HARTE HANKS COMMUNICATIONS INC
SC 13D, 1996-02-15
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<PAGE>   1
                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                   UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                                  DiMark, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                           Common Stock, No Par Value
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    57166010
                      -------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                               Lesley A. Bachman
                               The DiMark Center
                           2050 Cabot Boulevard West
                         Langhorne, Pennsylvania  19047
                                 (215) 750-6660
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and
                                Communications)


                                February 4, 1996
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
            (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)


If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box / /.

Check the following box if a fee is being paid with the statement X.  (A fee is
not required only if the reporting person:  (1) has a previous statement on
file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class of
securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7.)

NOTE:  Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be filed
with the Commission.  See Rule 13d-1(a) for other parties to whom copies are to
be sent.

The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities,
and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see
the Notes).





                                                                     Page 1 of 8

<PAGE>   2
                                 SCHEDULE 13D

- -----------------------------------          -----------------------------------
 CUSIP NO. 416196 10 3                                  PAGE 2 OF 8 PAGES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
       S.S. OR IRS. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON


       Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc.   I.R.S. No. 74-1677284
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP                  (a) / /
                                                                         (b) / /

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  3    SEC USE ONLY


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  4    SOURCE OF FUNDS
                 WC

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  5    CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO  
       ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)
                  Not applicable.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  6    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

                 Texas

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    7    SOLE VOTING POWER
    NUMBER OF
      SHARES             -0-         
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
   BENEFICIALLY     8    SHARED VOTING POWER
     OWNED BY
       EACH              2,597,377
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
    REPORTING       9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      PERSON
       WITH              -0-
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                         -0-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

                2,597,377

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12   CHECK BOX IF THAT AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

                28.2%

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

                 CO


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



                                                                     Page 2 of 8

<PAGE>   3
ITEM 1.          SECURITY AND ISSUER

                 The class of securities to which this statement relates is the
         common stock, no par value (the "Common Stock") of DiMark, Inc., a New
         Jersey corporation (the "Issuer"), the principal executive offices of
         which are located at 2050 Cabot Boulevard West, Langhorne,
         Pennsylvania 19047.

ITEM 2.          IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND

                 (a)-(c) and (f)  This statement is filed on behalf of the
                 reporting person, Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc.
                 ("Harte-Hanks"), a Texas corporation, whose principal business
                 and executive offices are located at 200 Concord Plaza, Suite
                 800, San Antonio, Texas 78216.  The four principal businesses
                 of Harte-Hanks are direct marketing, shoppers, newspapers and
                 television.  The following information is provided with
                 respect to all executive officers, directors and controlling
                 persons of Harte-Hanks, all of whom are citizens of or
                 domiciled in the United States:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               PRINCIPAL                                BUSINESS            POSITION WITH
            NAME               OCCUPATION          EMPLOYER             ADDRESS           REPORTING PERSON
            ----               ----------          --------             -------           ----------------
      <S>                     <C>               <C>                  <C>                   <C>
      Dr. Peter T. Flawn      President         Univ.  of Texas at   P.O. Box 269          Director
                              Emeritus          Austin               San Antonio, TX
                                                                     78291-0269


      Larry Franklin          President and     Harte-Hanks          P.O. Box 269          President, Chief
                              Chief Executive                        San Antonio, TX       Executive Officer
                              Officer                                78291-0269

      Christopher M. Harte    Private           N/A                  P.O. Box 17424        Director
                              Investor                               San Antonio, TX
                                                                     78217-0424

      Edward H. Harte         Retired           N/A                  P.O. Box 17424        Director
                                                                     San Antonio, TX
                                                                     78217-0424


      Houston H. Harte        Chairman, Board   Harte-Hanks          P.O. Box 17424        Director
                              of Directors                           San Antonio, TX
                                                                     78217-0424

      James L. Johnson        Chairman          GTE Corporation      P.O. Box 269          Director
                              Emeritus                               San Antonio, TX
                                                                     78291-0269


      Andrew B. Shelton       Retired           N/A                  P.O. Box 2791         Director
                                                                     Abilene, Texas
                                                                     79604-2791

      David L. Copeland       Investment        SIPCO, Inc.          1052 North Fifth      Director
                                                                     Street
                                                                     Suite 101
                                                                     Abilene, Texas
                                                                     79601

      Richard M. Hochhauser   Direct            Harte-Hanks          P.O. Box 269          Executive Vice
                              Marketing                              San Antonio, Texas    President,
                                                                     78291-8269            Director


      Harry J. Buckel         Shoppers          Harte-Hanks          P.O. Box 269          Senior Vice
                                                                     San Antonio, Texas    President
                                                                     78291-8269



</TABLE>


                                                                     Page 3 of 8

<PAGE>   4
<TABLE>
          <S>                     <C>               <C>                  <C>                   <C>
          Michael J. Conly        Television        Harte-Hanks          P.O. Box 269          Senior Vice
                                                                         San Antonio, Texas    President
                                                                         78291-8269

          Donald R. Crews         Attorney          Harte-Hanks          P.O. Box 269          Senior Vice
                                                                         San Antonio, Texas    President
                                                                         78291-8269


          Richard L. Ritchie      Accountant        Harte-Hanks          P.O. Box 269          Senior Vice
                                                                         San Antonio, Texas    President
                                                                         78291-8269

          Stephen W. Sullivan     Newspapers        Harte-Hanks          P.O. Box 269          Senior Vice
                                                                         San Antonio, Texas    President
                                                                         78291-8269
</TABLE>

                 (d)      None.

                 (e)      None.

ITEM 3.          SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION

                 Not Applicable.

ITEM 4.          PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION

                 Pursuant to Irrevocable Proxies dated February 4, 1996 by and
         between Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc.  ("Harte-Hanks") and Thomas
         E. Garvey, Michael L. Wert, and Stephen C. Marcus, Harte-Hanks has
         received irrevocable proxies from the holders of 2,597,377 shares of
         the Issuer's Common Stock, representing 28.2% of the outstanding
         shares of the Common Stock. These proxies entitle Harte-Hankes to vote
         the shares covered by such proxies in favor of the Merger (as defined
         below) or issues that may affect the consumation of the Merger. The
         record holders Messrs. Garvey, Wert and Marcus retain voting power
         with respect to other issues not relating to the Merger and retain
         sole dispositive power.

         (a)-(b) Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger
                 Agreement") dated February 4, 1996 between Harte-Hanks, HHD
                 Acquisition Corp., a New Jersey corporation and wholly-owned
                 subsidiary of Harte-Hanks ("Newco"), and the Issuer, Newco
                 will merge with and into the Issuer (the "Merger") and each
                 outstanding share of the Common Stock will be converted into
                 .656 of a share of  Harte-Hanks common stock, par value $1.00
                 per share (the "Harte-Hanks Common Stock").

         (d)     Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the directors of Newco
                 immediately prior to the Merger will become the directors of
                 the surviving corporation immediately after the Merger.  The
                 officers of the Issuer immediately prior to the Merger will
                 become the officers of the surviving corporation immediately
                 after the Merger.

         (h)     As a consequence of the Merger, the Issuer will cause its
                 Common Stock to be delisted from the American Stock Exchange.





                                                                     Page 4 of 8

<PAGE>   5
         (i)     As a consequence of the Merger, the Issuer will terminate the
                 registration of its securities pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of
                 the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                 Harte-Hanks has no plans or proposals which relate to or would
         result in the occurrence of the events described in Items 4(c),
         (e)-(g), (j).

ITEM 5.          INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER

         (a)     Harte-Hanks beneficially owns 2,597,377 shares of the Common
                 Stock, which represents approximately 28.2% of the outstanding
                 the Issuer Common Stock.

         (b)     Harte-Hanks has shared voting power with respect to the
                 2,597,377 shares of the Issuer Common Stock it beneficially
                 owns.

         (c)     None.

         (d)     None.

         (e)     Not Applicable.

ITEM 6.          CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH
                 RESPECT TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

                 On February 4, 1996, Thomas E. Garvey, Michael L. Wert, and
         Stephen C. Marcus each executed irrevocable proxies in favor of
         Harte-Hanks with respect to their 2,597,377 shares representing 28.2%
         of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock.

                 Attached as Exhibits 99(a)-(d) to this Schedule 13D are copies
         of each of the Irrevocable Proxies dated February 4, 1996, in favor of
         Harte-Hanks by Thomas E. Garvey, Michael L. Wert, and Stephen C.
         Marcus, individually and as Trustee for the Marcus Family Foundation.

                 Attached as Exhibit 99(e) to this Schedule 13D is a copy of
         the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated February 4, 1996, by and
         between Harte-Hanks, Newco and the Issuer, pursuant to which the
         Issuer will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harte-Hanks.

                 To the best knowledge of the undersigned, there are no other
         contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or
         otherwise) among the persons named in Item 2 and between such persons
         and any person with respect to any securities of the Issuer, including
         but not limited to transfer or voting of any of the securities,
         finder's fees, joint ventures, loan or option agreement, puts or
         calls, guarantees of profits, division of profits or loss, or the
         giving or withholding of proxies.





                                                                     Page 5 of 8

<PAGE>   6
ITEM 7.          MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS

         (a)     Irrevocable Proxy dated February 4, 1996, in favor of
                 Harte-Hanks by Thomas E. Garvey.

         (b)     Irrevocable Proxy dated February 4, 1996, in favor of
                 Harte-Hanks by Michael L. Wert.

         (c)     Irrevocable Proxy dated February 4, 1996, in favor of
                 Harte-Hanks by Stephen C. Marcus.

         (d)     Irrevocable Proxy dated February 4, 1996, in favor of
                 Harte-Hanks by Stephen C. Marcus, as Trustee for the Marcus
                 Family Foundation.

         (e)     Merger Agreement by and between Harte-Hanks, Newco and the 
                 Issuer.





                                                                     Page 6 of 8

<PAGE>   7
         After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.


Dated as of February 12, 1996                  HARTE-HANKS, INC.



                                               By:  /s/  Donald R. Crews     
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Donald R. Crews
                                                    Senior Vice President





                                                                     Page 7 of 8

<PAGE>   8
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

                                  Description

99(a)               Irrevocable Proxy dated February 4, 1996, in favor of 
                    Harte-Hanks by Thomas E. Garvey.

99(b)               Irrevocable Proxy dated February 4, 1996, in favor of
                    Harte-Hanks by Michael L. Wert.

99(c)               Irrevocable Proxy dated February 4, 1996, in favor of
                    Harte-Hanks by Stephen C. Marcus.

99(d)               Irrevocable Proxy dated February 4, 1996, in favor of
                    Harte-Hanks by Stephen C. Marcus, as Trustee for the
                    Marcus Family Foundation.

99(e)               Merger Agreement dated February 4, 1996 by and between 
                    Harte-Hanks, Newco, and the Issuer.





                                                                     Page 8 of 8


<PAGE>   1

                                                                February 4. 1996

Re: IRREVOCABLE PROXY

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         In connection with the execution of that certain merger agreement by
and among Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc., HHD Acquisition Corp., and DiMark,
Inc. (the "Company") dated February 4. 1996 (the "Merger Agreement"), the
undersigned ("Grantor") hereby irrevocably appoints Harte-Hanks Communications,
Inc. (or its designees), with full power of substitution, as proxy for the
Grantor to vote the shares of common stock ("Common Stock") of the Company
which the Grantor is entitled to vote (the "Proxy Shares"), for and in the
name, place and stead of the Grantor, at any meeting of the holders of shares
of Company Common Stock or any adjournments or postponements thereof or
pursuant to any consent in lieu of a meeting, or otherwise, with respect only
to the approval of the Merger Agreement, any matters related to or in
connection with the proposed merger and any corporate action the consummation
of which would violate, frustrate the purposes of, or prevent or delay the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement
(including without limitation any proposal to amend the articles of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company or approve any merger, consolidation,
sale or purchase of any assets, issuance of Company Common Stock or any other
equity security of the Company (or a security convertible into an equity
security of the Company), reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation or
winding up of or by the Company).  The undersigned represents and warrants that
the undersigned has all necessary power and authority to deliver this proxy.

         This proxy is coupled with an interest and is expressly made
irrevocable and will expire on the earliest to occur of (i) the closing of the
transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (ii) the termination of the
Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms, or (iii) July 31, 1996.

         This proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the Company.

                                            /s/ Thomas E. Garvey
                                            ------------------------------------

                                            Printed Name:  Thomas E. Garvey
                                                         -----------------------

                                            No. of Proxy Shares:  390,038
                                                                ----------------





<PAGE>   1
February 4. 1996

Re: IRREVOCABLE PROXY

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         In connection with the execution of that certain merger agreement by
and among Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc., HHD Acquisition Corp., and DiMark,
Inc. (the "Company") dated February 4. 1996 (the "Merger Agreement"), the
undersigned ("Grantor") hereby irrevocably appoints Harte-Hanks Communications,
Inc. (or its designees), with full power of substitution, as proxy for the
Grantor to vote the shares of common stock ("Common Stock") of the Company
which the Grantor is entitled to vote (the "Proxy Shares"), for and in the
name, place and stead of the Grantor, at any meeting of the holders of shares
of Company Common Stock or any adjournments or postponements thereof or
pursuant to any consent in lieu of a meeting, or otherwise, with respect only
to the approval of the Merger Agreement, any matters related to or in
connection with the proposed merger and any corporate action the consummation
of which would violate, frustrate the purposes of, or prevent or delay the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement
(including without limitation any proposal to amend the articles of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company or approve any merger, consolidation,
sale or purchase of any assets, issuance of Company Common Stock or any other
equity security of the Company (or a security convertible into an equity
security of the Company), reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation or
winding up of or by the Company).  The undersigned represents and warrants that
the undersigned has all necessary power and authority to deliver this proxy.

         This proxy is coupled with an interest and is expressly made
irrevocable and will expire on the earliest to occur of (i) the closing of the
transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (ii) the termination of the
Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms, or (iii) July 31, 1996.

         This proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the Company.

                                            /s/ Michael L.Wert
                                            ------------------------------------

                                            Printed Name:  Michael L. Wert
                                                         -----------------------

                                            No. of Proxy Shares:  452,963
                                                                ----------------





<PAGE>   1
                                                                February 4. 1996

Re: IRREVOCABLE PROXY

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         In connection with the execution of that certain merger agreement by
and among Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc., HHD Acquisition Corp., and DiMark,
Inc. (the "Company") dated February 4. 1996 (the "Merger Agreement"), the
undersigned ("Grantor") hereby irrevocably appoints Harte-Hanks Communications,
Inc. (or its designees), with full power of substitution, as proxy for the
Grantor to vote the shares of common stock ("Common Stock") of the Company
which the Grantor is entitled to vote (the "Proxy Shares"), for and in the
name, place and stead of the Grantor, at any meeting of the holders of shares
of Company Common Stock or any adjournments or postponements thereof or
pursuant to any consent in lieu of a meeting, or otherwise, with respect only
to the approval of the Merger Agreement, any matters related to or in
connection with the proposed merger and any corporate action the consummation
of which would violate, frustrate the purposes of, or prevent or delay the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement
(including without limitation any proposal to amend the articles of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company or approve any merger, consolidation,
sale or purchase of any assets, issuance of Company Common Stock or any other
equity security of the Company (or a security convertible into an equity
security of the Company), reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation or
winding up of or by the Company).  The undersigned represents and warrants that
the undersigned has all necessary power and authority to deliver this proxy.

         This proxy is coupled with an interest and is expressly made
irrevocable and will expire on the earliest to occur of (i) the closing of the
transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (ii) the termination of the
Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms, or (iii) July 31, 1996.

         This proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the Company.

                                            /s/  Stephen C. Marcus
                                            ------------------------------------

                                            Printed Name:  Stephen C. Marcus
                                                         -----------------------

                                            No. of Proxy Shares:  1,411,876
                                                                ----------------





<PAGE>   1
                                                                February 4. 1996

Re: IRREVOCABLE PROXY

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         In connection with the execution of that certain merger agreement by
and among Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc., HHD Acquisition Corp., and DiMark,
Inc. (the "Company") dated February 4. 1996 (the "Merger Agreement"), the
undersigned ("Grantor") hereby irrevocably appoints Harte-Hanks Communications,
Inc. (or its designees), with full power of substitution, as proxy for the
Grantor to vote the shares of common stock ("Common Stock") of the Company
which the Grantor is entitled to vote (the "Proxy Shares"), for and in the
name, place and stead of the Grantor, at any meeting of the holders of shares
of Company Common Stock or any adjournments or postponements thereof or
pursuant to any consent in lieu of a meeting, or otherwise, with respect only
to the approval of the Merger Agreement, any matters related to or in
connection with the proposed merger and any corporate action the consummation
of which would violate, frustrate the purposes of, or prevent or delay the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement
(including without limitation any proposal to amend the articles of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company or approve any merger, consolidation,
sale or purchase of any assets, issuance of Company Common Stock or any other
equity security of the Company (or a security convertible into an equity
security of the Company), reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation or
winding up of or by the Company).  The undersigned represents and warrants that
the undersigned has all necessary power and authority to deliver this proxy.

         This proxy is coupled with an interest and is expressly made
irrevocable and will expire on the earliest to occur of (i) the closing of the
transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (ii) the termination of the
Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms, or (iii) July 31, 1996.

         This proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the Company.

                                            MARCUS FAMILY FOUNDATION


                                            /s/  Stephen C. Marcus
                                            ------------------------------------

                                            Printed Name:  Stephen C. Marcus
                                                         -----------------------

                                            No. of Proxy Shares:      342,500
                                                                ----------------





<PAGE>   1
                                                                   DRAFT: 2/2/96

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                  BY AND AMONG


                        HARTE-HANKS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                      AND


                             HHD ACQUISITION CORP.

                                      AND


                                  DIMARK, INC.




<PAGE>   2
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS


<TABLE>
<S>              <C>                                                                                    <C>
                                                        ARTICLE I

                                                        THE MERGER

SECTION 1.01     The Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      2
SECTION 1.02.    Closing; Closing Date; Effective Time  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      2
SECTION 1.03.    Effect of the Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      2
SECTION 1.04.    Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      2
SECTION 1.05.    Directors and Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      2

                                                        ARTICLE II

                                    CONVERSION OF SECURITIES; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES

SECTION 2.01.    Merger Consideration; Conversion and Cancellation of Securities  . . . . . . . . .      3
SECTION 2.02.    Exchange and Surrender of Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      4

                                                       ARTICLE III

                                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

SECTION 3.01.    Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      6
SECTION 3.02.    Charter and Bylaws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      6
SECTION 3.03.    Capitalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      6
SECTION 3.04.    Authority  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      8
SECTION 3.05.    No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      8
SECTION 3.06.    Permits; Compliance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      9
SECTION 3.07.    SEC Reports; Financial Statements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      9
SECTION 3.08.    Absence of Certain Changes or Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     10
SECTION 3.09.    Absence of Litigation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     11
SECTION 3.10.    Employee Benefit Plans; Labor Matters  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     11
SECTION 3.11.    Taxes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     14
SECTION 3.12.    Tax Matters; Pooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     16
SECTION 3.13.    Affiliates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     17
SECTION 3.14.    Certain Business Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     17
SECTION 3.15     Environmental Matters  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     17
SECTION 3.16.    Vote Required  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     18
SECTION 3.17.    Brokers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     18
SECTION 3.18.    Insurance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     19
SECTION 3.19.    Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     19
SECTION 3.20.    Certain Contracts and Restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     19

</TABLE>




                                      i
<PAGE>   3
<TABLE>
<S>              <C>                                                                                    <C>
SECTION 3.21.    Information Supplied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     19
SECTION 3.22.    Opinion of Financial Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     19
SECTION 3.23     Pooling Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     20

                                                        ARTICLE IV

                                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

SECTION 4.01.    Organization and Qualification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     20
SECTION 4.02.    Charter and Bylaws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     20
SECTION 4.03.    Capitalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     20
SECTION 4.04.    Authority  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     22
SECTION 4.05.    No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     22
SECTION 4.06.    Permits; Compliance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     22
SECTION 4.07.    SEC Reports; Financial Statements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     23
SECTION 4.08.    Absence of Certain Changes or Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     23
SECTION 4.09.    Absence of Litigation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     24
SECTION 4.10.    Taxes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     24
SECTION 4.11.    Tax Matters; Pooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     24
SECTION 4.12.    Affiliates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     24
SECTION 4.13.    Certain Business Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     25
SECTION 4.14.    Environmental Matters  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     25
SECTION 4.15.    Vote Required  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     25
SECTION 4.16.    Brokers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     26
SECTION 4.17.    Insurance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     26
SECTION 4.18.    Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     26
SECTION 4.19.    Information Supplied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     26
SECTION 4.20.    Opinion of Financial Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     26
SECTION 4.21.    Pooling Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     26

                                                        ARTICLE V

                                                        COVENANTS

SECTION 5.01.    Affirmative Covenants of the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     27
SECTION 5.02.    Negative Covenants of the Company  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     27
SECTION 5.03.    Affirmative and Negative Covenants of Parent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     31
SECTION 5.04.    Access and Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     32

                                                        ARTICLE VI

                                                  ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

SECTION 6.01.    Meetings of Stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     33
SECTION 6.02.    Registration Statement; Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus . . . . . . . . . . . . .     33

</TABLE>


                                      ii
<PAGE>   4
<TABLE>
<S>              <C>                                                                                    <C>
SECTION 6.03.    Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     35
SECTION 6.04.    Affiliates; Pooling; Tax Treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     37
SECTION 6.05.    Public Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     38
SECTION 6.06.    NYSE Listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     38
SECTION 6.07.    Comfort Letters  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     38
SECTION 6.08     Stock Option Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     38
SECTION 6.09     Warrants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     39
SECTION 6.10     Merger Sub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     40
SECTION 6.11     Indemnification  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     40

                                                       ARTICLE VII

                                                    CLOSING CONDITIONS

SECTION 7.01.    Conditions to Obligations of Each Party Under This Agreement . . . . . . . . . . .     40
SECTION 7.02.    Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Parent Companies . . . . . . . . . . .     41
SECTION 7.03.    Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     43

                                                       ARTICLE VIII

                                            TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

SECTION 8.01.    Termination  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     44
SECTION 8.02.    Effect of Termination  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     46
SECTION 8.03.    Amendment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     47
SECTION 8.04.    Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     47
SECTION 8.05.    Fees, Expenses and Other Payments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     47

                                                        ARTICLE IX

                                                    GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 9.01.    Effectiveness of Representations, Warranties and Agreements  . . . . . . . . . . .     49
SECTION 9.02.    Notices  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     49
SECTION 9.03.    Certain Definitions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     50
SECTION 9.04.    Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     52
SECTION 9.05.    Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     52
SECTION 9.06.    Entire Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     52
SECTION 9.07.    Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     52
SECTION 9.08.    Parties in Interest  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     52
SECTION 9.09.    Specific Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     53
SECTION 9.10.    Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver; Remedies Cumulative  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     53
SECTION 9.11.    Governing Law  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     53
SECTION 9.12.    Registration Rights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     53
SECTION 9.13.    Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     60
</TABLE>



                                     iii
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
<S>              <C>                                                                                    <C>
SECTION 9.14     Irrevocable Proxy  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     60

</TABLE>

EXHIBITS

Exhibit A        Company Affiliate's Agreement
Exhibit B        Parent Affiliate's Agreement
Exhibit C        Irrevocable Proxy of Certain Stockholders of the Company
Exhibit D        Irrevocable Proxy of Certain Stockholders of Parent
Exhibit E        Opinion of Company Counsel
Exhibit F        Opinion of Parent Counsel





                                      iv

<PAGE>   6

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


         THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of February __, 1996 (this
"Agreement"), is by and among Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Parent"), HHD Acquisition Corp., a New Jersey corporation and
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), and DiMark, Inc., a New
Jersey corporation (the "Company").  Parent and Merger Sub are sometimes
referred to herein as the "Parent Companies."

         WHEREAS, Merger Sub, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of
this Agreement and in accordance with the Business Corporation Act of the State
of New Jersey ("New Jersey Law"), will merge with and into the Company (the
"Merger"), and pursuant thereto, the issued and outstanding shares of common
stock, no par value, of the Company ("the Company Common Stock") not owned
directly or indirectly by the Company or the Parent Companies or their
respective subsidiaries will be converted into the right to receive shares of
common stock, $1.00 par value, of Parent (the "Parent Common Stock"), as set
forth herein;

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined that the
Merger is fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its
stockholders and has approved and adopted this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby;

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Parent has determined that the
Merger is fair to, and in the best interests of, Parent and its stockholders
and has approved and adopted this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby;

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Merger Sub has approved and adopted
this Agreement and Parent, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, has approved
and adopted this Agreement;

         WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the
Merger qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of
the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); and

         WHEREAS, the Merger is intended to be treated as a "pooling of
interests" for financial accounting purposes;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this
Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:





                                     Page 1
<PAGE>   7
                                   ARTICLE I

                                   THE MERGER

         SECTION 1.01.    The Merger.  Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with New Jersey Law,
at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.02 of this Agreement), Merger
Sub shall be merged with and into the Company.  As a result of the Merger, the
separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall
continue as the surviving corporation of the Merger (the "Surviving
Corporation").  Certain terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section
9.03 hereof.

         SECTION 1.02.    Closing; Closing Date; Effective Time.  Unless this
Agreement shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.01, and subject to
the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII, the
consummation of the Merger and the closing of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement (the "Closing") shall take place at the offices of Hughes &
Luce, L.L.P., 1717 Main Street, Dallas, Texas as soon as practicable (but in
any event within two business days) after the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in Article VII, or at such other date, time and place as
Parent and the Company may agree; provided, that the conditions set forth in
Article VII shall have been satisfied or waived at or prior to such time.  The
date on which the Closing takes place is referred to herein as the "Closing
Date".  As promptly as practicable on the Closing Date, the parties hereto
shall cause the Merger to be consummated by filing a certificate of merger with
the Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey, in such form as required by,
and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of, New Jersey Law (the
date and time of such filing, or such later date or time agreed upon by Parent
and the Company and set forth therein, being the "Effective Time").  For all
Tax purposes, the Closing shall be effective at the end of the day on the
Closing Date.

         SECTION 1.03.    Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the
effect of the Merger shall be as provided in the applicable provisions of New
Jersey Law.

         SECTION 1.04.    Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws. At the
Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the certificate of
incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and thereafter shall continue to be
its certificate of incorporation until amended as provided therein and pursuant
to New Jersey Law.  The bylaws of the Company, as in effect immediately prior
to the Effective Time, shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation and
thereafter shall continue to be its bylaws until amended as provided therein
and pursuant to New Jersey Law.

         SECTION 1.05.    Directors and Officers. The directors of Merger Sub
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving
Corporation, each to hold office in accordance with the charter and bylaws of
the Surviving Corporation, and the officers of the Company immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, each to
hold office in accordance with the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, in each
case until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and
qualified.





                                     Page 2
<PAGE>   8
                                   ARTICLE II

               CONVERSION OF SECURITIES; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES

         SECTION 2.01.    Merger Consideration; Conversion and Cancellation of
Securities.  At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the Parent Companies, the Company or their respective
stockholders:

                 (a)      Subject to the other provisions of this Article II,
         each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately
         prior to the Effective Time (excluding any Company Common Stock
         described in Section 2.0l (b) of this Agreement) shall be converted
         into the right to receive .656 shares of Parent Common Stock (the
         "Exchange Ratio").  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if between the date
         of this Agreement and the Effective Time the outstanding shares of
         Parent Common Stock or Company Common Stock shall have been changed
         into a different number of shares or a different class, by reason of
         any stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization,
         split, combination or exchange of shares, the Exchange Ratio shall be
         correspondingly adjusted to reflect such stock dividend, subdivision,
         reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination or exchange of
         shares.

                 (b)      Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to
         the contrary, each share of Company Common Stock held in the treasury
         of the Company and each share of Company Common Stock owned by Parent
         or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent or of the
         Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and
         extinguished without any conversion thereof and no payment shall be
         made with respect thereto.

                 (c)      All shares of the Company Common Stock shall cease to
         be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and retired, and
         each certificate previously evidencing the Company Common Stock
         outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than
         Company Common Stock described in Section 2.01(b) of this Agreement)
         ("Converted Shares") shall thereafter represent the right to receive,
         subject to Section 2.02(e) of this Agreement, that number of shares of
         Parent Common Stock determined pursuant to the Exchange Ratio and, if
         applicable, cash pursuant to Section 2.02(e) of this Agreement (the
         "Merger Consideration").  The holders of certificates previously
         evidencing Converted Shares shall cease to have any rights with
         respect to such Converted Shares except as otherwise provided herein
         or by law.  Such certificates previously evidencing Converted Shares
         shall be exchanged for certificates evidencing whole shares of Parent
         Common Stock upon the surrender of such Certificates in accordance
         with the provisions of Section 2.02 of this Agreement, without
         interest. No fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall be issued
         in connection with the Merger and, in lieu thereof, a cash payment
         shall be made pursuant to Section 2.02(e) of this Agreement.





                                     Page 3
<PAGE>   9
                 (d)      Each share of common stock, par value $1.00 per
         share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
         Effective Time shall be converted into one share of common stock, par
         value $1.00 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

         SECTION 2.02.    Exchange and Surrender of Certificates.

                 (a)      As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, each
         holder of a certificate previously evidencing Converted Shares shall
         be entitled, upon surrender thereof to Parent or its transfer agent
         (as specified in the letter of transmittal described in Section 2.02
         (c)), to receive in exchange therefor a certificate or certificates
         representing the number of whole shares of Parent Common Stock into
         which the Converted Shares so surrendered shall have been converted as
         aforesaid, in such denominations and registered in such names as such
         holder may request. Each holder of Converted Shares who would
         otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock
         shall, upon surrender of the certificates representing such shares
         held by such holder as aforesaid, be paid an amount in cash in
         accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02(e). Until so
         surrendered and exchanged, each certificate previously evidencing
         Converted Shares shall represent solely the right to receive Parent
         Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares.  Unless and until
         any such certificates shall be so surrendered and exchanged, no
         dividends or other distributions payable to the holders of record of
         Parent Common Stock as of any time on or after the Effective Time
         shall be paid to the holders of such certificates previously
         evidencing Converted Shares; provided, however, that, upon any such
         surrender and exchange of such certificates, there shall be paid to
         the record holders of the certificates issued and exchanged therefor
         (i) the amount, without interest thereon, of dividends and other
         distributions, if any, with a record date on or 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, if any, with a record date on or
         after the Effective Time but prior to surrender and a payment date
         occurring after surrender, payable with respect to such whole shares
         of Parent Common Stock.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no party
         hereto (or Parent's transfer agent) shall be liable to any former
         holder of Converted Shares for any cash, Parent Common Stock or
         dividends or distributions thereon delivered to a public official
         pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.

                 (b)      All shares of Parent Common Stock issued upon the
         surrender for exchange of certificates previously representing
         Converted Shares in accordance with the terms hereof (including any
         cash paid pursuant to Section 2.02 (e)) shall be deemed to have been
         issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such Converted
         Shares.  At and after the Effective Time, there shall be no further
         registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving
         Corporation of Company Common Stock that was outstanding immediately
         prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time,
         certificates which previously evidenced Converted Shares are presented
         to the Surviving Corporation for any reason, they shall be canceled
         and exchanged as provided in this Article II.





                                     Page 4
<PAGE>   10
                 (c)      As promptly as practicable after the Effective Time,
         Parent will send or cause to be sent to each record holder of Company
         Common Stock at the Effective Time a letter of transmittal and other
         appropriate materials for use in surrendering certificates as
         contemplated hereby.

                 (d)      If any certificate for shares of Parent Common Stock
         is to be issued in a name other than that in which the certificate
         surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it shall be a
         condition of the issuance thereof that the certificate so surrendered
         shall be properly endorsed, with signatures guaranteed, and otherwise
         in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such
         exchange shall have paid to Parent or its transfer agent any transfer
         or other taxes required by reason of the issuance of a certificate for
         shares of Parent Common Stock in any name other than that of the
         registered holder of the certificate surrendered, or established to
         the satisfaction of Parent or its transfer agent that such tax has
         been paid or is not payable.

                 (e)      No certificates or scrip evidencing fractional shares
         of Parent Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange
         of certificates, and such fractional share interests will not entitle
         the owner thereof to any rights of a stockholder of Parent.  In lieu
         of any such fractional shares, each holder of a certificate previously
         evidencing Converted Shares, upon surrender of such certificate for
         exchange pursuant to this Article II, shall be paid an amount in cash
         (without interest), rounded to the nearest cent, determined by
         multiplying (a) the per share closing price as reported by the Wall
         Street Journal on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape of Parent
         Common Stock on the date of the Effective Time (or, if shares of
         Parent Common Stock do not trade on the New York Stock Exchange (the
         "NYSE") on such date, the first date of trading of Parent Common Stock
         on the NYSE after the Effective Time) by (b) the fractional interest
         to which such holder would otherwise be entitled (after taking into
         account all Converted Shares held of record by such holder at the
         Effective Time).

                 (f)      Parent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from
         the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any
         former holder of Converted Shares such amounts as Parent (or any
         affiliate thereof) 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 former holder of the
         Converted Shares in respect of which such deduction and withholding
         was made by Parent.





                                     Page 5
<PAGE>   11
                                  ARTICLE III

                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

         Except as otherwise disclosed on the disclosure schedule delivered to
Parent by the Company on the date hereof (the "Company Disclosure Schedule")
the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Parent Companies that:

         SECTION 3.01.    Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.  Each
of the Company and its subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation or organization, has all requisite power and authority to own,
lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now
being conducted and is duly qualified and in good standing to do business in
each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the
ownership or leasing of its properties makes such qualification necessary,
other than where the failure to be so duly qualified and in good standing would
not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.  The term "Company Material Adverse
Effect" as used in this Agreement shall mean any change or effect that,
individually or when taken together with all other such changes or effects,
would be materially adverse to the business, operations, assets, financial
condition, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.  Schedule 3.01 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, a true and complete list
of all the Company's directly or indirectly owned subsidiaries, together with
the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each subsidiary and the
percentage of each subsidiary's outstanding capital stock or other equity
interests owned by the Company or another subsidiary of the Company.  Except as
set forth on Schedule 3.01, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
owns an equity interest in any other partnership or joint venture arrangement
or other business entity.

         SECTION 3.02.    Charter and Bylaws. The Company has heretofore
furnished to Parent complete and correct copies of the charter and the bylaws
or the equivalent organizational documents, in each case as amended or
restated, of the Company and each of its subsidiaries.  Neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any of the provisions of its charter
or bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents).

         SECTION 3.03.    Capitalization.

                 (a)      The authorized capital stock of the Company consists
         of (i) 20,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, of which as of
         January 23, 1996 (l) 9,209,188 shares were issued and outstanding, (2)
         62,500 shares were held in treasury by the Company, (3) 2,343,332
         shares were reserved for future issuance pursuant to outstanding stock
         options ("Stock Options") granted pursuant to the Equity Plan for
         Directors or the Amended and Restated 1986 Employee Stock Option Plan
         (collectively, the "Option Plans" and individually, an "Option Plan"),
         (4) 250,000 shares were reserved for issuance upon exercise of certain
         outstanding warrants, and (5) approximately 440,658 shares were
         reserved for issuance pursuant to earnouts; and (ii) 2,000,000 shares
         of preferred stock,





                                     Page 6
<PAGE>   12
         par value $.10 per share (the "Company Preferred Stock"), of which no
         shares are issued and outstanding.  Except as described in this
         Section 3.03 or in Schedule 3.03(a) of the Company Disclosure
         Schedule, as of the date of this Agreement, no shares of capital stock
         of the Company are reserved for any purpose.  Except as set forth on
         Schedule 3.03(a) each of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
         the Company and its subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly issued,
         and fully paid and nonassessable, and has not been issued in violation
         of (nor are any of the authorized shares of capital stock of the
         Company and its subsidiaries subject to) any preemptive or similar
         rights created by statute, the charter or bylaws (or the equivalent
         organizational documents) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
         or any agreement to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
         party or bound, and such outstanding shares or other equity interests
         owned by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company are owned free and
         clear of all security interests, liens, claims, pledges, agreements,
         limitations on the Company's or such subsidiary's voting rights,
         charges or other encumbrances of any nature whatsoever.

                 (b)      Except as set forth in Section 3.03(a) above or in
         Schedule 3.03(b) (i) to the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no
         options, warrants or other rights, agreements, arrangements or
         commitments of any character to which the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries is a party relating to the issued or unissued capital
         stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or obligating the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries to grant, issue or sell any shares
         of the capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, by
         sale, lease, license or otherwise.  Except as set forth in Schedule
         3.03(b)(ii) to the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no
         obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries to (A) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares
         of the Company Common Stock or other capital stock of the Company, or
         the capital stock or other equity interests of any subsidiary of the
         Company; or (B) (other than advances to subsidiaries in the ordinary
         course of business) provide material funds to, or make any material
         investment in (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or
         otherwise), or provide any guarantee with respect to the obligations
         of, any subsidiary of the Company or any other person.  Except as
         described in Schedule 3.03(b)(iii) to the Company Disclosure Schedule,
         neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (x) directly or
         indirectly owns, (y) has agreed to purchase or otherwise acquire or
         (z) holds any interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
         for, 5% or more of the capital stock of any corporation, partnership,
         joint venture or other business association or entity (other than the
         subsidiaries of the Company set forth in Schedule 3.01 of the Company
         Disclosure Schedule).  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.03(b)(iv) of
         the Company Disclosure Schedule and except for any agreements,
         arrangements or commitments between the Company and its subsidiaries
         or between such subsidiaries, there are no agreements, arrangements or
         commitments of any character (contingent or otherwise) pursuant to
         which any person is or may be entitled to receive any payment based on
         the revenues or earnings, or calculated in accordance therewith, of
         the Company or any of its subsidiaries. There are no voting trusts,
         proxies or other agreements or understandings to which the Company or
         any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of
         its subsidiaries is bound with respect to the voting of any shares of
         capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.





                                     Page 7
<PAGE>   13
                 (c)      The Company has delivered to Parent complete and
         correct copies of (i) each of the Option Plans and the forms of Stock
         Options issued pursuant to each such Option Plan, including all
         amendments thereto and (ii) all Stock Options which are not in the
         respective forms thereof provided under clause (i) above. Schedule
         3.03(c) to the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and
         correct list of all outstanding Stock Options, including any not
         granted pursuant to the Option Plans, setting forth as of the date
         hereof (i) the number and type of Stock Options outstanding,
         specifying the Option Plan under which such Stock Options were issued,
         (ii) the exercise price of each outstanding Stock Option, (iii) the
         number of Stock Options exercisable, and (iv) assuming no amendment or
         waiver of the terms thereof, the number of Stock Options which will
         become exercisable on account of the Merger or any other transaction
         contemplated hereby.

         SECTION 3.04.    Authority. The Company has all requisite corporate
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its
obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
(subject to, with respect to the Merger, the adoption of this Agreement by the
stockholders of the Company as described in Section 3.16 hereof).  The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by
the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized
by all necessary corporate action and no other corporate proceedings on the
part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby (subject to, with respect to the Merger,
the adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company as described
in Section 3.16 hereof).  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery
thereof by the Parent Companies, constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company.

         SECTION 3.05.    No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.

                 (a)      The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
         Company does not, and the consummation of the transactions
         contemplated hereby will not (i) conflict with or violate the charter
         or bylaws, or the equivalent organizational documents, in each case as
         amended or restated, of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii)
         conflict with or violate any material federal, state, foreign or local
         law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree
         (collectively, "Laws") applicable to the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries or by which any of their respective properties is bound
         or subject or (iii) except as set forth on Schedule 3.05 to the
         Company Disclosure Schedule, result in any breach of or constitute a
         default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would
         become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination,
         amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or require payment under,
         or result in the creation of a lien or encumbrance on any of the
         properties or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
         pursuant to, any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract,
         agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or
         obligation to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party
         or by or to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of
         their respective properties is bound or subject.  The Board of





                                     Page 8
<PAGE>   14
         Directors of the Company has taken all actions necessary under New
         Jersey law, including approving the transactions contemplated by this
         Agreement and taking appropriate actions under the New Jersey
         Shareholder Protection Act, to ensure that restrictions on business
         combinations set forth in the New Jersey Shareholder Protection Act do
         not, and will not apply with respect or as a result of the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                 (b)      The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
         Company does not, and consummation of the transactions contemplated
         hereby will not, require the Company to obtain any consent, license,
         permit, approval, waiver, authorization or order of, or to make any
         filing with or notification to, any governmental or regulatory
         authority, domestic or foreign (collectively, "Governmental
         Entities"), except for applicable requirements, if any, of the
         Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the
         Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
         state securities or blue sky laws ("Blue Sky Laws"), and the
         Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the
         "HSR Act"), and the filing and recordation of appropriate merger
         documents as required by New Jersey Law, and applicable requirements,
         if any, of the Code and state and local tax laws, and where failure to
         obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make
         such filings or notifications, would not prevent or delay consummation
         of any of the transactions contemplated hereby in any material
         respect, or otherwise prevent the Company from performing its
         obligations under this Agreement in any material respect, and would
         not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse
         Effect.

         SECTION 3.06.    Permits; Compliance.  To the knowledge of the
Company, each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in possession of all
material franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements,
variances, exemptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders necessary
to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is
now being conducted (collectively, the "Company Permits"), and there is no
action, proceeding or, to the knowledge of the Company investigation pending or
threatened regarding suspension or cancellation of any of the Company Permits.
Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in material conflict with,
or in material default or violation of (a) any Law applicable to the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or by or to which any of their respective properties is
bound or subject or (b) any of the Company Permits. Since February 28, 1995,
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received from any
Governmental Entity any written notification with respect to possible material
conflicts, defaults or violations of Laws.

         SECTION 3.07.    SEC Reports; Financial Statements.

                 (a)      Since February 28, 1993, the Company and its
         subsidiaries have filed all forms, reports, statements and other
         documents required to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
         Commission (the "SEC") including, without limitation, (l) all Annual
         Reports on Form l0-K, (2) all Quarterly Reports on Form l0-Q, (3) all
         proxy statements relating to meetings of stockholders (whether annual
         or special), and (4) all Current





                                     Page 9
<PAGE>   15
         Reports on Form 8-K (collectively referred to as the "Company SEC
         Reports"). The Company SEC Reports, including all Company SEC Reports
         filed after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective
         Time, (i) were or will be prepared in all material respects in
         accordance with the requirements as to form of the Securities Act,
         Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and (ii) did
         not at the time they were filed or will not at the time they are
         filed, contain any untrue statement of 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)      Each of the consolidated financial statements
         (including, in each case, any related notes thereto) and each of the
         financial statements (including any related notes thereto) relating to
         subsidiaries of the Company which are not otherwise contained in the
         consolidated financial statements filed in the Company SEC Reports
         prior to the Effective Time (i) have been or will be prepared in
         accordance with the published rules and regulations of the SEC and
         generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis
         throughout the periods involved (except (A) to the extent required by
         changes in generally accepted accounting principles and (B) with
         respect to the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this
         Agreement, as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and (ii) fairly
         present or will fairly present the financial position of the Company
         and its subsidiaries (as applicable, on a consolidated basis) as of
         the respective dates thereof and the results of operations and cash
         flows (as applicable, on a consolidated basis) for the periods
         indicated (including reasonable estimates of normal and recurring
         year-end adjustments), except that (x) any unaudited interim financial
         statements were or will be subject to normal and recurring year-end
         adjustments and (y) any pro forma financial information contained in
         such financial statements is not necessarily indicative of the
         financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the
         respective dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows
         for the periods indicated.

         SECTION 3.08.    Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Except as
disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement
or as contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth in Schedule 3.08 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, since November 30, 1995 the Company and its
subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in the ordinary
course and in a manner consistent with past practice and there has not been:
(i) any material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by
insurance) with respect to any material assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries; (ii) any material change by the Company or its subsidiaries in
their accounting methods, principles or practices; (iii) except for dividends
by a subsidiary of the Company to the Company or another subsidiary of the
Company, any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividends or
distributions in respect of shares of the Company Common Stock (other than a
5:4 stock dividend paid on May 15, 1995) or the shares of stock of, or other
equity interests in, any subsidiary of the Company, or any redemption, purchase
or other acquisition by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any of the
Company's securities or any of the securities of any subsidiary of the Company;
(iv) any increase in the benefits under, or the establishment or amendment of,
any bonus, insurance, severance, deferred compensation, pension, retirement,
profit sharing, stock option (including,





                                    Page 10
<PAGE>   16
without limitation, the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights,
performance awards, or restricted stock awards), stock purchase or other
employee benefit plan, or any increase in the compensation payable or to become
payable to directors, officers or employees of the Company or its subsidiaries,
except for (A) increase in salaries or wages payable or to become payable in
the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or (B) the
granting of stock options pursuant to the Option Plans in the ordinary course
of business to employees of the Company or its subsidiaries who are not
directors or executive officers of the Company; (v) any revaluation by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries of any of their assets, including the
writing down of the value of inventory or the writing down or off of notes or
accounts receivable, other than in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practices; (vi) any entry by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries into any commitment or transaction material to the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole (other than this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby); (vii) any material increase in indebtedness for borrowed
money; or (viii) any Company Material Adverse Effect.

         SECTION 3.09.    Absence of Litigation.  Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.09 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there is no claim, action,
suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration or, to the knowledge of the Company,
investigation of any kind, at law or in equity (including actions or
proceedings seeking injunctive relief), pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
properties or rights of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (except for
claims, actions, suits, litigation, proceedings, arbitrations or investigations
which could not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect), and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any
continuing order of, consent decree, settlement agreement or other similar
written agreement with, or, to the knowledge of the Company, continuing
investigation by, any Governmental Entity, or any judgment, order, writ,
injunction, decree or award of any Government Entity or arbitrator, including,
without limitation, cease-and-desist or other orders.

         SECTION 3.10.    Employee Benefit Plans; Labor Matters.

                 (a)      Set forth in Schedule 3.10(a) to the Company
         Disclosure Schedule is a complete and correct list of all "employee
         benefit plans" (as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security
         Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")), all plans or policies providing
         for "fringe benefits" (including but not limited to vacation, paid
         holidays, personal leave, employee discount, educational benefit or
         similar programs), and each other bonus, incentive compensation,
         deferred compensation, profit sharing, stock, severance, retirement,
         health, life, disability, group insurance, employment, stock option,
         stock purchase, stock appreciation right, supplemental unemployment,
         layoff, consulting, or any other similar plan, agreement, policy or
         understanding (whether written or oral, qualified or nonqualified,
         currently effective or terminated), and any trust, escrow or other
         agreement related thereto, which (a) is or has been established,
         maintained or contributed to by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate or
         with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has any
         liability, or (b) provides benefits, or describes policies or
         procedures applicable, to any officer, employee, director, former
         officer, former employee or former director of the Company or any
         ERISA Affiliate, or any





                                    Page 11
<PAGE>   17
         dependent thereof, regardless of whether funded (each, an "Employee
         Plan," and collectively, the "Employee Plans").

                 (b)      To the Company's knowledge, no written or oral
         representations have been made to any employee or officer or former
         employee or officer of the Company or its subsidiaries promising or
         guaranteeing any coverage under any employee welfare plan for any
         period of time beyond the end of the current plan year (except to the
         extent of coverage required under Code Section 4980B).  The
         consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will
         not accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount
         of compensation (including amounts due under Employee Plans) due to
         any employee, officer, former employee or former officer of the
         Company, or its subsidiaries.

                 (c)      All employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are
         terminable at the will of the Company, and neither the Company, nor
         any present or former director, or officer, employee or agent of the
         Company has made any binding commitments of the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries, written or verbal, to any present or former director,
         officer, agent or employee concerning his term, condition, benefits or
         employment other than as set forth in Schedule 3.10(c).

                 (d)      With respect to each Employee Plan, the Company has
         furnished to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of (i) the plan
         documents and summary plan description; (ii) the most recent
         determination letter received from the Internal Revenue Service, if
         applicable; (iii) the annual reports required to be filed for the two
         most recent plan years of each such Employee Plan; (iv) all related
         trust agreements, insurance contracts or other funding agreements
         which implement such Employee Plan; and (v) all other documents,
         records or other materials related thereto reasonably requested by
         Buyer.

                 (e)      Set forth on Schedule 3.10(e) to the Company
         Disclosure Schedule is a complete and correct list of all employee
         pension benefit plans maintained by the Company or any ERISA
         Affiliate; and (b) to the Company's knowledge, each such plan meets
         the qualification requirements of the Code in form and operation, and
         such plan, and each trust (if any) forming a part thereof, has
         received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue
         Service as to the qualification under the Code of such plan and the
         tax-exempt status of such related trust, and nothing has occurred
         since the date of such determination letter that may materially
         adversely affect the qualification of such plan or the tax-exempt
         status of such related trust.  All Employee Plans purporting to
         qualify for special tax treatment under any provision of the Code,
         including, without limitation, Code Sections  79, 105, 106, 125, 127,
         129, 132, 422 or 501(c)(9) meet the requirement of such sections in
         form and in operation.  All reports, returns or filings required by
         any government agency have been timely filed in accordance with all
         applicable requirements or the Company intends to do so.





                                    Page 12
<PAGE>   18
                 (f)      No condition exists that would subject the Company,
         any ERISA Affiliate or Parent to any excise tax, penalty tax or fine
         related to any Employee Plan.

                 (g)      There are no agreements which will or may provide
         payments to any officer, employee, shareholder, or highly compensated
         individual which will be "parachute payments" under Code Section 280G
         that are nondeductible to the Company or subject to tax under Code
         Section 4999 for which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate would have
         withholding liability.

                 (h)      There is no Employee Plan that is subject to Part 3
         of Title I of ERISA or Title IV of ERISA; each Employee Plan has been
         operated in all respects in compliance with ERISA, the Code and all
         other applicable laws; none of the Employee Plans is a "multiple
         employer plan" or "multiemployer plan" (as described or defined in
         ERISA or the Code), nor has the Company or any ERISA Affiliate ever
         contributed or been required to contribute to any such plan; there are
         no material unfunded liabilities existing under any Employee Plans
         other than contributions due in the ordinary course of business, and
         each Employee Plan could be terminated as of the Closing Date without
         any material liability to the Parent, the Company or any ERISA
         Affiliate.

                 (i)      There are no actions, suits, claims, audits, or
         investigations pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
         against, or with respect to, any of the Employee Plans or their
         assets; and all contributions required to be made to the Employee
         Plans have been made timely or will be timely made as in the ordinary
         course of business.

                 (j)      Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a
         party to any collective bargaining or other labor union contract.  No
         collective bargaining agreement is being negotiated by the Company or
         any of its subsidiaries.  The Company and its subsidiaries are in
         compliance with all applicable laws respecting employment, employment
         practices and wages and hours.  There is no pending or threatened
         labor dispute, strike or work stoppage against the Company or any of
         its subsidiaries which may interfere with the respective business
         activities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  None of the
         Company, its subsidiaries or any of their respective representatives
         or employees has committed any unfair labor practices in connection
         with the operation of the respective businesses of the Company or its
         subsidiaries, and there is no pending or threatened charge or
         complaint against the Company or any of its subsidiaries by the
         National Labor Relations Board or any comparable state agency.

                 (k)      Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a
         party to or is bound by any severance agreements, programs, policies,
         plans or arrangements, whether or not written.  Schedule 3.10(k) of
         the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth, and the Company has
         provided to Parent true and correct copies of, (i) all employment
         agreements with officers or employees of the Company or its
         subsidiaries; (ii) all agreements with consultants of the Company or
         its subsidiaries obligating the Company or any subsidiary to make
         annual cash payments in an amount exceeding $50,000; and (iii) all
         non-competition agreements with the Company.





                                    Page 13
<PAGE>   19
                 (l)      Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
         amended or taken any other action with respect to any of the Employee
         Plans or any of the plans, programs, agreements, policies or other
         arrangements described in Section 3.10(d) of this Agreement since
         February 28, 1995.

         SECTION 3.11.    Taxes.

                 (a)      Except for such matters as would not have a Company
         Material Adverse Effect, and except as set forth on Schedule 3.11(a)
         to the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) all returns and reports ("Tax
         Returns") of or with respect to any Tax which is required to be filed
         on or before the Closing Date by or with respect to the Company or any
         its subsidiaries have been or will be duly and timely filed, (ii) all
         items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit or other items
         required to be included in each such Tax Return have been or will be
         so included and all information provided in each such Tax Return is
         true, correct and complete, (iii) all Taxes which have become or will
         become due with respect to the period covered by each such Tax Return
         have been or will be timely paid in full, (iv) all withholding Tax
         requirements imposed on or with respect to the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries have been or will be satisfied in full in all respects,
         and (v) no penalty, interest or other charge is or will become due
         with respect to the late filing of any such Tax Return or late payment
         of any such Tax.

                 (b)      All Tax Returns of or with respect to the Company or
         any of its subsidiaries, with unexpired or extended statutes of
         limitations, which have not been audited by the applicable
         governmental authority are set forth in Schedule 3.11(b) to the
         Company Disclosure Schedule.

                 (c)      Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11(c) to the
         Company Disclosure Schedule, there is not in force any extension of
         time with respect to the due date for the filing of any Tax Return of
         or with respect to the Company or any its subsidiaries or any waiver
         or agreement for any extension of time for the assessment, collection
         or payment of any Tax of or with respect to the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries.

                 (d)      There are no pending audits, actions, proceedings,
         investigations, disputes or claims with respect to or against the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries for or with respect to any Taxes,
         no assessment, deficiency or adjustment has been assessed or proposed
         with respect to any Tax Return of or with respect to the Company or
         any of its subsidiaries, and there is no reasonable basis on which any
         claim for material Taxes can be asserted against the Company or any of
         its subsidiaries, other than those disclosed (and to which are
         attached true and complete copies of all audit or similar reports) on
         Schedule 3.11(d) to the Company Disclosure Schedule or which would not
         have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                 (e)      The total amounts set up as liabilities for current
         and deferred Taxes in the financial statements referred to in Section
         3.07 of this Agreement are sufficient to cover





                                    Page 14
<PAGE>   20
         in all material respects the payment of all Taxes, whether or not
         assessed or disputed, which are, or are hereafter found to be, or to
         have been, due by or with respect to the Company and any of its
         subsidiaries up to and through the periods covered thereby.

                 (f)      The Company has previously delivered to Parent true
         and complete copies of each written Tax allocation or sharing
         agreement and a true and complete description of each unwritten Tax
         allocation or sharing arrangement affecting the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries.

                 (g)      Except for statutory liens for current Taxes not yet
         due, no material liens for Taxes exist upon the assets of any of the
         Company or its subsidiaries.

                 (h)      Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will
         be required to include any amount in income for any taxable period
         beginning after February 28, 1995 as a result of a change in
         accounting method for any taxable period ending on or before February
         28, 1995 or pursuant to any agreement with any Tax authority with
         respect to any such taxable period.

                 (i)      Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11(i) to the
         Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the property of the Company or
         any of its subsidiaries is held in an arrangement for which
         partnership Tax Returns are being filed, and neither the Company nor
         any of its subsidiaries owns any interest in any controlled foreign
         corporation (as defined in section 957 of the Code), passive foreign
         investment company (as defined in section 1296 of the Code) or other
         entity the income of which is required to be included in the income of
         the Company or such subsidiary.

                 (j)      Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11 (j) to the
         Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the property of the Company or
         any of its subsidiaries is subject to a safe-harbor lease (pursuant to
         section 168(f) (8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as in effect
         after the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 and before the Tax Reform
         Act of 1986) or is "tax-exempt use property" (within the meaning of
         section 168(h) of the Code) or "tax-exempt bond financed property"
         (within the meaning of section 168(g) (5) of the Code).

                 (k)      Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11(k) to the
         Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the transactions contemplated by
         this Agreement will result in any Tax liability or the recognition of
         any item of income or gain to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

                 (l)      Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
         made an election under section 341(f) of the Code.

                 (m)      Neither the Company nor any subsidiary has ever been
         a member of an affiliated group of corporations (as defined in Section
         1504(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) other than the group of which
         the Company is currently the common parent.





                                    Page 15
<PAGE>   21
                 (n)      Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is or has ever
         been subject to Taxes in any jurisdiction outside the United States.

                 (o)      The Company and each subsidiary will prepare any
         applicable Tax Reports for the tax year ending February 29, 1996, in
         an orderly manner, and Parent shall be given the opportunity to review
         any such Tax Returns before they are filed.

         SECTION 3.12.    Tax Matters; Pooling.

                 (a)      Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the
         Company, any of its affiliates has taken or agreed to take any action
         that would prevent the Merger from (a) constituting a reorganization
         qualifying under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code or (b)
         being treated for financial accounting purposes as a "pooling of
         interests" in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
         and the rules, regulations and interpretations of the SEC (a "Pooling
         Transaction").

                 (b)      To the knowledge of the Company, there is no plan or
         intention by any stockholder of the Company who owns five percent or
         more of the Company Common Stock, and to the best knowledge of the
         Company there is no plan or intention on the part of any of the
         remaining stockholders of the Company Common Stock, to sell, exchange
         or otherwise dispose of a number of shares of Parent Common Stock to
         be received in the Merger that would reduce the Company stockholders'
         ownership of Parent Common Stock to a number of shares having a value,
         as of the Effective Time, of less than 50 percent of the value of all
         of the Company Common Stock (including shares of the Company Common
         Stock exchanged for cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common
         Stock) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

                 (c)      Following the Merger, the Company will hold at least
         90 percent of the fair market value of its net assets and at least 70
         percent of the fair market value of its gross assets held immediately
         prior to the Merger.  For purposes of this representation, amounts
         used by the Company to pay Merger expenses and all redemptions and
         distributions made by the Company will be included as assets of the
         Company immediately prior to the Merger.

                 (d)      The Company and the holders of the Company Common
         Stock will each pay their respective expenses, if any, incurred in
         connection with the Merger.

                 (e)      There is no intercorporate indebtedness existing
         between the Company and Parent or between the Company and Merger Sub
         that was issued, acquired, or will be settled at a discount.

                 (f)      The Company is not an investment company as defined
         in Section 368(a) (2) (F) (iii) and (iv) of the Code.





                                    Page 16
<PAGE>   22
                 (g)      The Company is not under the jurisdiction of a court
         in a title 11 or similar case within the meaning of section
         368(a)(3)(A) of the Code.

                 (h)      The total amount of cash to be received by
         stockholders of the Company Common Stock in lieu of fractional shares
         of Parent Common Stock will not exceed one percent of the total fair
         market value of the Parent Common Stock (as of the Effective Time) to
         be issued in the Merger.

         SECTION 3.13.    Affiliates. Schedule 3.13 to the Company Disclosure
Schedule identifies all persons who, to the knowledge of the Company, may be
deemed to be affiliates of the Company under Rule 145 of the Securities Act,
including, without limitation, all directors and executive officers of the
Company. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Company has delivered to Parent an executed letter agreement, substantially in
the form of Exhibit A hereto, from certain of such persons identified on
Schedule 3.13 to the Company Disclosure Schedule who will receive Parent Common
Stock in exchange for Company Common Stock in the Merger and will deliver to
Parent within ten days after the date of this Agreement an executed letter
agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, from each of the
other persons identified on Schedule 3.13 who will receive Parent Common Stock
in exchange for Company Common Stock in the Merger.

         SECTION 3.14.    Certain Business Practices.  None of the Company, any
of its subsidiaries or any directors, officers, agents or employees of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any funds for unlawful
contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to
political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic
government officials or employees or to foreign or domestic political parties
or campaigns or violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of
1977, as amended, or (iii) made any other unlawful payment.

         SECTION 3.15.    Environmental Matters.  Except for matters disclosed
in Schedule 3.15 of the Company Disclosure Schedule and except for matters that
would not result, individually or in the aggregate with all other such matters,
in liability to the Company or any of its subsidiaries in excess of $500,000,
to the knowledge of the Company (i) the properties, operations and activities
of the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable
Environmental Laws; (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries and the properties
and operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are not subject to any
existing, pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit,
claim, investigation, inquiry or proceeding by or before any governmental
authority under any Environmental Law; (iii) all notices, permits, licenses, or
similar authorizations, if any, required to be obtained or filed by the Company
or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Law in connection with any
aspect of the business of the Company or its subsidiaries, including without
limitation those relating to the treatment, storage, disposal or release of a
hazardous or otherwise regulated substance, have been duly obtained or filed
and will remain valid and in effect after the Merger, and the Company and its
subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such
notices, permits, licenses and similar authorizations; (iv) the Company and its
subsidiaries have satisfied and are currently in compliance with all financial
responsibility requirements applicable to their operations and





                                    Page 17
<PAGE>   23
imposed by any governmental authority under any Environmental Law, and the
Company and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of noncompliance with
any such financial responsibility requirements; (v) to the Company's knowledge,
there are no physical or environmental conditions existing on any property of
the Company or its subsidiaries or resulting from the Company's or such
subsidiaries' operations or activities, past or present, at any location, that
would give rise to any on-site obligations imposed on the Company or any of its
subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws or that would impact the soil,
groundwater, surface water or human health; (vi) to the Company's knowledge,
since the effective date of the relevant requirements of applicable
Environmental Laws and to the extent required by such applicable Environmental
Laws, all hazardous substances generated by the Company and its subsidiaries
have been transported only by carriers authorized under Environmental Laws to
transport such substances and wastes; and (vii) the Company and its
subsidiaries have made available to Parent all internal and external
environmental audits and studies and all correspondence on substantial
environmental matters in the possession of the Company or its subsidiaries
relating to any of the current or former properties or operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries.

         For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Environmental Laws" shall
mean any and all laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, or orders of
any Governmental Entity pertaining to health or the environment currently in
effect in any and all jurisdictions in which the Company and its subsidiaries
own property or conduct business, including without limitation, the Clean Air
Act, as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA"), as amended, the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act, as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as
amended, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 ("RCRA"), as
amended, the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended, the Toxic Substances Control
Act, as amended, the Hazardous & Solid Waste Amendments Act of 1984, as
amended, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended,
any state laws implementing the foregoing federal laws, and all other
environmental conservation or protection laws.  For purposes of this Agreement,
the terms "hazardous substance" and "release" have the meanings specified in
CERCLA and RCRA and shall include petroleum and petroleum products, radon and
PCB's, and the term "disposal" has the meaning specified in RCRA; provided,
however, that to the extent the laws of the state in which the property is
located establish a meaning for "hazardous substance," "release," or "disposal"
that is broader than that specified in either CERCLA or RCRA, such broader
meaning shall apply.

         SECTION 3.16.    Vote Required.  The only vote of the holders of any
class or series of the Company capital stock necessary to approve the Merger
and adopt this Agreement is the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock voted at the Company
Stockholders Meeting.

         SECTION 3.17.    Brokers.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.17 to the
Company Disclosure Schedule, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled
to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or
on behalf of the Company.  Prior to the date of this Agreement, the Company has
delivered to Parent a complete and correct copy of all agreements





                                    Page 18
<PAGE>   24
referenced in Schedule 3.l7 to the Company Disclosure Schedule pursuant to
which such firm will be entitled to any payment relating to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

         SECTION 3.18.    Insurance. The Company and each of its subsidiaries
are currently insured, and during each of the past five calendar years have
been insured, for reasonable amounts against such risks as companies engaged in
a similar business would, in accordance with good business practice,
customarily be insured.

         SECTION 3.19.    Properties. Except (i) as set forth in Schedule 3.19
to the Company Disclosure Schedule, (ii) for liens arising in the ordinary
course of business after the date hereof and (iii) properties and assets
disposed of in the ordinary course of business after November 30, 1995, the
Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title, free and clear of
all material liens, to all their material properties and assets, whether
tangible or intangible, real, personal or mixed, reflected in the November 30,
1995 consolidated balance sheet contained in the Company's most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K as being owned by the Company and its subsidiaries as of
the date thereof.  All buildings, and all fixtures, equipment and other
property and assets which are material to its business on a consolidated basis,
held under leases by any of the Company or its subsidiaries are held under
valid instruments enforceable by the Company or its subsidiaries in accordance
with their respective terms.  Substantially all of the Company's and its
subsidiaries' equipment in regular use has been reasonably maintained and is in
good and serviceable condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted.

         SECTION 3.20.    Certain Contracts and Restrictions. Schedule 3.20(a)
to the Company Disclosure Schedule lists, as of the date of this Agreement,
each agreement, contract or commitment to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
bound (i) involving consideration during the previous twelve months in excess
of $500,000, or (ii) which is otherwise material to the financial condition,
results of operations or current or future business or operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         SECTION 3.21.    Information Supplied. Without limiting any of the
representations and warranties contained herein, no representation or warranty
of the Company herein and no statement by the Company or other information
contained in the Company Disclosure Schedule or any document incorporated
therein by reference or delivered by the Company to Parent pursuant to this
Agreement, as of the date of such representation, warranty, statement or
document, contains any untrue statement of material fact, or omits to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, in
light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not
misleading.

         SECTION 3.22.    Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company has
received the opinion of Alex. Brown & Sons Incorporated to the effect that, as
of the date of delivery of such opinion, the Merger Consideration to be
received by the holders of the Company Common Stock in the Merger is fair, from
a financial point of view, to such holders. The Company will promptly deliver
to Parent a true and complete written copy of such opinion.





                                    Page 19
<PAGE>   25
         SECTION 3.23     Pooling Letter.  The Company has received and
delivered to Parent a letter from its accountants, Arthur Andersen, L.L.P.,
stating that the Merger as described in this Agreement shall be treated as a
"pooling of interests" for financial accounting purposes.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

         Except as otherwise disclosed on the disclosure schedule delivered to
the Company by Parent on the date hereof (the "Parent Disclosure Schedule"),
the Parent Companies hereby represent and warrant to the Company that:

         SECTION 4.01.    Organization and Qualification.  Each of the Parent
Companies is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its state of incorporation and has all requisite
corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted and is duly qualified and in
good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the
business conducted by it or the ownership or leasing of its properties makes
such qualification necessary, other than where the failure to be so duly
qualified and in good standing would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
The term "Parent Material Adverse Effect" as used in this Agreement shall mean
any change or effect that, individually or when taken together with all such
other changes or effects, would be materially adverse to the business,
operations, assets, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of
Parent and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         SECTION 4.02.    Charter and Bylaws.  Parent has heretofore furnished
to the Company a complete and correct copy of the charter and bylaws, as
amended or restated, of each of the Parent Companies.  None of the Parent
Companies is in violation of any of the provisions of its charter or bylaws.

         SECTION 4.03.    Capitalization.

                 (a)      The authorized capital stock of Parent as of the date
         hereof consists of (1) 50,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock, of
         which as of December 31, 1995, (x) 29,971,709 shares were issued and
         outstanding, (2) no shares were held in treasury and (3) 3,863,328
         shares were reserved for future issuance pursuant to Parent's 1984 and
         1991 Stock Option Plans and Parent's 1994 Employee Stock Purchase
         Plan; and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00
         per share ("Parent Preferred Stock"), of which no shares are issued
         and outstanding.  Except as described in this Section 4.03 or in
         Schedule 4.03 (a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, as of the date of
         this Agreement, no shares of capital stock of Parent are reserved for
         any purpose.  The outstanding shares of capital stock of Parent are
         duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and
         have not been issued in violation of (nor are any of the authorized
         shares of capital stock of Parent subject to) any preemptive or
         similar rights created by





                                    Page 20
<PAGE>   26
         statute, the charter or bylaws of Parent, or any agreement to which
         Parent is a party or bound.

                 (b)      Except as set forth in Section 4.03(a) above or in
         Schedule 4.03(b)(i) to the Parent Disclosure Schedule, as of the date
         hereof there are no options, warrants or other rights, agreements,
         arrangements or commitments of any character to which Parent is a
         party relating to the issued or unissued capital stock of Parent or
         obligating Parent to grant, issue or sell any shares of the capital
         stock of Parent, by sale, lease, license or otherwise.  Except as set
         forth in Schedule 4.03(b)(ii) to the Parent Disclosure Schedule, as of
         the date hereof there are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of
         Parent or any of its subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise
         acquire any shares of Parent Common Stock or other capital stock of
         Parent.  There are no voting trusts, proxies or other agreements or
         understandings to which Parent is a party or by which Parent is bound
         with respect to the voting of any shares of capital stock of Parent.

                 (c)      The authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists
         of 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Merger
         Sub Common Stock").  As of the date of this Agreement, 1,000 shares of
         Merger Sub Common Stock were issued and outstanding and held by
         Parent, all of which are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
         and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights created by
         statute, Merger Sub's charter or bylaws or any agreement to which
         Merger Sub is a party or is bound.

                 (d)      The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued
         pursuant to the Merger (i) will, when issued, be duly authorized,
         validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to
         preemptive rights created by statute, Parent's charter or bylaws or
         any agreement to which Parent is a party or is bound and (ii) will,
         when issued, be listed on the NYSE.

         SECTION 4.04.    Authority.  Each of the Parent Companies has all
requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement,
to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby (subject to, with respect to the issuance of the Parent
Common Stock in the Merger, the approval thereof by the holders of the Parent
Common Stock as described in Section 4.12).  The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by each of the Parent Companies and the consummation by each of the
Parent Companies of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action and no other corporate proceedings
on the part of any of the Parent Companies are necessary to authorize this
Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby (subject to,
with respect to the issuance of the Parent Common Stock in the Merger, the
approval thereof by the holders of the Parent Common Stock as described in
Section 4.12).  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of
the Parent Companies and, assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery thereof by the Company, constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of each of the Parent Companies.





                                    Page 21
<PAGE>   27
         SECTION 4.05.    No Conflict; Required Filings and Consent.

                 (a)      The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each
         of the Parent Companies does not, and the consummation of the
         transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) conflict with or violate
         the charter or bylaws, or the equivalent organizational documents, in
         each case as amended or restated, of Parent or any of Parent's
         subsidiaries, (ii) conflict with or violate any material Laws
         applicable to Parent or any of Parent's subsidiaries or by which any
         of their respective properties is bound or subject, or (iii) result in
         any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or
         lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others
         any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of,
         or result in the creation of a lien or encumbrance on any of the
         properties or assets of Parent or any of Parent's subsidiaries
         pursuant to, any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract,
         agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or
         obligation to which Parent or any of Parent's subsidiaries is a party
         or by or to which Parent or any of Parent's subsidiaries or any of
         their respective properties is bound or subject.

                 (b)      The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each
         of the Parent Companies does not, and the consummation of the
         transactions contemplated hereby will not, require any of the Parent
         Companies to obtain any consent, license, permit, approval, waiver,
         authorization or order of, or to make any filing with or notification
         to, any Governmental Entities, except for applicable requirements, if
         any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, Blue Sky Laws, the
         Federal Communications Act, and the HSR Act and the filing and
         recordation of appropriate merger documents as required by New Jersey
         Law, and applicable requirements, if any, of the Code and state and
         local tax laws, and where failure to obtain such consents, approvals,
         authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications,
         would not prevent or delay consummation of any of the transactions
         contemplated hereby in any material respect, or otherwise prevent
         Parent from performing its obligations under this Agreement in any
         material respect, and would not, individually or in the aggregate,
         have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

         SECTION 4.06.    Permits; Compliance.  To the knowledge of the Parent,
each of Parent and its subsidiaries is in possession of all material
franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances,
exemptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders necessary to own,
lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now
being conducted (collectively, the "Parent Permits"), and there is no action,
proceeding or investigation pending or threatened regarding suspension or
cancellation of any of the Parent Permits. Neither Parent nor any of its
subsidiaries is in material conflict with, or in material default or violation
of (a) any Law applicable to Parent or any of its subsidiaries or by or to
which any of their respective properties is bound or subject or (b) any of the
Parent Permits. Since December 31, 1994, neither Parent nor any of its
subsidiaries has received from any Governmental Entity any written notification
with respect to possible material conflicts, defaults or violations of Laws.





                                    Page 22
<PAGE>   28
         SECTION 4.07.    SEC Reports; Financial Statements.

                 (a)      Since December 31, 1993, Parent and its subsidiaries
         have filed all forms, reports, statements and other documents required
         to be filed with the SEC, including, without limitation, (1) all
         Annual Reports on Form l0-K, (2) all Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q,
         (3) all proxy statements relating to meetings of stockholders (whether
         annual or special), (4) all Current Reports on Form 8-K and (5) all
         other reports, schedules, registration statements or other documents
         (collectively, the "Parent SEC Reports"). The Parent SEC Reports,
         including all Parent SEC Reports filed after the date of this
         Agreement and prior to the Effective Time (i) were or will be prepared
         in all material respects in accordance with the requirements as to
         form of the Securities Act, Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
         thereunder and (ii) did not at the time they were filed, or will not
         at the time they are filed, 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)      Each of the consolidated financial statements
         (including, in each case, any related notes thereto) contained in the
         Parent SEC Reports filed prior to the Effective Time (i) have been or
         will be prepared in accordance with the published rules and
         regulations of the SEC and generally accepted accounting principles
         applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except
         (A) to the extent required by changes in generally accepted accounting
         principles and (B) with respect to Parent SEC Reports filed prior to
         the date of this Agreement, as may be indicated in the notes thereto)
         and (ii) fairly present or will fairly present the consolidated
         financial position of Parent and its subsidiaries as of the respective
         dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations and cash
         flows for the periods indicated (including reasonable estimates of
         normal and recurring year-end adjustments), except that (x) any
         unaudited interim financial statements were or will be subject to
         normal and recurring year-end adjustments and (y) any pro forma
         financial information contained in such consolidated financial
         statements is not necessarily indicative of the consolidated financial
         position of Parent and its subsidiaries as of the respective dates
         thereof and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows for
         the periods indicated.

         SECTION 4.08.    Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Except as
disclosed in the Parent SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement
or as contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth in Schedule 4.08 to the
Parent Disclosure Schedule, since September 30, 1995, each of Parent and its
subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in the ordinary
course and in a manner consistent with past practice, and there has not been:
(i) any material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by
insurance) with respect to any material assets of Parent or any of its
subsidiaries; (ii) any material change by Parent or its subsidiaries in their
accounting methods, principles or practices; (iii) except for dividends by a
subsidiary of Parent to Parent or another subsidiary of Parent, any
declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividends or distributions in
respect of shares of Parent Common Stock (other than regular quarterly
dividends in an amount not exceeding $.025 per share and a three-for-two





                                    Page 23
<PAGE>   29
stock split effected as a stock dividend paid December 15, 1995) or the shares
of stock of, or other equity interests in, any subsidiary of Parent, or any
redemption, purchase or other acquisition by Parent or any of Parent's
subsidiaries of any of Parent's securities or any of the securities of any
subsidiary of Parent; or (iv) any Parent Material Adverse Effect.

         SECTION 4.09.    Absence of Litigation.  Except as set forth in
Schedule 4.09 to the Parent Disclosure Schedule, there is no claim, action,
suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration or, to the knowledge of Parent,
investigation of any kind, at law or in equity (including actions or
proceedings seeking injunctive relief), pending or, to the knowledge or Parent,
threatened against Parent or any of its subsidiaries or any properties or
rights of Parent or any of its subsidiaries (except for claims, actions, suits,
litigation, proceedings, arbitrations or investigations which could not
reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect) and neither
Parent nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any continuing order of,
consent decree, settlement agreement or other similar written agreement with,
or, to the knowledge of Parent, continuing investigation by, any Governmental
Entity, or any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree or award of any
Governmental Entity or arbitrator, including, without limitation,
cease-and-desist or other orders.

         SECTION 4.10.    Taxes.  Except for such matters as would not have a
Parent Material Adverse Effect, and except as set forth on Schedule 4.10 to the
Parent Disclosure Schedule, (i) all returns and reports ("Tax Returns") of or
with respect to any Tax which is required to be filed on or before the Closing
Date by or with respect to Parent or any its subsidiaries have been or will be
duly and timely filed, (ii) all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and
credit or other items required to be included in each such Tax Return have been
or will be so included and all information provided in each such Tax Return is
true, correct and complete, (iii) all Taxes which have become or will become
due with respect to the period covered by each such Tax Return have been or
will be timely paid in full, (iv) all withholding Tax requirements imposed on
or with respect to the Parent or any of its subsidiaries have been or will be
satisfied in full in all respects, and (v) no penalty, interest or other charge
is or will become due with respect to the late filing of any such Tax Return or
late payment of any such Tax.

         SECTION 4.11.    Tax Matters; Pooling.  None of the Parent Companies
nor, to the knowledge of Parent, any of their affiliates has taken or agreed to
take any action that would prevent the Merger (a) from constituting a
reorganization qualifying under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code or
(b) from being treated as a Pooling Transaction for financial accounting
purposes.

         SECTION 4.12.    Affiliates.  Schedule 4.12 to the Parent Disclosure
Schedule identifies all persons who, to the knowledge of Parent, may be deemed
to be affiliates of Parent under Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the SEC or Rule
145 under the Securities Act, including, without limitation, all directors and
executive officers of Parent.  Concurrently with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, the Parent has delivered to Company an executed letter
agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, from certain of such
persons identified on Schedule 4.12 to the Parent Disclosure Schedule and will
deliver to Company





                                    Page 24
<PAGE>   30
within ten days after the date of this Agreement an executed letter agreement,
substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, from each of the other persons
identified on Schedule 4.12.

         SECTION 4.13.    Certain Business Practices.  None of the Parent, any
of its subsidiaries or any directors, officers, agents or employees of the
Parent or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any funds for unlawful
contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to
political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic
government officials or employees or to foreign or domestic political parties
or campaigns or violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of
1977, as amended, or (iii) made any other unlawful payment.

         SECTION 4.14.    Environmental Matters.  To the knowledge of the
Parent, except for matters that do not constitute a Parent Material Adverse
Effect, (i) the properties, operations and activities of the Parent and its
subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; (ii) the
Parent and its subsidiaries and the properties and operations of the Parent and
its subsidiaries are not subject to any existing, pending or, to the knowledge
of the Parent, threatened action, suit, claim, investigation, inquiry or
proceeding by or before any governmental authority under any Environmental Law;
(iii) all notices, permits, licenses, or similar authorizations, if any,
required to be obtained or filed by the Parent or any of its subsidiaries under
any Environmental Law in connection with any aspect of the business of the
Parent or its subsidiaries, including without limitation those relating to the
treatment, storage, disposal or release of a hazardous or otherwise regulated
substance, have been duly obtained or filed and will remain valid and in effect
after the Merger, and the Parent and its subsidiaries are in compliance with
the terms and conditions of all such notices, permits, licenses and similar
authorizations; (iv) the Parent and its subsidiaries have satisfied and are
currently in compliance with all financial responsibility requirements
applicable to their operations and imposed by any governmental authority under
any Environmental Law, and the Parent and its subsidiaries have not received
any notice of noncompliance with any such financial responsibility
requirements; (v) to the Parent's knowledge, there are no physical or
environmental conditions existing on any property of the Parent or its
subsidiaries or resulting from the Parent's or such subsidiaries' operations or
activities, past or present, at any location, that would give rise to any
on-site obligations imposed on the Parent or any of its subsidiaries under any
Environmental Laws or that would impact the soil, groundwater, surface water or
human health; and (vi) to the Parent's knowledge, since the effective date of
the relevant requirements of applicable Environmental Laws and to the extent
required by such applicable Environmental Laws, all hazardous substances
generated by the Parent and its subsidiaries have been transported only by
carriers authorized under Environmental Laws to transport such substances and
wastes.

         SECTION 4.15.    Vote Required.  The only vote of the holders of any
class or series of Parent capital stock necessary to approve the issuance of
the Parent Common Stock in the Merger is, pursuant to the Rule 312 of the NYSE,
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Parent Common Stock voted on the proposal to so issue the Parent Common Stock;
provided that the total vote cast on such proposal represents over 50% in
interest of the outstanding Parent Common Stock.  No vote of the holders or any
class or series





                                    Page 25
<PAGE>   31
of Parent capital stock is required to approve the Merger and adopt this
Agreement.  Parent, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, has voted to approve
the Merger and adopt this Agreement.

         SECTION 4.16.    Brokers.  Except for fees payable to Donaldson,
Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation by Parent, no broker, finder or
investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or
commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of any of the Parent Companies.

         SECTION 4.17.    Insurance. The Parent and each of its subsidiaries
are currently insured, and during each of the past five calendar years have
been insured, for reasonable amounts against such risks as companies engaged in
a similar business would, in accordance with good business practice,
customarily be insured.

         SECTION 4.18.    Properties. Except for liens arising in the ordinary
course of business after the date hereof and properties and assets disposed of
in the ordinary course of business after September 30, 1995, Parent and its
subsidiaries have good and marketable title, free and clear of all material
liens, to all their material properties and assets, whether tangible or
intangible, real, personal or mixed, reflected in the September 30, 1995
consolidated balance sheet contained in Parent's most recent Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q as being owned by Parent and its subsidiaries as of the date
thereof.  All buildings, and all fixtures, equipment and other property and
assets which are material to its business on a consolidated basis, held under
leases by any of Parent or its subsidiaries are held under valid instruments
enforceable by Parent or its subsidiaries in accordance with their respective
terms.  Substantially all of Parent's and its subsidiaries' equipment in
regular use has been reasonably maintained and is in good and serviceable
condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted.

         SECTION 4.19.    Information Supplied.  Without limiting any of the
representations and warranties contained herein, no representation or warranty
of the Parent Companies herein and no statement by the Parent Companies or
other information contained in the Parent Disclosure Schedule or any document
incorporated therein by reference or delivered by Parent to the Company
pursuant to this Agreement, as of the date of such representation, warranty,
statement or document, contains any untrue statement of material fact, or,
omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading.

         SECTION 4.20.    Opinion of Financial Advisor.  Parent has received
the opinion of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation to the
effect that, as of the date of delivery of such opinion, the Exchange Ratio is
fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of Parent Common Stock.
Parent will promptly deliver to the Company a true and complete written copy of
such opinion.

         SECTION 4.21.    Pooling Letter.  Parent has received and delivered to
the Company a letter from its accountants, KPMG Peat Marwick, stating that the
Merger as described in this Agreement shall be treated as a "pooling of
interests" for financial accounting purposes.





                                    Page 26
<PAGE>   32
                                   ARTICLE V

                                   COVENANTS

         SECTION 5.01.    Affirmative Covenants of the Company.  The Company
hereby covenants and agrees that, prior to the Effective Time, unless otherwise
expressly contemplated by this Agreement or consented to in writing by Parent,
the Company will and will cause its subsidiaries to:

                 (a)      operate its business in all material respects in the
         usual and ordinary course consistent with past practices;

                 (b)      use all reasonable efforts to preserve substantially
         intact its business organization, maintain its material rights and
         franchises, retain the services of its respective officers and key
         employees and maintain its relationships with its material customers
         and suppliers;

                 (c)      maintain and keep its material properties and assets
         in as good repair and condition as at present, ordinary wear and tear
         excepted, and maintain supplies and inventories in quantities
         consistent with its customary business practice; and

                 (d)      use all reasonable efforts to keep in full force and
         effect insurance and bonds comparable in amount and scope of coverage
         to that currently maintained.

         SECTION 5.02.    Negative Covenants of the Company.  Except as
expressly contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise consented to in writing
by Parent, from the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, the
Company will not do, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to do, any of
the foregoing:

                 (a)      (i) increase the compensation payable to or to become
         payable to any director or executive officer, unless such increase
         results from the operation of compensation arrangements in effect
         prior to the date hereof; (ii) grant any severance or termination pay
         (other than pursuant to the normal severance policy of the Company or
         its subsidiaries as in effect on the date of this Agreement) to, or
         enter into or amend any employment or severance agreement with, any
         director, officer or employee; (iii) establish, adopt or enter into
         any employee benefit plan or arrangement; or (iv) except as may be
         required by applicable law and actions that are not inconsistent with
         the provisions of Section 6.08 of this Agreement, amend in any
         material respect, or take any other actions with respect to, any of
         the Benefit Plans or any of the plans, programs, agreements, policies
         or other arrangements described in Section 3.10(d) of this Agreement;





                                    Page 27
<PAGE>   33
                 (b)      declare or pay any dividend on, or make any other
         distribution in respect of, outstanding shares of capital stock,
         except for dividends by a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company to
         the Company or another wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;

                 (c)      (i) except as described in Schedule 3.03(b) (ii) of
         the Company Disclosure Schedule, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire
         any shares of its or any of its subsidiaries' capital stock or any
         securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for any
         shares of its or its subsidiaries' capital stock (other than any such
         acquisition directly from any wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
         in exchange for capital contributions or loans to such subsidiary), or
         any options, warrants or conversion or other rights to acquire any
         shares of its or its subsidiaries' capital stock or any such
         securities or obligations (except in connection with the exercise of
         outstanding Stock Options or warrants in accordance with their terms);
         (ii) effect any reorganization or recapitalization; or (iii) split,
         combine or reclassify any of its or its subsidiaries' capital stock or
         issue or authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in
         respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for, shares of its or its
         subsidiaries' capital stock;

                 (d)      (i) except pursuant to outstanding options, warrants,
         or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments described in
         Schedule 3.03(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, issue,
         deliver, award, grant or sell, or authorize or propose the issuance,
         delivery, award, grant or sale (including the grant of any security
         interests, liens, claims, pledges, limitations in voting rights,
         charges or other encumbrances) of, any shares of any class of its or
         its subsidiaries' capital stock (including shares held in treasury),
         any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any
         such shares, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such
         shares (except as permitted pursuant to Section 6.08 of this Agreement
         or for the issuance of shares upon the exercise of outstanding Stock
         Options or warrants); (ii) amend or otherwise modify the terms of any
         such rights, warrants or options the effect of which shall be to make
         such terms more favorable to the holders thereof; or (iii) take any
         action to accelerate the exercisability of Stock Options or warrants,
         except such stock options or warrants relating to 1,109,053 shares of
         Company Common Stock that will become exercisable on account of the
         Merger or any other transaction contemplated hereby;

                 (e)      acquire or agree to acquire, by merging or
         consolidating with, by purchasing an equity interest in or a portion
         of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any
         corporation, partnership, association or other business organization
         or division thereof, or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire any
         assets of any other person (other than the purchase of assets from
         suppliers or vendors in the ordinary course of business and consistent
         with past practice);

                 (f)      sell, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or
         otherwise dispose of, or agree to sell, lease, exchange, mortgage,
         pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of, any of its material assets
         or any material assets of any of its subsidiaries, except for
         dispositions of inventories and of assets in the ordinary course of
         business and consistent with past practice;





                                    Page 28
<PAGE>   34
                 (g)      initiate, solicit or encourage (including by way of
         furnishing information or assistance), or take any other action to
         facilitate, any inquiries or the making of any proposal relating to,
         or that may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Competing
         Transaction (as defined below), or enter into discussions or negotiate
         with any person or entity in furtherance of such inquiries or to
         obtain a Competing Transaction, or agree to or endorse any Competing
         Transaction, or authorize or permit any of the officers, directors or
         employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any investment
         banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other
         representative retained by the Company or any of the Company's
         subsidiaries to take any such action, and the Company shall promptly
         notify Parent of all relevant terms of any such inquiries and
         proposals received by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or by any
         such officer, director, investment banker, financial advisor,
         attorney, accountant or other representative relating to any of such
         matters and if such inquiry or proposal is in writing, the Company
         shall promptly deliver or cause to be delivered to Parent a copy of
         such inquiry or proposal; provided, however, that nothing contained in
         this subsection (g) shall prohibit the Board of Directors of the
         Company from (i) furnishing information to, or entering into
         discussions or negotiations with, any person or entity in connection
         with an unsolicited bona fide written proposal, which proposal is at a
         materially higher value and not subject to a financing condition, by
         such person or entity to acquire the Company pursuant to a merger,
         consolidation, share exchange, business combination or other similar
         transaction or to acquire a substantial portion of the assets of the
         Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, if, and only to the
         extent that (A) the Board of Directors of the Company, after
         consultation with and based upon the advice of independent legal
         counsel (who may be the Company's regularly engaged independent legal
         counsel), determines in good faith that such action is necessary for
         such Board of Directors to comply with its fiduciary duties to
         stockholders under applicable law and (B) prior to furnishing such
         information to, or entering into discussions or negotiations with,
         such person or entity the Company (x) provides five days prior written
         notice to Parent to the effect that it is furnishing information to,
         or entering into discussions or negotiations with, such person or
         entity and (y) enters into with such person or entity a
         confidentiality agreement in reasonably customary form on terms not
         more favorable to such person or entity than the terms contained in
         those certain Confidentiality Agreements dated respectively, as of
         April 19, 1995 and June 14, 1995 between Parent and the Company (the
         "Confidentiality Agreements"); (ii) complying with Rule 14e-2
         promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to a Competing
         Transaction; or (iii) failing to make or withdrawing or modifying its
         recommendation referred to in Section 6.02(a) if there exists a
         Competing Transaction and the Board of Directors of the Company, after
         consultation with and based upon the advice of independent legal
         counsel (who may be the Company's regularly engaged independent legal
         counsel), determines in good faith that such action is necessary for
         such Board of Directors to comply with its fiduciary duties to
         stockholders under applicable law.  For purposes of this Agreement,
         "Competing Transaction" shall mean any of the following (other than
         the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) involving the Company
         or any of its subsidiaries: (i) any merger, consolidation, share
         exchange, business combination or similar transaction; (ii) any sale,
         lease, exchange, mortgage,





                                    Page 29
<PAGE>   35
         pledge, transfer or other disposition of 20% or more of the assets of
         the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (iii) any tender
         offer or exchange offer for 20% or more of the outstanding shares of
         capital stock of the Company or the filing of a registration statement
         under the Securities Act in connection therewith; (iv) any person
         having acquired beneficial ownership of, or any group (as such term is
         used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and
         regulations promulgated thereunder) having been formed which
         beneficially owns or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of,
         20% or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company;
         or (v) any public announcement of a proposal, plan or intention to do
         any of the foregoing or any agreement to engage in any of the
         foregoing;

                 (h)      release any third party from its obligations, or
         grant any consent, under any existing standstill provision relating to
         a Competing Transaction or otherwise under any confidentiality or
         other agreement, or fail to fully enforce any such agreement;

                 (i)      adopt or propose to adopt any amendments to its
         charter or bylaws;

                 (j)      (A) change any of its methods of accounting in effect
         at February 28, 1995, or (B) make or rescind any express or deemed
         election relating to Taxes, settle or compromise any claim, action,
         suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or
         controversy relating to Taxes (except where the amount of such
         settlements or controversies, individually or in the aggregate, does
         not exceed $250,000), or change any of its methods of reporting income
         or deductions for federal income tax purposes from those employed in
         the preparation of the federal income tax returns for the taxable year
         ending February 28, 1995, except, in each case, as may be required by
         Law or generally accepted accounting principles;

                 (k)      incur any obligation for borrowed money or purchase
         money indebtedness, whether or not evidenced by a note, bond,
         debenture or similar instrument, except in the ordinary course of
         business consistent with past practice or pursuant to the Company's
         existing credit facility and in no event in excess of $1,000,000 in
         the aggregate;

                 (l)      enter into any material arrangement, agreement or
         contract with any third party (other than customers in the ordinary
         course of business) which provides for an exclusive arrangement with
         that third party or is substantially more restrictive on the Company
         or substantially less advantageous to the Company than arrangements,
         agreements or contracts existing on the date hereof;

                 (m)      take (and will use reasonable best efforts to prevent
         any affiliate of the Company from taking) any action that, in the
         judgment of KPMG Peat Marwick would cause the Merger not to be treated
         as a "pooling of interests" for financial accounting purposes; or

                 (n)      agree in writing or otherwise to do any of the
         foregoing.





                                    Page 30
<PAGE>   36
         SECTION 5.03.    Affirmative and Negative Covenants of Parent.

                 (a)      Parent hereby covenants and agrees that, prior to the
         Effective Time, unless otherwise expressly contemplated by this
         Agreement or consented to in writing by the Company, Parent will and
         will cause its subsidiaries to:

                          (i)     operate its business in all material respects
                 in the usual and ordinary course consistent with past
                 practices;

                          (ii)    use all reasonable efforts to preserve
                 substantially intact its business organization, maintain its
                 material rights and franchises, retain the services of its
                 respective officers and key employees and maintain its
                 relationships with its material customers and suppliers;

                          (iii)   maintain and keep its material properties and
                 assets in as good repair and condition as at present, ordinary
                 wear and tear excepted, and maintain supplies and inventories
                 in quantities consistent with its customary business practice;
                 and

                          (iv)    use all reasonable efforts to keep in full
                 force and effect insurance and bonds comparable in amount and
                 scope of coverage to that currently maintained.

                 (b)      Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or
         otherwise consented to in writing by the Company, from the date of
         this Agreement until the Effective Time, Parent will not do, and will
         not permit any of its subsidiaries to do, any of the following:

                          (i)     knowingly take any action which would result
                 in a failure to maintain the trading of the Parent Common
                 Stock on the NYSE;

                          (ii)    declare or pay any dividend on, or make any
                 other distribution in respect of, outstanding shares of
                 capital stock, except for dividends by a wholly owned
                 subsidiary of Parent to Parent or another wholly owned
                 subsidiary of Parent and except for regular quarterly
                 dividends with respect to Parent Common Stock in an amount not
                 to exceed $.025 per share;

                          (iii)   acquire or agree to acquire, by merging or
                 consolidating with, by purchasing an equity interest in or a
                 portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business
                 or any corporation, partnership, association or other business
                 organization or division thereof, or otherwise acquire or
                 agree to acquire any assets of any other person (other than
                 the purchase of assets from suppliers or vendors in the
                 ordinary course of business and consistent with past
                 practice), which, in each case, would prevent the consummation
                 of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;





                                    Page 31
<PAGE>   37
                          (iv)    adopt or propose to adopt any amendments to
                 its charter or bylaws, which would have an adverse impact on
                 the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
                 Agreement;

                          (v)     take (and will use reasonable best efforts to
                 prevent any affiliate of Parent from taking) any action that,
                 in the judgment of KPMG Peat Marwick, would cause the Merger
                 not to be treated as a "pooling of interests" for financial
                 accounting purposes; or

                          (vi)    agree in writing or otherwise to do any of
                 the foregoing.

         SECTION 5.04.    Access and Information.

                 (a)      The Company shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries
         to (i) afford to Parent and its officers, directors, employees,
         accountants, consultants, legal counsel, agents and other
         representatives (collectively, the "Parent Representatives")
         reasonable access at reasonable times, upon reasonable prior notice,
         to the officers, employees, agents, properties, offices and other
         facilities of the Company and its subsidiaries and to the books and
         records thereof and (ii) furnish promptly to Parent and the Parent
         Representatives such information concerning the business, properties,
         contracts, records and personnel of the Company and its subsidiaries
         (including, without limitation, financial, operating and other data
         and information) as may be reasonably requested, from time to time, by
         Parent.

                 (b)      Parent shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to (i)
         afford to the Company and its officers, directors, employees,
         accountants, consultants, legal counsel, agents and other
         representatives (collectively, the "Company Representatives")
         reasonable access at reasonable times, upon reasonable prior notice,
         to the officers, employees, accountants, agents, properties, offices
         and other facilities of Parent and its subsidiaries and to the books
         and records thereof and (ii) furnish promptly to the Company and the
         Company Representatives such information concerning the business,
         properties, contracts, records and personnel of Parent and its
         subsidiaries (including, without limitation, financial, operating and
         other data and information) as may be reasonably requested, from time
         to time, by the Company.

                 (c)      Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
         Section 5.04, neither party shall be required to grant access or
         furnish information to the other party to the extent that such access
         or the furnishing of such information is prohibited by law.  No
         investigation by the parties hereto made heretofore or hereafter shall
         affect the representations and warranties of the parties which are
         herein contained and each such representation and warranty shall
         survive such investigation.

                 (d)      The information received pursuant to Section 5.04 (a)
         and (b) shall be deemed to be "Confidential Information" for purposes
         of the Confidentiality Agreements.





                                    Page 32
<PAGE>   38
                                   ARTICLE VI

                             ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

         SECTION 6.01.    Meetings of Stockholders.

                 (a)      The Company shall, promptly after the date of this
         Agreement, take all actions necessary in accordance with New Jersey
         Law and its charter and bylaws to convene a special meeting of the
         Company's stockholders to approve this Agreement (the "Company
         Stockholders Meeting"), and the Company shall consult with Parent in
         connection therewith.  The Company shall use its best efforts to
         solicit from stockholders of the Company proxies in favor of the
         approval and adoption of this Agreement and to secure the vote of
         stockholders required by New Jersey Law and its charter and bylaws to
         approve and adopt this Agreement, unless otherwise necessary due to
         the applicable fiduciary duties of the directors of the Company, as
         determined by such directors in good faith after consultation with and
         based upon the advice of independent legal counsel (who may be the
         Company's regularly engaged independent legal counsel).

                 (b)      Parent shall, promptly after the date of this
         Agreement, take all actions necessary in accordance with the Delaware
         General Corporation Law and its charter and bylaws to convene a
         special meeting of Parent's stockholders to approve the issuance of
         the Parent Common Stock in connection with the Merger pursuant to the
         requirements of Rule 312 of the NYSE (the "Parent Stockholders
         Meeting").  Parent shall use its best efforts to solicit from
         stockholders of Parent proxies in favor of the approval of such
         issuance of Parent Common Stock and to secure the vote of stockholders
         required by Rule 312 of the NYSE and its charter and bylaws to approve
         such issuance of Parent Common Stock, unless otherwise necessary due
         to the applicable fiduciary duties of the directors of the Parent, as
         determined by such directors in good faith after consultation with and
         based upon the advice of independent legal counsel (who may be the
         Parent's regularly engaged independent legal counsel).

         SECTION 6.02.    Registration Statement; Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus.

                 (a)      As promptly as practicable after the execution of
         this Agreement, Parent, with the cooperation of the Company, shall
         prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4
         (such registration statement, together with any amendments thereof or
         supplements thereto, being the "Registration Statement"), containing a
         joint proxy statement/prospectus for stockholders of the Company and
         Parent (in the form mailed to Parent or Company stockholders, as
         applicable, the "Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus") (together with any
         amendments thereof or supplements thereto), in connection with the
         registration under the Securities Act of the offer and sale of Parent
         Common Stock to be issued in the Merger and the other transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement.  Parent shall use all reasonable
         efforts, and the Company will cooperate with





                                    Page 33
<PAGE>   39
         Parent, to have the Registration Statement declared effective by the
         SEC as promptly as practicable and to keep the Registration Statement
         effective as long as is necessary to consummate the Merger.  Parent
         shall, as promptly as practicable, provide copies of any written
         comments received from the SEC with respect to the Registration
         Statement to the Company and advise the Company of any verbal comments
         with respect to the Registration Statement received from the SEC.
         Parent shall use its best efforts to obtain, prior to the effective
         date of the Registration Statement, all necessary state securities
         laws or "Blue Sky" permits or approvals required to carry out the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Parent will advise the
         Company, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when
         the Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or
         amendment has been filed, the issuance of any stop order, the
         suspension of the qualification of the Parent Common Stock issuable in
         connection with the Merger for offering or sale in any jurisdiction,
         or any request by the SEC for amendment of the Joint Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement or comments thereon
         and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional
         information.  Each of Parent and the Company shall furnish to the
         other all information concerning it and the holders of its capital
         stock as the other may reasonably request in connection with such
         actions.  As promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement
         shall have been declared effective, the Company shall mail the Joint
         Proxy Statement/Prospectus to its stockholders entitled to notice of
         and to vote at the Company Stockholders Meeting and Parent shall mail
         the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to its stockholders entitled to
         notice of and to vote at the Parent Stockholders Meeting.  The Joint
         Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall include the recommendation of the
         Company's Board of Directors in favor of the Merger and adoption of
         this Agreement, unless otherwise necessary due to the applicable
         fiduciary duties of the directors of the Company, as determined by
         such directors in good faith after consultation with and based upon
         the advice of independent legal counsel (who may be the Company's
         regularly engaged independent legal counsel).  The Joint Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus shall include the recommendation of Parent's
         Board of Directors in favor of approval of the issuance of the Parent
         Common Stock in the Merger, unless otherwise necessary due to the
         applicable fiduciary duties of the directors of the Parent, as
         determined by such directors in good faith after consultation with and
         based upon the advice of independent legal counsel (who may be the
         Parent's regularly engaged independent legal counsel).

                 (b)      The information supplied by the Company for inclusion
         in the Registration Statement shall not, at the time the Registration
         Statement is declared effective, contain any untrue statement of a
         material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
         therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
         misleading.  The information supplied by the Company for inclusion in
         (i) the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be sent to the
         stockholders of the Company in connection with the Company
         Stockholders Meeting shall not, at the date the Joint Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) is first mailed to
         stockholders, at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting or at
         the Effective Time and (ii) the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be
         sent to the stockholders of Parent in connection with the Parent
         Stockholders Meeting shall not, at the date the Joint Proxy





                                    Page 34
<PAGE>   40
         Statement/Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) is first mailed to
         stockholders, at the time of the Parent Stockholders Meeting or at the
         Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.  If at any
         time prior to the Effective Time any event or circumstance relating to
         the Company or any of its affiliates, or its or their respective
         officers or directors, should be discovered by the Company that should
         be set forth in an amendment to the Registration Statement or a
         supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the Company shall
         promptly inform Parent thereof in writing.  All documents that the
         Company is responsible for filing with the SEC in connection with the
         transactions contemplated herein will comply as to form in all
         material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities
         Act and the rules and `regulations thereunder and the Exchange Act and
         the rules and regulations thereunder.

                 (c)      The information supplied by Parent for inclusion in
         the Registration Statement shall not, at the time the Registration
         Statement is declared effective, contain any untrue statement of a
         material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
         therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
         misleading.  The information supplied by Parent for inclusion in (i)
         the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be sent to the stockholders of
         the Company in connection with the Company Stockholders Meeting shall
         not, at the date the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (or any
         supplement thereto) is first mailed to stockholders, at the time of
         the Company Stockholders Meeting or at the Effective Time and (ii) the
         Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be sent to the stockholders of
         Parent in connection with the Parent Stockholders Meeting shall not,
         at the date the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (or any supplement
         thereto) is first mailed to stockholders, at the time of the Parent
         Stockholders Meeting or at the Effective Time, contain any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
         required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
         statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
         are made, not misleading.  If at any time prior to the Effective Time
         any event or circumstance relating to Parent or any of its affiliates,
         or to their respective officers or directors, should be discovered by
         Parent that should be set forth in an amendment to the Registration
         Statement or a supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus,
         Parent shall promptly inform the Company thereof in writing.  All
         documents that Parent is responsible for filing with the SEC in
         connection with the transactions contemplated hereby will comply as to
         form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the
         Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the
         Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

         SECTION 6.03.    Appropriate Action; Consents; Filings.

                 (a)      The Company and Parent shall each use, and shall
         cause each of their respective subsidiaries to use, all reasonable
         efforts to (i) take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, and
         do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable
         under applicable Law or otherwise to consummate and make effective the
         transactions





                                    Page 35
<PAGE>   41
         contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) obtain from any Governmental
         Entities any consents, licenses, permits, waivers, approvals,
         authorizations or orders required to be obtained or made by Parent or
         the Company or any of their subsidiaries in connection with the
         authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including,
         without limitation, the Merger, (iii) make all necessary filings, and
         thereafter make any other required submissions, with respect to this
         Agreement and the Merger required under (A) the Securities Act (in the
         case of Parent) and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
         thereunder, and any other applicable federal or state securities laws,
         (B) the HSR Act and (C) any other applicable Law; provided that Parent
         and the Company shall cooperate with each other in connection with the
         making of all such filings, including providing copies of all such
         documents to the nonfiling party and its advisors prior to filings
         and, if requested, shall accept all reasonable additions, deletions or
         changes suggested in connection therewith.  The Company and Parent
         shall furnish all information required for any application or other
         filing to be made pursuant to the rules and regulations of any
         applicable Law (including all information required to be included in
         the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement) in
         connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
         Parent and the Company shall request early termination of the waiting
         period with respect to the Merger under the HSR Act.

                 (b)      Parent and the Company agree to cooperate with
         respect to, and shall cause each of their respective subsidiaries to
         cooperate with respect to, and agree to use all reasonable efforts
         vigorously to contest and resist, any action, including legislative,
         administrative or judicial action, and to have vacated, lifted,
         reversed or overturned any decree, judgment, injunction or other order
         (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) (an "Order") of any
         Governmental Entity that is in effect and that restricts, prevents or
         prohibits the consummation of the Merger or any other transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, by
         vigorously pursuing all available avenues of administrative and
         judicial appeal and all available legislative action.

                 (c)      (i)     Each of the Company and Parent shall give (or
         shall cause their respective subsidiaries to give) any notices to
         third parties, and use, and cause their respective subsidiaries to use
         all reasonable efforts to obtain any third party consents (A)
         necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement, (B) otherwise required under any
         contracts, licenses, leases or other agreements in connection with the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or (C) required
         to prevent a Company Material Adverse Effect from occurring prior to
         the Effective Time or a Parent Material Adverse Effect from occurring
         prior to or after the Effective Time.

                          (ii)    In the event that any party shall fail to
         obtain any third party consent described in subsection (c)(i) above,
         such party shall use all reasonable efforts, and shall take any such
         actions reasonably requested by the other parties, to limit the
         adverse effect upon the Company and Parent, their respective
         subsidiaries, and their





                                    Page 36
<PAGE>   42
         respective businesses resulting, or which could reasonably be expected
         to result after the Effective Time, from the failure to obtain such
         consent.

                 (d)      Each of Parent and the Company shall promptly notify
         the other of (i) any material change in its current or future
         business, financial condition or results of operations, (ii) any
         complaints, investigations or hearings (or communications indicating
         that the same may be contemplated) of any Governmental Entities with
         respect to its business or the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii)
         the institution or the threat of material litigation involving it or
         any of its subsidiaries or (iv) any event or condition that might
         reasonably be expected to cause any of its representations,
         warranties, covenants or agreements set forth herein not to be true
         and correct at the Effective Time.  As used in the preceding sentence,
         "material litigation" means any case, arbitration or adversary
         proceeding or other matter which would have been required to be
         disclosed on the Company Disclosure Schedule pursuant to Section 3.09
         or the Parent Disclosure Schedule pursuant to Section 4.09, as the
         case may be, if in existence on the date hereof, or in respect of
         which the legal fees and other costs to the Company or Parent (or
         their respective subsidiaries), as the case may be, might reasonably
         be expected to exceed $250,000 over the life of the matter.

         SECTION 6.04.    Affiliates; Pooling; Tax Treatment.

                 (a)      The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to
         obtain from any person who will receive Parent Common Stock in
         exchange for Company Common Stock in the Merger and may be deemed to
         have become an affiliate of the Company after the date of this
         Agreement and on or prior to the Effective Time, a written agreement
         substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto as soon as practicable
         after attaining such status.

                 (b)      Parent shall use all reasonable efforts to obtain
         from any person who may be deemed to have become an affiliate of
         Parent after the date of this Agreement and on or prior to the
         Effective Time, a written agreement substantially in the form of
         Exhibit B hereto as soon as practicable after obtaining such status.

                 (c)      Parent shall not be required to maintain the
         effectiveness of the Registration Statement for the purpose of resale
         by stockholders of the Company who may be affiliates of the Company or
         Parent pursuant to Rule 145 under the Securities Act.

                 (d)      Each party hereto shall use all reasonable efforts to
         cause the Merger to be treated for financial accounting purposes as a
         Pooling Transaction, and shall not take, and shall use all reasonable
         efforts to prevent any affiliate of such party from taking, any
         actions which could prevent the Merger from being treated for
         financial accounting purposes as a Pooling Transaction,

                 (e)      Each party hereto shall use all reasonable efforts to
         cause the Merger to qualify, and shall not take, and shall use all
         reasonable efforts to prevent any affiliate of





                                    Page 37
<PAGE>   43
         such party from taking, any actions which could prevent the Merger
         from qualifying as a reorganization under the provisions of Section
         368(a) of the Code.

         SECTION 6.05.    Public Announcements.  Parent and the Company shall
consult with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making
any public statements with respect to the Merger and shall not issue any such
press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation.
The press release announcing the execution and delivery of this Agreement shall
be a joint press release of Parent and the Company.

         SECTION 6.06.    NYSE Listing.  Parent shall use all reasonable
efforts to cause the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger
to be approved for listing (subject to official notice of issuance) on the NYSE
prior to the Effective Time.

         SECTION 6.07.    Comfort Letters.

                 (a)      The Company shall use all reasonable efforts to cause
         Arthur Andersen, L.L.P. to deliver a letter dated as of the date of
         the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and addressed to itself and
         Parent and their respective Boards of Directors, in form and substance
         reasonably satisfactory to Parent, and customary in scope and
         substance for agreed-upon procedures letters delivered by independent
         public accountants in connection with registration statements and
         proxy statements similar to the Registration Statement and the Joint
         Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

                 (b)      Parent shall use all reasonable efforts to cause KPMG
         Peat Marwick to deliver a letter dated as of the date of the Joint
         Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and addressed to itself and the Company
         and their respective Boards of Directors, in form and substance
         reasonably satisfactory to the Company, and customary in scope and
         substance for agreed-upon procedures letters delivered by independent
         public accounts in connection with registration statements and proxy
         statements similar to the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus.

         SECTION 6.08.    Stock Option Plans.

                 (a)      Option Plans.  Parent and the Company shall take such
         actions not inconsistent with the Merger being accounted for financial
         accounting purposes as a Pooling Transaction, including (with respect
         to the Company) the amendment of the Option Plans and Stock Options,
         to permit Parent to assume, and Parent shall assume, effective at the
         Effective Time, each Stock Option that remains unexercised in whole or
         in part as of the Effective Time and substitute shares of Parent
         Common Stock for the shares of the Company Common Stock purchasable
         under each such assumed option ("Assumed Option"), which assumption
         and substitution shall be effected as follows:

                          (i)     the Assumed Option shall not give the
                 optionee additional benefits which such optionee did not have
                 under the Stock Option before such assumption





                                    Page 38
<PAGE>   44
                 and shall be assumed on the same terms and conditions as the
                 Stock Option being assumed, subject to Section 6.08(a) (ii)
                 and (iii) below;

                          (ii)    the number of shares of Parent Common Stock
                 purchasable under the Assumed Option shall be equal to the
                 number of shares of Parent Common Stock that the holder of the
                 Stock Option being assumed would have received (without regard
                 to any vesting schedule) upon consummation of the Merger had
                 such Stock Option been exercised in full immediately prior to
                 consummation of the Merger; and

                          (iii)   the per share exercise price of such Assumed
                 Option shall be an amount equal to the per share exercise
                 price of the Stock Option being assumed divided by the
                 Exchange Ratio.

                 It is the intention of the parties that, to the extent that
         any such Stock Option constituted an "incentive stock option" (within
         the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) immediately prior to the
         Effective Time, such Stock Option shall continue to qualify as an
         incentive stock option to the maximum extent permitted by Section 422
         of the Code, and that the assumption of the Company Stock Options
         provided by this Section 6.08(a) satisfy the conditions of Section
         424(a) of the Code.

                 (b)      Registration.  Parent shall take all corporate action
         necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of
         Parent Common Stock for delivery upon exercise of the Assumed Options,
         and, as soon as practicable after the Effective Time, but in no event
         later than ten days after the Effective Time, Parent shall file a
         registration statement on Form S-8 (or other appropriate form) with
         respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock subject to the Assumed
         Options, and shall use its best efforts to maintain the effectiveness
         of such registration statement for so long as any of the Assumed
         Options remain outstanding.

         SECTION 6.09.    Warrants.

                 (a)      Parent and the Company shall take such actions not
         inconsistent with the Merger being accounted for financial accounting
         purposes as a Pooling Transaction, including (with respect to the
         Company) the amendment of the warrants referred to in Section
         3.03(a)(i)(4), to permit Parent to assume, and Parent shall assume,
         effective at the Effective Time, each warrant that remains unexercised
         in whole or in part as of the Effective Time and substitute shares of
         Parent Common Stock for the shares of the Company Common Stock
         purchasable under each such assumed warrant ("Assumed Warrant"), which
         assumption and substitution shall be effected as follows:

                          (i)     the Assumed Warrant shall not give the holder
                 additional benefits which such holder did not have before such
                 assumption and shall be assumed on the same terms and
                 conditions as the warrant being assumed, subject to Section
                 6.09(a) (ii) and (iii) below;





                                    Page 39
<PAGE>   45
                          (ii)    the number of shares of Parent Common Stock
                 purchasable under the Assumed Warrant shall be equal to the
                 number of shares of Parent Common Stock that the holder of the
                 warrant being assumed would have received upon consummation of
                 the Merger had such warrant been exercised in full immediately
                 prior to consummation of the Merger; and

                          (iii)   the per share exercise price of such Assumed
                 Warrant shall be an amount equal to the per share exercise
                 price of the warrant being assumed divided by the Exchange
                 Ratio.

                 (b)      Reservation.  Parent shall take all corporate action
         necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of
         Parent Common Stock for delivery upon exercise of the Assumed
         Warrants.

         SECTION 6.10.    Merger Sub.  Prior to the Effective Time, Merger Sub
shall not conduct any business or make any investments other than as
specifically contemplated by this Agreement and will not have any assets (other
than a de minimis amount of cash paid to Merger Sub for the issuance of its
stock to Parent) or liabilities.

         SECTION 6.11.    Indemnification.

                          (a) For a period of six years after the Effective
                 Time, Parent shall not amend or otherwise modify Article
                 Eighth of the charter of the Company or Article
                 VIII-Indemnification of the bylaws of the Company (in each
                 case as in effect on the date hereof) in a manner that would
                 adversely affect the rights thereunder of any individuals who
                 at any time prior to the Effective Time were directors or
                 officers of the Company in respect of acts or omissions
                 occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including,
                 without limitation, the transactions contemplated by this
                 Agreement), unless such amendment or modification is required
                 by law.

                 (b)      Parent agrees to purchase, or cause to be purchased a
         customary director's and officer's liability insurance "tail" policy
         from a reputable insurer in the amount of $5,000,000 in respect of
         claims arising out of facts or events that occurred on or before the
         Effective Date, so long as the total premium cost thereof does not
         exceed $175,000, which policy shall be maintained for a period of
         three years after the Effective Date.  This Section 6.11 is intended
         to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, the persons
         referred to above, their heirs and personal representatives, and shall
         be binding on Parent and its successors and assigns.





                                    Page 40
<PAGE>   46

                                  ARTICLE VII

                               CLOSING CONDITIONS

         SECTION 7.01.    Conditions to Obligations of Each Party Under This
Agreement.  The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the satisfaction
at or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, any or all of
which may be waived in writing by the parties hereto, in whole or in part, to
the extent permitted by applicable law:

                 (a)      Effectiveness of the Registration Statement; Blue
         Sky.  The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by
         the SEC under the Securities Act.  No stop order suspending the
         effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued by
         the SEC and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated
         by the SEC.  Parent shall have received all Blue Sky and other
         authorizations necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated
         by this Agreement.

                 (b)      Stockholder Approval.  This Agreement and the Merger
         shall have been approved and adopted by the requisite vote of the
         stockholders of the Company, and the issuance of the Parent Common
         Stock in the Merger shall have been approved by the requisite vote of
         the stockholders of Parent.

                 (c)      No Order.  No Governmental Entity or federal or state
         court of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued,
         promulgated, enforced or entered any statute, rule, regulation,
         executive order, decree, injunction or other order (whether temporary,
         preliminary or permanent) which is in effect and which has the effect
         of making the Merger illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of
         the Merger; and no such Governmental Entity shall have initiated or
         threatened to initiate any proceeding seeking any of the foregoing.

                 (d)      HSR Act.  The applicable waiting period under the HSR
         Act with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
         shall have expired or been terminated.

                 (e)      Pooling of Interests.  Parent and the Company shall
         have been advised in writing by KPMG Peat Marwick on the Closing Date
         that the Merger shall be treated for financial accounting purposes as
         a Pooling Transaction.

         SECTION 7.02.    Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Parent
Companies.  The obligations of the Parent Companies to effect the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby are also subject to the satisfaction
at or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, any or all of
which may be waived in writing by Parent, in whole or in part:





                                    Page 41
<PAGE>   47
                 (a)      Representations and Warranties.  Each of the
         representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
         Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date as though
         made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such
         representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date,
         in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and
         correct as of such earlier date).  The Parent Companies shall have
         received a certificate of the President and the Chief Financial
         Officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to such effect.

                 (b)      Agreements and Covenants.  The Company shall have
         performed or complied with all agreements and covenants required by
         this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to
         the Closing Date.  The Parent Companies shall have received a
         certificate of the President and the Chief Financial Officer of the
         Company, dated the Closing Date, to that effect.

                 (c)      Material Adverse Change.  Since November 30, 1995,
         there shall have been no change, occurrence or circumstance in the
         current or future business, financial condition or results of
         operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries having or
         reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
         material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of
         operations, business, operations or prospects of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole.  The Parent Companies shall have
         received a certificate of the President and the Chief Financial
         Officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to such effect.

                 (d)      Absence of Regulatory Conditions.  There shall not be
         any action taken, or any statute, rule, regulation or order enacted,
         entered, enforced or deemed applicable to the Merger, by any
         Governmental Entity in connection with the grant of a regulatory
         approval necessary, in the reasonable business judgment of Parent, to
         the continuing operation of the current or future business of the
         Company, which imposes any condition or restriction upon the Parent
         Companies or the business or operations of the Company which, in the
         reasonable business judgment of Parent, would be materially burdensome
         in the context of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                 (e)      Tax Opinion.  Hughes & Luce, L.L.P. shall have
         delivered to Parent its written opinion as of the date that the Joint
         Proxy Statement/Prospectus is first mailed to Parent stockholders
         substantially to the effect that (i) the Merger will constitute a
         reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, (ii)
         Parent, Merger Sub and the Company will each be a party to that
         reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code, and
         (iii) Parent, Merger Sub and the Company will not recognize any gain
         or loss for U.S.  federal income tax purposes as a result of the
         Merger, and such opinion shall not have been withdrawn or modified in
         any material respect.

                 (f)      Employment Agreements.  The employees of the Company
         set forth in a letter from Parent to the Company delivered on or prior
         to the date of this Agreement shall have entered into employment
         agreements with the Company, effective as of the Effective Time, in
         form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent.





                                    Page 42
<PAGE>   48
                 (g)      Opinion of Company Counsel. Counsel to the Company
         shall give an opinion in substantially the form attached hereto as
         Exhibit E.

                 (h)      The Company shall have amended each of (i) that
         certain Asset Purchase Agreement by and among the Company, H&R
         Communications, Inc., Thomas V. Whelan and Monte Rosen (the "H&R
         Agreement") and (ii) that certain Asset Purchase Agreement by and
         among the company, Pro Direct Response Corp., Pro Direct Response,
         Inc.  of New Jersey, Pro Direct Interviewing Corp., Inc., Peter Wood,
         and Robert Pinsky (the "Pro Direct Agreement"), to provide that any
         amounts payable by the Company in cash or in Company Common Stock
         pursuant to any Earnout (as defined in the H&R Agreement or Pro Direct
         Agreement, as applicable) shall be payable only in cash or in Parent
         Common Stock.

         SECTION 7.03.    Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company.
The obligations of the Company to effect the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby are also subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the
Closing Date of the following conditions, any or all of which may be waived in
writing by the Company, in whole or in part:

                 (a)      Representations and Warranties.  Each of the
         representations and warranties of the Parent Companies contained in
         this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date as
         though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such
         representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date,
         in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and
         correct as of such earlier date).  The Company shall have received a
         certificate of the President and the Chief Financial Officer of the
         Parent, dated the Closing Date, to such effect.

                 (b)      Agreements and Covenants.  The Parent Companies shall
         have performed or complied with all agreements and covenants required
         by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by them on or prior
         to the Closing Date.  The Company shall have received a certificate of
         the President and the Chief Financial Officer of the Parent, dated the
         Closing Date, to that effect.

                 (c)      Material Adverse Change.  Since September 30, 1995,
         there shall have been no change, occurrence or circumstance in the
         current or future business, financial condition or results of
         operations of Parent or any of its subsidiaries having or reasonably
         likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse
         effect on the financial condition, results of operations, business,
         operations or prospects of Parent and its subsidiaries, taken as a
         whole.  The Company shall have received a certificate of the President
         and the Chief Financial Officer of each of the Parent Companies, dated
         the Closing Date, to such effect.

                 (d)      Absence of Regulatory Conditions.  There shall not be
         any action taken, or any statute, rule, regulation or order enacted,
         entered, enforced or deemed applicable to





                                    Page 43
<PAGE>   49
         the Merger, by any Governmental Entity in connection with the grant of
         a regulatory approval necessary, in the reasonable business judgment
         of the Company, to the continuing operation of the current or future
         business of Parent, which imposes any condition or restriction upon
         Parent or the business or operations of Parent which, in the
         reasonable business judgment of the Company, would be materially
         burdensome in the context of the transactions contemplated by this
         Agreement.

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

                 (f)      Tax Opinion. Mesirov Gelman Jaffe Cramer & Jamieson
         shall have delivered to the Company its written opinion as of the date
         that the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is first mailed to the
         Company stockholders substantially to the effect that (i) the Merger
         will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)
         of the Code, (ii) Parent, Merger Sub and the Company will each be a
         party to that reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of
         the Code, and (iii) no gain or loss for U.S.  federal income tax
         purposes will be recognized by the holders of the Company Common Stock
         upon receipt of shares of Parent Common Stock in the Merger, except
         with respect to any cash received in lieu of a fractional share
         interest in Parent Common Stock, and such opinion shall not have been
         withdrawn or modified in any material respect.

                 (g)      Opinion of Parent Counsel. Counsel to the Parent
         Companies shall give an opinion in substantially the form attached
         hereto as Exhibit F.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                       TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

         SECTION 8.01.    Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any
time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after approval of this
Agreement and the Merger by the stockholders of the Company:

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

                 (b)      by Parent, upon a breach of any representation,
         warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth
         in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of the Company
         shall have become untrue, in either case such that the conditions set
         forth in Section 7.02(a) or Section 7.02(b) of this Agreement, as the
         case may be, would be incapable of being satisfied by July 31, 1996;
         provided, that in any case, a willful breach shall be deemed to cause
         such conditions to be incapable of being satisfied for purposes of
         this Section 8.01(b);





                                    Page 44
<PAGE>   50
                 (c)      by the Company, upon a breach of any representation,
         warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Parent Companies
         set forth in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of
         the Parent Companies shall have become untrue, in either case such
         that the conditions set forth in Section 7.03(a) or Section 7.03(b) of
         this Agreement, as the case may be, would be incapable of being
         satisfied by July 31, 1996; provided, that in any case, a willful
         breach shall be deemed to cause such conditions to be incapable of
         being satisfied for purposes of this Section 8.01(c);

                 (d)      by either Parent or the Company, if there shall be
         any Order which is final and nonappealable preventing the consummation
         of the Merger, except if the party relying on such Order to terminate
         this Agreement has not complied with its obligations under Section
         6.03(b) of this Agreement;

                 (e)      by either Parent or the Company, if the Merger shall
         not have been consummated before July 31, 1996;

                 (f)      by either Parent or the Company, if this Agreement
         and the Merger shall fail to receive the requisite vote for approval
         and adoption by the stockholders of the Company at the Company
         Stockholders Meeting or if the issuance of the Parent Common Stock in
         connection with the Merger shall fail to receive the requisite vote
         for approval by the stockholders of Parent at the Parent Stockholders
         Meeting;

                 (g)      by Parent, if (i) the Board of Directors of the
         Company withdraws, modifies or changes its recommendation of this
         Agreement or the Merger in a manner adverse to Parent or shall have
         resolved to do any of the foregoing; (ii) the Board of Directors of
         the Company shall have recommended to the stockholders of the Company
         any Competing Transaction or shall have resolved to do so; (iii) a
         tender offer or exchange offer for 20% or more of the outstanding
         shares of capital stock of the Company is commenced, and the Board of
         Directors of the Company does not recommend that stockholders not
         tender their shares into such tender or exchange offer or; (iv) any
         person (other than Parent or an affiliate thereof) shall have acquired
         beneficial ownership or the right to acquire beneficial ownership of,
         or any "group" (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange
         Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) shall have
         been formed which beneficially owns or has the right to acquire
         beneficial ownership of, 20% or more of the then outstanding shares of
         capital stock of the Company;

                 (h)      by the Company, if the Board of Directors of the
         Company (i) fails to make or withdraws its recommendation referred to
         in Section 6.02(a) if there exists at such time a Competing
         Transaction, or (ii) recommends to the Company's stockholders approval
         or acceptance of a Competing Transaction, in each case only if the
         Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with and based
         upon the advice of independent legal counsel (who may be the Company's
         regularly engaged independent legal counsel), determines in good faith
         that such action is necessary for such Board of Directors to comply
         with its fiduciary duties to stockholders under applicable law;





                                    Page 45
<PAGE>   51
                 (i)      by the Company, if (i) the Board of Directors of the
         Parent withdraws, modifies or changes its recommendation of this
         Agreement or the Merger in a manner adverse to the Company or shall
         have resolved to do any of the foregoing; (ii) the Board of Directors
         of Parent shall have recommended to the stockholders of Parent any
         Alternate Transaction (as defined below) or shall have resolved to do
         so; (iii) a tender offer or exchange offer for 40% or more of the
         outstanding shares of capital stock of Parent is commenced, and the
         Board of Directors of Parent does not recommend that stockholders not
         tender their shares into such tender or exchange offer or; (iv) any
         person (other than the Company or an affiliate thereof) shall have
         acquired beneficial ownership or the right to acquire beneficial
         ownership of, or any "group" (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of
         the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder)
         shall have been formed which beneficially owns or has the right to
         acquire beneficial ownership of, 40% or more of the then outstanding
         shares of capital stock of Parent; or

                 (j)      by Parent, if the Board of Directors of Parent (i)
         fails to make or withdraws its recommendation referred to in Section
         6.02(a) if there exists at such time an Alternate Transaction, or (ii)
         recommends to Parent's stockholders approval or acceptance of an
         Alternate Transaction, in each case only if the Board of Directors of
         Parent, after consultation with and based upon the advice of
         independent legal counsel (who may be Parent's regularly engaged
         independent legal counsel), determines in good faith that such action
         is necessary for such Board of Directors to comply with its fiduciary
         duties to stockholders under applicable law.  As used herein
         "Alternate Transaction" shall mean any of the following (other than
         the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) involving Parent or
         any of its subsidiaries: (i) any merger, consolidation, share
         exchange, business combination or similar transaction, which
         precludes, or materially interferes with, the consummation of the
         Merger; (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or
         other disposition of 40% or more of the assets of Parent and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (iii) any tender offer or exchange
         offer for 40% or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
         Parent or the filing of a registration statement under the Securities
         Act in connection therewith; (iv) any person having acquired
         beneficial ownership of, or any group (as such term is used in Section
         13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
         thereunder) having been formed which beneficially owns or has the
         right to acquire beneficial ownership of, 40% or more of the
         outstanding shares of capital stock of Parent; or (v) any public
         announcement of a proposal, plan or intention to do any of the
         foregoing or any agreement to engage in any of the foregoing.

The right of any party hereto to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 8.01 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of
any investigation made by or on behalf of any party hereto, any person
controlling any such party or any of their respective officers, directors,
representatives or agents, whether prior to or after the execution of this
Agreement.

         SECTION 8.02.    Effect of Termination.  Except as provided in Section
8.05 or Section 9.01 of this Agreement, in the event of the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to





                                    Page 46
<PAGE>   52
Section 8.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become void, there shall be no
liability on the part of the Parent Companies or the Company to the other and
all rights and obligations of any party hereto shall cease, except that nothing
herein shall relieve any party of any liability for (i) any breach of such
party's covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, or (ii) any
willful breach of such party's representations or warranties contained in this
Agreement.

         SECTION 8.03.    Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended by the
parties hereto by action taken by or on behalf of their respective Boards of
Directors at any time prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that,
after approval of the Merger by the stockholders of the Company, (i) no
amendment, which under applicable law may not be made without the approval of
the stockholders of the Company, may be made without such approval, and (ii) no
amendment, which under the applicable rules of the NYSE, may not be made
without the approval of the stockholders of Parent, may be made without such
approval. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing
signed by the parties hereto.

         SECTION 8.04.    Waiver.  At any time prior to the Effective Time, any
party hereto may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or other acts of the other party hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies
in the representations and warranties of the other party contained herein or in
any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance by the other
party with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein.  Any such
extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in
writing signed by the party or parties to be bound thereby.  For purposes of
this Section 8.04, the Parent Companies as a group shall be deemed to be one
party.

         SECTION 8.05.    Fees, Expenses and Other Payments.

                 (a)      Except as provided in Section 8.05(c) of this
         Agreement, all Expenses (as defined in paragraph (b) of this Section
         8.05) incurred by the parties hereto shall be borne solely and
         entirely by the party which has incurred such Expenses; provided,
         however, that the allocable share of the Parent Companies as a group
         and the Company for all Expenses related to printing, filing and
         mailing the Registration Statement, the Joint Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus and all SEC and other regulatory filing fees
         incurred in connection with the Registration Statement, the Joint
         Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Hart-Scott-Rodino Premerger
         Notification and Report shall be one-half each.

                 (b)      "Expenses" as used in this Agreement shall include
         all out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, all fees
         and expenses of counsel, accountants, investment bankers, experts and
         consultants to a party hereto and its affiliates) incurred by a party
         or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization,
         preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement,
         the preparation, printing, filing and mailing of the Registration
         Statement, the Company Proxy Statement and the Parent Proxy Statement,
         the solicitation of stockholder approvals and all other matters
         related to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                 (c)      The Company agrees that if this Agreement is
         terminated pursuant to:





                                    Page 47
<PAGE>   53
                          (i)     Section 8.01(b) and (i) such termination is
                 the result of a willful breach of any representation,
                 warranty, covenant or agreement of the Company contained
                 herein and (ii) the Company shall have entered into material
                 negotiations relating to a Competing Transaction, in any such
                 case at any time within the period commencing on the date of
                 this Agreement through the date of termination of this
                 Agreement; or

                          (ii)    Section 8.01 (f) because this Agreement and
                 the Merger shall fail to receive the requisite vote for
                 approval and adoption by the stockholders of the Company at
                 the Company Stockholders Meeting and at the time of such
                 meeting there shall exist a Competing Transaction; or

                          (iii)   Section 8.01(g)(i) and at the time of the
                 withdrawal, modification or change (or resolution to do so) of
                 its recommendation by the Board of Directors of the Company,
                 there exists a Competing Transaction; or

                          (iv)    Sections 8.01(g)(ii) or (iii); or

                          (v)     Section 8.01(h); and

         there has been no material adverse change as described in Section
         7.03(c) or material breach by Parent of any representation, warranty
         or covenant on the part of Parent set forth in this Agreement, then
         the Company shall pay to Parent an amount equal to $4,000,000, which
         amount is inclusive of all of Parent's Expenses.

                 (d)      Parent agrees that if this Agreement is terminated
         pursuant to:

                          (i)     Section 8.01(c) and (i) such termination is
                 the result of a willful breach of any representation,
                 warranty, covenant or agreement of Parent contained herein and
                 (ii) Parent shall have entered into material negotiations
                 relating to an Alternate Transaction, in any such case at any
                 time within the period commencing on the date of this
                 Agreement through the date of termination of this Agreement;
                 or

                          (ii)    Section 8.01 (f) because this Agreement and
                 the Merger shall fail to receive the requisite vote for
                 approval and adoption by the stockholders of Parent at the
                 Parent Stockholders Meeting and at the time of such meeting
                 there shall exist an Alternate Transaction; or

                          (iii)   Section 8.01(i)(i) and at the time of the
                 withdrawal, modification or change (or resolution to do so) of
                 its recommendation by the Board of Directors of Parent, there
                 exists an Alternate Transaction; or

                          (iv)    Sections 8.01(i)(ii) or (iii); or





                                    Page 48
<PAGE>   54
                          (v)     Section 8.01(j); and

there has been no material adverse change as described in Section 7.02(c) or
material breach by the Company of any representation, warranty or covenant on
the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement, then Parent shall pay to
the Company an amount equal to $4,000,000, which amount is inclusive of all of
the Company's Expenses.

                 (e)      Any payment required to be made pursuant to Section
         8.05(c) or (d) of this Agreement shall be made as promptly as
         practicable but not later than ten business days after termination of
         this Agreement, and shall be made by wire transfer of immediately
         available funds to an account designated by Parent or the Company, as
         applicable.


                                   ARTICLE IX

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

         SECTION 9.01.    Effectiveness of Representations, Warranties and
Agreements.

                 (a)      Except as set forth in Section 9.01(b) of this
         Agreement, the representations, warranties and agreements of each
         party hereto shall remain operative and in full force and effect from
         the date of this Agreement until the Effective Date regardless of any
         investigation made by or on behalf of any other party hereto, any
         person controlling any such party or any of their officers, directors,
         representatives or agents, whether prior to or after the execution of
         this Agreement.

                 (b)      The representations, warranties and agreements in
         this Agreement shall terminate at the Effective Time or upon the
         termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, except that
         the agreements set forth in Articles I and II and IX and Sections
         6.08, 6.09 and 6.11 shall survive the Effective Time and those set
         forth in Sections 5.04(d), 8.02 and 8.05 and Article IX hereof shall
         survive termination.  Nothing herein shall be construed to cause the
         Confidentiality Agreements to terminate upon the termination of this
         Agreement pursuant to Article VIII.

         SECTION 9.02.    Notices.  All notices and other communications given
or made pursuant hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given upon receipt, if delivered personally, mailed by registered or
certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the parties at
the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be
specified by like changes of address) or sent by electronic transmission to the
telecopier number specified below:

                 (a)      If to any of the Parent Companies, to:

                          Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc.





                                    Page 49
<PAGE>   55
                          200 Concord Plaza Drive
                          Suite 800
                          San Antonio, Texas 78216
                          Attention: Larry Franklin
                          Telecopier No. (210) 829-9403

                 with a copy to:

                          Hughes & Luce, L.L.P.
                          2800 Bank One Center
                          1717 Main Street
                          Dallas, Texas 75201

                          Attention:       Alan J. Bogdanow
                          Telecopier No.: (214) 939-6100

                 (b)      If to the Company, to:

                          DiMark, Inc.
                          2050 Cabot Boulevard West.
                          Langhorne, Pennsylvania 19047

                          Attention: Thomas Garvey
                                     Michael Wert
                                     Telecopier No.:  (215) 741-3534

           with a copy to:

                          Mesirov Gelman Jaffe Cramer & Jamieson
                          1735 Market Street
                          Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

                          Attention:  Richard P. Jaffe
                          Telecopier No.:  (215) 994-1111

         SECTION 9.03.    Certain Definitions.  For the purposes of this
Agreement, the term:

                 (a)      "affiliate" 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;

                 (b)      a person shall be deemed a "beneficial owner" of or
         to have "beneficial ownership" of the Company Common Stock or Parent
         Common Stock, as the case may be, in accordance with the
         interpretation of the term "beneficial ownership" as defined in Rule
         13d-3 under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date hereof;
         provided that a





                                    Page 50
<PAGE>   56
         person shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of, and to have
         beneficial ownership of, the Company Common Stock or Parent Common
         Stock, as the case may be, that such person or any affiliate of such
         person has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable
         immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any
         agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of
         conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

                 (c)      "business day" means any day other than a day on
         which banks in the State of New York are authorized or obligated to be
         closed;

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

                 (e)      "ERISA Affiliate" means the Company and each
         corporation, partnership, or other trade or business, whether or not
         incorporated, which is or has been treated as a single employer or
         controlled group member with the Company pursuant to Code Section 414
         or ERISA Section 4001.

                 (f)      "knowledge" or "known" means with respect to any
         matter in question, if an executive officer of the Company or Parent,
         as the case may be, has actual knowledge of such matter;

                 (g)      "person" means an individual, corporation,
         partnership, association, trust, unincorporated organization, other
         entity or group (as used in Section l3(d) of the Exchange Act);

                 (h)      "Registrable Securities" shall mean any shares of
         Parent Common Stock issued to affiliates of the Company pursuant to
         Section 2.01 of this Agreement.  As to any particular Registrable
         Securities, once issued such securities shall cease to be Registrable
         Securities when (i) a registration statement with respect to the sale
         of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities
         Act and such securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with
         such registration statement, (ii) they shall have been sold pursuant
         to Rule 145(d) (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act
         or be freely saleable under Rule 145(d) under the Securities Act in
         the written opinion of outside counsel, addressed to the holders
         thereof, selected by the Company and reasonable acceptable to such
         holders, (iii) they shall have been otherwise transferred, new
         certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further
         transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent
         disposition of them shall not require registration or qualification of
         them under the Securities Act or any state securities or blue sky law
         then in force, or (iv) they shall have ceased to be outstanding.





                                    Page 51
<PAGE>   57
                 (i)      "subsidiary" or "subsidiaries" of the Company,
         Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any other person, means any
         corporation, partnership, joint venture or other legal entity of which
         the Company, Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any such other
         person, as the case may be (either alone or through or together with
         any other subsidiary), owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more 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 other
         governing body of such corporation or other legal entity; and

                 (j)      "Tax" or "Taxes" means any and all taxes, charges,
         fees, levies, assessments, duties or other amounts payable to any
         federal, state, local or foreign taxing authority or agency,
         including, without limitation, (x) income, franchise, profits, gross
         receipts, minimum, alternative minimum, estimated, ad valorem, value
         added, sales, use, service, real or personal property, capital stock,
         license, payroll, withholding, disability, employment, social
         security, workers compensation, unemployment compensation, utility,
         severance, excise, stamp, windfall profits, transfer and gains taxes,
         (y) customs, duties, imposts, charges, levies or other similar
         assessments of any kind, and (z) interest, penalties and additions to
         tax imposed with respect thereto.

         SECTION 9.04.    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 references herein are, unless the
context otherwise requires, references to sections of this Agreement.

         SECTION 9.05.    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 such determination that any term or
other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties
hereto 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 transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the
extent possible.

         SECTION 9.06.    Entire Agreement.  This Agreement (together with the
Exhibits, the Company Disclosure Schedule and the Parent Disclosure Schedule)
and the Confidentiality Agreements constitute the entire agreement of the
parties, and supersede all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and
oral, among the parties or between any of them, with respect to the subject
matter hereof.  The Company agrees that nothing contained in this Agreement,
the proxies granted by certain officers and directors of the Company to Parent
on or about the date hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby
shall be deemed to violate the Confidentiality Agreements and that such
agreements and proxies have been entered into or granted with the prior written
consent of the Company.

         SECTION 9.07.    Assignment.  This Agreement shall not be assigned by
operation of law or otherwise.





                                    Page 52
<PAGE>   58
         SECTION 9.08.    Parties in Interest.  This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this
Agreement, express or implied (other than as contemplated by Section 6.08 and
Section 6.11), is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any right,
benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this
Agreement.

         SECTION 9.09.    Specific Performance.  The parties hereby acknowledge
and agree that the failure of any party to perform its agreements and covenants
hereunder, including its failure to take all actions as are necessary on its
part to the consummation of the Merger, will cause irreparable injury to the
other parties for which damages, even if available, will not be an adequate
remedy.  Accordingly, each party hereby consents to the issuance of injunctive
relief by any court of competent jurisdiction to compel performance of such
party's obligations and to the granting by any court of the remedy of specific
performance of its obligations hereunder.

         SECTION 9.10.    Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver; Remedies
Cumulative.  No failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in the
exercise of any right hereunder shall impair such right or be construed to be a
waiver of, or acquiescence in, any breach of any representation, warranty or
agreement herein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right
preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right.  All rights
and remedies existing under this Agreement are cumulative to, and not exclusive
to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise available.

         SECTION 9.11.    Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by,
and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless
of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of
conflicts of law, except to the extent that the laws of New Jersey mandatorily
apply.

         SECTION 9.12.    Registration Rights.

                 (a)      Piggyback Registration.

                          (1)  If, at any time in the first two years following
                 the Closing, the Parent proposes to register any of its Common
                 Stock under the Securities Act (other than on a registration
                 statement on Form S-4 or S-8, or any successor or other forms
                 promulgated for similar purposes), the Parent shall give
                 written notice to the holders of any  Registrable Securities
                 at least 15 days prior to the anticipated filing date of such
                 proposed registration statement and upon the written request
                 of any such holder, given within 10 days of the receipt of any
                 such written notice (which request shall specify the
                 Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such
                 holder), the Parent will use its best efforts to include in
                 such registration statement all of the Registrable Securities
                 held by such holders and specified in such requests; provided,
                 however, that (i) the maximum number of securities to be sold
                 by such holders shall not exceed the number of securities
                 which the managing underwriter (or the Parent in the event the
                 offering is not underwritten)





                                    Page 53
<PAGE>   59
                 considers, in good faith, to be appropriate based on market
                 conditions and other relevant factors (including pricing and
                 the number of securities to be sold by the Parent and
                 stockholders and option holders of the Parent) at such time;
                 and (ii) if the total number of securities desired to be sold
                 exceeds such amount, the Parent or, in the case of
                 registration required pursuant to a demand registration right
                 granted to other stockholders of the Parent, the stockholders
                 that demanded such registration, shall be entitled to include
                 in the offering the full number of securities which it desires
                 to include, and any holders of Registrable Securities, and
                 other stockholders and option holders of the Parent who elect
                 to participate in the offering shall each be entitled to sell
                 a portion of any remaining amount of the number of securities
                 pro rata based on the number of shares of Common Stock each
                 such holder notified the Parent that such  holder wished to
                 sell.  In any case, any such holder shall have the right to
                 withdraw its request for inclusion of its securities in any
                 registration statement pursuant hereto by giving written
                 notice to the Parent of its request to withdraw prior to the
                 effective date of such registration statement.  At any time
                 prior to the effective date of any registration statement
                 pursuant hereto, the Parent shall have the right to
                 discontinue such registration hereunder.  No registration
                 effected pursuant to this Section 9.12(a) shall relieve the
                 Parent from its obligation to effect any registration on
                 request pursuant to Section 9.12(b) hereof.

                          (2)     If any holder of Registrable Securities
                 elects to participate in an underwritten offering of
                 securities, the Parent will enter into an underwriting
                 agreement with the underwriters for such offering, such
                 agreement to be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance
                 to the Parent, each such selling holder and the underwriters,
                 and to contain such representations, warranties and covenants
                 by the  Parent and such other terms as are customarily
                 contained in such agreements used by the managing underwriter,
                 including without limitation indemnities and contributions to
                 the effect and to the extent provided  herein or as may
                 otherwise be required by the managing underwriter.  Each such
                 selling holder shall be party to any underwriting agreement
                 relating to an underwritten sale of its securities.  Such
                 holder shall not be required to make any representations or
                 warranties to or agreements with the Parent or the
                 underwriters except as related to such holder and except for
                 the indemnities and contribution to the effect and to the
                 extent provided herein or as may otherwise be required by the
                 managing underwriter.

                 (b)      Registration on Request.

                          (1)     For a period of two years following the
                 Closing, upon the written request of holders holding
                 Registrable Securities requesting that the Parent effect the
                 registration under the Securities Act of not less than 500,000
                 shares of such Registrable Securities, the Parent shall
                 promptly provide written notice of such request to all holders
                 of Registrable Securities, and thereupon will use its best
                 efforts to register under the Securities Act the Registrable
                 Securities held by such





                                    Page 54
<PAGE>   60
                 holders which the Parent has been so requested by such holders
                 to register and all other Registrable Securities which the
                 Parent has been requested by any other holder by written
                 request given to the Parent within 10 days after giving of
                 such written notice by the Parent, subject to the limitation
                 of subsection (3) below.

                          (2)     The registration rights granted hereby are
                 subject to the following limitations:  (i) the Parent shall
                 not be obligated to file more than one such registration
                 statements pursuant hereto; (ii) the Parent shall not be
                 obligated to cause any registration statement filed hereunder
                 to be declared effective less than six months after the
                 effective date of any other registration statement filed by
                 the Parent; and (iii) if with respect thereto, the managing
                 underwriter, the SEC, the Securities Act, or the form on which
                 the registration statement is to be filed, would require the
                 conduct of an audit other than the regular audit conducted by
                 the Parent at the end of its fiscal year, in which case the
                 filing may be delayed until the completion of such regular
                 audit (unless the holders requesting registration agree to pay
                 the expenses of the Parent in connection with such an audit
                 other than the regular audit).  In addition, the Parent shall
                 have the right to postpone the filing of any registration
                 statement requested pursuant hereto for up to three (3) months
                 if, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Parent,
                 the filing of any such registration statement would interfere
                 with any material transaction then being pursued by the Parent
                 or other material, pending development.  The Parent shall
                 select any underwriter or underwriters used in connection with
                 any public offering of securities registered pursuant to this
                 paragraph.

                          (3)     The Parent may elect to include in any
                 registration statement filed and any offering pursuant hereto,
                 newly issued shares of Common Stock and shares held by other
                 stockholders of the Parent ("Other Sellers"); provided that if
                 the number of securities desired to be offered by the Parent
                 and such Other Sellers together with the Registrable
                 Securities which the Parent has been requested to register
                 exceeds the maximum number of securities which any managing
                 underwriter recommends including in the offering, then the
                 holders of Registrable Securities and the Parent shall be
                 entitled to include in the offering the full number of
                 securities which they desire to include, and each of the Other
                 Sellers who elect to participate in the offering shall be
                 entitled to sell a portion of the remaining maximum number, if
                 any, pro rata based on the number of securities each such
                 Other Seller notified the Parent that such Other Seller wished
                 to sell.  If, pursuant to the preceding sentence, all the
                 securities of the Other Sellers are excluded, and the number
                 of securities proposed to be included by the holders of
                 Registrable Securities and the Parent exceeds the maximum
                 number, such holders shall be entitled to include in the
                 offering the full number of Registrable Securities and the
                 Parent shall be entitled to sell the remaining amount up to
                 the maximum number.  Each of the holders of Registrable
                 Securities and the Parent (in the event that any securities
                 are to be offered by the Parent) may withdraw from any demand
                 registration pursuant hereto by giving written notice to the
                 Parent prior to





                                    Page 55
<PAGE>   61
                 the closing with respect to such offering; provided, however,
                 that after such withdrawal, no such withdrawing holder may
                 demand any registration pursuant hereto.

                 (c)      Cooperation.  If so requested by any managing
         underwriter of any offering of securities pursuant hereto, all holders
         of Registrable Securities and the Parent shall agree not to sell any
         shares of Common Stock (other than shares to be sold in such offering)
         without the consent of any such managing underwriter for a period of
         seven days prior to and up to three months after the effective date of
         the registration statement filed with respect to such offering.

                 (d)      Information.  A holder of Registrable Securities
         wishing to have any Registrable Securities included in a registration
         statement shall furnish to the Parent all such information and
         material as may be reasonably requested by the Parent or its counsel,
         including without limitation all information and material concerning
         such holder of Registrable Securities as may be required to be
         included in such registration statement under the Securities Act and
         the securities laws of the jurisdictions in which any public offering
         is made.  Such  holder shall also do all such things and execute all
         such additional instruments as may be necessary or desirable in the
         opinion of the Parent or its counsel in connection with such
         registration statement and shall comply in all respects with the
         Securities Act and the securities laws of the jurisdictions in which
         any public offering is made.  The Parent may require each seller of
         any Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being
         effected to furnish the Parent such information regarding such seller
         and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Parent may
         from time to time request in writing and as shall be required by law
         to effect such registration.

                 (e)      Obligations of the Parent.  Whenever the Parent is
         required by the provisions hereof to register any  Registrable
         Securities under the Securities Act, the Parent shall, as
         expeditiously as possible:

                          (1)     prepare and file with the SEC, and use its
                 best efforts to cause to be declared and remain effective, the
                 registration statement and any amendments and supplements to
                 the registration statement and the prospectus used in
                 connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the
                 registration statement current and to comply with the
                 provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the
                 disposition of all securities covered by the registration
                 statement required to effect the distribution of such
                 securities, but in no event shall the Parent be required to do
                 so for a period of more than 180 days following the effective
                 date of the registration or such longer period as may be
                 required under any underwriting agreement;

                          (2)     use its best efforts to register or qualify
                 the securities covered by the registration statement under
                 such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions
                 in the United States as any managing underwriter reasonably
                 shall request; provided, however, that in no event shall the
                 Parent be required to qualify to do business as a foreign
                 corporation in any jurisdiction where it is not so





                                    Page 56
<PAGE>   62
                 qualified, to conform the composition of its assets at the
                 time to the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction,
                 or to subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction where it
                 has not theretofore done so;

                          (3)     otherwise use its best efforts to comply with
                 all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC;

                          (4)     assist the sellers of any such Registrable
                 Securities and any managing underwriter in the marketing
                 process with respect to such public offering to such extent as
                 they shall reasonably request;

                          (5)     furnish to each seller of such  Registrable
                 Securities such number of copies of such registration
                 statement and of each such amendment and supplement thereto
                 (in each case including all exhibits), such number of copies
                 of the prospectus included in such registration statement
                 (including each preliminary prospectus), in conformity with
                 the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other
                 documents, as such seller may reasonably request in order to
                 facilitate the disposition of the Common Stock owned by such
                 seller; and

                          (6)     notify each seller of any such Registrable
                 Securities covered by such registration statement, at any time
                 when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered
                 under the Securities Act within the period mentioned in
                 subdivision (1) of this Section 9.12(e), of the happening of
                 any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such
                 registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue
                 statement of a material fact or omits to state any material
                 fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
                 statements therein not misleading in light of the
                 circumstances under which they were made (and upon receipt of
                 such notice and until a supplemented or amended prospectus as
                 set forth below is available, each such seller shall not offer
                 or sell any securities covered by such registration statement
                 and shall return all copies of such prospectus to the Parent
                 if requested to do so by it), and at the request of any such
                 seller prepare and furnish to such seller a reasonable number
                 of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such
                 prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter such
                 prospectus shall 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 not
                 misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were
                 made.

                 (f)      Expenses.  The Parent will pay all registration
         expenses in connection with each registration of Registrable
         Securities requested pursuant to Sections 9.12(a) and 9.12(b) and any
         other fees and expenses relating to the Parent, and each holder shall
         pay all fees and expenses of counsel to such holder, underwriting
         discounts and commissions, and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the
         sale or disposition of such holder's Registrable Securities pursuant
         to a registration statement effected pursuant to Sections 9.12(a) and
         9.12(b).





                                    Page 57
<PAGE>   63
                 (g)      Indemnification.

                          (1)     In the event of any registration under the
                 Securities Act of any securities of the Parent pursuant
                 hereto, the Parent shall (i) indemnify and hold harmless any
                 holder of Registrable Securities whose securities are included
                 in the registration statement (the "Seller"), any underwriter,
                 and each other person, if any, who controls any Seller or
                 underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
                 Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint
                 or several ("Claims"), to which each such indemnified party
                 may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise,
                 insofar as any claims (or actions in respect thereof) that
                 arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
                 untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
                 registration statement or preliminary prospectus (if used
                 prior to the effective date of the registration statement) or
                 summary or final prospectus or any amendment or supplement
                 thereto (if used during the period that the Parent is required
                 to keep the registration statement current) or any document
                 filed under a state securities or blue sky law (collectively,
                 "Registration Documents") or insofar as any Claims (or actions
                 in respect thereof) that arise out of or are based upon the
                 omission or alleged omission to state in any Registration
                 Document a material fact required to be stated therein or
                 necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading;
                 and (ii) reimburse each indemnified party for all legal or
                 other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with
                 investigating or defending any Claim or action, excluding any
                 amounts paid in settlement of any litigation, commenced or
                 threatened, if such settlement is effected without the prior
                 written consent of the Parent; provided, however, that the
                 Parent shall not be liable to a particular indemnified party
                 in any case to the extent that any Claim or expense arises out
                 of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
                 statement or omission made in any Registration Document in
                 reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished by
                 such indemnified party.  In addition, the Parent will not
                 indemnify (unless otherwise required by the managing
                 underwriter) any underwriter or any person who is associated
                 with or controls any underwriter with respect to any
                 preliminary prospectus if the underwriter failed to send or to
                 give a copy of the final prospectus to the person asserting
                 the Claim at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale
                 of the securities of the Parent to such person, if the untrue
                 statement or omission at issue had been corrected in the final
                 prospectus.

                          (2)     In the event of any registration under the
                 Securities Act of any Registrable Securities pursuant hereto,
                 each Seller severally shall (i) indemnify and hold harmless
                 the Parent, each of its directors, each of its officers who
                 have signed the registration statement, each other person, if
                 any, who controls the  Parent within the meaning of Section 15
                 of the Securities Act, and each underwriter and each other
                 person, if any, who controls such underwriter within the
                 meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act against any Claims
                 to which each such indemnified party may become subject under
                 the Securities Act or otherwise,





                                    Page 58
<PAGE>   64
                 insofar as such Claims (or actions in respect thereof) arise
                 out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
                 untrue statement of any material fact contained in any
                 Registration Document, or arise out of or are based upon the
                 omission or alleged omission to state in any Registration
                 Document a material fact required to be stated therein or
                 necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading,
                 and (ii) reimburse each indemnified party for all legal or
                 other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with
                 investigating or defending any such Claim or action, excluding
                 any amounts paid in settlement of any litigation, commenced or
                 threatened, if the settlement is effected without the prior
                 written consent of the Seller; provided, however, that such
                 indemnification or reimbursement shall be payable only if, and
                 to the extent that any Claim or expense arises out of or is
                 based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
                 omission or alleged omission made in any Registration Document
                 in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
                 furnished to the Parent by the Seller specifically stating
                 that it is for use in the preparation thereof.

                          (3)     The Parent will not be required to register
                 Registrable Securities held by any Seller unless such Seller
                 executes an agreement to indemnify the Parent and other
                 Sellers and associated persons upon the same terms and
                 conditions as the Seller agrees to indemnify the Parent as
                 provided herein.

                          (4)     Promptly after receipt by a party to be
                 indemnified of notice of the commencement of any action, the
                 indemnified party shall notify the party from whom indemnity
                 may be sought in writing of the commencement thereof, if a
                 claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying
                 party hereunder; but the omission of such notice shall not
                 relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may
                 have to any indemnified party otherwise than pursuant hereto.
                 In case any action is brought against the indemnified party
                 and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement
                 thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to
                 participate in, and to the extent that it chooses, to assume
                 the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
                 the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying
                 party to the indemnified party that it so chooses, the
                 indemnifying party shall not be liable for any legal or other
                 expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in
                 connection with the defense thereof; provided, however, that
                 (i) if the indemnifying party fails to take reasonable steps
                 necessary to defend diligently the claim within 20 days after
                 receiving notice from the indemnified party that the
                 indemnified party believes it has failed to do so, or (ii) if
                 the indemnified party who is a defendant in any action or
                 proceeding which is also brought against the indemnifying
                 party reasonably shall have concluded that there may be legal
                 defenses available to the indemnified party that are not
                 available to the indemnifying party, or (iii) if
                 representation of both parties by the same counsel is
                 otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of
                 professional conduct, the indemnified party shall have the
                 right to assume or continue its own defense as set forth above
                 (but with no more than one firm of counsel for all indemnified
                 parties in each jurisdiction, except to the extent





                                    Page 59
<PAGE>   65
                 any indemnified party or parties reasonably shall  have
                 concluded that there may be legal defenses available to some
                 indemnified parties that are not available to all, or to the
                 extent representation of all indemnified parties by the same
                 counsel is otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards
                 of professional conduct) and the indemnifying party shall be
                 liable for any expenses therefor.  No indemnifying party, in
                 the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except
                 with the consent of each indemnified party, which consent
                 shall not be unreasonably withheld, consent to entry of any
                 judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include
                 as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or
                 plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all
                 liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

                          (5)     Any indemnity agreements contained herein
                 shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or
                 contribution which any indemnified party may have pursuant to
                 law or contract and shall remain operative and in full force
                 and effect regardless of any investigation made or omitted by
                 or on behalf of any indemnified party.

                          (6)     If for any reason the foregoing indemnity is
                 unavailable, or is insufficient to hold harmless an
                 indemnified party, then the indemnifying party shall
                 contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified
                 party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
                 or expenses (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
                 reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying
                 party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other
                 or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not
                 permitted by applicable law or provides a lesser sum to the
                 indemnified party than the amount hereinafter calculated, in
                 such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
                 relative benefits received by the indemnifying party on the
                 one hand and the indemnified party on the other, but also the
                 relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified
                 party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
                 No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentations (within the
                 meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be
                 entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of
                 such fraudulent misrepresentation.

                 (h)      All agreements with respect to indemnification
         pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and
         shall survive delivery of and payment for any Registrable Securities
         registered pursuant to this Section 9.12.

         SECTION 9.13.    Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in
multiple counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but
all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.





                                    Page 60
<PAGE>   66
         SECTION 9.14.    Irrevocable Proxy.

                 (a)      Upon execution of this Agreement, the Company shall
         cause each of Thomas E. Garvey, Michael L.  Wert and Stephen C. Marcus
         to execute and deliver an irrevocable proxy in favor of Parent with
         respect to all of the voting stock of the Company held by such persons
         equal to approximately 28.2% of the total shares of Company voting
         stock outstanding as of the date hereof, in substantially the form
         attached as Exhibit C to this Agreement.

                 (b)      Upon execution of this Agreement, Parent shall cause
         each of Larry Franklin and Houston H.  Harte to execute and deliver an
         irrevocable proxy in favor of the Company with respect to the voting
         stock of Parent held by such persons equal to approximately 28.2% of
         the total shares of Parent voting stock as of the date hereof in
         substantially the form attached as Exhibit D to this Agreement.





                                    Page 61
<PAGE>   67
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective
officers thereunto duly authorized.

                                     HARTE-HANKS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.        
                                                                             
                                     By:                                     
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer   
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                     HHD ACQUISITION CORP.                   
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                     By:                                     
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        President                               
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                     DIMARK, INC.                            
                                                                             
                                     By:                                     
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Chairman                                





                                    Page 62
<PAGE>   68
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                         COMPANY AFFILIATE'S AGREEMENT


Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc.
200 Concord Plaza Drive
Suite 800
San Antonio, Texas 78216


Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I have been advised that as of the date hereof, I may be deemed to be
an "affiliate" of DiMark, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the "Company"), as
that term is defined for purposes of paragraphs (c) and (d) of Rule 145 of the
Rules and Regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act").

         Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of that certain
Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Parent"), HHD Acquisition Corp., a New Jersey
corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), and the
Company dated as of February __, 1996 (the "Merger Agreement"), providing for,
among other things, the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the
"Merger"), I will be entitled to receive shares of common stock, par value
$1.00 per share, of Parent ("Parent Common Stock"), in exchange for shares of
common stock, no par value, of the Company ("the Company Common Stock") owned
by me at the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of the Merger
as determined pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

         I further understand that the Merger will be treated for financial
accounting purposes as a "pooling of interests" in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles and that the staff of the SEC has issued certain
guidelines that should be followed to ensure the pooling of the entities.

         In consideration of the agreements contained herein, Parent's reliance
on this letter in connection with the consummation of the Merger and for other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, I hereby represent, warrant and agree that (i) I will not
make any sale, transfer or other disposition of the Company Common Stock owned
by me during the period commencing 30 days before the Effective Time and ending
at the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of the Merger
Agreement, and (ii) I will not make any sale, transfer or other disposition of
Parent Common Stock owned by me after the Effective Time until such time as
financial statements that include at least 30 days of combined operations of
the Company and Parent after the Merger shall have been publicly reported,
unless I shall have delivered to Parent prior to any such sale, transfer or
other disposition, a written opinion from KPMG Peat Marwick, independent public
accountants for Parent, or a written no-





                                 Exhibit A-1
<PAGE>   69
action letter from the accounting staff of the SEC, in either case in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent, to the effect that such sale,
transfer or other disposition will not cause the Merger not to be treated as a
"pooling of interests" for financial accounting purposes in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles and the rules, regulations and
interpretations of the SEC and (iii) I will not make any sale, transfer or
other disposition of any shares of Parent Common Stock received by me pursuant
to the Merger in violation of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations.
I have been advised that the issuance of the shares of Parent Common Stock
pursuant to the Merger will have been registered with the SEC under the
Securities Act on a Registration Statement on Form S-4.  However, I have also
been advised, and I agree, that since I may be deemed to be an affiliate of the
Company at the time the Merger is submitted for a vote of the stockholders of
the Company, the Parent Common Stock received by me pursuant to the Merger can
be sold by me only (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act, (ii) in conformity with the volume and other limitations of
Rule 145 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act, or (iii) in reliance
upon an exemption from registration that is available under the Securities Act.

         I also understand and agree that stop transfer instructions will be
given to Parent's transfer agent with respect to the Parent Common Stock to be
received by me pursuant to the Merger and that there will be placed on the
certificates representing such shares of Parent Common Stock, or any
substitutions therefor, a legend stating in substance as follows:

"These shares were issued in a transaction to which Rule 145 promulgated under
the Securities Act of 1933 applies.  These shares may only be transferred in
accordance with the terms of such Rule and an Affiliate's Agreement between the
original holder of such shares and [Parent], a copy of which agreement is on
file at the principal offices of such company."

         It is understood and agreed that the legend set forth above shall be
removed upon surrender of certificates bearing such legend by delivery of
substitute certificates without such legend if I shall have delivered to Parent
an opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent,
to the effect that the sale or disposition of the shares represented by the
surrendered certificates may be effected without registration of the offering,
sale and delivery of such shares under the Securities Act.

         By its execution hereof, Parent agrees that it will, as long as I own
any Parent Common Stock to be received by me pursuant to the Merger, the resale
of which remains subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act, take all
reasonable efforts to make timely filings with the SEC of all reports required
to be filed by it pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and will promptly furnish upon written request of the undersigned a written
statement confirming that such reports have been so timely filed.





                                 Exhibit A-2
<PAGE>   70
         If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please so indicate by
signing below and returning a copy of this letter to the undersigned, at which
time this letter shall become a binding agreement between us.

                                     Very truly yours,


                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:
                                        Date:
                                        Address:

ACCEPTED this ______ day
of _____________, 1996

Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc.

By: 
    ------------------------------
    Name:
    Title:





                                 Exhibit A-3
<PAGE>   71
                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                          PARENT AFFILIATE'S AGREEMENT

Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc.
200 Concord Plaza Drive
Suite 800
San Antonio, Texas 78216


Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I have been advised that as of the date hereof, I may be deemed to be
an "affiliate" of Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Parent"), as that term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the Rules
and Regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC").

         I understand that, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions
of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of February __, 1996 (the
"Merger Agreement") by and among Parent, HHD Acquisition Corp., a New Jersey
corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), and DiMark,
Inc., a New Jersey corporation ("the Company"), Merger Sub will be merged with
and into the Company (the "Merger") at the Effective Time (as defined in the
Merger Agreement).

         I further understand that the Merger will be treated for financial
accounting purposes as a "pooling of interests" in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles and that the staff of the SEC has issued certain
guidelines that should be followed to ensure the pooling of the entities.

         In consideration of the agreements contained herein, Parent's reliance
on this letter in connection with the consummation of the Merger and for other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, I hereby represent, warrant and agree that (i) I will not
make any sale, transfer or other disposition of Parent Common Stock (as defined
in the Merger Agreement) owned by me during the period commencing 30 days
before the Effective Time and ending at the earlier of the Effective Time and
the termination of the Merger Agreement, and (ii) I will not make any sale,
transfer or other disposition of Parent Common Stock owned by me after the
Effective Time until such time as financial statements that include at least 30
days of combined operations of the Company and Parent after the Merger shall
have been publicly reported, unless I shall have delivered to Parent prior to
any such sale, transfer or other disposition, a written opinion from KPMG Peat
Marwick, independent public accountants for Parent, or a written no-action
letter from the accounting staff of the SEC, in either case in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent, to the effect that such sale,
transfer or other disposition will not cause the Merger not to be treated as a
"pooling of interests"





                                 Exhibit B-1
<PAGE>   72
for financial accounting purposes in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles and the rules, regulations and interpretations of the
SEC.

                                     Very truly yours,


                                     By:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:
                                        Date:
                                        Address:





                                 Exhibit B-2
<PAGE>   73
                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                                                               ___________, 1996

Re: IRREVOCABLE PROXY

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         In connection with the execution of that certain merger agreement by
and among Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc., HHD Acquisition Corp., and DiMark,
Inc. (the "Company") dated February ___, 1996 (the "Merger Agreement"), the
undersigned ("Grantor") hereby irrevocably appoints (*) (or its designees),
with full power of substitution, as proxy for the Grantor to vote the shares of
common stock ("Common Stock") of the Company which the Grantor is entitled to
vote (the "Proxy Shares"), for and in the name, place and stead of the Grantor,
at any meeting of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock or any
adjournments or postponements thereof or pursuant to any consent in lieu of a
meeting, or otherwise, with respect only to the approval of the Merger
Agreement, any matters related to or in connection with the proposed merger and
any corporate action the consummation of which would violate, frustrate the
purposes of, or prevent or delay the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including without limitation any proposal
to amend the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or approve any
merger, consolidation, sale or purchase of any assets, issuance of Company
Common Stock or any other equity security of the Company (or a security
convertible into an equity security of the Company), reorganization,
recapitalization, liquidation or winding up of or by the Company).  The
undersigned represents and warrants that the undersigned has all necessary
power and authority to deliver this proxy.

         This proxy is coupled with an interest and is expressly made
irrevocable and will expire on the earliest to occur of (i) the closing of the
transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (ii) the termination of the
Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms, or (iii) July 31, 1996.

         This proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the Company.

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

                                           Printed Name
                                                       -------------------------

                                           No. of Proxy Shares
                                                              ------------------





                                 Exhibit C-1
<PAGE>   74
                                                                       EXHIBIT D

                                                               ___________, 1996

Re: IRREVOCABLE PROXY

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         In connection with the execution of that certain merger agreement by
and among Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc.  ("Parent"), HHD Acquisition Corp.
and DiMark, Inc. dated February __, 1996 (the "Merger Agreement"), the
undersigned ("Grantor") hereby irrevocably appoints (*) (or its designees),
with full power of substitution, as proxy for the Grantor to vote the shares of
common stock ("Common Stock") of Parent, which the Grantor is entitled to vote
(the "Proxy Shares"), for and in the name, place and stead of the Grantor, at
any meeting of the holders of shares of Parent Common Stock or any adjournments
or postponements thereof or pursuant to any consent in lieu of a meeting, or
otherwise, with respect only to the approval of the issuance of Parent Common
Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement (the "Stock Issuance"), any matters
related to or in connection with the Stock Issuance and any corporate action
the consummation of which would violate, frustrate the purposes of, or prevent
or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement (including without limitation any proposal to amend the certificate
of incorporation or by-laws of Parent or approve any merger, consolidation,
sale or purchase of any assets, issuance of Parent Common Stock or any other
equity security of Parent (or a security convertible into an equity security of
Parent), reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation or winding up of or by
Parent).  The undersigned represents and warrants that the undersigned has all
necessary power and authority to deliver this proxy.

         This proxy is coupled with an interest and is expressly made
irrevocable and will expire on the earliest to occur of (i) the closing of the
transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (ii) the termination of the
Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms, or (iii) July 31, 1996.

         This proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of Parent.

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

                                           Printed Name
                                                       -------------------------

                                           No. of Proxy Shares
                                                              ------------------




                                 Exhibit D-1
<PAGE>   75
                                                                       EXHIBIT E

                           OPINION OF COMPANY COUNSEL




                                 Exhibit E-1
<PAGE>   76
                                                                       EXHIBIT F

                           OPINION OF PARENT COUNSEL




                                 Exhibit F-1


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