MEDTRONIC INC
SC 13D, 1998-07-07
ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS
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                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                        (Amendment No. _______________)*

                    PHYSIO-CONTROL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                (Name of Issuer)

                          Common Stock, $.01 par value

                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                   719431 10 8
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                            Carol E. Malkinson, Esq.
                                 Medtronic, Inc.
                             7000 Central Ave. N.E.
                          Minneapolis, Minnesota 55432
                                  (612)514-4000

            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
                     to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                  June 27, 1998
             (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 |_|.

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 purpose 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>

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

    1      NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
           I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
                    Medtronic, Inc.
                    41-0793183

    2      CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
           (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)                                            (a) |_|
                                                                         (b) |_|

    3      SEC USE ONLY

    4      SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

                    WC

    5      CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
           PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)                                    |_|

    6      CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

                    Minnesota
                                                  7     SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                          3,526,683 (1)
                  NUMBER OF
                   SHARES                         8     SHARED VOTING POWER
                BENEFICIALLY                              700,465 (1)
                  OWNED BY
                    EACH                          9     SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                  REPORTING                               3,526,683 (1)
                   PERSON
                    WITH                         10     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                          0

   11      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
           4,227,148 (includes 700,465 shares which are subject to
             the Agreements to Facilitate Merger)(1)

   12      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
             CERTAIN SHARES                                                  |_|
           (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

   13      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
                    23.85%(1)

   14      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
                    HC


1  3,526,683  of the  shares of  Common  Stock of  Physio-Control  International
Corporation  ("PCIC")  covered by this  Statement  are subject to a Stock Option
Agreement  dated June 27, 1998 and 700,465  shares covered by this Statement are
subject to  Agreements  to  Facilitate  Merger dated on or after such date,  and
described in Item 3 of this  Statement.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to be an
admission by Medtronic, Inc. ("Medtronic") as to the beneficial ownership of any
shares of PCIC,  and  Medtronic  hereby  disclaims  beneficial  ownership of all
shares of PCIC which are subject to the Stock Option Agreement or the Agreements
to Facilitate Merger.

<PAGE>

Item 1.    Security and Issuer

The class of equity  security  to which  this  statement  relates  is the Common
Stock, $.01 par value, of Physio-Control International Corporation ("PCIC"). The
name and  address  of the  principal  executive  offices  of the  issuer of such
securities are Physio-Control International Corporation,  11811 Willows Road NE,
Redmond, WA 98073-9706.

Item 2.    Identity and Background

(a), (b) and (c)

Medtronic,  Inc. ("Medtronic"),  7000 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis,  Minnesota
55432,  is a  Minnesota  corporation,  principally  engaged in the  business  of
therapeutic medical  technology,  specializing in implantable and interventional
therapies.  Information  is  provided  below with  respect  to  persons  who are
directors and executive officers of the reporting person.

William W. George,  Chairman,  Chief Executive Officer and Director,  Medtronic,
Inc., 7000 Central Avenue N.E.,  Minneapolis,  MN 55432;
Arthur D. Collins, Jr.,
President,  Chief Operating Officer and Director,  Medtronic, Inc., 7000 Central
Avenue N.E.,  Minneapolis,  MN 55432;
Glen D. Nelson,  M.D.,  Vice Chairman and Director,  Medtronic,  Inc.,
7000 Central Avenue N.E.,  Minneapolis,  MN 55432;
William R. Brody, M.D., Ph.D., Director,  Medtronic,  Inc., President, The Johns
Hopkins University,  3400 North St. Charles St., 242 Garland Hall, Baltimore, MD
21218;
Paul  W.  Chellgren,  Director,  Medtronic,  Inc.,  Chairman  and  Chief
Executive Officer,  Ashland Inc., 1000 Ashland Drive, Russell, KY 41114;
Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., M.D., Director, Medtronic, Inc., Dean, Cornell University
Medical College, Medical Affairs Provost,  Cornell University,  Office of the
Dean, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021;
Bernadine P. Healy, M.D., Director,  Medtronic, Inc., Dean, College of Medicine,
Ohio State University, 254 Meiling Hall, 370 W. 9th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210;
Thomas E. Holloran,  Director,  Medtronic, Inc., Professor,  Graduate School of
Business,  University of St. Thomas, 1000 LaSalle Avenue - Suite 343,
Minneapolis,  MN 55403-2005;
Richard L. Schall,  Director, Medtronic, Inc., Consultant,  4900 IDS Center,
80 South 8th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402;
Jack W. Schuler, Director, Medtronic, Inc., Chairman, Stericycle, Inc. and
Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., 1419 Lake Cook Road, Suite 410, Deerfield, IL
60015;
Gerald W.  Simonson,  Director,  Medtronic,  Inc.,  President  and Chief
Executive Officer,  Omnetics Connector  Corporation,  7260 Commerce Circle East,
Fridley,  MN 55432;
Gordon M. Sprenger,  Director,  Medtronic,  Inc.,  Executive Officer,  Allina
Health  System,  5601 Smetana  Drive,  Minneapolis,  MN 55440;
Richard A. Swalin, Ph.D.,  Director,  Medtronic,  Inc., Professor Emeritus,  The
University of Arizona,  4715 East Fort Lowell Road,  Tucson, AZ 85712;
Bobby I. Griffin,  Executive Vice President,  Medtronic,  Inc., 7000 Central
Avenue N.E., Minneapolis,  MN 55432;
Bill K. Erickson,  Senior Vice President and President, Americas, Medtronic,
Inc.,  7000 Central Avenue N.E.,  Minneapolis,  MN 55432;
Janet S. Fiola, Senior Vice President,  Human Resources,  Medtronic,  Inc., 7000
Central Avenue N.E.,  Minneapolis,  MN 55432;
B. Kristine  Johnson,  Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer,
Medtronic, Inc., 7000 Central Avenue N.E.,  Minneapolis,  MN 55432;
Philip M.  Laughlin,  Senior Vice  President and President, Cardiac Surgery,
Medtronic,  Inc.,  7000  Central  Avenue  N.E., Minneapolis,  MN 55432;
Ronald E. Lund, Senior Vice President,  General Counsel and Secretary,
Medtronic, Inc., 7000 Central Avenue N.E., Minneapolis, MN 55432;
Stephen  H. Mahle, Senior  Vice  President  and  President,   Cardiac  Rhythm
Management,  Medtronic,  Inc., 7000 Central Avenue N.E., Minneapolis,  MN 55432;
John A. Meslow,  Senior Vice President and President,  Neurological,  Medtronic,
Inc., 7000 Central Avenue N.E.,  Minneapolis,  MN 55432;
Robert L. Ryan, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Medtronic,
Inc., 7000 Central Avenue N.E., Minneapolis,  MN 55432;
Barry Wilson, Senior Vice President and President, Europe,  Middle East and
Africa,  Medtronic,  Inc.,  7000  Central  Avenue N.E., Minneapolis, MN 55432.

(d) and (e)

To the knowledge of the reporting  person,  neither the reporting person nor any
of the persons listed above has, during the last five years, been convicted in a
criminal  proceeding  or was,  during  the last five  years,  a party to a civil
proceeding  as a result of which such  person  was or is subject to a  judgment,
decree  or final  order  enjoining  future  violations  of,  or  prohibiting  or
mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any
violation with respect to such laws.

(f) All of the individuals referred to above are United States citizens,  except
Mr. Wilson, who is a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Item 3.    Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

This  Statement  relates to the  execution of a certain  Stock Option  Agreement
dated June 27, 1998,  between PCIC and Medtronic (the "Stock Option  Agreement")
and to the execution of certain Agreements to Facilitate Merger (the "Agreements
to  Facilitate  Merger")  between  Medtronic  and  each  of the  following  PCIC
shareholders:  Ronald W. Dollens, Robert M. Guezuraga, Richard O. Martin, Robert
A.  Sandler,  Joseph J.  Caffarelli  and V.  Marc  Droppert.  The  Stock  Option
Agreement  and the  Agreements  to  Facilitate  Merger were  entered  into as an
inducement  to  Medtronic  to enter into the  Agreement  and Plan of Merger (the
"Merger  Agreement"),  dated June 27, 1998, among Medtronic,  PCIC and PC Merger
Corp. ("Merger Subsidiary"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Medtronic. Pursuant to
the Merger  Agreement and subject to the conditions  set forth  therein,  Merger
Subsidiary  will merge with and into PCIC (the  "Merger"),  and each  issued and
outstanding  share of Common Stock of PCIC will be  converted  into the right to
receive a fraction  of a share of  Medtronic  Common  Stock,  par value $.10 per
share,  which  fraction will equal $27.50  divided by the average of the closing
sale prices for Medtronic  Common Stock during the 19 trading days ending on and
including the first trading day immediately  preceding the effective time of the
Merger.

Pursuant to the Stock  Option  Agreement,  PCIC granted  Medtronic  the right to
purchase  at an  exercise  price of $27.50  per share  3,526,683  shares of PCIC
Common  Stock,  which  was  represented  in  the  Merger  Agreement  to  reflect
approximately  19.9% of the PCIC  Common  Stock  outstanding  on the date of the
Stock  Option  Agreement's   execution.   The  Stock  Option  Agreement  is  not
exercisable  until and unless the earlier of certain events  specified  therein,
including,  but not limited to, the  termination of the Merger  Agreement  under
certain  circumstances.  If the Stock Option Agreement becomes exercisable,  any
shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Stock Option Agreement would be
made with funds from Medtronic's  working capital. If the Stock Option Agreement
becomes  exercisable,  under certain  circumstances,  Medtronic  can, in lieu of
exercising the Stock Option Agreement,  put such Agreement to PCIC and receive a
cancellation payment from PCIC in cash therefor.

Pursuant to the Agreements to Facilitate Merger, each of the persons noted above
has agreed to vote all of such  person's PCIC shares in favor of approval of the
Merger  Agreement  and the Merger and against any other action that would impede
or discourage the Merger.  Medtronic may hereafter enter into similar Agreements
to  Facilitate  Merger with other  holders of PCIC Common  Stock.  Copies of the
Stock Option  Agreement,  the form of the Agreement to Facilitate Merger and the
Merger Agreement are included as Exhibits to this Statement and are incorporated
herein by reference.  The foregoing  description of such Agreements is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such Exhibits.

Item 4.    Purpose of Transaction

The purpose of the  transactions  described in Item 3 is to facilitate  approval
and  consummation  of the  Merger.  Other  than in  connection  with the  Merger
described  above,  Medtronic has no plans or proposals  which relate to or would
result in any of the matters  listed in paragraphs  (a) through (j) of Item 4 of
Schedule 13D.

Item 5.    Interest in Securities of the Issuer

(a) and (b) As a result of the Stock Option  Agreement,  Medtronic may be deemed
to be the beneficial  owner of 3,526,683 shares of Common Stock of PCIC and as a
result of the Agreements to Facilitate Merger, Medtronic may be deemed to be the
beneficial  owner of  700,465  shares of Common  stock of PCIC  covered  by such
Agreements.  Such  4,227,148  shares  covered by the Stock Option  Agreement and
Agreements  to Facilitate  Merger would  represent  approximately  23.85% of the
shares of PCIC (based on the number of shares of PCIC Common  Stock  outstanding
on June 24, 1998, as represented to Medtronic by PCIC). Nothing herein, however,
shall be deemed to be an admission by Medtronic that it beneficially owns any of
the shares covered by the Stock Option Agreement or the Agreements to Facilitate
Merger,  and  Medtronic  hereby  disclaims  beneficial  ownership  of all shares
covered by such Agreements.  To the knowledge of the reporting  person, no other
person named in Item 2 beneficially owns any PCIC shares.

(c) To the  knowledge of the  reporting  person,  the only  transactions  in the
Common Stock of PCIC by any person named in paragraph  (a) above during the past
60 days are the Stock Option  Agreement  and  Agreements  to  Facilitate  Merger
reported in Item 3 above.

(d) No other person (other than the PCIC shareholder who has signed an Agreement
to  Facilitate  Merger in the case of the shares  covered by such  shareholder's
Agreement  to  Facilitate  Merger)  is known to have the right to receive or the
power to direct the receipt of dividends  from,  or the proceeds of the sale of,
the subject securities.

(e)      Not applicable.

Item 6.  Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect
         to Securities of the Issuer.

See Item 3 for a  description  of the  Stock  Option  Agreement,  Agreements  to
Facilitate Merger and Merger Agreement.

Item 7.    Material to Be Filed as Exhibits

Exhibit A - Stock Option Agreement

Exhibit B - Form of Agreement to Facilitate Merger

Exhibit C - Agreement and Plan of Merger

                                    Signature

         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.


Date:  July 7, 1998

                                          MEDTRONIC, INC.


                                          By:/s/ Ronald E. Lund
                                          Its: Senior Vice President, General
                                               Counsel and Secretary

<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

         Exhibit           Description

         A                 Stock Option Agreement

         B                 Form of Agreement to Facilitate Merger

         C                 Agreement and Plan of Merger

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

         THIS AGREEMENT is dated as of June 27, 1998, between Medtronic,  Inc.,
a  Minnesota   corporation   ("Grantee"),   and   Physio-Control   International
Corporation, a Washington corporation ("Issuer").

                                    RECITALS

         A. Grantee,  Issuer, and PC Merger Corp., a Washington  corporation and
wholly-owned  subsidiary of Grantee ("Merger Subsidiary"),  have entered into an
Agreement  and Plan of Merger (the "Merger  Agreement")  which  provides,  among
other things, that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, Merger
Subsidiary will be merged with and into Issuer (the "Merger").

         B.  As a  condition  to  its  willingness  to  enter  into  the  Merger
Agreement,  Grantee has required  that Issuer enter into this  Agreement,  which
provides, among other things, that Issuer grant to Grantee an option to purchase
shares of  Issuer's  Common  Stock,  par value  $.0l per share  ("Issuer  Common
Stock"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions provided for herein.

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

         1.  Grant of  Option.  Subject  to the  terms  and  conditions  of this
Agreement,  Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an irrevocable option (the "Option")
to purchase  3,526,683 shares of Issuer Common Stock (the "Option  Shares"),  in
the manner set forth below,  at an exercise  price of $27.50 per share of Issuer
Common  Stock,  subject to adjustment  as provided  below (the "Option  Price").
Issuer  represents that the Option Shares represent at least 19.9% of the number
of shares of Issuer  Common Stock  outstanding  on the date hereof.  Capitalized
terms used herein but not defined  herein  shall have the  meanings set forth in
the Merger Agreement.

         2. Exercise of option.

                  (a) Subject to the  satisfaction  or waiver of the  conditions
         set forth in Section 9 of this  Agreement,  prior to the termination or
         expiration of this Agreement in accordance  with its terms,  Grantee or
         its designee (which shall be a wholly-owned  subsidiary of Grantee) may
         exercise the option,  in whole or in part,  at any time or from time to
         time on or after the public disclosure of, or the time at which Grantee
         shall have learned of, the earliest of (i) or (ii) below to occur:

                           (i) the Merger Agreement is terminated pursuant to
                  Section 7.1(e) or 7.1(f) of the Merger Agreement; or

                           (ii) any third party makes an Alternative Proposal or
                  acquires 15% or more of the  outstanding  Issuer  Common Stock
                  prior to the Company Shareholders  Meeting, and either (A) the
                  requisite  vote of the  shareholders  of Issuer to approve the
                  Merger is not  obtained  or (B) the number of shares of Issuer
                  Common  Stock for  which  notice of  exercise  of  dissenters'
                  rights under the WBCA has been given would  prevent the Merger
                  from  qualifying  as a pooling  of  interests  for  accounting
                  purposes or (C) the Merger Agreement is terminated (other than
                  pursuant  to  Section  7.1(a),  (b),  (c) or (h) of the Merger
                  Agreement),

<PAGE>
                  (b) In the event Grantee wishes to exercise the Option at such
         time as the Option is exercisable, Grantee shall deliver written notice
         (the "Exercise  Notice") to Issuer specifying its intention to exercise
         the Option,  the total  number of Option  Shares it wishes to purchase,
         and a date and time for the closing of such purchase (a "Closing")  not
         less than three nor more than 30  business  days after the later of (i)
         the date  such  Exercise  Notice is given  and (ii) the  expiration  or
         termination    of   any    applicable    waiting   period   under   the
         Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the
         "HSR Act").  If prior to the Expiration  Date (as defined in Section 11
         below) any person or group (other than Grantee or its affiliates) shall
         have made a bona fide proposal that becomes  publicly  disclosed,  with
         respect to a tender offer or exchange offer for 50% or more of the then
         outstanding  shares of Issuer  Common  Stock (a  "Share  Proposal"),  a
         merger,  consolidation,   or  other  business  combination  (a  "Merger
         Proposal"),  or any acquisition of a material  portion of the assets of
         Issuer (an "Asset Proposal"), or shall have acquired 50% or more of the
         then outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock (a "Share Acquisition"),
         and  this  Option  is  then  exercisable,  then  Grantee,  in  lieu  of
         exercising the Option, shall have the right at any time thereafter (for
         so long as the option is exercisable  under Section 2(a)) to request in
         writing that Issuer pay,  and promptly  (but in any event not more than
         five business  days) after  Grantee  makes such request,  Issuer shall,
         subject to Section  2(c)  below,  pay to  Grantee by  certified  check,
         official   bank  check  or  wire   transfer   pursuant   to   Grantee's
         instructions,  in  cancellation  of the option,  an amount in cash (the
         "Cancellation Amount") equal to (i) the lesser of

                           (x) the excess  over the Option  Price of the greater
                  of (A) the last sale price of a share of Issuer  Common  Stock
                  as reported on the Nasdaq  National Market on the last trading
                  day prior to the date of the  Exercise  Notice,  or (B)(1) the
                  highest  price per share of Issuer  Common Stock offered to be
                  paid or paid by any such  person  or group  pursuant  to or in
                  connection with a Share Proposal,  a Share  Acquisition,  or a
                  Merger Proposal, or (2) the aggregate consideration offered to
                  be paid or paid in any transaction or proposed  transaction in
                  connection  with an Asset  Proposal,  divided by the number of
                  shares of Issuer Common Stock then outstanding, and

                           (y) $4.25 [$15 million divided by initial number of
                  Option Shares],

         multiplied  by (ii) the  number of Option  Shares  then  covered by the
         Option;   provided,   however,   that  if,  prior  to  payment  of  the
         Cancellation  Amount,  Grantee has been paid or is payable by its terms
         by Issuer the  termination  fee  described in Section 7.2 of the Merger
         Agreement (the "Termination  Fee"), then the Cancellation  Amount shall
         be reduced (but not below zero) to the extent necessary so that the sum
         of the Termination Fee and the Cancellation Amount shall not exceed $20
         million.  If all or a portion  of the price per share of Issuer  Common
         Stock offered, paid, or payable or the aggregate consideration offered,
         paid, or payable for the assets of Issuer,  each as contemplated by the
         preceding sentence,  consists of noncash  consideration,  such price or
         aggregate  consideration shall be the cash consideration,  if any, plus
         the  fair  market  value  of  the  noncash  consideration  as  mutually
         determined  by the  investment  bankers  of Issuer  and the  investment
         bankers of Grantee.

<PAGE>
                  (c) Following exercise of the Option by Grantee,  in the event
         that  Grantee  sells,  pledges,  or otherwise  disposes of  (including,
         without limitation,  by merger or exchange) any of the Option Shares (a
         "Sale"),  then any Termination Fee due and payable by Issuer  following
         such time shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that the sum of

                           (x)      the Termination Fee and

                           (y)  the  amount  received  (whether  in  cash,  loan
                  proceeds,  securities,  or  otherwise) by Grantee in such Sale
                  less the exercise price of such Option Shares sold in the Sale
                  (the "Option Share Profit")

         shall not  exceed  $20  million.  If  Issuer  has paid to  Grantee  the
         Termination Fee prior to the Sale, then Grantee shall immediately remit
         to Issuer the  excess,  if any,  of the  Option  Share  Profit  over $5
         million.

         3. Payment of Option Price and  Delivery of  Certificate.  Any Closings
under  Section  2 of this  Agreement  shall be held at the  principal  executive
offices of Issuer,  or at such other place as Issuer and  Grantee may agree.  At
any Closing  hereunder,  (a) Grantee or its designee will make payment to Issuer
of the aggregate price for the Option Shares being so purchased by delivery of a
certified  check,  official bank check,  or wire  transfer of funds  pursuant to
Issuer's  instructions  payable  to  Issuer in an  amount  equal to the  product
obtained by  multiplying  the Option Price by the number of Option  Shares to be
purchased,  and (b) upon receipt of such payment  Issuer will deliver to Grantee
or its  designee  (which  shall  be a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  Grantee)  a
certificate or certificates  representing  the number of validly  issued,  fully
paid, and  nonassessable  Option Shares so purchased,  in the  denominations and
registered in such names (which shall be Grantee or a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Grantee) designated in writing to Issuer by Grantee.

         4.       Registration and Listing of Option Shares.

                  (a) Issuer  agrees to use its  reasonable  best efforts to (i)
         effect as  promptly  as  possible  upon the request of Grantee and (ii)
         cause to become and remain  effective for a period of not less than six
         months  (or such  shorter  period as may be  necessary  to  effect  the
         distribution of such shares) the  registration  under the 1933 Act, and
         any applicable  state securities laws, of all or any part of the Option
         Shares as may be specified in such request; provided, however, that (i)
         Grantee shall have the right to select the managing underwriter for any
         such  offering   after   consultation   with  Issuer,   which  managing
         underwriter shall be reasonably  acceptable to Issuer, and (ii) Grantee
         shall  not  be  entitled  to  more  than  two  effective   registration
         statements hereunder.

                  (b) In  addition  to  such  demand  registrations,  if  Issuer
         proposes to effect a  registration  of Issuer  Common Stock for its own
         account or for the account of any other  shareholder of Issuer,  Issuer
         will give  prompt  written  notice to all  holders of Options or Option
         Shares of its  intention  to do so and shall  use its  reasonable  best
         efforts to include therein all Option Shares requested by Grantee to be
         so included.  No  registration  effected  under this Section 4(b) shall
         relieve Issuer of its obligations to effect demand  registrations under
         Section 4(a) hereof.


<PAGE>

                  (c)  Registrations  effected  under  this  Section  4 shall be
         effected  at  Issuer's  expense,  including  the fees and  expenses  of
         counsel  to the  holder of  Options  or Option  Shares,  but  excluding
         underwriting  discounts  and  commissions  to  brokers or  dealers.  In
         connection  with each  registration  under this Section 4, Issuer shall
         indemnify   and  hold  each   holder  of  Options   or  Option   Shares
         participating in such offering (a "Holder"), its underwriters, and each
         of their  respective  affiliates  harmless  against any and all losses,
         claims,   damage,   liabilities,   and  expenses  (including,   without
         limitation,  investigation  expenses  and  fees  and  disbursements  of
         counsel and accountants),  joint or several,  to which such Holder, its
         underwriters,  and  each of  their  respective  affiliates  may  become
         subject,  under  the 1933 Act or  otherwise,  insofar  as such  losses,
         claims,  damages,  liabilities,  or  expenses  (or  actions  in respect
         thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue  statement or alleged
         untrue  statement  of a material  fact  contained  in any  registration
         statement  (including  any  prospectus  therein),  or any  amendment or
         supplement  thereto,  or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
         alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
         therein or necessary  to make the  statements  therein not  misleading,
         other than such losses, claims, damages,  liabilities,  or expenses (or
         actions  in  respect  thereof)  that  arise out of or are based upon an
         untrue  statement  or  alleged  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact
         contained  in  written  information  furnished  by a Holder  to  Issuer
         expressly for use in such registration statement.

                  (d) In connection with any registration  statement pursuant to
         this  Section  4,  each  Holder  agrees  to  furnish  Issuer  with such
         information  concerning itself and the proposed sale or distribution as
         shall  reasonably  be required in order to ensure  compliance  with the
         requirements of the 1933 Act. In addition,  Grantee shall indemnify and
         hold Issuer,  its underwriters and each of their respective  affiliates
         harmless against any and all losses, claims, damages,  liabilities, and
         expenses  (including,  without limitation,  investigation  expenses and
         fees and disbursements of counsel and  accountants),  joint or several,
         to  which  Issuer,  its  underwriters,  and  each of  their  respective
         affiliates may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise,  insofar
         as such losses, claims, damages,  liabilities,  or expenses (or actions
         in respect  thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement
         or alleged  untrue  statement of a material  fact  contained in written
         information furnished by any Holder to Issuer expressly for use in such
         registration statement.

                  (e) Upon the issuance of Option Shares hereunder,  Issuer will
         use its  reasonable  best efforts  promptly to list such Option  Shares
         with the Nasdaq  National  Market or on such national or other exchange
         on which the shares of Issuer Common Stock are at the time listed.

         5.  Representations and Warranties of Issuer.  Issuer hereby represents
and warrants to Grantee as follows:

                  (a) Issuer is a corporation duly organized,  validly existing,
         and in good standing  under the laws of the State of Washington and has
         requisite power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement.

<PAGE>

                  (b) The  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  and the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and
         validly  authorized  by the Board of Directors of Issuer,  and no other
         corporate  proceedings on the part of Issuer are necessary to authorize
         this Agreement or to consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby.
         The Board of  Directors  of Issuer has duly  approved  the issuance and
         sale of the Option Shares, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
         contained in this Agreement,  and the  consummation of the transactions
         contemplated  hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed
         and delivered by Issuer and,  assuming this Agreement has been duly and
         validly authorized,  executed, and delivered by Grantee,  constitutes a
         valid and binding  obligation of Issuer  enforceable  against Issuer in
         accordance   with  its  terms,   subject  to  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium, or other similar laws affecting or relating
         to creditors,  rights generally;  the availability of injunctive relief
         and  other  equitable  remedies;  and  limitations  imposed  by  law on
         indemnification for liability under federal securities laws.

                  (c) Issuer has taken all  necessary  action to  authorize  and
         reserve for issuance  and to permit it to issue,  and at all times from
         the date of this Agreement through the date of expiration of the Option
         will have  reserved  for  issuance  upon  exercise of the Option,  such
         number of  authorized  shares of Issuer Common Stock as is equal to the
         number of  Option  Shares  (or such  other  amount  as may be  required
         pursuant to Section 10 hereof),  each of which,  upon issuance pursuant
         to this Agreement and when paid for as provided herein, will be validly
         issued, fully paid, and nonassessable,  and shall be delivered free and
         clear  of  all  claims,  liens,  charges,  encumbrances,  and  security
         interests and not subject to any preemptive rights.

                  (d) The execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement
         by Issuer and the consummation by it of the  transactions  contemplated
         hereby  except as required by the HSR Act (if  applicable),  and,  with
         respect to Section 4,  compliance  with the  provisions of the 1933 Act
         and any applicable  state  securities laws, do not require the consent,
         waiver,  approval,  license,  or  authorization  of or  result  in  the
         acceleration  of any obligation  under,  or constitute a default under,
         any term,  condition,  or  provision  of any  charter or bylaw,  or any
         indenture,  mortgage,  lien, lease,  agreement,  contract,  instrument,
         order, judgment, ordinance, regulation, or decree or any restriction to
         which  Issuer or any property of Issuer or its  subsidiaries  is bound,
         except where the failure to obtain such consents,  waivers,  approvals,
         licenses,  or  authorizations  or where such  acceleration  or defaults
         could not, individually or in the aggregate,  reasonably be expected to
         have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

         6. Representations and Warranties of Grantee. Grantee hereby represents
and warrants to Issuer that:

                  (a) Grantee is a corporation duly organized, validly existing,
         and in good  standing  under the laws of the State of Minnesota and has
         requisite power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement.

<PAGE>

                  (b) The  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  and the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and
         validly  authorized by the Board of Directors of Grantee,  and no other
         corporate proceedings on the part of Grantee are necessary to authorize
         this Agreement or to consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby.
         This  Agreement  has been duly and validly  executed  and  delivered by
         Grantee  and,  assuming  this  Agreement  has been  duly  executed  and
         delivered  by Issuer,  constitutes  a valid and binding  obligation  of
         Grantee  enforceable  against  Grantee  in  accordance  with its terms,
         subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other
         similar laws affecting or relating to creditors' rights generally;  the
         availability  of injunctive  relief and other equitable  remedies;  and
         limitations  imposed  by law on  indemnification  for  liability  under
         federal securities laws.

                  (c)  Grantee or its  designee is  acquiring  the Option and it
         will acquire the Option Shares  issuable upon the exercise  thereof for
         its own  account  and not  with a view to the  distribution  or  resale
         thereof in any manner not in accordance with applicable law.

         7.  Covenants of Grantee.  Grantee  agrees not to transfer or otherwise
dispose of the Option or the Option Shares, or any interest  therein,  except in
compliance with the 1933 Act and any applicable  state  securities law.  Grantee
further  agrees to the  placement of the following  legend on the  certificates)
representing  the  Option  Shares (in  addition  to any  legend  required  under
applicable state securities laws):

                  "THE  SHARES  REPRESENTED  BY THIS  CERTIFICATE  HAVE NOT BEEN
                  REGISTERED  UNDER EITHER (1) THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933,  AS
                  AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR (2) ANY APPLICABLE STATE LAW GOVERNING
                  THE  OFFER  AND  SALE OF  SECURITIES.  NO  TRANSFER  OR  OTHER
                  DISPOSITION OF THESE SHARES, OR OF ANY INTEREST  THEREIN,  MAY
                  BE MADE EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                  UNDER  THE ACT AND  SUCH  OTHER  STATE  LAWS  OR  PURSUANT  TO
                  EXEMPTIONS FROM  REGISTRATION  UNDER THE ACT, SUCH OTHER STATE
                  LAWS, AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER."

         8. Reasonable Best Efforts.  Grantee and Issuer shall take, or cause to
be  taken,   all  reasonable   action  to  consummate  and  make  effective  the
transactions  contemplated by this  Agreement,  including,  without  limitation,
reasonable  best efforts to obtain any  necessary  consents of third parties and
governmental  agencies and the filing by Grantee and Issuer  promptly  after the
date  hereof  of any  required  HSR Act  notification  forms  and the  documents
required to comply with the HSR Act.

         9. Certain Conditions.  The obligation of Issuer to issue Option Shares
under  this  Agreement  upon  exercise  of the  Option  shall be  subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:

                  (a) any waiting  periods  applicable to the acquisition of the
         Option Shares by Grantee  pursuant to this Agreement  under the HSR Act
         shall have expired or been terminated;

                  (b) the  representations  and  warranties  of Grantee  made in
         Section 6 of this  Agreement  shall be true and correct in all material
         respects as of the date of the Closing for the  issuance of such Option
         Shares; and

                  (c) no order,  decree,  or injunction  entered by any court of
         competent jurisdiction or governmental,  regulatory,  or administrative
         agency or  commission  in the  United  States  shall be in effect  that
         prohibits  the exercise of the option or  acquisition  of Option Shares
         pursuant to this Agreement.

<PAGE>

         10.  Adjustments  Upon Changes in  Capitalization.  In the event of any
change in the number of issued and outstanding  shares of Issuer Common Stock by
reason of any stock  dividend,  stock split,  recapitalization,  merger,  rights
offering,  share exchange, or other change in the corporate or capital structure
of Issuer,  Grantee shall  receive,  upon  exercise of the Option,  the stock or
other securities, cash, or property to which Grantee would have been entitled if
Grantee  had  exercised  the Option and had been a holder of record of shares of
Issuer  Common  Stock on the record date fixed for  determination  of holders of
shares  of  Issuer  Common  Stock  entitled  to  receive  such  stock  or  other
securities,  cash,  or property  at the same  aggregate  price as the  aggregate
Option Price of the Option Shares.

         11.  Expiration.  The  Option  shall  expire at the  earlier of (a) the
Effective  Time (as  defined  in the  Merger  Agreement)  or (b) if  exercisable
pursuant to Section 2 hereof, one year after termination of the Merger Agreement
in accordance with the terms thereof (such expiration date is referred to as the
"Expiration Date").

         12.      General Provisions.

                  (a)  Survival.  All of the  representations,  warranties,  and
         covenants  contained  herein  shall  survive  each Closing and shall be
         deemed to have been  made as of the date  hereof  and as of the date of
         each Closing.

                  (b) Further  Assurances.  If Grantee  exercises the Option, or
         any portion  thereof,  in accordance  with the terms of this Agreement,
         Issuer and Grantee will execute and deliver all such further  documents
         and instruments and use their  reasonable best efforts to take all such
         further  action  as  may  be  necessary  in  order  to  consummate  the
         transactions contemplated thereby.

                  (c)  Severability.  It is the desire and intent of the parties
         that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent
         permissible   under  the  law  and  public  policies  applied  in  each
         jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought.  Accordingly, in the event
         that any provision of this Agreement would be held in any  jurisdiction
         to be  invalid,  prohibited,  or  unenforceable  for any  reason,  such
         provision,  as to such  jurisdiction,  shall  be  ineffective,  without
         invalidating  the remaining  provisions of this  Agreement or affecting
         the  validity  or   enforceability  of  such  provision  in  any  other
         jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be
         more narrowly drawn so as not be invalid,  prohibited, or unenforceable
         in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly
         drawn,  without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement
         or affecting the validity or  enforceability  of such  provision in any
         other jurisdiction.

                  (d)  Assignment.  This Agreement shall be binding on and inure
         to the benefit of the parties  hereto and their  respective  successors
         and assigns;  provided,  however,  that Issuer shall not be entitled to
         assign  or  otherwise   transfer  any  of  its  rights  or  obligations
         hereunder,  and Grantee  shall not be  entitled to assign or  otherwise
         transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder prior to the Option
         becoming exercisable pursuant to Section 2 hereof.

<PAGE>

                  (e) Specific  Performance.  The parties agree and  acknowledge
         that in the event of a breach of any provision of this  Agreement,  the
         aggrieved party would be without an adequate remedy at law. The parties
         therefore  agree that in the event of a breach of any provision of this
         Agreement,  the  aggrieved  party may elect to institute  and prosecute
         proceedings in any court of competent  jurisdiction to enforce specific
         performance or to enjoin the continuing  breach of such  provision,  as
         well as to obtain damages for breach of this  Agreement.  By seeking or
         obtaining any such relief,  the  aggrieved  party will not be precluded
         from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which it may be entitled.

                  (f) Amendments.  This Agreement may not be modified,  amended,
         altered,  or  supplemented  except upon the execution and delivery of a
         written agreement executed by Grantee and Issuer.

                  (g) Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands, and other
         communications  hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be
         sufficient  if  contained in a written  instrument  and shall be deemed
         given    if    delivered     personally,     telecopied,     sent    by
         nationally-recognized  overnight  courier  or mailed by  registered  or
         certified mail (return  receipt  requested),  postage  prepaid,  to the
         other party at the  following  addresses  (or such other  address for a
         party as shall be specified by like notice):

                  If to Grantee:

                    Medtronic, Inc.
                    7000 Central Avenue, N.E.
                    Minneapolis, MN  55432

                    with separate copies thereof addressed to

                    Attention:   General Counsel
                                 FAX:  (612) 572-5459

                    and

                    Attention:   Vice President and Chief Development Officer
                                 FAX: (612) 572-5404

                  If to Issuer:

                           Physio-Control International Corporation
                           11811 Willows Road N.E.
                           Redmond, WA  98073-9706
                           FAX: (425) 867-4142
                           Attention:  Executive Vice President and
                                        General Counsel

                           with a copy to:

                           Preston Gates & Ellis LLP
                           5000 Columbia Center
                           701 Fifth Avenue
                           Seattle, WA 98104-7078
                           FAX: (206) 623-7022
                           Attention:  C. Kent Carlson

                  (h) 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.

<PAGE>

                  (i)  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be executed in one or
         more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which
         together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

                  (j)  Governing  Law. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and
         construed  in  accordance  with  the laws of the  State  of  Washington
         applicable to contracts made and to be performed therein.

                  (k) Jurisdiction and Venue.  Each of Issuer and Grantee hereby
         agrees that any proceeding  relating to this Agreement shall be brought
         in a state  court of  Minnesota.  Each of  Issuer  and  Grantee  hereby
         consents to  personal  jurisdiction  in any such action  brought in any
         such Minnesota court, consents to service of process by registered mail
         made upon such party and such party's  agent,  and waives any objection
         to venue  in any such  Minnesota  court or to any  claim  that any such
         Minnesota court is an inconvenient forum.

                  (l) Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement,  the  Confidentiality
         Agreement,  and the Merger  Agreement and any documents and instruments
         referred to herein and therein  constitute the entire agreement between
         the parties  hereto and  thereto  with  respect to the  subject  matter
         hereof  and  thereof  and  supersede  all other  prior  agreements  and
         understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect
         to the subject  matter  hereof and  thereof.  This  Agreement  shall be
         binding  upon,  inure to the  benefit  of,  and be  enforceable  by the
         successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto. Nothing in this
         Agreement  shall be construed to give any person other than the parties
         to this Agreement or their respective  successors or permitted  assigns
         any legal or equitable right,  remedy,  or claim under or in respect of
         this Agreement or any provision contained herein.

                  (m) Expenses.  Except as otherwise  provided in this Agreement
         or the Merger Agreement, each party shall pay its own expenses incurred
         in connection with this Agreement.

<PAGE>

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

                                     MEDTRONIC, INC.


                                     By: /s/ Michael D. Ellwein
                                        Its: Vice-President

                                     PHYSIO-CONTROL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION


                                     By:  /s/ Richard O. Martin
                                        Its:  Chairman/CEO

                         AGREEMENT TO FACILITATE MERGER


DATE:    ___________, 1998

PARTIES:

                  Medtronic, Inc.,                        (hereinafter "Parent")
                  a Minnesota corporation

                           and

                  -------------------------,
                  an individual officer and/or
                  director of Physio-Control
                  International Corporation          (hereinafter "Shareholder")

RECITALS:

         A. Shareholder is the legal or beneficial owner of __________ shares of
Common  Stock  of  Physio-Control   International   Corporation,   a  Washington
corporation  (the  "Company"),  and the holder of  options,  warrants,  or other
rights to acquire __________ shares of Company Common Stock.

         B. Parent,  the Company,  and a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of Parent are
entering,  or have  entered,  into an Agreement  and Plan of Merger (the "Merger
Agreement") pursuant to which it is proposed that Parent's subsidiary will merge
with  and  into  the  Company  (the  "Merger")  and as a  result  of  which  the
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock shall be converted into Parent Common
Stock.

         C. Shareholder deems it to be in Shareholder's best interest and in the
best interests of the Company and all other shareholders of the Company that the
Merger Agreement be approved, ratified, and confirmed by the shareholders of the
Company,  and  it is a  condition  to  Parent's  obligations  under  the  Merger
Agreement that Individual enter into this Agreement.

         D. It is understood and  acknowledged by the Shareholder  that Parent's
execution  of  the  Merger   Agreement  is  being  done  in  reliance  upon  the
contemporaneous  or prompt subsequent  execution and delivery of this Agreement,
that Parent will incur substantial  expenses  proceeding toward  consummation of
the Merger as contemplated by the Merger Agreement,  and that such expenses will
be  undertaken  in  reliance  upon  and  as  a  result  of  the  agreements  and
undertakings of Shareholder set forth herein.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the foregoing,  and in order to
induce Parent to execute the Merger  Agreement and to proceed as contemplated by
the Merger Agreement  toward the consummation of the Merger,  and for other good
and  valuable  consideration,  the  receipt  and  adequacy  of which  is  hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

<PAGE>

AGREEMENTS:

         1. Vote in Favor of Merger.  Shareholder,  in his or her  capacity as a
shareholder  of the Company or as a  representative  with the  authority to vote
shares of  Company  Common  Stock,  agrees to vote (or  caused to be voted)  all
shares of Company Common Stock with respect to which Shareholder  presently owns
or controls voting power, and all shares of Company Common Stock with respect to
which  Shareholder  in the future  acquires  ownership or voting  power,  at any
meeting of the shareholders of the Company, and in any action by written consent
of the shareholders of the Company,  (i) in favor of the approval,  consent, and
ratification of the Merger Agreement and the Merger, and (ii) against any action
that would impede,  interfere,  or discourage  the Merger,  would  facilitate an
acquisition of the Company,  in any manner,  by a party (other than Parent),  or
would result in any breach of representation,  warranty,  covenant, or agreement
of the Company under the Merger Agreement.  To the extent  inconsistent with the
foregoing  provisions of this Section 1, Shareholder  hereby revokes any and all
previous  proxies  with  respect  to any  shares of  Company  Common  Stock that
Shareholder  owns or has the right to vote.  Nothing in this Agreement  shall be
deemed to restrict  or limit  Shareholder's  right to act in his  capacity as an
officer or director of the Company consistent with his fiduciary  obligations in
such capacity.

         2.   Representations   and  Warranties  of   Shareholder.   Shareholder
represents  and warrants to Parent that  Shareholder  has the legal  capacity to
enter into and perform all of  Shareholder's  obligations  under this Agreement.
The execution,  delivery,  and performance of this Agreement by Shareholder will
not violate any other  agreement  to which  Shareholder  is a party,  including,
without  limitation,  any voting agreement,  shareholders  agreement,  or voting
trust.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by  Shareholder  and
constitutes a legal, valid, and binding agreement of Shareholder, enforceable in
accordance with its terms,  except as the enforcement  thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,  reorganization,  moratorium, and
similar laws, now or hereafter in effect.

         3.  Successors and Assigns.  This  Agreement  shall be binding upon any
permitted purchasers,  donees, pledgees, and other transferees of Company Common
stock legally or beneficially  owned by Shareholder.  Shareholder  agrees not to
make any sales,  gifts,  transfers,  pledges,  or other  dispositions of Company
Common Stock without first making any such  transferee or pledgee fully aware of
the  obligations  under  this  Agreement  and  obtaining  such  transferee's  or
pledgee's written agreement to comply with the terms hereof.

         4.  Injunctive  Relief.   Shareholder  agrees  that  in  the  event  of
Shareholder's  breach of any provision of this Agreement,  Parent may be without
an adequate  remedy at law.  Shareholder  therefore  agrees that in the event of
Shareholder's  breach of any  provision of this  Agreement,  Parent may elect to
institute and prosecute  proceedings in any court of competent  jurisdiction  to
enforce  specific  performance  or to  enjoin  the  continuing  breach  of  such
provision, as well as to obtain damages for breach of this Agreement. By seeking
or  obtaining  any such  relief,  Parent will not be  precluded  from seeking or
obtaining any other relief to which it may be entitled.

         5.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in any  number of
counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original  and all of which
together shall constitute one and the same document.

         6.  Further  Assurances.  Shareholder  shall  execute and deliver  such
additional  documents  and take  such  further  action  as may be  necessary  or
desirable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

<PAGE>

         7. Third-Party Beneficiaries.  Nothing in this Agreement,  expressed or
implied, shall be construed to give any person other than the parties hereto any
legal or equitable right,  remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement
or any provision contained herein.

         8. Governing Law. This Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota  (regardless of the laws that
might otherwise  govern under  applicable  Minnesota  principles of conflicts of
laws).

         9. Effectiveness. If this Agreement is executed by Shareholder prior to
the approval of the Merger  Agreement by the Company's Board of Directors,  then
this  Agreement  shall be subject to, and shall become  effective only upon, the
approval of the Merger  Agreement  by the  Company's  Board of  Directors.  This
Agreement shall terminate upon termination of the Merger Agreement by Parent.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Parent has caused this  Agreement  to  Facilitate
Merger to be  executed  by its duly  authorized  officer,  and  Shareholder  has
executed this Agreement, as of the date and year first above written.

                                            MEDTRONIC, INC.


                                            By:_________________________________
                                               Its:_____________________________


                                            SHAREHOLDER:


                                            ____________________________________
                                            [signature]

                                            ____________________________________
                                            [print name]

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                  BY AND AMONG

                                MEDTRONIC, INC.,

                                PC MERGER CORP.,

                                       AND

                    PHYSIO-CONTROL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION











                                  JUNE 27, 1998
<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


ARTICLE 1 THE MERGER; CONVERSION OF SHARES....................................1
         1.1      The Merger..................................................1
         1.2      Effective Time..............................................2
         1.3      Conversion of Shares........................................2
         1.4      Dissenting Shares...........................................3
         1.5      Exchange of Company Common Stock............................4
         1.6      Exchange of Merger Subsidiary Common Stock..................6
         1.7      Stock Options...............................................6
         1.8      Capitalization Changes......................................7
         1.9      Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation......7
         1.10     Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.........................7
         1.11     Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation.........7


ARTICLE 2 CLOSING.............................................................8
         2.1      Time and Place..............................................8
         2.2      Filings at the Closing......................................8


ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.......................8
         3.1      Organization................................................8
         3.2      Authorization...............................................9
         3.3      Capitalization..............................................9
         3.4      Reports and Financial Statements...........................10
         3.5      Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.........................11
         3.6      Consents and Approvals.....................................11
         3.7      Compliance with Laws.......................................12
         3.8      Litigation.................................................12
         3.9      Absence of Material Adverse Changes........................13
         3.10     Environmental Laws and Regulations.........................13
         3.11     Officers, Directors and Employees..........................14
         3.12     Taxes......................................................15
         3.13     Contracts..................................................16
         3.14     Title to Properties; Liens.................................17
         3.15     Permits, Licenses, Etc.....................................17
         3.16     Intellectual Property Rights...............................17
         3.17     Benefit Plans..............................................18
         3.18     Minute Books...............................................20
         3.19     Insurance Policies.........................................20
         3.20     Bank Accounts..............................................20
         3.21     Powers of Attorney.........................................21
         3.22     Product Liability Claims...................................21
         3.23     Warranties.................................................21
         3.24     Inventories................................................21
         3.25     Relations with Suppliers and Customers.....................22
         3.26     No Finders.................................................22
         3.27     Proxy Statement............................................22
         3.28     Merger Filings.............................................23
         3.29     Fairness Opinion...........................................23
         3.30     State Takeover Laws........................................23


ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUBSIDIARY.....23
         4.1      Organization...............................................23
         4.2      Authorization..............................................24
         4.3      Capitalization.............................................24
         4.4      Consents and Approvals.....................................24
         4.5      Reports; Financial Statements; Absence of Changes;
                   Litigation................................................25

<PAGE>

         4.6      Registration Statement.....................................25
         4.7      Merger Filings.............................................26
         4.8      No Finders.................................................26


ARTICLE 5 COVENANTS..........................................................26
         5.1      Conduct of Business of the Company.........................26
         5.2      No Solicitation............................................29
         5.3      Access and Information.....................................30
         5.4      Approval of Shareholders; Proxy Statement; Registration
                   Statement.................................................30
         5.5      Consents...................................................32
         5.6      Affiliates' Letters........................................32
         5.7      Expenses...................................................32
         5.8      Reasonable Efforts; Further Actions........................33
         5.9      Regulatory Approvals.......................................33
         5.10     Certain Notifications......................................33
         5.11     Voting of Shares...........................................33
         5.12     Noncompetition Agreements..................................33
         5.13     NYSE Listing Application...................................34
         5.14     Indemnification, Exculpation and Insurance.................34
         5.15     Letters of the Company's and Parent's Accountants..........35
         5.16     Subsidiary Shares..........................................35
         5.17     Stock Option Agreement.....................................35
         5.18     Conduct of Business by Parent..............................35
         5.19     Benefit Plans and Employee Matters.........................36
         5.20     Delivery of Specified Documents............................36


ARTICLE 6 CLOSING CONDITIONS.................................................37
         6.1      Conditions to Obligations of Parent, Merger Subsidiary,
                   and the Company...........................................37
         6.2      Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Subsidiary..38
         6.3      Conditions to Obligations of the Company...................39


ARTICLE 7 TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT........................................40
         7.1      Termination................................................40
         7.2      Effect of Termination......................................42


ARTICLE 8 MISCELLANEOUS......................................................43
         8.1      Amendment and Modification.................................43
         8.2      Waiver of Compliance; Consents.............................43
         8.3      Investigation; Survival of Representations and Warranties..43
         8.4      Notices....................................................43
         8.5      Assignment.................................................44
         8.6      Governing Law..............................................44
         8.7      Counterparts...............................................45
         8.8      Knowledge..................................................45
         8.9      Interpretation.............................................45
         8.10     Publicity..................................................45
         8.11     Entire Agreement...........................................45



<PAGE>

         EXHIBITS:

         Exhibit A:        Form of Plan of Merger
         Exhibit B:        Form of Affiliate's Letter
         Exhibit C:        Form of Agreement to Facilitate Merger
         Exhibit D:        Form of Noncompetition Agreement
         Exhibit E:        Form of Stock Option Agreement
         Exhibit F:        Form of Opinion of the Company's Counsel
         Exhibit G:        Form of Opinion of Parent's Counsel
         Exhibit H:        Form of Company's Certificate (regarding tax
                              opinion representations)
         Exhibit I:        Form of Parent's Certificate (regarding tax
                              opinion representations)

<PAGE>

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

     THIS AGREEMENT is dated as of June 27, 1998, by and among Medtronic,  Inc.,
a Minnesota corporation  ("Parent"),  PC Merger Corp., a Washington  corporation
and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Subsidiary"),  and Physio-Control
International Corporation, a Washington corporation (the "Company").

     WHEREAS,  the Boards of Directors  of Parent,  Merger  Subsidiary,  and the
Company have approved the merger of Merger  Subsidiary with and into the Company
(the  "Merger")  upon the terms and subject to the  conditions set forth herein;
and

     WHEREAS,  for federal  income tax purposes,  it is intended that the Merger
shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) and
(a)(2)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); and

     WHEREAS, for accounting  purposes,  it is intended that the Merger shall be
recorded as a "pooling of interests" within the meaning of Accounting Principles
Board  Opinion  No.  16, and the rules and  regulations  of the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC"); and

     WHEREAS, as a condition to, and upon or immediately following the execution
of, this  Agreement,  Parent and the Company are entering  into the Stock Option
Agreement described in Section 5.17 hereof; and

     WHEREAS,  the  parties  hereto  desire  to  make  certain  representations,
warranties,  and agreements in connection  with the Merger and also to prescribe
various conditions to the Merger;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual
representations,  warranties,  covenants,  and agreements  contained herein, the
parties hereto agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE 1
                        THE MERGER; CONVERSION OF SHARES

     1.1 The Merger.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,  at
the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2 hereof),  Merger  Subsidiary shall
be merged with and into the Company in  accordance  with the  provisions  of the
Washington  Business  Corporation  Act  (the  "WBCA"),  whereupon  the  separate
corporate  existence of Merger  Subsidiary  shall cease,  and the Company  shall
continue as the surviving  corporation (the "Surviving  Corporation").  From and
after the  Effective  Time,  the  Surviving  Corporation  shall  possess all the
rights,   privileges,   powers,  and  franchises  and  be  subject  to  all  the
restrictions, disabilities, and duties of the Company and Merger Subsidiary, all
as more fully described in the WBCA.

     1.2 Effective   Time.  As  soon  as  practicable  after  each  of  the
conditions set forth in Article 6 has been satisfied or waived,  the Company and
Merger  Subsidiary will file, or cause to be filed,  with the Secretary of State
of the State of  Washington  Articles of Merger for the Merger,  which  Articles
shall be in the form required by and executed in accordance  with the applicable
provisions of the WBCA and shall include as a part thereof a plan of merger (the
"Plan of Merger")  substantially  in the form attached  hereto as Exhibit A. The
Merger shall  become  effective at the time such filing is made or, if agreed to
by Parent and the Company,  such later time or date set forth in the Articles of
Merger (the "Effective Time").

     1.3  Conversion of Shares.  At the Effective  Time, by virtue of the Merger
and without  any action on the part of any holder of any share of capital  stock
of the Company or Merger Subsidiary:


<PAGE>

          (a) Each  share of common  stock of the  Company,  par value  $.01 per
     share ("Company Common Stock"),  issued and outstanding  immediately  prior
     thereto  (except for Dissenting  Shares,  as defined in Section 1.4 hereof,
     and except for  shares  referred  to in  Section  1.3(b)  hereof)  shall be
     converted  into the right to receive the  fraction  of a share  (subject to
     adjustment as provided below, the "Conversion Fraction") of common stock of
     Parent,  par value $.10 per share ("Parent Common Stock"),  equal to $27.50
     divided by the Parent Average Stock Price. The "Parent Average Stock Price"
     shall mean the average  (rounded to the nearest  full cent,  with the cents
     rounded up if the third  decimal  place is 5 or more) of the daily  closing
     sale prices of a share of Parent  Common  Stock as reported on the New York
     Stock  Exchange  ("NYSE")  Composite  Tape,  as reported in The Wall Street
     Journal,  for the 19 consecutive  NYSE trading days ending on and including
     the first NYSE trading day immediately preceding the Effective Time.

          Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  if the sum of the number of shares of
     Company Common Stock  outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective Time
     plus the number of shares subject to then outstanding options, warrants, or
     other  rights to acquire  shares of  Company  Common  Stock  (collectively,
     "Company Stock Acquisition  Rights") is greater than 20,693,456 shares plus
     that number of shares issuable under the Company's  Employee Share Purchase
     Plan and Team Savings Plan or if the aggregate  exercise  price of all such
     Company  Stock  Acquisition  Rights  then  outstanding  is  less  than  the
     aggregate exercise price reflected in Section 3.3 of the Company Disclosure
     Schedule,  then the $27.50  amount per share of Company  Common  Stock,  as
     described  above,  shall be reduced to an amount equal to (i) [$27.50 times
     20,693,456  shares plus that number of shares  issuable under the Company's
     Employee  Share  Purchase  Plan and Team Savings  Plan] minus the aggregate
     exercise price reflected in Section 3.3 of the Company Disclosure  Schedule
     plus the  aggregate  amount  received  by the  Company  as a result  of any
     issuance of Company Common Stock after the date of this Agreement and prior
     to the  Effective  Time plus the  aggregate  exercise  price of all Company
     Stock  Acquisition  Rights  outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective
     Time divided by (ii) the sum of (A) the number of shares of Company  Common
     Stock  outstanding  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time plus (B) the
     number  of  shares  subject  to  Company  Stock  Acquisition   Rights  then
     outstanding.

          An appropriate  adjustment  shall similarly be made in the event that,
     prior to the  Effective  Time,  the  outstanding  shares of Company  Common
     Stock,  without new  consideration,  are changed  into or  exchanged  for a
     different   kind  of  shares  or  securities   through  a   reorganization,
     reclassification,  stock dividend, stock combination,  or other like change
     in the Company's capitalization.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in
     this section shall be deemed to constitute  authorization or permission for
     or consent from Parent or Merger  Subsidiary  to any increase in the number
     of shares of Company  Common Stock  outstanding  or subject to  outstanding
     Company Stock Acquisition  Rights, to any decrease in the exercise price of
     such Rights, or to any  reorganization,  reclassification,  stock dividend,
     stock combination, or other like change in capitalization.

          (b)  Each  share  of  Company  Common  Stock  issued  and  outstanding
     immediately prior to the Effective Time that is held in the treasury of the
     Company  or is then  owned  beneficially  or of  record by  Parent,  Merger
     Subsidiary,  or any direct or indirect  subsidiary of Parent or the Company
     shall be  cancelled  without  payment  of any  consideration  therefor  and
     without any conversion thereof.

          (c) Each  share of any other  class of  capital  stock of the  Company
     (other than Company Common Stock) shall be cancelled without payment of any
     consideration therefor and without any conversion thereof.


<PAGE>

          (d) Each share of common  stock of Merger  Subsidiary,  par value $.01
     per share  ("Merger  Subsidiary  Common  Stock"),  issued  and  outstanding
     immediately  prior to the Effective  Time shall be converted into one share
     of the common stock of the Surviving Corporation,  par value $.01 per share
     ("Surviving Corporation Common Stock").

     1.4 Dissenting Shares.  Notwithstanding  any provision of this Agreement to
the contrary,  each  outstanding  share of Company  Common Stock,  the holder of
which has demanded and perfected  such holder's right to dissent from the Merger
and to be paid the  fair  value  of such  shares  in  accordance  with  Sections
23B.13.020  et  seq.  of  the  WBCA  and,  as of the  Effective  Time,  has  not
effectively  withdrawn or lost such dissenters'  rights  ("Dissenting  Shares"),
shall not be converted  into or  represent a right to receive the Parent  Common
Stock into which  shares of  Company  Common  Stock are  converted  pursuant  to
Section 1.3 hereof, but the holder thereof shall be entitled only to such rights
as are  granted by the WBCA.  The Company  shall give Parent (i) prompt  written
notice of any  notice of intent to demand  fair  value for any shares of Company
Common Stock,  withdrawals  of such notices,  and any other  instruments  served
pursuant to the WBCA or any other  provisions of Washington  law and received by
the Company,  and (ii) the opportunity to conduct jointly all  negotiations  and
proceedings  with respect to demands for fair value for shares of Company Common
Stock under the WBCA.  The  Company  shall not,  except  with the prior  written
consent of Parent,  voluntarily make any payment with respect to any demands for
fair value for shares of Company  Common  Stock or offer to settle or settle any
such demands.

     1.5 Exchange of Company Common Stock.

          (a) Promptly  after the Effective  Time,  Parent shall cause  Parent's
     stock  transfer  agent or such other person as Parent may appoint to act as
     exchange  agent (the  "Exchange  Agent")  to mail to each  holder of record
     (other than Parent,  Merger Subsidiary,  the Company,  or any subsidiary of
     Parent or the Company) of a certificate or  certificates  that  immediately
     prior to the  Effective  Time  represented  outstanding  shares of  Company
     Common Stock ("Company  Certificates") a form letter of transmittal  (which
     shall specify that delivery shall be effective,  and risk of loss and title
     to the Company Certificate(s) shall pass, only upon delivery of the Company
     Certificate(s)  to the Exchange Agent) and  instructions  for such holder's
     use in effecting the surrender of the Company  Certificates in exchange for
     certificates representing shares of Parent Common Stock.

          (b) As soon as  practicable  after the  Effective  Time,  the Exchange
     Agent shall  distribute to holders of shares of Company Common Stock,  upon
     surrender to the Exchange  Agent of one or more  Company  Certificates  for
     cancellation,  together with a duly-executed letter of transmittal, (i) one
     or more  Parent  certificates  representing  the number of whole  shares of
     Parent  Common  Stock  into  which the shares  represented  by the  Company
     Certificate(s)  shall have been converted  pursuant to Section 1.3(a),  and
     (ii) a bank check in the  amount of cash into which the shares  represented
     by the Company Certificate(s) shall have been converted pursuant to Section
     1.5(f) (relating to fractional shares),  and the Company  Certificate(s) so
     surrendered shall be cancelled.  In the event of a transfer of ownership of
     Company Common Stock that is not registered in the transfer  records of the
     Company, it shall be a condition to the issuance of shares of Parent Common
     Stock that the  Company  Certificate(s)  so  surrendered  shall be properly
     endorsed  or be  otherwise  in  proper  form for  transfer  and  that  such
     transferee  shall (i) pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other taxes
     required or (ii) establish to the  satisfaction  of the Exchange Agent that
     such tax has been paid or is not payable.

<PAGE>

          (c) Holders of Company  Common Stock will be entitled to any dividends
     or other  distributions  pertaining to the Parent Common Stock  received in
     exchange  therefor that become payable to persons who are holders of record
     of Parent Common Stock as of a record date that follows the Effective Time,
     but only  after  they  have  surrendered  their  Company  Certificates  for
     exchange.  Subject to the effect,  if any, of applicable  law, the Exchange
     Agent  shall  receive,   hold,  and  remit  any  such  dividends  or  other
     distributions  to  each  such  record  holder  entitled  thereto,   without
     interest, at the time that such Company Certificates are surrendered to the
     Exchange  Agent for exchange.  Holders of Company  Common Stock will not be
     entitled,  however, to dividends or other distributions that become payable
     before or after the Effective Time to persons who were holders of record of
     Parent  Common  Stock as of a record  date  that is prior to the  Effective
     Time.

          (d) All shares of Parent  Common Stock issued upon the  surrender  for
     exchange  of  Company  Common  Stock in  accordance  with the terms  hereof
     (including any cash paid for fractional  shares  pursuant to Section 1.5(f)
     hereof)  shall be deemed to have been  issued in full  satisfaction  of all
     rights pertaining to such shares of Company Common Stock.

          (e) After the Effective Time,  there shall be no further  registration
     of transfers on the stock  transfer  books of the Surviving  Corporation of
     the shares of Company Common Stock that were outstanding  immediately prior
     to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time,  Company  Certificates
     representing such shares are presented to the Surviving  Corporation,  they
     shall be cancelled  and  exchanged as provided in this Article 1. As of the
     Effective Time, the holders of Company Certificates  representing shares of
     Company Common Stock shall cease to have any rights as  shareholders of the
     Company, except such rights, if any, as they may have pursuant to the WBCA.
     Except as provided above,  until such Company  Certificates are surrendered
     for  exchange,  each such Company  Certificate  shall,  after the Effective
     Time,  represent  for all purposes  only the right to receive the number of
     whole shares of Parent Common Stock into which the shares of Company Common
     Stock  shall have been  converted  pursuant  to the Merger as  provided  in
     Section  1.3(a)  hereof  and the  right to  receive  the cash  value of any
     fraction of a share of Parent  Common  Stock as provided in Section  1.5(f)
     hereof.

          (f) No fractional shares of Parent Common Stock and no certificates or
     scrip  therefor,  or other evidence of ownership  thereof,  shall be issued
     upon the  surrender  for exchange of Company  Certificates,  no dividend or
     other distribution of Parent shall relate to any fractional share, and such
     fractional  share  interests shall not entitle the owner thereof to vote or
     to any rights of a shareholder of Parent.  All fractional  shares of Parent
     Common Stock to which a holder of Company Common Stock immediately prior to
     the Effective  Time would  otherwise be entitled,  at the  Effective  Time,
     shall be aggregated if and to the extent multiple  Company  Certificates of
     such holder are submitted  together to the Exchange  Agent. If a fractional
     share  results  from  such  aggregation,  then (in lieu of such  fractional
     share) the  Exchange  Agent  shall pay to each  holder of shares of Company
     Common Stock who  otherwise  would be entitled to receive  such  fractional
     share  of  Parent  Common  Stock  an  amount  of  cash  (without  interest)
     determined by  multiplying  (i) the Parent  Average Stock Price by (ii) the
     fractional  share  of  Parent  Common  Stock  to which  such  holder  would
     otherwise be entitled. Parent will make available to the Exchange Agent any
     cash necessary for this purpose.

<PAGE>

          (g) In the event  any  Company  Certificates  shall  have  been  lost,
     stolen,  or destroyed,  the Exchange Agent shall issue in exchange for such
     lost,  stolen,  or destroyed  Company  Certificates,  upon the making of an
     affidavit of that fact by the holder thereof,  such shares of Parent Common
     Stock and cash for fractional  shares,  if any, as may be required pursuant
     to this Article 1;  provided,  however,  that Parent may, in its discretion
     and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof,  require the owner of
     such lost,  stolen, or destroyed  Company  Certificate to deliver a bond in
     such sum as Parent may direct as  indemnity  against  any claim that may be
     made  against  Parent or the  Exchange  Agent with  respect to such Company
     Certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed.

          (h) Each person  entitled  to receive  shares of Parent  Common  Stock
     pursuant  to this  Article 1 shall  receive  together  with such shares the
     number of Parent  preferred share purchase  rights  (pursuant to the Rights
     Agreement  dated as of June 27,  1991,  between  Parent  and  Norwest  Bank
     Minnesota, N.A., the "Parent Rights Plan") per share of Parent Common Stock
     equal to the number of Parent  preferred share purchase  rights  associated
     with one share of Parent Common Stock at the Effective Time.

     1.6  Exchange  of  Merger  Subsidiary  Common  Stock.  From and  after  the
Effective Time, each outstanding  certificate previously  representing shares of
Merger  Subsidiary  Common  Stock  shall be deemed for all  purposes to evidence
ownership  of and to  represent  the number of shares of  Surviving  Corporation
Common Stock into which such shares of Merger Subsidiary Common Stock shall have
been  converted.  Promptly after the Effective  Time, the Surviving  Corporation
shall issue to Parent a stock  certificate  or  certificates  representing  such
shares of Surviving  Corporation Common Stock in exchange for the certificate or
certificates that formerly represented shares of Merger Subsidiary Common Stock,
which shall be cancelled.

     1.7 Stock Options.

          (a) Except as provided  below with respect to the  Company's  Employee
     Share Purchase Plan, each option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock
     that is outstanding at the Effective Time (a "Company  Option")  shall,  by
     virtue of the  Merger  and  without  any  action on the part of the  holder
     thereof,  be  assumed  by  Parent  in  such  manner  that  Parent  (i) is a
     corporation  "assuming a stock  option in a  transaction  to which  Section
     424(a)  applies"  within the  meaning  of  Section  424 of the Code and the
     regulations  thereunder  or (ii) to the extent that Section 424 of the Code
     does not apply to any such Company Option, would be such a corporation were
     Section 424 of the Code applicable to such Company  Option.  From and after
     the Effective  Time, all  references to the Company in the Company  Options
     shall be deemed to refer to Parent.  The Company  Options assumed by Parent
     shall be  exercisable  upon the same  terms  and  conditions  as under  the
     Company  Options  except that (i) such Company  Options  shall  entitle the
     holder to purchase  from Parent the number of shares of Parent Common Stock
     (rounded  down to the nearest  whole number of such shares) that equals the
     product of the  Conversion  Fraction  multiplied by the number of shares of
     Company  Common  Stock  subject  to such  option  immediately  prior to the
     Effective  Time,  and (ii) the  option  exercise  price per share of Parent
     Common Stock shall be an amount (rounded up to the nearest full cent) equal
     to the option  exercise  price per share of Company  Common Stock in effect
     immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by the Conversion Fraction.
     As promptly as practicable  after the Effective Time, Parent shall issue to
     each holder of a Company Option a written instrument  informing such holder
     of the assumption by Parent of such Company Option.

<PAGE>

          (b)  Immediately  prior to the Effective Time, the current Plan Period
     under the Company's  Employee Share Purchase Plan shall be ended,  and each
     participant  shall be deemed  to have  purchased  immediately  prior to the
     Effective  Time, to the extent of payroll  deductions  accumulated  by such
     participant  as of such Plan  Period  end,  the  number of whole  shares of
     Company  Common  Stock at a per  share  price  determined  pursuant  to the
     provisions  of  the  Company's  Employee  Share  Purchase  Plan,  and  each
     participant  shall receive a cash payment equal to the balance,  if any, of
     such accumulated  payroll deductions  remaining after such purchase of such
     shares.  As of the Effective Time, each participant shall receive by virtue
     of the Merger,  for each share of Company Common Stock such participant has
     so purchased  under the Employee Share Purchase Plan, a fraction of a share
     of Parent  Common Stock equal to the  Conversion  Fraction.  The  Company's
     Employee  Share  Purchase  Plan and all purchase  rights  thereunder  shall
     terminate effective as of the Effective Time.

     1.8 Capitalization  Changes. If, between the date of this Agreement and the
Effective  Time, the  outstanding  shares of Parent Common Stock shall have been
changed into a different  number of shares or a different class by reason of any
reclassification,  recapitalization,  split-up, combination, exchange of shares,
or stock dividend,  the Conversion  Fraction and all per-share price amounts and
calculations set forth in this Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted.

     1.9 Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation. The Articles of
Incorporation  of  Merger  Subsidiary,  as in  effect  immediately  prior to the
Effective  Time,  shall  be the  Articles  of  Incorporation  of  the  Surviving
Corporation  until  thereafter   amended  in  accordance  with  applicable  law;
provided,  however,  that upon the Effective Time,  Article 1 of the Articles of
Incorporation  of the  Surviving  Corporation  shall be  amended  to read in its
entirety  as  follows:   "The  name  of  the  corporation   shall  be  Medtronic
Physio-Control, Inc."

     1.10 Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.  The Bylaws of Merger Subsidiary,
as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Bylaws of the
Surviving  Corporation  until  thereafter  amended in accordance with applicable
law.

     1.11 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation. The directors and
officers of Merger  Subsidiary  immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
the directors and officers,  respectively,  of the Surviving  Corporation  until
their respective successors shall be duly elected and qualified.


                                    ARTICLE 2
                                     CLOSING

     2.1 Time and Place. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the provisions
of Article 6, the closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall take place at 3:00
p.m.,  local time, on the day the Merger is approved by the  shareholders of the
Company at the Company  Shareholders Meeting (as defined in Section 5.4 hereof),
or as soon  thereafter  as all  conditions  to Closing  have been  satisfied  or
waived,  or on such  other  date  and/or at such  other  time as Parent  and the
Company may mutually  agree.  The date on which the Closing  actually  occurs is
herein  referred to as the "Closing  Date." The Closing  shall take place at the
corporate headquarters offices of the Company, or at such other place or in such
other manner (e.g.,  by telecopy  exchange of signature  pages with originals to
follow by overnight delivery) as the parties hereto may agree.

     2.2 Filings at the Closing.  At the Closing,  subject to the  provisions of
Article 6, Parent,  Merger  Subsidiary,  and the Company shall cause Articles of
Merger to be filed in accordance  with the  provisions of Section  23B.11.050 of
the WBCA,  and take any and all other  lawful  actions  and do any and all other
lawful things necessary to cause the Merger to become effective.

<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE 3
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     Except  as set  forth  in a  document  of  even  date  herewith,  referring
specifically  to the  representations  and  warranties in this  Agreement  which
identifies  by section  number to which such  disclosure  relates (the  "Company
Disclosure  Schedule"),  the Company hereby makes the following  representations
and warranties to Parent and Merger Subsidiary:

     3.1 Organization.  The Company and each subsidiary of the Company (referred
to herein  as a  "Subsidiary")  is a  corporation  duly  organized  and  validly
existing under the laws of its respective  jurisdiction of incorporation and has
all  requisite  corporate  power and  authority to own,  lease,  and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.  The Company and
each  Subsidiary  is duly  qualified and in good standing to do business in each
jurisdiction  in which the  property  owned,  leased,  or  operated by it or the
nature of the business  conducted by it makes such  qualification  necessary and
where the  failure to qualify  could  reasonably  be  expected to have a Company
Material  Adverse Effect (as defined below).  "Company  Material Adverse Effect"
means an effect that, individually or in the aggregate with other effects, is or
would  reasonably  be expected to be materially  adverse:  (i) to the present or
specifically planned business, properties, liabilities, results of operation, or
financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries,  considered as a whole;
(ii) to the  ability of Parent or the  Surviving  Corporation  to  conduct  such
businesses,  as presently  conducted,  following the Effective Time; or (iii) to
the Company's  ability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or
to  consummate  the  Merger.  The  jurisdictions  in which the  Company and each
Subsidiary  are qualified  are listed on the Company  Disclosure  Schedule.  The
Company has heretofore  delivered to Parent  complete and accurate copies of the
Articles of  Incorporation  and Bylaws of the Company  and each  Subsidiary,  as
currently in effect. Except to the extent specifically  disclosed on the Company
Disclosure  Schedule,  neither  the  Company  nor any  Subsidiary,  directly  or
indirectly,   owns  or  controls  or  has  any  capital,  equity,   partnership,
participation,  or other  ownership  interest in any  corporation,  partnership,
joint venture, or other business association or entity.

     3.2  Authorization.  The Company has full corporate  power and authority to
execute and deliver  this  Agreement  and,  subject to obtaining  the  necessary
approval  of its  shareholders,  to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated
hereby, and to file and distribute the Proxy Statement/Prospectus (as defined in
Section 5.4 hereof). The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company
and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby have been duly and
validly  authorized and approved by the Company's  Board of Directors,  no other
corporate proceedings on the part of the Company or any Subsidiary are necessary
to recommend  and submit this  Agreement  to the  Company's  shareholders,  and,
subject to  obtaining  the  approval  of the  Company's  shareholders,  no other
corporate  action on the part of the Company or any  Subsidiary  is necessary to
consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby.  This Agreement has been duly
and validly  executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and
binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
with its terms,  subject to laws of general application  relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency,  and the  relief  of  debtors  and rules of law  governing  specific
performance,  injunctive relief, or other equitable  remedies.  To the Company's
knowledge,  each  Agreement  to  Facilitate  Merger and  Affiliate's  Letter (as
described  in  Sections  5.11 and 5.6) has been duly and  validly  executed  and
delivered by the Company  shareholder who is a party thereto and constitutes the
valid and binding obligation of such shareholder, enforceable in accordance with
its terms,  subject  to laws of  general  application  relating  to  bankruptcy,
insolvency,  and the  relief  of  debtors  and rules of law  governing  specific
performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.

<PAGE>

     3.3  Capitalization.  As of June 24, 1998, the authorized  capital stock of
the Company consists of (i) 40,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share,  of which  17,722,021  shares are issued and  outstanding and no
shares are held in the Company's treasury,  and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of Company
Preferred  Stock,  par  value  $.01 per  share,  none of  which  are  issued  or
outstanding.  Except as set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedule, all issued
and  outstanding   shares  of  capital  stock  of  each  Subsidiary  are  owned,
beneficially  and of  record,  by the  Company,  free and clear of any Liens (as
defined in Section 3.14).  All issued and  outstanding  shares of Company Common
Stock have been validly issued, are fully paid and  nonassessable,  and have not
been issued in  violation  of and are not  currently  subject to any  preemptive
rights.  Except for options to purchase an aggregate 2,971,435 shares of Company
Common Stock granted pursuant to the Company 1994 Stock Purchase and Option Plan
and the 1997 Stock and Incentive Plan (collectively, the "Company Option Plans")
listed,  together with their respective  exercise prices,  in Section 3.3 of the
Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  and except for the rights to purchase  under the
Company's Team Savings Plan shares of Company Common Stock  (estimated to be the
number of shares equal to approximately  $105,000 of matching  contributions per
quarter  divided by the trading price of the Company  Common Stock at the end of
any such quarter,  based on the current match rates, as listed in Section 3.3 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule) and except for the rights to purchase under the
Company's Employee Share Purchase Plan shares of Company Common Stock (estimated
to be approximately  50,000 shares,  at a per share price of $13.4938,  based on
the current contribution rates of the participants,  as listed in Section 3.3 of
the Company Disclosure  Schedule,  and assuming the current Plan Period is ended
at the Effective  Time (which is assumed to be not later than September 30, 1998
for this purpose)),  there are not any outstanding or authorized  subscriptions,
options,   warrants,   calls,  rights,   convertible  securities,   commitments,
restrictions,  arrangements,  or any other  agreements of any character to which
the Company or any  Subsidiary  is a party that,  directly  or  indirectly,  (i)
obligate the Company or any  Subsidiary  to issue any shares of capital stock or
any  securities  convertible  into,  or  exercisable  or  exchangeable  for,  or
evidencing the right to subscribe  for, any shares of capital  stock,  (ii) call
for or relate to the sale, pledge, transfer, or other disposition or encumbrance
by the Company or any Subsidiary of any shares of its capital stock, or (iii) to
the  knowledge of the  Company,  relate to the voting or control of such capital
stock. The Company  Disclosure  Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list
of all stock  options,  warrants,  and other  rights to acquire  Company  Common
Stock,  including the name of the holder, the date of grant,  acquisition price,
expiration date, number of shares,  exercisability schedule, and, in the case of
options, the type of option under the Code. The Company Disclosure Schedule also
sets forth the  restrictions  to which any shares of Company Common Stock issued
pursuant to the Company Option Plans or otherwise are currently subject and also
sets forth the  restrictions  to which such shares  will be subject  immediately
after the  Effective  Time.  No consent of  holders  or  participants  under the
Company  Option Plans or Employee  Share  Purchase Plan is required to carry out
the provisions of Section 1.7. All actions,  if any, required on the part of the
Company under the Company  Option Plans or Employee Share Purchase Plan to allow
for the treatment of Company  Options and the Employee Share Purchase Plan as is
provided in Section  1.7,  has been,  or prior to the Closing  will be,  validly
taken by the  Company,  and the Company  will not from and after the date hereof
allow any increase in the rate of a participant's  contributions to the Employee
Share Purchase Plan or any enrollments or re-enrollments in such Plan.

<PAGE>

     3.4  Reports  and  Financial  Statements.  The Company has filed all forms,
reports,  registration statements, and documents required to be filed by it with
the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  ("SEC")  since  January 1, 1996 (such
forms,  reports,  registration  statements,  and  documents,  together  with any
amendments thereto,  are referred to as the "Company SEC Filings").  As of their
respective  dates,  the  Company  SEC  Filings  (i)  complied  as to form in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933
and the rules and  regulations  thereunder  (the "1933 Act") and the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations  thereunder (the "1934 Act"),
as the case may be, and (ii) did not contain any untrue  statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements made therein,  in light of the circumstances  under which
they were made, not misleading.  The audited financial  statements and unaudited
interim  financial  statements  included or  incorporated  by  reference  in the
Company  SEC  Filings,  including  but  not  limited  to the  Company's  audited
financial  statements at and for the year ended  December 31, 1997 (the "Company
1997  Financials"),  (i) were prepared in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved
(except as may be indicated  therein or in the notes thereto),  (ii) complied as
of their  respective dates in all material  respects with applicable  accounting
requirements  and the published  rules and  regulations  of the SEC with respect
thereto,  and (iii) fairly present the  consolidated  financial  position of the
Company as of the dates  thereof  and the  income,  cash  flows,  and changes in
shareholders'  equity for the  periods  involved.  The  statements  of  earnings
included in the audited or unaudited interim financial statements in the Company
SEC Filings do not contain  any items of special or  nonrecurring  income or any
other income not earned in the ordinary course of business,  except as expressly
specified in the applicable  statement of operations or notes thereto.  Prior to
the date  hereof,  the Company has  delivered  to Parent  complete  and accurate
copies of all Company SEC Filings since  January 1, 1995.  The Company has filed
in a timely  manner all reports  required to be filed by it pursuant to Sections
13, 14, or 15(d) of the 1934 Act.

     3.5 Absence of Undisclosed  Liabilities.  Except to the extent specifically
disclosed  on the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  neither  the  Company nor any
Subsidiary has any liabilities or obligations of any nature  (whether  absolute,
accrued,  contingent,  or  otherwise)  except  (a)  liabilities  or  obligations
required  by  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  to be  recognized  or
disclosed  on a  consolidated  balance  sheet of  Company  and its  consolidated
subsidiaries or in the notes thereto that are accrued or reserved against in the
audited  consolidated  balance  sheet of the  Company as of  December  31,  1997
contained in the Company 1997 Financials  (the "Company  Audited Balance Sheet")
or in the  unaudited  consolidated  balance sheet of the Company as of March 31,
1998  contained in the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
quarter  ended March 31, 1998 (the "Company  Interim  Balance  Sheet"),  and (b)
liabilities or obligations  arising since March 31, 1998 in the ordinary  course
of business  and  consistent  with past  practice  that would not have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.

<PAGE>

     3.6 Consents and Approvals.  Except for (i) any applicable  requirements of
the 1933  Act,  the 1934  Act,  state  securities  laws,  the  Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust  Improvements  Act of 1976 and the  regulations  thereunder  (the "HSR
Act"), and the antitrust,  competition,  foreign investment,  or similar laws of
any foreign  countries  or  supranational  commissions  or boards  that  require
pre-merger  notifications  or filings with respect to the Merger  (collectively,
"Foreign Merger Laws"), (ii) approval by the Company's  shareholders,  (iii) the
filing and recordation of appropriate  merger documents as required by the WBCA,
(iv) compliance with Chapter 13 of the WBCA regarding  dissenters'  rights,  and
(v) any items disclosed on the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the Company, and, to the Company's knowledge,  the
execution  and  delivery  of  the  Agreements  to  Facilitate  Merger,  and  the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby will not: (a)
violate any provision of the Articles of  Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company
or any Subsidiary;  (b) violate any statute, rule, regulation,  order, or decree
of any federal,  state, local, or foreign body or authority (including,  but not
limited to, the Food and Drug  Administration (the "FDA") or any nongovernmental
self-regulatory  agency) by which the Company or any  Subsidiary or any of their
respective  properties  or assets may be bound;  (c)  require any filing with or
permit,  consent,  or approval of any federal,  state,  local, or foreign public
body or authority (including, but not limited to, the FDA or any nongovernmental
self-regulatory  agency);  or (d)  result  in any  violation  or  breach  of, or
constitute  (with or  without  due  notice  or lapse of time or both) a  default
under,  result in the loss of any material  benefit  under,  or give rise to any
right of termination,  cancellation,  increased payments, or acceleration under,
or result in the creation of any Lien (as defined in Section 3.14) on any of the
properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary  under,  any of the terms,
conditions,  or  provisions of any note,  bond,  mortgage,  indenture,  license,
franchise, permit,  authorization,  agreement, or other instrument or obligation
to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party,  or by which it or any of its
properties  or assets may be bound,  except,  in the case of clause (d), for any
such violations, breaches, defaults, or other occurrences that 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 have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.

     3.7 Compliance with Laws.  Except to the extent  specifically  described on
the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  all  activities  of the  Company  and  each
Subsidiary have been, and are currently being,  conducted in compliance with all
applicable  federal,  state, local, and foreign laws,  ordinances,  regulations,
interpretations,    judgments,   decrees,   injunctions,    permits,   licenses,
certificates,  governmental requirements, orders, and other similar items of any
court or other governmental entity (including,  but not limited to, those of the
FDA or any nongovernmental  self-regulatory  agency), the failure to comply with
which could  reasonably be expected to have a Company  Material  Adverse Effect.
The Company and each  Subsidiary  has timely  filed or  otherwise  provided  all
registrations,  reports,  data,  and other  information  and  applications  with
respect to its medical device, pharmaceutical,  consumer, health care, and other
governmentally  regulated  products (the  "Regulated  Products")  required to be
filed with or otherwise provided to the FDA or any other federal,  state, local,
or foreign governmental authorities with jurisdiction over the manufacture, use,
or sale of the Regulated  Products,  and all regulatory licenses or approvals in
respect  thereof are in full force and effect,  except where the failure to file
timely such registrations,  reports, data, information,  and applications or the
failure to have such  licenses and  approvals in full force and effect would not
have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

<PAGE>

     3.8 Litigation.  Except to the extent specifically disclosed on the Company
Disclosure Schedule,  to the Company's knowledge,  no investigation or review by
any federal,  state,  local,  or foreign body or authority  (including,  but not
limited to, the FDA or any nongovernmental  self-regulatory agency) with respect
to the Company or any Subsidiary is pending or threatened, nor has any such body
or  authority  (including,  but not limited  to, the FDA or any  nongovernmental
self-regulatory  agency) indicated to the Company or any Subsidiary an intention
to conduct the same. Except to the extent specifically  disclosed on the Company
Disclosure Schedule,  there are no claims, actions, suits, or proceedings by any
private  party that could  reasonably  be  expected to involve  individually  an
amount in excess of $50,000 or  collectively  an  aggregate  amount in excess of
$200,000, or by any governmental body or authority  (including,  but not limited
to, the FDA or any nongovernmental self-regulatory agency), against or affecting
the Company or any  Subsidiary,  pending or, to the  knowledge  of the  Company,
threatened at law or in equity, or before any federal, state, local, foreign, or
other  governmental   department,   commission,   board,   bureau,   agency,  or
instrumentality  (including,  but not limited to, the FDA or any nongovernmental
self-regulatory agency), and, to the knowledge of the Company, there is no basis
for any such  investigation,  review,  claim,  action,  suit, or proceeding that
could reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     3.9 Absence of Material Adverse Changes.  Except to the extent specifically
disclosed on the Company Disclosure Schedule,  since December 31, 1997 there has
not been any (a) change or  circumstance  that could  reasonably  be expected to
have a  Company  Material  Adverse  Effect;  (b)  action by the  Company  or any
Subsidiary that, if taken on or after the date of this Agreement,  would require
the  consent or approval  of Parent  pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof,  except for
actions as to which consent or approval has been given as provided therein;  (c)
damage,  destruction,  or loss, whether or not covered by insurance,  that could
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect;  (d) change by
the Company or any  Subsidiary  in  accounting  methods or  principles  used for
financial  reporting  purposes,  except as  required  by a change  in  generally
accepted accounting  principles and concurred with by the Company's  independent
public accountants;  or (e) agreement,  whether in writing or otherwise, to take
any action described or referenced in this Section 3.9.

     3.10  Environmental Laws and Regulations.  The Company Disclosure  Schedule
completely  and  accurately  sets  forth  the  following:  (a)  a  list  of  all
above-ground  storage tanks or underground storage tanks for Hazardous Materials
(as defined below) on the Company's  principal facility located at 11811 Willows
Road N.E., Redmond, WA 98052 (the "Principal Facility"); (b) the identity of any
Hazardous Materials (as defined below) used, generated,  transported or disposed
of by the  Company or any  Subsidiary  now or at any time in the past,  together
with a brief  description  and location of each  activity  using such  Hazardous
Materials  (with  respect  to sites  other than  Redmond,  only to the extent of
material  Hazardous  Materials);  (c) a  summary  of  the  identity  of,  to the
Company's knowledge, any Hazardous Materials that have been disposed of or found
on,  above or  below  the  Principal  Facility;  and (d) a list of all  reports,
studies,  and  tests in the  possession  of the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  or
initiated  by the  Company or any  Subsidiary  pertaining  to the  existence  of
Hazardous  Materials on, above, or below real property now or at any time owned,
leased or occupied by the Company or any Subsidiary (such real property referred
to in this Section as the "Real  Property")  or any property  adjoining or which
could  reasonably  be  expected  to  affect  the Real  Property,  or  concerning
compliance  with or liability  under the  Regulations  (as defined  below).  The
Company has heretofore  delivered to Parent complete and accurate copies of such
reports, studies, and tests.

<PAGE>

     The Company and each Subsidiary have obtained, and maintained in full force
and effect, all required  environmental permits and other governmental approvals
and are in compliance with all applicable Regulations (as defined below), except
where the  failure to so obtain and  maintain or to be in  compliance  would not
have a Company Material  Adverse Effect.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary
(i) has received a written notice or Claim (as defined below) alleging potential
liability  under  any  of  the  Regulations  or  alleging  a  violation  of  the
Regulations  or (ii) has any knowledge that such a notice or Claim may be issued
in the future.  Neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary has any knowledge of any
notices to or Claims against any persons, or reasonable basis therefor, alleging
potential  liability  under  any of the  Regulations  with  respect  to the Real
Property or any adjoining  properties  or which could  reasonably be expected to
affect the Real Property. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) has been or
is presently subject to or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with any
administrative or judicial proceeding  pursuant to the Regulations,  or (ii) has
any  information  that it may be subject to or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened  with such a  proceeding  in the future.  Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary  has  knowledge  of  any  conditions  or  circumstances   that  could
reasonably be expected to result in the  determination of liability  against the
Company or any Subsidiary  relating to  environmental  matters that would have a
Company  Material  Adverse  Effect,  including,  but not  limited  to, any Claim
arising from past or present  environmental  practices with respect to Hazardous
Materials, the Real Property, or any disposal sites. No Hazardous Materials have
been or are  threatened  to be  discharged,  emitted,  or released into the air,
water,  soil,  or  subsurface at or from the Real Property by the Company or, to
the Company's knowledge, by any other person.

     For  purposes of this  Section  3.10,  the  following  terms shall have the
following meanings: (i) "Hazardous Materials" means asbestos, urea formaldehyde,
polychlorinated   biphenyls,   nuclear  fuel  or  materials,   chemical   waste,
radioactive materials,  explosives, known human carcinogens,  petroleum products
or other substances or materials listed,  identified,  or designated as toxic or
hazardous or as a pollutant or contaminant  in, or the use,  release or disposal
of  which is  regulated  by,  the  Regulations;  (ii)  "Regulations"  means  the
Comprehensive  Environmental  Response Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA")
as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 ("SARA"),
42 U.S.C.  ss.ss.  9601 et seq.; the Federal Resource  Conservation and Recovery
Act of 1976  ("RCRA"),  42 U.S.C.  ss.ss.  6901 et seq.; the Clean Water Act, 33
U.S.C.  ss.ss.  1321 et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C.  ss.ss. 7401 et seq.,
and any other federal,  state,  county,  local,  foreign,  or other governmental
statute, regulation, or ordinance, as now in existence, that relates to or deals
with employee  safety and human health,  pollution,  health,  or the environment
including, but not limited to, the use, generation,  discharge,  transportation,
disposal, recordkeeping, notification, and reporting of Hazardous Materials; and
(iii)  "Claim"  means any and all claims,  demands,  causes of  actions,  suits,
proceedings,  administrative  proceedings,  losses,  judgments,  decrees, debts,
damages,  liabilities,  court costs,  penalties,  attorneys' fees, and any other
expenses incurred,  assessed,  sustained or alleged by or against the Company or
any Subsidiary.

<PAGE>

     3.11  Officers,  Directors  and  Employees.  Prior to the date hereof,  the
Company has provided to Parent a list that  completely and accurately sets forth
the name and  current  annual  salary  rate of each  officer or  employee of the
Company or any Subsidiary whose total remuneration for the last fiscal year was,
or for the current  fiscal year has been set at, in excess of $50,000,  together
with a summary of the bonuses, commissions,  additional compensation,  and other
like benefits,  if any, paid or payable to such persons for the last fiscal year
and  proposed  for the current  fiscal  year.  The Company  Disclosure  Schedule
completely  and  accurately  sets  forth  the  names of the  officers  (with all
positions  and  titles   indicated)  and  directors  of  the  Company  and  each
Subsidiary.  No unfair  labor  practice  complaint  against  the  Company or any
Subsidiary is pending before the National Labor Relations Board, and there is no
labor strike,  slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened  against or involving  the Company or any  Subsidiary.  No unionizing
efforts  have,  to the  knowledge of the Company,  been made by employees of the
Company or any Subsidiary,  neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to
or subject to any collective bargaining agreement,  and no collective bargaining
agreement is currently being negotiated by the Company or any Subsidiary.  There
is no labor  dispute  pending or, to the  knowledge of the  Company,  threatened
between the Company or any  Subsidiary  and its  employees.  During the 12-month
period  preceding  the date of this  Agreement  there has not been any  material
increase in the rate of turnover of employees  of the Company or any  Subsidiary
over historical rates.

     3.12 Taxes.  The Company has  previously  furnished to Parent  complete and
accurate copies of all federal income tax returns  actually filed by the Company
for each of the  fiscal  years  ended  December  31,  1995 and 1996 and has made
available for review by Parent (or, with respect to those that are not available
at the Company's  Principal  Facility,  will make available for review by Parent
within 15 days after execution of this  Agreement)  complete and accurate copies
of all other tax or assessment reports and tax returns (including any applicable
information  returns) required by any law or regulation  (whether United States,
foreign,  state,  local or other  jurisdiction) and filed by the Company for the
fiscal  years ended  December 31,  1995,  1996 or 1997,  and of all such returns
filed  separately by any Subsidiary for fiscal years ended during or after 1995.
The Company and each  Subsidiary has filed,  or has obtained  extensions to file
(which  extensions have not expired without filing),  all state,  local,  United
States, foreign, or other tax reports and returns required to be filed by any of
them. The Company and each  Subsidiary has duly paid, or accrued on its books of
account,  all taxes (including estimated taxes) shown as due on such reports and
returns (or such  extension  requests),  or  assessed  against it, or that it is
obligated to withhold from amounts owed by it to any person. The liabilities and
reserves for taxes reflected on the Company Audited Balance Sheet or the Company
Interim Balance Sheet are adequate to cover all taxes payable by the Company and
its  Subsidiaries  for all taxable  periods and  portions  thereof  ending on or
before the dates  thereof.  There are no Liens (as defined in Section  3.14) for
taxes upon any property or asset of the Company or any  Subsidiary.  Neither the
Company nor any  Subsidiary is  delinquent in the payment of any tax  assessment
(including,  but not limited to, any applicable  withholding taxes). None of the
tax returns or reports for the tax periods ended  December 31, 1995,  1996,  and
1997 have been  audited by the  Internal  Revenue  Service (the "IRS") or by any
other taxing authority.  Further, to the knowledge of the Company, except to the
extent specifically  disclosed on the Company Disclosure  Schedule,  no state of
facts exists or has existed that would subject the Company or any  Subsidiary to
an additional  material tax liability for any taxes assessable by either the IRS
or any separate state, local, foreign, or other taxing authority with respect to
any reports or returns filed on or before the date hereof (other than  extension
requests for which returns have not been filed as of the date  hereof).  Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary  has, with regard to any assets or property held,
acquired or to be acquired by any of them, filed a consent to the application of
Section  341(f)(2) of the Code. Except to the extent  specifically  disclosed on
the Company Disclosure Schedule,  neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has (i)
received  notification of any pending or proposed  examination by either the IRS
or  any  state,  local,  foreign,  or  other  taxing  authority,  (ii)  received
notification  of any  pending or  proposed  deficiency  by either the IRS or any
state, local, foreign, or other taxing authority, or (iii) granted any extension
of the limitations period applicable to any claim for taxes.

<PAGE>

     For the purposes of this Section 3.12,  "tax" shall mean and include taxes,
additions to tax, penalties, interest, fines, duties, withholdings, assessments,
and charges assessed or imposed by any governmental authority, including but not
limited to all federal, state, county, local, and foreign income, profits, gross
receipts,  import, ad valorem, real and personal property,  franchise,  license,
sales, use, value added,  stamp,  transfer,  withholding,  payroll,  employment,
excise,  custom,  duty, and any other taxes,  obligations and assessments of any
kind whatsoever;  "tax" shall also include any liability  arising as a result of
being (or ceasing to be) a member of any affiliated,  consolidated, combined, or
unitary group as well as any liability  under any tax  allocation,  tax sharing,
tax indemnity, or similar agreement.

     3.13 Contracts.  The Company Disclosure Schedule lists, and the Company has
heretofore furnished to Parent complete and accurate copies of (or, if oral, the
Company  Disclosure  Schedule  states all  material  provisions  of),  (a) every
independent  sales  representative,  noncompetition  (except  only for  standard
noncompetition  agreements entered into with the Company's employees,  the forms
of which  have  been  provided  to  Parent),  loan,  credit,  escrow,  security,
mortgage,   guaranty,   pledge,   buy-sell,   letter  of  credit,  OEM,  supply,
distribution,  manufacturers' representative,  dealer, agency, lease (except for
immaterial personal property leases), licensing (except for immaterial licenses,
which  include,  without  limitation,   licenses  for  off-the-shelf  software),
franchise,   development,   joint  development,   joint  venture,  research  and
development,  or similar contract,  agreement,  or understanding material to the
Company and to which the Company or any  Subsidiary  is a party or may be bound,
(b) every material employment or consulting agreement or arrangement with or for
the benefit of any director,  officer,  employee, other person or shareholder of
the Company or any  Subsidiary or any  affiliate  thereof,  (c) every  contract,
agreement,  or  understanding  to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party
that could  reasonably  be expected to involve  payments by or to the Company or
any  Subsidiary in excess of $150,000  during the Company's  current 1998 fiscal
year or in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate  during the Company's  1998, 1999
and 2000 fiscal years, or would have a Company Material Adverse Effect,  or that
was not made in the ordinary course of business, (d) every agreement or contract
between  the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  and  any of the  Company's  officers,
directors,  or more  than 5%  shareholders  or any  entity  in which  any of the
Company's officers,  directors,  or more than 5% shareholders has a greater than
2%  equity  interest,  and  (e)  every  other  contract,   plan,  agreement,  or
understanding  to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or may be bound
and  which  would  be  required  to be filed  with the SEC in a filing  to which
paragraph  (b)(10) of Item 601 of Regulation S-K of the Rules and Regulations of
the SEC would be applicable.  The Company and each  Subsidiary has performed all
obligations  required  to be  performed  by it  under  any  listed  or  material
contract, plan, agreement, understanding, or arrangement made or obligation owed
by or to the Company or any Subsidiary,  except where the failure would not have
a Company Material  Adverse Effect;  to the Company's  knowledge,  there has not
been any event of default  (or any event or  condition  which with notice or the
lapse  of time,  both or  otherwise,  would  constitute  an  event  of  default)
thereunder on the part of the Company, any Subsidiary, or any other party to any
thereof that would have a Company Material Adverse Effect;  the same are in full
force and effect and valid and enforceable by the Company or its Subsidiaries in
accordance with their  respective  terms subject to laws of general  application
relating to bankruptcy,  insolvency,  and the relief of debtors and rules or law
governing specific performance, injunctive relief, and other equitable remedies;
and the performance of any such contracts,  plans,  agreements,  understandings,
arrangements, or obligations would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

<PAGE>

     3.14 Title to Properties;  Liens. The Company and/or its Subsidiaries  have
good and marketable  title to all properties and assets reflected on the Company
Audited Balance Sheet or the Company Interim Balance Sheet or acquired after the
dates thereof (except for properties and assets sold or otherwise disposed of in
the ordinary  course of business since the dates  thereof),  which includes each
asset the  absence or  unavailability  of which  would  have a Company  Material
Adverse  Effect,  subject only to (a) statutory Liens arising or incurred in the
ordinary course of business with respect to which the underlying obligations are
not delinquent,  (b) with respect to personal property,  the rights of customers
of the Company or any  Subsidiary  with respect to inventory or work in progress
under orders or contracts  entered into by the Company or any  Subsidiary in the
ordinary course of business,  (c) Liens reflected on the Company Audited Balance
Sheet or the  Company  Interim  Balance  Sheet,  (d)  Liens  for  taxes  not yet
delinquent,  and (e) and defects in title that would not have a Company Material
Adverse  Effect.  The term "Lien" as used in this Agreement  means any mortgage,
pledge, security interest,  encumbrance, lien, claim, or charge of any kind. All
properties  and assets  purported to be leased by the Company or any  Subsidiary
are subject to valid and effective leases that are in full force and effect, and
there does not exist,  and the Merger  will not result in, any  default or event
that with notice or lapse of time,  or both or  otherwise,  would  constitute  a
default  under any such  leases  which  would  have a Company  Material  Adverse
Effect.  The properties and assets of the Company and each  Subsidiary have been
kept in good condition and repair in the ordinary course of business.

     3.15 Permits, Licenses, Etc.. Except as set forth on the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company and each Subsidiary has all rights, permits, certificates,
licenses,   consents,   franchises,   approvals,    registrations,   and   other
authorizations  necessary to sell its products and services and otherwise  carry
on and conduct its business and to own,  lease,  use, and operate its properties
and assets at the places and in the manner now conducted  and  operated,  except
those the absence of which  would not have a Company  Material  Adverse  Effect.
Neither  the  Company  nor any  Subsidiary  has  received  any  notice  or claim
pertaining to the failure to obtain any permit, certificate, license, franchise,
approval,  registration,  or other authorization required by any federal, state,
local, or foreign body or authority  (including,  but not limited to, the FDA or
any nongovernmental self-regulatory agency).


<PAGE>

     3.16 Intellectual Property Rights. The Company Disclosure Schedule contains
a complete and accurate list of all material patents,  trademarks,  trade names,
service marks,  copyrights,  and all applications for or registrations of any of
the  foregoing  as to which  the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  is the owner or a
licensee  (indicating  whether such license is exclusive or  nonexclusive).  The
Company and each  Subsidiary  exclusively  owns,  free and clear of any Lien (as
defined in Section 3.14), or is exclusively  (unless otherwise  indicated in the
Company  Disclosure  Schedule) licensed to use, all patents,  trademarks,  trade
names,  service marks,  copyrights,  applications for or registrations of any of
the foregoing, processes,  inventions,  designs, technology,  formulas, computer
software  programs,  know-how,  and trade  secrets used in or necessary  for the
conduct of its  respective  business as  currently  conducted  or proposed to be
conducted  (the  "Company   Intellectual   Property").   Except  to  the  extent
specifically  disclosed on the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  no claim has been
asserted  or, to the  knowledge of the  Company,  threatened  by any person with
respect  to the use of the  Company  Intellectual  Property  or  challenging  or
questioning  the  validity or  effectiveness  of any license or  agreement  with
respect thereto. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the use of the Company
Intellectual Property by the Company or any Subsidiary in the present or planned
conduct  of its  business  nor any  product  or  service  of the  Company or any
Subsidiary  infringes  on the  intellectual  property  rights of any person.  No
current or former  shareholder,  employee,  or  consultant of the Company or any
Subsidiary has any rights in or to any of the Company Intellectual Property. All
Company Intellectual  Property listed on the Company Disclosure Schedule has the
status indicated therein and all applications are still pending in good standing
and have not been abandoned.  Except to the extent specifically disclosed on the
Company Disclosure Schedule:  (i) the Company Intellectual Property is valid and
has not been challenged in any judicial or administrative  proceeding;  (ii) the
Company and each Subsidiary have made all statutorily  required filings, if any,
to record their interests, and taken reasonable actions to protect their rights,
in the Company Intellectual Property;  (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, no
person  or entity  nor such  person's  or  entity's  business  or  products  has
infringed,  misused,  or misappropriated  any Company  Intellectual  Property or
currently is infringing,  misusing, or misappropriating any Company Intellectual
Property;  and (iv) no other  person or entity  has any right to  receive or any
obligation to pay a royalty with respect to any Company Intellectual Property or
any product or service of the Company or any Subsidiary.

     3.17 Benefit Plans. Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule:

          (a)  Neither  the  Company  nor any  Subsidiary  sponsors,  maintains,
     contributes  to, or has  sponsored,  maintained,  or contributed to or been
     required to contribute to, any "employee  pension  benefit plan"  ("Pension
     Plan"), as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of the Employee  Retirement
     Income Security Act of 1974, as amended  ("ERISA"),  including,  solely for
     the purpose of this  subsection,  a plan  excluded from coverage by Section
     4(b)(5)  of ERISA.  Each such  Pension  Plan  presently  maintained  by the
     Company or any Subsidiary is, in all material respects,  in compliance with
     applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code, and other applicable law.

          (b)  Neither  the  Company  nor any  Subsidiary  sponsors,  maintains,
     contributes  to, or has  sponsored,  maintained,  or contributed to or been
     required to contribute to, any Pension Plan that is a "Multiemployer  Plan"
     within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

<PAGE>

          (c)  Neither  the  Company  nor any  Subsidiary  sponsors,  maintains,
     contributes  to,  or has  sponsored,  maintained,  contributed  to, or been
     required to contribute to, any "employee  welfare  benefit plan"  ("Welfare
     Plan"),  as such term is defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA,  whether insured
     or otherwise, and any such Welfare Plan presently maintained by the Company
     or any  Subsidiary  is, in all material  respects,  in compliance  with the
     provisions of ERISA, the Code, and all other  applicable  laws,  including,
     but  not  limited  to,  Section  4980B  of the  Code  and  the  regulations
     thereunder,  and Part 6 of Title I of ERISA.  Neither  the  Company nor any
     Subsidiary has  established  or  contributed  to any "voluntary  employees'
     beneficiary  association"  within the meaning of Section  501(c)(9)  of the
     Code.

          (d) Neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary  sponsors,  maintains,  or
     contributes  to,  or  has  sponsored,  maintained,  or  contributed  to,  a
     "self-insured  medical  reimbursement  plan"  within the meaning of Section
     105(h) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

          (e)  Neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary  currently  maintains  or
     contributes  to any oral or  written  bonus,  profit-sharing,  compensation
     (incentive or otherwise),  commission,  stock option,  or other stock-based
     compensation,  retirement,  severance, change of control, vacation, sick or
     parental  leave,   dependent  care,   deferred   compensation,   cafeteria,
     disability,  hospitalization,  medical, death, retiree, insurance, or other
     benefit or welfare or other similar plan, policy,  agreement,  trust, fund,
     or  arrangement  providing  for the  remuneration  or benefit of all or any
     employees or  shareholders  or any other person,  that is neither a Pension
     Plan nor a Welfare Plan (collectively, the "Compensation Plans").

          (f) To the  knowledge  of the  Company,  neither any Pension  Plans or
     Welfare Plans nor any trust created or insurance contract issued thereunder
     nor any trustee,  fiduciary,  custodian,  or administrator thereof, nor any
     officer, director, or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, custodian,
     or any other "disqualified person" within the meaning of Section 4975(e)(2)
     of the Code, or "party in interest"  within the meaning of Section 3(14) of
     ERISA,  with  respect to any such plan has  engaged in any act or  omission
     that could reasonably be expected to subject the Company or any Subsidiary,
     either  directly  or  indirectly,  to a liability  for breach of  fiduciary
     duties under ERISA or a tax or penalty imposed by Section 502 of ERISA.

          (g) Full and  timely  payment  has been made of all  amounts  that the
     Company or any Subsidiary is required,  under  applicable law, with respect
     to any Pension Plan,  Welfare Plan, or Compensation  Plan, or any agreement
     relating to any Pension Plan,  Welfare Plan, or Compensation  Plan, to have
     paid as a contribution to each Pension Plan,  Welfare Plan, or Compensation
     Plan. To the extent required by generally accepted  accounting  principles,
     the Company has made adequate provisions for reserves to meet contributions
     that have not been made because they are not yet due under the terms of any
     Pension Plan,  Welfare Plan, or  Compensation  Plan or related  agreements.
     There will be no change on or before the Closing  Date in the  operation of
     any Pension Plan,  Welfare Plan, or  Compensation  Plan or documents  under
     which any such plan is  maintained  that will  result in an increase in the
     benefit  liabilities under such plan, except as may be required by law. The
     IRS has issued favorable  determination letters with respect to all Company
     and  Subsidiary  Pension  Plans that are  intended  to be  qualified  under
     Section 401(a) of the Code. The Company has provided to Parent complete and
     accurate copies of all Pension Plans,  Welfare Plans,  Compensation  Plans,
     and related agreements, annual reports (Form 5500), favorable determination
     letters,  current summary plan descriptions,  and all employee handbooks or
     manuals.

<PAGE>

          (h) The execution of, and performance of the transactions contemplated
     in, this  Agreement  will not (either  alone or upon the  occurrence of any
     additional  or  subsequent  events)  constitute  an event under any Pension
     Plan,  Welfare Plan,  Compensation  Plan, or other arrangement that will or
     may  result  in any  payment  (whether  of  severance  pay  or  otherwise),
     acceleration,  forgiveness of indebtedness, vesting, distribution, increase
     in  benefits,  or  obligation  to fund  benefits.  No amount  that could be
     received  (whether in cash or property  or the  vesting of  property)  as a
     result of any of the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement by any
     employee,  officer, or director of the Company or any of its affiliates who
     is a  "disqualified  individual"  (as  such  term is  defined  in  proposed
     Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1) under any Pension Plan, Welfare Plan,
     or  Compensation  Plan  currently in effect  would be an "excess  parachute
     payment" (as such term is defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code).

     3.18 Minute Books. The minute books of the Company and the Subsidiaries, as
previously  made available to Parent and its  representatives,  contain,  in all
material  respects,  complete  and  accurate  records  of  all  meetings  of and
corporate actions or written consents by the shareholders,  Boards of Directors,
and committees of the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Subsidiaries.

     3.19  Insurance  Policies.  The Company  Disclosure  Schedule  sets forth a
complete and accurate list, including the term, coverages, premium rates, limits
and deductibles thereof, of all material policies of insurance maintained by the
Company  or any  Subsidiary  with  respect  to any of its  officers,  directors,
employees,  shareholders,  agents, properties,  buildings, machinery, equipment,
furniture,  fixtures or operations  and a description  of each claim made by the
Company or any Subsidiary during the three-year period preceding the date hereof
under any such policy of  insurance.  The Company has  previously  delivered  to
Parent  complete  and  accurate  copies of all such  policies of  insurance  and
complete  and  accurate  copies  of  all  documentation  regarding  claims  made
thereunder.  All such policies of insurance  are in full force and effect,  have
been issued for the  benefit of the  Company,  its  Subsidiaries,  and/or  their
respective  directors,  officers and  employees by properly  licensed  insurance
carriers,  and  are  adequate  and  customary  for  the  assets,  business,  and
operations  of the Company and its  Subsidiaries.  The Company has  promptly and
properly notified its insurance  carriers of any and all claims known to it with
respect to its operations or products for which it is insured.

     3.20 Bank Accounts.  The Company  Disclosure  Schedule sets forth a list of
each bank,  broker, or other depository with which the Company or any Subsidiary
has an account or safe  deposit box (other than those  having a balance or value
not exceeding $25,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate),  the names and
numbers of such  accounts  or boxes and the names of all persons  authorized  to
draw thereon or execute transactions.

     3.21 Powers of Attorney.  The Company  Disclosure  Schedule  sets forth the
names of all persons, if any, holding powers of attorney from the Company or any
Subsidiary  relating to authority  for actions  taken in the United States and a
description  of the  scope of each  such  power of  attorney.  The  Company  has
delivered to Parent prior to the date hereof complete and accurate copies of all
such powers of attorney.  Within 15 days after execution of this Agreement,  the
Company shall provide  Parent with a list setting forth the names of all persons
holding any other  powers of attorney  from the  Company or any  Subsidiary  not
included in the Company  Disclosure  Schedule and a description  of the scope of
each such other power of attorney (other than powers of attorney  granted in the
ordinary course of business for the prosecution of intellectual  property filing
matters).

<PAGE>

     3.22 Product Liability  Claims.  During the three-year period preceding the
date hereof,  neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary has ever received a claim,
or incurred  any  uninsured  or insured  liability,  for or based upon breach of
product  warranty (other than warranty  service,  repair claims and MDR's in the
ordinary  course of business  not  material in amount or  significance),  strict
liability in tort,  negligent  manufacture  of product,  negligent  provision of
services or any other  allegation of  liability,  including or resulting in, but
not limited to, product recalls,  arising from the materials,  design,  testing,
manufacture,  packaging,  labeling (including  instructions for use), or sale of
its products or from the provision of services (hereafter  collectively referred
to as "Product  Liability").  To the knowledge of the Company,  no basis for any
claim  based upon  alleged  Product  Liability  exists that would have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.

     3.23 Warranties. To the knowledge of the Company, all products manufactured
or sold,  and all  services  provided,  by the  Company or any  Subsidiary  have
complied,  and are in compliance,  in all material respects with all contractual
requirements,  warranties or covenants,  express or implied, applicable thereto,
and  with  all  applicable   governmental,   trade   association  or  regulatory
specifications  therefor  or  applicable  thereto,   including,  to  the  extent
applicable,  FDA Good  Manufacturing  Practices.  The terms of all  product  and
service warranties of the Company and each Subsidiary are specifically set forth
on the Company Disclosure Schedule. The Company has delivered to Parent prior to
the date hereof complete and accurate copies of the forms of all such warranties
and  policies  used by the  Company  in the  last  twenty  (20)  months,  and no
warranties  with terms of more than  twelve  (12)  months  have been used by the
Company other than those used in the last twenty (20) months.

     3.24  Inventories.   Except  as  specifically  set  forth  on  the  Company
Disclosure  Schedule,  all inventories owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries
consist of items of  merchantable  quality and quantity usable or salable in the
ordinary  course of business,  are salable at prevailing  market prices that are
not less than the book value amounts thereof or the price customarily charged by
the Company or the applicable Subsidiary therefor, conform to the specifications
established  therefor,  and have been manufactured in accordance with applicable
regulatory  requirements,  except  to  the  extent  that  the  failure  of  such
inventories so to consist,  be saleable,  conform,  or be manufactured would not
have a Company Material Adverse Effect.  Except as specifically set forth on the
Company Disclosure Schedule, the quantities of all inventories,  materials,  and
supplies of the Company and each  Subsidiary  (net of the  obsolescence  reserve
therefor  shown on the  Company  Interim  Balance  Sheet and  determined  in the
ordinary  course of business  consistent  with past  practice) are not obsolete,
damaged,  slow-moving,  defective, or excessive, and are reasonable and balanced
in the circumstances of the Company and its  Subsidiaries,  except to the extent
that the failure of such  inventories to be in such conditions  would not have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.  The Company  Disclosure  Schedule sets forth a
true and complete list of the addresses of all warehouses or other facilities in
which inventories of the Company or any Subsidiary are located.

<PAGE>

     3.25 Relations with Suppliers and Customers.  No material  current supplier
of the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  has  cancelled  any  contract  or order for
provision of, and, to the knowledge of the Company,  there has been no threat by
or  basis  for any  such  supplier  not to  provide,  raw  materials,  products,
supplies,  or services  to the  businesses  of the Company and its  Subsidiaries
either prior to or following the Merger. Except as specifically set forth on the
Company Disclosure Schedule,  neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has, to the
knowledge  of the  Company,  received any  information  from any  customer  that
accounted  for more than 5% of the revenues of the Company and its  Subsidiaries
during the last full  fiscal year to the effect  that such  customer  intends to
materially  decrease the amount of business it does with the  businesses  of the
Company and its  Subsidiaries  either  prior to or  following  the  Merger.  The
Company Disclosure Schedule lists each supplier to the Company or any Subsidiary
that is the sole  source of a  particular  raw  material,  product,  supply,  or
service.

     3.26 No Finders.  No act of the Company or any Subsidiary has given or will
give  rise to any  claim  against  any of the  parties  hereto  for a  brokerage
commission,  finder's  fee,  or  other  like  payment  in  connection  with  the
transactions  contemplated  herein,  except payments in the amounts specified on
the Company  Disclosure  Schedule to those parties  identified  thereon who have
acted as a finder  for the  Company  or have been  retained  by the  Company  as
financial  advisors  pursuant to the agreements or other documents  described in
the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  copies of which have been provided to Parent
prior to the date of this Agreement.

     3.27 Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement/Prospectus (as defined in Section
5.4  hereof)  and any  amendments  or  supplements  thereto  will  comply in all
material respects with all applicable laws, and none of the information relating
to the  Company or its  affiliates  included or  incorporated  therein or in any
amendments or supplements  thereto,  or any schedules  required to be filed with
the SEC in connection  therewith,  will, at any time during the period beginning
at the time it is mailed to  shareholders  and ending at the time of the Company
Shareholders Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading;  provided,  however, that no representation or warranty is
made by the  Company  with  respect  to  information  relating  to Parent or any
affiliate of Parent supplied by Parent  specifically  for inclusion in the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus.

     3.28 Merger Filings. The information as to the Company and the Subsidiaries
or any of their affiliates or shareholders  included in the Company's filing, or
submitted  to  Parent  for  inclusion  in its  filing,  if any,  required  to be
submitted  under the HSR Act or under any  Foreign  Merger  Laws  shall be true,
correct,  and complete in all material respects and shall comply in all material
respects  with  the  applicable  requirements  of the HSR  Act,  the  rules  and
regulations  issued by the Federal Trade Commission  pursuant  thereto,  and the
Foreign Merger Laws.

     3.29  Fairness  Opinion.  The Company has  received an opinion  from Morgan
Stanley & Co.  Incorporated  to the  effect  that,  as of the date  hereof,  the
consideration  to be  received  by the  holders of Company  Common  Stock in the
Merger is fair to such holders from a financial  point of view,  and the Company
will promptly deliver a copy of such opinion to Parent.

     3.30  State  Takeover  Laws.  The Board of  Directors  of the  Company  has
approved the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  the Agreements to
Facilitate  Merger  described  in  Section  5.11  hereof,  and the Stock  Option
Agreement  described in Section 5.17 hereof such that the  provisions of Section
23B.19.040  of the WBCA will not apply to this  Agreement or the  Agreements  to
Facilitate  Merger  or the Stock  Option  Agreement  or any of the  transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.

<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE 4
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                         OF PARENT AND MERGER SUBSIDIARY

     Except  as set  forth  in a  document  of  even  date  herewith,  referring
specifically  to the  representations  and  warranties in this  Agreement  which
identifies  by section  number to which such  disclosure  relates  (the  "Parent
Disclosure Schedule"), Parent and Merger Subsidiary hereby jointly and severally
make the following representations and warranties to the Company:

     4.1 Organization. Parent is a corporation duly organized, validly existing,
and in good standing under the laws of the state of Minnesota. Merger Subsidiary
is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the state
of Washington.  Each of Parent and Merger Subsidiary has all requisite corporate
power and authority to own,  lease,  and operate its  properties and to carry on
its business as now being  conducted.  Each of Parent and Merger  Subsidiary  is
duly qualified and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which
the  property  owned,  leased,  or operated by it or the nature of the  business
conducted  by it makes such  qualification  necessary  and where the  failure to
qualify could  reasonably be expected to have a Parent  Material  Adverse Effect
(as defined  below).  "Parent  Material  Adverse  Effect"  means an effect that,
individually or in the aggregate with other effects,  is or would  reasonably be
expected  to be  materially  adverse:  (i) to the  present or planned  business,
properties,  liabilities, results of operation, or financial condition of Parent
and its  subsidiaries,  considered  as a whole,  or (ii) to Parent's  ability to
perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the Merger.

     4.2 Authorization.  Each of Parent and Merger Subsidiary has full corporate
power and authority to execute and deliver this  Agreement and to consummate the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and  Parent  has full  corporate  power and
authority to prepare,  file,  and  distribute  the  Registration  Statement  (as
defined in Section 5.4 hereof).  The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
Parent  and  Merger   Subsidiary  and  the   consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby have been duly and validly  authorized  and approved by the
Boards of  Directors of Parent and Merger  Subsidiary  and by Parent as the sole
shareholder of Merger Subsidiary, and no other corporate proceedings on the part
of Parent and Merger  Subsidiary are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to
consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby.  This Agreement has been duly
and validly  executed and delivered by each of Parent and Merger  Subsidiary and
constitutes  the valid and binding  obligation of Parent and Merger  Subsidiary,
enforceable  against each of them in accordance with its terms,  subject to laws
of general  application  relating to bankruptcy,  insolvency,  and the relief of
debtors and rules of law governing specific  performance,  injunctive relief, or
other equitable remedies.

     4.3  Capitalization.  As of June 12, 1998, the authorized  capital stock of
Parent  consisted of (a) 800,000,000  shares of Common Stock with a par value of
$.10 per share,  of which there were  469,344,895  shares issued and outstanding
and no shares held in Parent's  treasury,  and (b) 2,500,000 shares of Preferred
Stock with a par value of $1.00 per share,  of which there were no shares issued
and outstanding.  The authorized capital stock of Merger Subsidiary  consists of
2,500  shares of Merger  Subsidiary  Common  Stock,  100 of which are issued and
outstanding  and owned by Parent.  All issued and  outstanding  shares of Parent
Common  Stock and Merger  Subsidiary  Common Stock are, and the shares of Parent
Common  Stock to be issued and  delivered  in the Merger  pursuant  to Article 1
hereof shall be, at the time of issuance and  delivery,  validly  issued,  fully
paid, nonassessable,  and free of preemptive rights. The shares of Parent Common
Stock to be issued  and  delivered  in the Merger  pursuant  to Article 1 hereof
shall be registered  under the 1933 Act and duly listed for trading on the NYSE,
subject to official notice of issuance.

<PAGE>

     4.4 Consents and Approvals.  Except for (i) any applicable  requirements of
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act,  state  securities  laws, the NYSE, the HSR Act, and
Foreign  Merger Laws,  (ii) the filing and  recordation  of  appropriate  merger
documents as required by the WBCA, and (iii)  compliance  with Chapter 13 of the
WBCA regarding dissenters' rights of the Company's  shareholders,  the execution
and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  by  Parent  and  Merger  Subsidiary  and the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby will not: (a) violate any
provision  of the  Articles  of  Incorporation  or  Bylaws  of  Parent or Merger
Subsidiary;  (b) violate any statute, rule, regulation,  order, or decree of any
public  body  or  authority  (including,  but  not  limited  to,  the FDA or any
nongovernmental   self-regulatory   agency)  by  which  Parent  or  any  of  its
subsidiaries or any of their  respective  properties or assets may be bound; (c)
require  any filing with or permit,  consent,  or approval of any public body or
authority  (including,  but  not  limited  to,  the  FDA or any  nongovernmental
self-regulatory  agency);  or (d)  result  in any  violation  or  breach  of, or
constitute  (with or  without  due  notice  or lapse of time or both) a  default
under,  result in the loss of any material  benefit  under,  or give rise to any
right of termination,  cancellation,  increased payments, or acceleration under,
or  result in the  creation  of any Lien on any of the  properties  or assets of
Parent or its subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions, or provisions of
any note, bond, mortgage,  indenture,  license, franchise, permit, agreement, or
other  instrument or obligation to which Parent or any of its  subsidiaries is a
party, or by which any of them or any of their  respective  properties or assets
may be  bound,  except,  in the case of  clause  (d),  for any such  violations,
breaches,  defaults,  or other  occurrences  that  would  not  prevent  or delay
consummation  of any of the  transaction  contemplated  hereby  in any  material
respect,  or otherwise prevent Parent from performing its obligations under this
Agreement in any material respect,  and would not have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect.

     4.5 Reports; Financial Statements;  Absence of Changes; Litigation.  Parent
has filed all forms, reports, registration statements, and documents required to
be filed by it with the SEC since May 1, 1995 (such forms, reports, registration
statements and documents,  together with any amendments thereto, are referred to
as the "Parent  SEC  Filings").  As of their  respective  dates,  the Parent SEC
Filings (i) complied as to form in all  material  respects  with the  applicable
requirements  of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, as the case may be, and (ii) did
not contain any untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact  required to be stated  therein or  necessary to make the  statements  made
therein,  in  light  of the  circumstances  under  which  they  were  made,  not
misleading.  The audited  financial  statements and unaudited  interim financial
statements  included or  incorporated by reference in the Parent SEC Filings (i)
were  prepared in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles
applied on a  consistent  basis  during the periods  involved  (except as may be
indicated therein or in the notes thereto), (ii) complied as of their respective
dates in all material respects with applicable  accounting  requirements and the
published  rules and  regulations  of the SEC with  respect  thereto,  and (iii)
fairly  present the  consolidated  financial  position of Parent as of the dates
thereof and the income, cash flows, and changes in shareholders'  equity for the
periods involved.  Except to the extent disclosed in Parent's subsequent filings
with the SEC or specifically disclosed in the Parent Disclosure Schedule,  since
April 30, 1997, there has not been any change or circumstance  that would have a
Parent Material Adverse Effect. Except to the extent disclosed in the Parent SEC
Filings or in the Parent Disclosure Schedule, to Parent's knowledge, there is no
investigation,  review, claim, action, suit or proceeding by any federal, state,
local or foreign  body or authority  (including,  but not limited to, the FDA or
any  non-governmental  self-regulatory  agency) or private party with respect to
Parent  that could  reasonably  be expected  to have a Parent  Material  Adverse
Effect.

<PAGE>

     4.6  Registration  Statement.  The  Registration  Statement  (as defined in
Section 5.4 hereof) and any amendments or supplements thereto will comply in all
material  respects  with the 1933 Act, and none of the  information  relating to
Parent or its affiliates  included or incorporated  therein or in any amendments
or supplements  thereto,  or any schedules  required to be filed with the SEC in
connection  therewith,  will,  at the time the  Registration  Statement  becomes
effective 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 light of the circumstances
under  which  they  were  made,  not  misleading;  provided,  however,  that  no
representation  or  warranty  is made by  Parent  with  respect  to  information
supplied  by the  Company  or any  affiliate  of the  Company  specifically  for
inclusion in the Registration Statement.

     4.7 Merger Filings.  The information as to Parent and Merger  Subsidiary or
any of  their  affiliates  or  shareholders  included  in  Parent's  filing,  or
submitted  to the Company for  inclusion in its filing,  if any,  required to be
submitted  under the HSR Act or under any  Foreign  Merger  Laws  shall be true,
correct,  and complete in all material respects and shall comply in all material
respects  with  the  applicable  requirements  of the HSR  Act,  the  rules  and
regulations issued by the Federal Trade Commission pursuant thereto, and Foreign
Merger Laws.

     4.8 No  Finders.  No act of Parent or Merger  Subsidiary  has given or will
give  rise to any  claim  against  any of the  parties  hereto  for a  brokerage
commission,  finder's  fee,  or  other  like  payment  in  connection  with  the
transactions  contemplated herein, except payments to Goldman,  Sachs & Co., who
has been retained by Parent as its financial advisor.


                                    ARTICLE 5
                                    COVENANTS

     5.1 Conduct of  Business of the  Company.  Except as  contemplated  by this
Agreement,  during the period from the date of this  Agreement to the  Effective
Time, the Company and each  Subsidiary  will conduct its  respective  operations
according to its ordinary and usual course of business and consistent  with past
practice, and the Company and each Subsidiary will use all reasonable efforts to
preserve intact its respective business  organizations,  to maintain its present
and planned business,  to keep available the services of its respective officers
and  employees  and  to  maintain  satisfactory  relationships  with  licensors,
licensees,  suppliers,  contractors,   distributors,   physicians,  consultants,
customers,  and others having business  relationships  with it. The Company will
promptly  advise  Parent  orally and in writing  of any  material  change in the
management,  present or planned business,  properties,  liabilities,  results of
operations,  or financial  condition of the Company or any  Subsidiary.  Without
limiting the  generality  of the  foregoing,  and except as otherwise  expressly
provided in or  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  prior to the Effective  Time,
neither the Company nor any Subsidiary  will,  without the prior written consent
of Parent:

          (a) amend its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws;

          (b) authorize for issuance,  issue,  sell, pledge, or deliver (whether
     through  the  issuance  or  granting  of  additional   options,   warrants,
     commitments,  subscriptions, rights to purchase, or otherwise other than in
     the ordinary  course of business  consistent  with past new hire practices)
     any stock of any class or any securities  convertible  into shares of stock
     of any class  (other  than the  issuance of the number of shares of Company
     Common  Stock  indicated  in  Section  3.3  hereof  upon  the  exercise  in
     accordance  with the current terms of the stock options  listed in Schedule
     3.3 hereof as outstanding on the date of this Agreement);

<PAGE>
          (c) split,  combine,  or reclassify  any shares of its capital  stock,
     declare,  set aside, or pay any dividend or other distribution  (whether in
     cash,  stock,  or  property or any  combination  thereof) in respect of its
     capital  stock;  or redeem or  otherwise  acquire any shares of its capital
     stock or other  securities;  or amend or alter any material  term of any of
     its outstanding securities;

          (d) other than in the ordinary  course of business and consistent with
     past  practice,  create,  incur,  or assume any  indebtedness  for borrowed
     money,  or  assume,  guarantee,  endorse,  or  otherwise  become  liable or
     responsible  (whether  directly,   contingently,   or  otherwise)  for  the
     obligations  of any other  person;  or make any loans,  advances or capital
     contributions to, or investments in, any other person; or create,  incur or
     assume any Lien on any material asset;

          (e)  knowingly  take any  action  that  would  have the  effect of (i)
     jeopardizing the treatment of the acquisition of the Company by Parent as a
     "pooling of interests" for accounting  purposes,  or (ii)  jeopardizing the
     qualification  of the  Merger as a  reorganization  within  the  meaning of
     Section 368(a)(2)(E) of the Code;

          (f)  (i)  increase  in  any  manner  the  compensation  of  any of its
     directors, officers, employees, shareholders, or consultants, except in the
     ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or consistent
     with existing contractual commitments, in each case to the extent disclosed
     in writing to Parent prior to the date hereof, or accelerate the payment of
     any such  compensation  (whether or not any such acceleration is consistent
     with  past  practice);  (ii) pay or  accelerate  or  otherwise  modify  the
     payment,  vesting,  exercisability,  increase in matching amount,  or other
     feature or requirement  of any pension,  retirement  allowance,  severance,
     change of control,  stock option, or other employee benefit not required by
     any existing plan, agreement, or arrangement to any such director, officer,
     employee,  shareholder,  or consultant,  whether past or present;  or (iii)
     except  for  normal  increases  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business  in
     accordance  with its customary past  practices or consistent  with existing
     contractual commitments, in each case to the extent disclosed in writing to
     the Parent prior to the date hereof,  commit  itself to any  additional  or
     increased pension, profit-sharing, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation,
     stock purchase,  stock option,  stock appreciation  right, group insurance,
     severance, change of control, retirement or other benefit, plan, agreement,
     or arrangement,  or to any employment or consulting agreement,  with or for
     the  benefit  of any  person,  or  amend  any of such  plans or any of such
     agreements in existence on the date hereof;

          (g) except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
     practice,  or  pursuant  to  contractual  obligations  existing on the date
     hereof, (i) sell, transfer,  mortgage,  or otherwise dispose of or encumber
     any real or personal  property,  (ii) pay,  discharge,  or satisfy  claims,
     liabilities, or obligations (absolute,  accrued, contingent, or otherwise),
     or (iii)  cancel  any debts or waive any claims or  rights,  which  involve
     payments or commitments to make payments that  individually  exceed $50,000
     or, in the aggregate, exceed $100,000;

          (h) acquire or agree to acquire (i) by merging or consolidating  with,
     or by  purchasing a  substantial  portion of the assets of, or by any other
     manner,  any portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business
     of any  corporation,  partnership,  joint  venture,  association,  or other
     business  organization  or  division  thereof or (ii) any  assets  that are
     material,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  to the  Company,  except as
     provided in subsection  (i) below and except  purchases of inventory in the
     ordinary  course of business  consistent  with past  practice or consistent
     with the Company's  1998 budget  delivered to Parent prior to the execution
     of this Agreement (the "1998 Budget");

<PAGE>
          (i) make or agree to make any new capital  expenditure or expenditures
     that,  individually,  is in excess of $50,000 or, in the aggregate,  are in
     excess of $100,000  unless in the  ordinary  course of business  consistent
     with the Company's 1998 Budget;

          (j) enter into,  amend,  or terminate any joint  ventures or any other
     agreements,   commitments,  or  contracts  that,  individually  or  in  the
     aggregate,   are  material  to  the  Company  or  any  Subsidiary   (except
     agreements,   commitments,   or   contracts   expressly   provided  for  or
     contemplated  by this  Agreement  or for the  purchase,  sale,  or lease of
     goods,  services,  or  properties  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business,
     consistent  with  past  practice  or  capital   expenditures  or  inventory
     purchases  consistent with the 1998 Budget), or otherwise make any material
     change in the conduct of the business or  operations  of the Company or any
     Subsidiary;

          (k) enter into or terminate,  or amend,  extend,  renew,  or otherwise
     modify (including, but not limited to, by default or by failure to act) any
     distribution,   OEM,  independent  sales  representative,   noncompetition,
     licensing,   franchise,  research  and  development,   supply,  or  similar
     contract,  agreement, or understanding (except agreements,  commitments, or
     contracts  expressly  provided for or contemplated by this Agreement or for
     the  purchase,  sale,  or lease of goods,  services,  or  properties in the
     ordinary  course of  business,  consistent  with past  practice  or capital
     expenditures  or inventory  purchases  consistent  with the Company's  1998
     Budget);

          (l) change in any  material  respect its credit  policy as to sales of
     inventories  or collection  of  receivables  or its  inventory  consignment
     practices;

          (m) remove or permit to be removed  from any  building,  facility,  or
     real property any machinery, equipment, fixture, vehicle, or other personal
     property or parts thereof, except in the ordinary course of business;

          (n) alter or revise its accounting principles, procedures, methods, or
     practices,  except as required by a change in generally accepted accounting
     principles  and  concurred  with  by  the  Company's   independent   public
     accountants;

          (o)  institute,  settle,  or compromise  any claim,  action,  suit, or
     proceeding  pending or  threatened  by or against it  involving  amounts in
     excess of $100,000 (limited to the Company's retention amount, if insured),
     at law or in equity or before any federal,  state, local, foreign, or other
     governmental   department,    commission,   board,   bureau,   agency,   or
     instrumentality   (including,   but  not   limited   to,  the  FDA  or  any
     nongovernmental self-regulatory agency);

          (p)  distribute  or otherwise  circulate any notices,  directives,  or
     other  communications  directed  to all or  groups of  customers,  vendors,
     employees, distributors, or others associated with its business relating to
     the transactions  contemplated hereby or to the operation of business after
     consummation of such transactions  without  consulting with Parent,  giving
     Parent  reasonable  opportunity to comment thereon,  and obtaining prior to
     distribution  Parent's  approval  thereof,  which shall not unreasonably be
     withheld;

          (q)  knowingly  take any action that would render any  representation,
     warranty,   covenant,  or  agreement  of  the  Company  in  this  Agreement
     inaccurate or breached as of the Closing Date; or

          (r)  agree,  whether  in  writing  or  otherwise,  to do  any  of  the
     foregoing.

<PAGE>
     5.2 No  Solicitation.  Neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary,  nor any of
their respective officers,  directors,  employees,  representatives,  agents, or
affiliates  (including,  but not limited to any investment banker,  attorney, or
accountant  retained  by the  Company or any  Subsidiary),  shall,  directly  or
indirectly,   solicit,  encourage,  initiate,  or  participate  in  any  way  in
discussions or negotiations  with, or knowingly  provide any information to, any
corporation, partnership, person, or other entity or group (other than Parent or
any affiliate or agent of Parent)  concerning  any merger,  sale or licensing of
any  significant  portion  of the  assets,  sale  of  shares  of  capital  stock
(including   without   limitation   any  proposal  or  offer  to  the  Company's
shareholders),  or similar transactions  involving the Company or any Subsidiary
(an "Alternative  Proposal"),  or otherwise  facilitate any effort or attempt to
make or implement an Alternative Proposal;  provided, however, that this section
shall not prohibit  the Board of  Directors  of the Company from (i)  furnishing
information to or entering into discussions or negotiations  with, any person or
entity that makes an unsolicited bona fide Alternative Proposal, if, and only to
the extent that,  (a) the Board of Directors of the Company  determines  in good
faith that such action is so required  for the Board of Directors to comply with
its  fiduciary  duties to  shareholders  imposed  by law,  the Board has been so
advised in writing by outside counsel,  in its judgment and opinion, as being so
required  and the  Board so  represents  to  Parent  that the  Board has been so
advised,  (b) prior to furnishing  information to, or entering into  discussions
and  negotiations  with, such person or entity,  the Company  promptly  provides
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 (c)
the Company keeps Parent  informed of all material terms and events with respect
to any such Alternative Proposal;  and (ii) to the extent applicable,  complying
with Rule 14e-2  promulgated  under the 1934 Act with  regard to an  Alternative
Proposal. Nothing in this section shall (x) permit the Company to terminate this
Agreement (except as specifically  provided in Article 7 hereof), (y) permit the
Company to enter into any agreement with respect to an Alternative  Proposal for
as long as this Agreement remains in effect (it being agreed that for as long as
this Agreement remains in effect, the Company shall not enter into any agreement
with any person that provides  for, or in any way  facilitates,  an  Alternative
Proposal),  or (z)  affect  any  other  obligation  of the  Company  under  this
Agreement.

     5.3 Access and  Information.  The Company  shall  afford to Parent,  and to
Parent's  accountants,   officers,  directors,  employees,  counsel,  and  other
representatives,  reasonable  access during normal business hours, from the date
hereof through the Effective Time, to all of its properties,  books,  contracts,
commitments,  and records,  and,  during such period,  the Company shall furnish
promptly  to  Parent  all   information   concerning   the   Company's  and  its
Subsidiaries'  businesses,   prospects,  properties,   liabilities,  results  of
operations,   financial  condition,  testing,  clinicals,  officers,  employees,
investigators,  distributors,  customers,  suppliers, and others having dealings
with the Company as Parent may reasonably request and reasonable  opportunity to
contact and obtain  information  from such officers,  employees,  investigators,
distributors,  customers, suppliers, and others having dealings with the Company
as Parent may reasonably request;  provided,  with respect to certain designated
matters subject to existing confidentiality agreements as referenced in separate
disclosure  letters  dated  June 1 and 26,  1998,  access  for  Parent  shall be
provided as set forth in such separate disclosure letter. During the period from
the date hereof to the Effective  Time, the parties shall in good faith meet and
correspond on a regular basis for mutual consultation  concerning the conduct of
the Company's and the  Subsidiaries'  businesses  and, in connection  therewith,
Parent shall be entitled to have employees or other  representatives  present at
the offices of the Company and its Subsidiaries to observe, and be kept informed
concerning,   the  Company's  and  the  Subsidiaries'  operations  and  business
planning.  Parent shall hold in confidence  all such  nonpublic  information  as
required and in accordance  with the  confidentiality  agreement dated April 16,
1998, between Parent and the Company (the "Confidentiality Agreement").

<PAGE>
     5.4 Approval of Shareholders; Proxy Statement; Registration Statement.

          (a) The Company shall promptly take all action necessary in accordance
     with Washington law and the Company's  Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
     to cause a special  meeting of the  Company's  shareholders  (the  "Company
     Shareholders  Meeting")  to be duly  called and held as soon as  reasonably
     practicable  following the date upon which the  Registration  Statement (as
     defined below) becomes effective for the purpose of voting upon the Merger.
     The shareholder vote or consent required for approval of the Plan of Merger
     and the Merger  shall be no greater than that set forth in the WBCA and the
     Company's  Articles  of  Incorporation  as  previously  provided to Parent.
     Accordingly,  the Company represents and warrants that the affirmative vote
     of the holders of record of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Company
     Common Stock is all that is necessary to obtain shareholder approval of the
     Plan of Merger and the Merger. The Company shall use all reasonable efforts
     to obtain the approval by the Company's shareholders of this Agreement, the
     Plan of Merger, and the Merger. In accordance therewith, the Company shall,
     with the  cooperation  of Parent,  prepare and file,  as soon as reasonably
     practicable,  a  proxy   statement/prospectus   included  as  part  of  the
     Registration  Statement  (such proxy  statement/prospectus,  together  with
     notice of meeting,  form of proxy, and any letter or other materials to the
     Company's  shareholders  included therein are referred to in this Agreement
     as the "Proxy Statement/Prospectus").  The Company shall use all reasonable
     efforts to cause the definitive Proxy  Statement/Prospectus to be mailed to
     the  shareholders  of  the  Company,  as  soon  as  reasonably  practicable
     following  its  effectiveness,   with  the  date  of  mailing  as  mutually
     determined by the Company and Parent.  The Company will,  through its Board
     of Directors,  recommend to its shareholders  approval of the Merger in the
     definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

          (b) Parent shall,  with the  cooperation  of the Company,  prepare and
     file, as soon as reasonably practicable, a registration statement under the
     1933 Act  registering the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in the
     Merger (the "Registration  Statement"),  which Registration Statement shall
     include  the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus.  Parent  will use all  reasonable
     efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as
     promptly  thereafter  as  practicable.  Parent  shall  also take any action
     required to be taken under state blue sky or securities  laws in connection
     with the  issuance of Parent  Common  Stock  pursuant  to the  Merger.  The
     Company shall furnish to Parent all information  concerning the Company and
     its  Subsidiaries and the holders of its capital stock, and shall take such
     other action and otherwise  cooperate,  as Parent may reasonably request in
     connection with any such action.

          (c) Parent  shall  notify the  Company  promptly of the receipt of the
     comments  of the  SEC and of any  request  by the  SEC  for  amendments  or
     supplements to the Registration Statement and shall supply the Company with
     copies of all correspondence  with the SEC with respect to the Registration
     Statement.

<PAGE>
          (d) If at any time  prior to the  Company  Shareholders  Meeting,  any
     event  should  occur  relating  to  the  Company,  any  Subsidiary,  or the
     Company's  officers or  directors  that is required to be  described  in an
     amendment or supplement to the definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the
     Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly inform Parent. If at any
     time prior to the  Company  Shareholders  Meeting,  any event  shall  occur
     relating to Parent or Merger  Subsidiary  or their  respective  officers or
     directors that is required to be described in an amendment or supplement to
     the definitive Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  or the Registration  Statement,
     Parent shall  promptly  inform the Company.  Whenever any event occurs that
     should be described in an amendment  of, or supplement  to, the  definitive
     Proxy  Statement/Prospectus or the Registration  Statement,  the Company or
     Parent,  as the case may be, shall,  upon learning of such event,  promptly
     notify the other and consult  and  cooperate  with the other in  connection
     with the preparation of a mutually acceptable amendment or supplement.  The
     parties shall promptly file such  amendment or supplement  with the SEC and
     mail  such  amendment  or  supplement  as soon as  practicable  after it is
     cleared by the SEC.

     5.5 Consents. The Company will, at its cost and expense, use all reasonable
efforts to obtain all approvals  and consents of all third parties  necessary on
the part of the  Company or its  Subsidiaries  to  consummate  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby.  Parent agrees to cooperate with the Company in connection
with  obtaining  such  approvals  and  consents.  Parent  will,  at its cost and
expense,  use all reasonable efforts to obtain all approvals and consents of all
third  parties  necessary on the part of Parent to consummate  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby.  The Company agrees to cooperate with Parent in connection
with obtaining such approvals and consents.

     5.6 Affiliates' Letters.

          (a) The  Company  has  delivered  to  Parent  a list of names of those
     persons,  in the Company's  reasonable  judgment  after  consultation  with
     outside legal counsel,  who, as of the date hereof,  are affiliates  within
     the meaning of Rule 145 of the rules and regulations  promulgated under the
     Securities Act or otherwise applicable SEC accounting releases with respect
     to   pooling-of-interests   accounting  treatment  (each  such  person,  an
     "Affiliate")  of  the  Company.  The  Company  shall  provide  Parent  such
     information and documents as Parent shall  reasonably  request for purposes
     of reviewing such list and shall  promptly  update such list to reflect any
     changes  thereto.  The  Company  has  caused to be  delivered  to Parent an
     affiliate's  letter in the form  attached  hereto as Exhibit B, executed by
     each of the Affiliates of the Company identified in the foregoing list, and
     shall use all  reasonable  efforts to deliver or cause to be  delivered  to
     Parent prior to the Effective Time such an affiliate's  letter  executed by
     any additional persons who become Affiliates after the date hereof.  Parent
     shall be entitled to place legends as specified in such affiliates' letters
     on the  certificates  evidencing  any  of the  Parent  Common  Stock  to be
     received by such Affiliates pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and to
     issue appropriate stop transfer  instructions to the transfer agent for the
     Parent Common Stock, consistent with the terms of such letters.

          (b) For so long as resales  of shares of Parent  Common  Stock  issued
     pursuant to the Merger are subject to the resale  restrictions set forth in
     Rule 145 under the Securities Act,  Parent will use all reasonable  efforts
     to comply with Rule 144(c)(1) under the Securities Act.
<PAGE>
     5.7  Expenses.  Whether  or not the  Merger is  consummated,  all costs and
expenses   incurred  in  connection  with  this  Agreement,   the   transactions
contemplated  hereby,  the  Proxy  Statement/Prospectus,  and  the  Registration
Statement will be paid by the party  incurring  such costs and expenses,  except
that the Company and Parent will share  equally the cost of printing  and filing
with the SEC the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement, the
filing fees required  under the HSR Act or any Foreign Merger Laws, and the fees
charged by Price  Waterhouse LLP for the letters  described in Section 5.15 (the
"Shared Expenses").

     5.8  Reasonable  Efforts;   Further  Actions.  Subject  to  the  terms  and
conditions  herein  provided and without being  required to waive any conditions
herein  (whether  absolute,  discretionary,  or otherwise),  each of the parties
hereto  agrees to use  commercially  reasonable  efforts to take, or cause to be
taken, all action, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper,
or advisable to consummate and make effective the  transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement within 90 days of the date of this Agreement. In case at any time
after the Effective  Time any further  action is necessary or desirable to carry
out the purposes of this  Agreement,  the proper  officers and directors of each
party to this Agreement shall take all such necessary action.

     5.9 Regulatory  Approvals.  The Company and Parent will take all reasonable
action as may be necessary under federal or state securities laws or the HSR Act
or Foreign Merger Laws  applicable to or necessary for, and will file as soon as
reasonably  practicable and, if appropriate,  use all reasonable efforts to have
declared  effective or approved all documents and notifications with the SEC and
other governmental or regulatory bodies (including,  without limitation, the FDA
and equivalent  foreign  regulatory  bodies, and other foreign regulatory bodies
that administer Foreign Merger Laws, and any foreign labor councils or bodies as
may be required) that they deem necessary or appropriate  for, the  consummation
of the Merger and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and each party shall
give the other information  reasonably  requested by such other party pertaining
to it and its  subsidiaries  and  affiliates  to enable such other party to take
such actions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything herein to the contrary,
neither Parent nor Merger  Subsidiary shall be required to make arrangements for
or to effect the cessation,  sale, or other  disposition of particular assets or
categories of assets or businesses of Parent, Merger Subsidiary, the Company, or
any of their affiliates.

     5.10 Certain  Notifications.  The Company shall  promptly  notify Parent in
writing of the occurrence of any event that will or could reasonably be expected
to result in the failure by the Company or its  affiliates to satisfy any of the
conditions  specified in Section 6.1 or 6.2.  Parent shall  promptly  notify the
Company in writing of the occurrence of any event that will or could  reasonably
be expected to result in the failure by Parent or its  affiliates to satisfy any
of the conditions specified in Section 6.1 or 6.3.

     5.11 Voting of Shares.  To induce Parent to execute this Agreement,  all of
the officers and  directors of the Company have executed and delivered as of the
date hereof  Agreements  to  Facilitate  Merger in the form  attached  hereto as
Exhibit  C,  pursuant  to which  each such  person has agreed to vote his or her
shares  of  Company  Common  Stock  in  favor  of  the  Merger  at  the  Company
Shareholders Meeting.

     5.12 Noncompetition Agreements. To induce Parent to execute this Agreement,
the  Company  has caused the  executives  who,  as of the date  hereof,  are the
Company's Chief Executive  Officer,  Chief  Operating  Officer,  Chief Financial
Officer  and  General  Counsel to execute  and  deliver to Parent as of the date
hereof (but expressly contingent upon the Closing of the Merger)  noncompetition
agreements substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto.

<PAGE>

     5.13 NYSE Listing Application.  Parent shall prepare and submit to the NYSE
a listing  application  for the Parent  Common  Stock to be issued in the Merger
pursuant to Article 1 of this Agreement. The Company shall cooperate with Parent
in such listing application.

     5.14 Indemnification, Exculpation and Insurance.

          (a) The  articles  of  incorporation  and the bylaws of the  Surviving
     Corporation  shall contain the provisions  with respect to  indemnification
     and  exculpation  from  liability  set forth in the  Company's  articles of
     incorporation  and bylaws on the date of this Agreement,  which  provisions
     shall not be amended,  repealed or  otherwise  modified for a period of six
     years from the Effective Time in any manner that would adversely affect the
     rights thereunder of individuals who on or prior to the Effective Time were
     directors,  officers,  employees  or agents  of the  Company,  unless  such
     modification  is required by law. Parent shall guarantee the obligations of
     the Surviving  Corporation with respect to the  indemnification  provisions
     contained in the  Surviving  Corporation's  articles of  incorporation  and
     bylaws.

          (b) To the extent coverage is reasonably available under the Company's
     current directors' and officers'  liability  insurance policy or otherwise,
     Parent will extend the discovery or reporting  period under such policy for
     up to three years from the Effective Time to maintain in effect  directors'
     and officers' liability insurance covering  pre-acquisition  acts for those
     persons who are currently covered by the Company's directors' and officers'
     liability  insurance policy (a copy of which has been heretofore  delivered
     to Parent) (the "Indemnification  Parties") on terms no less favorable than
     the terms of such current insurance coverage; provided, however, that in no
     event shall Parent be required to expend for such  three-year  extension an
     amount  in  excess  of 150% of the  annual  premium  currently  paid by the
     Company for such insurance;  and provided  further that if the cost of such
     three-year extension exceeds such 150% amount, Parent shall be obligated to
     obtain such extension as is available for a cost not exceeding such amount.

          (c) In the event  Parent,  the Surviving  Corporation  or any of their
     successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person
     and shall not be the continuing or surviving  corporation or entity of such
     consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or  substantially  all of its
     properties  and assets to any  person,  then and in each such case,  proper
     provisions  shall be made so that the  successors  and assigns of Parent or
     the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, shall assume the obligations
     set forth in this Section 5.14.

          (d) This Section 5.14 shall survive the  consummation of the Merger at
     the  Effective  Time,  is  intended  to benefit the  Company,  Parent,  the
     Surviving  Corporation and the Indemnified Parties, and shall be binding on
     all successors and assigns of Parent and the Surviving Corporation.

<PAGE>

     5.15 Letters of the  Company's  and Parent's  Accountants.  (A) The Company
shall  cooperate  with  Parent  and use all  reasonable  efforts  to cause to be
delivered  to Parent the  following  letters  from Price  Waterhouse  LLP ("PW")
addressed  to the  Company  and  Parent:  (i) a  letter  dated  the date of this
Agreement,  stating that after  appropriate  review and based on its familiarity
with the  Company,  neither  the  Company  nor any of its  shareholders  who are
affiliates has taken or agreed to take any action that would prevent Parent from
accounting for the Merger as a pooling of interests transaction under Opinion 16
of the Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations; and
(ii) a letter dated as of the Closing Date stating that after appropriate review
and based on its  familiarity  with the Company,  neither the Company nor any of
its  shareholders  has taken or agreed to take any  action  that  would  prevent
Parent from accounting for the Merger as a pooling of interests under Opinion 16
of the Accounting Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations. (B)
The Company  shall  cooperate  with Parent and Parent  shall use all  reasonable
means to cause to be  delivered  to the Company the  following  letters  from PW
addressed  to  Parent  and the  Company:  (i) a  letter  dated  the date of this
Agreement,  stating that after appropriate review of this Agreement and a letter
from the Parent describing the transaction and describing actions to be taken by
Parent with respect to the sale of certain  shares of Parent Common  Stock,  the
Merger will qualify as a pooling of interests  transaction  under  Opinion 16 of
the Accounting  Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and  regulations;  and
(ii) a letter  dated as of the Closing  Date  confirming  as of the Closing Date
that the Merger will qualify as a pooling of interests transaction under Opinion
16 of the Accounting  Principles Board and applicable SEC rules and regulations.
The fees  charged by PW for such letters  shall be shared  equally by Parent and
the Company.

     5.16 Subsidiary Shares. At or prior to the Closing, the Company shall cause
all issued and outstanding  Subsidiary shares owned by any person other than the
Company to be  transferred  for no or nominal  consideration  to such  person or
persons designated by Parent.

     5.17 Stock Option  Agreement.  To induce Parent to execute this  Agreement,
the Company has executed  and  delivered to Parent as of the date hereof a Stock
Option Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E, pursuant to which the
Company has granted to Parent an option to acquire  from the Company such number
of shares of Company  Common  Stock as equals 19.9% of the  aggregate  number of
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, at an exercise price equal to $27.50
per share or such  lesser  amount as is  described  in the second  paragraph  of
Section 1.3(a) hereof.  Such option shall become  exercisable only in the events
described in the Stock Option Agreement.

     5.18 Conduct of Business by Parent. During the period from the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time,  Parent shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries
to, carry on their  respective  businesses  in the  ordinary  course and use all
reasonable efforts to preserve their relationships with customers, suppliers and
others having business dealings with them; provided that the foregoing shall not
prevent Parent or any of its  subsidiaries  from discounting or disposing of any
part of its assets or business or from  acquiring  any assets or  businesses  or
from entering into any financing transactions if such action is, in the judgment
of  Parent,  desirable  in the  conduct  of  the  business  of  Parent  and  its
subsidiaries.  Without  limiting the  generality  of the  foregoing,  during the
period from the date of this  Agreement  to the  Effective  Time,  except as (i)
contemplated  by this  Agreement or (ii) as set forth in a writing  delivered to
the Company  prior to the  execution  hereof,  Parent  shall not,  and shall not
permit any of its subsidiaries to:

<PAGE>

          (a) (i) declare,  set aside or pay  (whether in cash or property)  any
     dividends  on, or make any other  distributions  in respect of, any capital
     stock  other than  dividends  and  distributions  by any direct or indirect
     wholly  owned  subsidiary  of Parent to its parent  and except for  regular
     quarterly  cash dividends (in an amount  determined in a manner  consistent
     with Parent's past  practice)  declared by the Board of Directors of Parent
     with customary record and payment dates and except  distributions  pursuant
     to the Parent  Rights Plan,  (ii)  reclassify  any of its capital  stock or
     issue or authorize  the issuance of any other  securities in respect of, in
     lieu of or in substitution for shares of Parent's capital stock (other than
     pursuant to the Parent Rights Plan);

          (b) amend its  articles  of  incorporation  (except for the purpose of
     increasing  its  authorized  capitalization),  bylaws  or other  comparable
     charter or  organizational  documents in a manner which would reasonably be
     expected to be materially adverse to the stockholders of the Company; or

          (c)  authorize,  or  commit  or agree to take  any of,  the  foregoing
     actions.

     5.19 Benefit Plans and Employee Matters. From and after the Effective Time,
Parent  shall to the  extent  practicable  cause the  Surviving  Corporation  to
provide employee  benefits and programs to the Company's  employees that, in the
aggregate,  are  substantially  comparable  or  more  favorable  than  those  in
existence as of the date hereof and  disclosed in writing to Parent prior to the
date hereof.

     5.20 Delivery of Specified Documents.

          (a)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  this  Agreement  to the
     contrary, the parties acknowledge that the affiliates' letters described in
     Section 5.6, the Agreements to Facilitate Merger described in Section 5.11,
     the noncompetition agreements described in Section 5.12, and the letters of
     PW dated the date of this  Agreement  (as opposed to the letter of PW to be
     dated as of the  Closing  Date)  described  in  Section  5.15 have not been
     delivered as of the date hereof.  The Company  agrees that it will use best
     efforts to deliver all such  documents and  agreements  within two business
     days after the execution of this Agreement on the date hereof.

          (b)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  this  Agreement  to the
     contrary,  the parties  acknowledge  that portions of Sections  3.6,  3.10,
     3.13, and 3.17 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule have not been delivered
     as of the date hereof.  The Company agrees that it will use best efforts to
     deliver all such portions of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule within three
     business days (or, as to any particular  item,  such greater number of days
     specified  in  the  above-referenced  sections  of the  Company  Disclosure
     Schedule)  after  the  execution  of this  Agreement  on the  date  hereof.
     Following  the  Company's  delivery  of all such  portions  of the  Company
     Disclosure  Schedule,  Parent shall have three business days  thereafter to
     object  in  writing  to the  Company  if any of the  information  set forth
     therein is materially different from the information previously provided to
     Parent in its due  diligence  review of the Company.  If Parent so objects,
     the Company  shall have three  business  days  thereafter  to resolve  with
     Parent each of the matters to which Parent so  objected.  If Parent and the
     Company cannot resolve all such matters, the Chairman of each of Parent and
     the Company shall have five  business  days  thereafter to resolve all such
     matters.  If the Chairmen  cannot do so, then, if the  aggregate  impact of
     such matters as to which Parent and the Company  disagree could  reasonably
     be expected to be equal in amount to at least one percent of the  aggregate
     value of the Parent Common Stock delivered to the Company's shareholders in
     the Merger (based on the Parent  Average Stock Price),  then the provisions
     of Section 6.2(k) shall apply.

<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE 6
                               CLOSING CONDITIONS

     6.1  Conditions  to  Obligations  of  Parent,  Merger  Subsidiary,  and the
Company. The respective obligations of each party to consummate the Merger shall
be  subject  to the  fulfillment  at or prior to the  Closing  of the  following
conditions:

          (a) No Injunction.  None of Parent, Merger Subsidiary,  or the Company
     shall be subject to any final order,  decree,  or  injunction of a court of
     competent  jurisdiction  within  the United  States  that (i)  prevents  or
     materially  delays the consummation of the Merger, or (ii) would impose any
     material  limitation on the ability of Parent  effectively to exercise full
     rights  of  ownership  of the  Company  or the  assets or  business  of the
     Company.

          (b)  Shareholder  Approval.  The approval of the  shareholders  of the
     Company  referred to in Section  5.4 hereof  shall have been  obtained,  in
     accordance with the WBCA and the Company's  Articles of  Incorporation  and
     Bylaws.

          (c) Registration Statement.  The Registration Statement (as amended or
     supplemented)  shall have become effective under the 1933 Act and shall not
     be  subject  to any "stop  order,"  and no  action,  suit,  proceeding,  or
     investigation  by the SEC to suspend  the  effectiveness  or  qualification
     thereof shall have been initiated and be continuing or have been threatened
     and be unresolved. Parent shall also have received all state securities law
     or  blue  sky  authorizations  necessary  to  carry  out  the  transactions
     contemplated hereby.

          (d) NYSE  Listing.  The shares of Parent  Common Stock to be delivered
     pursuant to the Merger shall have been duly listed on the NYSE,  subject to
     official notice of issuance.

          (e)  Waiting   Periods.   The  waiting   periods   applicable  to  the
     consummation  of the Merger  under the HSR Act and any Foreign  Merger Laws
     shall have expired or been terminated.

     6.2  Conditions  to  Obligations  of  Parent  and  Merger  Subsidiary.  The
respective  obligations of Parent and Merger Subsidiary to consummate the Merger
shall be subject to the  fulfillment at or prior to the Closing of the following
additional conditions:

          (a)  Representations  and Warranties  True.  Each  representation  and
     warranty of the Company contained in this Agreement,  without regard to any
     qualification or reference to  immateriality  or "Company  Material Adverse
     Effect,"  shall be true and  correct on the date  hereof and on the Closing
     Date as though such  representations  and warranties were made on such date
     (except those  representations  and warranties that address matters only as
     of a particular date shall remain true and correct as of such date), except
     for any inaccuracies that, individually or in the aggregate,  have not had,
     and would not have, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

          (b) Performance.  The Company shall have performed and complied in all
     material respects with all agreements, obligations, and conditions required
     by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the
     Closing, and Parent shall have received a certificate to such effect signed
     by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

<PAGE>

          (c)   Consents.   The  Company   shall  have   obtained  all  permits,
     authorizations, consents, and approvals required on its part to perform its
     obligations  under, and consummate the  transactions  contemplated by, this
     Agreement,  in form and substance  satisfactory  to Parent,  and Parent and
     Merger Subsidiary shall have received evidence  satisfactory to them of the
     receipt of such permits, authorizations, consents, and approvals.

          (d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company.  Parent and Merger  Subsidiary
     shall have received an opinion of Preston Gates & Ellis LLP, counsel to the
     Company,   dated  the  Closing  Date,  in  form  and  substance  reasonably
     satisfactory to Parent, to the effect set forth in Exhibit F hereto.

          (e) Affiliates' Letters. Parent shall have received a letter from each
     of the Affiliates pursuant to Section 5.6 hereof.

          (f)  Noncompetition  Agreements.  Parent shall have received  executed
     agreements from such persons,  and in such form  satisfactory to Parent, as
     described in Section 5.12 hereof.

          (g) Resignations. Such officers and directors of the Company or of any
     Subsidiary as shall have been  specified  Parent shall have tendered  their
     respective resignations effective as of the Effective Time.

          (h) Pooling  Opinion.  Parent shall have  received each of the letters
     described in Section 5.15;  provided,  however,  if within 10 business days
     after the date on which all other closing conditions of Section 6.1 and 6.3
     have been satisfied (including,  but not limited to, receipt of the letters
     described in Section 5.15(A)), Parent has not received the letter described
     in Section  5.15(B)(ii)  solely because of actions on the part of Parent or
     its   shareholders  who  are  affiliates  which  prevent  the  Merger  from
     qualifying as a pooling of interests  transaction,  then the condition that
     such letter be received shall be deemed waived by Parent.

          (i)  Continued  Employment  of Key  Executives.  The  chief  executive
     officer and other executive  employees of the Company designated in writing
     by Parent on or before  the date of this  Agreement  shall  have  agreed to
     continue  their  employment  with the Company  following the Merger on such
     terms as are mutually satisfactory to Parent and such employees.

          (j) Subsidiary  Shares.  The transfer of Subsidiary shares as provided
     in Section 5.16 shall have occurred.

          (k) Delivery of Specified Documents.  The Company shall have delivered
     or caused to be delivered to Parent,  within five  business days (or, as to
     any particular item, such greater number of days specified in Sections 3.6,
     3.10,  3.13,  and  3.17  of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule)  after  the
     execution  of this  Agreement  on the  date  hereof,  the  above-referenced
     sections of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule  described  in Article 3, the
     affiliates' letters described in Section 5.6, the noncompetition agreements
     described  in Section  5.12,  and the  letters of PW dated the date of this
     Agreement described in Section 5.15.  Further,  each of the portions of the
     Company Disclosure  Schedule as so delivered shall not contain  information
     as to which Parent shall object and which cannot be resolved between Parent
     and the Company in the manner described in Section 5.20(b) and which has an
     aggregate impact at least equal to the amount described in Section 5.20(b);
     provided,  however,  that the condition  described in this  sentence  shall
     expire unless Parent  delivers  written  notice to the Company,  within one
     business  day  after  expiration  of  the  final  five-business-day  period
     described in Section 5.20(b) for resolution of the matters in dispute.

<PAGE>

     6.3 Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligation of the Company
to consummate the Merger shall be subject to the  fulfillment at or prior to the
Closing of the following additional conditions:

          (a)  Representations  and Warranties  True.  Each  representation  and
     warranty  of Parent  contained  in this  Agreement,  without  regard to any
     qualification  or reference to  immateriality  or "Parent  Material Adverse
     Effect," shall be true and correct on the date of this Agreement and on the
     Closing Date as though such  representations  and  warranties  were made on
     such date (except those representations and warranties that address matters
     only as of a  particular  date  shall  remain  true and  correct as of such
     date), except for any inaccuracies that,  individually or in the aggregate,
     have not had, and would not have, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

          (b) Performance. Parent and Merger Subsidiary shall have performed and
     complied in all material  respects with all  agreements,  obligations,  and
     conditions  required by this  Agreement to be performed or complied with by
     them on or prior to the Closing.

          (c)  Consents.  Parent and Merger  Subsidiary  shall have obtained all
     permits, authorizations,  consents, and approvals required on their part to
     perform  their   obligations   under,   and  consummate  the   transactions
     contemplated by, this Agreement,  in form and substance satisfactory to the
     Company, and the Company shall have received evidence satisfactory to it of
     the receipt of such permits, authorizations, consents, and approvals.

          (d) Opinion of Counsel for Parent.  The Company shall have received an
     opinion of Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.,  counsel to Parent,  dated the Closing
     Date, in form and substance reasonably  satisfactory to the Company, to the
     effect set forth in Exhibit G hereto.

          (e) Tax Opinion. The Company shall have received an opinion of Preston
     Gates & Ellis LLP, counsel to the Company,  to the effect that,  subject to
     customary  conditions and  representations,  the Merger will be treated for
     federal  income tax  purposes  as a  reorganization  within the  meaning of
     Section  368(a)(2)(E) of the Code. This condition shall be deemed waived in
     the event that such tax opinion is not rendered  because the Company or its
     shareholders  have failed to provide such  customary  representations.  The
     Company hereby agrees to provide to Parent a certificate  setting forth the
     representations  set forth in Exhibit H hereto  which may be relied upon by
     such counsel in rendering such opinion, and Parent hereby agrees to provide
     to the Company a certificate setting forth the representations set forth in
     Exhibit I hereto which may be relied upon by such counsel in rendering such
     opinion.


                                    ARTICLE 7
                           TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT

     7.1 Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the
Effective  Time,  whether  before or after approval by the  shareholders  of the
Company, only:

          (a)  by  mutual  written  consent  duly  authorized  by the  Board  of
     Directors of Parent and the Board of Directors of the Company;

          (b) by either  Parent or the Company if the Merger shall not have been
     consummated  on or before  December 1, 1998;  provided,  however,  that the
     terminating  party  shall not have  breached  in any  material  respect its
     obligations  under this  Agreement  in any manner  that shall have been the
     proximate cause of, or resulted in, the failure to consummate the Merger by
     such date;

<PAGE>
          (c)  by  either  Parent  or  the  Company  if  a  court  of  competent
     jurisdiction or an administrative,  governmental,  or regulatory  authority
     has issued a final  nonappealable  order,  decree,  or ruling, or taken any
     other action, having the effect of permanently  restraining,  enjoining, or
     otherwise prohibiting the Merger;

          (d) by either  Parent or the Company  if, at the Company  Shareholders
     Meeting,  the  requisite  vote of the  shareholders  of the  Company is not
     obtained,  except that the right to  terminate  this  Agreement  under this
     Section  7.1(d) will not be available to any party whose failure to perform
     any material  obligation  under this Agreement has been the proximate cause
     of, or  resulted  in,  the  failure  to obtain  the  requisite  vote of the
     shareholders of the Company;

          (e) by Parent if either (i) the Company has breached  its  obligations
     under Section 5.2 in any material  respect,  (ii) the Board of Directors of
     the  Company  has  recommended,  approved,  accepted,  or  entered  into an
     agreement regarding,  an Alternative  Proposal,  as defined in Section 5.2,
     (iii) the Board of Directors of the Company has  withdrawn or modified in a
     manner adverse to Parent its recommendation of the Merger, or (iv) a tender
     offer or exchange offer under Section 14 of the 1934 Act for 15% or more of
     the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock is commenced,  and the Board
     of  Directors  of the  Company,  within 10 business  days after such tender
     offer or exchange offer is so commenced,  either fails to recommend against
     acceptance of such tender offer or exchange  offer by its  shareholders  or
     takes no position  with respect to the  acceptance  of such tender offer or
     exchange offer by its shareholders;

          (f)  by the  Company  if (i)  it is  not  in  material  breach  of its
     obligations  under  this  Agreement,  (ii) the  Board of  Directors  of the
     Company has authorized acceptance of an Alternative Proposal, and (iii) the
     Company  has paid to Parent the fee  required  by Section 7.2 to be paid to
     Parent in the manner therein provided;

          (g)  by  Parent  if  (i)  Parent  is not  in  material  breach  of its
     obligations  under this Agreement and (ii) there has been a material breach
     by the Company of any of its  representations,  warranties,  or obligations
     under  this  Agreement  or  by  an  Affiliate  of  the  Company  under  the
     Affiliate's  letter  described in Section 5.6 such that the  conditions  in
     Section  6.2 will not be  satisfied,  and the breach is not  curable or, if
     curable,  is not cured by the Company within 30 calendar days after receipt
     by the Company of written notice from Parent of such breach;

          (h) by the Company if (i) the Company is not in material breach of its
     obligations  under this Agreement and (ii) there has been a material breach
     by Parent of any of its representations,  warranties,  or obligations under
     this  Agreement  such  that  the  conditions  in  Section  6.3  will not be
     satisfied,  and the breach is not curable  or, if curable,  is not cured by
     Parent within 30 calendar  days after  receipt by Parent of written  notice
     from the Company of such breach.

     7.2 Effect of Termination.

          (a) In recognition  of the time,  efforts,  and expenses  expended and
     incurred by Parent with respect to the Company and the opportunity that the
     acquisition of the Company presents to Parent, if:

               (i) this  Agreement is terminated  pursuant to Section  7.1(e) or
          7.1(f); or

<PAGE>

               (ii) any third  party makes an  Alternative  Proposal or acquires
          15% or more of the  outstanding  Company  Common  Stock  prior  to the
          Company Shareholders Meeting, and either (A) the requisite vote of the
          shareholders  of the Company to approve the Merger is not  obtained or
          (B) the number of shares of Company  Common  Stock for which notice of
          exercise of dissenters' rights under WBCA has been given would prevent
          the Merger from  qualifying as a pooling of interests  for  accounting
          purposes or (C) this  Agreement is terminated  (other than pursuant to
          Section 7.1(a), (b), (c) or (h)),

         then,  in any such  event,  the  Company  will pay to Parent,  upon the
         termination  date in the  event  of  termination  pursuant  to  Section
         7.1(f), within five business days after demand by Parent in the case of
         termination  pursuant to Section 7.1(e), and immediately upon the first
         to occur of the failure to obtain the requisite shareholder vote or the
         termination  of this  Agreement in the case of the events  specified in
         clause (ii) above (by wire transfer of immediately  available  funds to
         an account  designated by Parent for such purpose),  a fee equal to $15
         million. The Company acknowledges that the agreements contained in this
         Section 7.2 are an integral part of the  transactions  contemplated  by
         this  Agreement  and  are  not  a  penalty,  and  that,  without  these
         agreements,  Parent would not enter into this Agreement. If the Company
         fails to pay  promptly  the fee due  pursuant to this  Section 7.2, the
         Company shall also pay to Parent Parent's costs and expenses (including
         legal fees and expenses) in connection  with any action,  including the
         filing of any lawsuit or other legal action,  taken to collect payment,
         together  with  interest  on the  amount of the  unpaid  fee under this
         section,  accruing  from its due date,  at an  interest  rate per annum
         equal to two  percentage  points  in  excess  of the  prime  commercial
         lending rate quoted by Norwest Bank  Minnesota,  N.A. Any change in the
         interest  rate  hereunder  resulting  from a change in such  prime rate
         shall be effective  at the  beginning of the day of such change in such
         prime rate.

          (b) Except as provided in the next sentence of this paragraph,  in the
     event of the  termination  of this  Agreement  pursuant to any paragraph of
     Section 7.1, the  obligations  of the parties to consummate the Merger will
     expire,  and none of the parties  will have any further  obligations  under
     this Agreement except pursuant to Sections 5.3, 5.7, and 7.2(a) and Article
     8. In the  event  of the  termination  of this  Agreement  pursuant  to any
     paragraph  of Section 7.1 that is caused by a breach of a party,  the party
     whose breach was the basis for the  termination  will not be relieved  from
     any liability for its breach or its obligations pursuant to Section 7.2(a),
     and the other party will have no further  obligations  under this Agreement
     except as provided in Sections 5.3 and 5.7 and Article 8.


                                    ARTICLE 8
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     8.1 Amendment and  Modification.  Subject to applicable law, this Agreement
may be amended,  modified,  or supplemented only by written agreement of Parent,
Merger Subsidiary,  and the Company at any time prior to the Effective Time with
respect to any of the terms contained herein.  This Agreement may not be amended
except by an  instrument  in  writing  signed  on behalf of each of the  parties
hereto.


<PAGE>

     8.2  Waiver  of  Compliance;  Consents.  Any  failure  of  Parent or Merger
Subsidiary on the one hand, or the Company on the other hand, to comply with any
obligation,  covenant,  agreement,  or  condition  herein  may be  waived by the
Company  or  Parent,  respectively,  only by a written  instrument  signed by an
officer of the party granting such waiver,  but such waiver or failure to insist
upon strict compliance with such obligation,  covenant,  agreement, or condition
shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or
other  failure.  Whenever this  Agreement  requires or permits  consent by or on
behalf of any party  hereto,  such  consent  shall be given in  writing.  Merger
Subsidiary  agrees  that any  consent  or waiver of  compliance  given by Parent
hereunder shall be conclusively  binding upon Merger Subsidiary,  whether or not
given expressly on its behalf.

     8.3  Investigation;   Survival  of  Representations  and  Warranties.   The
respective  representations  and warranties of Parent and the Company  contained
herein or in any  certificates or other  documents  delivered prior to or at the
Closing  shall not be deemed waived or otherwise  affected by any  investigation
made by any party hereto.  Each and every  representation and warranty contained
herein shall be deemed to be  conditions to the Merger and shall not survive the
Merger.  This Section 8.3 shall have no effect upon any other  obligation of the
parties hereto, whether to be performed before or after the Closing.

     8.4 Notices.  All notices and other  communications  hereunder  shall be in
writing  and shall be deemed  given  when  delivered  personally  by  commercial
courier service or otherwise, or by telecopier,  or three days after such notice
is mailed by  registered  or certified  mail (return  receipt  requested) to the
parties at the  following  addresses  (or at such other  address  for a party as
shall be specified by like notice):

          (a) if to Parent or Merger Subsidiary, to it at:

              Medtronic, Inc.
              7000 Central Avenue, N.E.
              Minneapolis, MN  55432

              with separate copies thereof addressed to

              Attention:       General Counsel
                               FAX:  (612) 572-5459
              and

              Attention:       Vice President and Chief Development Officer
                               FAX: (612) 572-5404

          (b) If to the Company, to it at:

              Physio-Control International Corporation
              11811 Willows Road N.E.
              Redmond, WA  98073-9706
              FAX: (425) 867-4142
              Attention:       Executive Vice President and General Counsel

              with a copy to:

              Preston Gates & Ellis LLP
              5000 Columbia Center
              701 Fifth Avenue
              Seattle, WA  98104-7078
              FAX: (206) 623-7022
              Attention:       C. Kent Carlson

<PAGE>

     8.5  Assignment.  This Agreement and all of the provisions  hereof shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors  and  permitted  assigns,  but neither this  Agreement nor any of the
rights,  interests,  or  obligations  hereunder  shall be assigned by any of the
parties  hereto without the prior written  consent of the other parties,  nor is
this  Agreement  intended  to confer  upon any other  person  except the parties
hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.

     8.6 Governing Law.  Except to the extent that Washington law is mandatorily
applicable to the Merger and the rights of the  shareholders  of the Company and
Merger Subsidiary,  this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Minnesota  (regardless of the laws that might otherwise  govern under applicable
Minnesota principles of conflicts of law).

     8.7   Counterparts.   This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  two  or  more
counterparts,  each of  which  shall be  deemed  an  original,  and all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     8.8 Knowledge.  As used in this Agreement or the instruments,  certificates
or other documents  required  hereunder,  the term "knowledge" shall mean actual
knowledge  of a fact or the  knowledge  that such person or, if such person is a
corporation, its directors, officers, or other key employees could reasonably be
expected to have based on reasonable investigation and inquiry. The knowledge of
an entity shall be deemed to include the knowledge of its subsidiaries.

     8.9  Interpretation.  The Table of Contents,  article and section  headings
contained in this  Agreement are inserted for reference  purposes only and shall
not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement shall
be construed  without  regard to any  presumption  or other rule  requiring  the
resolution of any ambiguity  regarding the interpretation or construction hereof
against the party causing this Agreement to be drafted.

     8.10  Publicity.  Upon  execution  of  this  Agreement  by  Parent,  Merger
Subsidiary, and the Company, the parties shall jointly issue a press release, as
agreed  upon  by  them.  The  parties  intend  that  all  future  statements  or
communications  to the public or press  regarding  this  Agreement or the Merger
will be mutually agreed upon by them.  Neither party shall,  without such mutual
agreement  or  the  prior   consent  of  the  other,   issue  any  statement  or
communication to the public or to the press regarding this Agreement,  or any of
the terms, conditions,  or other matters with respect to this Agreement,  except
as required by law or the rules of the NYSE or Nasdaq and then only (a) upon the
advice of such party's legal counsel;  (b) to the extent  required by law or the
rules of the NYSE or Nasdaq; and (c) following prior notice to, and consultation
with,  the other  party  (which  notice  shall  include  a copy of the  proposed
statement or communication  to be issued to the press or public).  The foregoing
shall not restrict Parent's or the Company's communications with their employees
or customers in the ordinary course of business.

     8.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the exhibits and schedules
hereto and the Confidentiality Agreement referred to herein, embodies the entire
agreement  and  understanding  of the  parties  hereto in respect of the subject
matter  contained  herein.  This  Agreement  and the  Confidentiality  Agreement
supersede all prior agreements and the  understandings  between the parties with
respect to such  subject  matter.  Further,  the  provisions  of this  Agreement
supersede the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement relating to the 21-day
exclusivity period described therein.


<PAGE>

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

                                     MEDTRONIC, INC.


                                     By: /s/ Michael D. Ellwein
                                        Its: Vice-President

                                     PC MERGER CORP.


                                     By: /s/ Michael D. Ellwein
                                          Its: President

                                     PHYSIO-CONTROL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION


                                     By: /s/ Richard O. Martin
                                       Its: Chairman/CEO



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