from such meeting's anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be
received not earlier than the 90/th/ day prior to such date of mailing of proxy
materials and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60/th/
day prior to such date of mailing of proxy materials or the 10/th/ day following
the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first
made. Such stockholder's notice shall set forth as to each matter the
stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (i) a brief description
of the business to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for
conducting such business at such meeting; (ii) the name and address, as they
appear on the Corporation's books, of the stockholder proposing such business,
and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the
proposal is made; (iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation's
stock which are beneficially owned by the stockholder, and by the beneficial
owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (iv) any material
interest of the stockholder, and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose
behalf the proposal is made, in such business. For purposes of these By-Laws,
"public announcement" shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the
Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable news service or in a
document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

            (c)     Notwithstanding anything in these By-Laws to the contrary,
no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this By-Law. The chairman of the meeting may, if the
facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the
meeting in accordance with the provisions of this By-Law; and if the chairman
should so determine, the chairman shall so declare to the meeting, and any such
business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this By-Law, a stockholder shall
also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this By-Law.
Nothing in this By-Law shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to
request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation's proxy statement pursuant to
Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, and any such proposal so included shall be
deemed timely given for purposes of this By-Law.

     Section 5.     Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders for any
                    ----------------                                           
proper purpose or purposes, unless otherwise provided by the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware or in any Certificate of Designation designating
any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to Article IV of the Restated Certificate
of Incorporation of the Corporation (the "Certificate of Incorporation") that
shall be in effect under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (a
"Preferred Stock Designation"), may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer or the President, or in the absence of each of them, by
the Secretary at the written request of a majority of the directors. Business
transacted at a special meeting of stockholders shall be confined to the purpose
or purposes of the meeting as stated in the notice of the meeting. Any
previously scheduled special meeting of the stockholders may be postponed by
resolution of the Board of Directors upon notice by public announcement given on
or prior to the date previously scheduled for such special meeting of
stockholders.

     Section 6.     Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders shall be
                    -----------------
held at such place as may be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     Section 7.     Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise required by
                    ------------------
applicable law, notice of each meeting of the stockholders, whether annual or
special, shall, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the date of
the meeting, be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the
meeting by mailing such notice in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, addressed to
such stockholder at such stockholder's address as the same appears on the
records of the Corporation. Such notice shall state the place, date and hour of
the meeting, and in the case of a special meeting, shall also state the purpose
or purposes thereof.

     Section 8.     Nominations of Directors.
                    ------------------------ 

            (a)     Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the
procedures set forth in these By-Laws shall be eligible for election as
directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be
made at a meeting of stockholders (i) by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of
record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this By-Law, who
shall be entitled to vote for the election of directors at the meeting and who
complies with the notice procedures set forth in this By-Law.

            (b)     Nominations by stockholders shall be made pursuant to notice
in writing, delivered or mailed to the Secretary and received at the General
Offices (i) in the case of an annual meeting, not less than 60 days nor more
than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation
first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year's annual meeting of
stockholders, provided, however, that in the event that the date of the meeting
is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from such
anniversary date, notice by the stockholder must be received not earlier than
the 90/th/ day prior to such date of mailing of proxy materials and not later
than the close of business on the later of the 60/th/ day prior to such date of
mailing of proxy materials or the 10/th/ day following the day on which public
announcement of the date of the meeting is first made; or (ii) in the case of a
special meeting at which directors are to be elected, not earlier than the
90/th/ day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of
business on the later of the 60/th/ day prior to such special meeting or the
10/th/ day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the
meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at
such meeting is first made. In the case of a special meeting of stockholders at
which directors are to be elected, stockholders may nominate a person or persons
(as the case may be) for election only to such position(s) as are specified in
the Corporation's notice of meeting as being up for election at such meeting.
Such stockholder's notice shall set forth (i) as to each person whom the
stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, all
information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in
each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such
person's written consent to being named as a nominee and to serving as a
Director if elected); (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice, the name and
address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of such stockholder and the
class and number of shares of the Corporation's stock which are beneficially
owned by such stockholder; and (iii) as to any beneficial owner on whose behalf
the nomination is made, the name and address of such person and the class and
number of shares of the Corporation's stock which are beneficially owned by such
person. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the
Board of Directors for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary
that information required to be

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
set forth in a stockholder's notice of nomination that pertains to the nominee.
Notwithstanding anything in this By-Law to the contrary, in the event that the
number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation
is increased and there is no public statement naming all the nominees for
Director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the
Corporation at least 70 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding
year's annual meeting, a stockholder's notice required by this By-Law shall also
be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions
created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the
General Offices not later than the close of business on the 10/th/ day following
the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

            (c)     No person shall be eligible for election as a director of
the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in
these By-Laws. The chairman of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine
that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed in
this By-Law; and if the chairman should so determine, the chairman shall so
declare to the meeting, and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this By-Law, a stockholder shall
also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, and the rules
and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this By-Law.

     Section 9.     List of Stockholders.
                    -------------------- 

            (a)     The Secretary of the Corporation shall prepare, at least 10
days before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders
entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the
address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of
each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder,
for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a
period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the
city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the
notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting
is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of
the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any
stockholder who is present.

            (b)     The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only
evidence as to the identity of the stockholders entitled (i) to vote in person
or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders, or (ii) to exercise the rights in
accordance with applicable law to examine the stock ledger, the list required by
this By-Law or the books and records of the Corporation.

     Section 10.    Quorum. The holders of a majority of the stock issued and
                    ------                                                    
outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by
proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at all
meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, by
the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws. The stockholders present
at any duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until
adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of sufficient stockholders to render
the remaining stockholders less than a quorum. Whether or not a quorum is
present, either the Chairman of the meeting or a majority of the stockholders
entitled to vote thereat, present in person or by proxy, shall have power to
adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at
the meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of
the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to
vote at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which the requisite amount of
voting stock shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted
which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.

     Section 11.    Voting and Required Vote. Subject to the provisions of the
                    ------------------------                                   
Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder shall, at every meeting of
stockholders, be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by
such stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation
and applicable law, directors shall be chosen by the vote of a plurality of the
shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting; and all other
questions shall be determined by the affirmative vote of the majority of shares
present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting. Elections of directors
shall be by written ballot.

     Section 12.    Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of
                    -------                                                    
stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder
by proxy, provided the instrument authorizing such proxy to act shall have been
executed in writing in the manner prescribed by applicable law. No proxy shall
be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy
provides for a longer period.

     Section 13.    Inspectors of Election; Polls. Before each meeting of
                    -----------------------------                         
stockholders, the Chairman of the Board or another officer of the Corporation
designated by resolution of the Board of Directors shall appoint one or more
inspectors of election for the meeting and may appoint one or more inspectors to
replace any inspector unable to act. If any of the inspectors appointed shall
fail to attend, or refuse or be unable to serve, substitutes shall be appointed
by the chairman of the meeting. Each inspector shall have such duties as are
provided by applicable law, and shall take and sign an oath faithfully to
execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the
best of such person's ability. The chairman of the meeting shall fix and
announce at the meeting the date and time of the opening and closing of the
polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting.

     Section 14.    Organization. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, or in
                    ------------
the Chairman's absence, (i) the Chief Executive Officer, (ii) the Vice Chairman
of the Board of Directors, (iii) the President, or (iv) in the absence of each
of them, a chairman chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as
chairman of the meetings of the stockholders, and the Secretary or, in the
Secretary's absence, an Assistant Secretary or any employee of the Corporation
appointed by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.
The order of business and the procedure at any meeting of stockholders shall be
determined by the chairman of the meeting.

     Section 15.    No Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Any action
                    ----------------------------------------
required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be
effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the
Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing in lieu of a
meeting of such stockholders.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE III

                              BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     Section 16.    General Powers, Number, Term of Office. The business of the
                    --------------------------------------                      
Corporation shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, $0.01 par
value per share, of the Corporation ("Preferred Stock") to elect additional
directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors of the
Corporation shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by resolution of a
majority of the then authorized number of directors of the Corporation (the
number of then authorized directors of the Corporation is referred to herein as
the "Whole Board"), but in no event shall the number of directors be fewer than
three. The directors, other than those who may be elected solely by the holders
of any series of Preferred Stock (unless the relevant Preferred Stock
Designation shall so provide), shall be divided into three classes, as nearly
equal in number as possible, designated "Class I," "Class II" and "Class III."
Directors of each class shall serve for a term ending on the third annual
meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting at which such class was
elected, except that the term of office of the initial Class I director shall
expire on the date of the annual meeting in 2000, the term of office of the
initial Class II directors shall expire on the date of the annual meeting in
2001 and the term of office of the initial Class III directors shall expire on
the date of the annual meeting in 2002. The foregoing notwithstanding, each
director shall serve until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and
qualified, unless such director shall die, resign, retire or be disqualified or
removed. At all elections of directors, the directors chosen to succeed those
directors whose terms then expire shall be identified as being of the same class
as the directors they succeed. If for any reason the number of directors in the
various classes shall not be as nearly equal as possible, the Board of Directors
may redesignate any director into a different class in order that the balance of
directors in such classes shall be as nearly equal as possible.

     Section 17.    Vacancies. Subject to the rights of the holders of any
                    ---------
series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified
circumstances, and unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, vacancies
resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from
office or other cause, and newly created directorships resulting from any
increase in the authorized number of directors, may be filled only by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, though less than a
quorum of the Board of Directors, or by a sole remaining director, and directors
so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of
stockholders at which the term of office of the class to which they have been
elected expires and until such director's successor shall have been duly elected
and qualified. No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting
the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

     Section 18.    Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board of
                    --------------------- 
Directors shall be chosen from among the directors. The Chairman of the Board
shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors,
except as may be otherwise required under applicable law. The Chairman shall act
in an advisory capacity with respect to matters of policy and other matters of
importance pertaining to the affairs of the Corporation. The Chairman, alone or
with the Chief Executive Officer, the President, and/or the Secretary shall sign
and send out reports and other messages which are to be sent to stockholders
from time to time. The

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
Chairman shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned to the Chairman
by these By-Laws or the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may also
choose a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors from among the directors, which
Vice Chairman if chosen shall perform such duties as may be assigned by these 
By-Laws, the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board.

     Section 19.    Regular Meetings. Following the annual meeting of
                    ---------------- 
stockholders, the first meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors may be
held, without notice, on the same day and at the same place as such
stockholders' meeting. The Board of Directors by resolution may provide for the
holding of regular meetings and may fix the times and places at which such
meetings shall be held. Notice of regular meetings shall not be required
provided that whenever the time or place of regular meetings shall be fixed or
changed, notice of such action shall be given promptly to each director, as
provided in Section 21 below, who was not present at the meeting at which such
action was taken.

     Section 20.    Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors
                    ---------------- 
shall be held whenever called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the
Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, or in
the absence of each of them, by the Secretary at the written request of a
majority of the directors.

     Section 21.    Notices. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of
                    -------
Directors shall be addressed to each director at such director's residence or
business address and shall be sent to such director by mail, electronic mail,
telecopier, telegram or telex or telephoned or delivered to such director
personally. If such notice is sent by mail, it shall be sent not later than
three days before the day on which the meeting is to be held. If such notice is
sent by electronic mail, telecopier, telegram or telex, it shall be sent not
later than 24 hours before the time at which the meeting is to be held. If such
notice is delivered personally, it shall be received not later than 24 hours
before the time at which the meeting is to be held. If such notice is
telephoned, it shall be to such telephone number or numbers of which the
director from time to time shall advise the Secretary for receiving such notice.
If given by telephone call, notice shall be deemed given to a director when a
message stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting is left with a person
answering the telephone at any such number with a request that the director be
so informed, or if no such telephone number is answered, then when at least two
attempts have been made to reach each telephone number designated by the
director for receiving telephonic notice, with an interval of not less than one
hour. A certification shall be prepared and filed with the minutes stating the
date, time and results of telephonic notice given to any director not present at
a meeting with respect to which his waiver of notice of meeting is not filed
with the minutes. In all cases, such notice shall state the time, place and
purpose or purposes of the meeting.

     Section 22.    Conference Telephone Meetings. Members of the Board of
                    -----------------------------
Directors or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of
Directors or such committee by means of conference telephone or similar
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall
constitute presence in person at such meeting.

     Section 23.    Quorum. One-half of the total number of directors
                    ------ 
constituting the Whole Board, but not less than two, shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business at any

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
meeting of the Board of Directors, but if less than such required number of
directors for a quorum is present at a meeting, a majority of the directors
present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. Except
as otherwise specifically provided by applicable law, the Certificate of
Incorporation or these By-Laws, the act of a majority of the directors present
at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of
Directors.

     Section 24.    Organization. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the
                    ------------  
Chairman of the Board or, in the Chairman's absence, (i) the Chief Executive
Officer, if a member of the Board of Directors, (ii) the Vice Chairman of the
Board, (iii) the President, if a member of the Board of Directors, or (iv) in
the absence of each of them, a chairman chosen by a majority of the directors
present, shall act as chairman of the meeting, and the Secretary or, in the
Secretary's absence, an Assistant Secretary or any employee of the Corporation
appointed by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

     Section 25.    Resignations.  Any Director may resign at any time by giving
                    ------------                                                
written notice to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Such resignation shall take
effect upon receipt thereof or at any later time specified therein; and, unless
otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be
necessary to make it effective.

     Section 26.    Removal. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series
                    -------
of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances,
any director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only
by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting
power of the then outstanding Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.
For purposes of these By-Laws, "Voting Stock" shall mean the outstanding shares
of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election
of directors.

     Section 27.    Action Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the
                    ------------------------
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted
to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof
may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or
committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or
writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or
committee.

     Section 28.    Location of Books. Except as otherwise provided by
                    -----------------
resolution of the Board of Directors and subject to applicable law, the books of
the Corporation may be kept at the General Offices and at such other places as
may be necessary or convenient for the business of the Corporation.

     Section 29.    Dividends. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of
                    ---------                                                  
Incorporation and applicable law, dividends upon the capital stock of the
Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special
meeting. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the
Corporation's capital stock.

     Section 30.    Compensation of Directors. Directors shall receive such
                    -------------------------                               
compensation and benefits as may be determined by resolution of the Board of
Directors for their services as members of the Board of Directors and
committees. Directors shall also be reimbursed for their

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
expenses of attending Board of Directors and committee meetings. Nothing
contained herein shall preclude any Director from serving the Corporation in any
other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

     Section 31.  Additional Powers.  In addition to the powers and authorities
                  -----------------
by these By-Laws expressly conferred upon it, the Board of Directors may
exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and
things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these
By-Laws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                            COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS

     Section 32.  Designation, Power, Alternate Members.  The Board of Directors
                  -------------------------------------                         
may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the Whole Board,
designate an Executive Committee and one or more additional committees, each
committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Any
such committee, to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions and
subject to any limitations provided by applicable law, shall have and may
exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business
and affairs of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more
directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or
disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.  If at a meeting of any
committee one or more of the members thereof is absent or disqualified, and if
either the Board of Directors has not so designated any alternate member or
members, or the number of absent or disqualified members exceeds the number of
alternate members who are present at such meeting, then the member or members of
such committee (including alternates) present at any meeting and not
disqualified from voting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may
unanimously appoint another Director to act at the meeting in the place of such
absent or disqualified member.  The term of office of the members of each
committee shall be as fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors;
provided, however, that any committee member who ceases to be a member of the
Board of Directors shall automatically cease to be a committee member.

     Section 33.  Quorum, Manner of Acting.  At any meeting of a committee, the
                  ------------------------                                     
presence of one-half of its members then in office shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business; and the act of a majority of the members present at
a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee.  Each
committee may provide for the holding of regular meetings, make provision for
the calling of special meetings and, except as otherwise provided in these By-
Laws or by resolution of the Board of Directors, make rules for the conduct of
its business.

     Section 34.  Minutes.  The committees shall keep minutes of their
                  -------
proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required; but
failure to keep such minutes shall not affect the validity of any acts of the
committee or committees.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                                   ARTICLE V

                              ADVISORY DIRECTORS

  Section 35.  Advisory Directors.  The Board of Directors may, by resolution
               ------------------                                            
adopted by a majority of the Whole Board, appoint such Advisory Directors as the
Board of Directors may from time to time determine.  The Advisory Directors
shall have such advisory responsibilities as the Chairman of the Board may
designate and the term of office of such Advisory Directors shall be as fixed by
the Board of Directors.

                                  ARTICLE VI

                                   OFFICERS

  Section 36.  Designation.  The officers of the Corporation shall be the Chief
               -----------                                                     
Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, a Chief Financial Officer, a
Treasurer and a Controller.  The Board of Directors may also elect one or more
Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, Group Vice Presidents, Vice
Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Controllers
and such other officers as it shall deem necessary. Any number of offices may be
held by the same person.

  Section 37.  Election and Term.  At its first meeting after each annual
               -----------------                                         
meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors shall elect the officers of the
Corporation and at any time thereafter the Board of Directors may elect
additional officers of the Corporation, and each such officer shall hold office
until the officer's successor is elected and qualified or until the officer's
earlier death, resignation or removal.  Alternatively, at the last regular
meeting of the Board of Directors prior to an annual meeting of stockholders,
the Board of Directors may elect the officers of the Corporation, contingent
upon the election of the persons nominated to be directors by the Board of
Directors; and each such officer so elected shall hold office until the
officer's successor is elected and qualified or until the officer's earlier
death, resignation or removal.

  Section 38.  Removal.  Any officer shall be subject to removal or suspension
               -------                                                        
at any time, for or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
Whole Board.

  Section 39.  Resignations.  Any officer may resign at any time by giving
               ------------                                               
written notice to the Chairman of the Board, the President or to the Secretary.
Such resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof or at any later time
specified therein; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of
such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

  Section 40.  Vacancies.  A vacancy in any office because of death,
               ---------                                            
resignation, removal or any other cause may be filled for the unexpired portion
of the term by the Board of Directors.

  Section 41.  Chief Executive Officer.  The Chief Executive Officer shall have
               -----------------------                                         
the general and active management and supervision of the business of the
Corporation.  The Chief Executive Officer, if a member of the Board of
Directors, shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, preside at all
meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors.  The Chief Executive
Officer shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
carried into effect. The Chief Executive Officer shall also perform such other
duties as may be assigned to the Chief Executive Officer by these By-Laws or the
Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall designate who shall
perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer in the Chief Executive
Officer's absence.

  Section 42.  President. The President shall perform such duties as may be
               ---------                                                   
assigned to the President by these By-Laws, the Board of Directors or, if
applicable, the Chief Executive Officer.

  Section 43.  Vice Presidents.  Each Executive Vice President, Senior Vice
               ---------------                                             
President, Group Vice President and each other Vice President shall perform the
duties and functions and exercise the powers assigned to such officer by these
By-Laws, the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.

  Section 44.  Secretary.  The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board
               ---------                                                       
of Directors and of the stockholders and record all votes and the minutes of all
proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose.  The Secretary shall give, or
cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special
meetings of the Board of Directors and, when appropriate, shall cause the
corporate seal to be affixed to any instruments executed on behalf of the
Corporation.  The Secretary shall also perform all duties incident to the office
of Secretary and such other duties as may be assigned to the Secretary by these
By-Laws, the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer or the President.

  Section 45.  Assistant Secretaries.  The Assistant Secretaries shall, during
               ---------------------                                          
the absence of the Secretary, perform the duties and functions and exercise the
powers of the Secretary.  Each Assistant Secretary shall perform such other
duties as may be assigned to such Assistant Secretary by these By-Laws, the
Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President or the Secretary.

  Section 46.  Chief Financial Officer.  The Chief Financial Officer shall have
               -----------------------                                         
overall responsibility for causing (1) the funds and securities of the
Corporation to be deposited in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in
such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors or by any
officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors to designate such
depositories; (2) the disbursement of funds of the Corporation when properly
authorized by vouchers prepared and approved by the Controller; (3) the
investment of funds of the Corporation when authorized by the Board of Directors
or a committee thereof; and (4) to be kept full and accurate account of receipts
and disbursements in books of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall
render to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President,
whenever requested, an account of all transactions as Chief Financial Officer
and shall also perform all duties incident to the office of Chief Financial
Officer and such other duties as may be assigned to the Chief Financial Officer
by these By-Laws, the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the
President.

  Section 47.  Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and
               ---------                                                        
securities of the Corporation and shall deposit them in the name and to the
credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board
of Directors or by any officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors
to designate such depositories; disburse 

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
funds of the Corporation when properly authorized by vouchers prepared and
approved by the Controller; and invest funds of the Corporation when authorized
by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof. The Treasurer shall render to
the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Chief
Financial Officer, whenever requested, an account of all transactions as
Treasurer and shall also perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer
and such other duties as may be assigned to the Treasurer by these By-Laws, the
Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Chief
Financial Officer.

  Section 48.  Assistant Treasurers.  The Assistant Treasurers shall, during the
               --------------------                                             
absence of the Treasurer, perform the duties and functions and exercise the
powers of the Treasurer.  Each Assistant Treasurer shall perform such other
duties as may be assigned to the Assistant Treasurer by these By-Laws, the Board
of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial
Officer or the Treasurer.

  Section 49.  Controller.  The Controller shall serve as the principal
               ----------                                              
accounting officer of the Corporation and shall keep full and accurate account
of receipts and disbursements in books of the Corporation and render to the
Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Chief
Financial Officer, whenever requested, an account of all transactions as
Controller and of the financial condition of the Corporation.  The Controller
shall also perform all duties incident to the office of Controller and such
other duties as may be assigned to the Controller by these By-Laws, the Board of
Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.

  Section 50.  Assistant Controllers.  The Assistant Controllers shall, during
               ---------------------                                          
the absence of the Controller, perform the duties and functions and exercise the
powers of the Controller. Each Assistant Controller shall perform such other
duties as may be assigned to such officer by these By-Laws, the Board of
Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Controller.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                      CONTRACTS, INSTRUMENTS AND PROXIES

  Section 51.  Contracts and Other Instruments.  Except as otherwise required by
               -------------------------------                                  
applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any contracts
or other instruments may be signed by such person or persons as from time to
time may be designated by the Board of Directors or by any officer or officers
authorized by the Board of Directors to designate such signers; and the Board of
Directors or such officer or officers may determine that the signature of any
such authorized signer may be facsimile.  Such authority may be general or
confined to specific instances as the Board of Directors or such officer or
officers may determine.

  Section 52.  Proxies.  Except as otherwise provided by resolution of the Board
               -------                                                          
of Directors, any officer of the Corporation shall each have full power and
authority, in behalf of the Corporation, to exercise any and all rights of the
Corporation with respect to any meeting of stockholders of any corporation in
which the Corporation holds stock, including the execution 

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
and delivery of proxies therefor, and to consent in writing to action by such
corporation without a meeting.

                                 ARTICLE VIII

                                 CAPITAL STOCK

  Section 53.  Stock Certificates; Book-Entry Accounts.  The interest of each
               ---------------------------------------                       
stockholder of the Corporation shall be evidenced by (a) certificates signed by,
or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial
Officer or the Treasurer, and by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the
Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the
Corporation, or (b) registration in book-entry accounts without certificates for
shares of stock in such form as the appropriate officers of the Corporation may
from time to time prescribe.  Any of or all the signatures on a stock
certificate may be a facsimile.  In case any officer, transfer agent or
registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a
certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar
before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the
same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at
the date of issue.

  Section 54.  Record Ownership.  The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the
               ----------------                                                 
person in whose name any share, right or option is registered as the owner
thereof, for all purposes, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or
other claim to or interest in such share, right or option on the part of any
other person, whether or not the Corporation shall have notice thereof, except
as otherwise provided by applicable law.

  Section 55.  Record Dates.  In order that the Corporation may determine the
               ------------                                                  
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or
any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other
distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in
respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any
other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which shall
not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted
by the Board of Directors and which shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10
days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to any other
action.

  Section 56.  Transfer of Stock.  Transfers of shares of stock of the
               -----------------                                      
Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation by the registered
holder thereof, or by the registered holder's attorney thereunto authorized by
power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary or a transfer agent
of the Corporation, and on surrender of the certificate or certificates for such
shares properly endorsed and the payment of all taxes thereon, or by appropriate
book-entry procedures.

  Section 57.  Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.  The Board of Directors
               --------------------------------------                         
may authorize a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any
certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to
have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of the fact
by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed.
When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance
thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or
certificates, or the owner's legal representative, to give the Corporation a
bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against the
Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of such
certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

  Section 58.  Terms of Preferred Stock.  The provisions of these By-Laws,
               ------------------------                                   
including those pertaining to voting rights, election of directors and calling
of special meetings of stockholders, are subject to the terms, preferences,
rights and privileges of any then outstanding class or series of Preferred Stock
as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, any Preferred Stock
Designation and in any resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the
issuance of such class or series of Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the
provisions of any such Preferred Stock shall not affect or limit the authority
of the Board of Directors to fix, from time to time, the number of directors
which shall constitute the Whole Board as provided in Section 16 above, subject
to the right of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock to elect
additional directors as and to the extent specifically provided by the
provisions of such Preferred Stock.

                                  ARTICLE IX

                                INDEMNIFICATION

  Section 59.  Right of Indemnification Generally.
               ---------------------------------- 

          (a)  Directors, Officers, Employees and Agents. Each person who was or
is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she
or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the
request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans,
shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent
permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same
exists or may hereafter be amended (but, if permitted by applicable law, in the
case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the
Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted
the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), and any other applicable
laws as presently or hereafter in effect, against all expense, liability and
loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or
penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or
suffered by such person in connection therewith; provided, however, that except
as provided in Section 60 below, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person
seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof)
initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was
authorized by the Board of Directors.

          (b)  Contract Right. The right to indemnification conferred in this
Article IX shall be a contract right.

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
  Section 60.  Written Request; Determination of Entitlement.  To obtain
               ---------------------------------------------            
indemnification under this Article IX, a claimant shall submit to the
Corporation a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation
and information as is reasonably available to the claimant and is reasonably
necessary to determine whether and to what extent the claimant is entitled to
indemnification. Any determination regarding whether indemnification of any
person is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable
standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware shall be made, at the option of the person seeking indemnification, by
the directors as set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware or by independent legal counsel selected by such person with the
consent of the Corporation (which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld).

  Section 61.  Recovery of Unpaid Claim.  If a claim under Section 59 above is
               ------------------------                                       
not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim
pursuant to Section 60 above has been received by the Corporation, the claimant
may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the
unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant
shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It
shall be a defense to any such action (other than actions brought to enforce a
claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final
disposition where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been
tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standard of
conduct which makes it permissible under the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount
claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation.
Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors, independent
legal counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the
commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in
the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct
set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, nor an actual
determination by the Corporation (including its directors, independent legal
counsel or stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard
of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the
claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

  Section 62.  Exclusivity; Subsequent Modification.  The right to
               ------------------------------------               
indemnification conferred in this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other
right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute,
provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws, agreement, vote of
stockholders or directors or otherwise.  No repeal or modification of this
Article IX shall in any way diminish or adversely affect the rights hereunder of
any director, officer, employee or agent in respect of any occurrence or matter
arising prior to any such repeal or modification.

  Section 63.  Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its
               ---------                                                
expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation or another corporation, limited liability company, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss,
whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person
against such expense, liability or loss under the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware or otherwise. To the extent that the Corporation maintains any
policy or policies providing such insurance, each such director, officer,
employee or agent shall be covered 

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum
extent of the coverage thereunder for any such director, officer, employee or
agent.

  Section 64.  Other Indemnification Rights.  The Corporation may, to the extent
               ----------------------------                                     
authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant additional rights
to indemnification, including rights to be paid by the Corporation the expenses
incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, to any
agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be
amended (but, if permitted by applicable law, in the case of any such amendment,
only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide
broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to
provide prior to such amendment).

  Section 65.  Illegality; Unenforceability. If any provision or provisions of
               ----------------------------                                   
this Article IX shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any
reason whatsoever: (1) the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions of this Article IX (including, without limitation, each
portion of any Section or subsection of this Article IX containing any such
provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held
to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby; and (2) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this
Article IX (including, without limitation, each such portion of any Section or
subsection of this Article IX containing any such provision held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable) shall be construed so as give effect to the intent manifested by
the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

  Section 66.  Form and Delivery of Communications.  Any notice, request or
               -----------------------------------                         
other communication required or permitted to be given to the Corporation under
this Article IX shall be in writing and either delivered in person or sent by
telecopy, telex, telegram, overnight mail or courier service, or certified or
registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Secretary of
the Corporation.

                                   ARTICLE X

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

  Section 67.  Corporate Seal.  The seal of the Corporation shall be circular in
               --------------                                                   
form, containing the words "Varian, Inc." and the word "Delaware" on the
circumference surrounding the word "Seal."   Said seal may be used by causing it
or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner
reproduced.

  Section 68.  Fiscal Year.  The fiscal year of the Corporation is the 51- to
               -----------                                                   
53-week period that ends on the Friday nearest September 30.

  Section 69.  Auditors.  The Board of Directors shall select certified public
               --------                                                       
accountants to audit the books of account and other appropriate corporate
records of the Corporation annually and at such other times as the Board of
Directors shall determine by resolution.

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
  Section 70.  Waiver of Notice.  Whenever notice is required to be given
               ----------------                                          
pursuant to applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, a
written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, whether before
or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.
Attendance of a person at a meeting of stockholders or the Board of Directors or
a committee thereof shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except
when the stockholder or Director attends such meeting for the express purpose of
objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business
because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Neither the business to
be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the
stockholders or the Board of Directors or committee thereof need be specified in
any written waiver of notice unless so required by the Certificate of
Incorporation or by these By-Laws.

                                  ARTICLE XI

                             AMENDMENT TO BY-LAWS

  Section 71.  Amendments.  These By-Laws may be amended or repealed, or new By-
               ----------                                                      
Laws may be adopted, at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of the
stockholders, provided notice of the proposed change was given in the notice of
the meeting and, in the case of a meeting of the Board of Directors, in a notice
given not less than 24 hours prior to the meeting; provided, however, that in
the case of amendment, repeal or adoption by stockholders, notwithstanding any
other provisions of these By-Laws or any provision of law which might otherwise
permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the
holders of any series of Preferred Stock required by applicable law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or any Preferred Stock Designation, the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least 66?% of the voting power of the then outstanding
shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required
for the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of these By-Laws.

                                       17

<PAGE>
 
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.1

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

                    EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ALLOCATION AGREEMENT
                                     AMONG
                           VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.,
                VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
                                      AND
                                 VARIAN, INC.
                                  Dated as of

                                 April 2, 1999

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                                               PAGE
<S>                                                                                                            <C> 
ARTICLE I    DEFINITIONS......................................................................................   1
                                                                                                                 
         Section 1.01.       Definitions......................................................................   1
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE II   GENERAL EMPLOYMENT MATTERS.......................................................................   2
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.01.       General Obligations..............................................................   2
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.02.       Initial Compensation of Active Employees.........................................   2
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.03.       No Additional Employment Rights Created..........................................   2
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.04.       Corporate and Transition Employees...............................................   2
                                                                                                                 
         Section 2.05.       Retiree Payments.................................................................   3
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE III  UNITED STATES RETIREMENT AND PROFIT-SHARING PLAN BENEFITS........................................   3
                                                                                                                 
         Section 3.01.       Varian Associates, Inc. Retirement and Profit-Sharing Program....................   3
                                                                                                                 
         Section 3.02.       Establishment of Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. Defined            
                             Contribution Plan................................................................   3
                                                                                                                 
         Section 3.03.       Establishment of Varian, Inc. Defined Contribution Plan..........................   3
                                                                                                                 
         Section 3.04.       Reimbursement and Indemnification................................................   4
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE IV   EMPLOYEE BENEFITS MATTERS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES..............................................   4
                                                                                                                 
         Section 4.01.       Employee Benefits Matters Outside the United States..............................   4
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE V    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION...........................................................................   5
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.01.       Supplemental Retirement Plan.....................................................   5
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.02.       Management Incentive Plan........................................................   5
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.03.       Long-Term Incentives.............................................................   5
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.04.       Deferred Cash Compensation.......................................................   5
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.05.       Restricted Stock Program.........................................................   5
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.06.       Options..........................................................................   5
                                                                                                                 
         Section 5.07.       Restricted Stock.................................................................   7
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE VI   WELFARE BENEFITS.................................................................................   7
                                                                                                                 
         Section 6.01.       Welfare Plans....................................................................   7
                                                                                                                 
         Section 6.02.       Allocation and Discharge of Welfare Plan Liabilities.............................   7
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE VII  GENERAL..........................................................................................   7
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.01.       Post-Distribution Administration of Plans........................................   7
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.02.       Costs and Expenses...............................................................   7
                                                                                                                 
         Section 7.03.       Sharing of Participant Information...............................................   8
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION..................................................................................   8
                                                                                                                 
         Section 8.01.       Rights and Obligations...........................................................   8
                                                                                                                 
ARTICLE IX   DISPUTE RESOLUTION...............................................................................   8
                                                                                                                 
         Section 9.01.       Distribution Agreement to Control................................................   8
</TABLE> 

                                      -i-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                                               PAGE
<S>                                                                                                            <C> 
ARTICLE X  MISCELLANEOUS.....................................................................................    8
                                                                                                                 
     Section 10.01.      Complete Agreement; Construction....................................................    8
                                                                                                                 
     Section 10.02.      Other Agreements....................................................................    8
                                                                                                                 
     Section 10.03.      Counterparts........................................................................    8
                                                                                                                 
     Section 10.04.      Survival of Agreements..............................................................    8
                                                                                                                 
     Section 10.05.      Expenses............................................................................    8
                                                                                                                
     Section 10.06.      Notices.............................................................................    9
                                                                                                                
     Section 10.07.      Waivers.............................................................................   10
                                                                                                                
     Section 10.08.      Amendments..........................................................................   10
                                                                                                                
     Section 10.09.      Assignment..........................................................................   10
                                                                                                                
     Section 10.10.      Successors and Assigns..............................................................   10
                                                                                                                
     Section 10.11.      Termination.........................................................................   10
                                                                                                                
     Section 10.12.      No Third Party Beneficiaries........................................................   10
                                                                                                                
     Section 10.13.      Titles and Headings; Interpretation.................................................   10
                                                                                                                
     Section 10.14.      Governing Law.......................................................................   10
                                                                                                                
     Section 10.15.      Severability........................................................................   10
</TABLE> 

                                     -ii-
<PAGE>
 
                    EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ALLOCATION AGREEMENT

     THIS EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ALLOCATION AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of
this 2nd day of April, 1999 by and among Varian Associates, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Varian" or "HCS"), Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("SEB"), and Varian, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("IB").

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of that certain Amended and Restated
Distribution Agreement by and among Varian, SEB and IB and dated as of January
14, 1999 (the "Distribution Agreement"), the parties have entered into this
Agreement regarding certain employment, compensation and benefit matters
occasioned by the Distributions.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and
covenants contained in this Agreement and the Distribution Agreement, each of
the parties hereto, on behalf of itself and each other member of its Group,
hereby agrees as follows:


                                   ARTICLE I

                                  DEFINITIONS

     Section 1.01. Definitions. The following terms, when capitalized herein,
                   ----------- 
shall have the meanings set forth below in this Article I. All other capitalized
terms which are used but are not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Distribution Agreement.

          "Active Employees" means, with respect to each Group, all employees
           ----------------                                                  
     actively engaged in and primarily dedicated to the performance of services
     to, for or on behalf of any member of such Group as of the Effective Time,
     including any employee who is not actively performing services because of
     (a) PPL, (b) leave of absence, or (c) disability, and the dependents of
     such persons (and, as applicable, the alternate payees of such persons).
     "Active Employees" includes, with respect to a Group, non-employee
     directors of Varian Associates, Inc. providing services as a director to
     any member of the Group as of the Effective Time.

          "Corporate Employees" means (a) the Non-Designated United States
           -------------------                                            
     Former Employees and (b) the United States Active Employees who have been
     or will be separated from employment in connection with the Distribution
     and are listed on Schedule 1.

          "Former Employees" means all former employees and former non-employee
           ----------------                                                    
     directors of Varian and/or its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time
     (including, but not limited to, such employees who, as of the Effective
     Time, are (a) on disability, (b) in RIF status, (c) on salary continuation,
     or (d) within termination notice periods, and the dependents and, as
     applicable, the alternate payees, of those persons, and including retirees
     but excluding the Retirees).

          "Former Health Care Systems Employees" means Former Employees who, if
           ------------------------------------                                
     they were actively engaged in and primarily dedicated to the performance of
     services to, for or on behalf of Varian or any of its Subsidiaries at the
     Effective Time, would be Active Employees of the Health Care Systems Group,
     determined on a basis consistent with the determination of the Active
     Employees of such Group.

          "Former Instruments Employees" means Former Employees who, if they
           ----------------------------                                     
     were actively engaged in and primarily dedicated to the performance of
     services to, for or on behalf of Varian or any of its Subsidiaries at the
     Effective Time, would be Active Employees of the Instruments Group,
     determined on a basis consistent with the determination of the Active
     Employees of such Group.

          "Former Semiconductor Equipment Employees" means Former Employees who,
           ----------------------------------------                             
     if they were actively engaged in and primarily dedicated to the performance
     of services to, for or on behalf of Varian or

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
     any of its Subsidiaries at the Effective Time, would be Active Employees of
     the Semiconductor Equipment Group, determined on a basis consistent with
     the determination of the Active Employees of such Group, including without
     limitation persons who were employees of the Thin Film Systems business at
     the time of or prior to its disposition.

          "Non-Designated Foreign Employees" means (a) non-United States Former
           --------------------------------                                    
     Employees who are not Former Health Care System Employees, Former
     Instruments Employees or Former Semiconductor Equipment Employees and (b)
     non-United States Active Employees who are not primarily dedicated to a
     single Group and who will be terminated in connection with the
     Distribution.

          "Non-Designated United States Former Employees" means United States
           ---------------------------------------------                     
     Former Employees who are not Former Health Care System Employees, Former
     Instruments Employees or Former Semiconductor Equipment Employees.

          "Retirees" means J. Tracy O'Rourke, Robert A. Lemos, Joseph B. Phair,
           --------                                                            
     Wayne P. Somrak, Ernest M. Felago, Derrel B. De Passe and James Hennessy,
     and the dependents and, as applicable, the alternate payees of such
     persons.

          "Transition Employees" means the Active Employees listed on Schedule
           --------------------                                               
     2, but only during the period they are providing transition services.

          "Varian Welfare Plans" means, collectively, the Varian Business Travel
           --------------------                                                 
     Accident Plan, the Varian Dental Plan, the Varian Dependent Care Assistance
     Plan, Varian Dependent Life Insurance, the Varian Disability Plan, the
     Varian HMO Plans, Varian Life and AD&D Insurance, the Varian Major Medical
     Plan, the Varian Out-of-Area Medical Plans, the Varian Personal Paid Leave
     Plan, the Varian Retiree Medical Plans and the Varian Vision Plan.

                                  ARTICLE II

                          GENERAL EMPLOYMENT MATTERS

     Section 2.01. General Obligations. Except as specifically provided herein,
                   ------------------- 
from and after the Distribution Date, each of HCS, SEB and IB shall, as
applicable, cause each of the other members of its respective Group to (a)
continue the employment of all of the Active Employees of its respective Group,
subject, however to the terms of Section 2.03 below and (b) except as otherwise
specifically provided herein, assume, pay, perform and discharge any and all
labor, employment, compensation and benefit Liabilities with respect to all
Active Employees of its respective Group. Except as otherwise specifically
provided herein, (i) all labor, employment, compensation and benefit Liabilities
with respect to Retirees, Corporate Employees and Transition Employees shall
constitute Shared Liabilities, (ii) all labor, employment, compensation and
benefits Liabilities with respect to Former Employees (other than Corporate
Employees and Non-Designated Foreign Employees) shall constitute Liabilities of
the respective Group, and (iii) all labor, employment, compensation and benefit
Liabilities with respect to Non-Designated Foreign Employees shall constitute
Liabilities of the entity that employed them at the time of their termination.

     Section 2.02. Initial Compensation of Active Employees.  The initial base
                   ----------------------------------------                   
salary or wage level of each Active Employee of each Group shall be no less than
the base salary or wage level of such Active Employee immediately prior to the
Distribution Date.

     Section 2.03. No Additional Employment Rights Created.  Nothing in this
                   ---------------------------------------                  
Agreement shall give any Active Employee of any Group any right to continued
employment by any member of that Group or any other Group beyond the
Distribution Date, which is in addition to or supplemental to any such right he
or she may have arising under contract or otherwise.

     Section 2.04. Corporate and Transition Employees. Costs associated with the
                   ----------------------------------
termination or severance of Corporate Employees (but only those Corporate
Employees listed on Schedule 1) and Transition Employees,

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
including the cost of any claim, suit or dispute relating to such severance or
termination, shall constitute Transaction Expenditures.

     Section 2.05. Retiree Payments. All payments made to the Retirees pursuant
                   ---------------- 
to their severance agreements shall constitute Transaction Expenditures.

                                  ARTICLE III

           UNITED STATES RETIREMENT AND PROFIT-SHARING PLAN BENEFITS

     Section 3.01.  Varian Associates, Inc. Retirement and Profit-Sharing
                    -----------------------------------------------------     
Program. The active participation in the Varian Associates, Inc. Retirement and
- -------
Profit-Sharing Program (the "Varian Profit-Sharing Plan") by persons other than
the Active Employees of the Health Care Systems Group will cease, effective as
of the Distribution Date. In addition, as of the Distribution Date, all members
of the Semiconductor Equipment Group and all members of the Instruments Group
will cease to be participating employers in the Varian Profit Sharing Plan and
the members of the Health Care Systems Group will become the only participating
employers in the Varian Profit-Sharing Plan. All payments to or on behalf of
Active Employees and Former Employees under the Varian Profit-Sharing Plan with
respect to pre-Distribution service shall constitute Transaction Expenditures.

     Section 3.02.  Establishment of Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates,
                    -----------------------------------------------------------
Inc.Defined Contribution Plan.
- ----------------------------- 

          (a)  Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. DC Plan.  SEB
               --------------------------------------------------------     
     will establish or make available, effective as of the Distribution Date, a
     defined contribution plan for the benefit of the United States Active
     Employees of the Semiconductor Equipment Group (the "SEB DC Plan").

          (b)  Transfer of Account Balances to Varian Semiconductor Associates,
               ---------------------------------------------------------------
     Inc. DC Plan. As promptly as practicable after the Distribution Date (but
     ------------
     in no event later than December 31 of the second calendar year after the
     Distribution Date), HCS shall cause the trustee of the Varian Profit-
     Sharing Plan to transfer to the trustee of the SEB DC Plan, as a direct
     rollover, the account balance of those Active Employees of the
     Semiconductor Equipment Group who elect direct rollovers and with respect
     to whom the Varian Profit-Sharing Plan maintains an account as of the
     Effective Time. In addition, at two times to be mutually agreed by the
     parties (but in no event later than 12 months following the Distribution
     Date), HCS shall cause the trustee of the Varian Profit-Sharing Plan to
     transfer to the trustee of the SEB DC Plan, as a direct rollover, the
     current balance of those Active Employees of the Semiconductor Equipment
     Group who elect to participate in such batch rollover and with respect to
     whom the Varian Profit-Sharing Plan maintains an account as of the
     Effective Time. The trustee of the SEB DC Plan shall accept such rollovers
     in accordance with its standard procedures, except that the trustee shall
     accept the direct rollovers described in the preceding sentence on an in
     kind basis.

     Section 3.03.  Establishment of Varian, Inc. Defined Contribution Plan.
                    ------------------------------------------------------- 

          (a) Varian, Inc. DC Plan. IB will establish or make available,
              --------------------      
     effective as of the Distribution Date, a defined contribution plan for the
     benefit of the United States Active Employees of the Instruments Group (the
     "IB DC Plan").

          (b) Transfer of Account Balances to Varian, Inc. DC Plan. As promptly
              ----------------------------------------------------
     as practicable after the Distribution Date (but in no event later than
     December 31 of the second calendar year after the Distribution Date), HCS
     shall cause the trustee of the Varian Profit-Sharing Plan to transfer to
     the trustee of the IB DC Plan as a direct rollover, the account balance of
     those Active Employees of the Instruments Group who elect direct rollovers
     and with respect to whom the Varian Profit-Sharing Plan maintains an
     account as of the Effective Time. In addition, at two times to be mutually
     agreed by the parties (but in no event later than 12 months following the
     Distribution Date), HCS shall cause the trustee of the Varian Profit-
     Sharing Plan to transfer to the trustee of the IB DC Plan, as a direct
     rollover, the current balance of those Active Employees of the Instruments
     Group who elect to participate in such batch rollover and with 

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     respect to whom the Varian Profit-Sharing Plan maintains an account as of
     the Effective Time. The trustee of the IB DC Plan shall accept such
     rollovers in accordance with its standard procedures, except that the
     trustee of the IB DC Plan shall accept the direct rollovers described in
     the preceding sentence on an in kind basis.

     Section 3.04. Reimbursement and Indemnification. IB and SEB, respectively,
                   --------------------------------- 
shall assume all direct and indirect administrative costs associated with the
Varian Profit-Sharing Plan with respect to Active Employees of the Instruments
Group and the Semiconductor Equipment Group, respectively, which would otherwise
be borne by HCS, and such costs shall constitute Instruments Liabilities and
Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities, respectively. All direct and indirect
administrative costs associated with the Varian Profit-Sharing Plan with respect
to Former Employees of each Group shall constitute Liabilities of that Group.
All direct and indirect administrative costs associated with the Varian Profit
Sharing Plan with respect to Retirees, Corporate Employees and Transition
Employees shall constitute Shared Liabilities.

                                  ARTICLE IV

              EMPLOYEE BENEFITS MATTERS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

     Section 4.01.  Employee Benefits Matters Outside the United States.
                    --------------------------------------------------- 

          (a)  Assets and Liabilities. With respect to the business and
               ----------------------
     operations of each Group in jurisdictions outside the United States, each
     of the parties hereto shall (and, as applicable, shall cause each other
     member of its Group over which it has direct or indirect legal or effective
     control to) assume, or retain, as the case may be, any and all employee
     benefits Liabilities and attendant plans and their assets related to the
     Active Employees of its Group.

          (b)  Later-Transferred Businesses. To the extent that one or more of
               ----------------------------
     the Corporate Reorganization Transactions has not been consummated at or
     before the Distribution Date, the party then retaining the Assets and
     Liabilities of, or ownership of the Subsidiary or business intended to be
     conveyed, directly or indirectly, to another party in connection with such
     Corporate Reorganization Transaction (a "Later-Transferred Business")
     shall, and shall cause each of the other members of its respective Group to
     continue the employment of the Active Employees of the Later-Transferred
     Business (subject to Section 2.03) and pay, perform and discharge any and
     all labor, employment, compensation and benefit Liabilities with respect to
     such Active Employees, in each case, at the expense of the party to whom
     the Later-Transferred Business is to be conveyed under the Distribution
     Agreement, until the Corporate Reorganization Transaction is effected. The
     party retaining the Later-Transferred Business shall take such actions as
     may be reasonably requested by the party to whom the Later-Transferred
     Business is to be conveyed.

          (c)  Underfunded Defined Benefit Pensions. If any non-United States
               ------------------------------------
     defined benefit pension plan or program is determined to be underfunded
     using generally accepted actuarial principles, each Group shall pay its
     proportionate share of (i) the Liabilities and (ii) its share of any Shared
     Liabilities with respect to such underfunding, which proportionate share
     shall be calculated on the basis of an actuarial determination (using
     generally accepted actuarial principles) taking into account all current or
     former employees of that Group participating in the plan or program at the
     time of such determination.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                   ARTICLE V

                            EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     Section 5.01.  Supplemental Retirement Plan.  At or promptly after the
                    ----------------------------                           
Distribution Date, Varian Associates, Inc. will distribute the account balances
existing as of the Distribution Date of all current and former participants in
the Supplemental Retirement Plan of Varian Associates, Inc. (the "SRP").  Such
distributions shall constitute Transaction Expenditures.  As of the Distribution
Date, only Active Employees of the Health Care Systems Group will be eligible to
accrue benefits under the SRP.

     Section 5.02.  Management Incentive Plan.  None of the Active Employees of
                    -------------------------
the Semiconductor Equipment Group or the Instruments Group will accrue any
benefits under the Varian Associates, Inc. Management Incentive Plan (the "MIP")
from and after the Distribution Date. All payments made under the MIP to United
States employees with respect to pre-Distribution service shall constitute
Transaction Expenditures.

     Section 5.03.  Long-Term Incentives.  None of the Active Employees of the
                    --------------------                                      
Semiconductor Equipment Group or the Instruments Group will accrue any benefits
under the "long-term incentive" feature ("LTI") of the Varian Associates, Inc.
Omnibus Stock Plan from and after the Distribution Date.  All payments made
under the LTI to United States employees with respect to pre-Distribution
service shall constitute Transaction Expenditures.

     Section 5.04.  Deferred Cash Compensation.  At or promptly after the
                    --------------------------                           
Distribution Date, all deferred cash compensation with respect to pre-
Distribution service of current and former employees and non-employee directors
will be distributed.  Such distributions shall constitute Transaction
Expenditures.

     Section 5.05.  Restricted Stock Program.  None of the Active Employees of
                    ------------------------
the Semiconductor Equipment Group or the Instruments Group will receive grants
of restricted stock under the "restricted stock program" of the Varian
Associates, Inc. Omnibus Stock Plan from and after the Distribution Date.

     Section 5.06.  Options.  SEB and IB have established, respectively, the
                    -------
Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. Omnibus Stock Plan (the "SEB
Stock Plan") and the Varian, Inc. Omnibus Stock Plan (the "IB Stock Plan"). For
purposes of this Section 5.06, if the markets upon which VAI Common Stock, HCS
Common Stock, IB Common Stock or SEB Common Stock are open for trading on the
Distribution Date but no trade is made, the average of the last high bid and the
last low ask price reported on the Distribution Date shall govern with respect
to the Common Stock so affected. If such markets are not open for trading on the
Distribution Date, then the closing prices of the VAI Common Stock, the HCS
Common Stock, the IB Common Stock and the SEB Common Stock on the trading day
immediately preceding the Distribution Date shall govern (unless there is no
trade on such date, in which case the average of the last high bid and the last
low ask price reported on such date shall govern with respect to the Common
Stock so affected).

          (a)  Active Employees of HCS.  Effective as of the Distribution Date,
               -----------------------
     all outstanding options in respect of VAI Common Stock ("Current Options")
     held immediately prior to the Effective Time by Active Employees of the
     Health Care Systems Group (other than non-employee directors of Varian
     Associates, Inc.) will be adjusted as follows to reflect the Distributions
     ("Adjusted Options"): The option exercise price for Adjusted Options will
     be determined by multiplying the Current Option exercise price by a
     fraction, the numerator of which is the closing price of HCS Common Stock
     on the Distribution Date and the denominator of which is the closing price
     of VAI Common Stock on the Distribution Date. The number of shares of HCS
     Common Stock subject to an Adjusted Option will be determined by
     multiplying the number of shares of VAI Common Stock subject to the
     corresponding Current Option by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
     closing price of VAI Common Stock on the Distribution Date and the
     denominator of which is the closing price of HCS Common Stock on the
     Distribution Date. Adjusted Options shall be subject to the same vesting
     and expiration terms and substantially the same other terms applicable to
     the Current Options to which they relate.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     (b)  Active Employees of IB.  Effective as of the Distribution Date,
          ----------------------
Current Options held immediately prior to the Effective Time by Active Employees
of the Instruments Group (other than non-employee directors of Varian
Associates, Inc.) who so elect prior to the Distribution Date will be replaced
with substitute options in respect of IB Common Stock ("Spinoff IB Options").
The option exercise price for Spinoff IB Options will be determined by
multiplying the Current Option exercise price by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the closing price of IB Common Stock on the Distribution Date and the
denominator of which is the closing price of VAI Common Stock on the
Distribution Date. The number of shares of IB Common Stock subject to a Spinoff
IB Option will be determined by multiplying the number of shares of VAI Common
Stock subject to the corresponding Current Option by a fraction, the numerator
of which is the closing price of VAI Common Stock on the Distribution Date and
the denominator of which is the closing price of IB Common Stock on the
Distribution Date. Active Employees of IB who do not elect to receive Spinoff IB
Options will receive Adjusted Options, which will terminate pursuant to their
terms. Spinoff IB Options shall be subject to the same vesting and expiration
terms and substantially the same other terms applicable to the Current Options
to which they relate.

     (c)  Active Employees of SEB. Effective as of the Distribution Date,
          -----------------------
Current Options held immediately prior to the Effective Time by Active Employees
of the Semiconductor Group (other than non-employee directors of Varian
Associates, Inc.) who so elect prior to the Distribution Date will be replaced
with substitute options in respect of SEB Common Stock ("Spinoff SEB Options"
and, together with Spinoff IB Options, "Spinoff Options"). The option exercise
price for Spinoff SEB Options will be determined by multiplying the Current
Option exercise price by a fraction, the numerator of which is the closing price
of SEB Common Stock on the Distribution Date and the denominator of which is the
closing price of VAI Common Stock on the Distribution Date. The number of shares
of SEB Common Stock subject to a Spinoff SEB Option will be determined by
multiplying the number of shares of VAI Common Stock subject to the
corresponding Current Option by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
closing price of VAI Common Stock on the Distribution Date and the denominator
of which is the closing price of SEB Common Stock on the Distribution Date.
Active Employees of SEB who do not elect to receive Spinoff SEB Options will
receive Adjusted Options, which will terminate pursuant to their terms. Spinoff
SEB Options shall be subject to the same vesting and expiration terms and
substantially the same other terms applicable to the Current Options to which
they relate.

     (d)  Retirees.  Effective as of the Distribution Date, Current Options held
          --------                                                              
immediately prior to the Effective Time by Retirees will be replaced with
options in respect of each of HCS Common Stock, IB Common Stock and SEB Common
Stock ("Converted Options"). The option exercise price and number of shares
subject to Converted Options will be calculated by subjecting 1/3 of the shares
subject to the relevant Current Option to each of the calculations described
above for Adjusted Options, Spinoff IB Options and Spinoff SEB Options. Current
Options held by Retirees will be fully vested as of the Effective Time .

     (e)  Non-Employee Directors.  Effective as of the Distribution Date,
          ----------------------
Current Options held by non-employee directors of Varian Associates, Inc. who so
elect prior to the Distribution Date will be exchanged for Converted Options.
Non-employee directors of Varian Associates, Inc. who do not elect to receive
Converted Options will receive Adjusted Options. Converted Options shall be
subject to the same vesting and expiration terms and substantially the same
other terms applicable to the Current Options to which they relate.

     (f)  Former Employees. Effective as of the Distribution Date, Current
          ----------------
Options held immediately prior to the Effective Time by Former Employees not
terminated in connection with the Distributions will be replaced with Adjusted
Options.

     (g)  Employees Terminated in Connection with the Distributions. Effective
          ---------------------------------------------------------
as of the Distribution Date, Current Options held by Former Employees whose
employment is terminated on or before the Distribution Date in connection with
the Distributions (as determined by the employer) and who so elect will be
replaced with Converted Options. Options held by Active Employees whose
employment terminates after the Distribution Date but in connection with the
Distributions (as determined by the employer) and who so elect will be replaced
with options in respect of each of HCS, IB and SEB. The

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
number and exercise price of such options shall be calculated consistent with
the principles governing Converted Options, using the respective prices as of
the Distribution Date. Current Options and Adjusted Options held by employees
whose employment was or is terminated in connection with the Distributions and
who elect a conversion pursuant to this Section 5.06(g) will be fully vested as
of the Effective Time or, if later, the employee's final work day. Current
Options and Adjusted Options held by employees whose employment was or is
terminated in connection with the Distributions but who do not elect a
conversion pursuant to this Section 5.06(g) will terminate according to their
terms without any accelerated vesting of Current Options or Adjusted Options not
vested as of the Distribution Date or the employee's last work day, as
applicable.

     (h)  Transition Employees Transferred Subsequent to the Distributions.
          ----------------------------------------------------------------  
     Transition Employees transferred from employment with HCS, IB or SEB to
     employment with another of HCS, IB or SEB following the Distribution who so
     elect will have their Adjusted Options or Spinoff Options replaced with
     options in the entity to which they are transferred.  The number and
     exercise price of such options shall be calculated consistent with the
     principles governing Spinoff Options, using the respective prices as of the
     Distribution Date.

     (i)  Survivors of Former Employees.  Effective as of the Distribution Date,
          -----------------------------                                         
     persons who hold Current Options granted to Former Employees who are
     deceased as of the Effective Time will receive Converted Options, if the
     holder so elects.  Holders who do not so elect will receive Adjusted
     Options.

     Section 5.07.  Restricted Stock.  All unvested Restricted Stock held by
                    ----------------                                        
employees and non-employee directors of the Health Care Systems Group, the
Semiconductor Equipment Group and the Instruments Group shall be fully vested
immediately prior to the Distributions.

                                  ARTICLE VI

                               WELFARE BENEFITS

     Section 6.01.  Welfare Plans.  As of the Effective Time, HCS shall serve
                    -------------
as the sole sponsor of the Varian Welfare Plans from and after the Distribution
Date.

     Section 6.02.  Allocation and Discharge of Welfare Plan Liabilities.  As 
                    ----------------------------------------------------
of the Effective Time, all Liabilities under the Varian Welfare Plans (including
administrative expenses) with respect to Active Employees of the Semiconductor
Equipment Group and Former Semiconductor Equipment Employees shall be assumed by
the Semiconductor Equipment Group and shall constitute Semiconductor Equipment
Liabilities.  As of the Effective Time, all Liabilities (including
administrative expenses) under the Varian Welfare Plans with respect to Active
Employees of the Instruments Group and Former Instruments Employees shall be
assumed by the Instruments Group and shall constitute Instruments Liabilities.
As of the Effective Time, all Varian Welfare Plan Liabilities (including
administrative expenses) with respect to Active Employees of the Health Care
Systems Group and Former Health Care Systems Employees shall constitute Health
Care Systems Liabilities.  As of the Effective Time, all Varian Welfare Plan
Liabilities with respect to (a) Retirees, (b) Corporate Employees and (c)
Transition Employees shall constitute Shared Liabilities.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                                    GENERAL

     Section 7.01.  Post-Distribution Administration of Plans.  The parties
                    -----------------------------------------
hereto will administer all plans consistently herewith, and to the extent
necessary will amend their respective employee benefit plans accordingly.

     Section 7.02.  Costs and Expenses.  Each party shall bear all costs and
                    ------------------                                      
expenses, including but not limited to legal and actuarial fees, incurred from
and after the Distribution Date in the design, drafting and implementation of
any and all plans and compensation structures which it establishes or creates
and the amendment of its existing plans or compensation structures.

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
     Section 7.03.  Sharing of Participant Information.  From and after the
                    ----------------------------------                     
Distribution Date, HCS, IB and SEB shall share, and shall cause each member of
their respective Groups to share, with each other and with their respective
agents and vendors all participant information necessary and appropriate for the
efficient and accurate administration of each party's respective employee
benefit plans and performance of their respective obligations under this
Agreement.  HCS, IB and SEB shall, subject to all applicable laws concerning
confidentiality, be given reasonable and timely access to, and may make copies
of, all information relating to the subjects of this Agreement in the custody of
another party, to the extent necessary and appropriate for such administration
and performance.

                                 ARTICLE VIII

                                INDEMNIFICATION

     Section 8.01.  Rights and Obligations.  Article VII of the Distribution
                    ----------------------                                  
Agreement shall govern the rights and obligations of HCS, IB, SEB and the
members of their respective Groups with respect to indemnification for any and
all Indemnifiable Losses related to the subject matter of this Agreement.  The
term "Third Party Claim" in that Article shall be read to include all claims or
demands made by any Person who is not a party to this Agreement or a Subsidiary
of the party concerning the subject matter of this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE IX

                              DISPUTE RESOLUTION

     Section 9.01.  Distribution Agreement to Control.  Any and all
                    --------------------------------- 
controversies, disputes or claims arising out of, relating to, in connection
with or resulting from this Agreement (or any amendment thereto or any
transaction contemplated hereby or thereby), including as to its existence,
interpretation, performance, non-performance, validity, breach or termination,
including any claim based on contract, tort, statute or constitution and any
claim raising questions of law, whether arising before or after termination of
this Agreement, shall be deemed an Agreement Dispute as defined in Section 9.01
of the Distribution Agreement and shall be resolved exclusively by, in
accordance with, and subject to the limitations set forth in, Article IX of the
Distribution Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE X

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

     Section 10.01.  Complete Agreement; Construction.  This Agreement, and the
                     --------------------------------                          
Schedules hereto, the Distribution Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements
shall constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements, negotiations,
commitments and writings with respect to such subject matter.  In the event of
any inconsistency  between this Agreement and the Distribution Agreement, this
Agreement shall prevail except for inconsistencies with respect to Sections 5.05
and 6.07 and Article IX of the Distribution Agreement, which sections shall
prevail over any inconsistent provision of this Agreement.

     Section 10.02.  Other Agreements.  This Agreement is not intended to
                     ----------------
address, and should not be interpreted to address, the matters expressly covered
by the Distribution Agreement and/or the other Ancillary Agreements.

     Section 10.03.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or
                     ------------
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of
which together shall constitute but one and the same Agreement.

     Section 10.04.  Survival of Agreements.  All covenants and agreements of 
                     ----------------------
the parties contained in this Agreement shall survive the Distribution Date
except as expressly provided herein and shall not be merged into any other
transfer or closing instruments or documents, including the Conveyancing and
Assumption Instruments.

     Section 10.05.  Expenses.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
                     --------
Agreement or the Distribution Agreement,  all costs and expenses incurred or
accrued on or before the Distribution Date (whether or not paid on or

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
before the Distribution Date) in connection with the preparation, execution,
delivery and implementation of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be charged to and paid by Varian.

     Section 10.06.  Notices. All Notices required or permitted under this 
                     -------    
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently given or made (a) if
hand delivered or sent by telecopy (with delivery confirmed by voice or
otherwise), (b) if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier or (c) if
sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested,
and in each case addressed as follows:

     If to HCS:

     Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
     3100 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California  94304-1030
     Attn:  Chief Financial Officer

     with a copy to:

     Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
     3100 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California  94304-1030
     Attn:  General Counsel

     If to IB:

     Varian, Inc.
     3120 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California  94303-1030
     Attn:  Chief Financial Officer

     with a copy to:

     Varian, Inc.
     3120 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California  94303-1030
     Attn:  General Counsel

     If to SEB:

     Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
     35 Dory Road
     Gloucester, Massachusetts  01930
     Attn:  Chief Financial Officer
     Telecopy  (978) 281-3152

     with a copy to:

     Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
     35 Dory Road
     Gloucester, Massachusetts  01930
     Attn:  General Counsel
     Telecopy:  (978) 281-3152

or at such other address as shall be furnished by any of the parties in a
Notice.  Any Notice shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when the
Notice is received.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
     Section 10.07.  Waivers.  The failure of any party to require strict
                     -------
performance by any other party of any provision of this Agreement shall not
waive or diminish that party's right to demand strict performance thereafter of
that or any other provision hereof.

     Section 10.08.  Amendments.  This Agreement may be amended or supplemented,
or its provisions waived, only by an agreement in writing signed by each of the
parties.

     Section 10.09.  Assignment.
                     ---------- 
          (a)  No party to this Agreement shall (i) consolidate with or merge
     into any Person or permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into such
     party (other than a merger or consolidation in which the party is the
     surviving or continuing corporation), or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, lease
     or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or a series of related
     transactions, all or substantially all of its Assets, unless the resulting,
     surviving or transferee Person expressly assumes, by instrument in form and
     substance reasonably satisfactory to the other parties, all of the
     obligations of the party under this Agreement.

          (b)  Except as expressly provided in paragraph (a) above, neither
     this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder
     shall be assignable, directly or indirectly, by any party without the prior
     written consent of the other parties, and any attempt to so assign without
     such consent shall be void.

     Section 10.10.  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding
                     ----------------------
upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the successors and permitted
assigns of the parties.

     Section 10.11.  Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any time
                     -----------                                               
before the Distributions by Varian in its sole discretion without the approval
of SEB or IB or the Varian stockholders.  In the event of such termination, no
party shall have any Liability of any kind to any other party.  After the
Distributions, this Agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in
writing signed by each of the parties.

     Section 10.12.  No Third Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement is solely
                     ----------------------------
for the benefit of the parties and the members of their respective Groups and
Affiliates and should not be deemed to confer upon third parties any remedy,
claim, liability, right of reimbursement, claim of action or other right in
excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.

     Section 10.13.  Titles and Headings; Interpretation.  Titles and headings
                     -----------------------------------    
to sections herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not
intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.  References in this Agreement to any gender include references to all
genders, and references to the singular include references to the plural and
vice versa.  The words "include," "includes" and "including" when used in this
Agreement shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation."
Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Agreement to Articles,
Sections, and Schedules shall be deemed references to Articles and Sections of,
and Schedules to, this Agreement.  Unless the context otherwise requires, the
words "hereof," "hereby" and "herein" and words of similar meaning when used in
this Agreement refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular
Article, Section or provision of this Agreement.

     Section 10.14.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and
                     -------------                                           
construed and enforced in accordance with, the Law of the State of Delaware
without regard to the principles of conflicts of Laws thereunder, to the extent
not preempted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

     Section 10.15.  Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the
                     ------------                                            
application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined to be invalid,
void or unenforceable in any respect, the remaining provisions hereof, of the
application of such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those as to
which it has held invalid," void or unenforceable, shall remain in full force
and effect and in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long
as the economic or legal substance of the transaction contemplated hereby is not
affected in any manner adverse to any party.

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

                              VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.


                              By: /s/ Joseph B. Phair
                                  -------------------
                              Name:  Joseph B. Phair
                              Title: Secretary


                              VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.


                              By: /s/ Robert A. Lemos
                                  -------------------
                              Name:  Robert A. Lemos
                              Title: Vice President Finance and
                                     Chief Financial Officer


                              VARIAN, INC.


                              By: /s/ Arthur W. Homan
                                  -------------------
                              Name:  Arthur W. Homan
                              Title: Secretary

                                       11

<PAGE>
 
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.2

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

                        INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT

                                     AMONG

                           VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.,

                VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

                                      AND

                                 VARIAN, INC.

                                  Dated as of

                                 April 2, 1999


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                                                   PAGE
<S>                                                                                                                <C> 
ARTICLE I             DEFINITIONS................................................................................   1
                                                                                                                     
         Section 1.01.    General................................................................................   1
                                                                                                                     
ARTICLE II            OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.........................................................   2
                                                                                                                     
         Section 2.01.    General Principles of Allocation and Recognition.......................................   2
                                                                                                                     
         Section 2.02.    Distribution of Rights.................................................................   3
                                                                                                                     
         Section 2.03.    Rights Arising in Future...............................................................   4
                                                                                                                     
         Section 2.04.    No Warranties..........................................................................   4
                                                                                                                     
         Section 2.05.    Recognition of Non-Party Rights........................................................   4
                                                                                                                     
         Section 2.06.    Effectuating Transfer of Rights........................................................   5
                                                                                                                     
         Section 2.07.    Limitations and Obligations in Jointly Owned Intellectual Property.....................   5
                                                                                                                     
ARTICLE III           CROSS LICENSING OF RIGHTS..................................................................   5
                                                                                                                     
         Section 3.01.    Grants by Varian.......................................................................   5
                                                                                                                     
         Section 3.02.    Grants by IB...........................................................................   6
                                                                                                                     
         Section 3.03.    Grants by SEB..........................................................................   6
                                                                                                                     
         Section 3.04.    Limitations of Rights..................................................................   6
                                                                                                                     
         Section 3.05.    Restrictions on Sublicensing...........................................................   6
                                                                                                                     
ARTICLE IV            TRADEMARKS OF VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.......................................................   6
                                                                                                                     
         Section 4.01.    Grant of Licenses......................................................................   6
                                                                                                                     
         Section 4.02.    Protection of Licensed Property........................................................   7
                                                                                                                     
         Section 4.03.    Costs and Administration...............................................................   7
                                                                                                                     
         Section 4.04.    Extending the Rights in the Marks......................................................   7
                                                                                                                     
         Section 4.05.    Reducing the Rights in the Marks.......................................................   7
                                                                                                                     
         Section 4.06.    Non-use or Abandonment of the Marks....................................................   7
                                                                                                                     
         Section 4.07.    Limitations on Concurrent Use..........................................................   8
                                                                                                                     
         Section 4.08.    Notice and Publicity...................................................................   8
                                                                                                                     
         Section 4.09.    Domain Name and Internet Hyperlinks....................................................   8
                                                                                                                     
         Section 4.10.    Duty to Avoid Confusion................................................................   8
                                                                                                                     
         Section 4.11.    Consent to Registration................................................................   8
                                                                                                                     
         Section 4.12.    Limitations on Sublicensing............................................................   9
                                                                                                                     
         Section 4.13.    Transition Period......................................................................   9
                                                                                                                     
ARTICLE V             COVENANTS..................................................................................   9
                                                                                                                     
         Section 5.01.    Further Assurances.....................................................................   9
                                                                                                                     
         Section 5.02.    Cooperation............................................................................   9
                                                                                                                     
         Section 5.03.    Intellectual Property Records..........................................................   9
                                                                                                                     
ARTICLE VI            INDEMNIFICATION............................................................................   9
                                                                                                                     
         Section 6.01.    Rights and Obligations.................................................................   9 
</TABLE> 

                                      -i-
<PAGE>
 
                            TABLE OF CONTENTS
                               (CONTINUED)

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                                                 PAGE     
<S>                                                                                                              <C> 
ARTICLE VII           DISPUTE RESOLUTION........................................................................ 10 
                                                                                                                  
         Section 7.01.    Distribution Agreement to Control..................................................... 10
                                                                                                                     
ARTICLE VIII          MISCELLANEOUS............................................................................. 10
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.01.    Complete Agreement; Construction...................................................... 10
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.02.    Other Agreements...................................................................... 10
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.03.    Counterparts.......................................................................... 10
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.04.    Survival of Agreements................................................................ 10
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.05.    Expenses.............................................................................. 10
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.06.    Notices............................................................................... 10
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.07.    Waivers............................................................................... 11
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.08.    Amendments............................................................................ 11
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.09.    Assignment............................................................................ 12
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.10.    Successors and Assigns................................................................ 12
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.11.    Third Party Beneficiaries............................................................. 12
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.12.    Schedules............................................................................. 12
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.13.    Titles and Headings; Interpretation................................................... 12
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.14.    Governing Law......................................................................... 12
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.15.    Severability.......................................................................... 12
                                                                                                                     
         Section 8.16.    Subsidiaries.......................................................................... 12 

Exhibit A.......................................................................................................A-1
</TABLE> 

                                     -ii-
<PAGE>
 
                        INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT

     THIS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of this 2nd day of April, 1999, between and among VARIAN ASSOCIATES,
INC., a Delaware corporation ("Varian"), VARIAN, INC., a Delaware corporation
("IB"), and VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC., a Delaware
corporation ("SEB").

                                   RECITALS

     WHEREAS, Varian, directly and through its Subsidiaries and Affiliates,
currently owns various intellectual property rights used in connection with a
number of businesses, which businesses are described in the Amended and Restated
Distribution Agreement dated as of January 14, 1999, among Varian, IB and SEB
(the "Distribution Agreement"); and

     WHEREAS, the parties have determined that this Agreement is appropriate in
order to effectuate the purposes of the Distribution Agreement as described
therein, and in order to promote a clear understanding of their respective
intellectual property rights after the Distributions (as defined in the
Distribution Agreement) contemplated thereby;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and
covenants contained herein and therein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I
                                  DEFINITIONS

     Section 1.01.  General. Except for the defined terms set forth below, the
                    -------                                                   
capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings ascribed to them in
Article I, Section 1.01 of the Distribution Agreement, except that for purposes
of this Agreement the terms "HCS," "IB" and "SEB" shall include the other
members of the Health Care Systems Group, the Instruments Group and the
Semiconductor Equipment Group, respectively, unless the context otherwise
requires.

     "Fields" means certain combinations of, or collectively, the product
      ------                                                             
markets of the Health Care Systems Business, the Instruments Business and the
Semiconductor Equipment Business, as defined herein below.

     "Field of Health Care Systems" means the product markets to which the
      ----------------------------                                        
Health Care Systems Business directs its marketing, sales, engineering, research
and development efforts, to the extent described in paragraph 1 of Exhibit A.

     "Field of Instruments" means the product markets to which the Instruments
      --------------------                                                    
Business directs its marketing, sales, engineering, research and development
efforts, to the extent described in paragraph 2 of Exhibit A.

     "Field of Semiconductor Equipment" means the product markets to which the
      --------------------------------                                        
Semiconductor Equipment Business directs its marketing, sales, engineering,
research and development efforts, to the extent described in paragraph 3 of
Exhibit A.

     "HCS Intellectual Property" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
      -------------------------                                             
2.01(a).

     "IB Intellectual Property" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
      ------------------------                                             
2.01(b).

     "Infringement" means any unauthorized use or conduct in violation or
      ------------                                                       
derogation of the rights in question.
<PAGE>
 
     "Intellectual Property" means the intellectual property rights owned,
      ---------------------                                               
licensed to or otherwise held by Varian, and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates,
throughout the world, as of the Distribution Date, including, without
limitation, all of the rights, title and interests in the following:

     (i)       all United States and foreign patents, patent applications
(including any continuations, continuation-in-part and divisionals), patent
applications under preparation, invention disclosures and invention disclosures
under preparation;

     (ii)      all United States and foreign registered and unregistered
copyrights and mask works, including applications and applications under
preparation therefor;

     (iii)     all United States and foreign registered and unregistered
trademarks, trade names, trade dress, service marks, services names, artwork,
logos and other marks, including applications and applications under preparation
therefor;

     (iv)      all trade secrets, know-how, ideas, concepts, discoveries,
improvements, processes, procedures, methods, recipes, formulae, data and
specifications;

     (v)       all product-related computer programs and other software (in
executable or source code format), including operating software, applications,
network software, firmware, middleware, design software, design tools, test and
diagnostic software, systems configurations; and

     (vi)      all documentation, schematics, drawings, designs, manuals,
reports, records, instructions, studies, surveys, plans, books or other written
materials (whether in hard copy or magnetic form) relating to or including any
of the (i) through (v) above.

     "Residual Intellectual Property" shall have the meaning set forth in
      ------------------------------                                     
Section 2.01(d).

     "SEB Intellectual Property" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
      -------------------------                                             
2.01(c).

     "Specified Intellectual Property" shall have the meaning set forth in
      -------------------------------                                     
Section 2.01(e).

                                  ARTICLE II

                      OWNERSHIP OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

     Section 2.01.  General Principles of Allocation and Recognition.
                    ------------------------------------------------ 

               (a)  Without limiting any obligation or Liability of Varian under
the Distribution Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreement, and subject to the
provisions of Article III below, after the Distributions, Varian (or another
member of the Health Care Systems Group) shall own all rights, title and/or
interest in all Intellectual Property that: (i) originated primarily with the
conduct of the Health Care Systems Business or primarily in connection with the
Health Care Systems Assets; (ii) was obtained by, exclusively or primarily for
the conduct of, the Health Care Systems Business or in connection with the
Health Care Systems Assets; (iii) was developed exclusively or primarily for the
conduct of the Health Care Systems Business or in connection with the Health
Care Systems Assets; (iv) arose from funding by, exclusively or primarily for
the benefit of the conduct of, the Health Care Systems Business or in connection
with the Health Care Systems Assets; (v) as of the Effective Time, is used or
held for use exclusively or primarily for the conduct of the Health Care Systems
Business or in connection with the Health Care Systems Assets; and/or (vi) as of
the Effective Time, is allocated to HCS by mutual agreement of the parties
(collectively "HCS Intellectual Property"). If a conflict exists between or
among any of the clauses (i) through (iv) set forth in this paragraph or in
paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) of this Section 2.01, on the one hand, and clause
(v) of this paragraph, on the other hand, then clause (v) shall prevail.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
               (b)  Without limiting any obligation or Liability of IB under the
Distribution Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreement, and subject to the
provisions of Article III below, after the Distributions, IB (or another member
of the Instruments Group) shall own all rights, title and/or interest in all
Intellectual Property that: (i) originated primarily with the conduct of the
Instruments Business or primarily in connection with the Instruments Assets;
(ii) was obtained by, exclusively or primarily for the conduct of, the
Instruments Business or in connection with the Instruments Assets; (iii) was
developed exclusively or primarily for the conduct of the Instruments Business
or in connection with the Instruments Assets; (iv) arose from funding by,
exclusively or primarily for the benefit of the conduct of, the Instruments
Business or in connection with the Instruments Assets; (v) as of the Effective
Time, is used or held for use exclusively or primarily for the conduct of the
Instruments Business or in connection with the Instruments Assets; and/or (vi)
as of the Effective Time, is allocated to IB by mutual agreement of the parties
(collectively "IB Intellectual Property"). If a conflict exists between or among
any of the clauses (i) through (iv) set forth in this paragraph or in paragraph
(a) or in paragraph (c) of this Section 2.01, on the one hand, and clause (v) of
this paragraph, on the other hand, then clause (v) shall prevail.

               (c)  Without limiting any obligation or Liability of SEB under
the Distribution Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreement, and subject to the
provisions of Article III below, after the Distributions, SEB (or another member
of the Semiconductor Equipment Group) shall own all rights, title and/or
interest in all Intellectual Property that: (i) originated primarily with the
conduct of the Semiconductor Equipment Business or primarily in connection with
the Semiconductor Equipment Assets; (ii) was obtained by, exclusively or
primarily for the conduct of, the Semiconductor Equipment Business or in
connection with the Semiconductor Equipment Assets; (iii) was developed
exclusively or primarily for the conduct of the Semiconductor Equipment Business
or in connection with the Semiconductor Equipment Assets; (iv) arose from
funding by, exclusively or primarily for the benefit of the conduct of, the
Semiconductor Equipment Business or in connection with the Semiconductor
Equipment Assets; (v) as of the Effective Time, is used or held for use
exclusively or primarily for the conduct of the Semiconductor Equipment Business
or in connection with the Semiconductor Equipment Assets; and/or (vi) as of the
Effective Time, is allocated to SEB by mutual agreement of the parties
(collectively "SEB Intellectual Property"). If a conflict exists between or
among any of the clauses (i) through (iv) set forth in this paragraph or in
paragraph (a) or in paragraph (b) of this Section 2.01, on the one hand, and
clause (v) of this paragraph, on the other hand, then clause (v) shall prevail.

               (d)  Subject to the provisions of Section 2.01(a), (b) and (c)
above, any Intellectual Property that: (i) did not originate primarily with the
conduct of the business or primarily in connection with the Assets of any Group;
(ii) was not obtained by, exclusively or primarily for the conduct of, any Group
or in connection with the Assets of any Group; (iii) was not developed
exclusively or primarily for the conduct of the business or in connection with
the Assets of any Group; (iv) did not arise from funding by, exclusively or
primarily for the benefit of any Group or in connection with the Assets of any
Group; (v) is not used or held for use exclusively or primarily for the conduct
of the business or in connection with the Assets of any Group as of the
Effective Time; (vi) was not sold or transferred to a third party without the
retention of any rights; and (vii) has not been allocated to one of the parties
under this Agreement (the Intellectual Property satisfying each of the foregoing
clauses (i)-(vii) hereinafter, collectively, "Residual Intellectual Property"),
shall be jointly owned by the parties.

               (e)  Notwithstanding the provisions in Section 2.01(a), (b), (c)
and (d) above, effective as of the Effective Time, the parties acknowledge that
joint ownership in the rights, title and/or interest in certain Intellectual
Property specified in or pursuant to this Agreement may be held by two or more
parties ("Specified Intellectual Property"). The Specified Intellectual Property
may not be licensed, assigned or otherwise transferred by a first party having
joint ownership rights therein to any competitor of a second party also having
joint ownership rights therein without the prior written consent of such second
party.

     Section 2.02.  Distribution of Rights.
                    ---------------------- 

               (a)  Varian hereby irrevocably transfers and assigns, effective
as of the Effective Time, to IB the ownership of all rights, title and/or
interest in the IB Intellectual Property, a non-exclusive description of which
is set forth in Schedule 2.02(a). In addition, Varian hereby irrevocably
transfers and

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
assigns to IB, effective as of the Effective Time, joint ownership of all
rights, title and/or interest in the Specified Intellectual Property, an
exclusive description of which is set forth in Schedule 2.02(d), subject to the
provisions of Section 2.07 below.

               (b)  Varian hereby irrevocably transfers and assigns, effective
as of the Effective Time, to SEB the ownership of all rights, title and/or
interest in the SEB Intellectual Property, a non-exclusive description of which
is set forth in Schedule 2.02(b). In addition, Varian hereby irrevocably
transfers and assigns to SEB, effective as of the Effective Time, joint
ownership of all rights, title and/or interest in the Specified Intellectual
Property, an exclusive description of which is set forth in Schedule 2.02(d),
subject to the provisions of Section 2.07 below.

               (c)  Varian hereby irrevocably retains, effective as of the
Effective Time, the ownership of all rights, title and/or interest in the HCS
Intellectual Property, a non-exclusive description of which is set forth in
Schedule 2.02(c), and subject to the provisions of Article IV below, in the
"Varian" and "VA logo" trademarks. In addition, Varian hereby retains, effective
as of the Effective Time, joint ownership of all rights, title and/or interest
in the Specified Intellectual Property, an exclusive description of which is set
forth in Schedule 2.02(d), subject to the provisions of Section 2.07 below.

               (d)  Varian hereby irrevocably transfers and assigns to IB and
SEB, and retains for itself, effective as of the Effective Time, joint ownership
of all rights, title and/or interest in the Residual Intellectual Property,
subject to the provisions of Section 2.07 below. By mutual written agreement at
any time, the parties may re-designate any Residual Intellectual Property as
being either HCS, IB or SEB Intellectual Property or as Specified Intellectual
Property. Any party renouncing its undivided joint ownership rights in any
Residual Intellectual Property in favor of another party or parties, through
such written agreement shall have continuing license rights thereto pursuant to
Article III.

               (e)  Without limiting any obligation or Liability of any party
under the Distribution Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreement, and subject
to the provisions of Article III below, after the Effective Time, all rights,
title and/or interest in all Intellectual Property identified on Schedules
2.02(a) through (d) shall be owned solely or jointly by or vested in the party
indicated therein. In the event that any party believes that certain
Intellectual Property has been improperly designated to be either HCS
Intellectual Property, IB Intellectual Property, SEB Intellectual Property,
Residual Intellectual Property or Specified Intellectual Property, such party
may seek the agreement of the other parties to a re-designation of such
Intellectual Property or have the issue resolved pursuant to Article VII.

               (f)  In the event of any inconsistency between Schedules 2.02
(a), (b), (c) and/or (d) and Section 2.01, the definitions set forth in Section
2.01 shall prevail.

     Section 2.03.  Rights Arising in Future. Subject to the provisions of
                    ------------------------
Article III below, after the Effective Time: (a) any and all intellectual
property created by or on behalf of a party, including common-law rights related
thereto, shall belong solely and exclusively to such party; and (b) any and all
subsequent ownership, possession and use by each party of the Intellectual
Property that it will own subsequent to the Distributions under the terms of
this Agreement (excluding any possession or use pursuant to license granted by
another party), including common-law rights related thereto, shall inure solely
to such party's sole and exclusive benefit.

     Section 2.04.  No Warranties. No party to this Agreement, the Distribution
                    -------------                                               
Agreement, or any other agreement contemplated herein or otherwise
(notwithstanding anything to the contrary expressly provided in any Conveyancing
and Assumption Instrument), is making any representation or warranty whatsoever
regarding the Intellectual Property transferred, distributed or licensed under
this Agreement, including, as to title, value or legal sufficiency thereof. Any
and all Intellectual Property and related Assets transferred or retained by the
parties, as the case may be, shall be "AS IS, WHERE IS".

     Section 2.05.  Recognition of Non-Party Rights. The recognition among the
                    -------------------------------                            
parties of the transfers of rights in the Intellectual Property under Sections
2.01 through 2.03 of this Agreement is subject to all pre-existing rights,
obligations and restrictions of Persons that are not parties to this Agreement
as of the

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
Effective Time. The provisions of Section 2.14 of the Distribution Agreement
shall govern the rights and obligations of the parties with regard to obtaining
any necessary Consents and taking other actions relating to such transfers of
rights.

     Section 2.06.  Effectuating Transfer of Rights. The parties shall execute
                    -------------------------------
all such documents, and to take all such actions before, at and after the
Effective Time, as may be necessary to achieve, perfect or confirm the
respective ownership of rights in the Intellectual Property, as contemplated in
this Article II.

     Section 2.07.  Limitations and Obligations in Jointly Owned Intellectual
                    ---------------------------------------------------------
Property.
- --------

               (a)  Each party shall have the unlimited right to use the
Residual Intellectual Property and/or Specified Intellectual Property, as
applicable, except to make, have made or sell competing products in the Fields
of the other parties, as set forth in Article I above.

               (b)  The parties shall share equally in all costs and fees, if
any, associated with obtaining, perfecting and/or maintaining the Residual
Intellectual Property and the Specified Intellectual Property, to the extent
that each party has an ownership interest therein. The parties shall designate a
party, by mutual agreement, to have administrative responsibility for tracking,
coordinating and submitting payment of such costs and fees ("Designated Party").
The Designated Party that is responsible for a particular cost or fee shall
deliver, at least forty-five (45) days before such cost or fee becomes due, an
invoice to the other party or parties ("Invoiced Party") requesting submission
of its or their share(s) of such cost or fee. The Invoiced Party shall have
thirty (30) days from the date of the receipt to pay such invoice. If an
Invoiced Party, at any time, does not pay in full the invoiced amount in a
timely manner, the Designated Party shall send a written notice, by facsimile
transmission or overnight mail, to such Invoiced Party requesting payment of
such invoice within fifteen (15) business days. The failure by the Invoiced
Party to make such payment shall constitute abandonment of all rights in the
Residual Intellectual Property or Specified Intellectual Property relating to
such payment and shall result in such rights shall be reapportioned equally
between the remaining parties. If a Designated Party decides to abandon its
rights in certain Residual Intellectual Property or Specified Intellectual
Property for which it has administrative responsibility, such Designated Party
shall provide the other parties with written notice of its decision at least
sixty (60) days prior to the due date of any cost or fee, and the remaining
parties shall confer to determine and thereafter designate the new Designated
Party. The effect of such abandonment shall be to remove the restriction set
forth in Section 2.07(a) above and to permit the other party, or parties,
retaining rights in the Residual Intellectual Property or Specified Intellectual
Property to enforce those rights against the abandoning party.

               (c)  Each party shall be responsible for policing its rights in
the Residual Intellectual Property and Specified Intellectual Property, as
applicable, against Infringement in its respective Field, as set forth in
Article I above.

                                  ARTICLE III

                          CROSS  LICENSING OF RIGHTS

     Section 3.01.  Grants by Varian.
                    ---------------- 

               (a)  Varian hereby grants to IB a limited, non-exclusive,
perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide license under the HCS Intellectual Property
(except for the United States and foreign registered and unregistered
trademarks, trade names, trade dress, service marks, services names, artwork,
logos and other marks, including applications and applications under preparation
therefor, used primarily in the Health Care Systems Business) to make, have
made, use and sell products only in the Field of Instruments, subject to the
provisions of this Article III.

               (b)  Varian hereby grants to SEB a limited, non-exclusive,
perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide license under the HCS Intellectual Property
(except for the United States and foreign registered and unregistered
trademarks, trade names, trade dress, service marks, services names, artwork,
logos and 

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
other marks, including applications and applications under preparation therefor,
used primarily in the Health Care Systems Business) to make, have made, use and
sell products only in the Field of Semiconductor Equipment, subject to the
provisions of this Article III.

     Section 3.02.  Grants by IB.
                    ------------ 

               (a)  IB hereby grants to Varian a limited, non-exclusive,
perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide license under the IB Intellectual Property
(except for the United States and foreign registered and unregistered
trademarks, trade names, trade dress, service marks, services names, artwork,
logos and other marks, including applications and applications under preparation
therefor, used primarily in the Instruments Business) to make, have made, use
and sell products only in the Field of Health Care Systems, subject to the
provisions of this Article III.

               (b)  IB hereby grants to SEB a limited, non-exclusive, perpetual,
royalty-free, worldwide license under the IB Intellectual Property (except for
the United States and foreign registered and unregistered trademarks, trade
names, trade dress, service marks, services names, artwork, logos and other
marks, including applications and applications under preparation therefor, used
primarily in the Instruments Business) to make, have made, use and sell products
only in the Field of Semiconductor Equipment, subject to the provisions of this
Article III.

     Section 3.03.  Grants by SEB.
                    ------------- 

               (a)  SEB hereby grants to Varian a limited, non-exclusive,
perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide license under the SEB Intellectual Property
(except for the United States and foreign registered and unregistered
trademarks, trade names, trade dress, service marks, services names, artwork,
logos and other marks, including applications and applications under preparation
therefor, used primarily in the Semiconductor Equipment Business) to make, have
made, use and sell products only in the Field of Health Care Systems, subject to
the provisions of this Article III.

               (b)  SEB hereby grants to IB a limited, non-exclusive, perpetual,
royalty-free, worldwide license under the SEB Intellectual Property (except for
the United States and foreign registered and unregistered trademarks, trade
names, trade dress, service marks, services names, artwork, logos and other
marks, including applications and applications under preparation therefor, used
primarily in the Semiconductor Equipment Business) to make, have made, use and
sell products only in the Field of Instruments, subject to the provisions of
this Article III.

     Section 3.04.  Limitations of Rights. Nothing in the foregoing grants of
                    ---------------------                                     
license shall be construed as providing a grantee party the right to make, have
made, use or sell any product that competes, directly or indirectly, with the
products of a grantor party.
     
     Section 3.05.  Restrictions on Sublicensing. The parties shall have no
                    ----------------------------
right to sublicense to any third party the rights granted by another party
pursuant to this Article III without the prior written consent of the grantor
party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

                                  ARTICLE IV

                     TRADEMARKS OF VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.

     Section 4.01.  Grant of Licenses.
                    ----------------- 

               (a)  Varian hereby grants to IB a limited, exclusive, perpetual,
irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use the "Varian" and "VA logo"
trademarks in the Field of Instruments, subject to the provisions of this
Article IV.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
               (b)  Varian hereby grants to SEB a limited, exclusive, perpetual,
irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use the "Varian" and "VA logo"
trademarks in the Field of Semiconductor Equipment, subject to the provisions of
this Article IV.

               (c)  Varian hereby retains a limited, exclusive, perpetual,
[irrevocable,] royalty-free, worldwide right to use the name "Varian" and the
"VA logo" trademarks in the Field of Health Care Systems, subject to the
provisions of this Article IV.

               (d)  After the Effective Time, each of Varian, IB and SEB shall
possess the right to use the "Varian" name or "VA logo" standing alone or by
itself for use on products, advertising or marketing purposes, etc., subject to
the provisions of this Article IV.

     Section 4.02.  Protection of Licensed Property. After the Effective Time,
                    -------------------------------
each of Varian, IB and SEB shall use the "Varian" and "VA logo" trademarks
(hereinafter the "Marks") in a manner that protects the goodwill and other
rights associated therewith, that associates the Marks with high quality
products, that avoids disparagement, dilution or otherwise adversely affects the
validity of the Marks, and that is in accordance with the policies and
guidelines established for the protection of that party's other trademarks. Each
party shall be responsible for policing and preventing Infringement by third
parties of the Marks in their respective Fields. Any party's failure to use the
Marks in accordance with the foregoing or material failure to prevent
Infringement by third parties shall be grounds for revocation of the rights
granted in this Article IV, pursuant to the provisions of Article VII below.

     Section 4.03.  Costs and Administration. The parties shall share equally in
                    ------------------------
all costs and fees associated with maintaining the Marks, and Varian shall have
the administrative responsibility for tracking, coordinating and submitting
payments therefor. Varian shall deliver, at least forty-five (45) days before
such costs or fees become due, an invoice to the other parties ("Invoiced
Party") requesting submission of each party's share of such costs or fees. The
Invoiced Party shall have thirty (30) days from the date of receipt to pay such
invoice. If, at any time, an Invoiced Party does not pay, in full, the invoiced
amount in a timely manner, Varian shall send a written notice, by facsimile
transmission or overnight mail, to such Invoiced Party requesting payment of
such invoiced amount within fifteen (15) business days. The failure by the
Invoiced Party to make such payment shall constitute abandonment of all rights
in the Marks. If Varian decides to abandon its rights in the Marks, Varian shall
provide the other parties with written notice of its decision at least sixty
(60) days prior to the due date that any cost or fee, and the remaining parties
shall confer and determine which of IB or SEB shall be given the administrative
responsibility for the Marks. The effect of such abandonment shall be to require
the immediate cessation of all use of the Marks by the abandoning party.

     Section 4.04.  Extending the Rights in the Marks. In the event that a party
                    ---------------------------------
desires to extend the rights in the Marks by registrations in additional
countries or additional classes, or to add new goods to existing classes, such
party shall, in writing, request that Varian seek such registrations. Varian
shall comply with such request by engaging trademark counsel within thirty (30)
days thereof, and such requesting party agrees to pay all costs and fees
associated with such applications for registrations. Upon completion of the
registrations, the maintenance costs and fees shall be governed by the
provisions of Section 4.03 above.

     Section 4.05.  Reducing the Rights in the Marks. The scope of rights in the
                    --------------------------------
Marks may not be reduced, e.g., by abandoning registrations in certain countries
or classes, without the mutual written consent of each party, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld.

     Section 4.06.  Non-use or Abandonment of the Marks. In the event that
                    -----------------------------------
Varian, IB and/or SEB choose, for any reason, not to use any of the Marks for a
period greater than one (1) year, such non-use shall constitute abandonment of
such Marks and shall serve as the basis for revoking the rights granted therein
by this Article IV.

               (a)  If either IB or SEB abandons the Marks through non-use
thereof, Varian shall provide the abandoning party with no less than thirty (30)
days written notice of its intent to revoke such

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
party's rights to use such Marks. The noticed party may prevent such revocation
by providing proof of its use within the past year or by resuming its use of any
of the Marks within such thirty (30) day period, provided its use is on a
continuous basis thereafter for not less than six (6) months. If, for any
reason, Varian fails to provide such written revocation notice, either IB or
SEB, as appropriate, may request, in writing, that Varian deliver such notice
within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of such request. If Varian does not
comply with such written request, either IB or SEB, as appropriate, shall have
the right to provide such written revocation notice as the authorized agent of
Varian.

     (b) If Varian abandons the Marks through non-use thereof, either IB or SEB
may provide Varian with written notice requiring that Varian execute an
assignment of the ownership rights in the Marks to either IB or SEB, as
appropriate, within forty-five (45) days of receiving such notice. A copy of
such notice shall be provided to the party not initiating the procedure set
forth in this paragraph. Varian may prevent its loss of ownership rights in and
rights to use the Marks by providing proof of its use of the Marks within the
past year or by resuming its use of any of the Marks within thirty (30) days
after receipt of such notice, provided its use is on a continuous basis
thereafter for not less than six (6) months. If Varian refuses to execute such
assignment of ownership, the ownership rights in the Marks shall automatically
pass to either IB or SEB, as appropriate, as the party sending such notice.

     Section 4.07. Limitations on Concurrent Use. The parties shall not use the
                   -----------------------------                          
Marks in the Fields of the other parties. Otherwise, the provisions in this
Article IV shall in no way restrict the rights of the parties to sell any
product or service or enter into any business identical or similar to any
product or service sold, or business conducted by, the other parties before the
Distribution Date, provided the Marks are not used, in any way, to describe or
identify such product, service, or business.

     Section 4.08.  Notice and Publicity. After the Distribution Date, the 
                    --------------------                                     
parties will give or cause to be given, in each distinct geographic area or line
of business in which they intend to operate or to sell any product or service,
such notice and publicity of their separation and distinct identities as the
source of any such business, product or service as may be reasonable under the
circumstances or required by the relevant local law, where the local law imposes
such a duty so to notify and/or publicize.

     Section 4.09.  Domain Name and Internet Hyperlinks. The parties will
                    -----------------------------------                       
mutually agree on the ownership of Internet domain name "www.varian.com." In any
event, each of the parties shall provide and maintain on the "home page" of its
internet or website, for a period of two (2) years after the Distribution Date,
a hyperlink to the principal internet or website of the other two parties.
Furthermore, each of the parties will cooperate reasonably in the identification
of appropriate addresses and/or domain names and in resolving technical issues
necessary to establish, design and maintain such hyperlinks.

     Section 4.10.  Duty to Avoid Confusion.  The parties confirm their belief
                    -----------------------                                   
that the likelihood of confusion will not result from the parties' use of the
Marks, as provided for in this Agreement, due to the differences in the goods
and services associated therewith and the differences in the customers to whom
the goods and services are primarily offered and sold. The parties further
believe that any potential future confusion will be prevented under the
provisions of this Agreement. Furthermore, in order to enable and permit each
other to continue using and to register their respective trademarks and to
ensure that there is no confusion among them in any relevant marketplace, the
parties will use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid actual or potential
confusion arising from their use, to advise any other affected party of any
instance of actual or potential confusion that comes to a party's attention
concerning use of their respective trademarks, to take all such actions as may
be necessary or appropriate to remedy any actual or potential confusion caused
by their actions, and to cooperate with each other in good faith to avoid and
prevent actual or potential confusion.

     Section 4.11.  Consent to Registration. Subject to the other provisions of
                    -----------------------                                   
this Article IV, each party consents to the other parties' use of a copy of this
Agreement to evidence the other parties' express consent to registration of the
party's trademarks, if necessary to obtain or maintain a registration of such
trademark in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any other
pertinent governmental agency in any country or group of countries; and further
will take any other necessary action that any other party may reasonably request
to express or confirm such consent.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     Section 4.12.  Limitations on Sublicensing. No party may sublicense any 
                    ---------------------------
rights in the Marks to any non-Affiliated third party without the express
written consent of the other parties.

     Section 4.13.  Transition Period.  During the longest time period set
                    -----------------                                     
forth in the schedules to the Transition Services Agreement, after the
Distribution Date, the parties shall have the right to continue to use existing
supplies of product brochures, marketing literature, letterhead stationary and
other pre-printed materials that include the Marks and the names "Varian
Associates" or "Varian Associates, Inc." After such period, the parties may
continue to use existing supplies of product brochures, marketing literature,
letterhead stationary and other pre-printed materials that include the Marks,
provided such pre-printed materials do not cause misidentification as to the
source thereof and/or confusion in the marketplace.

                                   ARTICLE V

                                   COVENANTS

     Section 5.01.  Further Assurances. Without limiting the obligations of any
                    ------------------                                          
party under other Articles of this Agreement, each party shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed
and delivered, such instruments and documents and take, or cause to be taken,
such further or other actions as any other party may reasonably request to
effectuate the purposes of this Agreement and carry out the terms hereof.

     Section 5.02.  Cooperation. Without limiting the obligations of any party
                    -----------                                               
under other Articles of this Agreement, each party shall reasonably cooperate
with the other parties with respect to any filings with any Governmental
Authority or any other actions reasonably necessary to perfect, maintain and
enforce the rights to the Intellectual Property covered by this Agreement.

     Section 5.03.  Intellectual Property Records. Without limiting the 
                    -----------------------------                       
oligation of any party under other Articles of this Agreement, each party shall
provide each other party with access to Books and Records relating to
Intellectual Property in its possession or control that were created before the
Distributions, in accordance with and subject to Article VI of the Distribution
Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE VI

                                INDEMNIFICATION

     Section 6.01.  Rights and Obligations. Article VII of the Distribution
                    ----------------------                                  
Agreement shall govern the rights and obligations of HCS, IB, SEB and the
members of their respective Groups with respect to indemnification for any and
all Indemnifiable Losses related to the Intellectual Property. The term "Health
Care System Liabilities" in that Article shall be read to include all
Liabilities relating to the Intellectual Property to be owned, licensed to or
otherwise held by HCS or the HCS Subsidiaries under this Agreement. The term
"Instruments Liabilities" in that Article shall be read to include all
Liabilities relating to the Intellectual Property to be owned, licensed to or
otherwise held by IB or the IB Subsidiaries under this Agreement. The term
"Semiconductor Equipment Liabilities" in that Article shall be read to include
all Liabilities relating to the Intellectual Property to be owned, licensed to
or otherwise held by SEB or the SEB Subsidiaries under this Agreement. The term
"Third Party Claim" in that Article shall be read to include all claims or
demands made by any Person that is not a party to this Agreement or a Subsidiary
thereof concerning the Intellectual Property, including claims for Infringement
accruing or arising before the Distribution Date. Furthermore, no party shall be
entitled to any indemnification under this Agreement, the Distribution
Agreement, or any other agreement contemplated herein, by virtue of having used,
practiced or applied the grants of license as provided by the other parties in
Article III.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE VII

                              DISPUTE RESOLUTION

     Section 7.01.  Distribution Agreement to Control. Any and all 
                    ---------------------------------                    
controversies, disputes or claims arising out of, relating to, in connection
with or resulting from this Agreement (or any amendment thereto or any
transaction contemplated hereby or thereby), including as to its existence,
interpretation, performance, non-performance, validity, breach or termination,
including any claim based on contract, tort, statute or constitution and any
claim raising questions of law, whether arising before or after termination of
this Agreement, shall be deemed an Agreement Dispute as defined in Section 9.01
of the Distribution Agreement and shall be resolved exclusively by, in
accordance with, and subject to the limitations set forth in Article IX of the
Distribution Agreement.

                                 ARTICLE VIII

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

     Section 8.01.  Complete Agreement; Construction. This Agreement and the
                    --------------------------------                         
Schedules hereto, the Distribution Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements
shall constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements, negotiations,
commitments and writings with respect to such subject matter. In the event of
any inconsistency between this Agreement and the Distribution Agreement, this
Agreement shall prevail except for inconsistencies with respect to Sections 5.05
and 6.07 and Article IX of the Distribution Agreement, which sections shall
prevail over any inconsistent provision of this Agreement.

     Section 8.02.  Other Agreements. This Agreement is not intended to address,
                    ----------------  
and should not be interpreted to address, the matters expressly covered by the
Distribution Agreement and/or the other Ancillary Agreements.

     Section 8.03.  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
                    ------------                                                
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together shall constitute but one and the same Agreement.

     Section 8.04.  Survival of Agreements. All covenants and agreements of the
                    ----------------------                                      
parties contained in this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time except as
expressly provided herein and shall not be merged into any other transfer or
closing instruments or documents, including the Conveyancing and Assumption
Instruments.

     Section 8.05.  Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
                    --------                                                 
Agreement or the Distribution Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred or
accrued on or before the Distribution Date (whether or not paid on or before the
Distribution Date) in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and
implementation of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be charged to and paid by Varian. Except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, each party shall bear its own costs and expenses
related to the Intellectual Property, including the performance of any
obligation arising under Articles III, IV and V of this Agreement.

     Section 8.06.  Notices. All Notices required or permitted under this 
                    -------                                                 
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently given or made (a) if
hand delivered or sent by telecopy (with delivery confirmed by voice or
otherwise), (b) if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier or (c) if
sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested,
and in each case addressed as follows:

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
               If to HCS:


               Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
               3100 Hansen Way
               Palo Alto, California 94304-1030
               Attn:  Chief Financial Officer

               with a copy to:

               Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
               3100 Hansen Way
               Palo Alto, California 94304-1030
               Attn:  General Counsel

               If to IB:

               Varian, Inc.
               3120 Hansen Way
               Palo Alto, California 94303-1030
               Attn:  Chief Financial Officer

               with a copy to:

               Varian, Inc.
               3120 Hansen Way
               Palo Alto, California 94303-1030
               Attn: General Counsel

               If to SEB:

               Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
               35 Dory Road
               Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
               Attn:  Chief Financial Officer
               Telecopy: (978) 281-3152

               with a copy to:

               Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
               35 Dory Road
               Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
               Attn: General Counsel
               Telecopy: (978) 281-3152

or at such other address as shall be furnished by any of the parties in a
Notice. Any Notice shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when the
Notice is received.

     Section 8.07.  Waivers. The failure of any party to require strict 
                    -------                                             
performance by any other party of any provision in or rights and remedies with
respect to this Agreement shall not waive or diminish that party's right to
demand strict performance thereafter of that or any other provision hereof or
right or remedy.

     Section 8.08.  Amendments. After the execution of this Agreement by all
                    ----------                                               
parties, and solely to the extent that a change is desired by and restricted to
any two parties without affecting the licenses and rights of the third party
hereto, such two parties may separately amend in writing any provision of this
Agreement which governs the licenses and rights exchanged between them without
notifying the third party hereto. 

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
Except as expressly provided herein, this Agreement may be amended or
supplemented or its provisions waived only by an agreement in writing signed by
each of the parties.

     Section 8.09.  Assignment.
                    ---------- 
          (a) No party to this Agreement shall (i) consolidate with or merge
into any Person or permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into such
party (other than a merger or consolidation in which the party is the surviving
or continuing corporation), or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise
dispose of, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, all or
substantially all of its Assets, unless the resulting, surviving or transferee
Person expressly assumes, by instrument in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the other parties, all of the obligations of the party under
this Agreement.

          (b) Except as expressly provided in paragraph (a), neither this
Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be
assignable, directly or indirectly, by any party without the prior written
consent of the other parties, and any attempt to so assign without such consent
shall be void.

     Section 8.10.  Successors and Assigns. Subject to Section 8.08, this 
                    ----------------------                                
Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the successors and permitted assigns of the parties.

     Section 8.11.  Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the
                    -------------------------                                   
benefit of the parties and the members of their respective Groups and Affiliates
and their respective successors and assigns and should not be deemed to confer
upon third parties any remedy, claim, liability, right of reimbursement, cause
of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this
Agreement.

     Section 8.12.  Schedules. The Schedules shall be construed with and as an
                    ---------                                                  
integral part of this Agreement to the same extent as if they had been set forth
verbatim herein.

     Section 8.13.  Titles and Headings; Interpretation. Titles and headings to
                    -----------------------------------                         
sections herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not
intended to be part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement. References in this Agreement to any gender include references to all
genders, and references to the singular include references to the plural and
vice versa. The words "include," "includes" and "including" when used in this
Agreement shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation."
Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Agreement to Articles,
Sections, and Schedules to, this Agreement. Unless the context otherwise
requires, the words "hereof," "hereby" and "herein" and words of similar meaning
when used in this Agreement refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to
any particular Article, Section or provision of this Agreement.

     Section 8.14.  Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
                    -------------                                           
construed and enforced in accordance with, the Law of the State of Delaware
without regard to the principles of conflicts of Laws thereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. (S)(S)1-15,
shall govern the arbitration of Agreement Disputes.

     Section 8.15.  Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the
                    ------------                                            
application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined to be invalid,
void or unenforceable in any respect, the remaining provisions hereof, or the
application of such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those as to
which it has been held invalid, void or unenforceable, shall remain in full
force and effect and in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so
long as the economic or legal substance of the transaction contemplated hereby
is not affected in any manner adverse to any party.

     Section 8.16.  Subsidiaries. Each of the parties shall cause to be 
                    ------------                                        
performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and
obligations set forth herein to be performed by any Subsidiary of such party or
by any entity that is contemplated to be a Subsidiary of such party on and after
the Distribution Date.

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

                              VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.



                              By:  /s/ Robert A. Lemos
                                   --------------------------
                              Name      Robert A. Lemos
                              Title:    Vice President Finance and
                                        Chief Financial Officer

                              VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR
                              EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.



                              By:  /s/ Joseph B. Phair
                                   --------------------------
                              Name:     Joseph B. Phair
                              Title:    Secretary

                              VARIAN, INC.



                              By:  /s/ Arthur W. Homan
                                   --------------------------
                              Name:     Arthur W. Homan
                              Title:    Secretary

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT A
                                   ---------

1. For the purposes of the definition "Field of Health Care Systems," the
   product markets of the Health Care Systems Business are defined as those
   products, equipment, processes and services used in:
     (a)  human, animal and cellular diagnostic and therapeutic applications
          using fluxes of energetic particles, including protons, photons, and
          electrons, or using thermal or acoustic energy; or
     (b)  irradiation and imaging of objects with fluxes of electrons or photons
          for industrial, commercial and research uses;
   including, without limitation, applications within radiation oncology,
   radiotherapy, medical oncology, X-ray tube technology, vascular therapy, and
   imaging technology other than imaging by magnetic resonance phenomena. For
   the purposes of the definition "Field of Health Care Systems," the product
   markets for the Health Care Systems Business shall not include: (i) products
   or equipment used in the formation or measurement of pressures that are very
   low in relation to ambient; and (ii) products or equipment used in imaging
   and selective analysis through techniques of magnetic resonance phenomena or
   optical spectroscopy.

2. For the purposes of the definition "Field of Instruments Business," the
   product markets of the Instruments Business are defined as those products,
   equipment, processes and services used in:

     (a)  analytical studies of compositions of matter and magnetic fields;
     (b)  imaging and selective analysis through techniques of magnetic
          resonance phenomena or optical spectroscopy;
     (c)  design and fabrication of printed circuit boards and circuit assembly;
          or
     (d)  formation and measurement of pressures that are very low in relation
          to ambient;
   including, without limitation, applications within analytical chemistry,
   chromatographic sciences, vacuum technology, electronics manufacturing,
   magnetic resonance imaging and medical diagnostics.

3. For the purposes of the definition "Field of Semiconductor Equipment," the
   product markets of the Semiconductor Equipment Business are defined as those
   products, equipment, processes and services used in: 
     (a)  processing and manufacturing semiconductors; or
     (b)  modifying the properties of materials other than biological molecules
          using fluxes of ions;
  including, without limitation, applications in ion implantation. For the
  purposes of the definition "Field of Semiconductor Equipment," the product
  markets shall not include equipment or components used in the formation or
  measurement of pressures that are very low in relation to ambient.


                                      A-1

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                             TAX SHARING AGREEMENT

                                     among

                           VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.,

                VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

                                      and

                                 VARIAN, INC.
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                                        PAGE
<S>                                                                                                     <C> 
SECTION 1.    Definition of Terms...................................................................     1
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 2.    Allocation of Tax Liabilities.........................................................     7
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 3.    Proration of Taxes for Straddle Periods...............................................    10
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 4.    Tax Contests..........................................................................    10
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 5.    Tax Payments and Intercompany Billings................................................    14
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 6.    Preparation and Filing of Tax Returns.................................................    17
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 7.    Assistance and Cooperation............................................................    18
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 8.    Tax Records...........................................................................    19
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 9.    Effective Date; Termination of Prior Intercompany Tax Allocation Agreements...........    19
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 10.   No Inconsistent Actions...............................................................    19
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 11.   Survival of Obligations...............................................................    20
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 12.   Employee Matters......................................................................    20
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 13.   Treatment of Payments; Tax Gross Up...................................................    20
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 14.   Disagreements.........................................................................    21
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 15.   Late Payments.........................................................................    21
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 16.   Expenses..............................................................................    21
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 17.   Nonqualified Stock Options............................................................    21
                                                                                                                      
SECTION 18.   General Provisions....................................................................    21 
</TABLE> 

                                      -i-
<PAGE>
 
                             TAX SHARING AGREEMENT

          This Agreement is entered into as of April 2, 1999 by and among Varian
Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation, to be renamed Varian Medical Systems,
Inc. ("Varian" or "HCS"), Varian, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("IB"), and
Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("SEB").
Capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 1 below. Unless
otherwise indicated, all "Section" references in this Agreement are to sections
of this Agreement.

                                   RECITALS

          WHEREAS, as of the opening of business on the date hereof, Varian was
the common parent of an affiliated group of corporations, which has elected to
file consolidated Federal income tax returns; and

          WHEREAS, Varian has been engaged through various divisions in, among
other things, the Health Care Systems Business, the Instruments Business and the
Semiconductor Equipment Business; and

          WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Varian has determined that the
interests of its businesses would be best served by separating its business into
three separate companies, one consisting of the Health Care Systems Business,
one consisting of the Instruments Business, and one consisting of the
Semiconductor Equipment Business; and

          WHEREAS, as set forth in the Amended and Restated Distribution
Agreement dated as of January 14, 1999, and subject to the terms and conditions
thereof, Varian wishes (a) to transfer and assign to IB substantially all of the
assets of the Instruments Business, in exchange for (i) the assumption by IB of
substantially all the liabilities and obligations relating to the Instruments
Business, and (ii) the issuance to Varian by IB of shares of IB common stock,
and (b) to transfer and assign to SEB substantially all of the assets of the
Semiconductor Equipment Business, in exchange for (i) the assumption by SEB of
substantially all the liabilities and obligations relating to the Semiconductor
Equipment Business, and (ii) the issuance to Varian by SEB of shares of SEB
common stock, in transactions intended to be reorganizations under Section
368(a)(l)(D) of the Code; and

          WHEREAS, pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, Varian will
distribute all of the outstanding shares of common stock of IB and SEB to Varian
stockholders, in transactions intended to qualify as tax-free distributions
under Section 355 of the Code; and

          WHEREAS, as a result of the Distributions, IB and SEB, and their
respective subsidiaries, will cease to be members of the affiliated group of
which Varian is the common parent, effective as of the Distribution Date; and

          WHEREAS, as of the Distribution Date, Varian will be renamed Varian
Medical Systems, Inc.; and

          WHEREAS, the Companies desire to provide for and agree upon the
allocation between and among the parties of liabilities for Taxes arising prior
to, as a result of, and subsequent to the transactions contemplated by the
Distribution Agreement, and to provide for and agree upon other matters relating
to Taxes;

          NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained
herein, the Companies hereby agree as follows:

     SECTION 1. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Agreement (including
                -------------------
the recitals hereof), the following terms have the following meanings:

          "Accounting Cutoff Date" means, with respect to each of HCS, IB and
SEB, any date as of the end of which there is a closing of the financial
accounting records for such entity.
<PAGE>
 
          "Adjustment" means the deemed increase or decrease in a Tax,
determined on an issue-by-issue or transaction-by-transaction basis, as
appropriate, and using the assumptions set forth in the next sentence, resulting
from an adjustment made or proposed by a Tax Authority with respect to any
amount reflected or required to be reflected on any Tax Return. For purposes of
determining such deemed increase or decrease in a Tax, the following assumptions
will be used: (a) in the case of any Income Tax, the highest marginal Tax rate,
or, in the case of any other Tax, the highest applicable Tax rate, in each case
in effect with respect to that Tax for the Tax Period or any portion of the Tax
Period to which the adjustment relates, shall apply; and (b) such determination
shall be made without regard to whether any actual increase or decrease in such
Tax will in fact be realized with respect to the Tax Return to which such
adjustment relates.

          "Adjustment Request" means any formal or informal claim or request
filed with any Tax Authority, or with any administrative agency or court, for
the adjustment, refund, or credit of Taxes, including (a) any amended Tax return
claiming adjustment to the Taxes as reported on the Tax Return or, if
applicable, as previously adjusted, or (b) any claim for refund or credit of
Taxes previously paid, except for any claim for refund or credit arising from a
carryback of an item from a Post-Distribution Period.

          "Affiliate" means any entity that directly or indirectly is
"controlled" by the person or entity in question.  "Control" means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through ownership
of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.  Except as otherwise provided
herein, the term Affiliate shall refer to Affiliates of a person as determined
immediately after the Distributions.

          "Agreement" means this Tax Sharing Agreement.

          "Business"  means any one of the Health Care Systems Business, the
Instruments Business, or the Semiconductor Equipment Business.

          "Carryback" means any net operating loss, net capital loss, excess tax
credit, or other similar Tax item which may or must be carried from one Tax
Period to another Tax Period under the Code or other applicable Tax Law.

          "Closing Balance Sheet" means the HCS Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet,
the IB Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet, or the SEB Adjusted Closing Balance
Sheet, as the case may be.

          "Code" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or any successor law.

          "Companies" means HCS, IB, and SEB, collectively, and "Company" means
any one of HCS, IB or SEB.

          "Consolidated or Combined Income Tax" means any Income Tax computed by
reference to the assets and activities of members of more than one Group.

          "Consolidated or Combined State Income Tax" means any State Income Tax
computed by reference to the assets and activities of members of more than one
Group.

          "Consolidated Return" means any Tax Return with respect to any
Consolidated or Combined Income Tax.

          "Consolidated Tax Liability" means, with respect to any Varian Federal
Consolidated Return, the "tax liability of the group" as that term is used in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.1552-1(a)(1) (including applicable interest,
additions to the tax, additional amounts, and penalties as provided in the
Code), provided that such tax liability shall be treated as including any
alternative minimum tax liability under Code Section 55.

          "Controlling Party" means HCS or any other member of the Health Care
Systems Group, IB or

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
any other member of the Instruments Group or SEB or any other member of the
Semiconductor Equipment Group, as the case may be, that filed or, if no such Tax
Return has been filed, was required to file, a Tax Return that is the subject of
any Tax Contest, or any successor and/or assign of any of the foregoing;
provided, however, that in the case of any Consolidated Return, the person that
actually filed such Consolidated Return (or any successor and/or assign of such
person) will be the Controlling Party. For purposes of this Agreement, each of
HCS, IB or SEB may act as the Controlling Party with respect to all matters for
which one of their Affiliates is the Controlling Party (e.g., for purposes of
providing notices and receiving payments hereunder).

          "Correlative Adjustment" means, in the case of an Adjustment, the net
present value of any future increases or decreases in a Tax that would be
realized, using the assumptions set forth in the next sentence, by any member of
the Health Care Systems Group, the Instruments Group, or the Semiconductor
Equipment Group, as the case may be, in one or more Tax Periods (or any portion
of a Tax Period) but only if such increases or decreases are a direct result of
such an Adjustment to that Tax. For purposes of determining the net present
value of any such future increases or decreases in a Tax, the following
assumptions will be used: (i) a discount rate equal to the sum of the Prime Rate
as of the date of the recomputation of Tax or the Final Determination relating
to such Adjustment plus 2.0%; (ii) in the case of any Income Tax, the highest
marginal Tax rate, or, in the case of any other Tax, the highest applicable Tax
rate, in each case in effect with respect to that Tax for the Tax Period, or
portion of the Tax Period, in which the Adjustment was made; (iii) the
depreciation, amortization or credit rate or lives, if applicable, in effect for
the Tax Period, or portion of the Tax Period, in which the Adjustment was made;
and (iv) such determination shall be made without regard to whether any actual
increases or decreases in such Tax will in fact be realized with respect to the
future Tax Returns to which such Correlative Adjustment relates.

          "Disputed Adjustment" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(b).

          "Distribution Agreement" means the agreement, as amended from time to
time, setting forth the transactions required to effect the transfer of the
Transferred Businesses to IB and SEB and the distribution to the holders of
Varian common shares of all of the common shares of  SEB and IB, and to which a
form of this Tax Sharing Agreement is attached as an exhibit.

          "Distribution Date" means the Distribution Date, as that term is
defined in the Distribution Agreement.

          "Distributions" means the SEB Distribution and the IB Distribution, as
such terms are defined in the Distribution Agreement.

          "Federal Income Tax" means any Tax imposed by Subtitle A or F of the
Code.

          "Final Determination" means the final resolution of liability for any
Tax for any Tax Period, including any related interest or penalties, by or as a
result of:  (i) a final and unappealable decision, judgment, decree or other
order by any court of competent jurisdiction; (ii) a closing agreement or
accepted offer in compromise under Code Section 7121 or 7122, or comparable
agreement under the laws of other jurisdictions which resolves the entire Tax
liability for any Tax Period; (iii) any allowance of a refund or credit in
respect of an overpayment of Tax, but only after the expiration of all periods
during which such refund may be recovered by the jurisdiction imposing the Tax;
or (iv) any other final disposition, including by reason of the expiration of
the applicable statute of limitations.

          "Foreign Income Tax" means any Tax imposed by any foreign country or
any possession of the United States, or by any political subdivision of any
foreign country or United States possession, which is an income tax as defined
in Treasury Regulation Section 1.901-2.

          "Group" means the Health Care Systems Group, the Instruments Group,
and the Semiconductor Equipment Group, as the context requires.

          "HCS Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet" means the HCS Adjusted Closing
Balance Sheet as that term is defined in the Distribution Agreement.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
          "Health Care Systems Business" means the Health Care Systems Business,
as that term is defined in the Distribution Agreement.

          "HCS" means Varian Medical Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and
any successor.

          "Health Care Systems Group" means HCS and its Affiliates, excluding
any entity that is a member of the Semiconductor Equipment Group or the
Instruments Group.

          "IB Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet" means the IB Adjusted Closing
Balance Sheet as that term is defined in the Distribution Agreement.

          "IB Distribution" means the IB Distribution, as that term is defined
in the Distribution Agreement.

          "Income Tax" means any Federal Income Tax, State Income Tax, or
Foreign Income Tax.

          "Indemnified Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.06(d).

          "Indemnifying Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.06(d).

          "Independent Auditors" means the Independent Auditors as that term is
defined in the Distribution Agreement.

          "Independent Third Party" means a nationally recognized law firm or
any of the following "Big Five" accounting firms or their successors: Arthur
Andersen LLP, Ernst & Young LLP, KPMG Peat Marwick, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

          "Initial Determination" has the meaning set forth in Section
4.05(b)(i).

          "IB" means Varian, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor.

          "Instruments Business" means the Instruments Business, as that term is
defined in the Distribution Agreement.

          "Instruments Group" means IB and its Affiliates as determined
immediately after the Distributions.

          "Interested Party" means HCS or any other member of the Health Care
Systems Group, IB or any other member of the Instruments Group or SEB or any
other member of the Semiconductor Equipment Group (including any successor
and/or assign of any of each of the foregoing), as the case may be, to the
extent (a) such Person is not the Controlling Party with respect to a Tax
Contest; and (b) such Person (i) may be liable for, or required to make, any
indemnity payment, reimbursement or other payment pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement with respect to such Tax Contest; or (ii) may be entitled to
receive any indemnity payment, reimbursement or other payment pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement with respect to such Tax Contest; provided,
however, that in no event shall a member of either the Health Care Systems
Group, the Instruments Group or the Semiconductor Equipment Group, as the case
may be, be an Interested Party in a Tax Contest in which another member of its
Group is the Controlling Party with respect to the Tax Contest.

          "Interested Party Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section
4.04(b).

          "IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

          "Payment Date" means (i) with respect to any Varian Federal
Consolidated Return, the due date for any required installment of estimated
taxes determined under Code Section 6655, the due date (determined without
regard to extensions) for filing the return determined under Code Section 6072,
and the date the return is

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
filed, and (ii) with respect to any Tax Return for any Consolidated or Combined
State Income Tax, the corresponding dates determined under the applicable Tax
Law.

          "Post-Distribution Period" means any Tax Period beginning after the
Distribution Date, and, in the case of any Straddle Period, the portion of such
Straddle Period beginning the day after the Distribution Date.

          "Pre-Distribution Consolidated Tax Liability" means Consolidated Tax
Liability with respect to all Tax Periods ending on or prior to the Distribution
Date and in the case of the Tax Period which includes the Distribution Date, the
Consolidated Tax Liability computed as if the Distribution Date were the last
day of the Tax Period.

          "Pre-Distribution Period" means any Tax Period ending on or before the
Distribution Date, and, in the case of any Straddle Period, the portion of such
Straddle Period ending on the Distribution Date.

          "Prime Rate" means the base rate on corporate loans charged by
Citibank, N.A., New York, New York from time to time, compounded daily on the
basis of a year of 365 or 366 (as applicable) days and actual days elapsed.

          "Prior Intercompany Tax Allocation Agreements" means any written or
oral agreement or any other arrangements relating to allocation of Taxes
existing between or among members of the Health Care Systems Group, the
Instruments Group, and the Semiconductor Equipment Group as of the Distribution
Date (other than this Agreement and other than any such agreement or arrangement
between or among persons who are members of a single Group).

          "Responsible Company" means, with respect to any Tax Return, the
Company having responsibility for preparing and filing such Tax Return under
this Agreement.

          "Restructuring Tax" means the Income Taxes described in Section
2.05(a) (relating to Tax resulting from any income or gain recognized as a
result of the Transactions).

          "Ruling Request" means the letter filed by Varian with the Internal
Revenue Service requesting a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding
certain tax consequences of the Transactions (including all attachments,
exhibits, and other materials submitted with such ruling request letter) and any
amendment or supplement to such ruling request letter.

          "SEB Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet" means the SEB Adjusted Closing
Balance Sheet, as that term is defined in the Distribution Agreement.

          "SEB Distribution" means the SEB Distribution, as that term is defined
in the Distribution Agreement.

          "SEB" means Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, and any successor.

          "Semiconductor Equipment Business" means the Semiconductor Equipment
Business, as that term is defined in the Distribution Agreement.

          "Semiconductor Equipment Group" means SEB and its Affiliates as
determined immediately after the Distributions.

          "Separate Company Tax" means any Tax computed by reference to the
assets and activities of a member or members of a single Group.

          "Separation Committee" means the Separation Committee, as that term is
defined in the Distribution Agreement.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
          "Sharing Percentage" shall mean one-third for the Health Care Systems
Group, one-third for the Instruments Group, and one-third for the Semiconductor
Equipment Group.

          "Significant Obligation" means, in the case of an Interested Party,
and with respect to any Tax Detriment, an obligation to make or right to receive
any indemnity payment, reimbursement or other payment with respect to any such
Tax Detriment (including the effect of a Correlative Adjustment relating
thereto) pursuant to the terms of the Agreement that is greater than $1,000,000.

          "State Income Tax" means any Tax imposed by any State of the United
States or by any political subdivision of any such State which is imposed on or
measured by net income, including state and local franchise or similar Taxes
measured by net income.

          "Straddle Period" means any Tax Period that begins on or before and
ends after the Distribution Date.

          "Subsidiary" shall have the meaning provided in the Distribution
Agreement.

          "Tainting Act" shall have the meaning provided in Section 10.

          "Tax" or "Taxes" means any income, gross income, gross receipts,
profits, capital stock, franchise, withholding, payroll, social security,
workers compensation, unemployment, registration, disability, property, ad
valorem, stamp, excise, severance, occupation, service, sales, use, license,
lease, transfer, import, export, value added, alternative minimum, estimated or
other similar tax (including any fee, assessment, or other charge in the nature
of or in lieu of any tax) imposed by any governmental entity or political
subdivision thereof, and any interest, penalties, additions to tax, or
additional amounts in respect of the foregoing.

          "Tax Authority" means, with respect to any Tax, the governmental
entity or political subdivision thereof that imposes such Tax, and the agency
(if any) charged with the collection of such Tax for such entity or subdivision.

          "Tax Benefit" means, with respect to any Tax Period or portion of a
Tax Period, and as computed separately with respect to each Tax, the net
decrease in each such Tax equal to the sum of all Adjustments (including the
effect of any Correlative Adjustment relating thereto) with respect to each such
Tax for each such Tax Period or portion of a Tax Period.

          "Tax Contest" means an audit, review, examination, or any other
administrative or judicial proceeding with the purpose or effect of
redetermining Taxes of any of the Companies or their Affiliates (including any
administrative or judicial review of any claim for refund).

          "Tax Detriment" means, with respect to any Tax Period or portion of a
Tax Period, and as computed separately with respect to each Tax, the net
increase in such Tax equal to the sum of all Adjustments (including the effect
of any Correlative Adjustment relating thereto) with respect to each such Tax
for each such Tax Period or portion of a Tax Period.

          "Tax Item" means, with respect to any Income Tax, any item of income,
gain, loss, deduction, and credit.

          "Tax Law" means the law of any governmental entity or political
subdivision thereof relating to any Tax.

          "Tax Period" means, with respect to any Tax, the period for which the
Tax is reported as provided under the Code or other applicable Tax Law.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
          "Tax Records" means Tax Returns, Tax Return workpapers, documentation
relating to any Tax Contests, and any other books of account or records required
to be maintained under the Code or other applicable Tax Laws or under any record
retention agreement with any Tax Authority.

          "Tax Return" means any report of Taxes due, any claims for refund of
Taxes paid, any information return with respect to Taxes, or any other similar
report, statement, declaration, or document required to be filed under the Code
or other Tax Law, including any attachments, exhibits, or other materials
submitted with any of the foregoing, and including any amendments or supplements
to any of the foregoing.

          "Transaction Tax" means the Taxes described in Sections 2.05(a)
(relating to Tax incurred as a result of the Transactions), including any
Restructuring Tax.

          "Transactions" means the transactions contemplated by the Distribution
Agreement (including the Corporate Restructuring Transactions and Distributions,
as defined in the Distribution Agreement).

          "Transferred Instruments Business" means the Instruments Business
transferred to IB pursuant to the Distribution Agreement.

          "Transferred Semiconductor Equipment Business" means the Semiconductor
Equipment Business transferred to SEB pursuant to the Distribution Agreement.

          "Treasury Regulations" means the regulations promulgated from time to
time under the Code as in effect for the relevant Tax Period.

          "Ultimate Determination" has the meaning set forth in Section
4.05(b)(iii).

          "Varian Federal Consolidated Return" means any United States federal
Tax Return for the affiliated group (as that term is defined in Code Section
1504) that includes Varian  as the common parent and includes any member of the
Instruments Group or the Semiconductor Equipment Group.

     SECTION 2. Allocation of Tax Liabilities. The provisions of this Section 2
                -----------------------------  
are intended to determine each Company's liability for Taxes with respect to
Pre-Distribution Periods and Post-Distribution Periods. Once the liability has
been determined under this Section 2, Section 5 determines the time when payment
of the liability is to be made, and whether the payment is to be made to the Tax
Authority directly or to another Company.

     2.01.  General Rule.
            ------------ 

            (a)  HCS Liability. Health Care Systems shall be liable for, and
                 ------------- 
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Semiconductor Equipment Group and the
Instruments Group from and against any liability for Taxes, which are HCS's
responsibility or which are allocated to HCS under this Section 2.

            (b)  IB Liability. IB shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and
                 ------------
hold harmless the Semiconductor Equipment Group and the Health Care Systems
Group from and against any liability for Taxes, which are Instrument's
responsibility or are allocated to IB under this Section 2.

            (c)  SEB Liability. SEB shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and
                 ------------- 
hold harmless the Health Care Systems Group and the Instruments Group from and
against any liability for Taxes, which are SEB's responsibility or are allocated
to SEB under this Section 2.

     2.02.  Responsibilities for United States Federal Income Tax.  Except as
            -----------------------------------------------------            
otherwise provided in this Agreement:

            (a)  HCS. HCS (i) shall be responsible for all Pre-Distribution
                 ---
Consolidated Tax Liability, and (ii) shall be entitled to all refunds with
respect thereto; provided, that HCS shall be responsible for or shall be

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
entitled to HCS's Sharing Percentage with respect to any Tax Benefit or Tax
Detriment resulting from any Adjustment with respect thereto.

           (b)   IB. IB shall be responsible for or shall be entitled to
                 --         
Instrument's Sharing Percentage of any Tax Benefit or Tax Detriment resulting
from any Adjustment with respect to any Pre-Distribution Consolidated Tax
Liability.

           (c)   SEB. SEB shall be responsible for or shall be entitled to SEB's
                 ---
Sharing Percentage of any Tax Benefit or Tax Detriment resulting from any
Adjustment with respect to any Pre-Distribution Consolidated Tax Liability.

     2.03. Allocation of State Income Taxes. Except as otherwise provided in
           --------------------------------
this Agreement, State Income Taxes shall be allocated as follows:

           (a)   Separate Company Taxes. In the case of any State Income Tax
                 ----------------------
which is a Separate Company Tax that is apportioned under this Agreement to a
Pre-Distribution Period, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, HCS (i)
shall be liable (A) to IB for such Tax imposed on any member of the Instruments
Group, and (B) to SEB for such Tax imposed on any member of the Semiconductor
Equipment Group, and (ii) shall be entitled to all refunds with respect thereto;
provided, that HCS shall be responsible for or shall be entitled to HCS's
Sharing Percentage with respect to any Tax Benefit or Tax Detriment resulting
from any Adjustment with respect thereto. IB shall be responsible for or shall
be entitled to Instrument's Sharing Percentage of any Tax Benefit or Tax
Detriment resulting from any Adjustment with respect to any Separate Company Tax
that is apportioned under this Agreement to a Pre-Distribution Period. SEB shall
be responsible for or shall be entitled to SEB's Sharing Percentage of any Tax
Benefit or Tax Detriment resulting from any Adjustment with respect to any
Separate Company Tax that is apportioned under this Agreement to a Pre-
Distribution Period and shall be entitled to SEB's Sharing Percentage of any Tax
Benefit with respect thereto.

           (b)   Consolidated or Combined State Income Taxes.
                 ------------------------------------------- 

                 (i)   Allocation of Tax Reported on Tax Returns Filed After the
                       ---------------------------------------------------------
           Distribution Date. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
           -----------------
           any Consolidated or Combined State Income Tax that is apportioned
           under this Agreement to a Pre-Distribution Period shall be allocated
           to the Health Care Systems Group.

                 (ii)  Allocation of Combined or Consolidated State Income Tax 
                       -------------------------------------------------------
           Adjustments. HCS, IB and SEB shall each be responsible for or shall
           -----------   
           be entitled to their respective Sharing Percentages of any Tax
           Benefit or Tax Detriment resulting from any Adjustment relating to
           Consolidated or Combined State Income Tax reported on any Tax Return
           (or as previously adjusted) that is apportioned under this Agreement
           to a Pre-Distribution Period.

     2.04. Allocation of Foreign Income Taxes and Other Taxes. Except as
           --------------------------------------------------
provided in Sections 2.05 and 2.07, all Taxes (including without limitation any
Foreign Income Taxes and any Taxes with respect to Post-Distribution Periods)
other than those specifically allocated pursuant to Sections 2.02 through 2.04
shall be allocated based on the legal entity on which the legal incidence of the
Tax is imposed; provided, however, that (x) the amounts of any such Taxes (other
than Income Taxes) specifically related to the business and assets transferred
by Varian to SEB in the Transactions (the "Transferred Semiconductor Equipment
Businesses") and which are accrued on the SEB Adjusted Closing Balance Sheet
shall be allocated to SEB and the amounts of any such Taxes specifically related
to the business and assets transferred by Varian to IB in the Transactions (the
"Transferred Instruments Business") and which are accrued on the IB Adjusted
Closing Balance Sheet shall be allocated to IB, and (y) each of the Companies
shall be entitled to or shall be responsible for its respective Sharing
Percentage with respect to any Tax Benefit or Tax Detriment resulting from any
Adjustment with respect to any such Taxes (other than customs duties described
in the immediately succeeding clause (z)), and (z) any underpayments,
Adjustments, overpayments, refunds or drawbacks of customs duties shall be
allocated to the Company whose Business bore such duties, in accordance with
Varian's historical practices for allocating duties and duty drawbacks among the
Businesses. Subject to the proviso in the preceding sentence, as between the
parties to this Agreement, HCS shall be liable for all Taxes imposed on any
member of the Health Care Systems Group, SEB shall be liable for all Taxes

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
imposed on any member of the Semiconductor Equipment Group and IB shall be
liable for all Taxes imposed on any member of the Instruments Group. The
Companies believe that there is no Tax not specifically allocated pursuant to
Sections 2.02 through 2.04 relating to Pre-Distribution Periods which is legally
imposed on more than one legal entity or is not solely allocable to the
Transferred Semiconductor Equipment Businesses or the Transferred Instruments
Business (e.g., joint and several liability); however, if there is any such Tax,
it shall be allocated in accordance with past practices as reasonably determined
by the affected Companies, or in the absence of such practices, in accordance
with any allocation method agreed upon by the affected Companies.

     2.05.  Transaction Taxes.
            -----------------
 
            (a)  HCS Liability. Except as otherwise provided in this Section
                 -------------
2.05 or Section 2.07, all Taxes resulting from the Transactions ("Transaction
Tax"), including:

                 (i)    any sales and use, gross receipts, or other transfer
            Taxes, or any Foreign Income Taxes, imposed on the transfers
            occurring pursuant to the Transactions;

                 (ii)   any Tax resulting from any income or gain recognized
            under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1502-13 or 1.1502-19 (or any
            corresponding provisions of other applicable Tax Laws of the United
            States or any political subdivision thereof) as a result of the
            Transactions; and

                 (iii)  any Tax resulting from any income or gain recognized as
            a result of any of the Transactions contemplated by the Distribution
            Agreement failing to qualify for tax-free treatment under Code
            Sections 332, 351, 355, 361, or other provisions of the Code (as
            contemplated in the Ruling Request) or other applicable Tax Laws of
            the United States or any political subdivision thereof;

shall be allocated based on the legal entity on which the legal incidence of the
Tax is imposed; provided, however, that except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement each of the Companies shall be entitled to or shall be responsible for
its respective Sharing Percentage  with respect to any Tax Benefit or Tax
Detriment resulting from any Adjustment with respect thereto.  For purposes of
this Section 2.05(a), the legal incidence of any Income Tax shall be determined
without regard for Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or corresponding
provisions of other Tax Laws.

            (b)  Indemnity for Inconsistent Acts. IB shall be liable for, and
                 -------------------------------
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Health Care Systems Group and the
Semiconductor Equipment Group from and against any liability for, any
Restructuring Tax to the extent arising from any breach of Instrument's
representations or covenants under Section 10 or any Tainting Act by IB or its
Affiliates. SEB shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Health Care Systems Group and the Instruments Group from and against any
liability for, any Restructuring Tax to the extent arising from any breach of
SEB's representations or covenants under Section 10 or any Tainting Act by SEB
or its Affiliates. HCS shall be liable for and shall indemnify and hold harmless
the Semiconductor Equipment Group and the Instruments Group from and against any
liability for, any Restructuring Tax to the extent arising from any breach of
HCS's representations or covenants under Section 10 or any Tainting Act by HCS
or its Affiliates.

     2.06.  Tax Detriments and Benefits. In the case of any Adjustment for any
            ---------------------------   
Pre-Period or with respect to any Transaction Tax, each Group's liability for,
and/or right to receive, the amount of any resulting Tax Detriment or Tax
Benefit, as the case may be, shall be determined on a jurisdiction-by-
jurisdiction basis such that each Group bears its respective Sharing Percentage
of such Tax Detriment or Tax Benefit; provided, however, that in the event that
there is any Correlative Adjustment with respect to any such Tax Detriment or
Tax Benefit, then the Health Care Systems Group, the Instruments Group, and the
Semiconductor Equipment Group shall share such Tax Detriment or Tax Benefit in
the following manner in order to ensure that the party or parties that will bear
the burden or receive the benefit of the Correlative Adjustment in the future
will share the Tax Detriment or Tax Benefit in proportion to each of their
respective Sharing Percentages after giving effect to such Correlative
Adjustment:

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                  (i)    first, the amount of any such Tax Detriment or Tax
            Benefit shall be increased or decreased, as appropriate, by the
            amount of the Correlative Adjustment, the net amount resulting from
            such increase or decrease being hereinafter referred to as the "Net
            Adjustment" for purposes of this Section 2.06;

                  (ii)   second, the Net Adjustment shall be allocated among the
            Health Care Systems Group, the Instruments Group, and the
            Semiconductor Equipment Group in proportion to their respective
            Sharing Percentages, taking into account the extent each party is
            liable for and/or has an obligation to make, or has the right to
            receive, as the case may be, any payment to any Tax Authority or any
            indemnity payment, reimbursement, or other payment with respect to
            such Tax Detriment or Tax Benefit under this Agreement; and

                  (iii)  finally, with respect to a party to which a Correlative
            Adjustment is attributable, that party's share of the Net Adjustment
            as allocated pursuant to paragraph (ii) of this Section 2.06 will be
            increased or decreased, as appropriate, by the amount, if any, of
            the Correlative Adjustment that is attributable to such party in
            order to determine the amount of such party's share of the Tax
            Detriment or Tax Benefit.

     2.07.  Unanticipated Tax Amounts. In the event that for any Group, (a)
            -------------------------
Taxes shown as due on the initial Tax Returns filed with respect to any Taxes
(or, in the case of Taxes that do not require the filing of a Tax Return, the
amounts paid with respect to such Tax), in each case relating to Tax Periods or
portions of Tax Periods ending on or before the Distribution Date, exceed (b)
the aggregate amounts accrued with respect thereto on the Closing Balance Sheet
for that Group (such excess an "Unanticipated Tax Amount"), by more than
$1,000,000, the Company heading such Group may propose a sharing of the
Unanticipated Tax Amount among the three Companies. If the affected Companies do
not agree on a resolution, such proposal shall be referred to the Separation
Committee under the procedures set forth in Section 9.01 of the Distribution
Agreement. If the Separation Committee is not able to resolve the dispute within
30 days, the matter shall be treated as a balance sheet dispute and submitted to
the Independent Auditors under the provisions of Section 9.03(b) of the
Distribution Agreement.

     SECTION 3.  Proration of Taxes for Straddle Periods.
                 --------------------------------------- 

     3.01.  General Method of Proration. In the case of any Straddle Period, Tax
            ---------------------------   
Items shall be apportioned between Pre-Distribution Periods and Post-
Distribution Periods in accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.1502-76(b) as reasonably interpreted and applied by the Companies. No
election shall be made under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-76(b)(2)(ii)
(relating to ratable allocation of a year's items). If the Distribution Date is
not an Accounting Cutoff Date, the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section
1.1502-76(b)(2)(iii) will be applied to ratably allocate the items (other than
extraordinary items) for the month which includes the Distribution Date.

     3.02.  Transaction Treated as Extraordinary Item.  In determining the
            -----------------------------------------                     
apportionment of Tax Items between Pre-Distribution Periods and Post-
Distribution Periods, any Tax Item relating to the Transactions shall be treated
as an extraordinary item described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-
76(b)(2)(ii)(C) and shall be allocated to Pre-Distribution Periods, and any
Taxes related to such items shall be treated under Treasury Regulation Section
1.1502-76(b)(2)(iv) as relating to such extraordinary item and shall be
allocated to Pre-Distribution Periods.

     SECTION 4.  Tax Contests.
                 ------------ 

     4.01.  Notification Of Tax Contests.  The Controlling Party shall promptly
            ----------------------------                                       
notify all Interested Parties of (a) the commencement of any Tax Contest
pursuant to which such Interested Parties may be required to make or entitled to
receive an indemnity payment, reimbursement or other payment under this
Agreement; and (b) as required and specified in Section 4.04 hereof, any Final
Determination made with respect to any Tax Contest pursuant to which such
Interested Parties may be required to make or entitled to receive any indemnity
payment, reimbursement or other payment under this Agreement.  The failure of a
Controlling Party to promptly notify any Interested Party as specified in the
preceding sentence shall not relieve any such Interested Party of any liability
and/or obligation which it may have to the Controlling Party under this
Agreement except to the extent that the

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
Interested Party was materially prejudiced by such failure, and in no event
shall such failure relieve the Interested Party from any other liability or
obligation which it may have to such Controlling Party.

     4.02.  Tax Contest Settlement Rights. The Controlling Party shall have the
            -----------------------------
sole right to contest, litigate, compromise and settle any Adjustment that is
made or proposed in a Tax Contest without obtaining the prior consent of any
Interested Party; provided, however, that, unless waived by the parties in
writing, the Controlling Party shall, in connection with any proposed or
assessed Adjustment in a Tax Contest for which an Interested Party may be
required to make or entitled to receive an indemnity payment, reimbursement or
other payment under this Agreement (a) keep all such Interested Parties informed
in a timely manner of all actions taken or proposed to be taken by the
Controlling Party; and (b) provide all such Interested Parties with copies of
any correspondence or filings submitted to any Tax Authority or judicial
authority, in each case in connection with any contest, litigation, compromise
or settlement relating to any such Adjustment in a Tax Contest. The failure of a
Controlling Party to take any action as specified in the preceding sentence with
respect to an Interested Party shall not relieve any such Interested Party of
any liability and/or obligation which it may have to the Controlling Party under
this Agreement except to the extent that the Interested Party was materially
prejudiced by such failure, and in no event shall such failure relieve the
Interested Party from any other liability or obligation which it may have to
such Controlling Party. The Controlling Party may, in its sole discretion, take
into account any suggestions made by an Interested Party with respect to any
such contest, litigation, compromise or settlement of any Adjustment in a Tax
Contest. All costs of any Tax Contest are to be borne by the Controlling Party;
provided, however, that (x) all reasonable external costs incurred by the
Controlling Party in connection with any Tax Contest with respect to a Pre-
Distribution Period or with respect to any Restructuring Tax are to be shared
equally by HCS, SEB, and IB on an after-tax basis in the same manner as Tax
Detriments are shared under this Agreement, (y) any costs related to an
Interested Party's attendance at any meeting with a Tax Authority or hearing or
proceeding before any judicial authority pursuant to Section 4.03 hereof shall
be borne by such Interested Party, and (z) the costs of any legal or other
representatives retained by an Interested Party in connection with any Tax
Contest that is subject to the provisions of this Agreement shall be borne by
such Interested Party.

     4.03.  Tax Contest Participation. Unless waived by the parties in writing,
            -------------------------
the Controlling Party shall provide an Interested Party with written notice
reasonably in advance of, and such Interested Party shall have the right to
attend, any formally scheduled meetings with Tax Authorities or hearings or
proceedings before any judicial authorities in connection with any contest,
litigation, compromise or settlement of any proposed or assessed Adjustment that
is the subject of any Tax Contest pursuant to which such Interested Party may be
required to make or entitled to receive an indemnity payment, reimbursement or
other payment under this Agreement.  In addition, unless waived by the parties
in writing, the Controlling Party shall provide each such Interested Party with
draft copies of any correspondence or filings to be submitted to any Tax
Authority or judicial authority with respect to such Adjustments for such
Interested Party's review and comment.  The Controlling Party shall provide such
draft copies reasonably in advance of the date that they are to be submitted to
the Tax Authority or judicial authority and the Interested Party shall provide
its comments, if any, with respect thereto within in a reasonable time before
such submission.  The failure of a Controlling Party to provide any notice,
correspondence or filing as specified in this Section 4.03 to an Interested
Party shall not relieve any such Interested Party of any liability and/or
obligation which it may have to the Controlling Party under this Agreement
except to the extent that the Interested Party was materially prejudiced by such
failure, and in no event shall such failure relieve the Interested Party from
any other liability or obligation which it may have to such Controlling Party.

     4.04.  Tax Contest Waiver.
            ------------------
 
            (a)  The Controlling Party shall promptly provide written notice,
sent postage prepaid by United States mail, certified mail, return receipt
requested, to all Interested Parties in a Tax Contest (i) that a Final
Determination has been made with respect to such Tax Contest; and (ii)
enumerating the amount of the Interested Party's share of each Tax Benefit or
Tax Detriment reflected in such Final Determination of the Tax Contest for which
such Interested Party may be required to make or entitled to receive or has made
or been entitled to receive an indemnity payment, reimbursement or other payment
under this Agreement.

            (b)  Within ninety (90) days after an Interested Party receives the
notice described in Section 4.04(a) hereof from the Controlling Party, such
Interested Party shall execute a written statement giving notice to the
Controlling Party (i) that the Interested Party agrees with each Tax Benefit or
Tax Detriment (and its share thereof)

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
enumerated in the notice described in Section 4.04(a) hereof except with respect
to those Tax Benefits or Tax Detriments (and/or its shares thereof) that, in the
good faith judgment of the Interested Party, it disagrees with and has
specifically enumerated its disagreement with, including the amount of such
disagreement, in the statement (each such disagreed Tax Benefit or Tax Detriment
(and/or share thereof) hereinafter referred to as a "Disputed Adjustment"); and
(ii) that the Interested Party thereby waives it right to a determination by an
Independent Third Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.05 hereof with
respect to all Tax Benefits or Tax Detriments to which it agrees with its share
(this statement hereinafter referred to as the "Interested Party Notice"). The
failure of an Interested Party to provide the Interested Party Notice to the
Controlling Party within the ninety (90) day period specified in the preceding
sentence shall be deemed to indicate that such Interested Party agrees with its
share of all Tax Benefits or Tax Detriments enumerated in the notice described
in Section 4.04(a) hereof and that such Interested Party waives it right to a
determination by an Independent Third Party with respect to all such Tax
Benefits or Tax Detriments (and its shares thereof) pursuant to Section 4.05
hereof.

             (c)   During the ninety (90) day period immediately following the
Controlling Party's receipt of the Interested Party Notice described in Section
4.04(b) above, the Controlling Party and the Interested Party shall in good
faith confer with each other to resolve any disagreement over each Disputed
Adjustment that was specifically enumerated in such Interested Party Notice. At
the end of the ninety (90) day period specified in the preceding sentence,
unless otherwise extended in writing by the mutual consent of the parties, the
Interested Party shall be deemed to agree with all Disputed Adjustments that
were specifically enumerated in the Interested Party Notice and waive its right
to a determination by an Independent Third Party pursuant to Section 4.05 hereof
with respect to all such Disputed Adjustments unless, and to the extent, that at
any time during such ninety (90) day (or extended) period, either the
Controlling Party or the Interested Party has given the other party written
notice that it is seeking a determination by an Independent Third Party pursuant
to Section 4.05 hereof regarding the propriety of any such Disputed Adjustment.

             (d)   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
an Interested Party that does not have a Significant Obligation with respect to
a Tax Detriment relating to a Final Determination has no right to a
determination by an Independent Third Party under Section 4.05 hereof with
respect to any Disputed Adjustment relating to such Final Determination, and any
such Disputed Adjustment shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 14.

     4.05.   Tax Contest Dispute Resolution.
             ------------------------------ 

             (a)   In the event that either a Controlling Party or an Interested
Party has given the other party written notice as required in Section 4.04(c)
hereof that it is seeking a determination by an Independent Third Party pursuant
to this Section 4.05 with respect to any Disputed Adjustment that was enumerated
in an Interested Party Notice, then the parties shall, within thirty (30) days
after a party has received such notice, jointly select an Independent Third
Party to make such determination. In the event that the parties cannot jointly
agree on an Independent Third Party to make such determination within such
thirty (30) day period, then the Controlling Party and the Interested Party
shall each immediately select an Independent Third Party and the Independent
Third Parties so selected by the parties shall jointly select, within twenty
(20) days of their selection, another Independent Third Party to make such
determination.

             (b)   In making its determination as to the propriety of any
Disputed Adjustment, the Independent Third Party selected pursuant to Section
4.05(a) above shall assume that the Interested Party is not required or entitled
under applicable law to be a member of any Consolidated Return. In addition, the
Independent Third Party shall make its determination according to the following
procedure:

                   (i)    The Independent Third Party shall first analyze each
             Disputed Adjustment for which a determination is sought pursuant to
             this Section 4.05 on a stand-alone basis to determine whether the
             actual outcome reached with respect to such Disputed Adjustment as
             reflected in the Final Determination of the Tax Contest was fair
             and appropriate taking into account the following exclusive
             criteria: (A) the facts relating to such Adjustment; (B) the
             applicable law, if any, with respect to such Adjustment; (C) the
             position of the applicable Tax Authority with respect to
             compromise, settlement or litigation of such Adjustment; (D) the
             strength of the factual and legal arguments made by the Controlling
             Party in reaching the outcome with respect to such Adjustment

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
             as reflected in the Final Determination of the Tax Contest; and (E)
             the strength of the factual and legal arguments being made by the
             Interested Party for the alternative outcome being asserted by such
             Interested Party (including the availability of facts, information
             and documentation to support such alternative outcome). Based on
             this analysis, the Independent Third Party shall determine what is
             the fair and appropriate outcome (hereinafter referred to as the
             "Initial Determination") with respect to each such Disputed
             Adjustment.

                   (ii)   The Interested Party shall not be entitled to
             modification of its share of a Disputed Adjustment under this
             Section 4.05 if, as the case may be, either (A) the amount that
             would be paid by the Interested Party under the Initial
             Determination with respect to such Disputed Adjustment is 80% or
             more than the amount that would be paid by the Interested Party
             with respect to such Disputed Adjustment under the actual outcome
             reached with respect to such Disputed Adjustment; or (B) the amount
             that would be received by the Interested Party under the Initial
             Determination with respect to such Disputed Adjustment is 120% or
             less than the amount that the Interested Party would receive with
             respect to such Disputed Adjustment under the actual outcome
             reached with respected to such Disputed Adjustment. The Independent
             Third Party will provide notice to the Controlling Party and the
             Interested Party in the event the Interested Party is not entitled
             to modification of its share of the Disputed Adjustment pursuant to
             this paragraph (ii).

                   (iii)  If the modification of an Interested Party's share of
             a Disputed Adjustment under this Section 4.05 is not prohibited
             pursuant to paragraph (ii) above, then the Independent Third Party
             shall determine what is the fair and appropriate outcome
             (hereinafter referred to as the "Ultimate Determination") to the
             Interested Party with respect to such Disputed Adjustment in the
             context of the entire Tax Contest as it relates to the Interested
             Party. In making this determination, the Independent Third Party
             shall consider the Disputed Adjustment as if it were raised in an
             independent audit of the Interested Party by the appropriate Tax
             Authority and the Independent Third Party shall take into account
             and give appropriate weight in its sole discretion to the following
             exclusive criteria: (A) the strength of the legal and factual
             support for other potential, non-frivolous Adjustments with respect
             to matters that were actually raised and contested by the
             applicable Tax Authority in the Tax Contest for which the
             Interested Party could have been liable under this Agreement but
             which were eliminated or reduced as a result of the Controlling
             Party agreeing to the Disputed Adjustment as reflected in the Final
             Determination of the Tax Contest; (B) the effect of the actual
             outcome reached with respect to the Disputed Adjustment on other
             Tax Periods and on other positions taken or proposed to be taken in
             Returns filed or proposed to be filed by the Interested Party; (C)
             the realistic possibility of avoiding examination of potential, 
             non-frivolous issues for which the Interested Party could be liable
             under this Agreement and that were contemporaneously identified in
             writings by the party or parties during the course of the Tax
             Contest but which had not been raised and contested by the
             applicable Tax Authority in the Tax Contest; and (D) the benefits
             to the Interested Party in reaching a Final Determination, and the
             strategy and rationale with respect to the Interested Party's
             Disputed Adjustment that the Controlling Party had for agreeing to
             such Disputed Adjustment in reaching the Final Determination, in
             each case that were contemporaneously identified in writings by the
             party or parties during the course of the Tax Contest.

                   (iv)   The Interested Party shall only be entitled to
             modification of its share of a Disputed Adjustment under this
             Section 4.05 if, as the case may be, either (A) the amount that
             would be paid by the Interested Party under the Ultimate
             Determination with respect to such Disputed Adjustment is less than
             80% of the amount that would be paid by the Interested Party with
             respect to such Disputed Adjustment under the actual outcome
             reached with respect to such Disputed Adjustment; or (B) the amount
             that would be received by the Interested Party under the Ultimate
             Determination with respect to such Disputed Adjustment is more than
             120% of the amount that the Interested Party would receive with
             respect to such Disputed Adjustment under the actual outcome
             reached with respected to such Disputed Adjustment. If an
             Interested Party is entitled to modification of its share of any
             Disputed Adjustment under the preceding sentence, the amount the
             Interested Party is entitled to receive, or is required to pay, as
             the case may be, with respect to such Disputed Adjustment shall be
             equal to the amount of the Ultimate Determination

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
             of such Disputed Adjustment. The Independent Third Party will
             provide notice to the Controlling Party and the Interested Party
             stating whether the Interested Party is entitled to modification of
             its share of the Disputed Adjustment pursuant to this paragraph
             (iv) and, if the Interested Party is entitled to such modification,
             the amount as determined in the preceding sentence that the
             Interested Party is entitled to receive from, or required to pay
             to, the Controlling Party with respect to such Disputed Adjustment.

             (c)   Any determination made or notice given by an Independent
Third Party pursuant to this Section 4.05 shall be (i) in writing; (ii) made
within ninety (90) days following the selection of the Independent Third Party
as set forth in Section 4.05(a) of this Agreement unless such period is
otherwise extended by the mutual consent of the parties; and (iii) final and
binding upon the parties. The costs of any Independent Third Party retained
pursuant to this Section 4.05 shall be shared equally by the parties. The
Controlling Party and the Interested Party shall provide the Independent Third
Party jointly selected pursuant to Section 4.05(a) hereof with such information
or documentation as may be appropriate or necessary in order for such
Independent Third Party to make the determination requested of it. Upon issuance
of an Independent Third Party's notice under Section 4.05(b)(ii) or Section
4.05(b)(iv) hereof, the Controlling Party or the Interested Party, as the case
may be, shall pay as specified in Section 5 of this Agreement, the amount, if
any, of the Disputed Adjustment to the appropriate party.

     SECTION 5.    Tax Payments and Intercompany Billings.
                   -------------------------------------- 

     5.01.   Payment of Taxes With Respect to Varian Federal Consolidated
             ------------------------------------------------------------
Returns Filed After the Distribution Date. In the case of any Varian Federal
- -----------------------------------------
Consolidated Return the due date for which (including extensions) is after the
Distribution Date, HCS shall compute and pay the Tax required to be paid to the
IRS (taking into account the requirements of Section 6.03, relating to
consistent accounting practices) with respect to such Tax Return.

     5.02.   Payment of State Income Tax Relating to Pre-Distribution Periods
             ----------------------------------------------------------------
With Respect to Returns Filed After the Distribution Date.
- --------------------------------------------------------- 

             (a)   Computation and Payment of Tax Due. At least ten business
                   ----------------------------------
days prior to any Payment Date for any Tax Return with respect to any State
Income Tax relating to a Pre-Distribution Period, the Responsible Company shall
compute the amount of Tax required to be paid to the applicable Tax Authority
(taking into account the requirements of Section 6.03, relating to consistent
accounting practices) with respect to such Tax Return on such Payment Date and

                   (i)   If such Tax Return is with respect to a Consolidated or
             Combined State Income Tax, HCS will pay such amount to such Tax
             Authority on or before such Payment Date.

                   (ii)  If such Tax Return is with respect to a Separate
             Company Tax, the Responsible Company shall, if it is not the
             Company liable for the Tax reported on such Tax Return, notify the
             Company liable for such Tax in writing of the amount of Tax
             required to be paid on such Payment Date. The Company liable for
             such Tax will pay such amount to such Tax Authority on or before
             such Payment Date.

     5.03.   Payment of Other Taxes.  Each Company shall pay, or shall cause to
             ---------------------
be paid, to the applicable Tax Authority when due all Separate Company Taxes,
Foreign Income Taxes, and Other Taxes owed by such Company or a member of such
Company's Group.

     5.04.   Tax Payments for Account of Other Party.
             --------------------------------------- 

             (a)   If any Company (the "payor") is required to pay to a Tax
Authority a Tax that another Company (the "identified party") is required to pay
to such Tax Authority under this Agreement, the identified party shall reimburse
the payor within 30 days of delivery by the payor to the identified party of an
invoice for the amount due, accompanied by evidence of payment and a statement
detailing the Taxes paid and describing in reasonable detail the particulars
relating thereto. The reimbursement shall include interest on the Tax payment
computed at the

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
Prime Rate based on the number of days from the date of the payment to the Tax
Authority to the date of reimbursement under this Section 5.04.

             (b)   In the event that (x) it is finally determined that any
Company (the "Responsible Party") is liable to another Company (the "Protected
Party") hereunder in respect of any payment obligation under this Agreement (a
"Protected Loss") and (y) a court of competent jurisdiction prohibits such
Responsible Party from satisfying all or a part of its obligations to the
Protected Party hereunder in respect of such Protected Loss, then the amount of
the Protected Loss that is not satisfied shall be treated as a liability of the
parties to this Agreement other than the Responsible Party, with the Sharing
Percentage of the Group of which each such other party is a member equal to 50%.

     5.05.   Tax Refunds for Account of Other Party.  If a member of one Group
             --------------------------------------                           
receives any Tax refund or credit against a Tax liability with respect to any
Taxes for which a member of another Group is liable hereunder, the Company
receiving such Tax refund or credit shall make a payment to the Company that is
liable for such Taxes hereunder within 30 days following receipt of the Tax
refund in an amount equal to the Tax refund, plus interest on such amount
computed at the Prime Rate based on the number of days from the date that is
five (5) days after the date of receipt of the Tax refund to the date of payment
of such amount under this Section 5.05.

     5.06.   Payment of Taxes Related to Adjustments.
             --------------------------------------- 

             (a)   Adjustments Resulting in Underpayments.  The Controlling
                   --------------------------------------
Party shall pay to the appropriate Tax Authority when due any additional Tax
required to be paid as a result of any Adjustment with respect to any Pre-
Distribution Period. Each other Company shall pay to whichever of HCS, IB or SEB
is or controls the Controlling Party its share of any Tax Detriment resulting
from such Adjustment (that has not yet been paid pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement) determined in accordance with Section 2.06 within 90 days from the
later of (i) the date the amount of the Adjustment was paid or (ii) the date of
receipt by the indemnifying party of a written notice and demand from the
Controlling Party (or whichever of HCS, IB and SEB the Controlling Party is an
Affiliate) for payment of the amount due, accompanied by evidence of payment and
a statement detailing the Tax Detriment and describing in reasonable detail the
particulars relating thereto. Each indemnifying party shall also pay to
whichever of HCS, IB or SEB controls the Controlling Party interest on their
respective shares of such Tax Detriment computed at the Prime Rate plus 2.0%,
per annum, based on the number of days from the date interest ceased to run with
respect to the relevant recomputation of Tax to the date of their respective
payments under this Section 5.06(a); provided, however, that in no event shall
more than 180 days interest accrue between the date interest ceases to run with
respect to the relevant recomputation of tax and the date of receipt of the
written notice and demand referred to in clause (ii) of the immediately
preceding sentence.

             (b)   Adjustments Resulting in Overpayments.  Within 30 days of
                   -------------------------------------
receipt of any Tax refund or adjustment to Tax liability resulting from any
Adjustment relating to a Pre-Distribution Period, whichever of HCS, IB or SEB is
or controls the person that received the related Tax Benefit shall pay to any
party entitled to a share such Tax Benefit (that has not yet been paid pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement) their respective shares thereof determined in
accordance with Section 2.06. Any payments required under this Section 5.06(b)
shall include interest computed at the Prime Rate plus 2.0%, per annum, based on
the number of days from the date of the recomputation of Tax to the date of
payment under this Section 5.06(b).

             (c)   Recomputations of Tax.  For purposes of this Agreement, an
                   ---------------------
Adjustment occurs, and the respective liabilities of the parties shall be
recomputed: (i) in each instance when payments are to be made to, or refunds
received from, the relevant Tax Authority, (ii) when no payment is to be made or
refund is to be received due to offsetting adjustments, upon filing of an
amended return, completion of an IRS audit and completion of an IRS appellate
review or the equivalent steps with respect to State Income Taxes or Foreign
Income Taxes; and (iii) to reflect the results of any Final Determination.

             (d)   Procedures After Final Determination.  If an Interested Party
                   ------------------------------------
has any liability and/or obligation to make or has previously made, or the right
to receive or has previously received, any indemnity payment, reimbursement or
other payment with respect to a Tax Benefit or Tax Detriment under this
Agreement for which it does not have a right to a determination by an
Independent Third Party under Section 4.05 hereof, then the amount of any such
Tax Benefit or Tax Detriment not previously paid shall be immediately due and
payable upon 

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
receipt by the Interested Party of a notice of Final Determination of a Tax
Contest as required and specified in Section 4.04(a) hereof.

             If after (i) notice of a Final Determination of a Tax Contest as
required and specified in Section 4.04(a) hereof has been given by a Controlling
Party to an Interested Party; and (ii) the Interested Party receiving such
notice has either:

                    (A)  failed to provide the Interested Party Notice specified
               in Section 4.04(b) hereof within the ninety (90) day period set
               forth in Section 4.04(b);

                    (B)  provided the Interested Party Notice specified in
               Section 4.04(b) hereof within the ninety (90) day period
               specified in Section 4.04(b) agreeing to all Tax Benefits or Tax
               Detriments (and the Interested Party's share of all such amounts)
               and waiving the right to an Independent Third Party determination
               pursuant to Section 4.05 hereof with respect to all such Tax
               Benefits or Tax Detriments (and the Interested Party's share of
               such amounts);

                    (C)  provided the Interested Party Notice specified in
               Section 4.04(b) hereof within the ninety (90) day period
               specified in Section 4.04(b) agreeing with some, but not all, Tax
               Benefits or Tax Detriments (and the Interested Party's share of
               such agreed amounts) and waiving the right to an Independent
               Third Party Determination pursuant to Section 4.05 hereof with
               respect to all such agreed Tax Benefits or Tax Detriments (and
               the Interested Party's share of such amounts); or

                    (D)  provided the Interested Party Notice specified in
               Section 4.04(b) hereof within the ninety (90) day period
               specified in Section 4.04(b) specifically enumerating the
               Disputed Adjustments to which it does not agree and for which the
               notice specified in either Section 4.05(b)(ii) or Section
               4.05(b)(iv) hereof relating to any such Disputed Adjustment has
               been given by an Independent Third Party,

then the amount of any Tax Detriment or Tax Benefit agreed to or deemed to be
agreed to by the Interested Party, or for which an Independent Third Party
notice has been given pursuant to either Section 4.05(b)(ii) or Section
4.05(b)(iv) hereof, as set forth in each of clauses (A), (B), (C) or (D) above,
shall be immediately due and payable.

             Any Person entitled to any indemnification, reimbursement or other
payment under this Agreement with respect to the amount of any Tax Detriment or
Tax Benefit that has become immediately due and payable under this Section
5.06(d) (the "Indemnified Party") shall notify in writing the Person against
whom such indemnification, reimbursement or other payment is sought (the
"Indemnifying Party") of its right to and the amount of such indemnification,
reimbursement or other payment; provided, however, that the failure to notify
the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any
liability and/or obligation which it may have to an Indemnified Party on account
of the provisions contained in this Agreement except to the extent that the
Indemnifying Party was prejudiced by such failure, and in no event shall such
failure relieve the Indemnifying Party from any other liability or obligation
which it may have to such Indemnified Party.  The Indemnifying Party shall make
such indemnity payment, reimbursement or other payment to the Indemnified Party
within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the written notice specified in the
preceding sentence; provided, however, that, in the case of any Final
Determination of a Tax Contest involving a state, local or municipal Tax in
which the Indemnifying Party is also the Controlling Party with respect to such
Tax Contest and, as Controlling Party, is entitled to receive an overall net
refund from the applicable state, local or municipal Tax Authority with respect
to such state, local or municipal Tax, then the Indemnifying Party shall be
required to make such indemnity payment, reimbursement or other payment to the
Indemnified Party within thirty (30) days from the date the Indemnifying Party
actually receives payment of or obtains the benefit of the net refund due from
the applicable state, local or municipal Tax Authority.

     5.07.   Recoveries.  Any amounts recovered from third parties (e.g., a tax
             ----------                                                        
advisor to one of the Companies or any Affiliate) with respect to any Tax
Detriment shall be shared among the Companies in a manner consistent with the
principles of this Agreement.  For example, if some or all of an amount paid
with respect to an Adjustment that is shared by the Companies in accordance with
their Sharing Percentages is reimbursed by a tax 

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
advisor, the Company that receives (or whose Affiliate receives) such
reimbursement will make such payments to the other Companies as are necessary to
cause the net after-tax cost of the Adjustment net of such reimbursement to be
shared by the Companies in accordance with their Sharing Percentages (taking
into account any Correlative Adjustment and the assumptions set forth in the
definition of Adjustment).

     SECTION 6.    Preparation and Filing of Tax Returns.
                   ------------------------------------- 

     6.01.   General.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6, Tax
             -------
Returns shall be prepared and filed when due (including extensions) by the
person obligated to file such Tax Returns under the Code or applicable Tax Law.
The Companies shall provide, and shall cause their Affiliates to provide,
assistance and cooperate with one another in accordance with Section 7 with
respect to the preparation and filing of Tax Returns, including providing
information required to be provided in Section 7.

     6.02.   Post-Distribution Period Tax Returns.  Except as otherwise provided
             ------------------------------------
in this Section 6:

     (1)     All Tax Returns related to the Health Care Systems Group for Post-
Distribution Periods shall be prepared and filed (or caused to be prepared and
filed) by HCS;
     (2)     All Tax Returns related to the Semiconductor Equipment Group for
Post-Distribution Periods shall be prepared and filed (or caused to be prepared
and filed) by SEB; and
     (3)     All Tax Returns related to the Instruments Group for Post-
Distribution Periods shall be prepared and filed (or caused to be prepared and
filed) by IB.

     6.03.   Manner of Filing.  All Tax Returns filed or caused to be filed by
             ----------------
HCS, IB or SEB and the Affiliates of each of them after the Distribution Date
shall be prepared on a basis that is consistent with any IRS or other Tax ruling
obtained by Varian in connection with the restructuring of Varian contemplated
by the Distribution Agreement (in the absence of a controlling change in law or
circumstances), and shall be filed on a timely basis by the party responsible
for such filing under this Agreement.

     6.04.   Right to Review Tax Returns.
             --------------------------- 

             (a)   General.  The Responsible Company with respect to any Tax
                   -------
 Return shall make such Tax Return and related workpapers available for review
 by the other Companies, if requested, to the extent (i) such Tax Return relates
 to Taxes for which the requesting party may be liable, (ii) such Tax Return
 relates to Taxes for which the requesting party may be liable in whole or in
 part for any additional Taxes owing as a result of adjustments to the amount of
 Taxes reported on such Tax Return, (iii) such Tax Return relates to Taxes for
 which the requesting party may have a claim for Tax Benefits under this
 Agreement, or (iv) the requesting party reasonably determines that it must
 inspect such Tax Return to confirm compliance with the terms of this Agreement.
 The Responsible Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to make such Tax
 Return available for review as required under this paragraph sufficiently in
 advance of the due date for filing such Tax Returns to provide the requesting
 party with a meaningful opportunity to analyze and comment on such Tax Returns
 and have such Tax Returns modified before filing, taking into account the
 person responsible for payment of the tax (if any) reported on such Tax Return
 and the materiality of the amount of Tax liability with respect to such Tax
 Return. The Companies shall attempt in good faith to resolve any issues arising
 out of the review of such Tax Returns.

             (b)   Execution of Returns Prepared by Other Party.  In the case of
                   --------------------------------------------
any Tax Return which is required to be prepared and filed by one Company under
this Agreement and which is required by law to be signed by another Company (or
by its authorized representative), the Company which is legally required to sign
such Tax Return shall not be required to sign such Tax Return under this
Agreement if there is no reasonable basis for the tax treatment of any material
items reported on the Tax Return. Any such Tax Return shall be supplied by the
Company responsible for its preparation and filing to the Company responsible
for its signing at least five days prior to the due date of such Tax Return
(including applicable extensions) and such signing Company shall deliver an
executed copy of such Tax Return to the filing Company at least two days prior
to the due date of such Tax Return (including applicable extensions).

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
     6.05.   Claims for Refund, Carrybacks, and Self-Audit Adjustments.
             --------------------------------------------------------- 

             (a)   Carrybacks.  Each of the Companies shall be permitted,
                   ----------
without the consent of any other Company, to file claims for refund or credit or
amended returns with respect to Tax Returns for which it is the Responsible
Company to carry back Tax items from Post-Distribution Periods.

             (b)   Consent Required for Adjustment Requests Related to
                   ---------------------------------------------------
Consolidated or Combined Income Taxes. Except as provided in paragraph (c)
- -------------------------------------
below, each of the Companies hereby agrees that, unless each of the other
Companies consents in writing, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
no Adjustment Request with respect to any Consolidated or Combined Income Tax
for a Pre-Distribution Period shall be filed. Any Adjustment Request which the
Companies consent to make under this Section 6.05 shall be prepared and filed by
the Responsible Company under Sections 6.01 and 6.02 for the Tax Return to be
adjusted. The Company requesting the Adjustment Request shall provide to the
Responsible Company all information required for the preparation and filing of
such Adjustment Request in such form and detail as reasonably requested by the
Responsible Company, and shall bear all external costs incurred in connection
with the preparation and filing of such Adjustment Request.

             (c)   Exception for Adjustment Requests Related to Audit
                   --------------------------------------------------
Adjustments. Each of the Companies shall be entitled, without the consent of any
- -----------
other Company, to require HCS to file an Adjustment Request to take into account
any net operating loss, net capital loss, deduction, credit, or other adjustment
attributable to such Company or any member of its Group corresponding to any
adjustment resulting from any audit by the IRS or other Tax Authority with
respect to Consolidated or Combined Income Taxes for any Pre-Distribution
Period. For example, if the Internal Revenue Service requires a Company to
capitalize an item deducted for the taxable year 1996, such Company shall be
entitled, without the consent of any other Company, to require HCS to file an
Adjustment Request for the taxable year 1997 (and later years) to take into
account any depreciation or amortization deductions in such years directly
related to the item capitalized in 1996. In addition, each of the Companies
shall be entitled to require any other Company, as appropriate, to file an
Adjustment Request of the same sort with respect to Separate Company Taxes or
Foreign Income Taxes for any Pre-Distribution Periods. The Company that requires
another Company to file an Adjustment Request shall bear all external costs in
connection with the preparation and filing of the Adjustment Request.

             (d)   Other Adjustment Requests Permitted. Nothing in this Section
                   -----------------------------------
6.06 shall prevent any Company or its Affiliates from filing any Adjustment
Request with respect to Income Taxes which are not Consolidated or Combined
Income Taxes or with respect to any Taxes other than Income Taxes; provided,
however, that without the written consent of the Company responsible for the
relevant Tax (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) no Company shall
file an amended Tax Return with respect to Taxes for which another Company is
liable under this Agreement. Any refund or credit obtained as a result of any
such Adjustment Request (or otherwise) shall be for the account of the person
liable for the Tax under this Agreement.

             (e)   Payment of Refunds.  Any refunds or other Tax Benefits
                   ------------------
received by any Company (or any of its Affiliates) as a result of any Adjustment
Request which are for the account of another Company (or member of such other
Company's Group) shall be paid by the Company receiving (or whose Affiliate
received) such refund or Tax Benefit to such other Company in accordance with
Section 5.

     SECTION 7.    Assistance and Cooperation.
                   -------------------------- 

     7.01.   General.  After the Distribution Date, each of the Companies shall
             -------                                                           
cooperate (and cause their respective Affiliates to cooperate) with each other
and with each other's agents, including accounting firms and legal counsel, in
connection with Tax matters relating to the Companies and their Affiliates
including (i) preparation and filing of Tax Returns, (ii) determining the
liability for and amount of any Taxes due (including estimated Taxes) or the
right to and amount of any refund of Taxes, (iii) examinations of Tax Returns,
and (iv) any administrative or judicial proceeding in respect of Taxes assessed
or proposed to be assessed. Such cooperation shall include making all
information and documents in their possession relating to the other Companies
and their Affiliates available to such other Companies as provided in Section 8.
Each of the Companies shall also make available to each other, as reasonably
requested and available, personnel (including officers, directors, employees and
agents of the Companies or their respective Affiliates) responsible for
preparing, maintaining, and interpreting information and documents relevant to
Taxes, and personnel reasonably required as witnesses or for purposes of
providing information or 

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
documents in connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings relating
to Taxes. The Company requesting assistance shall reimburse the Company
providing assistance for the reasonable costs thereof, including personnel
costs. Any information or documents provided under this Section 7 shall be kept
confidential by the Company receiving the information or documents, except as
may otherwise be necessary in connection with the filing of Tax Returns or in
connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings relating to Taxes.

     7.02.   Income Tax Return Information.  Each Company will provide to each
             -----------------------------
other Company information and documents relating to their respective Groups
required by the other Companies to prepare Tax Returns. The Responsible Company
shall determine a reasonable compliance schedule for such purpose in accordance
with VA's past practices. Any additional information or documents the
Responsible Company requires to prepare such Tax Returns will be provided in
accordance with past practices, if any, or as the Responsible Company reasonably
requests and in sufficient time for the Responsible Company to file such Tax
Returns timely.

     SECTION 8.    Tax Records.
                   ----------- 

     8.01.   Retention of Tax Records.  Except as provided in Section 8.02, each
             ------------------------                                           
Company shall preserve and keep all of its Tax Records for Pre-Distribution Tax
Periods until the later of (i) seven years after the Distribution Date or (ii) a
Final Determination with respect to any Tax Contest for which such Tax Records
may be relevant.  Before disposing of any such Tax Records, a Company shall
provide 90 days prior notice to each other Company.  Such notice shall include a
list of the records to be disposed of describing in reasonable detail each file,
book, or other record accumulation being disposed.  The notified Companies shall
have the opportunity, at their cost and expense, to copy or remove, within such
90-day period, all or any part of such Tax Records.  If, prior to the end of
such seven-year period, a Company reasonably determines that any Tax Records
which it is required to preserve and keep under this Section 8 are no longer
material in the administration of any matter under the Code or other applicable
Tax Law, such Company may dispose of such records upon 90 days prior notice to
each other Company.  Such notice shall include a list of the records to be
disposed of describing in reasonable detail each file, book, or other record
accumulation being disposed.  The notified Companies shall have the opportunity,
at their cost and expense, to copy or remove, within such 90-day period, all or
any part of such Tax Records.

     8.02.   State Income Tax Returns.  Tax Returns with respect to State Income
             ------------------------
Taxes and workpapers prepared in connection with preparing such Tax Returns
shall be preserved and kept, in accordance with the guidelines of Section 8.01,
by the Company responsible for preparing and filing the applicable Tax Return.

     8.03.   Access to Tax Records.  The Companies and their respective
             ---------------------
Affiliates shall make available to each other for inspection and copying during
normal business hours upon reasonable notice all Tax Records in their possession
to the extent reasonably required by the other Company in connection with the
preparation of Tax Returns, audits, litigation, or the resolution of items under
this Agreement.

     SECTION 9.    Effective Date; Termination of Prior Intercompany Tax
                   -----------------------------------------------------
Allocation Agreements. This Agreement shall be effective on the Distribution
- ---------------------
Date. Each of the Companies represents and warrants that there are no Prior
Intercompany Tax Allocation Agreements in effect as of the Distribution Date.

     SECTION 10.   No Inconsistent Actions.
                   ----------------------- 

             (a)   Each of the Companies covenants and agrees that it will use
its best efforts to cause the Distributions to qualify under Section 355 of the
Code. Each of the Companies covenants and agrees that it will not take or permit
any action, and it will cause its Affiliates to refrain from taking or
permitting any action, which may be inconsistent with the Tax treatment of the
Transactions as contemplated in the Ruling Request or any Tax ruling received
with respect to Tax consequences related to the Transaction in a foreign
jurisdiction (any such action is referred to in this Section 10 as a "Tainting
Act"), unless (i) the Company or Affiliate thereof proposing such Tainting Act
(the "Requesting Party") either (A) obtains a ruling with respect to the
Tainting Act from the IRS or other applicable Tax Authority that is reasonably
satisfactory to each other Company (the "Requested Parties") (except that the
Requesting Party shall not submit any such ruling request if a Requested Party
determines in good faith that filing such request might have a materially
adverse effect upon such Requested Party), or (B) obtains an unqualified opinion
of independent nationally recognized tax counsel acceptable to each Requested
Party, on a basis of assumed facts and representations consistent with the facts
at the time of such action, that such Tainting Act will

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
not affect the Tax treatment of the Transactions as contemplated in the Ruling
Request, or (ii) each Requested Party consents in writing to such Tainting Act,
which consent shall be granted or withheld in the sole and absolute discretion
of each such Requested Party. A Tainting Act of a Company shall include a
transaction involving that Company to which Section 355(e) of the Code is
applicable, regardless of whether the Company could have prevented such
transaction. Without limiting the foregoing:

                   (i)   No Inconsistent Plan or Intent.  Each of the Companies
                         ------------------------------
             represents and warrants that neither it nor any of its Affiliates
             has any plan or intent to take any action which is inconsistent
             with any factual statements or representations in the Ruling
             Request. Regardless of any change in circumstances, each of the
             Companies covenants and agrees that it will not take or permit, and
             it will cause its Affiliates to refrain from taking or permitting,
             any such inconsistent action on or before the second anniversary of
             the Distribution Date other than as permitted in this Section 10.

                   (ii)  Amended or Supplemental Rulings. Each of the Companies
                         -------------------------------
             covenants and agrees that it will not file, and it will cause its
             Affiliates to refrain from filing, any amendment or supplement to
             the Ruling Request subsequent to the Distribution Date without the
             consent of the other Companies, which consent shall not be
             unreasonably withheld.

             (b)   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement,
each Company shall be solely liable for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless
each other Company from any Restructuring Tax resulting from a Tainting Act by
such first Company or its Affiliates, regardless of whether clause (i) or (ii)
of Section 10(a) was satisfied with respect to such Tainting Act.

     SECTION 11.   Survival of Obligations.  The representations, warranties,
                   -----------------------                                   
covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement shall be unconditional and
absolute and shall remain in effect without limitation as to time.

     SECTION 12.   Employee Matters.  Each of the Companies shall utilize, or
                   ----------------
cause its Affiliates to utilize, the standard procedure set forth in Revenue
Procedure 84-77, 1984-2 C.B. 753, with respect to wage reporting.

     SECTION 13.   Treatment of Payments; Tax Gross Up.
                   ----------------------------------- 

     13.01.  Tax Treatment of Payments.  In the absence of any change in tax
             -------------------------                                      
treatment under the Code or other applicable Tax Law, any Tax indemnity, Tax
Detriment, Tax Benefit or other payments made by a Company hereunder shall be
reported for Tax purposes by the payor and the recipient (and, if HCS is neither
the payor nor the recipient, by HCS) as distributions or capital contributions,
as appropriate, occurring immediately before the Distributions on the
Distribution Date, except to the extent the payment relates to a Tax allocated
to the payor in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-33(d) (or
under corresponding principles of other applicable Tax Laws).

     13.02.  Tax Gross Up.  If notwithstanding the manner in which Tax
             ------------
indemnity, Tax Detriment or Tax Benefit payments were reported, there is an
adjustment to the Tax liability of a Company as a result of its receipt of a
payment pursuant to this Agreement, such payment shall be appropriately adjusted
so that the amount of such payment, reduced by the amount of all Income Taxes
payable with respect to the receipt thereof (but taking into account all
correlative Tax benefits resulting from the payment of such Income Taxes), shall
equal the amount of the payment which the Company receiving such payment would
otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to this Agreement. For purposes of
determining such Income Taxes, it shall be assumed that the highest marginal Tax
rates in effect are applicable.

     13.03.  Interest Under This Agreement.  Anything herein to the contrary
             -----------------------------                                  
notwithstanding, to the extent one Company ("indemnitor") makes a payment of
interest to another Company ("indemnitee") under this Agreement with respect to
the period from the date that the indemnitee made a payment of Tax to a Tax
Authority to the date that the indemnitor reimbursed the indemnitee for such Tax
payment, or with respect to the period from the date that the indemnitor
received a Tax Benefit to the date indemnitor paid the Tax Benefit to the
indemnitee, the interest payment shall be treated as interest expense to the
indemnitor (deductible to the extent provided by law) and 

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
as interest income by the indemnitee (includible in income to the extent
provided by law). The amount of the payment shall not be adjusted under Section
13.02 to take into account any associated Tax benefit to the indemnitor or
increase in Tax to the indemnitee.

     SECTION 14.   Disagreements.  Except to the extent of the specific dispute
                   -------------                                               
resolutions set forth in Sections 4.04 and 4.05 of this Agreement, any and all
controversies, disputes or claims arising out of, relating to, in connection
with or resulting from this Agreement (or any amendment thereto or any
transaction contemplated hereby or thereby), including as to its existence,
interpretation, performance, nonperformance, validity, breach or termination,
including any claim based on contract, tort, statute or constitution and any
claim raising questions of law, whether arising before or after termination of
this Agreement, shall be deemed an Agreement Dispute as defined in Section 9.01
of the Distribution Agreement and shall be resolved exclusively by, in
accordance with, and subject to the limitations set forth in, Article IX of the
Distribution Agreement.

     SECTION 15.   Late Payments.  Any amount owed by one party to another party
                   -------------
under this Agreement which is not paid when due shall bear interest at the Prime
Rate plus two percent, compounded semiannually, from the due date of the payment
to the date paid. To the extent interest required to be paid under this Section
15 duplicates interest required to be paid under any other provision of this
Agreement, interest shall be computed at the higher of the interest rate
provided under this Section 15 or the interest rate provided under such other
provision.

     SECTION 16.   Expenses.  Except as provided in Sections 4.02, 6.05, 7.01 or
                   --------
14, each party and its Affiliates shall bear their own expenses incurred in
connection with preparation of Tax Returns, Tax Contests, and other matters
related to Taxes under the provisions of this Agreement.

     SECTION 17.   Nonqualified Stock Options.  Each of the Companies shall
                   --------------------------
report exercises of nonqualified stock options in a manner consistent with any
ruling letter issued by the IRS with respect to the Distributions. The Companies
shall cooperate fully (including development of any reasonably necessary
procedures) to satisfy applicable reporting and withholding requirements and
obtain allowable Tax deductions upon the exercise of such options.

     SECTION 18.   General Provisions
                   ------------------

     18.01.  Complete Agreement; Construction.  This Agreement, the Distribution
             --------------------------------                                   
Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements shall constitute the entire
agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall
supersede all prior agreements, negotiations, commitments and writings with
respect to such subject matter.  Notwithstanding any other provisions in this
Agreement to the contrary, in the event and to the extent that there is a
conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the
Distribution Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreement, this Agreement shall
prevail.

     18.02.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more
             ------------                                                
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together shall constitute but one and the same Agreement.

     18.03.  Notices.  All notices, consents, requests, waivers, claims or other
             -------                                                            
communications (each a "Notice") required or permitted under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently given or made (a) if hand
delivered or sent by telecopy (with delivery confirmed by voice or otherwise),
(b) if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, or (c) if sent by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, and in
each case addressed as follows:

     If to HCS, at:
     Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
     3100 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California  94304
     Attn:  Chief Financial Officer

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
     With a copy to:
     Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
     3100 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California 94304
     Attn: General Counsel

     If to SEB, at:
     Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
     35 Dory Road
     Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
     Attn: Chief Financial Officer
     Telecopy: (978) 281-3152

     With a copy to:
     Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
     35 Dory Road
     Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
     Attn: General Counsel
     Telecopy: (978) 281-3152

     If to IB, at:
     Varian, Inc.
     3120 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California 94304
     Attn: Chief Financial Officer

     With a copy to:
     Varian, Inc.
     3120 Hansen Way
     Palo Alto, California 94304
     Attn: General Counsel

or such other address as shall be furnished by any of the parties in a Notice.
Any Notice shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when the Notice is
received.

     18.04.  Waivers.  The failure of any party to require strict performance by
             -------
any other party of any provision in or rights or remedies with respect to this
Agreement shall not waive or diminish that party's right to demand strict
performance thereafter of that or any other provision hereof or right or remedy.

     18.05.  Amendments.  This Agreement may be amended or supplemented, or its
             ----------                                                        
provisions waived only by an agreement in writing signed by each of the parties.

     18.06.  Assignment.
             ---------- 

             (a)   No party to this Agreement shall (i) consolidate with or
merge into any Person or permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into
such party (other than a merger or consolidation in which the party is the
surviving or continuing corporation), or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, lease or
otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or a series of related transactions,
all or substantially all of its Assets, unless the resulting, surviving or
transferee Person expressly assumes, by instrument in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the other parties, all of the obligations of the
party under this Agreement.

             (b)   Except as expressly provided in paragraph (a) above, neither
this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall
be assignable, directly or indirectly, by any party without the prior written
consent of the other parties, and any attempt to so assign without such consent
shall be void.

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
     18.07.  Successors and Assigns.  Subject to Section 18.06, this Agreement
             ----------------------
shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
successors and permitted assigns of the parties.

     18.08.  Third Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement is solely for the
             -------------------------
benefit of the parties and the members of their respective Groups and Affiliates
and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and should not be deemed
to confer upon third parties any remedy, claim, liability, right of
reimbursement, cause of action or other right in excess of those existing
without reference to this Agreement.

     18.09.  Governing Law.  This Agreement, the other Ancillary Agreements and
             -------------
any other agreements entered into in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in
accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the
principles of conflicts of Laws thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. (S)(S)1-15, shall govern the arbitrability of
disputes governed by the Distribution Agreement.

     18.10.  Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the
             ------------
application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined to be invalid,
void or unenforceable in any respect, the remaining provisions hereof, or the
application of such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those as to
which it has been held invalid, void or unenforceable, shall remain in full
force and effect and in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so
long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby
is not affected in any manner adverse to any party.

     18.11.  Subsidiaries.  Each party shall cause to be performed, and hereby
             ------------                                                     
guarantee the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth
herein to be performed by any Subsidiary of such party which is contemplated to
be a Subsidiary of such party on and after the Distribution Date.

     18.12.  Titles and Headings.  Titles and headings to sections herein are
             -------------------                                             
inserted for the convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part
of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

     18.13.  Further Action.  The parties shall execute and deliver all
             --------------
documents, provide all information, and take or refrain from taking action as
may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement,
including the execution and delivery to the other parties and their Affiliates
and representatives of such powers of attorney or other authorizing
documentation as is reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with Tax
Contests (or portions thereof) under the control of such other parties in
accordance with Section 4.

     18.14.  No Double Recovery; Subrogation.  No provision of this Agreement
             -------------------------------
shall be construed to provide an indemnity or other recovery for any costs,
damages, or other amounts for which the damaged party has been fully compensated
under any other provision of this Agreement or under any other agreement or
action at law or equity. Unless expressly required in this Agreement, a party
shall not be required to exhaust all remedies available under other agreements
or at law or equity before recovering under the remedies provided in this
Agreement. Subject to any limitations provided in this Agreement (for example,
the limitation on filing claims for refund in Section 6.05), the indemnifying
party shall be subrogated to all rights of the indemnified party for recovery
from any third party.

             IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed by the respective officers as of the date set forth above.

                              VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.


                              By:    /s/ Robert A. Lemos
                                     ----------------------------------------
                              Name:  Robert A. Lemos
                              Title: Vice President Finance and Chief
                                     Financial Officer
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
 
                              VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.


                              By:    /s/ Joseph B. Phair
                                     ----------------------------------------
                              Name:  Joseph B. Phair
                              Title: Secretary


                              VARIAN, INC.


                              By:    /s/ Arthur W. Homan
                                     ----------------------------------------
                              Name:  Arthur W. Homan
                              Title: Secretary

                                       24

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

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

                         TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT
                                     AMONG
                           VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.,
                VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
                                      AND
                                 VARIAN, INC.
                                  Dated as of
                                 April 2, 1999

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                        
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                Page
<S>                                                             <C> 
ARTICLE I    SERVICES PROVIDED................................    1
      1.1    Transition Services..............................    1
      1.2    Personnel........................................    1
      1.3    Representatives..................................    2
      1.4    Level of Transition Services.....................    2
      1.5    Corrective Efforts...............................    2
      1.6    Force Majeure....................................    2
      1.7    Modification of Procedures.......................    3
      1.8    No Obligation to Continue to Use Services........    3
      1.9    Provider Access..................................    3

ARTICLE II   COMPENSATION.....................................    3
      2.1    Consideration....................................    3
      2.2    Invoices.........................................    3
      2.3    Payment of Amounts Due...........................    4
      2.4    Provider's Rights on Failure to Pay..............    4

ARTICLE III  CONFIDENTIALITY..................................    4
      3.1    Obligation.......................................    4

ARTICLE IV   TERM AND TERMINATION.............................    4
      4.1    Term.............................................    4
      4.2    Extension........................................    4
      4.3    Termination......................................    5
      4.4    Termination of Obligations.......................    5
      4.5    Survival of Certain Obligations..................    5

ARTICLE V    DISPUTE RESOLUTION...............................    5
      5.1    Distribution Agreement to Control................    5

ARTICLE VI   INSURANCE; INDEMNIFICATION.......................    5
      6.1    Insurance and Indemnity..........................    5
      6.2    Recipients' Indemnity for Services...............    6
      6.3    Providers' Indemnity for Services................    6

ARTICLE VII  MISCELLANEOUS....................................    6
      7.1    Complete Agreement; Construction.................    6
      7.2    Other Agreements.................................    6
      7.3    Counterparts.....................................    6
      7.4    Notices..........................................    6
      7.5    Waivers..........................................    7
      7.6    Amendments.......................................    7
</TABLE> 

                                      -i-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (continued)

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                Page
<S>                                                             <C> 
     7.7   Assignment.......................................    7
     7.8   Successors and Assigns...........................    8
     7.9   Third Party Beneficiaries........................    8
     7.10  Schedules........................................    8
     7.11  Governing Law....................................    8
     7.12  Severability.....................................    8
     7.13  Subsidiaries.....................................    8
     7.14  Title and Headings...............................    8
     7.15  Laws and Government Regulations..................    8
     7.16  Relationship of Parties..........................    8
     7.17  Definitions......................................    8
</TABLE> 

                                     -ii-
<PAGE>
 
                         TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

     THIS TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of this 2nd day of April, 1999 between and among VARIAN ASSOCIATES,
INC., a Delaware corporation ("HCS"), VARIAN, INC., a Delaware corporation
("IB"), and VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("SEB") (collectively, the "parties" or individually a "party").

     WHEREAS, HCS, IB and SEB have entered into an Amended and Restated
Distribution Agreement dated as of January 14, 1999 (the "Distribution
Agreement") which, among other matters, contemplates that one or more parties
thereto will provide, or cause one or more of its Subsidiaries to provide, to
the other parties and their respective Subsidiaries, certain transitional,
administrative and support services on the terms set forth in this Agreement.
Each party when providing a service under this Agreement (together with any
Subsidiaries or Affiliates providing services) is referred to as "Provider" and
each party when receiving a service under this Agreement (together with any
Subsidiaries or Affiliates receiving services) is referred to as "Recipient."

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and
covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                               SERVICES PROVIDED

     1.1  Transition Services.
          ------------------- 

          (a)  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement,
the relevant Provider shall provide to the relevant Recipient the services
indicated on the Schedules hereto (each, a "Transition Service" and,
collectively, the "Transition Services") during the time period for such
Transition Service set forth in the applicable Schedule (each, a "Time Period").

          (b)  Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Transition
Services set forth on such Schedules may be amended from time to time, as the
relevant parties shall agree in writing to add, omit or redefine any of the
Transition Services, the time period for which such Transition Services are to
be rendered and/or the compensation therefor.

     1.2  Personnel.
          --------- 

          (a)  Each party in its capacity as Provider shall make a sufficient
number of competent employees (and/or third party contractors to the extent that
third party services are routinely utilized to provide similar services to other
businesses of such Provider or are reasonably necessary for the efficient
performance of any Transition Service) to render the Transition Services to be
provided under this Agreement when required, for so long as Provider provides
said services to itself. Except to the extent specific individuals are
designated on a Schedule, a Provider of a Transition Service shall determine
both the staffing required and the particular personnel assigned to perform the
Transition Service, including but not limited to, clerical staff, technicians,
professionals or others. The personnel assigned by a Provider under this
Agreement to perform Transition Services for a Recipient shall not be deemed to
be in the employ of the Recipient or entitled to receive any compensation or
benefits therefrom.

          (b)  Each Recipient shall not, without the Provider's prior written
consent, solicit any employees of a Provider assigned by the Provider to the
Recipient for the performance of such services while such employee is employed
by Provider or within the six-month period after the date any employee ceases to
provide Transition Services.
<PAGE>
 
     1.3  Representatives.
          --------------- 

          (a)  Each of HCS, IB and SEB shall designate a representative to act
as its primary contact person for the provision of all Transition Services
(each, a "Primary Coordinator"). The initial Primary Coordinators shall be
designated in writing by notice to the others in accordance with paragraph (b)
on or before the Distribution Date. The initial coordinators for each specific
Transition Service shall be the individuals named in the Schedule relating to
such Transition Service (each, a "Service Coordinator"). Each party may treat an
act of another party's Primary Coordinator or Service Coordinator as authorized
by such other party without inquiring behind such act or ascertaining whether
such Primary Coordinator or Service Coordinator had actual authority so to act,
provided, however, that neither the Primary Coordinator nor the Service
Coordinator shall have authority to amend or modify the Agreement. All
communications relating to the provision of the Transition Services shall be
directed to the Primary Coordinators.

          (b)  Each of the relevant Provider and the relevant Recipient of a
Transition Service shall notify the other in writing of any change in its
Primary Coordinator and/or its Service Coordinator for each Transition Service.
Any such notice shall (i) set forth the name of the Primary Coordinator or
Service Coordinator to be replaced and the name of the replacement, and (ii)
certify that the replacement Primary Coordinator is authorized to act for such
party in all matters relating to this Agreement or that the replacement Service
Coordinator is authorized to act for such party in all matters relating to the
relevant Transition Service, as applicable, as provided in Section 1.3 (a)
above.

     1.4  Level of Transition Services.

          (a)  Each party, in its capacity as Provider, shall exercise the same
degree of care when performing Transition Services as it exercises in performing
the same or similar services for its own account, with priority equal to that
provided to its own businesses. Nothing in this Agreement shall require any
party in its capacity as Provider to favor the businesses of a Recipient over
its own businesses.

          (b)  No Provider shall be required to provide the Recipient of
Transition Services with a quantity of Transition Services in excess of that
provided by Provider as of the date of this Agreement and shall specifically not
be required to provide extraordinary levels of Transition Services, special
studies, training, or the like or the advantage of systems, equipment,
facilities, training, or improvements procured, obtained or made after the
Distribution Date by such Provider.

          (c)  Transition Services provided by third parties shall be subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any agreements between the
Provider of such Transition Services and such third parties.

     1.5  Corrective Efforts. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary 
          ------------------                                           
contained in this Agreement, if a Provider incorrectly performs any Transition
Service, the Provider, at the Recipient's request, shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to correct or re-perform the Transition Service at no
additional cost to the Recipient, but shall have no other obligation to correct
the subject Transition Service. In the event Recipient does not request such
correction of the Transition Service or Provider does not correct the
performance, any damages recoverable by Recipient shall be limited to the amount
paid by Recipient to Provider for the item of Service in respect of which a
claim is made. IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR ANY
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR LOSS OF PROFITS OR OPPORTUNITIES, OR ANY
EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT,
REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES FROM WHICH SUCH DAMAGES AROSE.

     1.6  Force Majeure. Any failure or omission by a party in the performance
          -------------                                                        
of any obligation under this Agreement shall not be deemed a breach of this
Agreement or create any liability, if the failure or omission arises from any
cause or causes beyond the control of the party, including, but not limited to,
the following, which for purposes of this Agreement shall be regarded as beyond
the control of each of the parties hereto: acts of God, fire, storm, flood,
earthquake, governmental regulation or direction, acts of the public enemy, war,
rebellion, insurrection, riot, invasion, strike or lockout; provided, however,
                                                            --------  ------- 
that the party shall resume the performance whenever such causes are removed.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a party cannot perform under this Agreement

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
for a period of 45 days due to such cause or causes, the affected party may
terminate this Agreement with the defaulting party by providing written notice
thereto.

     1.7  Modification of Procedures. Each party, in its capacity as Provider,
          --------------------------                                           
may make changes from time to time in its standards and procedures for
performing any of the Transition Services for which it is responsible; provided,
                                                                       -------- 
however, that, except as provided in Section 1.1(b) or required by Law, no party
- -------                                                                         
in its capacity as Provider shall implement any substantial changes affecting a
Recipient of a Transition Service unless:

          (a)  Provider has furnished Recipient notice (which shall be the same
notice such Provider shall provide its own businesses) thereof;

          (b)  Provider changes the procedures for its own businesses at the
same time; and

          (c)  Provider gives Recipient a reasonable period of time for
Recipient (i) to adapt its operations to accommodate the changes or (ii) to
reject the proposed changes. In the event Recipient fails to accept or reject a
proposed change on or before a date specified in the notice of change, Recipient
shall be deemed to have accepted the change. Subject to Section 1.8, in the
event Recipient rejects a proposed change but does not terminate the provision
of the Transition Service, Recipient shall pay any charges resulting from
Provider's need to maintain different versions of the same systems, procedures,
technologies, or services or resulting from requirements of third party vendors
or suppliers.

     1.8  No Obligation to Continue to Use Services. Except as provided in the
          -----------------------------------------                            
Schedules, no Recipient shall have any obligation to continue to use any of the
Transition Services and a Recipient may delete any or all Transition Services
from the Transition Services that a Provider is providing to the Recipient by
giving the Provider written notice thereof in accordance with the notice
provisions of this Agreement and the applicable Schedules.

     1.9  Provider Access. Recipient shall provide the personnel of a Provider
          ---------------                                                      
with access to its equipment, office space, plants, telecommunications and
computer equipment and systems, and any other areas and equipment to the extent
reasonably required for personnel of a Provider to perform any Transition
Service.

                                  ARTICLE II

                                 COMPENSATION

     2.1  Consideration. As consideration for the Transition Services, each
          -------------                                                     
party in its capacity as Recipient shall pay to each Provider the aggregate
amount specified in the Schedules relating to the Transition Services provided
by Provider to Recipient.

     2.2  Invoices. Except as set forth in the Schedules, the monthly fixed
          --------                                                          
charges or fees for Transition Services set forth on the Schedules shall be paid
on the first day of each month in which the Transition Services are to be
performed. Except as set forth in the Schedules, any fees not payable as fixed
amounts shall be invoiced monthly by the Provider to the Recipient no later than
the 30th day of the calendar month next following the calendar month in which
the Transition Services were performed. All invoices shall be sent by the
Provider to the Recipient at the following address or to such other address as
the Recipient shall have specified by notice in writing to the Provider of the
Transition Services:

            To HCS:                             
                                                
                                                
            Varian Medical Systems, Inc.        
            3100 Hansen Way                     
            Palo Alto, California  94304-1030   
            Attention:  Chief Financial Officer  

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
            To IB:                                           
                                                             
            Varian, Inc.                                     
            3120 Hansen Way                                  
            Palo Alto, California  94303-1030                
            Attention:  Chief Financial Officer              
                                                             
            To SEB:                                          
                                                             
            Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.  
            35 Dory Road                                     
            Gloucester, Massachusetts  01930                 
            Attention:  Chief Financial Officer              
            Fax: (978) 281-3152                               

     2.3  Payment of Amounts Due. Except as set forth in the Schedules, payment
          ----------------------                                                
of all amounts due for Transition Services shall be made by check or electronic
funds transmission in U.S. Dollars, without any offset or deduction of any
nature whatsoever, within 30 days of the invoice date or as specified in the
applicable Schedules. All payments shall be made in accordance with the terms of
the applicable Schedules, the instructions set forth on or accompanying the
invoice or as otherwise agreed to in writing between the relevant Provider and
the relevant Recipient. Books and Records of a Provider pertaining to the
services provided and all reimbursed costs shall be available for inspection and
audit by the Recipient during normal business hours for three months following
the delivery of the invoice for the period for which the Transition Services
were provided.

     2.4  Provider's Rights on Failure to Pay. Except as set forth in the
          -----------------------------------                             
Schedules, if any fixed fee or invoice is not paid when due, the Provider shall
have the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, without any liability to
the Recipient that has not paid such fixed fee or invoice or anyone claiming by
or through the Recipient, to immediately cease providing any or all of the
Transition Services provided by the Provider to the Recipient until such payment
is received.

                                  ARTICLE III

                                CONFIDENTIALITY

     3.1  Obligation.
          ---------- 

          (a)  All information with respect to any Recipient obtained by a party
in its capacity as Provider shall be held and used by Provider only in
accordance with Section 6.03 of the Distribution Agreement.

          (b)  All information with respect to any Provider obtained by a party
in its capacity as Recipient shall be held and used by the Recipient only in
accordance with Section 6.03 of the Distribution Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE IV

                             TERM AND TERMINATION

     4.1  Term. This Agreement shall become effective on the Distribution Date
          ----                                                                 
and shall remain in force with respect to a party until the expiration of the
longest Time Period specified in any Schedule affecting such party as either
Provider or Recipient, including any extension thereof, unless all of the
Transition Services to be performed or received by such party are deleted or
this Agreement is earlier terminated with respect to such party, in each case,
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

     4.2  Extension. The Time Period for which a Transition Service shall be
          ---------                                                         
provided may be extended by written agreement among the Recipient and the
Provider of the Transition Service.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     4.3  Termination. If any party (the "Defaulting Party") shall fail to
          -----------                                                      
perform or default in the performance of any of its obligations under this
Agreement (other than a payment default subject to Section 2.4), the party
entitled to the benefit of the performance (the "Non-Defaulting Party") may give
written notice to the Defaulting Party specifying the nature of the failure or
default and stating that the Non-Defaulting Party intends to terminate this
Agreement with respect to the Defaulting Party if the failure or default is not
cured within 30 days of the written notice. If any failure or default so
specified is not cured within the 30-day period, the Non-Defaulting Party may
elect immediately to terminate this Agreement with respect to the Defaulting
Party; provided, however, that if the failure or default relates to a dispute
       --------  -------                                                     
contested in good faith by the Defaulting Party, the Non-Defaulting Party may
not terminate this Agreement pending resolution of the dispute in accordance
with Article V hereof. Such termination shall be effective upon giving a written
notice of termination from the Non-Defaulting Party to the Defaulting Party and
shall be without prejudice to any other remedy which may be available to the 
Non-Defaulting Party against the Defaulting Party.

     4.4  Termination of Obligations. All obligations of each Provider to
          --------------------------                                      
provide each Transition Service for which the Provider is responsible shall
immediately cease upon the expiration of the Time Period (and any extension
thereof in accordance with Section 4.2) for the Transition Service, and each
Provider's obligations to provide all of the Transition Services for which the
Provider is responsible shall immediately cease upon the termination of this
Agreement with respect to the Provider and all relevant Recipients. Upon the
cessation of a Provider's obligation to provide any Transition Service, the
Recipient of the Transition Service shall immediately cease using, directly or
indirectly, the Transition Service (including, without limitation, any and all
software of Provider or third party software provided through Provider,
telecommunications services or equipment, or computer systems or equipment).

     4.5  Survival of Certain Obligations. Without prejudice to the survival of
          -------------------------------                                       
the other agreements of the parties, the following obligations shall survive the
termination of this Agreement: (a) the obligations of each party under Articles
III, IV and VI; and (b) each Provider's right to receive the compensation for
the Transition Services provided in Section 2.1 accruing prior to the effective
date of termination.

                                   ARTICLE V

                              DISPUTE RESOLUTION

     5.1  Distribution Agreement to Control. Any and all controversies, disputes
          ---------------------------------                             
or claims arising out of, relating to, in connection with or resulting from this
Agreement (or any amendment thereto or any transaction contemplated hereby or
thereby), including as to its existence, interpretation, performance, non-
performance, validity, breach or termination, including any claim based on
contract, tort, statute or constitution and any claim raising questions of law,
whether arising before or after termination of this Agreement, shall be deemed
an Agreement Dispute as defined in Section 9.01 of the Distribution Agreement
and shall be resolved exclusively by, in accordance with, and subject to the
limitations set forth in Article IX of the Distribution Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE VI

                          INSURANCE; INDEMNIFICATION

     6.1  Insurance and Indemnity. Each party shall comply with all applicable
          -----------------------                                               
workers' compensation statutes either by obtaining a policy with the limits
required by law or by qualifying legally to self insure. Each party shall, or
shall cause its insurer to, waive the right of subrogation or recovery against
any other party in connection with this Agreement for any work-related injury or
disease. Each party shall carry employer's liability insurance with minimum
limits of $1,000,000 per accident. Each party shall carry general liability
insurance, with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence, to cover such
party's indemnification obligations under this Agreement. Each party shall carry
automobile liability insurance to cover claims arising out of the operation,
maintenance or use of any motor vehicles owned, hired, rented or used by such
party in connection with this Agreement.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     A party in its capacity as Provider shall not be responsible to a Recipient
for damage to the Recipient's real or personal property at Recipient's premises,
or any other place, when Recipient's property is in the care, custody or control
of Provider.

     All deductibles or self insured retentions, on policies of insurance
required to be maintained under this Agreement, will be borne by the responsible
parties as set forth in Sections 6.2 and 6.3 below.

     6.2  Recipients' Indemnity for Services. Each party in its capacity as
          ----------------------------------                                
Recipient shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Provider, and the
Provider's directors, officers, employees and agents, against any and all
Liabilities incurred by any of them in connection with Transition Services
provided under this Agreement except to the extent arising out of, relating to
or resulting from Provider's gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

     6.3  Providers' Indemnity for Services. Each party in its capacity as
          ---------------------------------                                 
Provider shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Recipient, and the
Recipient's directors, officers, employees and agents, against all Liabilities
incurred by any of them in connection with Transition Services provided under
this Agreement to the extent arising out of, relating to or resulting from
Provider's gross negligence or intentional misconduct; provided, however, that
                                                       --------  -------      
any Liabilities claimed by Recipient and the Recipient's directors, officers,
employees and agents shall be limited to the amount of the charges paid to
Provider for such item of Transition Service in respect of which a claim is
made; and provided, further, that Provider will defend, indemnify and hold
          --------  -------                                               
harmless each Recipient of Transition Services from such Provider, and such
Recipient's directors, officers, employees and agents, against all Liabilities
incurred by any of them in connection with the Provider's operation, maintenance
or use of a motor vehicle in the course of providing Transition Services to the
Recipient.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

     7.1  Complete Agreement; Construction. This Agreement, including the
          --------------------------------                                
Schedules hereto, the Distribution Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements
shall constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements, negotiations,
commitments and writings with respect to such subject matter. In the event of
any inconsistency between this Agreement and any Schedule hereto, the Schedule
shall prevail. In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and the
Distribution Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail except for inconsistencies
with respect to Sections 5.05 and 6.07 and Article IX of the Distribution
Agreement, which sections shall prevail over any inconsistent provision of this
Agreement.

     7.2  Other Agreements. This Agreement is not intended to address, and
          ----------------                                                 
should not be interpreted to address, the matters expressly covered by the
Distribution Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements.

     7.3  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 Agreement.

     7.4  Notices. All Notices required or permitted under this Agreement
          -------                                                          
shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently given or made (a) if hand
delivered or sent by telecopy (with delivery confirmed by voice or otherwise),
(b) if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier or (c) if sent by
registered or certified U.S. mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested,
and in each case addressed as follows:

               If to HCS:

               Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
               3100 Hansen Way
               Palo Alto, California  94304-1030
               Attn:  Chief Financial Officer

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
               with a copy to:


               Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
               3100 Hansen Way
               Palo Alto, California  94304-1030
               Attn:  General Counsel

               If to IB:


               Varian, Inc.
               3120 Hansen Way
               Palo Alto, California  94303-1030
               Attn:  Chief Financial Officer

               with a copy to:


               Varian, Inc.
               3120 Hansen Way
               Palo Alto, California  94303-1030
               Attn: General Counsel

               If to SEB:


               Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
               35 Dory Road
               Gloucester, Massachusetts  01930
               Attn:  Chief Financial Officer
               Telecopy (978) 281-3152

               with a copy to:


               Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
               35 Dory Road
               Gloucester, Massachusetts  01930
               Attn: General Counsel
               Telecopy: (978) 281-3152

or at such other address as shall be furnished by any of the parties in a
Notice. Any Notice shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when the
Notice is received.

     7.5  Waivers. The failure of any party to require strict performance by
          -------                                                            
any other party of any provision in or rights and remedies with respect to this
Agreement will not waive or diminish that party's right to demand strict
performance thereafter of that or any other provision hereof or right or remedy.

     7.6  Amendments. After the execution of this Agreement by all parties, and
          ----------                                                            
solely to the extent that a change is desired by and restricted to any two
parties without affecting the rights of the third party hereto, such two parties
may separately amend in writing any provision of this Agreement which governs
the rights exchanged between them without notifying the third party hereto.
Except as expressly provided herein, this Agreement may be amended or
supplemented or its provisions waived only by an agreement in writing signed by
each of the parties.

     7.7  Assignment.
          ---------- 

          (a)  No party to this Agreement shall (i) consolidate with or merge
into any Person or permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into such
party (other than a merger or consolidation in which the party is the surviving
or continuing corporation), or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise
dispose of, in one transaction

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
or a series of related transactions, all or substantially all of its Assets,
unless the resulting, surviving or transferee Person expressly assumes, by
instrument in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the other parties,
all of the obligations of the party under this Agreement.

          (b)  Except as expressly provided in paragraph (a), neither this
Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be
assignable, directly or indirectly, by any party without the prior written
consent of the other parties, and any attempt to so assign without such consent
shall be void.

     7.8  Successors and Assigns. Subject to Section 7.7, this Agreement shall
          ----------------------                                               
be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the successors
and permitted assigns of the parties.

     7.9  Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the benefit
          -------------------------                                           
of the parties and the members of their respective Groups and Affiliates and
their respective successors and assigns and should not be deemed to confer upon
third parties any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, cause of action or
other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.

     7.10 Schedules. The Schedules shall be construed with and as an integral
          ---------                                                           
part of this Agreement to the same extent as if they had been set forth verbatim
herein.

     7.11 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and
          -------------                                                         
enforced in accordance with, the Law of the State of Delaware without regard to
the principles of conflicts of Laws thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. (S)(S)1-15, shall govern the arbitrability
of disputes.

     7.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application
          ------------                                                        
thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined to be invalid, void or
unenforceable in any respect, the remaining provisions hereof, the application
of such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those as to which it
has been held invalid, void or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and
effect and in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as
the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not
affected in any manner adverse to any party.

     7.13 Subsidiaries. Each of the parties shall cause to be performed, and
          ------------                                                       
hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations
set forth herein to be performed by any Subsidiary of such party or by any
entity that is contemplated to be a Subsidiary of such party on and after the
Distribution Date.

     7.14 Title and Headings. Titles and headings to sections herein are
          ------------------                                             
inserted for the convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part
of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

     7.15 Laws and Government Regulations. Each party in its capacity as
          -------------------------------                                
Recipient shall be responsible for (a) compliance with all Laws affecting its
businesses and (b) any use it may make of the Transition Services to assist it
in complying with such Laws . While a party in its capacity as Provider shall
not have any responsibility for the compliance by any Recipient with such Laws,
Provider shall use reasonable commercial efforts to cause the Transition
Services to be designed in such manner that the Transition Services shall be
able to assist the Recipient in complying with applicable legal and regulatory
responsibilities.

     7.16 Relationship of Parties. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed
          -----------------------                                               
to create a partnership, agency or other relationship between the parties or to
make any party liable for any debts or obligations incurred by another party.

     7.17 Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not
          -----------                                                   
otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed to such terms in Article I,
Section 1.01 of the Distribution Agreement.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Transition Services
Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
                              VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC. 



                              By: /s/ Robert A. Lemos
                                  -------------------------------------- 
                                  Name:  Robert A. Lemos                  
                                  Title: Vice President Finance and 
                                         Chief Financial Officer


                              VARIAN, INC.


                              By: /s/ Arthur W. Homan
                                  -------------------------------------- 
                                  Name:  Arthur W. Homan
                                  Title: Secretary


                              VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.


                              By: /s/ Joseph B. Phair
                                  --------------------------------------
                                  Name:  Joseph B. Phair
                                  Title: Secretary

                                       9

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.5

                         SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN
                                OF VARIAN, INC.

                                   SECTION 1

                       BACKGROUND, PURPOSE AND DURATION


     1.1  Effective Date. The Plan is effective as of the date on which VAI
          --------------                                                
distributes shares of the Company's common stock to the stockholders of VAI.

     1.2  Purpose of the Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to provide deferred
          -------------------                                        
compensation consisting of (a) elective deferrals and (b) allocations of
Matching Contributions and Profit-Sharing Contributions that exceed the amounts
that the Dollar Limitations permit to be allocated under the Retirement Plan,
but that are otherwise calculated by reference to the Retirement Plan.

                                   SECTION 2

                                  DEFINITIONS

     The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless a
different meaning is plainly required by the context:

     2.1  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference
           ----                                                       
to a specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder shall include such
section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated thereunder, and any
comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending,
supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

     2.2  "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board
           ---------                                                   
of Directors.

     2.3  "Company" means Varian, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor
           -------                                                    
thereto.

     2.4  "Compensation Ceiling" means the limitation described in section
           --------------------                                           
401(a)(17) of the Code, adjusted as prescribed by the Code. The Compensation
Ceiling for plan years beginning in 1999 is $160,000.

     2.5  "Dollar Limitations" means (a) the Compensation Ceiling and (b) the
           ------------------                                            
limitation on annual additions described in section 415(c)(1) of the Code,
adjusted in each case as prescribed by the Code.

     2.6  "Eligible Earnings" shall have the meaning given to such term in the
           -----------------                                              
Retirement Plan, except that Eligible Earnings for purposes of this Plan shall
not be subject to the Compensation Ceiling.
<PAGE>
 
     2.7  "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
           -----                                                      
amended. Reference to a specific section of ERISA shall include such section,
any valid regulation promulgated thereunder, and any comparable provision of any
future legislation amending, supplementing or superseding such section.

     2.8  "Participant" means an individual who is eligible to participate in 
           -----------                                                    
the Plan pursuant to Section 3 and for whose benefit an amount is credited to
a Reserve Account Pursuant to Section 3.

     2.9  "Plan" means the Supplemental Retirement Plan of Varian, Inc., as set
           ----                                                            
forth in this instrument and as hereafter amended from time to time.

     2.10 "Plan Year" means the Retirement Plan's Plan Year.
           ---------                                        

     2.11 "Reserve Account" means the unfunded bookkeeping account described in
           ---------------                                        
Section 3.2.

     2.12 "Retirement Plan" means the Varian, Inc. Retirement Plan, as amended
           ---------------                                            
from time to time.

     2.13 "Unforeseeable Emergency" means a severe financial hardship to the
           -----------------------                                      
Participant resulting from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the
Eligible Participant or of a dependent of the Participant, from a loss of the
Participant's property due to casualty or from other similar extraordinary and
unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of
the Partici-pant. A hardship shall not constitute an Unforeseeable Emergen-cy
under the Plan to the extent that it is or may be relieved:

          (a)  Through reimbursement or compensation, by insurance or otherwise;

          (b)  By liquidation of the Participant's assets, to the extent that
     the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial
     hardship; or

          (c)  By discontinuing deferrals under this Plan or under any other
     plan of the Company as soon as permissible.

An Unforeseeable Emergency under the Plan shall in no event include the need to
send a child to college or the desire to purchase a home.

     2.14 "VAI" means Varian Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
           ---                                                        

     2.15 "Valuation Date" means the last day of each calendar quarter.
           --------------                                              

Any capitalized terms used in the Plan and not defined herein shall have the
meaning provided in the Retirement Plan.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                                   SECTION 3

           ELIGIBILITY, PARTICIPATION, RESERVE ACCOUNTS AND CREDITS

     3.1  Participation in the Plan shall be limited to:

          (a)  Officers of the Company (not including any officer holding the
     office of only Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer) who are active
     Retirement Plan participants;

          (b)  Participants in the Retirement Plan whose Eligible Earnings under
     the Retirement Plan are limited by the Compensation Ceiling; and

          (c)  Any other participant in the Retirement Plan who is designated by
     the Committee.

     At the beginning of a particular Plan Year, the Company, in its sole
discretion, may determine that one or more individuals qualify as Participants
for the Plan Year pursuant to Subsection (b) based upon such individual's
current salary rate and target bonus compensation (to the extent includible in
Eligible Earnings). Any such determination shall be valid for that Plan Year,
regardless of whether the individual's Eligible Earnings at the end of the Plan
Year actually exceed the Compensation Ceiling.

     3.2  Reserve Account. The Company shall establish on its books a special
          ---------------                                             
unfunded Reserve Account for each Participant. As of each Valuation Date, the
Company shall credit interest on the balance in each Reserve Account (not
including any amounts credited under Sections 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5 below during the
calendar quarter then ending). The interest credited to the Reserve Account
shall be established from time to time by the Committee.

     3.3  Matching Contributions. As of each Valuation Date in a Plan Year
          ----------------------                                           
following the date when the Participant's contributions to the Retirement Plan
reach the limitation in effect under Code section 402(g) (which limitation is
$10,000 for 1999), the Company shall credit to a Participant's Reserve Account
an amount determined as follows:

          (a)  First, the hypothetical amount of the Participant's Matching
     Contribution since the preceding Valuation Date shall be calculated, based
     on the assumptions (i) that the Dollar Limitations do not apply and (ii)
     that the Participant's contributed to the Retirement Plan at a rate of 6%
     of Eligible Earnings;

          (b)  Second, the amount calculated under Subsection (a) above shall be
     reduced (but not below zero) by the actual amount of the Participant's
     Matching Contribution since the preceding Valuation Date; and

          (c)  The remainder (if any) shall be the amount credited to the
     Participant's Reserve Account under this Section 3.3.

     3.4  Profit-Sharing Contributions. As of the Valuation Date coinciding with
          ----------------------------                           
or next following the date when the Company makes a Profit-Sharing Contribution
under the Retirement 

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
Plan, the Company shall credit to a Participant's Reserve Account an amount
determined as follows:

          (a)  First, the hypothetical amount of the Participant's share of the
     Profit-Sharing Contribution shall be calculated, based on the assumption
     that the Dollar Limitations do not apply;

          (b)  Second, the amount calculated under Subsection (a) above shall be
     reduced (but not below zero) by the actual amount of the Participant's
     share of the Profit-Sharing Contribution; and

          (c)  The remainder (if any) shall be the amount credited to the
     Participant's Reserve Account under this Section 3.4.

     3.5  Elective Deferrals. An individual who is eligible to participate in
          ------------------                                               
the Plan pursuant to Section 3.1 may elect to defer a portion of his Eligible
Earnings with respect to a calendar year by filing a written deferral election
with the Company during the Election Period. Any such election shall specify the
percentage of Eligible Earnings to be deferred, which percentage shall be no
higher than the maximum deferral percentage permitted under the Retirement Plan.
A deferral election shall apply only to Eligible Earnings to be paid following
the date when the Participant's Retirement Plan contributions exceed the
limitation in effect under Section 402(g) of the Code ($10,000 for 1999).

     Deferral elections may be made and revoked any number of times during the
Election Period, but any deferral election that has been submitted and has not
been revoked at the end of the Election Period then becomes irrevocable.
Normally, the Election Period is the month of December and the deferral election
applies to the following calendar year. However, a special Election Period
applies with respect to the calendar year when an individual first becomes
eligible to participate in the Plan. In any such case, the Participant's
Election Period is the 30-day period after the Company's written notice of
eligibility is given, and such a Participant's deferral election applies to the
remainder of the then-current calendar year following the close of the Election
Period. There is also a special Election Period applicable to 1999, the calendar
year in which this Plan was established. That Election Period is the 30-day
period after the Company's written notice of eligibility is given to
Participants, and any such Participant's deferral election applies to the
remainder of 1999 following the close of the Election Period.

     Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, the Committee, at its sole
discretion, may reduce the level of deferral elections or decline altogether to
accept an individual's deferral election.

                                   SECTION 4

                                 DISTRIBUTIONS

     4.1  Right to Receive Payment. Any amount that may become payable under the
          ------------------------                                     
Plan shall be paid solely from the general assets of the Company. Nothing in
this Plan shall be construed to create a trust or to establish or evidence any
Participant's claim of any right other than as an unsecured creditor with
respect to any payment to which he or she may be entitled.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     4.2  Timing of Payment---In General. Following the termination of a
          ------------------------------                                  
Participant's employment with the Company and its subsidiaries, the Company
shall pay to the Participant the balance credited to his or her Reserve Account.
Payment shall be made in cash at such time(s) and in such form (including a lump
sum or installments) as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion.
If the Committee determines that payment is to be made in the form of
installments, such installments shall be paid quarterly over a period not to
exceed two years.

     4.3  Accelerated In-Service Payment in Case of Emergency. In the event of
          ---------------------------------------------------         
a Participant's Unforeseeable Emergency, upon application by the Participant,
the Committee may determine in its sole discretion that distribution of all or a
portion of the Participant's Reserve Account shall be made on a date prior to
the Participant's termination of employment. Distributions on account of an
Unforeseeable Emergency shall be permitted only to the extent reasonably needed
to satisfy the Participant's need.

     4.4  In-Service Distribution With Penalty. Upon application by a
          ------------------------------------                        
Participant, the Committee may determine in its sole discretion that
distribution of all or a portion of the Participant's Reserve Account shall be
made prior to the Participant's termination of employment (even in the absence
of an Unforseeable Emergency). All distributions under this Section 4.4 shall be
reduced by a penalty equal to six percent of the amount otherwise distributable,
which penalty shall be forfeited to the Company. A Participant who has received
a distribution under this Section 4.4 shall thereafter be ineligible to make
elective deferrals to the Plan.

     4.5  Payment in the Event of Death. In the event of a Participant's death
          -----------------------------                                  
before the entire Reserve Account has been distributed to him or her, the unpaid
balance remaining in the Participant's Reserve Account shall be paid to his or
her beneficiary or beneficiaries under the Retirement Plan, at such time(s) and
in such form as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion.

                                   SECTION 5

                                ADMINISTRATION

     5.1  Committee is the Administrator. The Plan shall be administered by the
          ------------------------------                                 
Committee.

     5.2  Committee Authority. It shall be the duty of the Committee to 
          -------------------                                           
administer the Plan in accordance with the Plan's provisions. The Committee
shall have all powers and discretion necessary or appropriate to administer the
Plan and to control its operation including, but not limited to, the power to
(a) determine which Retirement Plan participants shall be eligible to
participate in this Plan, (b) determine the amounts to be credited to Reserve
Accounts, (c) determine whether to grant applications for accelerated payments
pursuant to Sections 4.3 and 4.4, (d) determine distributions to be made in the
event of death pursuant to Section 4.5, (e) interpret the Plan, (f) adopt such
rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are
consistent therewith and (g) interpret, amend or revoke any such rules.

     5.3  Decisions Binding. All determinations and decisions made by the
          -----------------                                               
Committee, the Board and any delegate of the Committee pursuant to the
provisions of the Plan shall be final,

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
conclusive and binding on all persons, and shall be given the maximum deference
permitted by law.

     5.4  Delegation by the Committee. The Committee, in its sole discretion and
          ---------------------------                             
on such terms and conditions as it may provide, may delegate all or part of its
authority and powers under the Plan to one or more directors, officers or
employees of the Company.

                                   SECTION 6

                         CLAIMS AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

     6.1  Application for Benefits. Any application for benefits under the Plan
          ------------------------                                         
shall be submitted to the Committee at the Company's principal office. Such
application shall be in writing and on the prescribed form, if any, and shall be
signed by the applicant.

     6.2  Denial of Applications. In the event that any application for benefits
          ----------------------                                        
is denied in whole or in part, the Committee shall notify the applicant in
writing of the right to a review of the denial. Such written notice shall set
forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the applicant, specific
reasons for the denial, specific references to the Plan provisions on which the
denial was based, a description of any information or material necessary to
perfect the application, an explanation of why such material is necessary, and
an explanation of the Plan's review procedure. Such written notice shall be
given to the applicant within 90 days after the Committee receives the
application, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for
processing the application. In no event shall such an extension exceed a period
of 90 days from the end of the initial 90-day period. If such an extension is
required, written notice thereof shall be furnished to the applicant before the
end of the initial 90-day period. Such notice shall indicate the special
circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Committee
expects to render a decision. If written notice is not given to the applicant
within the period prescribed by this Section 6.2, the application shall be
deemed to have been denied for purposes of Section 6.3 upon the expiration of
such period.

     6.3  Request for Review. Any person whose application for benefits is
          ------------------                                               
denied in whole or in part (or such person's duly authorized representative) may
appeal the denial by submitting to the Committee a request for a review of such
application within 90 days after receiving written notice of denial. The
Committee shall give the applicant or such representative an opportunity to
review pertinent documents (except legally privileged materials) in preparing
such request for review and to submit issues and comments in writing. The
request for review shall be in writing and shall be addressed to the Committee
at the Company's principal office. The request for review shall set forth all of
the ground on which it is based, all facts in support of the request, and any
other matters which the applicant deems pertinent. The Committee may require the
applicant to submit such additional facts, documents, or other material as it
may deem necessary or appropriate in making its review.

     6.4  Decision on Review. The Committee shall act upon each request for 
          ------------------                                            
review within 60 days after receipt thereof, unless special circumstances
require an extension of time for processing, but in no event shall the decision
on review be rendered more that 120 days after the Committee receives the
request for review. If such an extension is required, written notice

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
thereof shall be furnished to the applicant before the end of the initial 60-day
period. The Committee shall give prompt, written notice of its decision to the
applicant and to the Company. In the event that the Committee confirms the
denial of the application for benefits in whole or in part, such notice shall
set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the applicant, the
specific reasons for such denial and specific references to the Plan provisions
on which the decision is based. To the extent that the Committee overrules the
denial of the application for benefits, such benefits shall be paid to the
applicant.

     6.5  Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies. No legal or equitable action
          -------------------------------------                        
for benefits under the Plan shall be brought unless and until the claimant (a)
has submitted a written application for benefits in accordance with Section 6.1,
(b) has been notified that the application is denied, (c) has filed a written
request for a review of the application in accordance with Section 6.3, and (d)
has been notified in writing that the Committee has affirmed the denial of the
application; provided, however, that an action may be brought after the
Committee has failed to act on the claim within the time prescribed in Section
6.2 and Section 6.4, respectively.

                                   SECTION 7

                              GENERAL PROVISIONS

     7.1  Tax Withholding. The Company shall withhold all applicable taxes from
          ---------------                                                  
any payment under this Plan, including any federal, state and local taxes
(including the Participant's FICA obligation).

     7.2  No Effect on Employment or Service. Nothing in the Plan shall 
          ----------------------------------                            
interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate any
Participant's employment or service at any time, with or without cause.
Employment with the Company and its affiliates is on an at-will basis only. The
Company expressly reserves the right, which may be exercised at any time, to
terminate any individual's employment with or without cause, and to treat him or
her without regard to the effect that such treatment might have upon him or her
as a Participant.

     7.3  Participation. No individual shall have the right to be selected to
          -------------                                                    
participate in the Plan for any particular Plan Year.

     7.4  Indemnification. To the extent permitted by ERISA, each person who is
          ---------------                                                
or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board, shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (a) any loss,
cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by
him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or
proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be
involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and (b)
from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the
Company's approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any
such claim, action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she
shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend
the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own
behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any
other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the
Company's Certificate of

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
Incorporation or Bylaws, by contract, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or under
any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

     7.5  Successors. All obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be
          ----------                                                      
binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor
is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or
otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company.

     7.6  Nontransferability of Awards. No portion of any Participant's Reserve
          ----------------------------                                  
Account may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or
hypothecated, and any act in violation of this Section shall be void. All rights
with respect to a Participant's Reserve Account shall be available during his or
her lifetime only to the Participant.

                                   SECTION 8

                      AMENDMENT, TERMINATION AND DURATION

     8.1  Amendment, Suspension or Termination. The Company, in its sole
          ------------------------------------                           
discretion, may amend or terminate the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time
and for any reason. . The Company shall also have the authority to distribute
all or a portion of any Participant's Reserve Account at any time, regardless of
whether the Plan is then being terminated. The amendment, suspension or
termination of the Plan shall not, without the consent of the Participant, alter
or impair any rights or obligations under the Plan.

     8.2  Duration of the Plan. The Plan shall commence on the date specified
          --------------------                                      
herein and, subject to Section 8.1 (regarding the Company's right to amend or
terminate the Plan), shall remain in effect thereafter.

                                   SECTION 9

                              LEGAL CONSTRUCTION

     9.1  Gender and Number. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, 
          -----------------                                          
any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall
include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.

     9.2  Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held
          ------------                                                  
illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect
the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as
if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

     9.3  Requirements of Law. Benefits provided under the Plan shall be subject
          -------------------                                            
to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any
governmental agencies as may be required.

     9.4  Governing Law. The Plan shall be construed in accordance with governed
          -------------                                                 
by ERISA and, to the extent not preempted by ERISA, by the laws of the State of
California, but without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     9.5  Captions. Captions are provided herein for convenience only, and shall
          --------                                                         
not serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the Plan.

                                   EXECUTION

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Varian, Inc. by its duly authorized officer, has
executed the Plan on the date indicated below.

                                        VARIAN, INC.


Dated: April 2, 1999                    By: /s/ Robert R. Christofk II
                                           ___________________________
                                        Name:  Robert R. Christofk II
                                        Title: Vice President, Human Resources

                                       9

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 10.6

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


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


                                 VARIAN, INC.

                             AMENDED AND RESTATED
                   NOTE PURCHASE AND PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT
                                      AND
                                  ASSUMPTION



                                  $12,500,000
                 7.21% SERIES A SENIOR NOTES DUE JUNE 9, 2007

                                  $25,000,000
                6.70% SERIES B SENIOR NOTES DUE APRIL 30, 2014

                                  $14,000,000
                 7.49% SERIES C SENIOR NOTES DUE JUNE 9, 2002

                                  $7,000,000
                 6.90% SERIES D SENIOR NOTES DUE JUNE 9, 2002
                                      AND

                                  $50,000,000
                            PRIVATE SHELF FACILITY


                           DATED AS OF APRIL 2, 1999


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                            (not part of agreement)

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                                                   PAGE
<S>                                                                                                                <C> 
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................   1

1.       AUTHORIZATION OF ISSUE OF NOTES.........................................................................   3

         1A.      Authorization of Issue of Series A Notes.......................................................   3

         1B.      Authorization of Issue of Series B Notes.......................................................   3

         1C.      Authorization of Issue of Series C Notes.......................................................   3

         1D.      Authorization of Issue of Series D Notes.......................................................   3

         1E.      Authorization of Issue of Shelf Notes..........................................................   3

2.       ASSUMPTION AND AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF EXISTING NOTES; PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHELF NOTES............   4

                  2A(1).        Assumption.......................................................................   4

                  2A(2).        Amendment and Restatement of Existing 7.21% Notes and Issuance of Series
                                A Notes..........................................................................   4

                  2A(3).        Amendment and Restatement of Existing 6.70% Notes and Issuance of Series
                                B Notes..........................................................................   5

                  2A(4).        Amendment and Restatement of Existing 7.49% Notes and Issuance of Series
                                C Notes..........................................................................   5

                  2A(5).        Amendment and Restatement of Existing 6.90% Notes and Issuance of Series
                                D Notes..........................................................................   6

         2B.      Purchase and Sale of Shelf Notes...............................................................   6


3.       CONDITIONS OF CLOSING...................................................................................  10

         3A.      Conditions to Amendments and Restatements......................................................  10
</TABLE> 

                                      -i-
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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                                                   PAGE
<S>                                                                                                                <C> 
         3B.      Conditions to Purchase of Notes...............................................................   11
                                                                                                                     
4.       PREPAYMENTS............................................................................................   12
                                                                                                                     
         4A.      Required Prepayments of Series A Notes, Series B Notes, Series C Notes and Series D                
                  Notes.........................................................................................   13
                                                                                                                     
                  4A(1).        Required Prepayments of Series A Notes..........................................   13
                                                                                                                     
                  4A(2).        Required Prepayments of Series B Notes..........................................   13
                                                                                                                     
                  4A(3).        Required Prepayments of Series C Notes..........................................   13
                                                                                                                     
                  4A(4).        Required Prepayments of Series D Notes..........................................   13
                                                                                                                     
         4B.      Required Prepayments of Shelf Notes...........................................................   13
                                                                                                                     
         4C.      Optional Prepayment With Yield-Maintenance Amount.............................................   13
                                                                                                                     
         4D.      Notice of Optional Prepayment.................................................................   14
                                                                                                                     
         4E.      Application of Prepayments....................................................................   14
                                                                                                                     
         4F.      Retirement of Notes...........................................................................   14
                                                                                                                     
5.       AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS..................................................................................   14
                                                                                                                     
         5A.      Financial Statements; Notice of Defaults......................................................   14
                                                                                                                     
         5B.      Information Required by Rule 144A.............................................................   16
                                                                                                                     
         5C.      Inspection of Property........................................................................   16
                                                                                                                     
         5D.      Covenant to Secure Notes Equally..............................................................   16
                                                                                                                     
         5E.      Maintenance of Insurance......................................................................   17
                                                                                                                     
         5F.      Compliance with Laws..........................................................................   17
                                                                                                                     
6.       NEGATIVE COVENANTS.....................................................................................   17
                                                                                                                     
         6A.      Certain Financial Requirements................................................................   17
                                                                                                                     
         6B.      Dividend Limitation...........................................................................   17
                                                                                                                     
         6C.      Lien, Funded Debt and Other Restrictions......................................................   18
</TABLE> 

                                     -ii-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                                                   PAGE
<S>                                                                                                                <C> 
7.       EVENTS OF DEFAULT......................................................................................   21
                                                                                                                     
         7A.      Acceleration..................................................................................   21
                                                                                                                     
         7B.      Rescission of Acceleration....................................................................   24
                                                                                                                     
         7C.      Notice of Acceleration or Rescission..........................................................   24
                                                                                                                     
         7D.      Other Remedies................................................................................   24
                                                                                                                     
8.       REPRESENTATIONS, COVENANTS AND WARRANTIES..............................................................   24
                                                                                                                     
         8A.      Organization..................................................................................   25
                                                                                                                     
         8B.      Financial Statements..........................................................................   25
                                                                                                                     
         8C.      Actions Pending...............................................................................   25
                                                                                                                     
         8D.      Outstanding Funded Debt.......................................................................   26
                                                                                                                     
         8E.      Title to Properties...........................................................................   26
                                                                                                                     
         8F.      Taxes.........................................................................................   26
                                                                                                                     
         8G.      Conflicting Agreements and Other Matters......................................................   26
                                                                                                                     
         8H.      Offering of Notes.............................................................................   27
                                                                                                                     
         8I.      Use of Proceeds...............................................................................   27
                                                                                                                     
         8J.      ERISA.........................................................................................   27
                                                                                                                     
         8K.      Governmental Consent..........................................................................   28
                                                                                                                     
         8L.      Environmental Compliance......................................................................   28
                                                                                                                     
         8M.      Disclosure....................................................................................   28
                                                                                                                     
         8N.      Hostile Tender Offers.........................................................................   28
                                                                                                                     
         8O.      Year 2000 Compliance..........................................................................   28
                                                                                                                     
9.       REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS......................................................................   29
                                                                                                                     
         9A.      Nature of Purchase............................................................................   29
                                                                                                                     
         9B.      Source of Funds...............................................................................   29
                                                                                                                     
10.      DEFINITIONS; ACCOUNTING MATTERS........................................................................   30
                                                                                                                     
         10A.     Yield-Maintenance Terms.......................................................................   30
                                                                                                                     
         10B.     Other Terms...................................................................................   31 
</TABLE> 

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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                                                   PAGE
<S>                                                                                                                <C> 
         10C.     Accounting Principles, Terms and Determinations...............................................   39
                                                                                                                     
11.      MISCELLANEOUS..........................................................................................   39
                                                                                                                     
         11A.     Note Payments.................................................................................   39
                                                                                                                     
         11B.     Expenses......................................................................................   39
                                                                                                                     
         11C.     Consent to Amendments.........................................................................   40
                                                                                                                     
                  11D(1).       Form, Registration, Transfer and Exchange of Notes; Lost Notes..................   41
                                                                                                                     
                  11D(2).       Prior Notice to Company Regarding Resale; Excluded Transferees..................   41

         11E.     Persons Deemed Owners; Participations.........................................................   42
                                                                                                                     
         11F.     Survival of Representations and Warranties; Entire Agreement..................................   42
                                                                                                                     
         11G.     Successors and Assigns........................................................................   42
                                                                                                                     
         11H.     Disclosure to Other Persons...................................................................   43
                                                                                                                     
         11I.     Independence of Covenants.....................................................................   43
                                                                                                                     
         11J.     Notices.......................................................................................   43
                                                                                                                     
         11K.     Payments Due on Non-Business Days.............................................................   44
                                                                                                                     
         11L.     Severability..................................................................................   44
                                                                                                                     
         11M.     Descriptive Headings..........................................................................   44
                                                                                                                     
         11N.     Satisfaction Requirement......................................................................   44
                                                                                                                     
         11O.     Governing Law.................................................................................   45
                                                                                                                     
         11P.     Severalty of Obligations......................................................................   45
                                                                                                                     
         11Q.     Counterparts..................................................................................   45
                                                                                                                     
         11R.     Binding Agreement.............................................................................   45
                                                                                                                     
         11S.     Amendment and Restatement of Existing Agreements; Release of the Company......................   46 
</TABLE> 

                            EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

Purchaser Schedule for Series A Notes, Series B Notes, Series C Notes and Series
D Notes Information Schedule

Exhibit A-1       --        Form of Series A Note 
Exhibit A-2       --        Form of Series B Note 
Exhibit A-3       --        Form of Series C Note 
Exhibit A-4       --        Form of Series D Note 
Exhibit A-5       --        Form of Shelf Note 

                                     -iv-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

                                                                            PAGE

Exhibit B     --   Form of Request for Purchase 
Exhibit C     --   Form of Confirmation of Acceptance  
Exhibit D     --   Form of Solvency Certificate
Exhibit E-1   --   Form of Opinion of Company Counsel, Series C Note
                   Closing 
Exhibit E-2   --   Form of Opinion of Company Counsel, Shelf Note 
                   Closing 
Exhibit F-1   --   Form of Prudential Confidentiality Agreement 
Exhibit F-2   --   Form of Non-Prudential Confidentiality Agreement 
Exhibit G     --   Investment Policy of Company Board of Directors 
Schedule 8G   --   Agreements Restricting Debt

                                      -v-
<PAGE>
 
                                 VARIAN, INC.
                                3120 Hansen Way
                       Palo Alto, California 94304-1000

                                                             As of April 2, 1999



The Prudential Insurance Company
 of America ("PRUDENTIAL")
Each Prudential Affiliate (as hereinafter
defined) which becomes bound by certain
provisions of this Agreement as hereinafter
provided (together with Prudential,
the "PURCHASERS")

c/o Prudential Capital Group
Four Embarcadero Center
Suite 2700
San Francisco, California 94111

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          The undersigned, Varian, Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein called
the "COMPANY"), hereby agrees with you  as set forth below.  Reference is made
to paragraph 10 hereof for definitions of capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined herein.

          INTRODUCTION.

          Varian Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation, to be known as Varian
Medical Systems, Inc., effective April 3, 1999 ("MEDICAL SYSTEMS"), and the
holder of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, and
Prudential are parties to (i) the Master Shelf Agreement, dated as of May 11,
1992 (as heretofore amended, the "1992 NOTE AGREEMENT"), under which Medical
Systems issued, and there are now outstanding and held by Prudential (a) Medical
Systems' 7.49% Senior Notes due June 9, 2002, in the original aggregate
principal amount of $40,000,000, of which $28,000,000 aggregate principal amount
are now outstanding (the "EXISTING 7.49% NOTES"), and (b) Medical Systems' 6.90%
Senior Notes due June 9, 2002, in the original aggregate principal amount of
$20,000,000, of which $14,000,000 aggregate principal amount are now outstanding
(the "EXISTING 6.90% NOTES"), and (ii) the Note Purchase and Private Shelf
Agreement, dated as of October 18, 1996 (as heretofore amended, the "1996 NOTE
AGREEMENT"), under which Medical Systems issued, and there are now outstanding
and held by Prudential (a) Medical Systems' 7.21% Series A Senior Notes due June
9, 2007 in the aggregate principal amount of $25,000,000 (the "EXISTING 7.21%
NOTES"), and (b) Medical Systems' 6.70% Series B Senior Notes due April 30, 2018
in the aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000 (the "EXISTING 6.70% NOTES").
<PAGE>
 
          Medical Systems has advised Prudential that it intends to distribute
all of the shares of the Company to the shareholders of Medical Systems (the
"SPIN OFF").  In connection with the Spin Off, Medical Systems will prepay
$14,000,000 principal amount of the Existing 7.49% Notes and $7,000,000
principal amount of the Existing 6.90% Notes, and the Company and Medical
Systems have requested that Prudential agree to, among other things, the
following effective upon the consummation of the Spin Off:

          (1) to amend certain of the terms of $12,500,000 principal amount of
the Existing 7.21% Notes as more specifically set forth in the Medical Systems
Amended and Restated Note Agreement (such $12,500,000 principal amount of the
Existing 7.21% Notes amended pursuant to the Medical Systems Amended and
Restated Note Agreement being herein called the "MEDICAL SYSTEMS SERIES A
NOTES");

          (2) to shorten the maturity of the Existing 6.70% Notes to April 30,
2014 and to amend the interest rate on $25,000,000 principal amount of the
Existing 6.70% Notes, as more specifically set forth in the Medical Systems
Amended and Restated Note Agreement (such $25,000,000 principal amount of the
Existing 6.70% Notes the interest rate on which is amended pursuant to the
Medical Systems Amended and Restated Note Agreement being herein called the
"MEDICAL SYSTEMS SERIES B NOTES");

          (3) the assumption by the Company of Medical Systems' obligations
under, and the release of Medical Systems from any obligation under, (A) the
$14,000,000 principal amount of the Existing 7.49% Notes and the $7,000,000
principal amount of the Existing 6.90% Notes not prepaid by Medical Systems (the
$14,000,000 principal amount of the Existing 7.49% Notes to be so assumed by the
Company being herein called the "SERIES C NOTES" (which term shall include each
Series C Note delivered pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and each
promissory note of the Company delivered in substitution or exchange for any
Series C Note pursuant to any such provision)) and the $7,000,000 principal
amount of the Existing 6.90% Notes to be so assumed by the Company being herein
called the "SERIES D NOTES" (which term shall include each Series D Note
delivered pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and each promissory note
of the Company delivered in substitution or exchange for any Series D Note
pursuant to any such provision)), (B) the $12,500,000 principal amount of the
Existing 7.21% Notes not constituting the Medical Systems Series A Notes (the
$12,500,000 principal amount of the Existing 7.21% Notes to be so assumed by the
Company being herein called the "SERIES A NOTES" (which term shall include each
Series A Note delivered pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and each
promissory note of the Company delivered in substitution or exchange for any
Series A Note pursuant to any such provision)) and (C) the $25,000,000 principal
amount of the Existing 6.70% Notes not constituting Medical Systems Series B
Notes (the $25,000,000 principal amount of the Existing 6.70% Notes to be so
assumed by the Company being herein called the "SERIES B NOTES" (which term
shall include each Series B Note delivered pursuant to any promissory note of
the Company delivered in substitution or exchange for any Series B Note pursuant
to any such provision)); and

          (4) to amend and restate the 1992 Note Agreement and the 1996 Note
Agreement, as they relate to the Series A Notes, the Series B Notes, the Series
C Notes and the Series D Notes, in their entireties as set forth herein,
including to provide for a new private shelf facility as set forth in paragraph
2B hereof, and to provide that the Series A Notes, the Series B Notes, the

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
Series C Notes, the Series D Notes and any Shelf Notes shall be subject to the
terms of this Agreement.

          Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Prudential is willing to
agree to the foregoing.  Accordingly, the Company and the Purchasers agree as
follows:

          1.   AUTHORIZATION OF ISSUE OF NOTES.

          1A.  AUTHORIZATION OF ISSUE OF SERIES A NOTES.  The Company will
authorize the issue of the Series A Notes in the aggregate principal amount of
$12,500,000, to be dated the date of issue thereof, to mature June 9, 2007, to
bear interest (computed on the basis of a 360 day year -- 30 day month) on the
unpaid balance thereof from the date thereof until the principal thereof shall
have become due at the rate of 7.21% per annum, and on overdue principal, Yield-
Maintenance Amount and interest at the rate and at the time specified therein,
and to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 attached hereto.

          1B.  AUTHORIZATION OF ISSUE OF SERIES B NOTES.  The Company will
authorize the issue of the Series B Notes in the aggregate principal amount of
$25,000,000, to be dated the date of issue thereof, to mature April 30, 2014, to
bear interest (computed on the basis of a 360 day year -- 30 day month) on the
unpaid balance thereof from the date thereof until the principal thereof shall
have become due at the rate of 6.70% per annum, and on overdue principal, Yield-
Maintenance Amount and interest at the rate and at the time specified therein,
and to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 attached hereto.

          1C.  AUTHORIZATION OF ISSUE OF SERIES C NOTES.  The Company will
authorize the issue of the Series C Notes in the aggregate principal amount of
$14,000,000, to be dated the date of issue thereof, to mature June 9, 2002 to
bear interest (computed on the basis of a 360 day year -- 30 day month) on the
unpaid balance thereof from the date thereof until the principal thereof shall
have become due at the rate of 7.49 % per annum, and on overdue principal,
Yield-Maintenance Amount and interest at the rate and at the time specified
therein, and to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-3 attached hereto.

          1D.  AUTHORIZATION OF ISSUE OF SERIES D NOTES.  The Company will
authorize the issue of the Series D Notes in the aggregate principal amount of
$7,000,000, to be dated the date of issue thereof, to mature June 9, 2002, to
bear interest (computed on the basis of a 360 day year -- 30 day month) on the
unpaid balance thereof from the date thereof until the principal amount thereof
shall have become due at the rate of 6.90% per annum, and on overdue principal,
Yield-Maintenance Amount and interest at the rate and at the time specified
therein, and to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-4 attached hereto

          1E.  AUTHORIZATION OF ISSUE OF SHELF NOTES.  The Company may authorize
the issue of its additional senior promissory notes (the "SHELF NOTES") in the
aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000, to be dated the date of issue
thereof, to mature, in the case of each Shelf Note so issued, no more than
fifteen years after the date of original issuance thereof, to have an average
life, in the case of each Shelf Note so issued, of no more than twelve years
after the date of original issuance thereof, to bear interest on the unpaid
balance thereof from the date thereof at the rate per annum, and to have such
other particular terms, as shall be set forth, in the case of

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
each Shelf Note so issued, in the Confirmation of Acceptance with respect to
such Shelf Note delivered pursuant to paragraph 2B(5), and to be substantially
in the form of Exhibit A-5 attached hereto. The terms "SHELF NOTE" and "SHELF
NOTES" as used herein shall include each Shelf Note delivered pursuant to any
provision of this Agreement and each Shelf Note delivered in substitution or
exchange for any such Shelf Note pursuant to any such provision. The terms
"NOTE" and "NOTES" as used herein shall include each Series A Note, each Series
B Note, each Series C Note, each Series D Note and each Shelf Note delivered
pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and each Note delivered in
substitution or exchange for any such Note pursuant to any such provision. Notes
which have (i) the same final maturity, (ii) the same principal prepayment
dates, (iii) the same principal prepayment amounts (as a percentage of the
original principal amount of each Note), (iv) the same interest rate, (v) the
same interest payment periods and (vi) the same date of issuance (which, in the
case of a Note issued in exchange for another Note, shall be deemed for these
purposes the date on which such Note's ultimate predecessor Note was issued),
are herein called a "SERIES" of Notes.

          2.   ASSUMPTION AND AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF EXISTING NOTES;
PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHELF NOTES.

               2A(1).  ASSUMPTION. Effective as of the Restatement Date, the
Company hereby irrevocably, absolutely, unconditionally and expressly assumes
(i) the due and punctual payment of all of the principal of, interest on, Yield-
Maintenance Amount (if any) with respect to, and all other payments due under or
relating to, (a) the $14,000,000 principal amount of the Existing 7.49% Notes
and the $7,000,000 principal amount of the Existing 6.90% Notes not prepaid by
Medical Systems as contemplated by the Medical Systems Amended and Restated Note
Agreement, (b) the $12,500,000 principal amount of the Existing 7.21% Notes not
constituting Medical Systems Series A Notes, and (c) the $25,000,000 principal
amount of the Existing 6.70% Notes the maturity of which has been shortened to
April 30, 2014 pursuant to the Medical Systems Amended and Restated Note
Agreement but not constituting Medical Systems Series B Notes, (ii) as amended
and restated in paragraphs 2A(2), 2A(3), 2A(4) and 2A(5), the due and punctual
payment and performance of all covenants and provisions in the 1992 Note
Agreement, the 1996 Note Agreement, the Existing 7.49% Notes, the Existing 6.90%
Notes, the Existing 7.21% Notes, the Existing 6.70% Notes and all other
instruments, agreements and undertakings which have been made by Medical
Systems, in each case to the extent related to the indebtedness the payment of
which is assumed by the Company pursuant to clause (i) of the paragraph 2A(1),
and (iii) all other debts, liabilities and obligations of Medical Systems under
any of the agreements, promissory notes, instruments or undertaking referred to
in clause (ii) of this paragraph 2A(1), in each case to the extent related to
the indebtedness the payment of which is assumed by the Company pursuant to
clause (i) of this paragraph 2A(1). The Company covenants that its debts,
liabilities and obligations assumed pursuant to this paragraph 2A(1) shall be
those of a primary obligor and not a guarantor, surety or secondary obligor.

               2A(2).  AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF EXISTING 7.21% NOTES AND
ISSUANCE OF SERIES A NOTES. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company and Prudential agree that, effective on the Restatement Date,
the $12,500,000 principal amount of the Existing 7.21% Notes the payment of
which is being assumed by the Company pursuant to paragraph 2A(1) will be
amended and restated in their entirety to be a like principal amount of Series A
Notes having the terms described in paragraph 1A hereof and to be in the form of

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
Exhibit A-1 hereto.  On the Restatement Date, the Company will deliver to
Prudential, in substitution and exchange for the Existing 7.21% Notes being so
amended and restated, at the offices of Schiff Hardin & Waite, 6600 Sears Tower,
Chicago, Illinois 60606, one or more Series A Notes registered in the name of
Prudential, evidencing the aggregate principal amount of the Existing 7.21%
Notes held by Prudential being so amended and restated, and in the denomination
or denominations, specified in the Purchaser Schedule attached hereto.  The
Series A Notes (i) are given in exchange and substitution for, and not as
payment of the indebtedness evidenced by, the $12,500,000 principal amount of
the Existing 7.21% Notes being amended and restated pursuant to this paragraph
2A(2), (ii) merely re-evidence the indebtedness evidenced by such $12,500,000
principal amount of the Existing 7.21% Notes, and (iii) are not intended to
constitute a novation or discharge of the indebtedness evidenced by such
$12,500,000 principal amount of the Existing 7.21% Notes.  Promptly after the
Restatement Date Prudential agrees to mark such Existing 7.21% Notes "Replaced"
and to return such Existing 7.21% Notes to Medical Systems.

               2A(3).  AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF EXISTING 6.70% NOTES AND
ISSUANCE OF SERIES B NOTES. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company and Prudential agree that, effective on the Restatement Date,
the $25,000,000 principal amount of the Existing 6.70% Notes the payment of
which is being assumed by the Company pursuant to paragraph 2A(1) will be
amended and restated in their entirety to be a like principal amount of Series B
Notes having the terms described in paragraph 1B hereof and to be in the form of
Exhibit A-2 hereto. On the Restatement Date, the Company will deliver to
Prudential, in substitution and exchange for the Existing 6.70% Notes being so
amended and restated, at the offices of Schiff Hardin & Waite, 6600 Sears Tower,
Chicago, Illinois 60606, one or more Series B Notes registered in the name of
Prudential, evidencing the aggregate principal amount of the Existing 6.70%
Notes held by Prudential being so amended and restated, and in the denomination
or denominations, specified in the Purchaser Schedule attached hereto. The
Series B Notes (i) are given in exchange and substitution for, and not as
payment of the indebtedness evidenced by, the $25,000,000 principal amount of
the Existing 6.70% Notes being amended and restated pursuant to this paragraph
2A(3), (ii) merely re-evidence the indebtedness evidenced by such $25,000,000
principal amount of the Existing 6.70% Notes, and (iii) are not intended to
constitute a novation or discharge of the indebtedness evidenced by such
$25,000,000 principal amount of the Existing 6.70% Notes. Promptly after the
Restatement Date Prudential agrees to mark such Existing 6.70% Notes "Replaced"
and to return such Existing 6.70% Notes to Medical Systems.

               2A(4).  AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF EXISTING 7.49% NOTES AND
ISSUANCE OF SERIES C NOTES. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company and Prudential agree that, effective on the Restatement Date,
the $14,000,000 principal amount of the Existing 7.49% Notes the payment of
which is being assumed by the Company pursuant to paragraph 2A(1) will be
amended and restated in their entirety to be a like principal amount of Series C
Notes having the terms described in paragraph 1C and to be in the form of
Exhibit A-3 hereto. On the Restatement Date, the Company will deliver to
Prudential, in substitution and exchange for the Existing 7.49% Notes being so
amended and restated, at the offices of Schiff Hardin & Waite, 6600 Sears Tower,
Chicago, Illinois 60606, one or more Series C Notes registered in the name of
Prudential, evidencing the aggregate principal amount of the Existing 7.49%
Notes held by Prudential being so amended and restated, and in the denomination
or

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
denominations, specified in the Purchaser Schedule attached hereto. The Series C
Notes (i) are given in exchange and substitution for, and not a payment of the
indebtedness evidenced by, the $14,000,000 principal amount of the Existing
7.49% Notes being amended and restated pursuant to this paragraph 2A(4), (ii)
merely re-evidence the indebtedness evidenced by such $14,000,000 principal
amount of the Existing 7.49% Notes, and (iii) are not intended to constitute a
novation or discharge of the indebtedness evidenced by such $14,000,000
principal amount of the Existing 7.49% Notes. Promptly after the Restatement
Date, Prudential agrees to mark such Existing 7.49% Notes "Replaced" and to
return such Existing 7.49% Notes to Medical Systems.

               2A(5).  AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF EXISTING 6.90% NOTES AND
ISSUANCE OF SERIES D NOTES. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company and Prudential agree that, effective on the Restatement Date,
the $7,000,000 principal amount of the Existing 6.90% Notes the payment of which
is being assumed by the Company pursuant to paragraph 2A(1) will be amended and
restated in their entirety to be a like principal amount of Series D Notes
having the terms described in paragraph 1D and to be in the form of Exhibit A-4
hereto. On the Restatement Date, the Company will deliver to Prudential, in
substitution and exchange for the Existing 6.90% Notes being so amended and
restated, at the offices of Schiff Hardin & Waite, 6600 Sears Tower, Chicago,
Illinois 60606, one or more Series D Notes registered in the name of Prudential,
evidencing the aggregate principal amount of the Existing 6.90% Note held by
Prudential being so amended and restated, and in the denomination or
denominations, specified in the Purchaser Schedule attached hereto. The Series D
Notes (i) are given in exchange and substitution for, and not as payment of the
indebtedness evidenced by, the $7,000,000 principal amount of the Existing 6.90%
Notes being amended and restated pursuant to this paragraph 2A(5), (ii) merely
re-evidence the indebtedness evidenced by such $7,000,000 principal amount of
the Existing 6.90% Notes, and (iii) are not intended to constitute a novation or
discharge of the indebtedness evidenced by such $7,000,000 principal amount of
the Existing 6.90% Notes. Promptly after the Restatement Date, Prudential agrees
to mark such Existing 6.90% Notes "Replaced" and to return such Existing 6.90%
Notes to Medical Systems.

          2B.  PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHELF NOTES.

               2B(1).  FACILITY.  Prudential is willing to consider, in its sole
discretion and within limits which may be authorized for purchase by Prudential
and Prudential Affiliates from time to time, the purchase of Shelf Notes
pursuant to this Agreement.  The willingness of Prudential to consider such
purchase of Shelf Notes is herein called the "Facility".  At any time, the
aggregate principal amount of Shelf Notes stated in paragraph 1E, minus the
                                                                  -----    
aggregate principal amount of Shelf Notes purchased and sold pursuant to this
Agreement prior to such time, minus the aggregate principal amount of Accepted
                              -----                                           
Notes (as hereinafter defined) which have not yet been purchased and sold
hereunder prior to such time, is herein called the "AVAILABLE FACILITY AMOUNT"
at such time.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE WILLINGNESS OF PRUDENTIAL TO CONSIDER
PURCHASES OF SHELF NOTES, THIS AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO ON THE EXPRESS
UNDERSTANDING THAT NEITHER PRUDENTIAL NOR ANY PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATE SHALL BE
OBLIGATED TO MAKE OR ACCEPT OFFERS TO PURCHASE SHELF NOTES, OR TO QUOTE RATES,
SPREADS OR OTHER TERMS WITH RESPECT TO SPECIFIC PURCHASES OF SHELF NOTES, AND
THE FACILITY SHALL IN NO WAY BE

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY PRUDENTIAL OR ANY PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATE.

               2B(2).  ISSUANCE PERIOD. Shelf Notes may be issued and sold
pursuant to this Agreement until the earlier of (i) the third anniversary of the
date of this Agreement (or if such anniversary is not a Business Day, the
Business Day next preceding such anniversary) and (ii) the thirtieth day after
Prudential shall have given to the Company, or the Company shall have given to
Prudential, written notice stating that it elects to terminate the issuance and
sale of Shelf Notes pursuant to this Agreement (or if such thirtieth day is not
a Business Day, the Business Day next preceding such thirtieth day). The period
during which Shelf Notes may be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement is
herein called the "ISSUANCE PERIOD".

               2B(3).  REQUEST FOR PURCHASE. The Company may from time to time
during the Issuance Period make requests for purchases of Shelf Notes (each such
request being herein called a "REQUEST FOR PURCHASE"). Each Request for Purchase
shall be made to Prudential by telecopier or overnight delivery service, and
shall (i) specify the aggregate principal amount of Shelf Notes covered thereby,
which shall not be less than $5,000,000 and not be greater than the Available
Facility Amount at the time such Request for Purchase is made, (ii) specify the
principal amounts, final maturities, principal prepayment dates and amounts and
interest payment periods (quarterly or semi-annual in arrears) of the Shelf
Notes covered thereby, (iii) specify the use of proceeds of such Shelf Notes,
(iv) specify the proposed day for the closing of the purchase and sale of such
Shelf Notes, which shall be a Business Day during the Issuance Period not less
than 5 Business Days and not more than 30 Business Days after the making of such
Request for Purchase, (v) specify the number of the account and the name and
address of the depository institution to which the purchase prices of such Shelf
Notes are to be transferred on the Closing Day for such purchase and sale, (vi)
certify that the representations and warranties contained in paragraph 8 are
true on and as of the date of such Request for Purchase (except to the extent
caused by the transactions herein contemplated) and that there exists on the
date of such Request for Purchase no Event of Default or Default, (vii) specify
the Designated Spread for such Shelf Notes and (viii) be substantially in the
form of Exhibit B attached hereto. Each Request for Purchase shall be in writing
and shall be deemed made when received by Prudential.

               2B(4).  RATE QUOTES. Not later than two Business Days after the
Company shall have given Prudential a Request for Purchase pursuant to paragraph
2B(3), Prudential may, but shall be under no obligation to, provide to the
Company by telephone or telecopier, in each case between 9:30 A.M. and 1:30 P.M.
New York City local time (or such later time as Prudential may elect) interest
rate quotes for the several principal amounts, maturities, principal prepayment
schedules, and interest payment periods of Shelf Notes specified in such Request
for Purchase. Each quote shall represent the interest rate per annum payable on
the outstanding principal balance of such Shelf Notes at which Prudential or a
Prudential Affiliate would be willing to purchase such Shelf Notes at 100% of
the principal amount thereof.

               2B(5).  ACCEPTANCE. Within 5 minutes after Prudential shall have
provided any interest rate quotes pursuant to paragraph 2B(4) or such shorter
period as Prudential may specify to the Company (such period herein called the
"ACCEPTANCE WINDOW"), the Company may, subject to paragraph 2B(6), elect to
accept such interest rate quotes as to not less than $5,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of the Shelf Notes specified in the related Request for
Purchase.

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
Such election shall be made by an Authorized Officer of the Company notifying
Prudential by telephone or telecopier within the Acceptance Window that the
Company elects to accept such interest rate quotes, specifying the Shelf Notes
(each such Shelf Note being herein called an "ACCEPTED NOTE") as to which such
acceptance (herein called an "ACCEPTANCE") relates. The day the Company notifies
an Acceptance with respect to any Accepted Notes is herein called the
"ACCEPTANCE DAY" for such Accepted Notes. Any interest rate quotes as to which
Prudential does not receive an Acceptance within the Acceptance Window shall
expire, and no purchase or sale of Shelf Notes hereunder shall be made based on
such expired interest rate quotes. Subject to paragraph 2B(6) and the other
terms and conditions hereof, the Company agrees to sell to Prudential or a
Prudential Affiliate, and Prudential agrees to purchase, or to cause the
purchase by a Prudential Affiliate of, the Accepted Notes at 100% of the
principal amount of such Notes. As soon as practicable following the Acceptance
Day, the Company, Prudential and each Prudential Affiliate which is to purchase
any such Accepted Notes will execute a confirmation of such Acceptance
substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto (herein called a
"CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE"). If the Company should fail to execute and return
to Prudential within three Business Days following receipt thereof a
Confirmation of Acceptance with respect to any Accepted Notes, Prudential may at
its election at any time prior to its receipt thereof cancel the closing with
respect to such Accepted Notes by so notifying the Company in writing.

               2B(6).  MARKET DISRUPTION. Notwithstanding the provisions of
paragraph 2B(5), if Prudential shall have provided interest rate quotes pursuant
to paragraph 2B(4) and thereafter prior to the time an Acceptance with respect
to such quotes shall have been notified to Prudential in accordance with
paragraph 2B(5) the domestic market for U.S. Treasury securities or derivatives
shall have closed or there shall have occurred a general suspension, material
limitation, or significant disruption of trading in securities generally on the
New York Stock Exchange or in the domestic market for U.S. Treasury securities
or derivatives, then such interest rate quotes shall expire, and no purchase or
sale of Shelf Notes hereunder shall be made based on such expired interest rate
quotes. If the Company thereafter notifies Prudential of the Acceptance of any
such interest rate quotes, such Acceptance shall be ineffective for all purposes
of this Agreement, and Prudential shall promptly notify the Company that the
provisions of this paragraph 2B(6) are applicable with respect to such
Acceptance.

               2B(7).  FACILITY CLOSINGS. Not later than 11:30 A.M. (New York
City local time) on the Closing Day for any Accepted Notes, the Company will
deliver to each Purchaser listed in the Confirmation of Acceptance relating
thereto at the offices of Prudential Capital Group, Four Embarcadero Center,
Suite 2700, San Francisco, California 94111, the Accepted Notes to be purchased
by such Purchaser in the form of one or more Notes in authorized denominations
as such Purchaser may request for each Series of Accepted Notes to be purchased
on the Closing Day, dated the Closing Day and registered in such Purchaser's
name (or in the name of its nominee), against payment of the purchase price
thereof by transfer of immediately available funds for credit to the Company's
account specified in the Request for Purchase of such Notes. If the Company
fails to tender to any Purchaser the Accepted Notes to be purchased by such
Purchaser on the scheduled Closing Day for such Accepted Notes as provided above
in this paragraph 2B(7), or any of the conditions specified in paragraph 3 shall
not have been fulfilled by the time required on such scheduled Closing Day, the
Company shall, prior to 1:00 P.M., New York City local time, on such scheduled
Closing Day notify Prudential (which notification shall be deemed received by
each Purchaser) in writing whether (i) such closing is to be

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
rescheduled (such rescheduled date to be a Business Day during the Issuance
Period not less than one Business Day and not more than 30 Business Days after
such scheduled Closing Day (the "RESCHEDULED CLOSING DAY")) and certify to
Prudential (which certification shall be for the benefit of each Purchaser) that
the Company reasonably believes that it will be able to comply with the
conditions set forth in paragraph 3 on such Rescheduled Closing Day and that the
Company will pay the Delayed Delivery Fee in accordance with paragraph
2B(8)(iii) or (ii) such closing is to be canceled. In the event that the Company
shall fail to give such notice referred to in the preceding sentence, Prudential
(on behalf of each Purchaser) may at its election, at any time after 1:00 P.M.,
New York City local time, on such scheduled Closing Day, notify the Company in
writing that such closing is to be canceled. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary appearing in this Agreement, the Company may not elect to reschedule a
closing with respect to any given Accepted Notes on more than one occasion,
unless Prudential shall have otherwise consented in writing.

               2B(8).  FEES.

                    2B(8)(i).  ISSUANCE FEE. The Company will pay to Prudential
in immediately available funds a fee (herein called the "ISSUANCE FEE") on each
Closing Day (other than any other Closing Day which occurs prior to the date
which is three months after the Restatement Date) in an amount equal to 0.15% of
the aggregate principal amount of Notes sold on such Closing Day.

                    2B(8)(ii). DELAYED DELIVERY FEE. If the closing of the
purchase and sale of any Accepted Note is delayed for any reason beyond the
original Closing Day for such Accepted Note, the Company will pay to Prudential
(a) on the Cancellation Date or actual closing date of such purchase and sale
and (b) if earlier, the next Business Day following 90 days after the Acceptance
Day for such Accepted Note and on each Business Day following 90 days after the
prior payment hereunder, a fee (herein called the "DELAYED DELIVERY FEE")
calculated as follows:

                          (BEY - MMY) X DTS/360 X PA

where "BEY" means Bond Equivalent Yield, i.e., the bond equivalent yield per
annum of such Accepted Note; "MMY" means Money Market Yield, i.e., the yield per
annum on a commercial paper investment of the highest quality selected by
Prudential on the date Prudential receives notice of the delay in the closing
for such Accepted Note having a maturity date or dates the same as, or closest
to, the Rescheduled Closing Day or Rescheduled Closing Days (a new alternative
investment being selected by Prudential each time such closing is delayed);
"DTS" means Days to Settlement, i.e., the number of actual days elapsed from and
including the original Closing Day with respect to such Accepted Note (in the
case of the first such payment with respect to such Accepted Note) or from and
including the date of the next preceding payment (in the case of any subsequent
delayed delivery fee payment with respect to such Accepted Note) to but
excluding the date of such payment; and "PA" means Principal Amount, i.e., the
principal amount of the Accepted Note for which such calculation is being made.
In no case shall the Delayed Delivery Fee be less than zero.  Nothing contained
herein shall obligate any Purchaser to purchase any Accepted Note on any day
other than the Closing Day for such Accepted Note, as the same may be
rescheduled from time to time in compliance with paragraph 2B(7).

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                    2B(8)(iii). CANCELLATION FEE. If the Company at any time
notifies Prudential in writing that the Company is canceling the closing of the
purchase and sale of any Accepted Note, or if Prudential notifies the Company in
writing under the circumstances set forth in the last sentence of paragraph
2B(5) or the penultimate sentence of paragraph 2B(7) that the closing of the
purchase and sale of such Accepted Note is to be canceled, or if the closing of
the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note is not consummated on or prior to
the last day of the Issuance Period (the date of any such notification, or the
last day of the Issuance Period, as the case may be, being herein called the
"CANCELLATION DATE"), the Company will pay to Prudential in immediately
available funds an amount (the "CANCELLATION FEE") calculated as follows:

                                    PI X PA

where "PI" means Price Increase, i.e., the quotient (expressed in decimals)
obtained by dividing (a) the excess of the ask price (as determined by
Prudential) of the Hedge Treasury Note(s) on the Cancellation Date over the bid
price (as determined by Prudential) of the Hedge Treasury Notes(s) on the
Acceptance Day for such Accepted Note by (b) such bid price; and "PA" has the
meaning ascribed to it in paragraph 2B(8)(iii).  The foregoing bid and ask
prices shall be as reported by Bridge Telerate Services (Telerate) (or, if such
data for any reason ceases to be available through Bridge Telerate Services
(Telerate), any publicly available source of similar market data).  Each price
shall be based on a U.S. Treasury security having a par value of $100.00 and
shall be rounded to the second decimal place.  In no case shall the Cancellation
Fee be less than zero.

          3.   CONDITIONS OF CLOSING.

          3A.  CONDITIONS TO AMENDMENTS AND RESTATEMENTS. The effectiveness of
the amendment and restatement of the $12,500,000 principal amount of Existing
7.21% Notes pursuant to paragraph 2A(1) hereof, the amendment and restatement of
the $25,000,000 principal amount of the Existing 6.70% Notes pursuant to
paragraph 2A(2) hereof, the amendment and restatement of the $14,000,000
principal amount of the Existing 7.49% Notes pursuant to paragraph 2A(3) hereof,
the amendment and restatement of the $7,000,000 principal amount of the 6.90%
Notes pursuant to paragraph 2A(4) hereof, and the amendment and restatement of
the 1992 Note Agreement and the 1996 Note Agreement pursuant to paragraph 11S
hereof are subject to the satisfaction, on or before the Restatement Date, of
(i) each of the conditions set forth in paragraph 3B hereof, and (ii) each of
the following conditions:

               3A(1).  SPIN OFF. All agreements and instruments relating to the
Spin Off shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Prudential
and shall have been duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto,
Prudential shall have received copies of all such agreements and instruments
together with an Officer's Certificate certify that such agreements and
instrument are correct and complete, and the Spin Off shall have been
consummated in accordance with the terms of such agreements and instruments.

               3A(2).  MEDICAL SYSTEMS AMENDED AND RESTATED NOTE AGREEMENT.
Prudential and Medical Systems shall have duly executed and delivered the
Medical Systems Amended and Restated Note Agreement and the Medical Systems
Amended and Restated Note

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
Agreement shall be in full force and effect. All conditions to the effectiveness
of the amendment and restatement of the 1992 Note Agreement and the 1996 Note
Agreement, as they relate to the Medical Systems Series A Notes and the Medical
Systems Series B Notes, and the release of Medical Systems from obligations
being assumed by the Company hereunder under the Medical Systems Amended and
Restated Note Agreement shall have been satisfied.

          3A(3).    RESTATED NOTES.  Prudential shall have received the Series A
Notes, the Series B Notes, the Series C Notes and the Series D Notes, as
contemplated by paragraphs 2A(2), 2A(3), 2A(4) and 2A(5) hereof, duly executed
and delivered by the Company.

          3A(4).    SECURITIES VALUATION OFFICE QUESTIONNAIRE. The Company will
have delivered to Prudential a copy of the Company's response to the Year 2000
Due Diligence Questionnaire supplied by the Securities Valuation Office of the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

          3A(5).    SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE. Prudential shall have received an
Officer's Certificate as to the solvency of the Company after giving effect to
the Spin-Off, the assumption by the Company pursuant to paragraph 2A(1) hereof,
the amendments and restatements pursuant to paragraphs 2A(2), 2A(3), 2A(4) and
2A(5), the issuance of the Notes and the consummation of the other transactions
contemplated hereby in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto.

     3B.  CONDITIONS TO PURCHASE OF NOTES.  The effectiveness of the amendments
and restatements referred to in paragraph 3A and the obligation of any Purchaser
to purchase and pay for any Notes is subject to the satisfaction (i) on or
before the Restatement Date, of each of the conditions set forth in paragraph
3A, and (ii) on or before the Closing Day for such Notes, of the following
additional conditions:

          3B(1).    CERTAIN DOCUMENTS. Such Purchaser shall have received the
following, each dated the date of the Restatement Date or the applicable Closing
Day, as applicable:

          (i)   In the case of the purchase of any Note(s), the Note(s) to be
     purchased by such Purchaser.

          (ii)  Certified copies of the resolutions of the Boards of Directors
     of the Company authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
     the issuance of the Notes, and of all documents evidencing other necessary
     corporate action and governmental approvals, if any, with respect to this
     Agreement and the Notes.

          (iii) Certificates of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and one
     other officer of the Company certifying the names and true signatures of
     the officers of the Company authorized to sign this Agreement and the Notes
     and the other documents to be delivered hereunder.

          (iv)  Certified copies of the Charter and By-laws of the Company.

          (v)   A favorable opinion from the general counsel of the Company (or
     such other counsel designated by the Company and acceptable to the
     Purchaser(s)) satisfactory to such Purchaser and substantially in the form
     of Exhibit E-1 (in the case of the

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
     effectiveness of such amendments and restatements) or E-2 (in the case of
     any Shelf Notes) attached hereto and as to such other matters as such
     Purchaser may reasonably request. The Company hereby directs each such
     counsel to deliver such opinion, agrees that the issuance and sale of any
     Notes will constitute a reconfirmation of such direction, and understands
     and agrees that each Purchaser receiving such an opinion will and is hereby
     authorized to rely on such opinion.

          (vi)  Good standing certificates for the Company from the Secretaries
     of State of Delaware and California dated as of a recent date and such
     other evidence of the status of the Company as such Purchaser may
     reasonably request.

          (vii) In the case of Closing Days other than the Restatement Date,
     additional documents or certificates with respect to legal matters or
     corporate or other proceedings related to the transactions contemplated
     hereby as may be reasonably requested by such Purchaser at least two
     Business Days prior to the Closing Day.

          3B(2).    OPINION OF PURCHASER'S SPECIAL COUNSEL. Such Purchaser shall
have received from James F. Evert, Assistant General Counsel of Prudential or
such other counsel who is acting as special counsel for it in connection with
this transaction, a favorable opinion satisfactory to such Purchaser as to such
matters incident to the matters herein contemplated as it may reasonably
request.

          3B(3).    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; NO DEFAULT. The
representations and warranties of the Company contained in paragraph 8 hereof
shall be true on and as of the Restatement Date or such Closing Day, as
applicable, except to the extent of changes caused by the transactions herein
contemplated; there shall exist on the Restatement Date or such Closing Day, as
applicable, no Event of Default or Default; and the Company shall have delivered
to such Purchaser an Officer's Certificate, dated the Restatement Date or such
Closing Day, as applicable, to both such effects.

          3B(4).    PURCHASE PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS. The purchase of and
payment for the Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser on the terms and
conditions herein provided (including the use of the proceeds of such Notes by
the Company) shall not violate any applicable law or governmental regulation
(including, without limitation, Section 5 of the Securities Act or Regulation T,
U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and shall not
subject such Purchaser to any tax, penalty, liability or other onerous condition
under or pursuant to any applicable law or governmental regulation, and such
Purchaser shall have received such certificates or other evidence as it may
request to establish compliance with this condition.

          3B(5).    PAYMENT OF FEES. The Company shall have paid to Prudential
any fees due it pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, including any
Issuance Fee due pursuant to paragraph 2B(8)(i) and any Delayed Delivery Fee due
pursuant to paragraph 2B(8)(ii).

     4.   PREPAYMENTS.  The Series A Notes, the Series B Notes, the Series C
Notes, the Series D Notes and any Shelf Notes shall be subject to required
prepayment as and to the extent provided in paragraphs 4A and 4B, respectively.
The Series A Notes, the Series B Notes, 

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
the Series C Notes, the Series D Notes and any Shelf Notes shall also be subject
to prepayment under the circumstances set forth in paragraph 4C.

     4A.  REQUIRED PREPAYMENTS OF SERIES A NOTES, SERIES B NOTES, SERIES C NOTES
AND SERIES D NOTES.

          4A(1).    REQUIRED PREPAYMENTS OF SERIES A NOTES. Until the Series A
Notes shall be paid in full, the Company shall apply to the prepayment of the
Series A Notes, without Yield Maintenance Amount, the sum of $1,250,000 on June
9 and December 9 in each year, commencing December 9, 2002 through and including
December 9, 2006, and such principal amounts of the Series A Notes, together
with interest accrued thereon to the payment dates, shall become due on such
payment dates. The remaining unpaid principal amount of the Series A Notes,
together with interest accrued thereon, shall become due on the maturity date of
the Series A Notes.

          4A(2).    REQUIRED PREPAYMENTS OF SERIES B NOTES. Until the Series B
Notes shall be paid in full, the Company shall apply to the prepayment of the
Series B Notes, without Yield-Maintenance Amount, the sum of $6,250,000 on April
30, 2008, April 30, 2010 and April 30, 2012, and such principal amounts of the
Series B Notes, together with interest accrued thereon to the payment dates,
shall become due on such payment dates. The remaining unpaid principal amount of
the Series B Notes, together with interest accrued thereon, shall become due on
the maturity date of the Series B Notes.

          4A(3).    REQUIRED PREPAYMENTS OF SERIES C NOTES. Until the Series C
Notes shall be paid in full, the Company shall apply to the prepayment of the
Series C Notes, without Yield-Maintenance Amount, the sum of $2,000,000 on June
9 and December 9 in each year, commencing June 9, 1999 through and including
December 9, 2001, and such principal amounts of the Series C Notes, together
with interest accrued thereon to the payment dates, shall become due on such
payment dates. The remaining unpaid principal amount of the Series C Notes,
together with interest accrued thereon, shall become due on the maturity date of
the Series C Notes.

          4A(4).    REQUIRED PREPAYMENTS OF SERIES D NOTES. Until the Series D
Note shall be paid in full, the Company shall apply to the prepayment of the
Series D Notes, without Yield-Maintenance Amount, the sum of $1,000,000 on June
9 and December 9 in each year, commencing, June 9, 1999 through and including
December 9, 2001, and such principal amounts of the Series D Notes, together
with interest accrued thereon to the payment dates, shall become due on such
payment dates. The remaining unpaid principal balance of the Series D Notes,
together with interest accrued thereon, shall become due on the maturity date of
the Series D Notes.

     4B.  REQUIRED PREPAYMENTS OF SHELF NOTES. Each Series of Shelf Notes shall
be subject to the required prepayments, if any, set forth in the Notes of such
Series.

     4C.  OPTIONAL PREPAYMENT WITH YIELD-MAINTENANCE AMOUNT. The Notes of each
Series shall be subject to prepayment, in whole at any time or from time to time
in part (in integral multiples of $100,000 and in a minimum amount of
$1,000,000), at the option of the 

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
Company, at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid plus interest thereon to the
prepayment date and the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect to each
such Note. Notwithstanding paragraphs 4A(1), 4A(2), 4A(3), 4A(4) and 4B, upon
any partial prepayment of Notes of a Series pursuant to this paragraph 4C, the
principal amount of each required prepayment of the Notes of such Series under
paragraph 4A(1), 4A(2), 4A(3), 4A(4) or 4B, as the case may be, becoming due
after the date of such prepayment shall be reduced in the same proportion as the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Notes of such Series is reduced as a
result of such prepayment pursuant to this paragraph 4C.

     4D.  NOTICE OF OPTIONAL PREPAYMENT. The Company shall give the holder of
each Note of a Series to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4C irrevocable written
notice of such prepayment not less than 5 Business Days prior to the prepayment
date, specifying such prepayment date, the aggregate principal amount of the
Notes of such Series to be prepaid on such date, the principal amount of the
Notes of such Series held by such holder to be prepaid on that date and that
such prepayment is to be made pursuant to paragraph 4C. Notice of prepayment
having been given as aforesaid, the principal amount of the Notes specified in
such notice, together with interest thereon to the prepayment date and together
with the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, herein provided, shall become due and
payable on such prepayment date. The Company shall, on or before the day on
which it gives written notice of any prepayment pursuant to paragraph 4C, give
telephonic notice of the principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid and the
prepayment date to each Significant Holder which shall have designated a
recipient for such notices in the Purchaser Schedule attached hereto or in the
applicable Confirmation of Acceptance or by notice in writing to the Company.

     4E.  APPLICATION OF PREPAYMENTS. In the case of each prepayment of less
than the entire unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Notes of any Series
pursuant to paragraph 4A, 4B or 4C, the amount to be prepaid shall be applied
pro rata to all outstanding Notes of such Series according to the respective
unpaid principal amounts thereof.

     4F.  RETIREMENT OF NOTES. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any
of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to, prepay or otherwise retire in whole or in
part prior to their stated final maturity (other than by prepayment pursuant to
paragraph 4A, 4B or 4C or upon acceleration of such final maturity pursuant to
paragraph 7A), or purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, Notes
of any Series held by any holder.

     5.   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. During the Issuance Period and so long
thereafter as any Note is outstanding and unpaid, the Company covenants as
follows:

     5A.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; NOTICE OF DEFAULTS. The Company covenants that
it will deliver to each Significant Holder in duplicate:

          (i)   as soon as practicable and in any event within 45 days after the
     end of each of the first three quarterly periods in each fiscal year,
     consolidated statements of earnings, cash flows and shareholders' equity of
     the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period from the beginning of the
     current fiscal year to the end of such quarterly period, and a consolidated
     balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such
     quarterly period, setting forth in each case in comparative form figures
     for the 

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
     corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, all in reasonable detail
     and certified by an authorized financial officer of the Company, subject to
     changes resulting from year-end adjustments; provided, however, that
                                                  --------  -------
     pursuant to clause (iii) below of copies of the Quarterly Report on Form 
     10-Q of the Company for such quarterly period filed with the Securities and
     Exchange Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this
     clause (i);

          (ii)  as soon as practicable and in any event within 90 days after the
     end of each fiscal year, consolidated statements of earnings, cash flows
     and shareholders' equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such year,
     and a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at
     the end of such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form
     corresponding consolidated figures from the preceding annual audit, all in
     reasonable detail and satisfactory in form to the Required Holder(s) and
     containing an unqualified opinion by independent nationally recognized
     public accountants selected by the Company; provided, however, that
                                                 --------  -------      
     delivery pursuant to clause (iii) below of copies of the Annual Report on
     Form 10-K of the Company for such fiscal year filed with the Securities and
     Exchange Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this
     clause (ii);

          (iii) promptly upon transmission thereof, copies of all such financial
     statements, proxy statements, notices and reports as it shall send to its
     stockholders and copies of all registration statements (without exhibits
     and exclusive of any registration statement on From S-8 or any successor
     thereto) and all reports which it files with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission (or any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions
     of the Securities and Exchange Commission);

          (iv)  promptly upon any amendment or other modification thereof which
     changes the types or amounts of investments or classes of investments
     permitted thereby, a copy of the Investment Policy reflecting such
     amendment or other modification; and

          (v)   with reasonable promptness, such other financial data as such
     Significant Holder may reasonably request.

Together with each delivery of financial statements required by clauses (i) and
(ii) above, the Company will deliver to each Significant Holder an Officer's
Certificate demonstrating (with computations in reasonable detail) compliance by
the Company and its Subsidiaries with the provisions of paragraphs 6A, 6B, 6C(2)
and 6C(3) and stating that there exists no Event of Default or Default, or, if
any Event of Default or Default exists, specifying the nature and period of
existence thereof and what action the Company proposes to take with respect
thereto. Together with each delivery of financial statements required by clause
(ii) above, the Company will deliver to each Significant Holder a certificate of
such accountants stating that, in making the audit necessary for their report on
such financial statements, they have obtained no knowledge of any Event of
Default or Default, or, if they have obtained knowledge of any Event of Default
or Default, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof. Such
accountants, however, shall not be liable to anyone by reason of their failure
to obtain knowledge of any Event of Default or Default which would not be
disclosed in the course of such audit.

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
     The Company also covenants that immediately after any Designated Officer
obtains knowledge of an Event of Default or Default, it will deliver to each
Significant Holder an Officer's Certificate specifying the nature and period of
existence thereof and what action the Company proposes to take with respect
thereto.

     5B.  INFORMATION REQUIRED BY RULE 144A. The Company covenants that it will,
upon the request of the holder of any Note, provide such holder, and any
qualified institutional buyer designated by such holder, such financial and
other information as such holder may reasonably determine to be necessary in
order to permit compliance with the information requirements of Rule 144A under
the Securities Act in connection with the resale of Notes, except at such times
as the Company is subject to and in compliance with the reporting requirements
of section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. For the purpose of this paragraph
5B, the term "qualified institutional buyer" shall have the meaning specified in
Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

     5C.  INSPECTION OF PROPERTY. The Company covenants that it will permit any
Person designated by any Significant Holder in writing, at such Significant
Holder's expense, to visit and inspect any of the properties of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, to examine the corporate books and financial records of the
Company and its Subsidiaries and make copies thereof or extracts therefrom
(provided making copies or taking extracts of any such documents with the
consent of the Company is not prohibited by any federal, state or local law) and
to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of any of such corporations with
(x) the principal officers of the Company and (y) during the pendency of an
Event of Default and so long as an officer of the Company is provided an
opportunity to attend, its independent public accountants, all at such
reasonable times and as often as such Significant Holder may reasonably request;
provided, however, that (i) the foregoing provisions of this paragraph 5C shall
- --------  -------                                                              
be subject to compliance with applicable security regulations of the United
States Government, (ii) matters which the Company in good faith has determined
are subject to the attorney/client privilege, information from third parties
which the Company is required to maintain as confidential and confidential
research and design information of the Company or of any Subsidiary shall not be
subject to such inspection, examination, copying and discussion and (iii)
disclosure of any other material non-public information of the Company or its
Subsidiaries requested by such Person may be conditioned upon such Person's
execution and delivery of a confidentiality agreement in the form of Exhibit F-1
(in the case of Prudential or any Prudential Affiliate) or in the form of
Exhibit F-2 or such other form as is reasonably satisfactory to the Company and
such Person (in the case of any other holder of Notes).

     5D.  COVENANT TO SECURE NOTES EQUALLY. The Company covenants that, if it or
any Subsidiary shall create or assume any Lien upon any of its property or
assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than Liens permitted by
the provisions of paragraph 6C(1) (unless prior written consent to the creation
or assumption thereof shall have been obtained pursuant to paragraph 11C), it
will, if requested by the Required Holders, make or cause to be made effective
provision whereby the Notes will be secured by such Lien equally and ratably
with any and all other Funded Debt thereby secured so long as any such other
Funded Debt shall be so secured.

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
     5E.  MAINTENANCE OF INSURANCE. The Company covenants that it will, and will
cause its Subsidiaries to, maintain insurance in such amounts and against such
hazards and liabilities as customarily is maintained by other companies
operating similar businesses and, from time to time, upon the written request of
any Significant Holder, will deliver an Officer's Certificate specifying the
details of such insurance then in effect.

     5F.  COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. The Company covenants that it will, and will
cause each of the Subsidiaries to, comply in a timely fashion with, or operate
pursuant to valid waivers of the provisions of, all applicable statutes, rules,
regulations and orders of all federal, state, local and foreign governments,
courts, agencies or regulatory bodies, including all Environmental Laws, except
where noncompliance would not materially adversely affect the business,
condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and the
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

     6.   NEGATIVE COVENANTS. During the Issuance Period and so long thereafter
as any Note or other amount due hereunder is outstanding and unpaid, the Company
covenants as follows:

     6A.  CERTAIN FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS. The Company covenants that it will not
permit:

          (i)   Consolidated Working Capital at any time to be less than
     $65,000,000;

          (ii)  the ratio of (A) the sum of Consolidated Cash and Cash
     Equivalents plus Consolidated Receivables to (B) Consolidated Current
     Liabilities at any time to be less than 50%; or

          (iii) the ratio of (A) the sum of (1) Consolidated Net Earnings plus
     (2) Consolidated income taxes plus (3) Consolidated Interest Expense to (B)
     Consolidated Interest Expense for the five immediately preceding
     consecutive fiscal quarters at any time to be less than 300%.

     6B.  DIVIDEND LIMITATION. The Company covenants that it will not and will
not permit any Subsidiary to (i) pay or declare any dividend on any class of its
stock, or make any other distribution on account of any class of its stock, or
(ii) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares
of its stock (all of the foregoing being herein called "RESTRICTED PAYMENTS")
except any such Restricted Payment which, when added to all prior Restricted
Payments made by the Company or any Subsidiary after October 2, 1998, does not
exceed Consolidated Net Earnings Available for Restricted Payments. There shall
not be included in Restricted Payments (i) dividends paid, or distributions
made, in its own stock by the Company or a Subsidiary; (ii) exchanges of stock
of one or more classes of the Company or a Subsidiary for its common stock or
for its stock of the same class, except to the extent that cash or other value
is involved in such exchange; (iii) the cost of stock of the Company repurchased
by the Company in any year for the issuance of new stock to employees and
directors under the employee stock plans and programs described in the Company's
proxy statement dated February 12, 1999, and any successor or replacement
programs, but not to exceed the proceeds received by the Company from the
issuance of stock under such plans and programs during such year; or (iv)

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
dividends or distributions paid by a Subsidiary to the Company. The term "stock"
as used in this paragraph 6B shall include warrants, rights or options to
purchase stock.

     6C.  LIEN, FUNDED DEBT AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS. The Company covenants that
it will not and will not permit any Subsidiary to:

          6C(1).    LIENS. Create, assume or suffer to exist at any time any
Lien upon any of its property or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired
(whether or not provision is made for the equal and ratable securing of the Note
in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5C), except

          (i)   Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good
     faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been
     established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

          (ii)  other Liens incidental to the conduct of its business or the
     ownership of its property and assets which were not incurred in connection
     with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit, and
     which do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of its
     property or assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of
     its business;

          (iii) Liens on property or assets of a Subsidiary to secure
     obligations of such Subsidiary to the Company or another Subsidiary; and

          (iv)  any Lien on property of the Company or any Subsidiary securing
     Funded Debt permitted by paragraph 6C(2), provided that Funded Debt secured
                                               --------                         
     by all such Liens shall not at any time exceed 15% of Consolidated Tangible
     Net Worth;

          6C(2).    CONSOLIDATED FUNDED DEBT. Create, incur, assume or suffer to
exist at any time any Funded Debt, except to the extent that (i) Consolidated
Funded Debt is less than or equal to 55% of Consolidated Tangible Gross Worth,
(ii) Consolidated Funded Debt secured by Liens is less than or equal to 15% of
Consolidated Tangible Net Worth, and (iii) Funded Debt of Subsidiaries
(including Guarantees of Funded Debt of the Company) to Persons other than the
Company or another Subsidiary is less than or equal to 10% of Consolidated
Tangible Net Worth;

          6C(3).    LOANS, ADVANCES, INVESTMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES.
Make or permit to remain outstanding any loan or advance to, or Guarantee,
endorse or otherwise voluntarily be or become contingently liable, directly or
indirectly, in connection with the obligations, stock or dividends of, or own,
purchase or acquire any stock, obligations or securities of, or any other
interest in, or make any capital contribution to, any Person (provided that for
                                                              --------
purposes of this Agreement down payments and progress payments in the ordinary
course of business shall not be considered as advances), except that the Company
or any Subsidiary may:

          (i)    make or permit to remain outstanding loans or advances to any
     Subsidiary,

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
          (ii)   own, purchase or acquire stock, obligations or securities of a
     Subsidiary, or of a corporation which immediately after such purchase or
     acquisition will be a Subsidiary,

          (iii)  acquire and own stock, obligations or securities received in
     settlement of debts (created in the ordinary course of business) owing to
     the Company or any Subsidiary,

          (iv)   endorse negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary
     course of business,

          (v)    make or permit to remain outstanding (A) travel advances in the
     ordinary course of business to, and (B) loans and Guarantees pursuant to
     employee relocation and housing programs approved by the Company's Board of
     Directors to or on behalf of, officers and employees of the Company or any
     Subsidiary,

          (vi)   guarantee obligations of other Persons, provided the Funded
     Debt represented by such Guarantees does not violate any provision of this
     Agreement, including paragraph 6C(2),

          (vii)  make investments as permitted by the investment policy (the
     "INVESTMENT POLICY") adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and
     which is attached hereto as Exhibit G, as amended from time to time,

          (viii) make Restricted Payments in compliance with paragraph 6B,
     and

          (ix)   guarantee obligations of Medical Systems and Varian
     Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. ("VSEA") consisting of "shared
     liabilities" as that term is defined in the Distribution Agreement dated as
     of January 14, 1999 by and among the Company, Medical Systems and VSEA,

          (x)    make other loans, advances and investments, provided that the
                                                             --------         
     aggregate dollar amount thereof shall not at any time exceed 20% of
     Consolidated Tangible Net Worth;

          6C(4).    SALE OF STOCK AND FUNDED DEBT OF SUBSIDIARIES. Sell, issue
or otherwise dispose of any shares of stock (other than director's or
shareholder's qualifying shares) or Funded Debt of any Subsidiary, except (i) to
the Company or another Subsidiary, (ii) that all shares of stock and Funded Debt
of any Subsidiary at the time owned by or owed to the Company and all
Subsidiaries may be sold as an entirety for a consideration which represents the
fair value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
Company) at the time of sale of the shares of stock and Funded Debt so sold,
provided that such sale shall be subject to and shall not violate paragraph 
- --------               
6C(5), and further provided that, at the time of such sale, such Subsidiary
                   --------
shall not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or Funded Debt of any
other Subsidiary (unless all of the shares of stock and Funded Debt of such
other Subsidiary owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and all
Subsidiaries are simultaneously being sold as permitted by this paragraph 6C(4))
and (iii) less than all shares of stock in a Subsidiary may be sold for a
consideration of not less than fair value (as determined in good faith by the
Board of 

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
Directors of the Company) so long as the Company's remaining investment in such
former Subsidiary is treated as an investment and can be held in compliance with
paragraph 6C(3);

          6C(5).    MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS. Enter into any transaction of
merger or consolidation with any other corporation or sell, lease or transfer or
otherwise dispose of all or a substantial part of its assets to any Person,
except that

          (i)   any Subsidiary wholly-owned by the Company may merge with the
     Company (provided that the Company shall be the continuing or surviving
     corporation) or with any one or more other Subsidiaries,

          (ii)  any Subsidiary may sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of
     (collectively, "TRANSFER") any of its assets to the Company or another
     Subsidiary,

          (iii) any Subsidiary may Transfer all or substantially all of its
     assets subject to the conditions specified in paragraphs 6C(4)(ii) and the
     remainder of this 6C(5) with respect to the sale of the stock of such
     Subsidiary,

          (iv)  the Company may merge or consolidate with any other corporation
     provided that the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation
     --------                                                                  
     and that immediately after such merger or consolidation, there shall exist
     no Event of Default or Default under this Agreement, and

          (v)   the Company or any Subsidiary may Transfer any of its assets
     provided that (x) the book value of all such assets Transferred, together
     with the book value of all shares of stock and Funded Debt of any
     Subsidiary Transferred pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 6C(4) and
     assets Transferred pursuant to clause (iii) of this paragraph 6C(5), in any
     fiscal year does not exceed 20% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth as of
     the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year, and (y) the assets,
     including any assets Transferred pursuant to clause (iii) of this paragraph
     6C(5) and any Subsidiary Transferred pursuant to the provisions of
     paragraph 6C(4), Transferred in any fiscal year shall have contributed less
     than 10% of the average amount of Consolidated Net Earnings for the three
     fiscal years immediately preceding the fiscal year in which such
     determination takes place;

provided, however, that notwithstanding any provision of paragraphs 6C(4) and
- --------  -------                                                            
6C(5) to the contrary, (A) the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not Transfer
assets, on a cumulative basis from the date of this Agreement, either with a
book value in excess of 40% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth (measured as of
the last day of the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year in which
such determination takes place) or that contributed Consolidated Net Earnings
(calculated as set forth in clause (v) (y) above) in excess of 20% of
Consolidated Net Earnings for the three fiscal years immediately preceding the
fiscal year in which such determination takes place, and (B) the Company may
discontinue the operation of, or sell, any division of its business or any
Subsidiary if such division or Subsidiary is unprofitable and the Board of
Directors of the Company in good faith has determined that the business of such
division or Subsidiary should be so discontinued or otherwise abandoned;

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
          6C(6).    SALE OR DISCOUNT OF RECEIVABLES. Discount or sell with
recourse, or sell for less than the face value thereof, any of its notes or
accounts receivable, except that the Company or any Subsidiary may (i) sell
                     ------ 
notes or accounts receivable with recourse provided that the aggregate face
amount of such notes and accounts receivable sold in any fiscal year does not
exceed 5% of Consolidated gross sales for the fiscal year then most recently
ended, and (ii) discount notes or accounts receivable provided that the amount
of such discount reflects only customary finance charges paid by the Company or
such Subsidiary in the normal course of business;

          6C(7).    TRANSACTIONS WITH STOCKHOLDERS. Directly or indirectly,
purchase, acquire or lease any property from, or Transfer any property to, or
otherwise deal with, in the ordinary course of business or otherwise (i) any
Affiliate or (ii) any Substantial Stockholder, except that (a) the Company may
sell to, or purchase (within the limitations of paragraph 6B) from, any such
person shares of the Company's stock, (b) such acts and transactions prohibited
by this paragraph 6C(7) may be performed or engaged in if made upon terms not
less favorable than if no such relationship described in clauses (i) and (ii)
above existed, (c) the foregoing shall not apply to cash compensation, stock
option and other stock-based incentive compensation, employee relocation and
other employee benefit plans approved by the Company's Board of Directors, (d)
the Company and its Subsidiaries may, in the ordinary course of business,
directly or indirectly, purchase, acquire or lease property from, or Transfer
property to, or otherwise deal with Affiliates provided that such transaction
with any such Affiliate shall be not less favorable to the Company and its
Subsidiaries than if such transactions were entered into with non-Affiliates and
(e) the Company and Subsidiaries may engage in such transactions if approved by
a majority of the outside, disinterested members of the Company's Board of
Directors.

     7.   EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

     7A.  ACCELERATION.  If any of the following events shall occur and be
continuing for any reason whatsoever (and whether such occurrence shall be
voluntary or involuntary or come about or be effected by operation of law or
otherwise):

          (i)    the Company defaults in the payment of any principal of or
     Yield Maintenance Amount on any Note when the same shall become due, either
     by the terms thereof or otherwise as herein provided; or

          (ii)   the Company defaults in the payment of any interest on any Note
     for more than 10 days after the date due; or

          (iii)  the Company or any Subsidiary defaults (whether as primary
     obligor, as guarantor or other surety) in any payment of principal of or
     interest on any other obligation for money borrowed (or any Capitalized
     Lease Obligation, any obligation under a conditional sale or other title
     retention agreement, any obligation issued or assumed as full or partial
     payment for property whether or not secured by a purchase money mortgage or
     any obligation under notes payable or drafts accepted representing
     extensions of credit) beyond any period of grace provided with respect
     thereto, or the Company or any Subsidiary fails to perform or observe any
     other agreement, term or condition contained in any agreement under which
     any such obligation is created (or if

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
     any other event thereunder or under any such agreement shall occur and be
     continuing) and the effect of such failure or other event is to cause, or
     to permit the holder or holders of such obligation (or a trustee on behalf
     of such holder or holders) to cause, such obligation to become due (or to
     be repurchased by the Company or any Subsidiary) prior to any stated
     maturity, provided that the aggregate amount of all obligations as to which
               --------         
     such a payment default shall occur and be continuing or such a failure or
     other event causing or permitting acceleration (or resale to the Company or
     any Subsidiary) shall occur and be continuing exceeds $5,000,000; or

          (iv)   any representation or warranty made by the Company herein or by
     the Company or any of its officers in any writing furnished in connection
     with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be false in any material respect
     on the date as of which made; or

          (v)    the Company fails to perform or observe any agreement contained
     in paragraph 6; or

          (vi)   the Company fails to perform or observe any other agreement,
     term or condition contained herein and such failure shall not be remedied
     within 30 days after any Designated Officer obtains actual knowledge
     thereof; or

          (vii)  the Company or any Subsidiary makes an assignment for the
     benefit of creditors or is generally not paying its debts as such debts
     become due; or

          (viii) any decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or
     any Subsidiary is entered under any bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise,
     arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation
     or similar law, whether now or hereafter in effect (herein called the
     "BANKRUPTCY LAW"), of any jurisdiction; or

          (ix)   the Company or any Subsidiary petitions or applies to any
     tribunal for, or consents to, the appointment of, or taking possession by,
     a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or similar official of the
     Company or any Subsidiary, or of any substantial part of the assets of the
     Company or any Subsidiary, or commences a voluntary case under the
     Bankruptcy Law of the United States or any proceedings (other than
     proceedings for the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a Subsidiary)
     relating to the Company or any Subsidiary under the Bankruptcy Law of any
     other jurisdiction; or

          (x)    any such petition or application is filed, or any such
     proceedings are commenced, against the Company or any Subsidiary and the
     Company or such Subsidiary by any act indicates its approval thereof,
     consent thereto or acquiescence therein, or an order, judgment or decree is
     entered appointing any such trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or
     similar official, or approving the petition in any such proceedings, and
     such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than
     30 days; or

          (xi)   any order, judgment or decree is entered in any proceedings
     against the Company decreeing the dissolution of the Company and such
     order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 60
     days; or

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
          (xii)  any order, judgment or decree is entered in any proceedings
     against the Company or any Subsidiary decreeing a split-up of the Company
     or such Subsidiary which requires the divestiture of assets with a book
     value, or the divestiture of the stock of a Subsidiary whose assets have a
     book value, in excess of 20% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth (measured
     at the end of the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year in
     which such divestiture occurs) or which requires the divestiture of assets,
     or stock of a Subsidiary, which shall have contributed in excess of 10% of
     the average amount of Consolidated Net Earnings for the three completed
     fiscal years immediately preceding the fiscal year in which such
     divestiture occurs, and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and
     in effect for more than 60 days; or

          (xiii) one or more final judgments in an aggregate amount in excess of
     $5,000,000 is rendered against the Company or any Subsidiary and, within 60
     days after entry thereof, any such judgment is not discharged or execution
     thereof stayed pending appeal, or within 60 days after the expiration of
     any such stay, any such judgment is not discharged; or

          (xiv)  if (a) any Plan shall fail to satisfy any applicable minimum
     funding standards of ERISA or the Code for any plan year or part thereof or
     a waiver of such standards or extension of any amortization period is
     sought or granted under section 412 of the Code, (b) a notice of intent to
     terminate any Plan shall have been or is reasonably expected to be filed
     with the PBGC or the PBGC shall have instituted proceedings under ERISA
     section 4042 to terminate or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan or
     the PBGC shall have notified the Company or any ERISA Affiliate that a Plan
     may become a subject of any such proceedings, (c) the aggregate "amount of
     unfunded benefit liabilities" (within the meaning of section 4001(a)(18) of
     ERISA) under all Plans, determined in accordance with Title IV of ERISA,
     shall exceed $1,000,000, (d) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate shall have
     incurred or is reasonably expected to incur any liability pursuant to Title
     I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code
     relating to employee benefit plans, (e) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate
     withdraws from any Multiemployer Plan, or (f) the Company or any Subsidiary
     establishes or amends any employee welfare benefit plan that provides post-
     employment welfare benefits in a manner that would increase the liability
     of the Company or any Subsidiary thereunder; and any such event or events
     described in clauses (a) through (f) above, either individually or together
     with any other such event or events, would reasonably be expected to have a
     material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company and its
     Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

then (a) if such event is an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (ii) of
this paragraph 7A, any holder of any Note may at its option during the
continuance of such Event of Default, by notice in writing to the Company,
declare all of the Notes held by such holder to be, and all of the Notes held by
such holder shall thereupon be and become, immediately due and payable at par
together with interest accrued thereon, without presentment, demand, protest or
notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Company, (b) if such
event is an Event of Default specified in clause (viii), (ix) or (x) of this
paragraph 7A with respect to the Company, all of the Notes at the time
outstanding shall automatically become immediately due and payable together with
interest accrued thereon and together with the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any,
with

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
respect to each Note, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any
kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Company, and (c) with respect to any
event constituting an Event of Default, the Required Holder(s) of the Notes of
any Series may at its or their option during the continuance of such Event of
Default, by notice in writing to the Company, declare all of the Notes of such
Series to be, and all of the Notes of such Series shall thereupon be and become,
immediately due and payable together with interest accrued thereon and together
with the Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any, with respect to each Note of such
Series, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which
are hereby waived by the Company.

     7B.  RESCISSION OF ACCELERATION. At any time after any or all of the Notes
of any Series shall have been declared immediately due and payable pursuant to
paragraph 7A, the Required Holder(s) of the Notes of such Series may, by notice
in writing to the Company, rescind and annul such declaration and its
consequences if (i) the Company shall have paid all overdue interest on the
Notes of such Series, the principal of and Yield-Maintenance Amount, if any,
payable with respect to any Notes of such Series which have become due otherwise
than by reason of such declaration, and interest on such overdue interest and
overdue principal and Yield-Maintenance Amount at the rate specified in the
Notes of such Series, (ii) the Company shall not have paid any amounts which
have become due solely by reason of such declaration, (iii) all Events of
Default and Defaults, other than non-payment of amounts which have become due
solely by reason of such declaration, shall have been cured or waived pursuant
to paragraph 11C, and (iv) no judgment or decree shall have been entered for the
payment of any amounts due pursuant to the Notes of such Series or this
Agreement. No such rescission or annulment shall extend to or affect any
subsequent Event of Default or Default or impair any right arising therefrom.

     7C.  NOTICE OF ACCELERATION OR RESCISSION. Whenever any Note shall be
declared immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A or any such
declaration shall be rescinded and annulled pursuant to paragraph 7B, the
Company shall forthwith give written notice thereof to the holder of each Note
of each Series at the time outstanding.

     7D.  OTHER REMEDIES. If any Event of Default or Default shall occur and be
continuing, the holder of any Note may proceed to protect and enforce its rights
under this Agreement and such Note by exercising such remedies as are available
to such holder in respect thereof under applicable law, either by suit in equity
or by action at law, or both, whether for specific performance of any covenant
or other agreement contained in this Agreement or in aid of the exercise of any
power granted in this Agreement. No remedy conferred in this Agreement upon the
holder of any Note is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and
every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other
remedy conferred herein or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by
statute or otherwise.

     8.   REPRESENTATIONS, COVENANTS AND WARRANTIES. The Company represents,
covenants and warrants as follows (all such representations, warranties and
covenants being made both immediately before and after giving effect to the Spin
Off and all references to "SUBSIDIARY" and "SUBSIDIARIES" in this paragraph 8
shall be deemed omitted if the Company has no Subsidiaries at the time the
representations herein are made or repeated):

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
     8A.  ORGANIZATION. The Company is a corporation duly organized and existing
in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, each Subsidiary is
duly organized and existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction
in which it is incorporated, and the Company has and each Subsidiary has the
corporate power to own its respective property and to carry on its respective
business as now being conducted, and the Company is and each Subsidiary is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation to do business and in good standing in every
jurisdiction in which the nature of the respective business conducted by it
makes such qualification necessary, excepting jurisdictions where failure to
qualify would on a consolidated basis have no material effect on the Company.
The issuance of any Notes pursuant to this Agreement is in compliance with the
authorizing resolutions of the Board of Directors then in effect and will not
result in the aggregate outstanding amount of Notes, debt obligations and other
borrowings authorized by such resolutions, after giving effect to the issuance
of, and application of the proceeds from, such Notes, to exceed the aggregate
limitation contained in such authorizing resolutions.

     8B.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Company has furnished Prudential and each
Purchaser of any Accepted Notes with the following financial statements,
identified by a principal financial officer of the Company: (i) a consolidated
balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the last day of each of
the two fiscal years of the Company most recently completed prior to the date as
of which this representation is made or repeated to such Purchaser (other than
fiscal years completed within 90 days prior to such date for which audited
financial statements have not been released) and consolidated statements of
earnings, cash flows and shareholders' equity of the Company and its
Subsidiaries for each such year, all reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
(or another nationally recognized independent accounting firm) and (ii) a
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of
the quarterly period (if any) most recently completed prior to such date and
after the end of such fiscal year (other than quarterly periods completed within
45 days prior to such date for which financial statements have not been
released) and the comparable quarterly period in the preceding fiscal year and
consolidated statements of earnings and cash flows for the periods from the
beginning of the fiscal years in which such quarterly periods are included to
the end of such quarterly periods, prepared by the Company (provided that no
such quarterly statements have been delivered for any quarterly period ended
prior to the Spin-Off). Such financial statements (including any related
schedules and/or notes) are complete (subject, as to interim statements, to
changes resulting from audits and year-end adjustments), have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently followed
throughout the periods involved and show all liabilities, direct and contingent,
of the Company and its Subsidiaries required to be shown in accordance with such
principles. The balance sheets fairly present the condition of the Company and
its Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof, and the statements of earnings,
stockholders' equity and cash flows fairly present the results of the operations
of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their cash flows for the periods
indicated. There has been no material adverse change in the business, property
or assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole since the end of the most recent fiscal year
for which such audited financial statements have been furnished.

     8C.  ACTIONS PENDING. There is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, or any properties or rights of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, by or before any court, 

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
arbitrator or administrative or governmental body which could reasonably be
expected to result in any material adverse change in the business, property or
assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

     8D.  OUTSTANDING FUNDED DEBT. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has outstanding any Funded Debt except as permitted by paragraph
6C(2). There exists no default under the provisions of any instrument evidencing
such outstanding Funded Debt or of any agreement relating thereto.

     8E.  TITLE TO PROPERTIES. The Company has and each of its Subsidiaries has
good and marketable title to its respective real properties (other than
properties which it leases) and good title to all of its other respective
properties and assets, other than any immaterial assets with respect to which it
will diligently attempt to obtain good and marketable title after the Spin Off,
in both cases to the extent material to the Company's Consolidated business,
including the properties and assets reflected in the most recent audited balance
sheet referred to in paragraph 8B (other than properties and assets disposed of
in the ordinary course of business and, to the extent disclosure thereof has
been made in writing to Prudential, other properties and assets disposed of in
compliance with the terms of this Agreement), subject to no Lien of any kind
except Liens permitted by paragraph 6C(1). All leases necessary in any material
respect for the conduct of the Consolidated business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries are valid and subsisting and are in full force and effect.

     8F.  TAXES. The Company has and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all
federal, state and other income tax returns which, to the best knowledge of the
officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries, are required to be filed, and each
has paid all taxes as shown on such returns and on all assessments received by
it to the extent that such taxes have become due and the failure to either file
such returns or pay such taxes or assessments could have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except such taxes
as are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which
adequate reserves have been established in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles.

     8G.  CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS. Neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries is a party to any contract or agreement or subject to any
charter or other corporate restriction which materially and adversely affects
the Company's Consolidated business, property or assets, condition (financial or
otherwise) or operations. Neither the execution nor delivery of this Agreement
or the Notes, nor the offering, issuance and sale of the Notes, nor fulfillment
of nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof and of the Notes
(including, without limitation, the consummation of the Spin Off and the
assumption by the Company of certain of the obligations of Medical Systems as
contemplated by paragraph 2A(1) hereof) will conflict with, or result in a
breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under,
or result in any violation of, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of
the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to,
the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any material
award of any arbitrator or any material agreement (including any agreement with
shareholders), instrument, order, judgment, decree, statute, law, rule or
regulation to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject. Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or otherwise subject to
any provision contained in, any instrument evidencing Funded Debt of the Company
or such 

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
Subsidiary, any agreement relating thereto or any other contract or agreement
(including its charter) which limits the amount of, or otherwise imposes
restrictions on the incurring of, Funded Debt of the Company of the type to be
evidenced by the Notes, except in each case as set forth in the agreements
listed in Schedule 8G attached hereto (as such Schedule 8G may have been
          -----------                                                   
modified from time to time subsequent to the Restatement Date by written
supplements thereto delivered by the Company to Prudential).

     8H.  OFFERING OF NOTES. Neither the Company nor any agent acting on its
behalf has, directly or indirectly, offered the Notes or any similar security of
the Company for sale to, or solicited any offers to buy the Notes or any similar
security of the Company from, or otherwise approached or negotiated with respect
thereto with, any Person other than Institutional Investors, and neither the
Company nor any agent acting on its behalf has taken or will take any action
which would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes to the provisions of
Section 5 of the Securities Act or to the provisions of any securities or Blue
Sky law of any applicable jurisdiction.

     8I.  USE OF PROCEEDS. None of the proceeds of the sale of any Notes will be
used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or
ultimate, of purchasing or carrying any "margin stock" as defined in Regulation
U (12 CFR Part 221) of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
(herein called "MARGIN STOCK") or for the purpose of maintaining, reducing or
retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any
stock that is then currently a margin stock (other than retiring indebtedness
incurred to acquire stock of the Company, which stock is retired promptly upon
the Company's acquisition thereof) or for any other purpose which might
constitute the purchase of such Notes a "purpose credit" within the meaning of
such Regulation U, unless the Company shall have delivered to the Purchaser
which is purchasing such Notes, on the Closing Day for such Notes, an opinion of
counsel satisfactory to such Purchaser stating that the purchase of such Notes
does not constitute a violation of such Regulation U. Neither the Company nor
any agent acting on its behalf has taken or will take any action which might
cause this Agreement or the Notes to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or any
other regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or to
violate the Exchange Act, in each case as in effect now or as the same may
hereafter be in effect.

     8J.  ERISA. No accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in section 302 of
ERISA and section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, exists with respect
to any Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) that is or would be materially
adverse to the business, property or assets, condition (financial or otherwise)
or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. No liability
to the PBGC has been or is expected by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to be
incurred with respect to any Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) by the
Company, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate which is or would be materially
adverse to the business, property or assets, condition (financial or otherwise)
or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Neither the
Company, any Subsidiary nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or presently
expects to incur any withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect
to any Multiemployer Plan which is or would be materially adverse to the
business, property or assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations
of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Notes will be exempt from or
will not involve any transaction which is subject to 

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
the prohibitions of section 406 of ERISA and will not involve any transaction in
connection with which a penalty could be imposed under section 502(i) of ERISA
or a tax could be imposed pursuant to section 4975 of the Code. The
representation by the Company in the next preceding sentence is made in reliance
upon and subject to the accuracy of the representation of each Purchaser in
paragraph 9B as to the source of funds to be used by it to purchase any Notes.

     8K.  GOVERNMENTAL CONSENT. Neither the nature of the Company or of any
Subsidiary, nor any of their respective businesses or properties, nor any
relationship between the Company or any Subsidiary and any other Person, nor any
circumstance in connection with the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the
Notes is such as to require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or
any action by or notice to or filing with any court or administrative or
governmental body (other than routine filings after the Closing Day for any
Notes with the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or state Blue Sky
authorities) in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Notes or fulfillment of or
compliance with the terms and provisions hereof or of the Notes. To the extent
pertaining to the Securities Act and state Blue Sky laws, the representation by
the Company in the next preceding sentence is made in reliance upon and subject
to the accuracy of the representation of each Purchaser in paragraph 9A hereof.

     8L.  ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE. The Company and its Subsidiaries and all of
their respective properties and facilities have complied at all times and in all
respects with all Environmental Laws, except, in any such case, where failure to
comply would not result in a material adverse effect on the business, condition
(financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole.

     8M.  DISCLOSURE. Neither this Agreement nor any other document, certificate
or statement furnished to any Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company in
connection herewith contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein
and therein not misleading. To the knowledge of any Designated Officer, there is
no fact peculiar to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which materially
adversely affects or in the future may (so far as the Company can now foresee)
materially adversely affect the business, property or assets, condition
(financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole and which has not been set forth in this Agreement and the schedules
hereto (or in any certificate or other document required to be delivered
subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement).

     8N.  HOSTILE TENDER OFFERS. None of the proceeds of the sale of any Notes
will be used to finance a Hostile Tender Offer.

     8O.  YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE. The Company has and its Subsidiaries have
conducted an analysis of, and developed or are developing a compliance program
with respect to, the effect of Year 2000 upon the key software, tradeware,
telecommunications, physical plant and automated processes of the Company and
its Subsidiaries and have made appropriate inquiries of the key customers and
suppliers of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company anticipates that such
compliance program will be completed on a timely basis and that the impact of
Year 2000 on the Company, its Subsidiaries and the key customers and suppliers
of the Company and 

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
its Subsidiaries will not be such as to have a material adverse effect on the
business, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of the Company and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

     9.   REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS.

     Each Purchaser represents as follows:

     9A.  NATURE OF PURCHASE. Such Purchaser is acquiring the Notes purchased by
it hereunder for investment only, with neither an intention at the time of such
purchase to sell or distribute such Notes nor with a view to or for sale in
connection with any distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities
Act, provided that the disposition of such Purchaser's property shall at all
     --------                                                               
times be and remain within its control.

     Such Purchaser acknowledges that the Notes being purchased by it have not
been registered under the Securities Act, and cannot be transferred except in
compliance with the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

     9B.  SOURCE OF FUNDS. At least one of the following statements is an
accurate representation as to each source of funds (a "SOURCE") to be used by
such Purchaser to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by it
hereunder: (i) the Source is the "insurance company general account" of such
Purchaser (as such term is defined under Section V of the United States
Department of Labor's Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption ("PTCE") 95-60),
and as of the date of the purchase of the Notes such Purchaser satisfies all of
the applicable requirements for relief under Sections 1 and IV of PTCE 95-60;
(ii) the Source is a separate account maintained by such Purchaser in which no
employee benefit plan, other than employee benefit plans identified on a list
which has been furnished by such Purchaser to the Company, participates to the
extent of 10% or more; (iii) the Source constitutes assets of an "investment
fund" (within the meaning of Part V of the QPAM Exemption) managed by a
"qualified professional asset manager" or "QPAM" (within the meaning of Part V
of the QPAM Exemption), no employee benefit plan's assets that are included in
such investment fund, when combined with the assets of all other employee
benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or by an affiliate
(within the meaning of Section V(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of such employer
or by the same employee organization and managed by such QPAM, exceed 20% of the
total client assets managed by such QPAM, the conditions of Part 1(c) and (g) of
the QPAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the QPAM nor a person controlling or
controlled by the QPAM (applying the definition of "control" in Section V(e) of
the QPAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (a) the
identity of such QPAM and (b) the names of all employee benefit plan whose
assets are included in such investment fund have been disclosed to the Company
in writing pursuant to this clause (iii); (iv) the Source is a governmental
plan; (v) the Source is one or more employee benefit plans, or a separate
account or trust fund comprised of one or more employee benefit plans, each of
which has been identified to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (v);
or (vi) the Source does not include assets of any employee benefit plan, other
than a plan exempt from the coverage of ERISA. For the purpose of this paragraph
9B, the terms "separate account", "governmental plan", "party in interest" and
"employee benefit plan" shall have the respective meanings specified in section
3 of ERISA.

                                       29
<PAGE>
 
     10.  DEFINITIONS; ACCOUNTING MATTERS. For the purpose of this Agreement,
the terms defined in paragraphs 10A and 10B (or within the text of any other
paragraph) shall have the respective meanings specified therein.

     10A. YIELD-MAINTENANCE TERMS.

     "CALLED PRINCIPAL" shall mean, with respect to any Note, the principal of
such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4C or is declared to be
immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A, as the context requires.

     "DESIGNATED SPREAD" shall mean 0 in the case of each Series A Note, each
Series B Note, each Series C Note and each Series D Note and 0 in the case of
each Note of any other Series unless the Confirmation of Acceptance with respect
to the Notes of such Series specifies a different Designated Spread in which
case it shall mean, with respect to each Note of such Series, the Designated
Spread so specified.

     "DISCOUNTED VALUE" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any
Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with
respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to
the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with
accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (as converted to reflect
the periodic basis on which interest on such Note is payable, if payable other
than on a semi-annual basis) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to
such Called Principal.

     "REINVESTMENT YIELD" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of
any Note, the Designated Spread over the yield to maturity implied by (i) the
yields reported, as of 10:00 A.M. (New York City local time) on the Business Day
next preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the
display designated as "Page 678" on Bridge Telerate Services (Telerate) (or such
other display as may replace page 678 on Bridge Telerate Services (Telerate))
for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity equal to the
Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date, or
if such yields shall not be reported as of such time or the yields reported as
of such time shall not be ascertainable, (ii) the Treasury Constant Maturity
Series yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields shall have been
so reported as of the Business Day next preceding the Settlement Date with
respect to such Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H. 15
(519) (or any comparable successor publication) for actively traded U.S.
Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average
Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date. Such implied yield
shall be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury bill
quotations to bond-equivalent yields in accordance with accepted financial
practice and (b) interpolating linearly between yields reported for various
maturities.

     "REMAINING AVERAGE LIFE" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal
of any Note, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year)
obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products
obtained by multiplying (a) each Remaining Scheduled Payment of such Called
Principal (but not of interest thereon) by (b) the number of years (calculated
to the nearest one-twelfth year) which will elapse between the Settlement Date

                                       30
<PAGE>
 
with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such
Remaining Scheduled Payment.

     "REMAINING SCHEDULED PAYMENTS" shall mean, with respect to the Called
Principal of any Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest
thereon that would be due on or after the Settlement Date with respect to such
Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its
scheduled due date.

     "SETTLEMENT DATE" shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any
Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to
paragraph 4C or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to
paragraph 7A, as the context requires.

     "YIELD-MAINTENANCE AMOUNT" shall mean, with respect to any Note, an amount
equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Called Principal of
such Note over the sum of (i) such Called Principal plus (ii) interest accrued
thereon as of (including interest due on) the Settlement Date with respect to
such Called Principal.  The Yield-Maintenance Amount shall in no event be less
than zero.

     10B. OTHER TERMS.

     "ACCEPTANCE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2B(5).

     "ACCEPTANCE DAY" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2B(5).

     "ACCEPTANCE WINDOW" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2B(5).

     "ACCEPTED NOTE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2B(5).

     "AFFILIATE" shall mean any Person directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, the Company,
except a Subsidiary.  A Person shall be deemed to control a corporation if such
Person either (i) possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management and policies of such corporation, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise or (ii)
owns beneficially, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting stock of
such corporation.

     "AUTHORIZED OFFICER" shall mean (i) in the case of the Company, a
Designated Officer, any other officer of the Company designated as an
"Authorized Officer" of the Company in the Information Schedule attached hereto
or any vice president of the Company designated as an "Authorized Officer" of
the Company for the purpose of this Agreement in an Officer's Certificate
executed by a Designated Officer and delivered to Prudential, and (ii) in the
case of Prudential, any officer of Prudential designated as its "Authorized
Officer" in the Information Schedule or any officer of Prudential designated as
its "Authorized Officer" for the purpose of this Agreement in a certificate
executed by one of its Authorized Officers.  Any action taken under this
Agreement on behalf of the Company by any individual who on or after the date of
this Agreement shall have been an Authorized Officer of the Company and whom
Prudential in good faith believes to be an Authorized Officer of the Company at
the time of such action shall be binding on the Company even though such
individual shall have ceased to be an Authorized Officer of the Company, and any
action taken under this Agreement on behalf of Prudential by 

                                       31
<PAGE>
 
any individual who on or after the date of this Agreement shall have been an
Authorized Officer of Prudential and whom the Company in good faith believes to
be an Authorized Officer of Prudential at the time of such action shall be
binding on Prudential even though such individual shall have ceased to be an
Authorized Officer of Prudential.

     "AVAILABLE FACILITY AMOUNT" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph
2B(1).

     "BANKRUPTCY LAW" shall have the meaning specified in clause (viii) of
paragraph 7A.

     "BUSINESS DAY" shall mean any day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday,
(ii) a day on which commercial banks in New York City or San Francisco are
required or authorized to be closed and (iii) for purposes of paragraph 2B(3)
hereof only, a day on which The Prudential Insurance Company of America is not
open for business.

     "CANCELLATION DATE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph
2B(8)(iv).

     "CANCELLATION FEE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph
2B(8)(iii).

     "CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATION" shall mean any rental obligation which,
under generally accepted accounting principles, is or will be required to be
capitalized on the books of the Company or any Subsidiary, taken at the amount
thereof accounted for as indebtedness (net of interest expenses) in accordance
with such principles.

     "CLOSING DAY" shall mean, with respect to any Accepted Note, the Business
Day specified for the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note in
the Request for Purchase of such Accepted Note, provided that (i) if the Company
                                                --------                        
and the Purchaser which is obligated to purchase such Accepted Note agree on an
earlier Business Day for such closing, the "Closing Day" for such Accepted Note
shall be such earlier Business Day, and (ii) if the closing of the purchase and
sale of such Accepted Note is rescheduled pursuant to paragraph 2B(7), the
Closing Day for such Accepted Note, for all purposes of this Agreement except
references to "original Closing Day" in paragraph 2B(8)(iii), shall mean the
Rescheduled Closing Day with respect to such Accepted Note.

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

     "CONFIRMATION OF ACCEPTANCE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph
2B(5).

     "CONSOLIDATED" when used in connection with an accounting term, including
all defined terms herein, shall mean the combined account of the type defined by
the accounting term for the Company and all Subsidiaries determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

     "CONSOLIDATED CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS" shall mean, with respect to the
Company and its Subsidiaries (i) all amounts from time to time on deposit in
demand deposit accounts, along with interest thereon, and all other amounts
shown as part of "Cash and Cash Equivalents" on the Company's consolidated
balance sheet in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (ii)
all certificates of deposit at banks or other financial institutions, net of any
penalty or fees for early withdrawal and (iii) marketable securities, as
determined by generally accepted 

                                       32
<PAGE>
 
accounting principles and that are within the parameters of the Investment
Policy; provided, however, that "Consolidated Cash and Cash Equivalents" shall
        --------  -------    
not include any of the foregoing to the extent that such amounts are on deposit
for or otherwise subject to a claim or right of another Person superior or pari
passu in right of priority to that of the Company or any Subsidiary, such as
escrow or performance deposits.

     "CONSOLIDATED CURRENT ASSETS" shall mean, with respect to the Company and
its Subsidiaries, the consolidated current assets thereof determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

     "CONSOLIDATED CURRENT LIABILITIES" shall mean, with respect to the Company
and its Subsidiaries, the consolidated current liabilities thereof determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

     "CONSOLIDATED INTEREST EXPENSE" shall mean Consolidated gross interest
expense, as determined by generally accepted accounting principles.

     "CONSOLIDATED NET EARNINGS" shall mean the consolidated gross revenues of
the Company and its Subsidiaries less all operating and non-operating expenses
of the Company and its Subsidiaries including all charges of a proper character
(including current and deferred taxes on income, provision for taxes on
unremitted foreign earnings which are included in gross revenues, and current
additions to revenues), but not including in gross revenues any gains (net of
expenses and taxes applicable thereto) in excess of losses resulting from the
sale, conversion or other disposition (other than in the ordinary course of
business) of capital assets (i.e., assets other than current assets), any gains
resulting from the write-up (other than in the ordinary course of business) of
assets, any extraordinary gains, any equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries
in the undistributed earnings of any corporation which is not a Subsidiary, any
earnings of any other corporation acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary
through purchase, merger, or consolidation or otherwise for any year prior to
the year of acquisition, or any equity in any Subsidiary at the date of
acquisition over the cost of the investment in such Subsidiary and not including
in expenses any extraordinary losses, or any equity of the Company and its
Subsidiaries in the undistributed earnings of all such corporations, all
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied.  With respect to any determination of Consolidated Net
Earnings hereunder for any period of determination which includes any period
prior to the Spin-Off, Consolidated Net Earnings for such period of
determination shall be calculated on a proforma basis as though the Spin-Off had
been consummated immediately prior to the beginning of the period of
determination.

     "CONSOLIDATED NET EARNINGS AVAILABLE FOR RESTRICTED PAYMENTS" shall mean an
amount equal to (i) $30,000,000 plus (ii) 65% (or minus 100% in case of a
                                                  -----                  
deficit) of Consolidated Net Earnings for the period (taken as one accounting
period) commencing on October 3, 1998 and terminating at the end of the last
fiscal quarter immediately preceding the date of any proposed Restricted
Payment.

     "CONSOLIDATED RECEIVABLES" shall mean the Company's consolidated accounts
receivable, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.

                                       33
<PAGE>
 
     "CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE NET WORTH" shall mean the amount shown on the books
of the Company and all Subsidiaries as total shareholders' equity (determined on
a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied, less (without duplication) goodwill, trade names,
trademarks, patents, organization expenses, unamortized debt discount expenses
and other intangibles.

     "CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE GROSS WORTH" shall mean the sum of (i) Consolidated
Funded Debt, and (ii) Consolidated Tangible Net Worth.

     "CONSOLIDATED WORKING CAPITAL" shall mean the excess of Consolidated
Current Assets over Consolidated Current Liabilities.

     "DELAYED DELIVERY FEE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph
2B(8)(ii).

     "DEMAND" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 11B.

     "DESIGNATED OFFICER" shall mean the Chairman of the Board of Directors,
President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and
Controller of the Company.

     "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" shall mean all federal, state, local and foreign laws
relating to pollution or protection of the environment, including laws relating
to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants,
contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes
into the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water,
ground water or land), or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling of
pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous
substances or wastes, and any and all regulations, codes, plans, orders,
decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or demand letters issued, entered,
promulgated or approved thereunder.

     "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.

     "ERISA AFFILIATE" shall mean any corporation which is a member of the same
controlled group of corporations as the Company within the meaning of section
414(b) of the Code, or any trade or business which is under common control with
the Company within the meaning of section 414(c) of the Code.

     "EVENT OF DEFAULT" shall mean any of the events specified in paragraph 7A,
                                                                               
provided that there has been satisfied any requirement in connection with such
- --------                                                                      
event for the giving of notice, or the lapse of time, or the happening of any
further condition, event or act, and "Default" shall mean any of such events,
whether or not any such requirement has been satisfied.

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

     "EXCLUDED PERSONS" shall mean those Persons and their respective Affiliates
set forth on the list provided by the Company to a holder of a Note pursuant to
paragraph 11D(2).  "Excluded Persons" shall not include, except if otherwise
agreed to in writing by the Company and such holder, any Person of the type
specified in clause (i) of the definition of Institutional Investors.

                                       34
<PAGE>
 
     "EXISTING 6.70% NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in the
Introduction.

     "EXISTING 6.90% NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in the
Introduction.

     "EXISTING 7.21% NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in the
Introduction.

     "EXISTING 7.49% NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in the
Introduction.

     "FACILITY" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2B(1).

     "FUNDED DEBT" shall mean, without duplication, (i) any obligation payable
more than one year from the date of the creation thereof (or which is renewable
or extendable at the option of the obligor for a period of more than one year
from the date of creation), (ii) all indebtedness having a maturity of less than
one year, provided such indebtedness is incurred pursuant to revolving credit
          --------                                                           
arrangements or other financing commitments with a final, non-extendable
maturity more than one year from the date of creation thereof, (iii) any
obligation for borrowed money (and any notes payable, drafts accepted or
advances representing extensions of credit (other than trade payables) whether
or not representing obligations for borrowed money) payable on demand or within
a period of one year from the date or creation thereof, (iv) seasonal credit
facilities, (v) Capitalized Lease Obligations, (vi) obligations of third parties
secured by a Lien on the property or other assets of the Company or any
Subsidiary, (vii) obligations of partnerships and joint ventures of which the
Company or any Subsidiary is a general partner or coventurer and which is not
expressly non-recourse to the Company or such Subsidiaries, (viii) unfunded
vested benefits under each Plan maintained for employees of the Company or any
Subsidiary and covered by Title IV of ERISA, (ix) Guarantees by the Company or
any Subsidiary of the foregoing (excluding letters of credit and other
contingent liabilities for advance payments and performance bonds) and (x)
modifications, renewals and extensions of the above.

     "GUARANTEE" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect
liability, contingent or otherwise, of such Person with respect to any
indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another, including, without
limitation, any such obligation directly or indirectly guaranteed, endorsed
(other than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business) or
discounted or sold with recourse by such Person, or in respect of which such
Person is otherwise directly or indirectly liable, including, without
limitation, any such obligation in effect guaranteed by such Person through any
agreement (contingent or otherwise) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire
such obligation or any security therefor, or to provide funds for the payment or
discharge of such obligation (whether in the form of loans, advances, stock
purchases, capital contributions or otherwise), or to maintain the solvency or
any balance sheet or other financial condition of the obligor of such
obligation, or to make payment for any products, materials or supplies or for
any transportation or service, regardless of the non-delivery or non- furnishing
thereof, in any such case if the purpose or intent of such agreement is to
provide assurance that such obligation will be paid or discharged, or that any
agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such
obligation will be protected against loss in respect thereof.  The amount of any
Guarantee shall be equal to the outstanding principal amount of the obligation
guaranteed or such lesser amount to which the maximum exposure of the guarantor
shall have been specifically limited.

                                       35
<PAGE>
 
     "HEDGE TREASURY NOTE(S)" shall mean, with respect to any Accepted Note, the
United States Treasury Note or Notes whose duration (as determined by
Prudential) most closely matches the duration of such Accepted Note.

     "HOSTILE TENDER OFFER" shall mean, with respect to the use of proceeds of
any Note, any offer to purchase, or any purchase of, shares of capital stock of
any corporation or equity interests in any other entity, or securities
convertible into or representing the beneficial ownership of, or rights to
acquire, any such shares or equity interests, if such shares, equity interests,
securities or rights are of a class which is publicly traded on any securities
exchange or in any over-the-counter market, other than purchases for portfolio
investment purposes of such shares, equity interests, securities or rights
which, together with any such shares, equity, interests, securities or rights
then held, represent less than 5% of the equity interests or beneficial
ownership of such corporation or other entity, and such offer or purchase has
not been duly approved by the board of directors of such corporation or the
equivalent governing body of such other entity prior to the date on which the
Company makes the Request for Purchase of such Note.

     "INCLUDING" shall mean, unless the context clearly requires otherwise,
"including without limitation".

     "INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS" shall mean (i) banks, finance companies,
insurance companies, pension funds and other commercial lenders, (ii)
"accredited investors," as such term is defined under Regulation D promulgated
under the Securities Act and (iii) "qualified institutional buyers", as such
term is defined in Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

     "INVESTMENT POLICY" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph
6C(3)(vii).

     "ISSUANCE FEE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2B(8)(i).

     "ISSUANCE PERIOD" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2B(2).

     "LIEN" shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance,
lien (statutory or otherwise) or charge of any kind (including any agreement to
give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, and the filing of or agreement to
give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of any
jurisdiction) or any other type of preferential arrangement for the purpose, or
having the effect, of protecting a creditor against loss or securing the payment
or performance of an obligation.

     "MEDICAL SYSTEMS" shall have the meaning specified in the Introduction.

     "MEDICAL SYSTEMS AMENDED AND RESTATED NOTE AGREEMENT" shall mean the
Amended and Restated Note Purchase and Private Shelf Agreement, dated as of
April 2, 1999, among Medical Systems, Prudential, PRUCO Life Insurance Company,
PRUCO Life Insurance Company of New Jersey and each Prudential Affiliate which
becomes bound by the provisions thereof.

     "MEDICAL SYSTEMS SERIES A NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in the
Introduction.

     "MEDICAL SYSTEMS SERIES B NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in the
Introduction.

                                       36
<PAGE>
 
     "MEDICAL SYSTEMS SERIES B NOTES" shall have the meaning specified
in the Introduction.

     "MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" shall mean any Plan which is a "multiemployer plan"
(as such term is defined in section 4001 (a)(3) of ERISA.

     "1992 NOTE AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning specified in the Introduction.

     "1996 NOTE AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning specified in the Introduction.

     "NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 1E.

     "OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE" shall mean a certificate signed in the name of the
Company by an Authorized Officer of the Company.

     "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any
successor replacement entity thereto under ERISA.

     "PERSON" shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a joint
venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government
or any department or agency thereof.

     "PLAN" shall mean any employee pension benefit plan (as such term is
defined in section 3 of ERISA) which is or has been established or maintained,
or to which contributions are or have been made, by the Company or any ERISA
Affiliate.

     "PRUDENTIAL" shall mean The Prudential Insurance Company of America.

     "PRUDENTIAL AFFILIATE" shall mean (i) any Person which, directly or
indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with,
Prudential and (ii) any investment fund which is managed by Prudential or a
Prudential Affiliate described in clause (i) of this definition.

     "PURCHASERS" shall mean Prudential with respect to the Series A Notes, the
Series B Notes, the Series C Notes and the Series D Notes and, with respect to
any Accepted Notes, Prudential and/or the Prudential Affiliate(s), which are
purchasing such Accepted Notes.

     "QPAM EXEMPTION" means Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 84-14 issued
by the United States Department of Labor.

     "REQUEST FOR PURCHASE" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2B(3).

     "REQUIRED HOLDER(S)" shall mean the holder or holders of more than 50% of
the aggregate principal amount of the Notes or of a Series of Notes, as the
context may require, from time to time outstanding.

     "RESCHEDULED CLOSING DAY" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph
2B(7).

     "RESTATEMENT DATE" shall mean the "Series C Closing Day", as defined in the
Medical Systems Amended and Restated Note Agreement.

                                       37
<PAGE>
 
     "RESTRICTED PAYMENTS" shall have the meaning specified to such term in
paragraph 6B.

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

     "SERIES" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 1E.

     "SERIES A NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in the Introduction.

     "SERIES B NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in the Introduction.

     "SERIES C NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in the Introduction.

     "SERIES D NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in the Introduction.

     "SHELF NOTES" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 1E.

     "SIGNIFICANT HOLDER" shall mean (i) Prudential, so long as Prudential or
any Prudential Affiliate shall hold (or be committed under this Agreement to
purchase) any Note, or (ii) any other holder of at least 10% of the aggregate
principal amount of the Notes of any Series from time to time outstanding.

     "SPIN OFF" shall have the meaning specified in the Introduction.

     "STRUCTURING FEE" shall have the meaning provided in paragraph 2B(8)(i).

     "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any corporation, association or other business
entity in which the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries or the Company
and one or more of its Subsidiaries owns at least 75% of the equity or voting
interests of such entity (and such equity or voting interests so owned enable
the Company and/or Subsidiaries to elect at least a majority of the directors,
or persons performing similar functions, of such entity), and any partnership or
joint venture if more than a 75% interest in the profits or capital thereof is
owned by the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries or the Company and one
or more of its Subsidiaries (unless such partnership can and does ordinarily
take major business actions without the prior approval of the Company or one or
more of its Subsidiaries).

     "SUBSTANTIAL STOCKHOLDER" shall mean (i) any Person owning beneficially,
directly or indirectly, either individually or together with all other Persons
to whom such Person is related by blood, adoption or marriage, 5% or more of the
outstanding voting stock of the Company, or (ii) any Person related by blood,
adoption or marriage to any Person coming within clause (i) of this definition.

     "TRANSFER" shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 6C(5)(ii).

     "TRANSFEREE" shall mean any direct or indirect transferee of all or any
part of any Note purchased by any Purchaser under this Agreement.

     "VOTING STOCK" shall mean, with respect to any corporation, any shares of
stock of such corporation whose holders are entitled under ordinary
circumstances to vote for the election of 

                                       38
<PAGE>
 
directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time stock of any
other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the
happening of any contingency).

     10C. ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, TERMS AND DETERMINATIONS.  All references in
this Agreement to "generally accepted accounting principles" shall be deemed to
refer to generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States
at the time of application thereof.  Unless otherwise specified herein, all
accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all determinations with
respect to accounting matters hereunder shall be made, and all unaudited
financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters
required to be furnished hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with the
most recent audited financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (ii) of
paragraph 5A or, if no such statements have been so delivered, the most recent
audited financial statements referred to in clause (i) of paragraph 8B.  Any
reference herein to any specific citation, section or form of law, statute, rule
or regulation shall refer to such new, replacement or analogous citation,
section or form should citation, section or form be modified, amended or
replaced.

     11.  MISCELLANEOUS.

     11A. NOTE PAYMENTS.  The Company agrees that, so long as any Purchaser
shall hold any Note, it will make payments of principal of, interest on, and any
Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to, such Note, which comply with
the terms of this Agreement, by wire transfer of immediately available funds for
credit to (i) the account or accounts of such Purchaser specified in the
Purchaser Schedule attached hereto in the case of any Series A Note, Series B
Note, Series C Note or Series D Note, (ii) the account or accounts of such
Purchaser specified in the Confirmation of Acceptance with respect to such Note
in the case of any Shelf Note or (iii) such other account or accounts in the
United States as such Purchaser may from time to time designate in writing,
notwithstanding any contrary provision herein or in any Note with respect to the
place of payment.  Each Purchaser agrees that, before disposing of any Note, it
will make a notation thereon (or on a schedule attached thereto) of all
principal payments previously made thereon and of the date to which interest
thereon has been paid.  The Company agrees to afford the benefits of this
paragraph 11A to any Transferee which shall have made the same agreement as the
Purchasers have made in this paragraph 11A.

     11B. EXPENSES.  The Company agrees, whether or not the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be consummated, to pay, and save Prudential, each
Purchaser and any Transferee harmless against liability for the payment of all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses arising in connection with the following:  (i)
all document negotiation, drafting and duplication charges and the fees and
expenses of any special counsel engaged by (A) Prudential and the Purchasers in
connection with entering into this Agreement and (B) Prudential, any Purchaser
or any Transferee in connection with any subsequent transaction contemplated by,
proposed modification of, or proposed consent under, this Agreement, if such
proposed transaction, modification or consent (1) is requested by the Company,
whether or not such transaction occurs, such modification becomes effective or
such consent is granted or (2) results from or relates to the occurrence of a
Default or Event of Default, or in order to avert, waive, consent to or cure the
same; provided, however, that in each such case the Company shall be responsible
      --------  -------                                                         
for the fees and expenses of only one firm of outside counsel for Prudential,
the Purchasers and the 

                                       39
<PAGE>
 
Transferees at any one time; and (ii) the costs and expenses, including
attorneys' fees, incurred by Prudential, any Purchaser or any Transferee in (A)
responding to any subpoena or other legal process, including in connection with
litigation, or informal investigative demand (collectively, "DEMANDS"),
provided, however, that such Demand (1) is issued principally in connection with
- --------  -------     
this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by reason of any
Purchaser's or Transferee's having acquired any Note or having acquired
information regarding the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with its
acquisition of any Note, (2) does not arise out of any litigation between the
Purchaser and its Transferee and (3) is not issued in connection with any
inquiry, audit or investigation by any governmental authority that relates
principally to the business, operations or investments of the entity that
received such Demand and (B) enforcing (or determining whether or how to
enforce) any rights under this Agreement or the Notes, including without
limitation costs and expenses incurred in any workout, restructuring or
bankruptcy case.

     The obligations of the Company under this paragraph 11B shall survive the
transfer of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein by any Purchaser or
any Transferee and the payment of any Note.

     11C. CONSENT TO AMENDMENTS.  This Agreement may be amended, and the Company
may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein
required to be performed by it, if the Company shall obtain the written consent
to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Required Holder(s) of the
Notes of each Series except that, (i) with the written consent of the holders of
all Notes of a particular Series, and if an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, of the holders of all Notes of all Series, at the time
outstanding (and not without such written consents), the Notes of such Series
may be amended or the provisions thereof waived to change the maturity thereof,
to change or affect the principal thereof, or to change or affect the rate or
time of payment of interest on or any Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with
respect to the Notes of such Series, (ii) without the written consent of the
holder or holders of all Notes at the time outstanding, no amendment to or
waiver of the provisions of this Agreement shall change or affect the provisions
of paragraph 7A or this paragraph 11C insofar as such provisions relate to
proportions of the principal amount of the Notes of any Series, or the rights of
any individual holder of Notes, required with respect to any declaration of
Notes to be due and payable or with respect to any consent, amendment, waiver or
declaration, (iii) with the written consent of Prudential (and not without the
written consent of Prudential) the provisions of paragraph 2B may be amended or
waived (except insofar as any such amendment or waiver would affect any rights
or obligations with respect to the purchase and sale of Notes which shall have
become Accepted Notes prior to such amendment or waiver), and (iv) with the
written consent of all of the Purchasers which shall have become obligated to
purchase Accepted Notes of any Series (and not without the written consent of
all such Purchasers), any of the provisions of paragraphs 2B and 3 may be
amended or waived insofar as such amendment or waiver would affect only rights
or obligations with respect to the purchase and sale of the Accepted Notes of
such Series or the terms and provisions of such Accepted Notes.  Each holder of
any Note at the time or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by any consent
authorized by this paragraph 11C, whether or not such Note shall have been
marked to indicate such consent, but any Notes issued thereafter may bear a
notation referring to any such consent.  No course of dealing between the
Company and the holder of any Note nor any delay in exercising any rights
hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver of any rights of 

                                       40
<PAGE>
 
any holder of such Note. As used herein and in the Notes, the term "THIS
AGREEMENT" and references thereto shall mean this Agreement as it may from time
to time be amended or supplemented.

          11D(1). FORM, REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES; LOST
NOTES. The Notes are issuable as registered notes without coupons in
denominations of at least $1,000,000, except as may be necessary to reflect any
principal amount not evenly divisible by $1,000,000. The Company shall keep at
its principal office a register in which the Company shall provide for the
registration of Notes and of transfers of Notes. Upon surrender for registration
of transfer of any Note at the principal office of the Company, the Company
shall, at its expense, execute and deliver one or more new Notes of like tenor
and of a like aggregate principal amount, registered in the name of such
transferee or transferees. At the option of the holder of any Note, such Note
may be exchanged for other Notes of like tenor and of any authorized
denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Note
to be exchanged at the principal office of the Company. Whenever any Notes are
so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall, at its expense, execute and
deliver the Notes which the holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
Each prepayment of principal payable on each prepayment date upon each new Note
issued upon any such transfer or exchange shall be in the same proportion to the
unpaid principal amount of such new Note as the prepayment of principal payable
on such date on the Note surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange
bore to the unpaid principal amount of such Note. No reference need be made in
any such new Note to any prepayment or prepayments of principal previously due
and paid upon the Note surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Note surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly
endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed,
by the holder of such Note or such holder's attorney duty authorized in writing.
Any Note or Notes issued in exchange for any Note or upon transfer thereof shall
carry the rights to unpaid interest and Interest to accrue which were carried by
the Note so exchanged or transferred, so that neither gain nor loss of interest
shall result from any such transfer or exchange. Upon receipt of written notice
from the holder of any Note of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
such Note and, in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt
of such holder's indemnity agreement (which shall be unsecured if such holder is
Prudential, a Prudential Affiliate or an Institutional Investor with a tangible
net worth in excess of $200,000,000), or in the case of any such mutilation upon
surrender and cancellation of such Note, the Company will make and deliver a new
Note, of like tenor, in lieu of the lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note.

          11D(2). PRIOR NOTICE TO COMPANY REGARDING RESALE; EXCLUDED
TRANSFEREES. Anything contained in paragraph 11D(1) or paragraph 11E to the
contrary notwithstanding, if any holder of any Note wishes to sell all or any
portion of its Note or grant any participation or other interest therein to any
Person other than Prudential or a Prudential Affiliate, it shall (a) give the
Company written notice of (i) such intent (a "RESALE NOTICE") at the time such
determination is made and (ii) as soon as such information is available, but in
no event later than 10 days prior to any such sale, either a list of Persons to
whom it intends to offer the Notes, if available, or, if such holder is selling
its Notes through another Person, the identity of such Person, (b) for a five-
day period commencing on the date such holder provides to the Company the
information described in clause (a)(ii), consult with the Company in good faith
regarding the acceptability to the Company of any prospective purchasers of such
Notes or participations therein prior to 

                                       41
<PAGE>
 
soliciting bids for such sale or participation, and (c) solicit, accept and
consider in good faith bids from the Company to repurchase such holder's Notes
during the same time period as such holder is soliciting offers for such Notes
from third parties (as part of its bid, the Company shall certify that no Event
of Default exists or would exist after giving effect to its repurchase of such
Notes). If such holder has not entered into a commitment to sell its Note (or
portion thereof) within 90 days after the expiration of such ten-day period,
such holder shall again be obligated to give notice required by this paragraph
11D(2). Prudential and Prudential Affiliates shall not be liable for any failure
to provide any Resale Notice that results from such Person's negligence. The
foregoing right of notice, consultation and bidding is in addition to the
obligations set forth in the next succeeding paragraph regarding Excluded
Persons.

     The Company may, at any time, provide to the holders of the Notes a list of
Excluded Persons and update such list from time to time.  In designating
Excluded Persons, the Company shall act reasonably and in good faith.  If such
list of Excluded Persons is provided or updated, as the case may be, within two
Business Days of the Company's receipt of a Resale Notice, the selling holder
will not knowingly sell all or any portion of or participation in its Note to
any Excluded Person or any Affiliate thereof.

     11E. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS; PARTICIPATIONS.  Prior to due presentment for
registration of transfer, the Company may treat the Person in whose name any
Note is registered as the owner and holder of such Note for the purpose of
receiving payment of principal of and interest on, and any Yield-Maintenance
Amount payable with respect to, such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever,
whether or not such Note shall be overdue, and the Company shall not be affected
by notice to the contrary.  Subject to the preceding sentence and to the
requirements set forth in paragraph 11D, the holder of any Note may from time to
time grant participations in all or any part of such Note to any Person on such
terms and conditions as may be determined by such holder in its sole and
absolute discretion.  The Company shall be justified in dealing only with the
holder of the Note who grants any participation, and shall not, except if an
event of the type described in clauses (viii) through (xi) of paragraph 7A
occurs with respect to such holder, be obligated to deal with such participants.

     11F. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  All
representations and warranties contained herein or made in writing by or on
behalf of the Company in connection herewith shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Notes, the transfer by any Purchaser of any
Note or portion thereof or interest therein and the payment of any Note, and may
be relied upon by any Transferee, regardless of any investigation made at any
time by or on behalf of any Purchaser or any Transferee.  Subject to the
preceding sentence, this Agreement and the Notes embody the entire agreement and
understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings relating to such
subject matter.

     11G. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  All covenants and other agreements in this
Agreement contained by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and
inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties
hereto (including, without limitation, any Transferee) whether so expressed or
not.

                                       42
<PAGE>
 
     11H. DISCLOSURE TO OTHER PERSONS.  The Company acknowledges that
Prudential, each Purchaser and each holder of any Note (each being a "Delivering
Person") may deliver copies of any financial statements and other documents
delivered to it, and disclose any other information disclosed to it, by or on
behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with or pursuant to this
Agreement to (i) its directors, officers, employees, agents and professional
consultants, (ii) any Purchaser or holder of any Note, (iii) any Person (other
than an Excluded Person) to which it offers to sell any Note or any part
thereof, (iv) any Person (other than an Excluded Person) to which it sells or
offers to sell a participation in all or any part of any Note, (v) to the extent
that it has a legal obligation to disclose such information, any Person from
which it offers to purchase any security of the Company; provided, however, that
                                                         --------  -------      
in the case of clause (iii), (iv) or (v), such holder will obtain from such
Person an executed confidentiality agreement in the form of Exhibit F-2 before
disclosing any material non-public information with respect to the Company or
any Subsidiary, (vi) any federal or state regulatory authority having
jurisdiction over it, (vii) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
or any similar organization, or (viii) any other Person to which such delivery
or disclosure may be required (a) to comply with any law, rule, regulation or
order applicable to it, (b) to respond sufficiently to Demand served on it,
provided, however, that with respect to material, nonpublic information
- --------  -------                                                      
regarding the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, except as prohibited by law, such
Delivering Person shall provide notice to the Company of such legal requirement
or Demand at least ten Business Days (or such shorter period of time as is set
forth therein) prior to the date such information must be produced so that the
Company can intervene on its own behalf in such proceeding to prevent, postpone
or restrict such disclosure; provided further, however, that (1) not earlier
                             -------- -------  -------                      
than the third Business Day prior to the date specified in such Demand for such
document or information delivery or disclosure, such Delivering Person shall be
free to comply with such Demand if the Company has not at such time obtained any
protective or similar order preventing, postponing or restricting such
disclosure and (2) Prudential and any Prudential Affiliate shall not be liable
for any failure to provide any such notice to the Company that results from such
Person's negligence; or (c) with the prior consent of the Company (which, if
given orally initially by an Authorized Officer, shall be promptly confirmed, in
writing), which consent shall not be reasonably withheld, in order to protect
the investment of such Delivering Person in its Notes.

     11I. INDEPENDENCE OF COVENANTS.  Except to the extent the context
specifically requires otherwise, all covenants hereunder shall be given
independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is prohibited by
any one of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception
to, or otherwise be in compliance within the limitations of' another covenant
shall not (i) avoid the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default if such
action is taken or such condition exists or (ii) in any way prejudice an attempt
by the holder of any Note to prohibit, through equitable action or otherwise,
the taking of any action by the Company or any Subsidiary which would result in
a Default or Event of Default

     11J. NOTICES.  All written communications provided for hereunder (other
than communications provided for under paragraph 2) shall be sent by first class
mail or nationwide overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid) and (i) if
to any Purchaser, addressed as specified for such communications in the
Purchaser Schedule attached hereto (in the case of the Series A Notes, Series B
Notes, Series C Notes or Series D Notes) or the Purchaser Schedule attached to
the applicable Confirmation of Acceptance (in the case of any Shelf Notes) or at
such other address as any such Purchaser shall have specified to the Company in
writing, (ii) if to any 

                                       43
<PAGE>
 
other holder of any Note, addressed to it at such address as it shall have
specified in writing to the Company or, if any such holder shall not have so
specified an address, then addressed to such holder in care of the last holder
of such Note which shall have so specified an address to the Company and (iii)
if to the Company, addressed to it at 3120 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, California
94304-1000, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, provided, however, that any such
                                                --------  -------
communication to the Company may also, at the option of the Person sending such
communication, be delivered by any other means either to the Company at its
address specified above or to any Authorized Officer of the Company. Any
communication pursuant to paragraph 2 shall be made by the method specified for
such communication in paragraph 2, and shall be effective to create any rights
or obligations under this Agreement only if, in the case of a telephone
communication, an Authorized Officer of the party conveying the information and
of the party receiving the information are parties to the telephone call, and in
the case of a telecopier communication, the communication is signed by an
Authorized Officer of the party conveying the information, addressed to the
attention of an Authorized Officer of the party receiving the information, and
in fact received at the telecopier terminal the number of which is listed for
the party receiving the communication in the Information Schedule or at such
other telecopier terminal as the party receiving the information shall have
specified in writing to the party sending such information.

     So long as Prudential is the holder of any Note outstanding, the Company
shall be deemed to have given any required notices or information to Noteholders
who are Prudential Affiliates so long as it timely provides such notice or
information to Prudential in the manner specified by the applicable provision of
this Agreement.

     11K. PAYMENTS DUE ON NON-BUSINESS DAYS.  Anything in this Agreement or the
Notes to the contrary notwithstanding, any payment of principal of or interest
on, or Yield-Maintenance Amount payable with respect to, any Note that is due on
a date other than a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business
Day.  If the date for any payment is extended to the next succeeding Business
Day by reason of the preceding sentence, the period of such extension shall not
be included in the computation of the interest payable on such Business Day.

     11L. SEVERABILITY. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof' and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any
other jurisdiction.

     11M. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS.  The descriptive headings of the several
paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not
constitute a part of this Agreement

     11N. SATISFACTION REQUIREMENT.  If any agreement, certificate or other
writing, or any action taken or to be taken, is by the terms of this Agreement
required to be satisfactory to any Purchaser, to any holder of Notes or to the
Required Holder(s), the determination of such satisfaction shall be made by such
Purchaser, such holder or the Required Holder(s), as the case may be, in the
sole and exclusive judgment (exercised in good faith) of the Person or Persons
making such determination.

                                       44
<PAGE>
 
     11O. GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE
INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

     11P. SEVERALTY OF OBLIGATIONS.  The sales of Notes to the Purchasers are to
be several sales, and the obligations of Prudential and the Purchasers under
this Agreement are several obligations.  No failure by Prudential or any
Purchaser to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall relieve any
other Purchaser or the Company of any of its obligations hereunder, and neither
Prudential nor any Purchaser shall be responsible for the obligations of, or any
action taken or omitted by, any other such Person hereunder.

     11Q. COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one instrument.

     11R. BINDING AGREEMENT.  When this Agreement is executed and delivered by
the Company and Prudential, it shall become a binding agreement between the
Company and Prudential.  This Agreement shall also inure to the benefit of each
Purchaser which shall have executed and delivered a Confirmation of Acceptance,
and each such Purchaser shall be bound by this Agreement to the extent provided
in such Confirmation of Acceptance.

                                       45
<PAGE>
 
     11S. AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF EXISTING AGREEMENTS; RELEASE OF THE
COMPANY. Upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in paragraph 3A hereof,
each of the 1992 Note Agreement and the 1996 Note Agreement, insofar as the same
relate to the Series A Notes, the Series B Notes, the Series C Notes or the
Series D Notes, shall be amended and restated in their entirety to read as set
forth herein, and the Series A Notes, the Series B Notes, the Series C Notes,
the Series D Notes and any Shelf Notes shall be subject to the terms hereof.

                              Very truly yours,


                              VARIAN, INC.


                              By:  /s/ Franco N. Palomba 
                                   _____________________
                              Its: Treasurer



                              And by: /s/ Allen J. Lauer
                                      ------------------
                              Its:    President and Chief Executive Officer


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

THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY
OF AMERICA


By: /s/ Jeffrey L. Dickson
    ______________________
        Vice President

                                       46
<PAGE>
 
                             INFORMATION SCHEDULE

                      Authorized Officers for Prudential
                      ----------------------------------

ALLEN A. WEAVER                               JEFFREY L. DICKSON
Senior Managing Director                      Managing Director
Prudential Capital Group                      Prudential Capital Group
Two Prudential Plaza                          Four Embarcadero Center
Suite 5600                                    Suite 2700
Chicago, Illinois 60601                       San Francisco, California 94111
Telephone: (312) 540-4211                     Telephone: (415) 291-5054
Facsimile: (312) 540-4222                     Facsimile: (415) 421-6233
 
JOSEPH Y. ALOUF                               STEPHEN J. DEMARTINI
Senior Vice President                         Senior Vice President
Prudential Capital Group                      Prudential Capital Group
Four Embarcadero Center                       Four Embarcadero Center
Suite 2700                                    Suite 2700
San Francisco, California 94111               San Francisco, California 94111
Telephone:(415) 291-5056                      Telephone:(415) 291-5056
Facsimile: (415) 421-6233                     Facsimile:(415) 421-6233



                      Authorized Officers for the Company
                      -----------------------------------

Each "Designated Officer" of the Company as such term is defined in paragraph
10B of the Agreement.

                             Varian, Inc.
                             3120 Hansen Way
                             Palo Alto, California
                             Telephone:  (650) 213-8000
                             Facsimile:  (650) 213-8200
<PAGE>
 
                              PURCHASER SCHEDULE

       Series A Notes, Series B Notes, Series C Notes and Series D Notes
       -----------------------------------------------------------------

 
                                  VARIAN, INC.


<TABLE> 
<S>                                               <C>                      <C> 
                                                  Aggregate principal     
                                                  amount of Series A
                                                  Notes, Series B Notes,
                                                  Series C Notes and
                                                  Series D Notes to be
                                                  issued in exchange for
                                                  Existing 7.21% Notes,
                                                  Existing 6.70% Notes,
                                                  Existing 7.49% Notes
                                                  and Existing 6.90%       
                                                  Notes, respectively      Note Denominations(s)
                                                  -------------------      ---------------------     

THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA       $12,500,000 of           $12,500,000 of
                                                  Series A Notes           Series A Notes

(1)    All payments on account of Series A        $25,000,000 of           $20,000,000 and
       Notes, Series B Notes in the original      Series B Notes           $5,000,000 of
       principal amount of $20,000,000, Series                             Series B Notes
       C Notes and Series D Notes in the
       original principal amount of $5,600,000    $14,000,000 of           $14,000,000 of
       held by such Purchaser shall be made by    Series C Notes           Series C Notes
       wire transfer of immediately available
       funds for credit to:

                                                  $7,000,000 of            $5,600,000 and
                                                  Series D Notes           $1,400,000 of
                                                                           Series D Notes
</TABLE>
Account No. 890-0304-391
Bank of New York
New York, New York
(ABA No.: 021-000-018)
<PAGE>
 
        All payments on account of the Series B
        Notes in the original principal amount of
        $5,000,000 and Series D Notes in the
        original principal amount of $1,400,000 held
        by such Purchaser shall be made by wire
        transfer of immediately available funds for
        credit to:
 
        Account No. 890-0304-944
        Bank of New York
        New York, New York
        (ABA No.: 021-000-018)
 
        Each such wire transfer shall set forth the
        name of the Company, a reference to "7.21%
        Series A Senior Notes due June 9, 2007,
        Security No. !INV______!", 6.70% Series B
        Senior Notes due April 30, 2014, Security
        No. "PPN922206\A INV6533", 7.49% Series C
        Senior Notes due June 9, 2002, Security No.
        "!INV______!", or 6.90% Series D Senior
        Notes due June 9, 2002, Security No.
        "!INV____!", as the case may be, and the due
        date and application (as among principal,
        interest and Yield-Maintenance Amount) of
        the payment being made
 
(2)     Address for all notices relating to payments:
 
        The Prudential Insurance Company of America
        c/o Prudential Capital Group
        Gateway Center Three
        100 Mulberry Street
        Newark, New Jersey 07102
 
        Attention:   Manager, Investment Operations
        Group
        Telephone:  (973) 802-5260
        Telecopy:  (973) 802-8055

                                       2
 
<PAGE>
 
(3)     Address for all other communications and
        notices:
 
        The Prudential Insurance Company of America
        c/o Prudential Capital Group - Corporates
        Four Embarcadero Center
        Suite 2700
        San Francisco, California 94111
        Attention:  Managing Director
        Telecopy:  (415) 421-6233
 
(4)     Recipient of telephonic prepayment notices:
 
        Manager, Investment Structure and Pricing
        Telephone: (201) 802-6660
        Telecopy:  (201) 802-9425
 
(5)     Tax Identification No.: 22-1211670

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT A-1
                                                                     -----------


                  THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
                 SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND CANNOT
                    BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH
                 SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

                            [FORM OF SERIES A NOTE]

                                 VARIAN, INC.

                  7.21% SERIES A SENIOR NOTE DUE JUNE 9, 2007

No. ________                                                  __________________
$ ________________                                            __________________


     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Varian, Inc. (herein called the
"Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, hereby promises to pay to ______________________________, or
registered assigns, the principal sum of _____________________on June 9, 2007
with interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year--30-day month) (a) on the
unpaid balance thereof at the rate of 7.21% per annum from the date hereof,
payable quarterly on the 9th day of March, June, September and December in each
year, commencing with the March 9, June 9, September 9 or December 9 next
succeeding the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and
payable, and (b) on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of
principal, any overdue payment of Yield Maintenance Amount and any overdue
payment of interest, payable quarterly as aforesaid (or, at the option of the
registered holder hereof, on demand), at a rate per annum [from time to time]1
equal to [the greater of (i)]1 9.21% [or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest
publicly announced by Bank of New York from time to time in New York City as its
prime rate]./1/

     Payments of principal, Yield Maintenance Amount, if any, and interest
are to be made at the main office of Bank of New York in New York City or at
such other place as the holder hereof shall designate to the Company in writing,
in lawful money of the United States of America.

     This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the "Notes")
issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Note Purchase and Private Shelf
Agreement and Assumption, dated as of April 2, 1999 (herein called the
"Agreement"), between the Company, on the one hand, and The Prudential Insurance
Company of America and each Prudential Affiliate which becomes party thereto, on
the other hand, and is entitled to the benefits thereof.  As provided in the
Agreement, this Note is subject to prepayment, in whole or from time to time in
part, in certain cases without Yield Maintenance Amount and in other cases with
the Yield Maintenance Amount specified in the Agreement.  Each holder of this
Note will be deemed by its acceptance hereof, (i) to have agreed to the
confidentiality provisions set forth in paragraph 11H of the Agreement, (ii) to
have made the representation set forth in paragraph 9B of the Agreement, and
(iii) to have agreed to the limitations on transfers set forth in paragraph 11D
of the agreement. 

_____________________
/1/ Delete in the case of holder not exempt from California usury law.

                                     A-1-1
<PAGE>
 
     This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Agreement, upon
surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered
holder hereof or such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note
for the then outstanding principal amount will be issued to, and registered in
the name of, the transferee.  Prior to due presentment for registration of
transfer, the Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered
as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other
purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

     In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Agreement, shall occur and
be continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become
due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement.

     This Note (i) merely re-evidences a portion of the indebtedness previously
evidenced by Varian Associates, Inc.'s 7.21% Series A Senior Notes due June 9,
2007 (the "Existing 7.21% Notes") which has been assumed by the Company, (ii) is
given in exchange for, and not as payment of, Existing 7.21% Note(s), and (iii)
is in no way intended to constitute a novation of any Existing 7.21% Notes.

     Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings provided in the Agreement.

     This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the internal
law of the State of California.

     This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the internal 
law of the State of California.

                                             VARIAN, INC.



                                             By:_______________________________
                                             Title:____________________________


                                             And by:___________________________
                                             Title:____________________________

                                     A-1-2
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT A-2
                                                                     -----------

                  THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
                 SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND CANNOT
                   BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH
                 SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

                            [FORM OF SERIES B NOTE]

                                 VARIAN, INC.

                 6.70% SERIES B SENIOR NOTE DUE APRIL 30, 2014

No. ________                                                     _______________
$ ________________                                               _______________

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Varian, Inc. (herein called the
"Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, hereby promises to pay to ______________________________, or
registered assigns, the principal sum of _____________________on April 30, 2014
with interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year--30-day month) (a) on the
unpaid balance thereof at the rate of 6.70% per annum from the date hereof,
payable quarterly on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 in each year,
commencing with the January 31, April 30, July 31 or October 31 next succeeding
the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable,
and (b) on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal,
any overdue payment of Yield Maintenance Amount and any overdue payment of
interest, payable quarterly as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered
holder hereof, on demand), at a rate per annum [from time to time]1 equal to
[the greater of (i)]1 8.70% [or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly
announced by Bank of New York from time to time in New York City as its prime
rate]./1/

     Payments of principal, Yield Maintenance Amount, if any, and interest are
to be made at the main office of Bank of New York in New York City or at such
other place as the holder hereof shall designate to the Company in writing, in
lawful money of the United States of America.

     This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the "Notes")
issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Note Purchase and Private Shelf
Agreement and Assumption, dated as of April 2, 1999 (herein called the
"Agreement"), between the Company, on the one hand, and The Prudential Insurance
Company of America and each Prudential Affiliate which becomes party thereto, on
the other hand, and is entitled to the benefits thereof.  As provided in the
Agreement, this Note is subject to prepayment, in whole or from time to time in
part, in certain cases without Yield Maintenance Amount and in other cases with
the Yield Maintenance Amount specified in the Agreement.  Each holder of this
Note will be deemed by its acceptance

___________________
/1/  Delete in the case of holder not exempt from California usury law.

                                     A-2-1
<PAGE>
 
hereof, (i) to have agreed to the confidentiality provisions set forth in
paragraph 11H of the Agreement, (ii) to have made the representation set forth
in paragraph 9B of the Agreement, and (iii) to have agreed to the limitations on
transfers set forth in paragraph 11D of the Agreement.

     This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Agreement, upon
surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered
holder hereof or such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note
for the then outstanding principal amount will be issued to, and registered in
the name of, the transferee.  Prior to due presentment for registration of
transfer, the Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered
as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other
purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

     In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Agreement, shall occur and
be continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become
due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement.

     This Note (i) merely re-evidences a portion of the indebtedness previously
evidenced by Varian Associates, Inc.'s 6.70% Series B Senior Notes due April 30,
2018 (the "Existing 6.70% Notes") which has been assumed by the Company, (ii) is
given in exchange for, and not as payment of, Existing 6.70% Note(s), and (iii)
is in no way intended to constitute a novation of any Existing 6.70% Notes.

     Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings provided in the Agreement.

     This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the internal
law of the State of California.

                                          VARIAN, INC.



                                          By:_________________________________
                                          Title:______________________________


                                          And by:_____________________________
                                          Title:______________________________

                                     A-2-2
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT A-3
                                                                     -----------

                                                                               

                  THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
                 SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND CANNOT
                    BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH
                 SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

                            [FORM OF SERIES C NOTE]

                                 VARIAN, INC.

                  7.49% SERIES C SENIOR NOTE DUE JUNE 9, 2002

No. ________                                                   ________________
$ ________________                                             ________________

 

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Varian, Inc. (herein called the
"Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, hereby promises to pay to ______________________________, or
registered assigns, the principal sum of _____________________on June 9, 2002
with interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year--30-day month) (a) on the
unpaid balance thereof at the rate of 7.49% per annum from the date hereof,
payable quarterly on the 9th day of March, June, September and December in each
year, commencing with the March 9, June 9, September 9 or December 9 next
succeeding the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and
payable, and (b) on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of
principal, any overdue payment of Yield Maintenance Amount and any overdue
payment of interest, payable quarterly as aforesaid (or, at the option of the
registered holder hereof, on demand), at a rate per annum [from time to time]1
equal to [the greater of (i)]1 9.49% [or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest
publicly announced by Bank of New York from time to time in New York City as its
prime rate]./1/

     Payments of principal, Yield Maintenance Amount, if any, and interest are
to be made at the main office of Bank of New York in New York City or at such
other place as the holder hereof shall designate to the Company in writing, in
lawful money of the United States of America.

     This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the "Notes")
issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Note Purchase and Private Shelf
Agreement and Assumption, dated as of April 2, 1999 (herein called the
"Agreement"), between the Company, on the one hand, and The Prudential Insurance
Company of America and each Prudential Affiliate which becomes party thereto, on
the other hand, and is entitled to the benefits thereof.  As provided in the
Agreement, this Note is subject to prepayment, in whole or from time to time in
part, in certain  

___________________
/1/  Delete in the case of holder not exempt from California usury law.

                                     A-3-1
<PAGE>
 
cases without Yield Maintenance Amount and in other cases with the Yield
Maintenance Amount specified in the Agreement. Each holder of this Note will be
deemed by its acceptance hereof, (i) to have agreed to the confidentiality
provisions set forth in paragraph 11H of the Agreement, (ii) to have made the
representation set forth in paragraph 9B of the Agreement, and (iii) to have
agreed to the limitations on transfers set forth in paragraph 11D of the
Agreement.

     This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Agreement, upon
surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered
holder hereof or such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note
for the then outstanding principal amount will be issued to, and registered in
the name of, the transferee.  Prior to due presentment for registration of
transfer, the Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered
as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other
purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

     In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Agreement, shall occur and
be continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become
due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement.

     This Note (i) merely re-evidences a portion of the indebtedness previously
evidenced by Varian Associates, Inc.'s 7.49% Senior Notes due June 9, 2002 (the
"Existing 7.49% Notes") which has been assumed by the Company, (ii) is given in
exchange for, and not as payment of, Existing 7.49% Note(s), and (iii) is in no
way intended to constitute a novation of any Existing 7.49% Notes.

     Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings provided in the Agreement.

     This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the internal
law of the State of California.

                                         VARIAN, INC.



                                         By:__________________________________
                                         Title:_______________________________


                                         And by:______________________________
                                         Title:_______________________________

                                     A-3-2
 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT A-4
                                                                     -----------

                                                                               

                  THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
                 SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND CANNOT
                    BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH
                 SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

                                        

                            [FORM OF SERIES D NOTE]

                                  VARIAN, INC.

                  6.90% SERIES D SENIOR NOTE DUE JUNE 9, 2002

No. ________                                                  _________________
$ ________________                                            _________________

 

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Varian, Inc. (herein called the
"Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, hereby promises to pay to ________________________, or registered
assigns, the principal sum of _____________________on June 9, 2002 with interest
(computed on the basis of a 360-day year--30-day month) (a) on the unpaid
balance thereof at the rate of 6.90 % per annum from the date hereof, payable
quarterly on the 9th day of March, June, September and December in each year,
commencing with the March 9, June 9, September 9 or December 9 next succeeding
the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable,
and (b) on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal,
any overdue payment of Yield Maintenance Amount and any overdue payment of
interest, payable quarterly as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered
holder hereof, on demand), at a rate per annum [from time to time]1 equal to
[the greater of (i)]1 8.90% [or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly
announced by Bank of New York from time to time in New York City as its prime
rate]./1/

     Payments of principal, Yield Maintenance Amount, if any, and interest
are to be made at the main office of Bank of New York in New York City or at
such other place as the holder hereof shall designate to the Company in writing,
in lawful money of the United States of America.

     This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the "Notes")
issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Note Purchase and Private Shelf
Agreement and Assumption, dated as of April 2, 1999 (herein called the
"Agreement"), between the Company, on the one hand, and The Prudential Insurance
Company of America and each Prudential Affiliate which becomes

__________________
/1/  Delete in the case of holder not exempt from California usury law.

                                     A-4-1
<PAGE>
 
party thereto, on the other hand, and is entitled to the benefits thereof. As
provided in the Agreement, this Note is subject to prepayment, in whole or from
time to time in part, in certain cases without Yield Maintenance Amount and in
other cases with the Yield Maintenance Amount specified in the Agreement. Each
holder of this Note will be deemed by its acceptance hereof, (i) to have agreed
to the confidentiality provisions set forth in paragraph 11H of the Agreement,
(ii) to have made the representation set forth in paragraph 9B of the Agreement,
and (iii) to have agreed to the limitations on transfers set forth in paragraph
11D of the Agreement.

     This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Agreement, upon
surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered
holder hereof or such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note
for the then outstanding principal amount will be issued to, and registered in
the name of, the transferee.  Prior to due presentment for registration of
transfer, the Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered
as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other
purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

     In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Agreement, shall occur and
be continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become
due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Agreement.

     This Note (i) merely re-evidences a portion of the indebtedness previously
evidenced by Varian Associates, Inc.'s 6.90% Senior Notes due June 9, 2002 (the
"Existing 6.90% Notes") which has been assumed by the Company, (ii) is given in
exchange for, and not as payment of, Existing 6.90% Note(s), and (iii) is in no
way intended to constitute a novation of any Existing 6.90% Notes.

     Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings provided in the Agreement.

     This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the internal
law of the State of California.

                                        VARIAN, INC.



                                        By:__________________________________
                                        Title:_______________________________


                                        And by:______________________________
                                        Title:_______________________________

                                     A-4-2
 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT A-5
                                                                     -----------

                                                                               

                  THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
                 SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND CANNOT
                    BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH
                 SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

                                        

                              [FORM OF SHELF NOTE]

                                  VARIAN, INC.

                             SENIOR SERIES ___ NOTE

No. __
ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:
ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE:
INTEREST RATE:
INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:
FINAL MATURITY DATE:
PRINCIPAL PREPAYMENT DATES AND AMOUNTS:

 

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Varian, Inc. (herein called the
"Company"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, hereby promises to pay to _________________________, or registered
assigns, the principal sum of _______________________ DOLLARS [on the Final
Maturity Date specified above] [, payable on the Principal Prepayment Dates and
in the amounts specified above, and on the Final Maturity Date specified above
in an amount equal to the unpaid balance of the principal hereof,] with interest
(computed on the basis of a 360-day year--30-day month) (a) on the unpaid
balance thereof at the Interest Rate per annum specified above, payable on each
Interest Payment Date specified above and on the Final Maturity Date specified
above, commencing with the Interest Payment Date next succeeding the date
hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and (b) on
any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal, any overdue
payment of Yield Maintenance Amount and any overdue payment of interest, payable
on each Interest Payment Date as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered
holder hereof, on demand), at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the
greater of (i) 2% over the Interest Rate specified above or (ii) 2% over the
rate of interest publicly announced by [Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New
York] from time to time in New York City as its prime rate.

     Payments of principal, Yield Maintenance Amount, if any, and interest are
to be made at the main office of Bank of New York in New York City or at such
other place as the holder hereof shall designate to the Company in writing,
lawful money of the United States of America.

                                     A-5-1
<PAGE>
 
     This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the "Notes")
issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Note Purchase and Private Shelf
Agreement and Assumption, dated as of April 2, 1999 (herein called the
"Agreement"), between the Company, on the one hand, and The Prudential Insurance
Company of America and each Prudential Affiliate (as defined in the Agreement)
which becomes party thereto, on the other hand, and is entitled to the benefits
thereof.  Each holder of this Note will be deemed by its acceptance hereof, (i)
to have agreed to the confidentiality provisions set forth in paragraph 11H of
the Agreement, (ii) to have made the representation set forth in paragraph 9B of
the Agreement, and (iii) to have agreed to the limitations on transfers set
forth in paragraph 11D of the Agreement.

     This Note is subject to optional prepayment, in whole or from time to time
in part, on the terms specified in the Agreement.

     This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Agreement, upon
surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered
holder hereof or such holder's attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note
for the then outstanding principal amount will be issued to, and registered in
the name of, the transferee.  Prior to due presentment for registration of
transfer, the Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered
as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other
purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

     In case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal of
this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner and
with the effect provided in the Agreement.

     Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings provided in the Agreement.

                                     A-5-2
<PAGE>
 
     This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the internal
law of the State of California.

                                                VARIAN, INC.



                                                By:_____________________________
                                                Title:__________________________


                                                And by:_________________________
                                                Title:__________________________
 
                                     A-5-3

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM VARIAN,
INC.'S APRIL 2, 1999 FORM 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-03-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-02-1999
<CASH>                                          12,093
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  142,974
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                     67,482
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               254,383
<PP&E>                                         194,087
<DEPRECIATION>                                 108,073
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 406,822
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          167,159
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                           304
<OTHER-SE>                                     174,453
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   406,822
<SALES>                                        282,232
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               282,232
<CGS>                                          182,378
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  292,530
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (10,298)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,580
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (5,718)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (5,718)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.19)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.19)
        

</TABLE>


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