ROBINSON NUGENT INC
8-K, EX-2.1, 2000-10-10
ELECTRONIC CONNECTORS
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                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                   DATED AS OF

                                 OCTOBER 2, 2000

                                 BY AND BETWEEN

                  MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

                           BARBADOS ACQUISITION, INC.

                                       AND

                             ROBINSON NUGENT, INC.


<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page

ARTICLE I......................................................................1
      Section 1.1 The Merger...................................................1
      Section 1.2 The Closing; Effective Time..................................2
      Section 1.3 Subsequent Actions...........................................2
      Section 1.4 Articles of Incorporation; Bylaws; Directors
                  and Officers of the Surviving Corporation....................2

ARTICLE II
      Section 2.1 Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock;
                  Conversion of Securities.....................................3
      Section 2.2 Exchange of Certificates.....................................5

ARTICLE III....................................................................7
      Section 3.1 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.................7
      Section 3.2 Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.........................8
      Section 3.3 Capitalization...............................................8
      Section 3.4 Power and Authority; Authorization; Valid & Binding..........9
      Section 3.5 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents..................10
      Section 3.6 SEC Reports; Financial Statements...........................11
      Section 3.7 Absence of Certain Changes..................................11
      Section 3.8 Litigation and Liabilities..................................12
      Section 3.9 No Violation of Law; Permits................................12
      Section 3.10 Employee Matters; ERISA....................................13
      Section 3.11 Labor Matters..............................................15
      Section 3.12 Environmental Matters......................................15
      Section 3.13 Board Action; Vote Required................................17
      Section 3.14 Brokers....................................................18
      Section 3.15 Tax Matters................................................18
      Section 3.16 Intellectual Property......................................19
      Section 3.17 Insurance..................................................20


                                     - i -
<PAGE>

      Section 3.18 Contracts and Commitments..................................20
      Section 3.19 Title to Assets............................................21
      Section 3.20 State Takeover Statutes....................................22
      Section 3.21 Rights Agreement...........................................22
      Section 3.22 Product Warranty...........................................22
      Section 3.23 Product Liability..........................................23

ARTICLE IV....................................................................23
      Section 4.1 Existence; Corporate Authority..............................23
      Section 4.2 Authorization, Validity and Effect of Agreements............23
      Section 4.3 No Violation................................................24
      Section 4.4 Interested Stockholder......................................25
      Section 4.5 Parent Public Reports; Financial Statements.................25

ARTICLE V.....................................................................25
      Section 5.1 Interim Operations of The Company...........................25
      Section 5.2 No Solicitation.............................................27

ARTICLE VI....................................................................30
      Section 6.1 Meetings of Stockholders....................................30
      Section 6.2 Filings; Other Action.......................................31
      Section 6.3 Publicity...................................................31
      Section 6.4 Registration Statement......................................31
      Section 6.5 Listing Application.........................................32
      Section 6.6 Further Action..............................................32
      Section 6.7 Expenses....................................................32
      Section 6.8 Notification of Certain Matters.............................33
      Section 6.9 Access to Information.......................................33
      Section 6.10 Insurance; Indemnity.......................................34
      Section 6.11 Employee Benefit Plans.....................................35
      Section 6.12 Rights Agreement...........................................37



                                     - ii -
<PAGE>

ARTICLE VII...................................................................37
      Section 7.1 Conditions to Obligations of the Parties
                  to Consummate the Merger....................................37
      Section 7.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations
                  of Parent and Merger Sub....................................38
      Section 7.3 Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company.........39

ARTICLE VIII..................................................................40
      Section 8.1 Termination.................................................40
      Section 8.2 Effect of Termination and Abandonment.......................41
      Section 8.3 Amendment...................................................43

ARTICLE IX....................................................................43
      Section 9.1 Non-Survival of Representations,
                  Warranties and Agreements...................................43
      Section 9.2 Notices ....................................................43
      Section 9.3 Certain Definitions; Interpretation.........................44
      Section 9.4 Headings....................................................46
      Section 9.5 Severability................................................46
      Section 9.6 Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries..............46
      Section 9.7 Assignment..................................................46
      Section 9.8 Governing Law...............................................46
      Section 9.9 Counterparts................................................46
      Section 9.10 Confidential Nature of Information.........................47

Exhibit A - Voting and Stock Option Agreement................................A-1
Exhibit B - Form of Articles of Incorporation................................B-1



                                     - iii -
<PAGE>

                             INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS

DEFINED TERM                                                           SECTION

401(k) Plan.............................................................6.11(b)
Acquisition Proposal.....................................................5.2(c)
Acquisition Transaction..................................................5.2(c)
Action..................................................................6.10(b)
affiliate............................................................9.3(a)(ii)
Agreement..............................................................preamble
Audited Balance Sheet......................................................3.19
Average Price............................................................2.1(b)
Barbados Acquisition...................................................preamble
Board of Directors..................................................9.3(a)(iii)
Business Combination.....................................................2.1(c)
Cap.....................................................................6.10(a)
Certificates.............................................................2.2(b)
Closing..................................................................1.2(a)
Closing Date.............................................................1.2(a)
Code...................................................................recitals
Company................................................................preamble
Company Benefit Plan....................................................3.10(a)
Company Common Shares..................................................recitals
Company Contracts..........................................................3.18
Company Disclosure Letter...........................................Article III
Company Employee........................................................3.10(b)
Company Employees.......................................................3.10(b)
Company ERISA Affiliate.................................................3.10(d)
Company Multiemployer Plan..............................................3.10(a)
Company Options..........................................................2.1(e)
Company Pension Plan....................................................3.10(c)
Confidentiality Agreement...................................................9.6
control.............................................................9.3(a)(iii)
Dallas Facility..........................................................7.2(g)
Effective Time...........................................................1.2(b)
Encumbrance................................................................3.16
Environmental Claim..................................................3.12(e)(i)
Environmental Laws..................................................3.12(e)(ii)
Environmental Permits...................................................3.12(b)
ERISA................................................................9.3(a)(iv)
Exchange Act.............................................................3.5(a)
Exchange Agent...........................................................2.2(a)
Exchange Ratio...........................................................2.1(b)


                                     - iv -
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Form S-4....................................................................6.4
GAAP.....................................................................3.6(b)
Governmental Entity......................................................3.5(b)
Hazardous Materials................................................3.12(e)(iii)
HSR Act..................................................................3.5(b)
IBCL........................................................................1.1
Indemnified Party.......................................................6.10(b)
Intellectual Property......................................................3.16
knowledge.............................................................9.3(a)(v)
Material Adverse Effect...............................................9.3(a)(i)
Merger.................................................................recitals
Merger Consideration.....................................................5.2(e)
Merger Consideration.....................................................2.2(b)
Merger Sub.............................................................preamble
Merger Sub Articles of Incorporation.....................................1.4(a)
MPP Plan................................................................6.11(a)
NYSE.....................................................................2.1(b)
Parent.................................................................preamble
Parent Common Stock......................................................2.1(b)
Parent Public Reports.......................................................4.5
Paying Agent.............................................................2.2(b)
PCBs..................................................................3.12(iii)
Pension Plan............................................................3.10(c)
Person...............................................................9.3(a)(vi)
Proposing Party..........................................................5.2(b)
Proxy Statement/Prospectus..................................................6.4
Recapitalization.........................................................2.1(c)
Release.............................................................3.12(e)(iv)
Rescission Offers............................................................37
Rights......................................................................3.3
Rights Agreement...........................................................3.21
SEC......................................................................3.5(b)
SEC Reports..............................................................3.6(a)
Securities Act...........................................................3.5(a)
Significant Subsidiary..............................................9.3(a)(vii)
Stock Option Agreement.................................................recitals
Stock Option Plan........................................................2.1(e)
Subsidiary.........................................................9.3(a)(viii)
Superior Transaction.....................................................5.2(e)
Surviving Corporation.......................................................1.1


                                     - v -
<PAGE>

Tax.....................................................................3.15(i)
Tax Return..............................................................3.15(i)
Taxable.................................................................3.15(i)
Taxes...................................................................3.15(i)
Termination Date.........................................................8.1(b)
Termination Fee..........................................................8.2(b)
Trading Day..............................................................2.1(b)
Triggering Event.........................................................8.2(b)
VIP.....................................................................6.11(b)



                                     - vi -
<PAGE>

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

     AGREEMENT  AND  PLAN  OF  MERGER,   dated  as  of  October  2,  2000  (this
"Agreement"), by and among Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company a Delaware
corporation,  Barbados  Acquisition,  Inc. an Indiana  corporation  and a wholly
owned Subsidiary of Parent ("Barbados Acquisition" or "Merger Sub") and Robinson
Nugent, Inc. (the "Company"), an Indiana corporation.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  the respective Boards of Directors of Parent,  Merger Sub and the
Company  have each  determined  that the  merger of Merger Sub with and into the
Company (the "Merger") upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
this  Agreement is  advisable,  and in the best  interests  of their  respective
corporations and stockholders and have approved the Merger;

     WHEREAS,  it is intended that, for federal income tax purposes,  the Merger
will  qualify as a tax-free  reorganization  under  Section 368 of the  Internal
Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended,  and the rules and  regulations  promulgated
thereunder (the "Code");

     WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
as a condition and inducement to Parent's and Merger Sub's  willingness to enter
into this  Agreement,  Parent  and the  stockholders  of the  Company  listed on
Exhibit A have  executed and  delivered a Voting and Stock  Option  Agreement (a
"Stock  Option  Agreement"),  dated as of this  date,  pursuant  to which  those
stockholders have agreed to vote in favor of the Merger and, among other things,
are granting to Parent an option to purchase,  under certain circumstances,  all
of the common shares, no par value, of the Company (the "Company Common Shares")
beneficially owned by them, with an exercise price of $19.00 per share.

     NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants
and agreements  contained in this  Agreement,  and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the parties agree as follows (certain  capitalized terms used herein are
defined in Section 9.3):

                                    ARTICLE I

     Section 1.1 The Merger.  At the Effective  Time and subject to and upon the
terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement  and in  accordance  with the  Indiana
Business Corporation Law ("IBCL"),  Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the
Company and the separate  corporate  existence  of Merger Sub shall  cease.  The
Company shall continue as the surviving  corporation  (sometimes  referred to as
the "Surviving  Corporation")  in the Merger.  The Merger shall have the effects
specified in Section 23-1-40-6 of the IBCL.


<PAGE>

     Section 1.2 The Closing; Effective Time. (a) The closing of the Merger (the
"Closing") shall take place (i) at the offices of Parent,  3M Center,  St. Paul,
MN 55133 at 10:00 A.M. local time, on the second business day following the date
on which  the last to be  satisfied  or waived  of the  conditions  set forth in
Article  VII  (other  than  those  conditions  that by  their  nature  are to be
satisfied at the Closing,  but subject to the  satisfaction or, where permitted,
waiver of those conditions) shall be satisfied or waived in accordance with this
Agreement  or (ii) at such other  place,  time  and/or  date as the  Company and
Parent shall agree (the date of the Closing, the "Closing Date").

     (b) On the Closing Date, the Company and Merger Sub shall cause articles of
merger in  respect  of the  Merger to be  properly  executed  and filed with the
Secretary  of State of the State of Indiana as provided in Section  23-1-40-5 of
the IBCL.  The Merger shall become  effective at such time at which the articles
of merger shall be duly filed with the  Secretary of State of Indiana or at such
later time reflected in the articles of merger as shall be agreed by the Company
and Parent (the time that the Merger becomes effective, the "Effective Time").

     Section 1.3 Subsequent  Actions.  If, at any time after the Effective Time,
the Surviving  Corporation shall consider or be advised that any deeds, bills of
sale,  assignments,  assurances  or any other actions or things are necessary or
desirable  to  continue,  vest,  perfect or confirm of record or  otherwise  the
Surviving  Corporation's  right,  title or  interest  in, to or under any of the
rights,  properties,   privileges,   franchises  or  assets  of  either  of  its
constituent corporations acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation
as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger, or otherwise to carry out the
intent  of  this  Agreement,   the  officers  and  directors  of  the  Surviving
Corporation  shall be  authorized  to execute  and  deliver,  in the name and on
behalf of either of the constituent  corporations of the Merger, all such deeds,
bills of sale, assignments and assurances and to take and do, in the name and on
behalf of each of such  corporations  or  otherwise,  all such other actions and
things as may be necessary or desirable to vest,  perfect or confirm any and all
right, title and interest in, to and under such rights, properties,  privileges,
franchises or assets in the Surviving  Corporation or otherwise to carry out the
intent of this Agreement.

     Section 1.4 Articles of  Incorporation;  Bylaws;  Directors and Officers of
the Surviving Corporation. Unless otherwise agreed by Parent, Merger Sub and the
Company prior to the Closing, at the Effective Time:



                                      - 2 -
<PAGE>

     (a) The Articles of Incorporation of the Company (the "Company  Articles of
Incorporation")  shall be amended at the  Effective  Time to read in the form of
Exhibit B and,  as so  amended,  such  Articles  of  Incorporation  shall be the
Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving  Corporation until thereafter changed
or amended as provided therein or by applicable law;

     (b) The  bylaws  of the  Company  as in  effect  immediately  prior  to the
Effective  Time  shall be at and after the  Effective  Time  (until  amended  as
provided by law, the Company  Certificate of Incorporation and the bylaws of the
Company, as applicable) the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation;

     (c) The  officers of Merger Sub  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time
shall continue to serve in their respective offices of the Surviving Corporation
from and after the  Effective  Time,  until  their  successors  are  elected  or
appointed and qualified or until their resignation or removal; and

     (d) The directors of Merger Sub  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time
shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation from and after the Effective
Time,  until their  successors  are elected or appointed  and qualified or until
their resignation or removal.

                                   ARTICLE II

     Section  2.1  Effect  of  the  Merger  on  Capital  Stock;   Conversion  of
Securities.  At the  Effective  Time,  by virtue of the Merger and  without  any
action on the part of any holder of any capital stock of the Company, Merger Sub
or Parent:

     (a)  Cancellation  of Certain  Company Common  Shares.  Each Company Common
Share that is owned by the  Company as  treasury  stock and all  Company  Common
Shares that are owned by Parent shall be canceled and shall cease to exist,  and
no stock of  Parent  or other  consideration  shall  be  delivered  in  exchange
therefor.  All references to Company  Common Shares include the Rights  attached
thereto.

     (b) Conversion of Company Common Shares.  Subject to the provisions of this
Section 2.1, each Company  Common Share other than shares  canceled  pursuant to
Section 2.1(a), issued and outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective Time,
shall by virtue of the Merger and  without  any action on the part of the holder
thereof be converted into,  subject to Section 2.1(c), the right to receive that
number of fully paid,  non-assessable  shares of common stock, $ 0.01 par value,
of Parent ("Parent Common Stock") equal to the Exchange Ratio.  All such Company
Common Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled
and retired and shall cease to exist, and each certificate previously evidencing
any  such shares shall thereafter represent the right only to receive the Merger


                                      - 3 -
<PAGE>

Consideration  (as defined in Section 2.2(b)).  The holders of such certificates
previously  evidencing such Company Common Shares outstanding  immediately prior
to the  Effective  Time  shall  cease to have any  rights  with  respect to such
Company  Common  Shares  except as  otherwise  provided  herein or by law.  Such
certificates  previously evidencing Company Common Shares shall be exchanged for
certificates   evidencing   whole  shares  of  Parent  Common  Stock  issued  in
consideration  therefor  upon the surrender of such  certificates  in accordance
with the provisions of Section 2.2. No fractional  shares of Parent Common Stock
shall be issued,  and, in lieu thereof, a cash payment shall be made pursuant to
Section 2.2(d).  The "Exchange Ratio" shall be equal to $19.00 divided by either
(i) the Average Price of Parent Common Stock if such Average Price is no greater
than  $100.00 and no less than  $82.00,  (ii)  $100.00 if the  Average  Price of
Parent  Common Stock is greater than $100.00,  in which case the Exchange  Ratio
shall equal 0.19 or (iii) $82.00 if the Average  Price of Parent Common Stock is
less than $82.00, in which case the Exchange Ratio shall equal 0.2317.  "Average
Price"  means the average of the  closing  prices as reported in The Wall Street
Journal's New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions Reports for each of the
20  consecutive  Trading Days in the period ending on the business day preceding
the  Effective  Time.  "Trading  Day"  means a day on which  the New York  Stock
Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") is open for trading.

     (c) Anti-Dilution Provisions. If between the date of this Agreement and the
Effective  Time,  the number of shares of Parent Common Stock or Company  Common
Shares  issued and  outstanding  changes as a result of a stock  split,  reverse
stock   split,   stock   dividend,    stock    combination,    recapitalization,
reclassification,  reorganization or similar transaction (a  "Recapitalization")
with  a  record  date  within  such  period,   the   Exchange   Ratio  shall  be
proportionately  adjusted to provide the  holders of Company  Common  Shares the
same economic effect as  contemplated  by this  Agreement.  If, between the date
hereof and the Effective  Time,  Parent shall merge or consolidate  with or into
any other  corporation  (a "Business  Combination")  and the terms thereof shall
provide that Parent  Common Stock shall be converted  into or exchanged  for the
shares of any other corporation or entity,  then provision shall be made so that
shareholders  of the Company  who would be entitled to receive  shares of Parent
Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of
each share of Parent  Common  Stock  issuable to such  shareholders  as provided
herein,  the  same  kind  and  amount  of  securities  or  assets  as  shall  be
distributable upon such Business Combination with respect to one share of Parent
Common Stock and the parties shall agree on an appropriate  restructuring of the
transactions contemplated herein.

     (d) Conversion of Common Stock of Merger Sub. At the Effective  Time,  each
share of common stock of Merger Sub issued and outstanding  immediately prior to
the Effective Time, and all rights in respect thereof,  shall forthwith cease to
exist and be converted  into one validly  issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable
common share of the Surviving Corporation.



                                      - 4 -
<PAGE>

     (e) Options.  In accordance  with Section 6.11, as soon as practicable  but
not more than five (5) days from the date  hereof,  the  Company  shall  provide
written  notice  to each  holder of a Company  Option of the  execution  of this
Agreement  which notice  shall  include the election by the Company to terminate
all Company  Options as of the 30th day  immediately  following  the date of the
sending of such notice as  contemplated  by the provisions of the Company's 1993
Employee and Non-Employee  Director Stock Option Plan (the "Stock Option Plan"),
so that as of the  Closing  Date all  Company  Options  will  have  been  either
exercised and satisfied in full or terminated.  For purposes of this  Agreement,
"Company  Options"  shall  mean   subscriptions,   options,   warrants,   calls,
commitments,  agreements,  conversion  rights or other  rights of any  character
(contingent  or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise  acquire from the Company or
any of its  Subsidiaries at any time, or upon the happening of any stated event,
any shares of the capital stock of the Company.

     Section 2.2 Exchange of  Certificates.  (a) Deposit with Exchange Agent. As
soon as practicable  after the Effective Time,  Parent shall deposit with a bank
or trust  company  mutually  agreeable to Parent and the Company (the  "Exchange
Agent"), pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to
Parent and the  Company,  when  required,  certificates  representing  shares of
Parent Common Stock  required to effect the  conversion of Company  Common Stock
into Parent  Common Shares in  accordance  with Section  2.1(b) and an amount of
cash in respect of fractional shares pursuant to Section 2.2(d).

     (b)  Exchange  and Payment  Procedures.  As soon as  practicable  after the
Effective  Time,  Parent shall cause  Parent's  transfer  agent and registrar as
paying  agent  (the  "Paying  Agent")  to mail to each  holder  of  record  of a
certificate   or   certificates   representing   Company   Common   Shares  (the
"Certificates")  that have been converted  pursuant to Section 2.1: (i) a letter
of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of
loss and title to the Certificates  shall pass, only upon actual delivery of the
Certificates to Parent's Paying Agent) and (ii)  instructions  for effecting the
surrender of the  Certificates  and  receiving  the Merger  Consideration.  Upon
surrender of a Certificate to the Paying Agent for cancellation, together with a
duly executed letter of transmittal and such other documents as the Paying Agent
may  require,  the holder of such  Certificate  shall be  entitled to receive in
exchange therefor (i) a certificate representing that number of shares of Parent
Common Stock into which the Company Common Shares previously represented by such
Certificate are converted in accordance with Section 2.1(b) and (ii) the cash in
lieu of  fractional  shares of Parent  Common Stock to which such holder has the
right to receive  pursuant to Section  2.2(d) (the shares of Parent Common Stock
and cash described in clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to  collectively
as  the "Merger Consideration"). In  the event the Merger Consideration is to be


                                      - 5 -
<PAGE>

delivered  to any Person  who is not the  Person in whose  name the  Certificate
surrendered  in exchange  therefor is registered in the transfer  records of the
Company,  the Merger  Consideration  may be  delivered  to a  transferee  if the
Certificate  is  presented to the Paying  Agent,  accompanied  by all  documents
required to evidence and effect such  transfer and by evidence  satisfactory  to
the Paying Agent that any applicable  stock transfer taxes have been paid. Until
surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.2, each Certificate  (other than a
certificate representing Company Common Shares to be canceled in accordance with
Section  2.1(a))  shall  be  deemed  at any time  after  the  Effective  Time to
represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration
contemplated by this Section 2.2. No interest will be paid or will accrue on any
cash payable to holders of  Certificates  pursuant to provisions of this Article
II.

     (c) Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares. No dividends or other
distributions  declared or made after the Effective  Time with respect to shares
of Parent Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid
to the holder of any  unsurrendered  Certificate  with  respect to the shares of
Parent  Common  Stock  represented  thereby  and no  cash  payment  in  lieu  of
fractional  shares shall be paid to any such holder  pursuant to Section  2.2(d)
until the holder of record of such Certificate shall surrender such Certificate.
Subject to the effect of unclaimed property,  escheat and other applicable laws,
following  surrender of any such Certificate,  there shall be paid to the record
holder of the  certificates  representing  whole  shares of Parent  Common Stock
issued  in  exchange  therefor,  without  interest,  (i) at  the  time  of  such
surrender,  the  amount of any cash  payable  in lieu of a  fractional  share of
Parent Common Stock to which such holder is entitled  pursuant to Section 2.2(d)
and the amount of dividends or other  distributions with a record date after the
Effective  Time  theretofore  paid with  respect to such whole  shares of Parent
Common Stock and (ii) at the  appropriate  payment date, the amount of dividends
or other  distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to
surrender  and a payment date  subsequent  to surrender  payable with respect to
such whole shares of Parent Common Stock.

     (d) No  Fractional  Securities.  In lieu of the issuance of any  fractional
securities in connection  with the Merger,  each holder of Company Common Shares
who would otherwise have been entitled to a fraction of a share of Parent Common
Stock upon surrender of  Certificates  for exchange  pursuant to this Article II
will be paid an amount in cash (without interest),  rounded to the nearest cent,
determined by multiplying  (a) the per share closing price on the NYSE of Parent
Common Stock on the date of the Effective Time by (b) the fractional interest to
which such holder  would  otherwise be entitled  (after  taking into account all
Company Common Shares then held of record by such holder).

     (e) Closing of Transfer Books.  If, after the Effective Time,  Certificates
are presented to the Surviving Corporation for transfer,  they shall be canceled
and exchanged for certificates  representing the appropriate number of shares of
Parent  Common  Stock and the  appropriate  amount of cash as  provided  in this
Section 2.2.



                                      - 6 -
<PAGE>

     (f) Termination of Exchange Agent. Any certificates  representing shares of
Parent Common Stock deposited with the Exchange Agent pursuant to Section 2.2(a)
and not exchanged  within six months after the  Effective  Time pursuant to this
Section  2.2 shall be  returned  by the  Exchange  Agent to Parent,  which shall
thereafter  act as  Exchange  Agent.  All cash  held by the  Exchange  Agent for
payment to the holders of unsurrendered Certificates and unclaimed at the end of
six months from the Effective Time shall be returned to Parent, after which time
any holder of unsurrendered  Certificates  shall look as a general creditor only
to Parent for  payment of such cash to which such  holder may be due  subject to
applicable law.

     (g) Escheat.  The Company shall not be liable to any Person for such shares
or funds  delivered to a public  official  pursuant to any applicable  abandoned
property, escheat or similar law.

     (h)  Withholding  Rights.  Parent  shall be entitled to deduct and withhold
from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts
as Parent is required to deduct and withhold  with respect to the making of such
payment under the Code or any  provision of state,  local or foreign tax law. To
the extent that amounts are so withheld by Parent,  such withheld  amounts shall
be treated for all purposes of this  Agreement as having been paid to the holder
of the Company Common Shares in respect of which such deduction and  withholding
was made by Parent.

                                   ARTICLE III

     Except as set forth in the  corresponding  sections or  subsections  of the
disclosure  letter,  dated this date,  delivered  by the  Company to Parent (the
"Company  Disclosure  Letter"),  the Company  hereby  represents and warrants to
Parent and Merger Sub as follows:

     Section 3.1 Organization and Qualification;  Subsidiaries.  (a) The Company
is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State
of Indiana and with respect to which no articles of dissolution have been filed.
Each of the  Subsidiaries  of the  Company is a  corporation  or other  business
entity duly organized,  validly  existing and in good standing under the laws of
its jurisdiction of  incorporation or organization,  and each of the Company and
its Subsidiaries has the requisite corporate or other  organizational  power and
authority to own,  operate or lease its  properties and to carry on its business
as it is now being conducted,  and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
do business,  and is in good standing,  in each jurisdiction where the character
of its  properties  owned,  operated  or leased or the nature of its  activities
makes  such  qualification   necessary,  in  each  case  except  as  would  not,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  have or  reasonably  be  expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.



                                      - 7 -
<PAGE>

     (b) All of the  outstanding  shares  of  capital  stock  and  other  equity
securities of the  Subsidiaries  of the Company have been validly issued and are
fully paid and  nonassessable,  and are owned,  directly or  indirectly,  by the
Company,  free and clear of all pledges  and  security  interests.  There are no
subscriptions,  options,  warrants, calls, commitments,  agreements,  conversion
rights or other rights of any character  (contingent or otherwise) entitling any
Person  to  purchase  or  otherwise  acquire  from  the  Company  or  any of its
Subsidiaries at any time, or upon the happening of any stated event,  any shares
of capital stock or other equity  securities of any of the  Subsidiaries  of the
Company.  The  Company  Disclosure  Letter  lists the name and  jurisdiction  of
incorporation or organization of each Subsidiary of the Company.

     (c) Except for interests in its  Subsidiaries,  neither the Company nor any
of its  Subsidiaries  owns directly or indirectly any capital stock of, or other
equity or voting or similar interest (including a joint venture interest) in any
Person or has any monetary or other obligation or made any commitment to acquire
any such interest or make any such investment.

     Section  3.2  Articles  of  Incorporation  and  Bylaws.   The  Company  has
furnished, or otherwise made available, to Parent a complete and correct copy of
the Company Articles of Incorporation  and its bylaws, as amended to the date of
this Agreement.  Such Articles of Incorporation and bylaws are in full force and
effect. The Company is not in violation of any of the provisions of the Articles
of Incorporation or bylaws.

     Section 3.3  Capitalization.  The  authorized  capital stock of the Company
consists of 15,000,000  Company Common Shares, and no shares of preferred stock.
As of October 2, 2000, (a) 5,128,740 Company Common Shares were outstanding, (b)
5,128,740 rights to purchase Company Common Shares ("Rights") issued pursuant to
the Company's Rights Agreement were outstanding, (c) Company Options to purchase
an aggregate of 785,235 shares of Company Common Stock were outstanding,  all of
which were granted under the Stock Option Plan,  785,235  Company  Common Shares
were reserved for issuance  upon the exercise of  outstanding  Company  Options,
123,245  Company  Common  Shares were reserved for future grants under the Stock
Option Plan and 5,128,740 Company Common Shares were reserved for issuance under
the Company's Rights Agreement, (d) 1,885,901 Company Common Shares were held by
the Company in its  treasury,  and (e) no shares of capital stock of the Company
were held by the Company's Subsidiaries.  Except for the Rights, the Company has
no  outstanding  bonds,  debentures,  notes  or other obligations entitling  the


                                      - 8 -
<PAGE>

holders  thereof  to vote (or  which are  convertible  into or  exercisable  for
securities having the right to vote) with the stockholders of the Company on any
matter.  Since June 30, 2000,  the Company (i) has not issued any Company Common
Shares  other than upon the  exercise  of Company  Options,  (ii) has granted no
Company Options to purchase Company Common Shares under the Stock Option Plan or
otherwise,  and (iii) has not split,  combined or reclassified any of its shares
of capital  stock.  All issued and  outstanding  Company  Common Shares are duly
authorized,  validly issued,  fully paid,  nonassessable  and free of preemptive
rights.  Except for the Rights,  there are no other  shares of capital  stock or
voting  securities of the Company,  and no existing  options,  warrants,  calls,
subscriptions,   convertible   securities,   or  other  rights,   agreements  or
commitments  which  obligate  the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  to issue,
transfer  or sell any shares of capital  stock of, or equity  interests  in, the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries and there are no stock appreciation rights or
limited stock appreciation  rights outstanding other than those attached to such
Company  Options.  There are no  outstanding  obligations  of the Company or any
Subsidiaries  to repurchase,  redeem or otherwise  acquire any shares of capital
stock of the Company and there are no performance  awards  outstanding under the
Stock  Option Plan or any other  outstanding  stock  related  awards.  After the
Effective  Time,  the  Surviving  Corporation  will have no obligation to issue,
transfer or sell any shares of capital  stock of the Company,  the Parent or the
Surviving  Corporation pursuant to any Company Benefit Plan, including the Stock
Option Plan. There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to
which the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party  with  respect to the
voting of capital  stock of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries.  No Company
Common Shares have been  repurchased  by the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries
since June 30, 2000.

     Section  3.4 Power  and  Authority;  Authorization;  Valid &  Binding.  The
Company  has the  necessary  corporate  power and  authority  to enter  into and
deliver  this  Agreement  and  to  perform  its  obligations  hereunder  and  to
consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  except  that the Merger is
subject to the  approval of this  Agreement  by the  Company's  stockholders  as
required  by the IBCL.  The  execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement  by the
Company, the performance by it of its obligations hereunder and the consummation
by  the  Company  of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  have  been  duly
authorized by all necessary  corporate  action on the part of the Company (other
than with respect to the Merger and the adoption and approval of this  Agreement
by its  stockholders  as required  by the IBCL).  This  Agreement  has been duly
executed  and  delivered by the Company  and,  assuming  the due  authorization,
execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  by Parent  and  Merger  Sub,  this
Agreement  constitutes  a legal,  valid and  binding  obligation  of the Company
enforceable  against  it  in  accordance  with  the  terms  hereof,  subject  to
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  fraudulent  transfer,  moratorium,  reorganization and
similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights
and to general equity principles  (regardless of whether such  enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).



                                      - 9 -
<PAGE>

     Section 3.5 No Conflict;  Required Filings and Consents.  (a) The execution
and delivery of this  Agreement by the Company does not, and the  performance by
the Company of its obligations  hereunder and the consummation by the Company of
the transactions  contemplated hereby, will not (i) violate or conflict with the
Articles  of  Incorporation  or the  bylaws  of the  Company,  (ii)  subject  to
obtaining or making the notices, reports, filings, waivers, consents,  approvals
or authorizations  referred to in paragraph (b) below,  conflict with or violate
any law, regulation,  court order,  judgment or decree applicable to the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries or by which any of their respective property is bound
or affected,  other than the filings required under the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and the  Securities Act of 1933, as
amended  (the  "Securities  Act"),  (iii)  require  any  consent,   approval  or
authorization of, or declaration,  filing or registration with, any Governmental
Entity or (iv)  result in any  breach of or  constitute  a default  (or an event
which with  notice or lapse of time or both would  become a default)  under,  or
give to others any rights of termination,  cancellation,  vesting, modification,
alteration or acceleration of any obligation under,  result in the creation of a
lien,  claim or encumbrance on any of the properties or assets of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries  pursuant to, result in the loss of any material benefit
under  (including  an  increase in the price paid by, or cost to, the Company or
any of its  Subsidiaries),  require the consent of any other party to, or result
in any  obligation  of the part of the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  to
repurchase  (with  respect  to a  bond  or a  note),  any  agreement,  contract,
instrument,  bond, note,  indenture,  permit,  license or franchise to which the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party or by which the Company,  any of
its  Subsidiaries  or any of their  respective  property  is bound or  affected,
except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, as would not,  individually
or in the aggregate,  have or reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

     (b)  Except  for  applicable  requirements,  if any,  under  the  premerger
notification requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"),  the filing of articles of merger with respect
to the Merger as required by the IBCL,  filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission  (the "SEC") under the  Securities  Act,  and the  Exchange  Act, any
filings  required  pursuant  to any state  securities  or "blue  sky"  laws,  or
pursuant to the rules and regulations of any stock exchange on which the Company
Common  Shares are listed,  neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is
required to submit any  notice,  report or other  filing  with any  Governmental
Entity in connection with the execution,  delivery,  performance or consummation
of  this  Agreement  or the  Merger.  Except  as set  forth  in the  immediately
preceding  sentence,  no  waiver,  consent,  approval  or  authorization  of any
governmental  or  regulatory  authority,  court,  agency,  commission  or  other
Governmental  Entity  or any  securities exchange or other self-regulatory body,


                                     - 10 -
<PAGE>

domestic or foreign  ("Governmental  Entity"), is required to be obtained by the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries in connection with its execution,  delivery,
performance or consummation of this Agreement or the  transactions  contemplated
hereby except for such waivers,  consents,  approvals or authorizations that, if
not  obtained or made,  would not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have or
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 3.6 SEC Reports;  Financial  Statements.  (a) The Company has filed
all forms, reports and documents (including all exhibits,  schedules and annexes
thereto) required to be filed by it with the SEC since June 30, 1997,  including
any amendments or supplements  (collectively,  including any such forms, reports
and documents  filed after this date, the "SEC  Reports"),  and, with respect to
the SEC  Reports  filed by the  Company  after the date  hereof and prior to the
Closing Date, will deliver or make available to Parent all of its SEC Reports in
the form filed with the SEC. The SEC Reports (i) were (and any SEC Reports filed
after  this  date  will be) in all  material  respects  in  compliance  with the
requirements  of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and
the  rules  and  regulations  promulgated  thereunder,  and  (ii)  as  of  their
respective filing dates, did not (and any SEC Reports filed after this date will
not) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  under  which they were  made,  not
misleading.

     (b) The financial  statements,  including all related notes and  schedules,
contained  in the SEC  Reports (or  incorporated  therein by  reference)  fairly
present (or, with respect to financial  statements  contained in the SEC Reports
filed after this date, will fairly present) the consolidated  financial position
of the Company and its consolidated  subsidiaries as of the respective dates and
the consolidated results of operations,  retained earnings and cash flows of the
Company and its consolidated  subsidiaries for the respective periods indicated,
in  each  case in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles
("GAAP"),  applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except
for changes in accounting  principles  disclosed in the notes) and the rules and
regulations of the SEC, except that interim financial  statements are subject to
normal  year-end  adjustments  which  are  not  and  are  not  expected  to  be,
individually or in the aggregate,  material in amount and do not include certain
notes which may be  required by GAAP but which are not  required by Form 10-Q of
the SEC.

     Section  3.7 Absence of Certain  Changes.  Except as  disclosed  in the SEC
Reports filed prior to this date,  (a) since June 30, 2000, the Company and each
of its  Subsidiaries has conducted its business in the ordinary and usual course
of its business  consistent with past practice and there has not been any change
in the financial condition,  business, prospects or results of operations of the
Company and  its Subsidiaries, or any development or combination of developments


                                     - 11 -
<PAGE>

that,  individually or in the aggregate,  has had or would be expected to have a
Material  Adverse  Effect  and (b) since June 30,  2000,  there has not been any
action by the Company  which if taken after the date hereof  would  constitute a
breach of Section 5.1 hereof.

     Section 3.8 Litigation and Liabilities.  (a) Except as disclosed in the SEC
Reports filed prior to this date, there are no civil, criminal or administrative
actions, suits or claims,  proceedings (including  condemnation  proceedings) or
hearings  or  investigations,  pending  or,  to the  knowledge  of the  Company,
threatened  against,  or otherwise adversely affecting the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties and assets, except for any of
the  foregoing  which  would  not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have or
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) Neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries has any liabilities or
obligations,   (absolute,   accrued,   contingent  or  otherwise),   except  (i)
liabilities  and  obligations  in the respective  amounts  reflected or reserved
against in the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2000 included
in the SEC Reports,  (ii)  liabilities and obligations  incurred in the ordinary
course of  business  since June 30, 2000  consistent  with past  practice  which
individually  or in the  aggregate  would not have or  reasonably be expected to
have a Material  Adverse  Effect or (iii)  liabilities  permitted to be incurred
pursuant to Section 5.1.

     Section 3.9 No Violation of Law;  Permits.  The business of the Company and
each of its Subsidiaries is not in violation of any statutes of law, ordinances,
regulations,  judgments,  orders or  decrees  of any  Governmental  Entity,  any
permits,  franchises,  licenses,  authorizations  or  consents  granted  by  any
Governmental  Entity,  and the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has obtained
all permits, franchises, licenses,  authorizations or consents necessary for the
conduct of its business,  except, in each case, as would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Neither  the  Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is subject to any cease and
desist or other order,  judgment,  injunction or decree issued by, or is a party
to any written agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with,
is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, is subject to any
order or directive by, or has adopted any board  resolutions  at the request of,
any Governmental  Entity that restricts the conduct of its business (whether the
type of business,  the location or otherwise) and which,  individually or in the
aggregate,  would have or  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material  Adverse
Effect,  nor has the  Company  been  advised  that any  Governmental  Entity has
proposed issuing or requesting any of the foregoing.



                                     - 12 -
<PAGE>
     Section  3.10  Employee  Matters;  ERISA.  (a)  Set  forth  in the  Company
Disclosure  Letter is a complete  list of each Company  Benefit  Plan.  The term
"Company Benefit Plan" shall mean (i) each plan,  program,  policy,  contract or
agreement providing for compensation,  severance,  termination pay,  performance
awards,  stock or  stock-related  awards,  fringe  benefits  or  other  employee
benefits of any kind,  including,  without  limitation,  any  "employee  benefit
plan,"   within  the  meaning  of  Section  3(3)  of  ERISA  but  excluding  any
"multiemployer  plan"  within the meaning of  Sections  3(37) or  4001(a)(3)  of
ERISA,   and  (ii)  each   employment,   severance,   consulting,   non-compete,
confidentiality, or similar agreement or contract, in each case, with respect to
which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company has or may have any liability
(accrued,  contingent or otherwise). As of the date hereof, the Company is not a
party to any Company  Multiemployer Plan. The term "Company  Multiemployer Plan"
shall mean any "multiemployer  plan" within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of
ERISA in respect to which the  Company or any  Subsidiary  of the Company has or
may have any liability (accrued, contingent or otherwise).

     (b) The  Company  has  provided  or made  available,  or has  caused  to be
provided or made available, to Parent (i) current,  accurate and complete copies
of all documents embodying each Company Benefit Plan,  including all amendments,
written  interpretations  (which  interpretation could be regarded as increasing
the liabilities of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole under the
relevant Company Benefit Plan) and all trust or funding  agreements with respect
thereto;  (ii) the most recent annual actuarial valuation,  if any, prepared for
each Company Benefit Plan;  (iii) the most recent annual report (Series 5500 and
all  schedules),  if any,  required under ERISA in connection  with each Company
Benefit  Plan or  related  trust;  (iv) the  most  recent  determination  letter
received from the Internal  Revenue  Service,  if any, for each Company  Benefit
Plan and related trust which is intended to satisfy the  requirements of Section
401(a) of the Code; (v) if any Company  Benefit Plan is funded,  the most recent
annual and periodic  accounting of such Company Benefit Plan's assets;  (vi) the
most recent  summary plan  description  together with the most recent summary of
material  modifications,  if any,  required  under  ERISA  with  respect to each
Company Benefit Plan; and (vii) all material  communications  to any one or more
current,   former  or  retired  employee,   officer,   consultant,   independent
contractor,  agent or director of the Company or any  Subsidiary  of the Company
(each, a "Company Employee" and collectively,  the "Company Employees") relating
to  each  Company  Benefit  Plan  (which  communication  could  be  regarded  as
increasing the liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries  taken as a whole
under the relevant Company Benefit Plan).

     (c) All Company  Benefit  Plans have been  administered  in all respects in
accordance  with the terms thereof and all applicable laws except for violations
which,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  would  not  have or  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect.  Each Company Benefit Plan which is
an  "employee  pension benefit plan" within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA


                                     - 13 -
<PAGE>

("Pension  Plan") and which is intended to be qualified  under Section 401(a) of
the  Code  (each,  an  "  Company  Pension  Plan"),  has  received  a  favorable
determination  letter from the Internal Revenue Service,  and the Company is not
aware of any  circumstances  that would  reasonably be expected to result in the
revocation or denial of this qualified status.  Except as otherwise set forth in
the Company  Disclosure  Letter or in the SEC Reports  filed prior to this date,
there  is  no  pending  or,  to  the  Company's  knowledge,  threatened,  claim,
litigation,  proceeding,  audit,  examination or  investigation  relating to any
Company  Benefit  Plans  or  Company  Employees  that,  individually  or in  the
aggregate,  would have or  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material  Adverse
Effect.

     (d) No material liability under Title IV of ERISA has been or is reasonably
expected to be incurred by the Company or any Subsidiaries of the Company or any
entity which is considered a single  employer with the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company under Section  4001(a)(15) of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code (a
"Company  ERISA  Affiliate").  No notice of a  "reportable  event,"  within  the
meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA for which the 30-day reporting  requirement has
not been  waived,  has been  required to be filed for any Company  Pension  Plan
within the past twelve (12) months.

     (e) All  contributions,  premiums and payments  (other than  contributions,
premiums or payments that are not  material,  in the  aggregate)  required to be
made under the terms of any  Company  Benefit  Plan have been  made.  No Company
Pension Plan has an  "accumulated  funding  deficiency"  (whether or not waived)
within the meaning of Section  412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA.  Neither
the Company nor any  Subsidiaries of the Company nor any Company ERISA Affiliate
has provided,  or is required to provide,  security to any Company  Pension Plan
pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code.

     (f) As of the Closing  Date,  neither the Company,  any  Subsidiary  of the
Company  nor any Company  ERISA  Affiliate  will have  incurred  any  withdrawal
liability  as  described  in  Section  4201 of ERISA for  withdrawals  that have
occurred on or prior to the Closing Date that has not previously been satisfied.
Neither the  Company,  any  Subsidiary  of the  Company  nor any  Company  ERISA
Affiliate has  knowledge  that any Company  Multiemployer  Plan fails to qualify
under Section  401(a) of the Code, is insolvent or is in  reorganization  within
the  meaning of Part 3 of  Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA nor of any  condition
that would  reasonably  be  expected to result in a Company  Multiemployer  Plan
becoming insolvent or going into reorganization.

     (g) Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter, the execution of,
and  performance of the  transactions  contemplated  in, this Agreement will not
(either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent events) (i)
constitute an event under any Company  Benefit Plan,  trust or loan that will or
may result in any payment (whether of severance pay or otherwise), acceleration,
forgiveness of  indebtedness,  vesting,  distribution,  increase in  benefits or


                                     - 14 -
<PAGE>

obligation to fund benefits with respect to any Company Employee, or (ii) result
in the triggering or imposition of any  restrictions or limitations on the right
of the Company,  any  Subsidiary  of the Company or Parent to amend or terminate
any Company Benefit Plan. Except as set forth in the Company  Disclosure Letter,
no payment or benefit which will or may be made by the Company,  any  Subsidiary
of the Company, Parent or any of their respective affiliates with respect to any
Company Employee will be characterized as an "excess parachute  payment," within
the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code.

     (h) Set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter is a list of all outstanding
and  unexercised   options  granted  under  the  Company's  Stock  Option  Plan,
specifying the name of each optionee, the date on which each option was granted,
the number of shares that may be purchased pursuant to each option, the exercise
price at which such shares may be purchased, the vesting period for each option,
and the expiration date of each option.  Immediately prior to the Closing, there
will be no Company Options outstanding.

     Section 3.11 Labor  Matters.  Except as set forth in the SEC Reports  filed
prior to this date, and except for those matters that would not, individually or
in the  aggregate,  have or  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect, there is no (i) work stoppage, slowdown, lockout or labor strike against
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company by Company  Employees (or any union
that represents  them) pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,  threatened,
or (ii)  alleged  unfair  labor  practice,  labor  dispute  (other than  routine
grievances),  union organizing activity or labor arbitration  proceeding pending
or, to the  knowledge of the Company,  threatened  against the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries  relating to their  businesses.  Neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries is a party to, or bound by, any collective bargaining agreement
or other contracts with a labor union or labor  organization.  The Company is in
compliance with all laws regarding employment,  employment practices,  terms and
conditions  of  employment  and wages and laws,  except  for such  noncompliance
which, either individually or in the aggregate,  would not have or reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 3.12 Environmental Matters.  Except as set forth in the SEC Reports
filed  prior  to this  date  and  except  for  those  matters  that  would  not,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  have or  reasonably  be  expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect:

     (a) The  Company and each of its  Subsidiaries  is in  compliance  with all
applicable   Environmental  Laws,  and  neither  the  Company  nor  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  has  received  any  written   communication  from  any  Person  or
Governmental  Entity that alleges that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
not in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws.



                                     - 15 -
<PAGE>

     (b) The Company and each of its  Subsidiaries  has  obtained or has applied
for  all  applicable  environmental,   health  and  safety  permits,   licenses,
variances,  approvals  and  authorizations  required  under  Environmental  Laws
(collectively,  the "Environmental  Permits")  necessary for the construction of
its  facilities or the conduct of its  operations,  and all those  Environmental
Permits  are in effect or,  where  applicable,  a renewal  application  has been
timely  filed  and  is  pending  agency  approval,   and  the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries   are  in  compliance   with  all  terms  and  conditions  of  such
Environmental Permits.

     (c) There is no  Environmental  Claim  pending or, to the  knowledge of the
Company,  threatened  (i) against the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  (ii)
against any Person whose liability for any Environmental Claim has been retained
or assumed  contractually  by the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or (iii)
against any real or personal  property or operations which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries owns, leases or operates, in whole or in part.

     (d) There have been no Releases  of any  Hazardous  Material  that would be
likely to form the basis of any  Environmental  Claim against the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, or against any Person whose liability for any Environmental
Claim has been  retained or assumed  contractually  by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.

     (e) None of the properties  owned,  leased or operated by the Company,  its
Subsidiaries or any predecessor  thereof are now, or were in the past, listed on
the National  Priorities  List of Superfund  Sites or any  analogous  state list
(excluding easements that transgress those Superfund sites).

     For purposes of this Agreement:

               (i)  "Environmental  Claim"  means  any and  all  administrative,
          regulatory  or  judicial  actions,  suits,  demands,  demand  letters,
          directives,  claims, liens, investigations,  proceedings or notices of
          noncompliance or violation  (written or oral) by any Person (including
          any federal,  state, local or foreign governmental authority) alleging
          potential  liability   (including,   without   limitation,   potential
          responsibility for or liability for enforcement,  investigatory costs,
          cleanup costs,  governmental  response costs, removal costs,  remedial
          costs, natural resources damages,  property damages, personal injuries
          or  penalties)  arising  out of,  based on or  resulting  from (A) the
          presence,  or Release or threatened  Release into the environment,  of
          any  Hazardous  Materials  at any  location,  whether  or  not  owned,
          operated, leased or managed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
          or (B)  circumstances  forming the basis of any  violation  or alleged
          violation of any  Environmental  Law; or (C) any and all claims by any
          third  party  seeking  damages,  contribution,  indemnification,  cost
          recovery,   compensation  or  injunctive  relief  resulting  from  the
          presence or Release of any Hazardous Materials.



                                     - 16 -
<PAGE>

               (ii) "Environmental Laws" means all applicable foreign,  federal,
          state and local laws, rules,  requirements and regulations relating to
          pollution,  the environment  (including,  without limitation,  ambient
          air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or
          protection of human health as it relates to the environment including,
          without  limitation,  laws and  regulations  relating  to  Releases of
          Hazardous  Materials,   or  otherwise  relating  to  the  manufacture,
          processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport
          or handling of  Hazardous  Materials  or  relating  to  management  of
          asbestos in buildings.

               (iii)  "Hazardous  Materials"  means  (A)  any  petroleum  or any
          by-products  or  fractions  thereof,  asbestos or  asbestos-containing
          materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, any form of natural gas,
          explosives, polychlorinated biphenyls ("PCBs"), radioactive materials,
          ionizing  radiation,  electromagnetic  field  radiation  or  microwave
          transmissions;  (B) any chemicals,  materials or  substances,  whether
          waste  materials,  raw materials or finished  products,  which are now
          defined as or included in the  definition of  "hazardous  substances,"
          "hazardous  wastes,"  "hazardous   materials,"   "extremely  hazardous
          substances," "restricted hazardous wastes," "toxic substances," "toxic
          pollutants," "pollutants,"  "contaminants," or words of similar import
          under any Environmental  Law; and (C) any other chemical,  material or
          substance,   whether  waste  materials,   raw  materials  or  finished
          products,  regulated  or  forming  the  basis of  liability  under any
          Environmental Law.

               (iv)  "Release"  means any  release,  spill,  emission,  leaking,
          injection,  deposit,  disposal,  discharge,   dispersal,  leaching  or
          migration into the environment  (including  without limitation ambient
          air, atmosphere, soil, surface water, groundwater or property).

     Section  3.13 Board  Action;  Vote  Required.  (a) The  Company's  Board of
Directors  has  unanimously   approved  this  Agreement  and  the   transactions
contemplated  hereby,  including the Merger,  has determined  that the Merger is
advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders
and has  resolved  to  recommend  to  stockholders  that  they  vote in favor of
approving this Agreement and approving the Merger.

     (b) Approval of this  Agreement  by a majority of the votes  entitled to be
cast with respect  thereto by the holders of Company Common Shares is sufficient
to  constitute  approval of this  Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated
hereby on behalf of the  stockholders of the Company.  The Merger will give rise
to no dissenters' rights under the IBCL.



                                     - 17 -
<PAGE>

     Section 3.14 Brokers.  Set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter is a list
of each broker,  finder or  investment  banker and other Person  entitled to any
brokerage,  finder's,  investment  banking or other similar fee or commission in
connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  based upon
arrangements  made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and
the expected  amounts of such fees and  commissions.  The Company has previously
provided  to Parent  copies  of any  agreements  giving  rise to any such fee or
commission.

     Section 3.15 Tax Matters.  (a) All Tax Returns  required to be filed by the
Company or its  Subsidiaries on or prior to the Effective Time have been or will
be prepared  in good faith and timely  filed with the  appropriate  Governmental
Entity on or prior to the Effective Time and all such Tax Returns are (or, as to
Tax Returns not filed on the date hereof,  will be) complete and accurate in all
material respects.

     (b) All  material  Taxes that are required to be paid by the Company or its
Subsidiaries,  either (x) have been fully paid on a timely  basis  (except  with
respect  to  matters  contested  in  good  faith  as set  forth  in the  Company
Disclosure  Letter)  or (y)  are  adequately  reflected  as a  liability  on the
Company's or its  Subsidiaries'  books and records and financial  statements and
remitted  to the  appropriate  Governmental  Entity.  All Taxes  required  to be
collected or withheld from third parties by the Company or its Subsidiaries have
been collected or withheld.

     (c) The Company and its Subsidiaries have made due and sufficient  accruals
and  reserves for their  respective  liabilities  for Taxes in their  respective
books and records and financial statements.

     (d) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have not waived any statute of
limitations,  or agreed to any extension of time, with respect to Taxes or a Tax
assessment or deficiency, which waiver or extension is in effect.

     (e) As of this date,  (A) there are not pending or,  threatened in writing,
any audits,  examinations,  investigations  or other  proceedings  in respect of
Taxes or Tax matters and (B) there are not any  unresolved  questions  or claims
concerning the Company's or any of its  Subsidiary's Tax liability that (i) were
raised  by  any  taxing  authority  in a  communication  to the  Company  or any
Subsidiary and (ii) would be individually  or in the aggregate,  material to the
Company and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  after  taking into account any
reserves for Taxes set forth on the most recent  balance sheet  contained in the
SEC Reports filed prior to this date.

     (f) The Company has made available to Parent true and correct copies of the
United  States  federal  income and all material  state income or franchise  Tax
Returns filed by the Company and its  Subsidiaries  for each of its fiscal years
ended on or about June 30, 1997, 1998 and 1999.



                                     - 18 -
<PAGE>

     (g) The Company has not distributed the stock of a "controlled corporation"
(as defined in section  355(a) of the Code) in a transaction  subject to section
355 of  the  Code  within  the  past  two  years  or  before  such  time  if the
distribution was part of a plan (or series of related transactions) of which the
Merger is also a part.

     (h) Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has any liability under
Treasury  Regulation  Section 1.1502-6 or analogous state,  local or foreign Law
for any Taxes,  other than for Taxes of Company or its Subsidiaries or (ii) is a
party to a Tax  sharing or Tax  indemnity  contract  or any other  contract of a
similar  nature with any entity  other than  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries
that remains in effect.

     (i)  Neither  the  Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  know of any  fact
relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to
prevent the Merger from  qualifying  as a  reorganization  within the meaning of
Section 368(c) of the Code.

     As used in this Agreement, (i) the term "Tax" (including,  with correlative
meaning, the terms "Taxes" and "Taxable") includes all federal, state, local and
foreign  income,  profits,   franchise,   gross  receipts,   license,   premium,
environmental  (including  taxes under Section 59A of the Code),  capital stock,
severance,  stamp, payroll, sales, employment,  unemployment,  disability,  use,
transfer,  property,  withholding,  excise,  production,   occupation,  windfall
profits,  customs  duties,  social  security (or similar),  registration,  value
added,  alternative  or add-on  minimum,  estimated,  occupancy and other taxes,
duties or governmental  assessments of any nature whatsoever,  together with all
interest,  penalties and additions  imposed with respect to such amounts and any
interest  in respect of such  penalties  and  additions,  and (ii) the term "Tax
Return"  includes all returns and reports  (including  elections,  declarations,
disclosures,  schedules,  estimates  and  information  returns)  required  to be
supplied to a Tax authority relating to Taxes.

     Section  3.16  Intellectual  Property.  Neither  the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries currently utilizes, any patented invention,  trademark, trade name,
service  mark,  copyright,  software,  trade  secret or know-how  (collectively,
"Intellectual  Property"),  except  for those  which  are  owned,  possessed  or
lawfully used by the Company or its  Subsidiaries in their business  operations,
and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries infringes upon or unlawfully
uses any patented invention,  trademark, trade name, service mark, copyright, or
trade secret owned or validly claimed by another Person except, in each case, as
would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have or reasonably be expected to
have a  Material Adverse Effect.  The  Company and  its Subsidiaries own, have a


                                     - 19 -
<PAGE>

valid license to use or have the right  validly to use all patented  inventions,
trademarks,  tradenames,  service marks, copyrights, trade secrets, know how and
software necessary to carry on their respective businesses except the failure of
which to own, validly license or have the right validly to use,  individually or
in the  aggregate,  would not have or  reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. All ownership rights, license rights and other rights to use any
patented invention,  trademark,  trade name, service mark, copyright,  software,
trade secret or know-how necessary to carry on the businesses of the Company and
its Subsidiaries are transferable  free of any lien,  pledge,  change,  security
interest or other encumbrance  (each, an  "Encumbrance"),  except the failure of
which to be freely transferable would not have or reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries are aware of
any third party infringement or misappropriation of any patent, trademark, trade
name, service mark, copyright,  software,  trade secret or know-how owned by the
Company or its Subsidiaries.

     Section 3.17 Insurance. Except to the extent adequately accrued on the most
recent balance sheet contained in the SEC Reports filed as of this date, neither
the Company nor its Subsidiaries has any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to
pay in  connection  with any  insurance  policies  any  retroactive  premiums or
"retro-premiums"  that,  individually  or  in  the  aggregate,   would  have  or
reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect.  The Company and its
Subsidiaries  have obtained and  maintained  in full force and effect  insurance
with  insurance  companies or  associations  in such amounts,  on such terms and
covering such risks,  as is customarily  carried by reasonably  prudent  persons
conducting  businesses or owning or leasing assets  similar to those  conducted,
owned or leased by the  Company,  except where the failure to obtain or maintain
such  insurance,  individually  or  in  the  aggregate,  would  not  have  or be
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 3.18 Contracts and Commitments. Set forth in the Company Disclosure
Letter  is a  complete  and  accurate  list  of all of the  following  contracts
(written or oral),  plans,  undertakings,  commitments  or agreements  ("Company
Contracts")  to which the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party or by
which any of them is bound as of the date of this Agreement:

     (a) each distribution,  supply,  inventory  purchase,  franchise,  license,
sales,   agency  or  advertising   contract  involving  annual  expenditures  or
liabilities  in excess of $100,000  which is not  cancelable  (without  material
penalty, cost or other liability) within one year;

     (b)  each  promissory  note,  loan,  agreement,   indenture,   evidence  of
indebtedness or other instrument  providing for the lending of money, whether as
borrower, lender or guarantor, in excess of $100,000;



                                     - 20 -
<PAGE>

     (c) each  contract,  lease,  agreement,  instrument  or  other  arrangement
containing  any  covenant  limiting  the  freedom  of the  Company or any of its
subsidiaries to engage in any line of business or compete with any person;

     (d) each joint  venture or  partnership  agreement  that is material to the
Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and

     (e) any contract that would constitute a "material  contract" (as such term
is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC).

     True and complete  copies of the written Company  Contracts,  as amended to
date,  that would be required to be filed as exhibits to the Company's Form 10-K
if such Form 10-K were being filed on this date,  that have not been filed prior
to the date hereof as exhibits to the SEC Reports  have been  delivered  or made
available to Parent.

     Each  Company  Contract  is  valid  and  binding  on the  Company,  and any
Subsidiary  of the Company which is a party thereto and, to the knowledge of the
Company,  each other  party  thereto  and is in full force and  effect,  and the
Company and its  Subsidiaries  have performed and complied with all  obligations
required to be performed or compiled  with by them under each Company  Contract,
except in each case as would  not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have or
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 3.19 Title to Assets.  The Company and its  Subsidiaries  have good
and  marketable  title to all of their real and personal  properties  and assets
reflected in the audited  consolidated  balance  sheet of the Company as of June
30, 2000 (the "Audited Balance Sheet") (other than assets disposed of since June
30, 2000 in the ordinary course of business,  and properties and assets acquired
since June 30, 2000), in each case free and clear of all Encumbrances except for
(i) Encumbrances which secure  indebtedness  reflected in the SEC Reports;  (ii)
liens for Taxes accrued but not yet due;  (iii) liens arising as a matter of law
in the ordinary  course of business with respect to  obligations  incurred after
the date of the Audited Balance Sheet,  provided that the obligations secured by
such  liens  are not  delinquent;  and (iv)  such  imperfections  of  title  and
Encumbrances,  if any,  as would not have or  reasonably  be  expected to have a
Material  Adverse Effect.  The Company and its  Subsidiaries  own, or have valid
leasehold  interests in, all  properties and assets used in the conduct of their
business.  Any real property and other assets held under lease by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries are held under valid,  subsisting and enforceable leases
with  such  exceptions  which,  individually  or in  the  aggregate,  would  not
reasonably be expected to interfere  with the use made or proposed to be made by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of such property.



                                     - 21 -
<PAGE>

     Section 3.20 State Takeover Statutes. The Board of Directors of the Company
has approved the Merger and this  Agreement  and such  approval is sufficient to
render   inapplicable  to  the  Merger,  this  Agreement  and  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the provisions of Section 23-1-43 of the IBCL to
the extent, if any, such section is applicable to the transactions  contemplated
by this Agreement.  The Board of Directors of the Company has amended the bylaws
of the Company so as to render  inapplicable  to the Stock Option  Agreement and
the other  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  the  provisions of IC
23-1-42. To the Company's knowledge,  no other state takeover statute or similar
statute or  regulation  applies to the Merger or the  transactions  contemplated
hereby.

     Section 3.21 Rights Agreement. No "Distribution Date" or "Triggering Event"
(as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement,  dated as of April 21, 1998,
between the Company and Compushare  Investor Services,  LLC, as successor rights
agent, as amended (the "Rights  Agreement"))  has occurred as of this date. This
Agreement  and  the  Stock  Option  Agreement,   and  the  consummation  of  the
transactions  contemplated hereunder and thereunder,  including the Merger, have
been approved by at least  two-thirds (2/3) of the  Disinterested  Directors (as
defined in the Rights Agreement).  The Rights Agreement has been amended so that
neither the  execution  or delivery of this  Agreement,  nor the exchange of the
Company  Common  Shares  for the  shares  of  Parent  Common  Stock  and cash in
accordance  with  Article II will cause (A) the Rights  issued  pursuant  to the
Rights Agreement to become exercisable under the Rights Agreement, (B) Parent or
Merger  Sub to be  deemed  an  "Acquiring  Person"  (as  defined  in the  Rights
Agreement),  or (C) the "Shares  Acquisition Date" or a "Triggering Event" (each
as defined in the Rights  Agreement) to occur upon any such event. The execution
and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and  the  Stock  Option  Agreement  and  the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not result
in the  ability  of any  Person to  exercise  any  Rights or cause the Rights to
separate  from the  Company  Common  Shares to which they are  attached or to be
triggered or become exercisable.

     Section 3.22 Product Warranty. Each product manufactured,  sold, leased, or
delivered  by any of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  has been in  substantial
conformity  with all  applicable  contractual  commitments  and all  express and
implied  warranties,  and  none  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  has any
liability  (and  there is no basis  for any  present  or  future  action,  suit,
proceeding, hearing, investigation,  charge, complaint, claim, or demand against
any of them giving rise to any liability)  for  replacement or repair thereof or
other damages in connection therewith other than liabilities that would not have
or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, subject only to the
reserve for product  warranty claims as adjusted for the passage of time through
the Closing Date in accordance  with the past custom and practice of the Company
and its Subsidiaries. No product manufactured, sold, leased, or delivered by any


                                     - 22 -
<PAGE>

of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  is subject to any guaranty,  warranty,  or
other indemnity  beyond the applicable  standard terms and conditions of sale or
lease. The Company  Disclosure  Letter includes copies of the standard terms and
conditions  of sale  or  lease  for  each of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries
(containing applicable guaranty, warranty, and indemnity provisions).

     Section 3.23 Product  Liability.  None of the Company and its  Subsidiaries
has any liability (and there is no basis for any present or future action, suit,
proceeding, hearing, investigation,  charge, complaint, claim, or demand against
any of  them  giving  rise  to any  liability)  arising  out  of any  injury  to
individuals or property as a result of the ownership,  possession, or use of any
product  manufactured,  sold, leased, or delivered by any of the Company and its
Subsidiaries,  other  than  liabilities  that  would not have or  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                                   ARTICLE IV

     Parent and Merger Sub hereby represent and warrant to the Company as of the
date of this Agreement as follows:

     Section  4.1  Existence;  Corporate  Authority.  Parent  and Merger Sub are
corporations duly incorporated,  validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of their  jurisdiction of  incorporation  and have all requisite  corporate
power and authority to own,  operate and lease its  properties  and carry on its
business  as now  conducted,  except  where the  failure  to have such power and
authority,  individually  or in the aggregate,  would not  materially  adversely
affect their ability to consummate the Merger. Merger Sub is directly and wholly
owned by Parent and has conducted no business other than in connection  with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     Section 4.2  Authorization,  Validity and Effect of Agreements.  Parent and
Merger Sub have the  necessary  corporate  power and authority to enter into and
deliver  this  Agreement  and to  perform  their  obligations  hereunder  and to
consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby. The execution and delivery of
this  Agreement  by Parent  and Merger  Sub,  the  performance  by them of their
respective  obligations  hereunder and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub
of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  have  been duly  authorized  by all
necessary  corporate action on their part. This Agreement has been duly executed
and  delivered  by Parent and Merger Sub and,  assuming  the due  authorization,
execution  and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  by the  Company,  this  Agreement
constitutes  a legal,  valid and  binding  obligation  of Parent  and Merger Sub
enforceable against each of them in accordance with the terms hereof, subject to
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  fraudulent  transfer,  moratorium,  reorganization and


                                     - 23 -
<PAGE>

similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights
and to general equity principles  (regardless of whether such  enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). The Parent Company Stock,  when
issued  and  delivered  in  accordance  with the  terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable.

     Section 4.3 No Violation.  (a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement
by Parent and Merger Sub does not, and the  performance by Parent and Merger Sub
of their obligations  hereunder and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of
the transactions  contemplated hereby, will not (i) violate or conflict with the
Merger Sub's articles of incorporation, Parent's certificate of incorporation or
the bylaws of Parent or Merger  Sub,  (ii)  subject to  obtaining  or making the
notices,  reports,  filings,  waivers,  consents,  approvals  or  authorizations
referred  to  in  paragraph  (b)  below,  conflict  with  or  violate  any  law,
regulation,  court order,  judgment or decree applicable to Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) or by which any of their respective property
is bound or affected, other than the filings required under the Exchange Act and
the  Securities  Act,  except,  in the case of clause (ii) above,  as would not,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  have or  reasonably  be  expected to have a
material adverse effect on their ability to consummate the Merger.

     (b)  Except  for  applicable  requirements,  if any,  under  the  premerger
notification  requirements of the HSR Act, the filing of articles of merger with
respect to the Merger as  required by the IBCL,  filings  with the SEC under the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act, any filings required  pursuant to any state
securities or "blue sky" laws, or pursuant to the rules and  regulations  of any
stock exchange on which shares of Parent Common Stock are listed, neither Parent
nor any of its  Subsidiaries  (including  Merger  Sub) is required to submit any
notice,  report or other filing with any Governmental  Entity in connection with
the execution,  delivery,  performance or  consummation of this Agreement or the
Merger,  except where the failure to submit such notice,  report or other filing
would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have or reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect on Parent's or Merger Sub's ability to consummate
the  Merger  or  otherwise  prevent  Parent or Merger  Sub from  performing  its
obligations  under  this  Agreement.  Except  as set  forth  in the  immediately
preceding  sentence,  no  waiver,  consent,  approval  or  authorization  of any
governmental  or  regulatory  authority,  court,  agency,  commission  or  other
governmental  entity or any securities exchange or other  self-regulatory  body,
domestic or foreign  Governmental Entity is required to be obtained by Parent or
any of its Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) in connection with its execution,
delivery,  performance or  consummation  of this  Agreement or the  transactions
contemplated   hereby   except  for  such   waivers,   consents,   approvals  or
authorizations that, if not obtained or made, would not,  individually or in the
aggregate,  have or be expected to have a material adverse effect on Parent's or
Merger Sub's ability to  consummate  the Merger or otherwise  prevent  Parent or
Merger Sub from performing their obligations under this Agreement.



                                     - 24 -
<PAGE>

     Section 4.4  Interested  Stockholder.  As of the date  hereof,  (i) neither
Parent,  Merger Sub nor any of their affiliates is, with respect to the Company,
an "Interested  Shareholder",  as such term is defined in Section  23-1-43-10 of
the  IBCL and  (ii)  neither  Parent,  Merger  Sub nor any of  their  affiliates
beneficially owns any Company Common Shares.

     Section  4.5  Parent  Public  Reports;  Financial  Statements.  Parent  has
delivered to the Company true and complete  copies of,  including all amendments
thereto,  its Annual Report for the calendar year ended  December 31, 1999,  the
annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31, 1999,  the quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q for the  quarters  ended  March 31,  2000 and June 30, 2000
(collectively,   the  "Parent  Public  Reports").   The  consolidated  financial
statements  of and  contained in the Parent Public  Reports  present  fairly the
financial position of Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries at the respective
dates of the balance  sheet and the results of  operations  for the periods then
ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting  principles applied on a
consistent  basis. The Parent Public Reports do not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material  fact  necessary in order to make
the statements made therein,  in the light of the circumstances under which they
will be made, not misleading.

                                    ARTICLE V

     Section 5.1 Interim  Operations of The Company.  The Company  covenants and
agrees as to itself and its Subsidiaries  that, after this date and prior to the
Effective Time (unless Parent shall otherwise  approve in writing,  or unless as
otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement or expressly disclosed in the
Company Disclosure Letter):

               (i) the  business of the Company  and its  Subsidiaries  shall be
          conducted  in all  material  respects in the ordinary and usual course
          and, to the extent consistent  therewith,  each of the Company and its
          Subsidiaries  shall use its reasonable  commercial efforts to preserve
          its  business  organization  intact  in all  material  respects,  keep
          available  the  services  of its  officers  and  employees  as a group
          (subject to changes in the ordinary  course) and maintain its existing
          relations  and  goodwill  in all  material  respects  with  customers,
          suppliers,  regulators,  distributors,  creditors, lessors, and others
          having business dealings with it;



                                     - 25 -
<PAGE>

               (ii) the  Company  shall not  issue,  deliver,  grant or sell any
          additional  Company  Common Shares or any Company  Options (other than
          the  issuance,  delivery,  grant or sale of Company  Common  Shares or
          Company  Options  pursuant to the  exercise or  conversion  of Company
          Options outstanding as of this date);

               (iii)  the   Company   shall  not  (A)  amend  its   Articles  of
          Incorporation  or bylaws,  amend or take any  action  under the Rights
          Agreement,  or adopt any other shareholders  rights plan or enter into
          any agreement with any of its  stockholders in their capacity as such;
          (B) split, combine,  subdivide or reclassify its outstanding shares of
          capital  stock;  (C)  declare,  set  aside  or  pay  any  dividend  or
          distribution  payable in cash,  stock or property in respect of any of
          its capital stock; or (D) repurchase,  redeem or otherwise  acquire or
          permit  any of its  Subsidiaries  to  purchase,  redeem  or  otherwise
          acquire,  any shares of its capital  stock or any Company  Options (it
          being  understood  that this provision shall not prohibit the exercise
          (cashless or otherwise) of Company Options);

               (iv) the Company  shall not, and shall not cause or permit any of
          its  Subsidiaries  to, take any action  that would  prevent the Merger
          from  qualifying as a  "reorganization"  within the meaning of Section
          368 of the Code or take any action  that it knows  would  cause any of
          its  representations  and  warranties  in  this  Agreement  to  become
          inaccurate in any material respect;

               (v) except as expressly  permitted by this Agreement,  and except
          as required by applicable law or pursuant to  contractual  obligations
          in effect on this date;  the Company  shall not,  and shall not permit
          its  Subsidiaries  to,  (A) enter  into,  adopt or amend  (except  for
          renewals  on   substantially   identical   terms)  any   agreement  or
          arrangement  relating to  severance,  (B) enter  into,  adopt or amend
          (except for renewals on  substantially  identical  terms) any employee
          benefit plan or employment or consulting agreement (including, without
          limitation, the Company Benefit Plans referred to in Section 3.10); or
          (C) grant any stock options or other equity related awards;

               (vi) except for borrowings  under lines of credit  existing as of
          this date in the  ordinary  course of  business  consistent  with past
          practice, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall issue,
          incur or amend the terms of any  indebtedness  for  borrowed  money or
          guarantee  any  such  indebtedness  (other  than  indebtedness  of the
          Company or any wholly-owned Subsidiary);

               (vii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries  shall make
          any  capital  expenditures  in an  aggregate  amount  in excess of the
          aggregate amount reflected in the capital  expenditure  budget, a copy
          of which is attached to the Company Disclosure Letter;



                                     - 26 -
<PAGE>

               (viii) other than in the ordinary  course of business  consistent
          with past  practice,  neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries
          shall transfer,  lease, license, sell, mortgage,  pledge,  encumber or
          otherwise  dispose  of any of its  or its  Subsidiaries'  property  or
          assets (including  capital stock of any of its Subsidiaries)  material
          to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole,  except pursuant
          to  contracts  existing  as of this date (the terms of which have been
          previously disclosed to Parent);

               (ix) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall issue,
          deliver,  sell or encumber shares of any class of its capital stock or
          any securities convertible into, or any rights, warrants or options to
          acquire,  any such shares,  except any such shares issued  pursuant to
          options  and  other  awards  outstanding  on this date  under  Company
          Benefit Plans;

               (x) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall acquire
          any   business,   including   any   facilities,   whether  by  merger,
          consolidation,  purchase of property or assets or otherwise, except to
          the extent provided for in the capital  expenditure budget attached to
          the Company Disclosure Letter;

               (xi) The  Company  shall  not  change  its  accounting  policies,
          practices  or methods  except as  required by GAAP or by the rules and
          regulations of the SEC;

               (xii) other than  pursuant to this  Agreement,  the Company shall
          not, and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries to, take any action
          to cause  Company  Common  Shares to cease to be listed on the  Nasdaq
          National Market System;

               (xiii) The  Company  shall  not,  and shall not permit any of its
          Subsidiaries to, enter into any Company Contract  described in clauses
          (c) and (d) of Section 3.18, or enter into or amend any  distribution,
          supply,  inventory  purchase,  franchise,  license,  sales  agency  or
          advertising  contract  outside  of the  ordinary  course  of  business
          consistent  with past practice in scope and amount but in no event for
          a term (or an  extension  of a term)  beyond the date that is one year
          after the Closing Date;

               (xiv) The Company shall not, and shall not cause or permit any of
          its  Subsidiaries  to, change or, other than in the ordinary course of
          business  consistent  with  past  practice,   make  any  material  Tax
          election, settle any audit or file any amended Tax Returns; or

               (xv) The  Company  shall not  enter  into,  or permit  any of its
          Subsidiaries to enter into, any commitments or agreements to do any of
          the foregoing.



                                     - 27 -
<PAGE>

     Section 5.2 No Solicitation.  (a) The Company shall  immediately  cease and
terminate  any  existing  solicitation,   initiation,  encouragement,  activity,
discussion or negotiation with any Persons conducted  heretofore by the Company,
its Subsidiaries or any of their respective  representatives with respect to any
proposed,  potential or  contemplated  Acquisition  Transaction  and request the
return or  destruction  of all  non-public  information  furnished in connection
therewith.

     (b) From and after this date,  without the prior written consent of Parent,
the Company will not, will not authorize or permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,
and  shall  use  its  reasonable  best  efforts  to  cause  any of its or  their
respective officers, directors,  employees,  financial advisors, agents or other
representatives not to, directly or indirectly,  solicit,  initiate or encourage
(including  by way of  furnishing  information)  or take  any  other  action  to
facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal which  constitutes or may
reasonably  be  expected  to lead to an  Acquisition  Proposal  from any Person,
engage  in any  discussion  or  negotiations  relating  thereto  or  accept  any
Acquisition Proposal or enter into any contract or understanding requiring it to
abandon,  terminate  or  fail  to  consummate  the  Merger  or any of the  other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided that, at any time prior to
receipt of the stockholder approval referred to in Section 6.1, the Company may,
subject to compliance  with this Section  5.2(b),  furnish  information  to, and
negotiate or otherwise  engage in  discussions  with,  any Person (a  "Proposing
Party") who (x) delivers a bona fide written Acquisition  Proposal which was not
solicited,  initiated,  encouraged or  facilitated  by the Company,  directly or
indirectly, after the date of this Agreement or otherwise resulted from a breach
of  this  Section  5.2,  and (y)  enters  into  an  appropriate  confidentiality
agreement  with the Company (which  agreement  shall be no less favorable to the
Company than the Confidentiality Agreement and a copy of which will be delivered
to Parent promptly after the execution  thereof),  if, but only if, the Board of
Directors of the Company  determines in good faith by a majority vote, (i) after
consultation  with, and receipt of advice from, its outside legal counsel,  that
failing to take such action would constitute a breach of the fiduciary duties of
such Board of Directors  under the IBCL,  and (ii) after  consultation  with the
Company's independent financial advisors, that such proposal could reasonably be
expected to lead to a Superior Transaction.

     (c) The  Company  shall  notify  Parent  orally  and in writing of any such
inquiries,  offers or proposals  (including,  without limitation,  the terms and
conditions of any such offers or proposals, any amendments or revisions, and the
identity of the Person  making it), as  promptly as  practicable  following  the
receipt,  and shall keep Parent  reasonably  informed of the status and material
terms of any such inquiry,  offer or proposal.  For purposes of this  Agreement,
"Acquisition  Proposal"  shall mean,  with respect to the Company,  any inquiry,
proposal or offer from any Person (other than Parent or any of its Subsidiaries)
relating to any (i) direct or indirect  acquisition or purchase of a business of
the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  that  constitutes  15% or more of the
consolidated net revenues, net income or assets of Company and its Subsidiaries,
(ii) direct or indirect  acquisition  or purchase of 15% or more of any class of
equity  securities  of  the  Company or  any of its  Subsidiaries whose business


                                     - 28 -
<PAGE>

constitutes 15% or more of the consolidated  net revenues,  net income or assets
of the Company and its  Subsidiaries,  (iii) tender offer or exchange offer that
if consummated would result in any Person beneficially owning 15% or more of the
capital  stock  of  the  Company,  or  (iv)  merger,   consolidation,   business
combination,  recapitalization,  liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction
involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose business  constitutes 15%
or more of the  consolidated  net revenues,  net income or assets of the Company
and its Subsidiaries. Each of the transactions referred to in clauses (i) - (iv)
of the definition of Acquisition  Proposal,  other than any such  transaction to
which  Parent  or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a  party,  is  referred  to as an
"Acquisition Transaction".

     (d) If, prior to the approval of this Agreement by the  stockholders of the
Company,  the Board of  Directors of the Company  determines  in good faith by a
majority vote,  with respect to any written  proposal from a Proposing Party for
an  Acquisition  Transaction  received  after  the  date  hereof  that  was  not
solicited,  initiated,  encouraged or  facilitated  by the Company,  directly or
indirectly,  after the date of this Agreement or did not otherwise result from a
breach of this Section 5.2, that,  based upon (x) the written opinion (a copy of
which  shall have been  delivered  to  Parent)  from the  Company's  independent
financial  advisors that the Acquisition  Transaction is a Superior  Transaction
and (y) the advice of the Company's outside legal counsel, that such Acquisition
Transaction is a Superior Transaction and is in the best interest of the Company
and its  stockholders  and  failure to enter into such  Acquisition  Transaction
would  constitute a breach of the fiduciary  duties of the Board of Directors of
the Company under the IBCL,  then the Company may terminate  this  Agreement and
enter into an acquisition agreement for the Superior Transaction; provided that,
prior  to any  such  termination,  and  in  order  for  such  termination  to be
effective,  (i) the Company shall provide  Parent three  business  days' written
notice that it intends to  terminate  this  Agreement  pursuant to this  Section
5.2(d),  identifying  the  Superior  Transaction  and the  parties  thereto  and
delivering  an  accurate  description  of all  material  terms  of the  Superior
Transaction to be entered into,  and (ii) on the date of  termination  (provided
that the  opinion  and advice  referred  to in clauses  (x) and (y) above  shall
continue in effect without  revocation,  revision or modification),  the Company
shall deliver to Parent (A) a written  notice of  termination  of this Agreement
pursuant to this Section  5.2(d),  (B) a wire transfer of immediately  available
funds in the amount of the Termination  Fee, (C) a written  acknowledgment  from
the  Company  that the  termination  of this  Agreement  and the entry  into the
Superior  Transaction are a Triggering  Event, and (D) a written  acknowledgment
from each other party to the Superior Transaction that it has read the Company's
acknowledgment  referred to in clause (C) above and will not contest the matters
thus acknowledged by the Company, including the payment of the Termination Fee.



                                     - 29 -
<PAGE>

     (e) "Superior Transaction" shall mean an Acquisition  Transaction which the
Board of Directors of the Company,  reasonably  determines is more  favorable to
the Company and its stockholders than the Merger and which is not subject to any
financing condition; provided, however, that, without limiting the foregoing, an
Acquisition  Transaction shall not constitute a Superior  Transaction unless, in
the  written  opinion  (with only  customary  qualifications)  of the  Company's
independent financial advisors, the value of the consideration to be paid in the
Acquisition  Transaction is more favorable to the  stockholders  of such company
from a financial point of view than the Merger  Consideration.  Reference in the
foregoing  definition to the "Merger" and "Merger  Consideration" shall include,
as applicable,  any proposed alteration of the terms of this Agreement submitted
by Parent in writing in response to any Acquisition Proposal.

     (f) Nothing in this Section 5.2 shall prevent the Board of Directors of the
Company, from taking, and disclosing to the Company's  stockholders,  a position
contemplated by Rule 14d-9 and Rule 14e-2(a)  promulgated under the Exchange Act
or  making  any  disclosure  required  under  the  IBCL  (subject,  however,  to
compliance  with  the  balance  of  this  sentence  where  applicable),  and the
Company's Board of Directors may prior to the date of its stockholders  meeting,
withdraw,  modify or change its  recommendation  if, but only if and only to the
extent  that,  the  Board  of  Directors  determines  in good  faith  that  such
withdrawal,  modification  or change  is  required  in order to comply  with its
fiduciary duties to its stockholders  under the IBCL after receiving advice from
its outside legal  counsel;  provided  that in the case of a tender  offer,  the
Board of Directors of the Company shall not recommend that  stockholders  tender
their Company Common Shares in such tender offer unless (i) such tender offer is
determined to be a Superior  Transaction  in accordance  with the  provisions of
Section 5.2(d) and (ii) the Company has provided Parent with not less than three
business days, prior written notice of any such action; provided,  further, that
in no event shall the Company or its Board of Directors take,  agree, or resolve
to take any action  prohibited  by Section  5.2(b) or 5.2(d) except as expressly
permitted by such Sections.

     (g) Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company
shall not take any action to make the provisions of IC 23-1-43  inapplicable  to
any  Acquisition  Transaction in respect of the Company  (including any Superior
Transaction) or release any standstill  agreements or other similar restrictions
prior to the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

                                   ARTICLE VI

     Section 6.1  Meetings  of  Stockholders.  The Company  will take all action
necessary in accordance  with  applicable law and its Articles of  Incorporation
and its  bylaws  to  convene  a  meeting  of its  stockholders  as  promptly  as
practicable  to consider and vote upon the approval  and  authorization  of this
Agreement and the Merger.  The Board of Directors of the Company shall recommend
this  approval  and the  Company  shall take all lawful  action to solicit  such
approval   including,    without   limitation,    timely   mailing   the   Proxy
Statement/Prospectus.



                                     - 30 -
<PAGE>

     Section 6.2  Filings;  Other  Action.  Subject to the terms and  conditions
herein  provided,  the Company,  Parent and Merger Sub shall:  (a) make promptly
their  respective  filings,  and any other  submissions,  under the HSR Act with
respect to the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby, and (b)
use  their  reasonable  best  efforts  to  cooperate  with  one  another  in (i)
determining  which other filings are required to be made prior to the expiration
of  the  Effective  Time  with,  and  which  consents,   approvals,  permits  or
authorizations  are required to be obtained  prior to the  Effective  Time from,
Governmental  Entities or other third parties in  connection  with the execution
and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and  the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby and (ii) timely making all such filings and timely seek all
such consents, approvals, permits, authorizations and waivers; and (b) use their
reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all other actions and do,
or cause to be done,  all  other  things  necessary,  proper or  appropriate  to
consummate and make effective the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement;
provided,  however,  that such reasonable best efforts shall not include (i) the
sale or  divestiture  of any  assets of Parent (or its  affiliates)  or (ii) the
licensing  of  any  Intellectual  Property  of  Parent,  or  its  affiliates  or
Intellectual Property to be acquired under this Agreement. If, at any time after
the Effective  Time,  any further  action is necessary or desirable to carry out
the purpose of this  Agreement,  the proper  officers and directors of Parent or
the Surviving Corporation shall take all such necessary action.

     Section 6.3 Publicity. The initial press release relating to this Agreement
shall be issued  jointly by the  Company,  Parent and  Merger  Sub.  Thereafter,
subject to their respective legal  obligations,  the Company,  Parent and Merger
Sub shall consult with each other, and use reasonable  efforts to agree upon the
text of any press  release,  before  issuing any such press release or otherwise
making public  statements with respect to the transactions  contemplated  hereby
and in making any  filings  with any  Governmental  Entity or with any  national
securities exchange with respect thereto.

     Section  6.4  Registration  Statement.  The  parties  shall  cooperate  and
promptly prepare,  and Parent shall file with the SEC as soon as practicable,  a
Registration  Statement  on Form S-4 (the "Form S-4") under the  Securities  Act
with  respect to the Parent  Common Stock  issuable in the Merger,  a portion of
which   Registration   Statement   shall   also   serve  as  the   joint   proxy
statement/prospectus  with respect to the meeting of the Company stockholders in
connection with the Merger (the "Proxy Statement/Prospectus").  The parties will
cause  the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  and the Form S-4 to comply as to form in
all material respects with  the applicable provisions of the Securities Act, the


                                     - 31 -
<PAGE>

Exchange  Act and the rules and  regulations  thereunder.  Parent  shall use its
reasonable  best efforts to, and the Company will cooperate with Parent to, have
the Form S-4 declared  effective by the SEC as promptly as  practicable.  Parent
shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain,  prior to the effective date of
the Form S-4,  all  necessary  state  securities  law or "blue  sky"  permits or
approvals  required to carry out the Merger  (provided  that Parent shall not be
required to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction in which it is not now so
qualified).  Each of the parties agree that the  information  provided by it for
inclusion in the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  and each  amendment or  supplement
thereto,  at the time of  mailing  thereof,  at the time of the  meeting  of the
Company stockholders, and at the time it is filed or becomes effective, will not
include an untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements  therein,  in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

     Section  6.5  Listing  Application.  Parent  shall  as soon  as  reasonably
practicable prepare and submit to the NYSE and all other securities exchanges on
which the shares of Parent  Common Stock are listed a listing  application  with
respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock  issuable in the Merger,  and shall
use its reasonable best efforts to obtain, prior to the Effective Time, approval
for the  listing  of such  Parent  Common  Stock on such  exchanges,  subject to
official notice of issuance.

     Section  6.6 Further  Action.  Each of the  parties  shall,  subject to the
fulfillment  at or  before  the  Effective  Time of each  of the  conditions  of
performance  set  forth  in  this  Agreement  or the  waiver  thereof,  use  its
reasonable  best  efforts  to  perform  those  further  acts and  execute  those
documents as may be reasonably required to effect the transactions  contemplated
hereby.  Each of the parties agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain
in a timely manner all necessary waivers,  consents,  approvals and opinions and
to effect all necessary  registrations  and filings,  and to use its  reasonable
best  efforts to take,  or cause to be taken,  all other  actions  and to do, or
cause to be done, all other things necessary,  proper or advisable to consummate
and make effective as promptly as practicable the Merger.  In furtherance of the
foregoing,  the Company  shall use its  reasonable  best  efforts to procure the
execution of agreements  between the Surviving  Corporation and employees of the
Company identified by Parent on terms satisfactory to Parent and such employees.

     Section 6.7 Expenses.  Whether or not the Merger is consummated,  all costs
and expenses  incurred in connection  with this  Agreement and the  transactions
contemplated  hereby (including the Merger) shall be paid by the party incurring
those  expenses  except as expressly  provided in this Agreement and except that
(a) the filing fees in connection  with the filing of the Form S-4 and the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus with the SEC, (b) all  filing  fees in connection  with any


                                     - 32 -
<PAGE>

filings,  permits or approvals  required under  applicable  state  securities or
"blue sky" laws, and (c) the expenses  incurred in connection  with printing and
mailing of the Form S-4 and the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus,  shall be shared by
Parent and the Company  equally,  and the filing fees,  if any,  incurred by the
Company in connection with the filing of the Company  notification under the HSR
Act shall be paid by Parent.

     Section 6.8 Notification of Certain  Matters.  Each party shall give prompt
notice to the other parties of the following:

     (a) the  occurrence  or  nonoccurrence  of any event  whose  occurrence  or
nonoccurrence  is reasonably  expected to cause any of the conditions  precedent
set forth in Article VII not to be satisfied; and

     (b) any facts  relating  to that party  which  would make it  necessary  or
advisable  to amend the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  or the Form S-4 in order to
make  the  statements  therein  not  untrue  or  misleading  or to  comply  with
applicable law; provided,  however,  that the delivery of any notice pursuant to
this  Section 6.8 shall not limit or  otherwise  affect the  remedies  available
hereunder to the party receiving such notice.

     (c) From  time to time  after the date of this  Agreement  and prior to the
Effective  Time,  the Company will promptly  supplement or amend the  Disclosure
Letter  with  respect to any matter  hereafter  arising  which,  if  existing or
occurring at or prior to the date of this Agreement, would have been required to
be set forth or described in the Disclosure Letter which is necessary to correct
any information in the Disclosure Letter or in any  representation  and warranty
of the  Company  that has been  rendered  inaccurate  thereby.  For  purposes of
determining  the accuracy of the  representations  and warranties of the Company
contained in Article III in order to determine the fulfillment of the conditions
set forth in Sections  7.2(a),  the schedules  delivered by the Company shall be
deemed to include only that  information  contained  therein on the date of this
Agreement  and shall be deemed  to  exclude  any  information  contained  in any
subsequent supplement or amendment thereto.

     Section  6.9  Access to  Information.  (a) From the date of this  Agreement
until the Closing,  upon reasonable  notice,  the Company shall, and shall cause
its  Subsidiaries  to, (i) give Parent and its authorized  representatives  full
access to all  books,  records,  personnel,  offices  and other  facilities  and
properties  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  and  their  accountants  and
accountants' work papers, (ii) permit Parent to make such copies and inspections
thereof as Parent may  reasonably  request  and (iii)  furnish  Parent with such
financial and operating data and other  information with respect to the business
and  properties of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  as Parent may from time to
time reasonably request; provided that no investigation or information furnished


                                     - 33 -
<PAGE>

pursuant to this Section 6.9 shall affect any  representation  or warranty  made
herein by the Company or the conditions to the  obligations of Parent and Merger
Sub to consummate the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement.  Parent will
endeavor  to  describe  information  requests  with  as much  specificity  as is
practicable.  Each of Parent and the Company shall designate a representative to
coordinate  information  and other  requests  pursuant to this  Section 6.9. All
access  shall be  subject  to the  condition  that  such  examinations  shall be
conducted  during normal  business hours and in a manner designed to minimize to
the extent  practicable  disruption  to the normal  business  operations  of the
Company.

     Section 6.10 Insurance;  Indemnity.  (a) Parent will maintain in effect for
not less than three  years  after the  Effective  Time,  the  Company's  current
directors and officers insurance  policies,  if such insurance is obtainable (or
policies of at least the same coverage  containing  terms and conditions no less
advantageous  to the  current  and all  former  directors  and  officers  of the
Company)  with respect to acts or failures to act prior to the  Effective  Time,
including  acts relating to the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement;
provided,  however,  that in order to maintain or procure such coverage,  Parent
shall not be required to maintain or obtain  policies  providing  such  coverage
except to the extent  such  coverage  can be  provided  at an annual  cost of no
greater than two times the most recent annual  premium paid by the Company prior
to the date  hereof (the  "Cap");  and  provided,  further,  that if  equivalent
coverage cannot be obtained, or can be obtained only by paying an annual premium
in excess of the Cap,  Parent shall only be required to obtain as much  coverage
as can be obtained by paying an annual premium equal to the Cap.

     (b) From and after the  Effective  Time,  Parent shall  indemnify  and hold
harmless to the fullest extent  permitted under  applicable law, each Person who
is, or has been at any time prior to the date hereof or who becomes prior to the
Effective Time, an officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(each, an "Indemnified Party") against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
costs or expenses (including attorneys' fees),  judgments,  fines, penalties and
amounts  paid  in  settlement  in  connection  with  any  claim,  action,  suit,
proceeding or  investigation  arising out of or pertaining to acts or omissions,
or alleged acts or omissions, by them in their capacities as such, which acts or
omissions  occurred  prior to the Effective  Time,  whether  asserted or claimed
prior to,  at or after  the  Effective  Time.  In the  event of any such  claim,
action,  suit,  proceeding  or  investigation  (an  "Action"),  the Parent shall
control the defense of such Action with  counsel  selected by the Parent,  which
counsel  shall be  reasonably  acceptable to the  Indemnified  Party;  provided,
however,  that the  Indemnified  Party shall be permitted to  participate in the
defense of such Action through counsel selected by the Indemnified  Party, which
counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Parent, at the Indemnified Party's
expense.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  if there is any conflict  between the
Parent and any  Indemnified Parties  or  there are additional defenses available
to any Indemnified  Parties, the  Indemnified  Parties  shall  be  permitted  to


                                     - 34 -
<PAGE>

participate  in  the  defense  of  such  Action  with  counsel  selected  by the
Indemnified Parties, which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Parent,
and Parent  shall cause Parent to pay the  reasonable  fees and expenses of such
counsel,  as accrued and in advance of the final  disposition  of such Action to
the fullest extent  permitted by applicable  law;  provided,  however,  that the
Parent shall not be obligated  to pay the  reasonable  fees and expenses of more
than one counsel for all Indemnified  Parties in any single Action except to the
extent that, in the opinion of counsel for the Indemnified  Parties, two or more
of such Indemnified  Parties have  conflicting  interests in the outcome of such
Action.  The Parent shall not be liable for any settlement  effected without its
written consent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld.

     (c) The Surviving  Corporation  shall keep in effect all  provisions in its
articles of  incorporation  and by-laws that provide for exculpation of director
and officer liability and  indemnification  (and advancement of expenses related
thereto) of the past and present  officers  and  directors of the Company to the
fullest extent  permitted by the IBCL and such  provisions  shall not be amended
except as either required by applicable law or to make changes  permitted by law
that would  enhance  the rights of past or present  officers  and  directors  to
indemnification or advancement of expenses.

     (d) If the Surviving  Corporation  or any of its  respective  successors or
assigns (i) shall  consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or other
entity and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of the
consolidation or merger or (ii) shall transfer all or  substantially  all of its
properties and assets to any individual,  corporation or other entity,  then and
in each such case,  proper  provisions  shall be made so that the successors and
assigns of the Surviving  Corporation  shall assume all of the  obligations  set
forth in this Section 6.10.

     (e) The  provisions of this Section 6.10 are intended to be for the benefit
of, and shall be enforceable  by, each of the Indemnified  Parties,  their heirs
and their representatives.

     Section 6.11 Employee  Benefit  Plans.  The Company agrees to promptly take
all actions necessary to cause the following to occur on or prior to the Closing
Date:

     (a)  Termination of Money Purchase  Pension Plan. As the plan sponsor,  the
Company will (i) adopt all amendments to the Robinson  Nugent,  Inc.  Retirement
Plan (the "MPP Plan")  necessary  to make such Plan  comply with the  applicable
legal  requirements as changed by the laws described in Rev. Proc.  99-23 issued
by the  Internal  Revenue  Service,  (ii)  amend the MPP Plan to fully  vest the
entire account balances of all the participants in such Plan effective as of the


                                     - 35 -
<PAGE>

Closing  Date,  (iii)  take all  actions  necessary  to  terminate  the MPP Plan
effective as of the Closing Date, and (iv) direct the trustee of the MPP Plan to
prepare for the distribution of the account balances of all participants as soon
as reasonably possible following the receipt of a favorable determination letter
from the Internal Revenue Service.

     (b) Merger of 401(k) Plan. As the plan sponsor,  the Company will (i) adopt
all  amendments to the Company's  401(k) plan (the "401(k)  Plan")  necessary to
make such Plan comply with the applicable  legal  requirements as changed by the
laws described in Rev. Proc. 99-23 issued by the Internal Revenue Service,  (ii)
approve the merger of such 401(k) Plan with the 3M Voluntary Investment Plan and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "VIP")  effective as of the Closing Date, and
(iii)  direct the trustee of the 401(k) Plan to prepare for the  transfer of the
assets and records of such Plan to the trustee of the VIP as soon as  reasonably
possible following the Closing Date.

     (c) Termination of Stock Option Plan. As the plan sponsor, the Company will
cause all of the Company Options to be either exercised and satisfied in full or
terminated  prior to the Closing Date. As soon as  practicable,  but in no event
later than 5 days from the date hereof, the Company shall provide written notice
to each holder of a Company  Option of the  execution  of this  Agreement  which
notice shall be effective  to terminate  all Company  Options as of the 30th day
immediately  following the date of the sending of the notice as  contemplated in
Section 6(i) of the Stock Option Plan.

     (d) Annual Reports.  As the plan sponsor,  the Company will (i) cause to be
filed with the  appropriate  government  agency the annual  reports (Form 5500s)
that have not been filed by the  respective  due dates  with  respect to the MPP
Plan and the 401(k) Plan, (ii) pay the appropriate penalties for the late filing
of such annual  reports under the U.S.  Department of Labor's  Delinquent  Filer
Voluntary  Compliance  Program,  (iii) file reasonable cause statements with the
Internal Revenue Service with respect to the late filing of such annual reports,
and (iv)  comply  with the  summary  annual  report  requirements  of ERISA with
respect to such annual reports.

     (e)  Securities  Registration.  The  Company  will file and cause to become
effective the registration statement required by the Securities Act with respect
to the offering and purchase of Company  Common  Shares by  participants  in the
401(k)  Plan with  respect  to the  investment  of the  assets of their  account
balances under such Plan.

     (f) Rescission  Offers. As soon as practicable,  but in no event later than
five  days  after  the date  hereof,  the  Company  shall  commence  an offer to
repurchase  Company  Common Shares from each  individual  who exercised  Company
Options  under the Stock  Option  Plan prior to August 31,  2000 and an offer to
repurchase  Company  Common Shares from each  individual  who purchased  Company
Common Shares under the Company's 401(k) Plan (the  "Rescission  Offers") during
the  twelve  month  period  prior to the  filing of the  registration  statement
contemplated in Section 6.11(e) in respect of such plan, each  substantially  on
the terms  furnished to Parent prior to the date hereof and in  compliance  with
all applicable federal and state securities laws.



                                     - 36 -
<PAGE>

     (g) Bonus  Plan.  The  Company  shall  complete  and  furnish to Parent the
documentation  of the  Company's  Bonus Plan for the fiscal year ending June 30,
2001,  which  documentation  shall be reasonably  satisfactory to Parent in both
form and substance.

     Section 6.12 Rights Agreement.  The Board of Directors of the Company shall
take all  action  requested  by  Parent in order to render  the  Company  Rights
inapplicable to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

                                   ARTICLE VII

     Section 7.1  Conditions to  Obligations  of the Parties to  Consummate  the
Merger.  The respective  obligation of each party to consummate the Merger shall
be subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

     (a)  Stockholder  Approval.  This  Agreement and the Merger shall have been
approved  and adopted by the holders of a majority  of the  outstanding  Company
Common Shares in accordance  with the IBCL and the rules and  regulations of the
Nasdaq National Market System.

     (b) Legality.  No order,  decree or  injunction  shall have been entered or
issued  by any  Governmental  Entity  which is in effect  and has the  effect of
making the Merger illegal or otherwise  prohibiting  consummation of the Merger.
Each party agrees that,  in the event that any such order,  decree or injunction
shall be entered or issued,  it shall use its  reasonable  best efforts to cause
any such order, decree or injunction to be lifted or vacated.

     (c)  Registration  Statement  Effective.  The Form S-4  shall  have  become
effective  prior  to  the  mailing  of  the  Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  to the
Company's  stockholders  and no stop order  suspending the  effectiveness of the
Form S-4 shall then be in effect.

     (d)  Blue Sky  Approvals.  All such  consents,  approvals,  authorizations,
orders, registrations,  filings,  qualifications,  licenses or permits as may be
required under state securities or "blue sky" laws in connection with the shares
of Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger have been obtained.



                                     - 37 -
<PAGE>

     (e) Stock Exchange Listing.  The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued
pursuant to the Merger shall have been duly approved for listing on the New York
Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.

     (f) Tax Opinion. Parent and the Company shall each have received an opinion
of  Fried,  Frank,  Harris,  Shriver  &  Jacobson,   based  on  certain  factual
representations of the Company,  Parent, and Merger Sub, dated as of the Closing
Date,  to the effect  that the Merger  will be treated  for  federal  income tax
purposes as a  reorganization  within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code,
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent and the Company.

     (g) Antitrust. The waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the HSR
Act applicable to the Merger shall have expired or been terminated and any other
approval or waiting period  required prior to the Effective Time under any other
applicable competition,  merger control,  antitrust or similar law or regulation
shall have been obtained or  terminated or shall have expired,  other than those
the failure of which to have been  obtained  or  terminated  or to have  expired
would not (x) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (it being
understood for purposes of this clause (x) that no party may rely on the failure
of this  condition  to be  satisfied  if such failure was caused by such party's
failure to comply with the terms of Section 6.2) or (y) result in the commission
of a criminal offense.

     Section 7.2 Additional  Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub.
The  obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger shall also be
subject to the satisfaction or waiver of each of the following conditions:

     (a) Representations  and Warranties.  The representations and warranties of
the Company  contained in this Agreement  shall be true and correct on and as of
the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties shall
have  been   expressly   made  as  of  an  earlier  date,  in  which  case  such
representations  and  warranties  shall  have been true and  correct  as of such
earlier date) with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing
Date,  except  to the  extent  that any  failures  of such  representations  and
warranties to be so true and correct  (determined  without regard to materiality
qualifiers  or  limitations  contained  therein),  in the  aggregate,  would not
reasonably be expected to have resulted in a Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) Agreements and Covenants.  The Company shall have performed or complied
in all material  respects with all  agreements  and  covenants  required by this
Agreement  to be  performed  or complied  with by it on or before the  Effective
Time.



                                     - 38 -
<PAGE>

     (c) Certificates.  Parent shall have received a certificate of an executive
officer of the Company that the  conditions  set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b)
above have been satisfied.

     (d) Options. All Company Options shall have been exercised or terminated.

     (e) Resignations. Parent shall have received the resignation of each of the
directors of the Company effective as of the Effective Time.

     (f) Stock Option  Agreement.  The Stock Option  Agreement  shall be in full
force and effect.

     (g) Lease Agreement.  The sale of the Company's  manufacturing  facility in
Dallas,  Texas (the  "Dallas  Facility")  shall have taken  place and the Dallas
Facility  shall have been  leased to the Company on the terms  described  in the
Contract for Purchase and Sale/Leaseback  between the Company and Sam & JB, LLC,
an Indiana limited liability  company,  and the lease agreement attached thereto
as  Exhibit B, each in the form  attached  to the  Disclosure  Letter as Exhibit
7.2(g).

     (h) Rescission  Offers.  The Rescission Offers shall have been completed in
accordance with Section 6.11(f).

     Section 7.3  Additional  Conditions  to  Obligations  of the  Company.  The
obligations of the Company to consummate the Merger shall also be subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of each of the following conditions:

     (a) Representations  and Warranties.  The representations and warranties of
Parent and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement shall be true on and as of the
Closing Date (except to the extent such  representations  and  warranties  shall
have  been   expressly   made  as  of  an  earlier  date,  in  which  case  such
representations  and  warranties  shall  have been true and  correct  as of such
earlier date) with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing
Date,  except  to the  extent  that any  failures  of such  representations  and
warranties to be so true and correct  (determined  without regard to materiality
qualifiers or limitations contained therein),  would not, individually or in the
aggregate,  have or reasonably be expected to have a material  adverse effect on
Parent's or Merger Sub's ability to consummate  the Merger or otherwise  prevent
Parent or Merger Sub from performing their obligations under this Agreement.

     (b) Agreements and Covenants. Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed or
complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants  required by
this  Agreement  to be  performed  or  complied  with by them on or  before  the
Effective Time.



                                     - 39 -
<PAGE>

     (c)  Certificates.  The Company  shall have  received a  certificate  of an
executive  officer of Parent and  Merger  Sub that the  conditions  set forth in
paragraphs (a) and (b) above have been satisfied.

     (d)  Consents.  The  Company  shall  have  received  evidence,  in form and
substance  reasonably  satisfactory to it, that Parent and Merger Sub shall have
obtained (i) all consents, approvals, authorizations,  qualifications and orders
of all  Governmental  Entities  (including any in connection with  Environmental
Laws) legally  required in connection  with this Agreement and the  transactions
contemplated  hereby  and  (ii)  all  consents,  approvals,  authorizations  and
qualifications  of third parties  required in connection with this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby, except in the case of clauses (i) and (ii)
for those the failure of which to be obtained would not,  individually or in the
aggregate  reasonably be expected to have a material  adverse effect on Parent's
and Merger Sub's ability to consummate  the Merger or otherwise  prevent  Parent
and Merger Sub from performing  their  obligations  under this  Agreement.  This
condition  shall  not be  applicable  to  consents,  approvals,  authorizations,
qualifications  and orders under any  competition,  merger control  antitrust or
similar law or regulation, which are the subject of Section 7.1(h).

                                  ARTICLE VIII

     Section 8.1  Termination.  This  Agreement  may be  terminated  at any time
before the Effective Time (except as otherwise provided) as follows:

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

     (b) by any  party,  if the  Effective  Time shall not have  occurred  on or
before February 28, 2001 (the "Termination Date");  provided,  however, that the
right to  terminate  this  Agreement  under  this  Section  8.1(b)  shall not be
available  to any party  whose  failure to  fulfill  any  obligation  under this
Agreement  has been the cause of, or resulted  in, the failure of the  Effective
Time to occur on or before the Termination Date;

     (c) by any party,  if a  Governmental  Entity  shall have  issued an order,
decree or  injunction  having  the  effect  of  making  the  Merger  illegal  or
permanently  prohibiting the consummation of the Merger, and such order,  decree
or injunction shall have become final and nonappealable  (but only if such party
shall have used its  reasonable  best  efforts to cause  such  order,  decree or
injunction to be lifted or vacated);



                                     - 40 -
<PAGE>

     (d) by  either  Parent  or the  Company,  if (x)  there  shall  have been a
material  breach  by  the  other  of any  of  its  representations,  warranties,
covenants or agreements  contained in this Agreement,  which breach would result
in the  failure to satisfy  one or more of the  conditions  set forth in Section
7.2(a) or (b) (in the case of a breach by the Company) or Section  7.3(a) or (b)
(in the case of a breach by Parent), and such breach shall be incapable of being
cured or, if capable of being  cured,  shall not have been cured  within 30 days
after written notice thereof shall have been received by the party alleged to be
in breach.

     (e) by Parent, if after a duly held  stockholders'  meeting,  including any
adjournments or postponements, the condition set forth in Section 7.1(a) has not
been satisfied.

     (f) by Parent,  if (i) the Board of Directors of the Company shall or shall
resolve to (A) either not  recommend  that the  Company's  stockholders  vote in
favor  of  this  Agreement  or  withdraw  its  recommendation,  (B)  modify  its
recommendation  of approval of this  Agreement in a manner  adverse to Parent or
Merger Sub, or (C) approve, recommend or fail to take a position that is adverse
to any proposed  Acquisition  Transaction  (other than the Merger) involving the
Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or (ii)  the  Board of  Directors  of the
Company shall have refused to affirm to Parent its recommendation of approval of
this  Agreement  as promptly as  practicable  (but in any case within five days)
after receipt of any reasonable written request for such affirmation from Parent
or (iii) the Company shall have failed as promptly as practicable after the Form
S-4 is declared effective by the SEC to call a special  stockholders  meeting or
mail the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to its stockholders or failed to include its
recommendation  of approval of this Agreement in the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus
or failed to hold the a special stockholders meeting when scheduled.

     (g) by the Company pursuant to, but only in compliance  with,  Section 5.2;
or

     Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the contrary,  no  termination  by the
Company pursuant to this Section 8.1 under circumstances  requiring payment of a
Termination Fee shall be effective  unless,  concurrently with such termination,
the fee is paid in full by the Company, in accordance with Section 8.2.


     Section  8.2 Effect of  Termination  and  Abandonment.  (a) In the event of
termination  of this  Agreement  pursuant to this Article VIII,  this  Agreement
shall become void (other than this Section 8.2) with no liability on the part of
either  party (or of any of its  representatives);  provided,  however,  no such
termination  shall relieve either party from any liability for damages resulting
from any willful or intentional breach of this Agreement whether or not any fees
contemplated by this Section 8.2 are payable.



                                     - 41 -
<PAGE>

     (b) Upon the  happening of a  Triggering  Event,  the Company  shall pay to
Parent (or to any  Subsidiary  of Parent  designated in writing by Parent to the
Company) the amount of $3,450,000 (the "Termination  Fee").  "Triggering  Event"
means any one of the following:

               (i) a termination of this Agreement by Parent pursuant to Section
          8.1(f);

               (ii) a  termination  of this  Agreement  by  Parent  pursuant  to
          Section  8.1(d) or 8.1(e),  if any  Acquisition  Proposal  is publicly
          proposed  or  announced  on or after the date  hereof and prior to the
          meeting  of the  Company's  Stockholders  and (in the case of  Section
          8.1(e) only) such Acquisition  Proposal has not been publicly rejected
          by the Board of Directors of the Company;

               (iii) a termination of this Agreement by the Company  pursuant to
          Section 8.1(g); or

               (iv) if any Acquisition Transaction is entered into, agreed to or
          consummated  by the Company  within twelve months of a termination  of
          this  Agreement  by (A)  Parent or the  Company  pursuant  to  Section
          8.1(b),  or (B)  Parent  pursuant  to Section  8.1(d) or  8.1(e),  the
          entering  into,  agreeing  to  or  consummation  of  such  Acquisition
          Transaction.

Payment of the  Termination  Fee shall be made by wire  transfer of  immediately
available  funds (1) on the second  business day after such  termination  in the
case of clauses (i) and (ii) of the  definition of Triggering  Event,  (2) on or
prior  to the  date of such  termination,  in the  case of  clause  (iii) of the
definition of Triggering  Event, or (3) on the earlier of the date a contract is
entered into with respect to an Acquisition  Transaction or is  consummated,  in
the case of clause (iv) of the definition of Triggering Event. In no event shall
more than one Termination Fee be payable under this Agreement.

     (c) Any Termination Fee payable hereunder shall be payable by wire transfer
of immediately available funds.

     (d) The parties  acknowledge that the agreements  contained in this Section
8.2 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and
that,  without  these  agreements,  Parent would not enter into this  Agreement.
Accordingly,  if the Company fails to pay promptly  amounts due pursuant to this
Section 8.2, and, in order to obtain such payment, Parent commences a suit which
results  in a judgment  against  the  Company  for such  amount (or any  portion
thereof),  the Company  shall pay the costs and  expenses  (including  attorneys
fees) of the other party in connection with such suit, together with interest on
such amount in respect of the period from the date such amount  became due until
paid at the prime rate of The Chase  Manhattan  Bank in effect from time to time
during such period.



                                     - 42 -
<PAGE>

     Section 8.3 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended at any time before the
Effective  Time but only  pursuant to a writing  executed  and  delivered by the
Company and Parent.

                                   ARTICLE IX

     Section 9.1 Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. The
representations,  warranties and agreements in this Agreement shall terminate at
the Effective Time or upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.1, as the case may be,  except that (a) the  agreements  set forth in Sections
1.3, 6.10 and 6.11 shall survive the Effective  Time, and (b) the agreements set
forth in  Sections  6.7,  8.2 and this  Article  IX  shall  survive  termination
indefinitely.

     Section 9.2  Notices.  All notices and other  communications  given or made
pursuant  hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
or made as of the date of receipt and shall be delivered personally or mailed by
registered or certified mail (postage prepaid,  return receipt requested),  sent
by  overnight  courier  or sent by  telecopy,  to the  applicable  party  at the
following  addresses or telecopy  numbers (or at such other  address or telecopy
number for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

     (a) if to the Company:

                  Robinson Nugent, Inc.
                  880 East Eight Street
                  P. O. Box 1208
                  New Albany, IN  47151
                  Attention:  Patrick Duffy
                  Telecopy No.:  (317) 594-1836

                  with a copy to:

                  Ice Miller
                  One American Square
                  Box 82001
                  Indianapolis, IN  46282-0002
                  Attention:  Berkely W. Duck III, Esq.
                  Telecopy No.:  (317) 592-4642



                                     - 43 -
<PAGE>

     (b) if to Parent or Merger Sub:

                  Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
                  3M Center
                  St. Paul, Minnesota  55114
                  Telecopy:  (651) 736-9469
                  Attention:  General Counsel

                  with a copy to

                  Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
                  3M Center
                  St. Paul, Minnesota  55114
                  Telecopy:  (651) 736-9469
                  Attention:  Gregg Larson, Esq.

                  with a further copy to:

                  Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson
                  One New York Plaza
                  New York, New York  10004
                  Attention:  Jean Hanson, Esq.
                  Telecopy No.:  (212) 859-4000


     Section 9.3 Certain Definitions;  Interpretation.  (a) For purposes of this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

               (i) "Material  Adverse  Effect"  means any change,  circumstance,
          event,  effect  or state of facts  (x) that has or can  reasonably  be
          expected  to  have  a  material   adverse   effect  on  the  business,
          operations,  results of operations,  assets,  prospects, or conditions
          (financial  or  otherwise)  of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries
          having a value of $150,000 individually or $1,500,000 in the aggregate
          (except for purposes of Section  7.2(a),  a value of $3,000,000 in the
          aggregate),  or the  ability of the Company  and its  Subsidiaries  to
          conduct their  business  after the closing  consistent in all material
          respects  with the  manner  conducted  in the  past,  or (y) that will
          prevent or materially  impair the Company's  ability to consummate the
          Merger; provided,  however, that a Material Adverse Effect will not be
          deemed to have occurred if the change, circumstance,  event, effect or
          state of facts results  primarily from (i) changes in general business
          conditions in the connector  industry or (ii) the public  announcement
          or pendency of the Merger  that  reasonably  would be expected to have
          only a temporary effect on the Company.



                                     - 44 -
<PAGE>

               (ii)  "affiliate"  of a Person  means a Person  that  directly or
          indirectly,   through  one  or  more  intermediaries,   controls,   is
          controlled by, or is under common  control with,  the first  mentioned
          Person.

               (iii) "Board of Directors" of the Company  includes any committee
          thereof.

               (iv) "control"  (including the terms  "controlled  by" and "under
          common control with") means the possession, direct or indirect, of the
          power to direct or cause the direction of the  management and policies
          of a Person,  whether  through the  ownership of stock,  as trustee or
          executor, by contract or credit arrangement or otherwise.

               (v) "ERISA" means the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of
          1974, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

               (vi)  "knowledge" of the Company with respect to any matter means
          actual  knowledge of any of the Company's  senior  executive  officers
          after  reasonable  investigation  and due diligence.  Such Persons and
          their respective areas of responsibility  are set forth on Section 9.3
          of the Company Disclosure Letter.

               (vii)  "Person" means an  individual,  corporation,  partnership,
          limited  liability   company,   association,   trust,   unincorporated
          organization, entity or group (as defined in the Exchange Act).

               (viii) "Significant  Subsidiary" shall have the meaning set forth
          in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the SEC.

               (ix)  "Subsidiary"  of a Person  means any  corporation  or other
          legal entity of which that Person (either alone or through or together
          with any other  Subsidiary or  Subsidiaries) is the general partner or
          managing entity or of which at least a majority of the stock (or other
          equity  interests the holders of which are generally  entitled to vote
          for the  election  of the  board of  directors  or  others  performing
          similar  functions  of such  corporation  or other  legal  entity)  is
          directly or  indirectly  owned or  controlled  by that Person  (either
          alone  or  through  or   together   with  any  other   Subsidiary   or
          Subsidiaries).

     (b) When a  reference  is made in this  Agreement  to  Articles,  Sections,
Company  Disclosure  Letter or  Exhibits,  this  reference is to an Article or a
Section of, or an Exhibit to, this Agreement,  unless otherwise  indicated.  The
table of contents and headings  contained in this  Agreement  are for  reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or  interpretation  of
this Agreement. Whenever the words "include," "includes" or "including" are used
in this Agreement, they shall be understood to be followed by the words "without
limitation."



                                     - 45 -
<PAGE>

     Section 9.4  Headings.  The headings  contained in this  Agreement  are for
reference  purposes  only  and  shall  not  affect  in any  way the  meaning  or
interpretation of this Agreement.

     Section 9.5 Severability.  If any term or other provision of this Agreement
is invalid,  illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public
policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless
remain in full force and effect so long as the  economic or legal  substance  of
the transactions  contemplated  hereby is not affected in any manner  materially
adverse to any party.  Upon a determination  that any term or other provision is
invalid,  illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties shall negotiate in
good faith to modify this  Agreement so as to effect the original  intent of the
parties as  closely  as  possible  in an  acceptable  manner to the end that the
transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the maximum extent possible.

     Section 9.6 Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement,
the Company Disclosure Letter and the  Confidentiality  Agreement dated November
30,  1999  between  Parent and the  Company  (the  "Confidentiality  Agreement")
constitute the entire agreement and supersede any and all other prior agreements
and  undertakings,  both written and oral,  among the parties hereto,  or any of
them,  with respect to the subject  matter  hereof and,  except for Section 6.10
(Insurance; Indemnity), does not, and is not intended to, confer upon any Person
other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.

     Section 9.7  Assignment.  This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party
by operation of law or otherwise  without the express written consent of each of
the other parties.

     Section  9.8  Governing  Law.  This  Agreement  shall  be  governed  by and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Indiana without regard to
the  conflicts of laws  provisions  thereof.  Each of the parties  hereto hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have to trial by jury in
connection with any litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the
Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

     Section 9.9  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be executed in one or more
counterparts,  and by the different  parties in separate  counterparts,  each of
which when  executed  shall be deemed to be an original,  but all of which shall
constitute one and the same agreement.



                                     - 46 -
<PAGE>

     Section 9.10 Confidential  Nature of Information.  Between the date of this
Agreement  and the  Effective  Time the parties  hereto will hold and will cause
their respective officers, directors,  employees,  representatives,  consultants
and advisors to hold in strict  confidence in  accordance  with the terms of the
Confidentiality Agreement, all documents and information furnished to such party
by or on  behalf  of  the  other  party  in  connection  with  the  transactions
contemplated  by  this  Agreement.  If the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement are not consummated, such confidence shall be maintained in accordance
with such Confidentiality Agreement.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this  Agreement to be
executed  as of the  date  first  written  above by  their  respective  officers
thereunto duly authorized.


                                  MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY


                                  By:
                                      /s/ Robert Burgstahler
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:   Robert Burgstahler
                                      Title:  Vice President, Chief Financial
                                                Officer


                                  BARBADOS ACQUISITION, INC.


                                  By: /s/ John Wordsworth
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:   John Wordsworth
                                      Title:  President


                                  ROBINSON NUGENT, INC.


                                  By:
                                      /s/ Larry W. Burke
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:   Larry W. Burke
                                      Title:  President and Chief Executive
                                                Officer


                                     - 47 -


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