PREMARK INTERNATIONAL INC
8-K, 1999-09-13
REFRIGERATION & SERVICE INDUSTRY MACHINERY
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



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







                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934




Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  September 9, 1999
                                                   -----------------




                           PREMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                -------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



    Delaware                          1-9256                 36-3461320
    --------                          ------                 ----------
  (State Or Other                  (Commission              (IRS Employer
  Jurisdiction Of                   File Number)           Identification No.)
  Incorporation)




                    1717 Deerfield Road, Deerfield, IL 60015
                    ----------------------------------------
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)







Registrant's telephone number, including area code          (847) 405-6000
                                                   ---------------------------

<PAGE>

Item 5.     Other Events.


            Premark International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 9, 1999,
by and among Illinois Tool Works Inc. ("Illinois Tool Works"), CS Merger Sub
Inc. ("Merger Sub") and the Company (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which,
among other things, subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Merger
Agreement, Merger Sub will be merged (the "Merger") into the Company, with the
Company surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works, and each
share of Company common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Company Common
Stock") will be converted into the right to receive Illinois Tool Works common
stock, par value of $.01 ("Illinois Tool Works Common Stock"), with an intended
value of $55, subject to adjustment based upon the trading price of Illinois
Tool Works Common Stock during the 20 trading day period ending on the second
business day prior to the closing of the Merger. The foregoing descriptions of
the Merger and the Merger Agreement are qualified in their entirety by reference
to the Merger Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and is
incorporated herein by reference.

            As a condition and inducement to Illinois Tool Works' and Merger
Sub's willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, the Company has entered
into a Stock Option Agreement with Illinois Tool Works dated as of September 9,
1999 (the "Option Agreement"). Pursuant to the Option Agreement, Illinois Tool
Works has an option (the "Option") to purchase 12,203,694 shares of the
Company's Common Stock at a price of $34.06 (the "Option Price") per share of
Company Common Stock under certain circumstances, subject to adjustment. The
Option Agreement limits the profit that Illinois Tool Works may receive pursuant
to the Option to $30 million in the aggregate. The foregoing descriptions of the
Option and the Option Agreement are qualified in their entirety by reference to
the Option Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated
herein by reference.

            In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company has amended
(the "Amendment") its Rights Agreement, dated as of November 6, 1996, by and
between the Company and Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A. (as Rights Agent) to, among
other things, provide that the rights shall not become exercisable as a result
of the Merger, the Merger Agreement or the Option Agreement. The foregoing
description of the Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 99.2 hereto and is incorporated herein by
reference.

            On September 9, 1999, the Company issued a joint press release with
Illinois Tool Works announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement and the
Option Agreement. A copy of the joint press release is filed as Exhibit 99.3
hereto.

Item 7.     Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

Exhibit 2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 9, 1999, by
            and among Illinois Tool Works Inc., CS Merger Sub Inc. and
            Premark International, Inc.


                                      -1-
<PAGE>

Exhibit 99.1   Stock Option Agreement dated as of September 9, 1999 by and
               between Illinois Tool Works Inc. and Premark International, Inc.

Exhibit 99.2   Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of September 9, 1999
               by and between Premark International, Inc. and Norwest Bank
               Minnesota, N.A. (as Rights Agent)

Exhibit 99.3   Joint Press Release dated September 9, 1999


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES



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



                                    PREMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.




Date:  September 10, 1999               By:  /s/ Lawrence B. Skatoff
                                           ----------------------------------
                                      Name:  Lawrence B. Skatoff
                                     Title:  Senior Vice President and
                                             Chief Financial Officer




                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit 2.1    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 9, 1999, by
               and among Illinois Tool Works Inc., CS Merger Sub Inc. and
               Premark International, Inc.

Exhibit 99.1   Stock Option Agreement dated as of September 9, 1999 by and
               between Illinois Tool Works Inc. and Premark International, Inc.

Exhibit 99.2   Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of September 9, 1999
               by and between Premark International, Inc., and Norwest Bank
               Minnesota, N.A. (as Rights Agent)

Exhibit 99.3   Joint Press Release dated September 9, 1999




                                      -4-


                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                      Among

                          PREMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.,

                            ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.

                                       and

                               CS MERGER SUB INC.

                          Dated as of September 9, 1999



<PAGE>



||                            Table of Contents

                ARTICLE I.The Merger; Closing; Effective Time

1.1.  The Merger..........................................................2
1.2.  Closing.............................................................2
1.3.  Effective Time......................................................2

     ARTICLE II.Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving
                                   Corporation

2.1.  The Certificate of Incorporation....................................2
2.2.  The Bylaws..........................................................3

                ARTICLE III.Officers, Directors and Management

3.1.  Directors of Surviving Corporation..................................3
3.2.  Officers of Surviving Corporation...................................3

  ARTICLE IV.Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock; Exchange of Certificates

4.1.  Effect on Capital Stock.............................................3
4.2.  Exchange of Certificates for Shares.................................5
4.3.  Dissenters' Rights..................................................8
4.4.  Adjustments to Prevent Dilution.....................................8

                   ARTICLE V.Representations and Warranties

5.1.  Representations and Warranties of the Company.......................8
5.2.  Representations and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub............21




<PAGE>



                              ARTICLE VI.Covenants

6.1.  Interim Operations.................................................27
6.2.  Acquisition Proposals..............................................31
6.3.  Information Supplied...............................................33
6.4.  Stockholders Meetings..............................................33
6.5.  Filings; Other Actions; Notification...............................34
6.6.  Access; Consultation...............................................37
6.7.  Affiliates.........................................................38
6.8.  Stock Exchange Listing ............................................39
6.9.  Publicity..........................................................39
6.10. Benefits...........................................................39
6.11. Expenses...........................................................42
6.12. Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance................42
6.13. Takeover Statute...................................................45
6.14. Confidentiality....................................................45
6.15  Tax-Free Reorganization............................................45

                             ARTICLE VII.Conditions

7.1.  Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.........46
7.2.  Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub.................47
7.3.  Conditions to Obligation of the Company............................48

                            ARTICLE VIII.Termination

8.1.  Termination by Mutual Consent......................................48
8.2.  Termination by Either Parent or the Company........................49
8.3.  Termination by the Company.........................................49
8.4.  Termination by Parent..............................................50
8.5.  Effect of Termination and Abandonment..............................50

                      ARTICLE IX.Miscellaneous and General

9.1.  Certain Definitions................................................52
9.2.  Survival...........................................................54
9.3.  Modification or Amendment..........................................55
9.4.  Waiver of Conditions...............................................55
9.5.  Counterparts.......................................................55
9.6.  GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL......................55
9.7.  Notices............................................................56
9.8.  Entire Agreement...................................................57
9.9.  No Third Party Beneficiaries.......................................58
9.10. Obligations of Parent and of the Company...........................58
9.11. Severability.......................................................58
9.12. Interpretation.....................................................58
9.13. Assignment.........................................................59


                                    Exhibits

Exhibit A ...........................................Stock Option Agreement
Exhibit B ............................................Stockholder Agreement
Exhibit C.............................................Stockholder Agreement
Exhibit C-1...........................................Stockholder Agreement



                                       ii
<PAGE>


                             Index of Defined Terms

Term                                                                Section

Acquisition Proposal.................................................6.2(a)
Affiliates............................................................  9.1
Agreement..........................................................preamble
Audit Date...........................................................5.1(f)
Bankruptcy and Equity Exception......................................5.1(c)
Bylaws..................................................................2.2
Certificate...........................................................4.1(a)
Certificate of Merger...................................................1.3
Charter.................................................................2.1
Closing.................................................................1.2
Closing Date............................................................1.2
Code...............................................................recitals
Company............................................................preamble
Company Affiliate's Letter...........................................6.7(a)
Company Disclosure Letter...............................................5.1
Company Employee....................................................6.10(e)
Company IP Rights.................................................5.1(q)(i)
Company Option...................................................6.10(a)(i)
Company Preferred Shares.............................................5.1(b)
Company Representatives..............................................6.1(a)
Company Requisite Vote...............................................5.1(c)
Company Share........................................................4.1(a)
Company Shares.......................................................4.1(a)
Company Stock Plans..................................................5.1(b)
Company Stockholders Meeting.........................................6.4(a)
Company's Reports....................................................5.1(e)
Compensation and Benefit Plans....................................5.1(h)(i)
Competition Laws........................................................9.1
Computer Systems.....................................................5.1(r)
Confidentiality Agreement..............................................6.14
Contracts........................................................5.1(d)(ii)
Costs...............................................................6.12(a)
Current Premium.....................................................6.12(c)
D&O Insurance.......................................................6.12(c)
Delaware Courts......................................................9.6(a)
DGCL....................................................................9.1
Effective Time..........................................................1.3
Environmental Law.......................................................9.1
ERISA...................................................................9.1
ERISA Affiliate.........................................................9.1
Exchange Act............................................................9.1
Exchange Agent.......................................................4.2(a)
Exchange Ratio.......................................................4.1(a)
Excluded Company Shares..............................................4.1(a)
GAAP....................................................................9.1
Governmental Entity...............................................5.1(d)(i)
Hazardous Substance.....................................................9.1
HSR Act.................................................................9.1
Indemnified Parties.................................................6.12(a)
IRS.....................................................................9.1
Laws....................................................................9.1
Material Adverse Effect.................................................9.1
Merger.............................................................recitals
Merger Consideration.................................................4.1(a)
Merger Sub.........................................................preamble


                                       iii
<PAGE>

Multi-employer Plan.............................................5.1(h)(vii)
NYSE.................................................................4.1(a)
Order................................................................7.1(d)
Parent.............................................................preamble
Parent Affiliate's Letter............................................6.7(a)
Parent Average Price.................................................4.1(a)
Parent Common Stock..................................................4.1(a)
Parent Companies.....................................................4.1(a)
Parent Disclosure Letter................................................5.2
Parent Preferred Shares...........................................5.2(b)(i)
Parent Requisite Vote............................................5.2(d)(ii)
Parent Stock Plans................................................5.2(b)(i)
Parent Stockholders Meeting..........................................6.4(b)
Parent's Reports.....................................................5.2(e)
PBGC....................................................................9.1
Pension Plan.....................................................5.1(h)(ii)
Permits.................................................................9.1
Person..................................................................9.1
Pooling Affiliates...................................................6.7(a)
Pooling Requirements...............................................recitals
Products........................................................5.1(q)(iii)
Prospectus/Proxy Statement..............................................6.3
Rights Agreement.....................................................5.1(b)
Rule 145 Affiliates..................................................6.7(a)
S-4 Registration Statement..............................................6.3
SEC.....................................................................9.1
Section 16..........................................................6.10(c)
Securities Act..........................................................9.1
Significant Agreements..................................................9.1
Significant Investees...................................................9.1
Significant Subsidiaries................................................9.1
Stock Option Agreement.............................................recitals
Subsequent Transaction...............................................6.5(e)
Subsidiary..............................................................9.1
Substitute Option................................................6.10(a)(i)
Superior Proposal....................................................6.2(a)
Surviving Corporation...................................................1.1
Takeover Statute.....................................................5.1(j)
Tax.....................................................................9.1
Tax Return..............................................................9.1
Taxable.................................................................9.1
Taxes...................................................................9.1
Termination Date........................................................8.2
Termination Fee......................................................8.5(b)
Year 2000 Compliant..................................................5.1(r)



                                       iv
<PAGE>



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

      This  AGREEMENT  AND  PLAN  OF  MERGER  (this  "Agreement"),  dated  as of
September 9, 1999, is among PREMARK INTERNATIONAL,  INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"),  ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC., a Delaware  corporation  ("Parent"),
and CS MERGER SUB INC., a Delaware corporation that is a wholly owned subsidiary
of Parent ("Merger Sub").


                                    RECITALS

      WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of each of Parent,  Merger Sub
and the Company have  approved and declared  advisable  this  Agreement  and the
merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the "Merger") upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;

      WHEREAS,  the parties intend,  by executing and delivering this Agreement,
to adopt a plan of  reorganization  within the meaning of Section  368(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the "Code"), and to cause the Merger
to qualify as a "reorganization" as therein defined;

      WHEREAS, for financial accounting purposes, it is intended that the Merger
shall  be  accounted  for as a  "pooling-of-interests"  in  accordance  with the
requirements  of  Opinion  No.  16  "Business  Combinations"  of the  Accounting
Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public  Accountants,  as
amended  and/or  interpreted  by  the  rules  and  regulations  of the  SEC  and
applicable  pronouncements  by the Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board,  the
Emerging  Issues  Task Force and the  American  Institute  of  Certified  Public
Accountants  (collectively  with the  rules  and  regulations  of the  SEC,  the
"Pooling Requirements");

      WHEREAS,  contemporaneously  with  the  execution  and  delivery  of  this
Agreement,   as  a  condition  and  inducement  to  Parent's  and  Merger  Sub's
willingness to enter into this  Agreement,  the Company is entering into a stock
option agreement with Parent, substantially in the form of Exhibit A (the "Stock
Option  Agreement"),  pursuant  to which the  Company  has  granted to Parent an
option to purchase  shares of common  stock of the  Company  under the terms and
conditions set forth in the Stock Option Agreement; and

      WHEREAS,  the  Company,  Parent  and  Merger  Sub  desire to make  certain
representations,  warranties,  covenants and agreements in connection  with this
Agreement.

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



<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE I.

                       The Merger; Closing; Effective Time

      1.1. The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
this  Agreement,  at the  Effective  Time (as defined in Section 1.3) Merger Sub
shall be merged with and into the Company and the separate  corporate  existence
of  Merger  Sub  shall  thereupon  cease.  The  Company  shall be the  surviving
corporation in the Merger (sometimes referred to as the "Surviving Corporation")
and shall continue to be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware,  and the
separate corporate  existence of the Company,  with all its rights,  privileges,
immunities,  powers and  franchises,  shall  continue  unaffected  by the Merger
except as set forth in Article III. The Merger shall have the effects  specified
in the DGCL.

      1.2.  Closing.  The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall take place
(i) at the offices of Mayer,  Brown & Platt, 190 South LaSalle Street,  Chicago,
Illinois, at 9:00 A.M., local time, on the second business day after the date on
which the last to be fulfilled or waived of the  conditions set forth in Article
VII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the
Closing  (which may  include the  condition  set forth in Section  7.1(a)),  but
subject to the fulfillment or waiver of those  conditions) shall be satisfied or
waived in  accordance  with this  Agreement or (ii) at such other place and time
and/or on such other date as the  Company  and Parent may agree in writing  (the
"Closing Date").

      1.3.  Effective  Time. As soon as practicable  following the Closing,  the
Company  and Parent will cause a  Certificate  of Merger  (the  "Certificate  of
Merger") to be executed,  acknowledged  and filed with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware as provided in Section 251 of the DGCL.  The Merger  shall
become  effective at the time when the Certificate of Merger has been duly filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or such other time as shall
be agreed  upon by the  parties  and set forth in the  Certificate  of Merger in
accordance with the DGCL (the "Effective Time").

                                   ARTICLE II.

      Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation

      2.1. The Certificate of  Incorporation.  The certificate of incorporation
of Merger Sub as in effect  immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation (the "Charter"), until
duly amended as provided therein or by applicable law.

      2.2. The Bylaws. The bylaws of Merger Sub in effect at the Effective Time
shall  be  the  Bylaws  of  the  Surviving  Corporation  (the  "Bylaws"),  until
thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable law.

                                  ARTICLE III.

                       Officers, Directors and Management

      3.1.  Directors  of Surviving  Corporation.  The directors of Merger
Sub at the  Effective  Time shall,  from and after the  Effective  Time,  be the
directors of the Surviving  Corporation  until their  successors  have been duly
elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death,  resignation or
removal in accordance with the Charter and the Bylaws.


                                       2
<PAGE>


      3.2.   Officers of Surviving Corporation. The officers of the Company
at the Effective Time shall,  from and after the Effective Time, be the officers
of the Surviving  Corporation  until their  successors have been duly elected or
appointed and qualified or until their earlier death,  resignation or removal in
accordance with the Charter and the Bylaws.

                                   ARTICLE IV.

         Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock; Exchange of Certificates

      4.1.  Effect on Capital  Stock.  At the Effective  Time, the Merger shall
have the  following  effects on the capital stock of the Company and Merger Sub,
without any action on the part of the holder of any capital stock of the Company
or Merger Sub:

      (a) Merger Consideration.  Each share of common stock, $1.00 par value per
      share,  of the  Company  (each a  "Company  Share"  and  collectively  the
      "Company  Shares")  issued  and  outstanding   immediately  prior  to  the
      Effective Time (but not including Company Shares that are owned by Parent,
      Merger  Sub  or  any  other  direct  or  indirect   subsidiary  of  Parent
      (collectively, the "Parent Companies") or Company Shares that are owned by
      the Company or any direct or indirect  subsidiary  of the Company,  and in
      each  case not held on behalf of third  parties  (collectively,  "Excluded
      Company Shares")), shall be converted into and become exchangeable for the
      fraction of a share (the "Exchange  Ratio" or the "Merger  Consideration")
      of Common  Stock,  $0.01 par value per share,  of Parent  ("Parent  Common
      Stock"), equal to:

       (i)  if the Parent  Average  Price is equal to or greater than $66.33 but
            less than or equal to $89.73, the result, calculated to four decimal
            places, of $55.00 divided by the Parent Average Price;

      (ii)  if the Parent Average Price is greater than - $89.73 but less
            than $101.44, the result, calculated to four decimal places, of

            [$55.00 - {.3065 (Parent Average Price B $89.73)}] [divided by]
            Parent Average Price;

     (iii)  if the Parent Average Price is less than $66.33 but greater than
            $54.62, the result, calculated to four decimal places, of

            [$55.00 - {.4146 ($66.33 - Parent Average Price)}] [divided by]
            Parent Average Price;

      (iv)  if the Parent  Average  Price is greater  than or equal to  $101.44,
            .5776;

      (v)   if the Parent Average Price is less than or equal to $54.62, .9181.

The "Parent Average Price" means the average of the closing price per share of
Parent Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"), as reported in
The Wall Street Journal, New York City edition, on the twenty NYSE trading days
ending on the second business day prior to the Closing Date. The Parent Average
Price shall be rounded to the nearest cent.


                                       3
<PAGE>


      At the Effective  Time, all Company Shares shall no longer be outstanding,
shall be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist,  and each certificate (a
"Certificate")  formerly  representing  any of such Company  Shares  (other than
Excluded Company Shares) shall thereafter represent only the right to the Merger
Consideration  in respect of each Company  Share  formerly  represented  by such
Certificate  multiplied by the number of Company Shares formerly  represented by
such  Certificate and the right,  if any, to receive  pursuant to Section 4.2(d)
cash in lieu of the  fractional  shares into which such Company Shares have been
converted  pursuant  to this  Section  4.1(a) and any  distribution  or dividend
pursuant to Section 4.2(b), in each case without interest.

      (b) Cancellation of Excluded  Company Shares.  Each Excluded Company Share
      issued and outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective Time shall, by
      virtue of the  Merger  and  without  any  action on the part of the holder
      thereof,  no longer be outstanding,  shall be canceled and retired without
      payment of any consideration therefor and shall cease to exist.

      (c) Merger Sub. At the Effective  Time,  each share of Common  Stock,  par
      value $0.01 per share,  of Merger Sub issued and  outstanding  immediately
      prior to the  Effective  Time shall be converted  into one share of common
      stock of the Surviving  Corporation,  and the Surviving  Corporation shall
      thereby become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.

                                       4
<PAGE>


      4.2. Exchange of Certificates for Shares.

      (a) Exchange  Procedures.  At or prior to the Effective  Time Parent shall
      deposit  with the  Exchange  Agent (as  defined  below),  in trust for the
      benefit of the holders of Company Shares, certificates representing shares
      of Parent Common Stock issuable pursuant to Section 4.1(a),  and an amount
      of cash sufficient to pay cash in lieu of fractional  shares in accordance
      with Section 4.2(d).  Parent shall make sufficient  funds available to the
      Exchange  Agent  from  time to time as needed  to pay cash in  respect  of
      dividends  or other  distributions  in  accordance  with  Section  4.2(b).
      Promptly  after the  Effective  Time,  but in no event  later  than  three
      business days following the Closing Date, the Surviving  Corporation shall
      cause an exchange  agent (the "Exchange  Agent"),  selected by Parent with
      the Company's prior approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, to
      mail to each holder of record as of the Effective Time of a Certificate in
      respect of Company  Shares (other than holders of a Certificate in respect
      of Excluded  Company  Shares) (i) a letter of transmittal  specifying that
      delivery of the Certificates shall be effected,  and that risk of loss and
      title  to  the  Certificates   shall  pass,  only  upon  delivery  of  the
      Certificates  (or  affidavits  of  loss  and  indemnity   undertakings  or
      indemnity  bonds,  as the case may be, in lieu  thereof)  to the  Exchange
      Agent,  such letter of  transmittal to be in such form and have such other
      provisions  as Parent  and the  Company  may  reasonably  agree,  and (ii)
      instructions   for  exchanging  the   Certificates  for  (A)  certificates
      representing  shares  of Parent  Common  Stock and (B) any cash in lieu of
      fractional  shares  determined in accordance  with Section 4.2(d) plus any
      cash dividends and any other  dividends or other  distributions  that such
      holder has the right to receive pursuant to the provisions of this Article
      IV.  Subject  to Section  4.2(g),  upon  surrender  of a  Certificate  for
      cancellation   to  the  Exchange   Agent  together  with  such  letter  of
      transmittal,  duly  executed,  the  holder  of such  Certificate  shall be
      entitled to receive in exchange  therefor (x) a  certificate  representing
      that  number of whole  shares of Parent  Common  Stock that such holder is
      entitled to receive  pursuant to this  Section 4.2, and (y) a check in the
      amount (after giving effect to any required tax  withholdings)  of (A) any
      cash in lieu of fractional  shares  determined in accordance  with Section
      4.2(d)  plus (B) any  cash  dividends  and any  other  dividends  or other
      distributions  that such  holder has the right to receive  pursuant to the
      provisions  of this Section  4.2. The  Certificate  so  surrendered  shall
      forthwith be canceled.  No interest  will be paid or accrued on any amount
      payable upon due surrender of any Certificate.  In the event of a transfer
      of ownership of Company Shares that occurred prior to the Effective  Time,
      but  is  not  registered  in  the  transfer  records  of  the  Company,  a
      certificate  representing  the  proper  number of shares of Parent  Common
      Stock,  together with a check for any cash in lieu of fractional shares to
      be paid upon due surrender of the  Certificate  and any other dividends or
      distributions  in respect  thereof,  may be issued  and/or  paid to such a
      transferee if the Certificate formerly representing such Company Shares is
      presented to the Exchange Agent,  accompanied by all documents required to
      evidence  and effect such  transfer  and to evidence  that any  applicable
      stock  transfer  taxes have been paid.  If any  certificate  for shares of
      Parent Common Stock is to be issued in a name other than that in which the
      Certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is registered,  it shall be a
      condition of such exchange that the Person  requesting such exchange shall
      pay any  transfer  or other taxes  required  by reason of the  issuance of
      certificates  for shares of Parent  Common Stock in a name other than that
      of  the  registered  holder  of  the  Certificate  surrendered,  or  shall


                                       5
<PAGE>


      establish to the  satisfaction  of Parent or the Exchange  Agent that such
      tax has been paid or is not applicable.

      (b)   Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares; Voting.

            (i) Whenever a dividend or other  distribution is declared by Parent
            in respect of Parent Common  Stock,  the record date for which is at
            or  after  the  Effective  Time,  that  declaration   shall  include
            dividends or other  distributions in respect of all shares of Parent
            Common Stock issuable  pursuant to this  Agreement.  No dividends or
            other  distributions  so declared  in respect of such Parent  Common
            Stock shall be paid to any holder of any  unsurrendered  Certificate
            until such  Certificate  is  surrendered  for exchange in accordance
            with this Section  4.2.  Subject to the effect of  applicable  laws,
            following  surrender of any such Certificate,  there shall be issued
            or paid to the holder of the certificates  representing whole shares
            of Parent  Common  Stock  issued in exchange  for such  Certificate,
            without interest,  (A) at the time of such surrender,  the dividends
            or other  distributions  with a record  date that is at or after the
            Effective  Time  and a  payment  date  on or  prior  to the  date of
            issuance  of such  whole  shares  of  Parent  Common  Stock  and not
            previously  paid  and  (B)  at the  appropriate  payment  date,  the
            dividends or other distributions  payable with respect to such whole
            shares of Parent  Common  Stock  with a record  date at or after the
            Effective Time but with a payment date subsequent to surrender.  For
            purposes of dividends or other distributions in respect of shares of
            Parent Common Stock,  all shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued
            pursuant to the Merger shall be deemed issued and  outstanding as of
            the Effective Time.

            (ii)  Registered  holders  of  unsurrendered  Certificates  shall be
            entitled to vote after the  Effective  Time at any meeting of Parent
            stockholders  with a record date at or after the Effective  Time the
            number of whole shares of Parent  Common Stock  represented  by such
            Certificates,  regardless  of whether such  holders  have  exchanged
            their Certificates.

      (c) Transfers.  After the Effective  Time,  there shall be no transfers on
      the stock  transfer  books of the Company of the Company  Shares that were
      outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

      (d)  Fractional  Shares.  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of  this
      Agreement,  no fractional shares of Parent Common Stock will be issued and
      any holder of Company  Shares  entitled to receive a  fractional  share of
      Parent  Common  Stock but for this  Section  4.2(d)  shall be  entitled to
      receive in lieu thereof an amount in cash (without interest) determined by
      multiplying  such  fraction  (rounded  to the nearest  one-hundredth  of a
      share) by the average  closing price of a share of Parent Common Stock, as
      reported in The Wall Street  Journal,  New York City edition,  on the five
      (5) trading days immediately prior to the Effective Time.

      (e) Termination of Exchange Period;  Unclaimed Stock. Any shares of Parent
      Common Stock and any portion of the cash, dividends or other distributions
      with  respect to the Parent  Common  Stock  deposited  by Parent  with the
      Exchange Agent  (including the proceeds of any  investments  thereof) that
      remain  unclaimed  by the  stockholders  of the Company 180 days after the
      Effective Time shall be paid to Parent.


                                       7
<PAGE>

     Any stockholders of the Company who have not theretofore complied with this
     Article IV shall thereafter be entitled to look only to Parent for payment
     of their shares of Parent Common Stock and any cash, dividends and other
     distributions in respect thereof issuable and/or payable pursuant to
     Section 4.1, Section 4.2(b) and Section 4.2(d) upon due surrender of their
     Certificates (or, in lieu of such Certificates, affidavits of loss together
     with either a reasonable undertaking to indemnify Parent or the Company, if
     Parent believes that the person providing the indemnity is sufficiently
     creditworthy, or, if Parent does not so believe, indemnity bonds), in each
     case, without any interest thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of
     Parent, the Surviving Corporation, the Exchange Agent or any other Person
     shall be liable to any former holder of Company Shares for any amount
     properly delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned
     property, escheat or similar laws.

      (f) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed  Certificates.  In the event any Certificate
      shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit
      of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or
      destroyed and if Parent  believes that the person  providing the indemnity
      is sufficiently  creditworthy,  the making of a reasonable  undertaking to
      indemnify  Parent or the Company,  or, if Parent does not so believe,  the
      posting  by such  Person  of a bond in the form  customarily  required  by
      Parent to  indemnify  against  any claim that may be made  against it with
      respect to such Certificate, Parent will issue the shares of Parent Common
      Stock  and the  Exchange  Agent  will  distribute  such  stock,  any cash,
      dividends and other  distributions  in respect thereof issuable or payable
      in exchange  for such lost,  stolen or destroyed  Certificate  pursuant to
      Section 4.1,  Section  4.2(b) and Section  4.2(d),  in each case,  without
      interest.

      (g)  Affiliates.   Notwithstanding  anything  in  this  Agreement  to  the
      contrary,  Certificates  surrendered for exchange by any Pooling Affiliate
      or Rule 145  Affiliate  (as  determined  pursuant  to Section  6.7) of the
      Company  shall  not be  exchanged  until  Parent  has  received  a written
      agreement from such Person as provided in Section 6.7.

      4.3.  Dissenters'  Rights.  The parties  hereto agree that, in accordance
with Section 262 of the DGCL,  no appraisal  rights will be available to holders
of Company Shares in connection with the Merger.

      4.4.  Adjustments  to  Prevent  Dilution.  In the event that prior to the
Effective Time,  there shall have been declared or effected a  reclassification,
stock split (including a reverse split), or stock dividend or stock distribution
made with respect to the Company  Shares or the Parent Common Stock,  or a stock
dividend  or stock  distribution  or any  similar  transaction  relating  to the
Company Shares or the Parent Common Stock, the Exchange Ratio shall be equitably
adjusted to reflect such event.


                                   ARTICLE V.

                         Representations and Warranties

      5.1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as set forth in
the  disclosure  letter,  dated  the date of this  Agreement,  delivered  by the


                                       8
<PAGE>


Company to Parent (the "Company  Disclosure Letter") or in the Company's Reports
(as defined  below) filed after  December 31, 1996 but prior to the date of this
Agreement, the Company represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub that:

      (a) Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. Each of the Company and
      its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized,  validly existing and in
      good  standing   under  the  laws  of  its  respective   jurisdiction   of
      organization  and  has  all  requisite  corporate  or  similar  power  and
      authority to own and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its
      business as presently  conducted and is qualified to do business and is in
      good  standing as a foreign  corporation  in each  jurisdiction  where the
      ownership  or  operation  of its  properties  or conduct  of its  business
      requires such  qualification,  except where the failure to have such power
      and authority or to be so qualified or in good standing is not, when taken
      together  with  all  other  such  failures,  reasonably  likely  to have a
      Material  Adverse  Effect (as  defined  below) on it. The Company has made
      available  to Parent a complete  and correct  copy of its  certificate  of
      incorporation  and bylaws,  each as amended to date.  Such  certificate of
      incorporation and bylaws are in full force and effect.

      (b)  Capital  Structure.  The  authorized  capital  stock  of the  Company
      consists of 200,000,000 Company Shares, of which 61,325,093 Company Shares
      were issued and  outstanding  and  7,678,747  Company  Shares were held in
      treasury as of the close of business on September 7, 1999,  and 50,000,000
      shares of  Preferred  Stock,  $1.00 par  value  per  share  (the  "Company
      Preferred  Shares"),  none of which was outstanding as of the date hereof.
      All of the  outstanding  Company Shares have been duly  authorized and are
      validly  issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable.  Other than the 1,000,000
      Company  Preferred  Shares  designated  as  Series A Junior  Participating
      Preferred  Stock that are  reserved  for  issuance  pursuant to the Rights
      Agreement,  dated as of November  6, 1996,  by and between the Company and
      Norwest Bank  Minnesota,  N.A., as Rights Agent (the "Rights  Agreement"),
      and  Company  Shares  subject to  issuance  as set forth below or that are
      permitted to become subject to issuance pursuant to Section  6.1(a)(iv) or
      (vii) of this  Agreement,  the  Company  has no  Company  Shares,  Company
      Preferred  Shares  or  other  shares  of  capital  stock  reserved  for or
      otherwise  subject  to  issuance.  As of the date of this  Agreement,  the
      Company has outstanding  $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.875%
      notes due 2008,  $100,000,000  aggregate principal of 10.5% notes due 2000
      and $2,600,000  aggregate  principal  amount of 5.95%  industrial  revenue
      bonds due 2002.  As of September  7, 1999,  there were  7,069,414  Company
      Shares that the Company was  obligated to issue  pursuant to the Company's
      stock  plans at a weighted  average  exercise  price of $18.20 per Company
      Share,  each of which  plans is listed in  Section  5.1(b) of the  Company
      Disclosure Letter  (collectively  the "Company Stock Plans").  Each of the
      outstanding  shares of capital  stock or other  securities  of each of the
      Company's  Significant  Subsidiaries is duly  authorized,  validly issued,
      fully  paid and  nonassessable  and  owned by the  Company  or a direct or
      indirect  wholly owned  Subsidiary  of the Company,  free and clear of any
      lien, pledge,  security interest,  claim or other encumbrance,  except for
      such failures or exceptions to the foregoing as are not reasonably  likely
      to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on the  Company.  Except as set forth
      above and except  pursuant  to the Stock  Option  Agreement,  there are no
      preemptive or other  outstanding  rights,  options,  warrants,  conversion


                                       9
<PAGE>


      rights, stock appreciation rights,  redemption rights,  repurchase rights,
      agreements,  arrangements or commitments granted by or enforceable against
      the Company or any of its  Significant  Subsidiaries  to issue or sell any
      shares of capital  stock,  other  securities  of the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries  or a material  amount of assets of the Company or any of its
      Significant  Subsidiaries  other  than  (in  the  case of  assets)  in the
      ordinary  course of business or any securities or obligations  convertible
      or exchangeable  into or exercisable  for, or giving any Person a right to
      subscribe for or acquire, any shares of capital stock, other securities or
      material  amount  of  assets  of the  Company  or  any of its  Significant
      Subsidiaries,  and no securities or obligations evidencing such rights are
      issued or outstanding. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
      outstanding  any bonds,  debentures,  notes or other debt  obligations the
      holders  of which  have the  right to vote  with the  stockholders  of the
      Company on any matter or convertible  into or  exercisable  for securities
      having  the  right to vote with the  stockholders  of the  Company  on any
      matter. The Company Shares issuable pursuant to the Stock Option Agreement
      have been duly reserved for issuance by the Company, and upon any issuance
      of such Company  Shares in  accordance  with the terms of the Stock Option
      Agreement,  such Company  Shares will be duly and validly issued and fully
      paid and nonassessable.  No Company Shares are held by a Subsidiary of the
      Company.

      (c)  Corporate  Authority;  Approval  and  Fairness.  The  Company has all
      requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate action
      necessary in order to execute,  deliver and perform its obligations  under
      this  Agreement  and the  Stock  Option  Agreement  and,  subject  only to
      adoption  of this  Agreement  by the holders of at least a majority of the
      outstanding  Company Shares (the "Company  Requisite  Vote") to consummate
      the Merger.  This  Agreement  has been duly  executed and delivered by the
      Company and is a valid and binding  agreement  of the Company  enforceable
      against the Company in accordance  with its terms,  subject to bankruptcy,
      insolvency,  fraudulent transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium and similar
      laws of general  applicability  relating to or affecting creditors' rights
      and to general equity principles (the "Bankruptcy and Equity  Exception").
      The Stock Option  Agreement  has been duly  executed and  delivered by the
      Company and is a valid and binding  agreement  of the Company  enforceable
      against  the  Company  in  accordance  with  its  terms,  subject  to  the
      Bankruptcy and Equity Exception. The Board of Directors of the Company (A)
      has approved  and  declared  advisable  this  Agreement,  the Stock Option
      Agreement and the Merger and (B) has received the opinion of its financial
      advisors,   Goldman,   Sachs  &  Co.,   to  the  effect  that  the  Merger
      Consideration  to be received by the holders of the Company  Shares in the
      Merger is fair to such holders from a financial point of view.

      (d) Governmental Filings; No Violations.

            (i) Other than the filings  and/or  notices (A)  pursuant to Section
            1.3, (B) under the HSR Act, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act,
            (C) pursuant to the European  Community  Merger Control  Regulation,
            (D) to comply with state  securities or  "blue-sky"  laws and (E) to
            comply with any other relevant  Competition Laws (as defined below),
            no notices,  reports or other filings are required to be made by the
            Company  with,  nor  are  any  consents,  registrations,  approvals,


                                       10
<PAGE>


            permits or  authorizations  required  to be  obtained by the Company
            from,  any  governmental  or regulatory  authority,  court,  agency,
            commission,   body  or  other  governmental  entity   ("Governmental
            Entity"),  in  connection  with the  execution  and delivery of this
            Agreement  and the Stock  Option  Agreement  by the  Company and the
            consummation by the Company of the Merger and the other transactions
            contemplated  by this  Agreement  and the  Stock  Option  Agreement,
            except those the failure to make or obtain,  individually  or in the
            aggregate,  are not  reasonably  likely to have a  Material  Adverse
            Effect  on the  Company  and  those  that  to the  knowledge  of the
            Company's  executive officers,  as of the date hereof,  would not be
            reasonably likely to prevent,  materially delay or materially impair
            the Company's ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by
            this Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement.

            (ii) The execution,  delivery and  performance of this Agreement and
            the  Stock  Option   Agreement  by  the  Company  do  not,  and  the
            consummation by the Company of the Merger and the other transactions
            contemplated  by this Agreement and the Stock Option  Agreement will
            not,  constitute  or result in (A) a breach  or  violation  of, or a
            default under, the Company's  certificate of incorporation or bylaws
            or the  comparable  governing  instruments  of any of the  Company's
            Significant  Investees  or (B) a breach or  violation  of, a default
            under,  or  give  rise  to  a  right  of  termination   under,   the
            acceleration of any  obligations or the creation of a lien,  pledge,
            security  interest or other  encumbrance on its assets or the assets
            of any of the  Company's  Significant  Investees  (with  or  without
            notice, lapse of time or both) pursuant to, any agreement,  license,
            lease,  contract,  note, mortgage,  indenture,  arrangement or other
            obligation  ("Contracts")  binding  upon the  Company  or any of its
            Significant  Investees or any Law (as defined in Section  5.1(i)) or
            governmental  or  non-governmental  permit or  license  to which the
            Company or any of its  Significant  Investees are subject or (C) any
            change in the rights or obligations of any party under any Contracts
            to which  the  Company  or its  Significant  Investees  are a party,
            except,  in the case of clauses  (B) or (C) above,  for any  breach,
            violation, default, right of termination,  acceleration, creation or
            change that,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  is not reasonably
            likely to have a Material  Adverse Effect on the Company and that to
            the knowledge of the Company's  executive  officers,  as of the date
            hereof, would not be reasonably likely to prevent,  materially delay
            or  materially  impair  the  Company's  ability  to  consummate  the
            transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or the Stock  Option
            Agreement.

      (e) Reports;  Financial Statements. The Company has filed with the SEC all
      required forms, reports, registration statements and documents required to
      be filed by it with the SEC since  December 31, 1996. The Company has made
      or will make  available  to Parent each  registration  statement,  report,
      proxy  statement or  information  statement  prepared by the Company since
      December 31, 1996,  including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
      the years ended December 28, 1996, December 27, 1997 and December 26, 1998
      and the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters  ended
      March 27, 1999 and June 26, 1999 in the form (including exhibits,  annexes
      and any amendments  thereto) filed with the SEC  (collectively,  including


                                       11
<PAGE>


      any such  reports  filed  subsequent  to the date of this  Agreement,  the
      "Company's Reports").  As of their respective dates, the Company's Reports
      complied  as  to  form  in  all  material  respects  with  all  applicable
      requirements  under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and
      regulations  thereunder  and 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  in  which  they  were  made,  not  misleading.  Each of the
      consolidated  balance sheets included in or incorporated by reference into
      the Company's  Reports  (including the related notes and schedules) fairly
      presents  the  consolidated  financial  position  of the  Company  and its
      consolidated  Subsidiaries  as of its date  and  each of the  consolidated
      statements of income,  stockholders'  equity and of cash flows included in
      or  incorporated  by reference into the Company's  Reports  (including any
      related notes and schedules)  fairly presents the consolidated  results of
      operations,  retained  earnings and cash flows, as the case may be, of the
      Company  and its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  for the  periods  set  forth
      therein (subject, in the case of unaudited  statements,  to the absence of
      notes (to the extent  permitted by the rules  applicable to Form 10-Q) and
      to normal year-end audit  adjustments  that will not be material in amount
      or effect),  in each case in  accordance  with GAAP  consistently  applied
      during the periods involved, except as may be noted therein. Except as set
      forth in Section 5.1(e) of the Company  Disclosure Letter or except as may
      be reflected in any public filing made prior to the date of this Agreement
      with the SEC under  Section  13 of the  Exchange  Act and the  regulations
      promulgated thereunder, to the Company's knowledge, as of the date of this
      Agreement,  no Person  or  "group"  "beneficially  owns" 5% or more of the
      Company's  outstanding  voting  securities,  with the terms  "beneficially
      owns" and "group"  having the  meanings  ascribed to them under Rule 13d-3
      and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act.

      (f)  Absence of Certain  Changes.  Except as  disclosed  in the  Company's
      Reports  filed  prior  to the  date  of  this  Agreement  or as  expressly
      contemplated  by this  Agreement,  since  December  26,  1998 (the  "Audit
      Date"),  the Company and its Subsidiaries  have conducted their respective
      businesses  only in the ordinary and usual course of such  businesses  and
      there has not been: (i) any change in the financial condition, liabilities
      and  assets   (taken   together)  or  business  of  the  Company  and  its
      Subsidiaries which, individually or in the aggregate, is reasonably likely
      to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on the  Company;  (ii)  any  damage,
      destruction  or other  casualty loss with respect to any asset or property
      owned, leased or otherwise used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
      whether or not covered by insurance,  which damage, destruction or loss is
      reasonably  likely,  individually or in the aggregate,  to have a Material
      Adverse  Effect on the Company;  (iii) any  declaration,  setting aside or
      payment of any dividend or other  distribution in respect of the Company's
      capital stock other than regular quarterly cash dividends not in excess of
      $.11 per  Common  Share;  or (iv) any  material  change by the  Company in
      financial accounting principles,  practices or methods, except as required
      by GAAP.  Since the Audit Date,  except as provided for in this Agreement,
      in the Company  Disclosure Letter or as disclosed in the Company's Reports
      filed prior to the date of this  Agreement  and except for  increases  and
      amendments that are not material in the aggregate,  there has not been any
      increase in the salary,  wage, bonus,  grants,  awards,  benefits or other
      compensation payable or that could become payable by the Company or any of


                                       12
<PAGE>


      its Subsidiaries to directors,  officers or key employees or any amendment
      of any of the  Company's  Compensation  and  Benefit  Plans (as defined in
      Section  5.1(h)(i))  other than  increases or amendments in the normal and
      usual course of the Company's  business (which may include normal periodic
      performance reviews and related compensation and benefit increases and the
      provision  of new  individual  compensation  and  benefits for promoted or
      newly  hired  officers  and  employees  on  terms   consistent  with  past
      practice).

      (g)  Litigation  and  Liabilities.  Except as disclosed  in the  Company's
      Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement, there are no (i) civil,
      criminal   or   administrative   actions,    suits,   claims,    hearings,
      investigations  or proceedings  pending or, to the actual knowledge of the
      Company's executive officers, threatened against the Company or any of its
      Affiliates or (ii) obligations or liabilities of the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries,  whether or not accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether
      or not  required  to be  disclosed,  including  those  relating to matters
      involving  any  Environmental  Law, in either such case,  except for those
      that, individually or in the aggregate,  are not reasonably likely to have
      a Material  Adverse Effect on the Company and that to the knowledge of the
      Company's  executive  officers,  as of  the  date  hereof,  would  not  be
      reasonably  likely to prevent,  materially delay or materially  impair the
      Company's  ability to consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
      Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement.

      (h)   Employee Benefits.

            (i) The term  "Compensation  and Benefit  Plans"  means any employee
            benefit plan  (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA),  or any
            bonus, deferred compensation,  pension, retirement,  profit-sharing,
            thrift, savings,  incentive compensation,  employee stock ownership,
            stock  bonus,  stock  purchase,   restricted  stock,  stock  option,
            employment,   consulting,   termination,   severance,  compensation,
            medical, health or fringe benefit plan, program,  agreement,  policy
            or arrangement for any agents,  consultants,  employees,  directors,
            former employees or former directors of the Company and or any ERISA
            Affiliate which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate  maintains,  is a
            party to,  participates  in or with respect to which any of them has
            any liability or contingent liability.  The Company has delivered to
            Parent   copies  of  certain   plan   documents   and  summary  plan
            descriptions  for certain  Compensation  and Benefit Plans, and such
            copies are, to the  knowledge of the Company's  executive  officers,
            true and complete in all material respects.

            (ii) (A) All Compensation  and Benefit Plans have been  administered
            in  form  and   operation  in   substantial   compliance   with  all
            requirements of applicable law, and no event has occurred which will
            or could cause any such  Compensation  and  Benefit  Plan to fail to
            comply with such  requirements  and no notice has been issued by any
            governmental  authority  questioning or challenging such compliance;
            (B) there have been no acts or omissions by the Company or any ERISA
            Affiliate  which  have  given  rise to or may give rise to  material
            fines,  penalties,  taxes or related  charges  under  Section 502 of
            ERISA or  Chapters  43,  47,  68 or 100 of the Code  for  which  the
            Company  or  ERISA  Affiliate  may  be  liable;   (C)  each  of  the


                                       13
<PAGE>


            Compensation and Benefit Plans that is an "employee  pension benefit
            plan"  within the  meaning of  Section  3(2) of ERISA,  other than a
            multiemployer  plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA),  (each a
            "Pension  Plan,") and that is intended to be qualified under Section
            401(a) of the Code has  received a  favorable  determination  letter
            from the IRS or an application  therefor filed within the applicable
            remedial amendment period is pending which covers all changes in law
            for which the  remedial  amendment  period  (within  the  meaning of
            Section 401(b) of the Code and applicable  regulations)  has expired
            and none of the Company nor any of its ERISA  Affiliates is aware of
            any  circumstances  likely  to  result  in  revocation  of any  such
            favorable  determination  letter; (D) there is no pending or, to the
            knowledge of the Company's executive  officers,  threatened material
            litigation  relating to its  Compensation and Benefit Plans; and (E)
            neither the Company nor any of the ERISA Affiliates has engaged in a
            transaction  with  respect to any of the  Compensation  and  Benefit
            Plans that would subject the Company or any of the ERISA  Affiliates
            to a material tax or penalty  imposed by either  Section 4975 of the
            Code or Section 502 of ERISA.

            (iii) All  contributions  required to be made under the terms of any
            of the  Compensation  and  Benefit  Plans  as of the  date  of  this
            Agreement  have been timely made or have been  reflected on the most
            recent consolidated balance sheet filed or incorporated by reference
            in the Company's Reports prior to the date of this Agreement.

            (iv) None of the Company nor any ERISA  Affiliate has any obligation
            for  post-employment  health  and  life  benefits  under  any of the
            Compensation  and Benefit Plans,  except as set forth in its Reports
            filed  prior  to the  date  of  this  Agreement  or as  required  by
            applicable law or as may be provided under individual  employment or
            severance  agreements  which in the  aggregate  do not  require  the
            Company to provide  benefits,  the cost of which is  material to the
            Company.

            (v) The consummation of the Merger (or the approval of the Merger by
            stockholders of the Company) and the other transactions contemplated
            by this Agreement does not (x) entitle any employees or directors of
            the  Company  or  any  employees  of  any  of  the  Company's  ERISA
            Affiliates  to  severance   pay,   directly  or   indirectly,   upon
            termination  of employment or otherwise,  (y) accelerate the time of
            payment  or  vesting  or trigger  any  payment  of  compensation  or
            benefits  under,  increase  the amount  payable or trigger any other
            material obligation pursuant to, any of the Compensation and Benefit
            Plans or (z)  result  in any  breach or  violation  of, or a default
            under, any of the Compensation and Benefit Plans.

            (vi) In each summary plan description and plan document relating
            to a Compensation and Benefits Plan that is not an individual
            agreement, the Company has reserved the right unilaterally to
            amend or terminate such plan, and to the knowledge of the
            Company's executive officers as of the date hereof, the Company
            has not distributed any other documents to participants generally
            or issued any general communication that purports to promise that


                                       14
<PAGE>


            any such plan will be continued indefinitely or otherwise
            obligates the Company to provide a specific level of benefits in
            the future, except under the terms of a collective bargaining
            agreement, a change-in-control provision that has been disclosed
            to Parent prior to the date of this Agreement or an individual
            agreement that has been disclosed to Parent prior to the date of
            this Agreement, or except as may be required by a statutory
            provision requiring the continuation of certain benefits or
            requiring that certain steps be taken, such as notification to
            affected participants, before a plan amendment or termination can
            be effective.

            (vii) None of the Compensation and Benefit Plans is a "multiemployer
            plan",  within the  meaning of Section  4001(a)(3)  of ERISA that is
            subject to Title IV of ERISA (a  "Multiemployer  Plan")  none of the
            Compensation  and Benefit Plans is otherwise  subject to Title IV of
            ERISA and none of the  Company or any of the ERISA  Affiliates  have
            contributed or been obligated to contribute to a Multiemployer  Plan
            or any other plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA.

      (i)  Compliance  with Laws.  Except as set forth in the Company's  Reports
      filed prior to the date of this  Agreement,  the businesses of each of the
      Company and its Subsidiaries  have not been, and are not being,  conducted
      in  violation  of any Laws except for  violations  or possible  violations
      that,  individually or in the aggregate,  are reasonably  likely to have a
      Material  Adverse  Effect on the Company or that to the  knowledge  of the
      Company's executive officers,  as of the date hereof,  would be reasonably
      likely to prevent,  materially  delay or  materially  impair the Company's
      ability to consummate the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement and
      the Stock Option  Agreement.  Except as set forth in the Company's Reports
      filed prior to the date of this Agreement,  to the actual knowledge of the
      Company's   executive   officers,   no  investigation  or  review  by  any
      Governmental Entity with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
      is pending or threatened,  nor has any  Governmental  Entity  indicated an
      intention to conduct the same,  which,  individually  or in the aggregate,
      are reasonably  likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or
      to the  knowledge  of the  Company's  executive  officers,  as of the date
      hereof,  would  be  reasonably  likely  to  prevent,  materially  delay or
      materially  impair the Company's  ability to consummate  the  transactions
      contemplated  by this  Agreement  and the Stock Option  Agreement.  To the
      actual knowledge of the Company's executive  officers,  no material change
      is  required  in the  Company's  or any  of its  Subsidiaries'  processes,
      properties or  procedures  in order to comply with any such Laws,  and the
      Company has not received any written  notice or written  communication  of
      any material  noncompliance  with any such Laws that has not been cured as
      of the date of this Agreement,  except for changes and noncompliance  that
      individually  or in the  aggregate,  are not  reasonably  likely to have a
      Material  Adverse  Effect on the Company and that to the  knowledge of the
      Company's  executive  officers,  as of  the  date  hereof,  would  not  be
      reasonably  likely to prevent,  materially delay or materially  impair the
      Company's  ability to consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
      Agreement  and the Stock  Option  Agreement.  Each of the  Company and its
      Subsidiaries  has all  Permits  necessary  to conduct  their  business  as
      presently conducted,  except for those the absence of which,  individually
      or in the aggregate,  are not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
      Effect on the Company and that to the knowledge of the Company's executive


                                       15
<PAGE>


      officers,  as of the  date  hereof,  would  not be  reasonably  likely  to
      prevent,  materially delay or materially  impair the Company's  ability to
      consummate the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement and the Stock
      Option Agreement.

      (j)  Takeover  Statutes;  Charter  and  Bylaw  Provisions.  The  Board  of
      Directors of the Company has taken all appropriate  and necessary  actions
      to render inapplicable to the Merger and the transactions  contemplated by
      this  Agreement the  provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL. No other "fair
      price,"  "moratorium,"   "control  share  acquisition"  or  other  similar
      anti-takeover  statute or  regulation  of any state in the  United  States
      (each a "Takeover  Statute") as in effect on the date of this Agreement is
      applicable  to the Company,  the Company  Shares,  the Merger or the other
      transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement.
      Assuming that Parent and its Affiliates  were not, at or prior to the date
      of this Agreement  (without giving effect to the Stock Option  Agreement),
      "Interested  Stockholders"  within the meaning of Article EIGHTH,  Section
      B(2)(vii)(2) of the Company's certificate of incorporation,  the Company's
      Board of Directors has taken such action as is necessary to render Article
      EIGHTH,   Section  A  of  the  Company's   certificate  of   incorporation
      inapplicable to the Merger or the other transactions  contemplated by this
      Agreement or the Stock Option  Agreement.  Article  NINTH of the Company's
      certificate of incorporation has expired in accordance with its terms.

      (k)  Environmental  Matters.  Except  as  disclosed  or  reflected  in the
      Company's Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement and except for
      such matters that, alone or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to
      have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company: (i) each of the Company and
      its Subsidiaries has complied with all applicable Environmental Laws; (ii)
      neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has received any notice,
      demand, letter, claim or request for information alleging that the Company
      or any of its  Subsidiaries  may be in  violation  of or liable  under any
      Environmental  Law; (iii) neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries
      is subject to any orders, decrees,  injunctions or other arrangements with
      any Governmental  Entity or is subject to any indemnity or other agreement
      with any third party relating to liability under any  Environmental Law or
      relating to Hazardous  Substances;  and (iv) there are no circumstances or
      conditions  involving  the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  that could
      reasonably be expected to result in any claims, liability, investigations,
      costs or  restrictions  on the  ownership,  use, or transfer of any of the
      Company's properties pursuant to any Environmental Law.

      (l)  Accounting  and  Tax  Matters.  Neither  the  Company  nor any of its
      Subsidiaries  or Pooling  Affiliates (as defined in Section 6.7) has taken
      or agreed to take any action, nor do the Company's executive officers have
      any actual  knowledge  of any fact or  circumstance,  that  would  prevent
      Parent from accounting for the business  combination to be effected by the
      Merger  as  a  "pooling-of-interests"   in  accordance  with  the  Pooling
      Requirements or prevent the Merger from  qualifying as a  "reorganization"
      within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

      (m) Taxes. Except to the extent of any inaccuracy or incompleteness of any
      of  the  following  which  is  not,  individually  or  in  the  aggregate,
      reasonably  likely to have a Material  Adverse Effect on the Company,  (i)


                                       16
<PAGE>


      the Company and each of its Subsidiaries  have prepared or will prepare in
      good faith and duly and timely filed (taking into account any extension of
      time within  which to file),  or will so file,  all  material  Tax Returns
      required  to be filed by any of them at or before the  Effective  Time and
      all such filed Tax Returns are or will be complete and accurate,  (ii) the
      Company and each of its  Subsidiaries  as of the  Effective  Time (x) will
      have paid all Taxes that they are  required to pay prior to the  Effective
      Time,  and (y) will have  withheld  all  federal,  state and local  income
      taxes, FICA, FUTA and other Taxes, including, without limitation,  similar
      foreign Taxes, required to be withheld from amounts owing to any employee,
      creditor or third party, (iii) as of the date of this Agreement, there are
      not  pending  or   threatened  in  writing,   any  audits,   examinations,
      investigations  or other  proceedings  in respect of Taxes or Tax matters,
      (iv) there are not, to the actual  knowledge  of the  Company's  executive
      officers,  any unresolved  questions,  claims or  outstanding  proposed or
      assessed  deficiencies  concerning the Company or any of its Subsidiaries'
      Tax liability, (v) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any
      liability with respect to income,  franchise or similar Taxes in excess of
      the  amounts  accrued in respect of such Taxes that are  reflected  in the
      financial  statements  included in the Company's  Reports and (vi) neither
      the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has  executed  any waiver of any
      statute of  limitations  on, or extended the period for the  assessment or
      collection  of, any Tax. No payments to be made to any of the officers and
      employees  of the  Company  or  its  Subsidiaries  will,  as a  result  of
      consummation of the Merger, be subject to the deduction  limitations under
      Sections 280G or 162(m) of the Code.

      (n) Labor Matters.  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is the
      subject of any material  proceeding  asserting  that the Company or any of
      its  Subsidiaries  has committed an unfair labor practice or is seeking to
      compel the Company to bargain  with any labor union or labor  organization
      nor is there  pending  or, to the  knowledge  of the  Company's  executive
      officers,  threatened,  any labor strike, dispute, walkout, work stoppage,
      slow down or lockout  involving  the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,
      except  in  each  case  as  is  not,  individually  or in  the  aggregate,
      reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

      (o) Brokers and Finders;  Professional  Expenses.  Neither the Company nor
      any of its  officers,  directors or  employees  has employed any broker or
      finder or incurred any liability for any brokerage  fees,  commissions  or
      finders'  fees in  connection  with the  Merger or the other  transactions
      contemplated  by this  Agreement  except  that the  Company  has  employed
      Goldman,  Sachs & Co. as the Company's financial advisor.  The calculation
      of the amount  payable to  Goldman,  Sachs & Co. in  connection  with this
      Agreement, including the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
      this Agreement,  is disclosed in Section 5.1(o) of the Company  Disclosure
      Letter and true and complete  copies of all  engagement  letters and other
      Contracts  relating to currently active  assignments  under which Goldman,
      Sachs & Co. may be entitled to any engagement,  assignment,  fees, expense
      reimbursement, indemnification or other payment from the Company or any of
      its Subsidiaries are attached to the Company Disclosure Letter.

      (p) Significant Agreements.  Each of the Significant Agreements is in full
      force and effect and enforceable in accordance  with its terms,  except as
      would not reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect on the


                                       17
<PAGE>


      Company.  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any
      notice  (written  or oral)  of  cancellation  or  termination  of,  or any
      expression or indication of an intention or desire to cancel or terminate,
      any of the  Significant  Agreements,  except  as would not  reasonably  be
      expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  No Significant
      Agreement is the subject of, or has been threatened to be made the subject
      of, any arbitration,  suit or other legal proceeding,  except as would not
      reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Company.
      With  respect  to  any  Significant  Agreement  which  by its  terms  will
      terminate  as of a  certain  date  unless  renewed  or unless an option to
      extend such  Significant  Agreement is exercised,  neither the Company nor
      any of its  Subsidiaries  has  received any notice  (written or oral),  or
      otherwise has any knowledge,  that any such Significant Agreement will not
      be, or is not likely to be, so renewed or that any such  extension  option
      will not be exercised,  except as would not reasonably be expected to have
      a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. There exists no event of default
      or  occurrence,  condition or act on the part of the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, on the part of the other
      parties  to  the  Significant   Agreements  which   constitutes  or  would
      constitute  (with  notice or lapse of time or both) a breach of or default
      under any of the Significant Agreements, except as would not reasonably be
      expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the  Company.  Neither the
      Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party to or otherwise  bound by
      any Contract purporting to limit the Company or any of its Affiliates from
      engaging  in any  business  or  from  competing  with  any  Person  in any
      business,  except as would not  reasonably  be expected to have a Material
      Adverse  Effect  on  the  Company.  Neither  the  Company  nor  any of its
      Subsidiaries is a party to or otherwise  bound by any Contract  purporting
      to limit any  direct or  indirect  shareholder  or parent  company  of the
      Company (or any Subsidiary of any direct or indirect shareholder or parent
      company of the Company,  other than the Company or any  Subsidiary  of the
      Company) from engaging in any business or from  competing  with any Person
      in any  business  except as would not have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on
      Parent.

      (q)  Intellectual  Property  Rights.  Except as would not have a  Material
      Adverse Effect on the Company:

            (i) The  Company and its  Subsidiaries  own or have the right to use
            all  intellectual   property   material  to  the  conduct  of  their
            respective  businesses (such  intellectual  property and such rights
            are collectively referred to herein as the "Company IP Rights").

            (ii) The  execution,  delivery and  performance of this Agreement by
            the Company and the  consummation by the Company of the transactions
            contemplated  hereby will not (A) constitute a breach by the Company
            or any of its Subsidiaries of any instrument or agreement  governing
            any Company IP Rights,  (B) cause the  modification  of any terms of
            any  licenses  or  agreements  relating  to any  Company  IP  Rights
            including but not limited to the  modification of the effective rate
            of any royalties or other payments  provided for in any such license
            or agreement, (C) cause the forfeiture or termination of any Company
            IP Rights,  (D) give rise to a right of forfeiture or termination of
            any  Company IP Rights or (E) impair the right of the  Company,  its
            Subsidiaries,  the Surviving  Corporation  or Parent to use, sell or
            license any Company IP Rights or portion thereof.



                                       18
<PAGE>


            (iii) Neither the manufacture,  marketing, license, sale or intended
            use of any  product  or  product  under  development  (collectively,
            "Products") by the Company and its  Subsidiaries nor the current use
            by the Company and its  Subsidiaries  of any Company IP Rights,  (A)
            violates any license or agreement  between the Company or any of its
            Subsidiaries  and any third  party or (B)  infringes  any patents or
            other intellectual  property rights of any other party; and there is
            no  pending  or  threatened  claim  or  litigation   contesting  the
            validity, ownership or right to use, sell, license or dispose of any
            Company IP Rights,  or  asserting  that any Company IP Rights or the
            proposed  use,  sale,  license  or  disposition   thereof,   or  the
            manufacture, use or sale of any Products, conflicts or will conflict
            with the rights of any other party.

      (r) Year  2000  Compliance.  The  Company  has  instituted  processes  and
      controls to become Year 2000 Compliant, as that term is defined below, and
      the foreseeable expenses or other liabilities  associated with the process
      of securing full Year 2000 Compliance would not be reasonably  expected to
      cause a Material  Adverse Effect on the Company.  Upon  completion of such
      instituted  processes and controls the Company's  Computer Systems will be
      Year  2000  Compliant.   "Year  2000  Compliant"  means,  except  for  any
      noncompliance  that,  individually  or  in  the  aggregate  would  not  be
      reasonably  likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company,  that
      such hardware or software used, by the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries
      including, but not limited to, microcode, firmware, system and application
      programs,  files,  databases,  computer  services,  and  microcontrollers,
      including  those  embedded in computer  and  non-computer  equipment  (the
      "Computer  Systems")  will  not  fail  (because  of a  date  change  event
      resulting from a transition to the Year 2000) to:

            (i)   process date data consistently from before and after
                  January 1, 2000;

            (ii)  maintain   functionality  with  respect  to  the  introduction
                  processing,  or output of records  containing dates falling on
                  or after January 1, 2000; and

            (iii) be  interoperable  with other Year 2000 Compliant  software or
                  hardware which may deliver  records to, receive  records from,
                  or  interact  with  such  Computer  Systems  in the  course of
                  conducting the business of the Company,  including  processing
                  data and manufacturing the products of the Company.

      (s) Rights  Agreement.  The Company has adopted an amendment to the Rights
      Agreement  with the  effect  that  neither  Parent nor Merger Sub shall be
      deemed to be an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement), the
      Distribution Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement) shall not be deemed
      to occur and the Rights (as  defined  in the  Rights  Agreement)  will not
      separate  from the  Company  Shares,  as a result  of  entering  into this
      Agreement or the Stock Option  Agreement or consummating the Merger and/or
      the other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or the Stock Option
      Agreement.



                                       19
<PAGE>


      5.2.  Representations  and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub.  Except as
set forth in the disclosure letter, dated the date of this Agreement,  delivered
by Parent to the Company (the "Parent Disclosure Letter") or in Parent's Reports
filed after December 31, 1996 but prior to the date of this  Agreement,  Parent,
on behalf of itself and Merger Sub, represents and warrants to the Company that:

      (a) Organization, Good Standing and Qualification.  Each of Parent and its
      Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
      standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization and
      has all  requisite  corporate  or similar  power and  authority to own and
      operate  its  properties  and  assets  and to  carry  on its  business  as
      presently  conducted  and is  qualified  to do  business  and  is in  good
      standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the ownership
      or operation of its  properties  or conduct of its business  requires such
      qualification,  except where the failure to have such power and  authority
      or to be so qualified or in good standing is not, when taken together with
      all other such  failures,  reasonably  likely to have a  Material  Adverse
      Effect on it. Parent has made  available to Company a complete and correct
      copy of its certificate of  incorporation  and bylaws,  each as amended to
      date. Such  certificates of incorporation and bylaws are in full force and
      effect.

      (b)   Capital Structure.

            (i) The authorized  capital stock of Parent  consists of 350,000,000
            shares of Parent  Common  Stock,  of which  250,637,386  shares were
            issued and  outstanding  and 260,536 shares were held in treasury as
            of the close of business on September 7, 1999, and 300,000 shares of
            Preferred Stock, no par value (the "Parent  Preferred  Shares"),  of
            which no shares were  outstanding as of the date hereof.  All of the
            outstanding  shares of Parent Common Stock have been duly authorized
            and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. As of the date
            of this  Agreement,  other  than  Parent  Common  Stock  subject  to
            issuance as set forth below,  Parent has no shares of Parent  Common
            Stock  or  Parent  Preferred  Shares  reserved  for  or  subject  to
            issuance.  As of  September  7,  1999,  there  were  not  more  than
            5,344,999 shares of Parent Common Stock that Parent was obligated to
            issue pursuant to the Parent's  stock plans,  each of which plans is
            listed  in   Section   5.2(b)  of  the  Parent   Disclosure   Letter
            (collectively, the "Parent Stock Plans"). Except as set forth above,
            as of the date of this  Agreement,  there are no preemptive or other
            outstanding  rights,  options,  warrants,  conversion rights,  stock
            appreciation   rights,   redemption   rights,   repurchase   rights,
            agreements,  arrangements  or  commitments  to  issue or to sell any
            shares  of  capital  stock  or other  securities  of  Parent  or any
            securities  or  obligations  convertible  or  exchangeable  into  or
            exercisable  for, or giving any Person a right to  subscribe  for or
            acquire,  any securities of Parent,  and no securities or obligation
            evidencing such rights are authorized,  issued or outstanding. As of
            the date of this  Agreement,  Parent does not have  outstanding  any
            bonds,  debentures,  notes or other debt  obligations the holders of
            which have the right to vote (or convertible into or exercisable for
            securities having the right to vote) with the stockholders of Parent
            on any matter.



                                       20
<PAGE>


            (ii) The  authorized  capital  stock of Merger Sub consists of 1,000
            shares of Common Stock,  par value $0.01 per share, all of which are
            validly issued and  outstanding.  All of the issued and  outstanding
            capital stock of Merger Sub is, and at the  Effective  Time will be,
            owned by Parent,  and there are (A) no other shares of capital stock
            or other  voting  securities  of Merger Sub,  (B) no  securities  of
            Merger Sub convertible  into or  exchangeable  for shares of capital
            stock or other voting securities of Merger Sub and (C) no options or
            other  rights to acquire  from Merger  Sub,  and no  obligations  of
            Merger Sub to issue, any capital stock,  other voting  securities or
            securities  convertible  into or  exchangeable  for capital stock or
            other voting  securities of Merger Sub. Merger Sub has not conducted
            any  business  prior to the date of this  Agreement  and has no, and
            prior to the Effective  Time will have no,  assets,  liabilities  or
            obligations of any nature other than those incident to its formation
            and  pursuant  to this  Agreement  and  the  Merger  and  the  other
            transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

      (c)  Corporate  Authority;  Approval.  Parent  and Merger Sub each has all
      requisite  corporate  power and authority and each has taken all corporate
      action necessary in order to execute,  deliver and perform its obligations
      under this Agreement and to consummate the Merger. This Agreement has been
      duly  executed  and  delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and is a valid and
      binding  agreement of Parent and Merger Sub,  enforceable  against each of
      Parent  and  Merger  Sub in  accordance  with its  terms,  subject  to the
      Bankruptcy and Equity  Exception.  The shares of Parent Common Stock, when
      issued pursuant to this Agreement,  will be validly issued, fully paid and
      nonassessable, and no stockholder of Parent will have any preemptive right
      of subscription or purchase in respect thereof.

      (d) Governmental Filings; No Violations.

            (i) Other than the filings  and/or  notices (A)  pursuant to Section
            1.3, (B) under the HSR Act, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act,
            (C) pursuant to the European  Community  Merger Control  Regulation,
            (D) to comply with state  securities or  "blue-sky"  laws and (E) to
            comply with any other relevant Competition Laws, no notices, reports
            or other filings are required to be made by Parent with, nor are any
            consents,   registrations,   approvals,  permits  or  authorizations
            required to be obtained by Parent from, any Governmental  Entity, in
            connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
            Stock Option  Agreement by Parent and the  consummation by Parent of
            the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement
            and the Stock  Option  Agreement,  except  those that the failure to
            make or obtain, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably
            likely to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on Parent and that to the
            knowledge  of Parent's  executive  officers,  as of the date hereof,
            would not be  reasonably  likely  to  prevent,  materially  delay or
            materially  impair Parent's  ability to consummate the  transactions
            contemplated by this Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement.

            (ii) The execution,  delivery and  performance of this Agreement and
            the Stock Option Agreement by Parent do not, and the consummation by
            Parent of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this


                                       21
<PAGE>


            Agreement  and the Stock Option  Agreement  will not,  constitute or
            result in (A) a breach or violation of, or a default under, Parent's
            certificate of incorporation  or bylaws or the comparable  governing
            instruments of any of Parent or its Significant  Subsidiaries or any
            Significant Investees or (B) subject to the approval of the issuance
            of  the  aggregate  Merger   Consideration  by  a  majority  of  the
            stockholders  of Parent  voting  thereon at the Parent  Stockholders
            Meeting (as defined in Section 6.4(b) (the "Parent Requisite Vote"),
            if  applicable,  a breach or violation  of, a default  under or give
            rise  to a right  of  termination  under,  the  acceleration  of any
            obligations or the creation of a lien, pledge,  security interest or
            other  encumbrance  on its  assets or the assets of any of Parent or
            its Significant  Investees (with or without notice, lapse of time or
            both)  pursuant to, any Contracts  binding upon Parent or any of its
            Significant Investees or any Law or governmental or non-governmental
            permit  or  license  to  which  Parent  or any  of  its  Significant
            Investees is subject or (C) any change in the rights or  obligations
            of any party under any Contracts to which Parent or its  Significant
            Investees  are a party,  except,  in the case of clauses  (B) or (C)
            above, for any breach, violation, default, acceleration, creation or
            change that,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  is not reasonably
            likely to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on Parent and that to the
            knowledge  of Parent's  executive  officers,  as of the date hereof,
            would not be  reasonably  likely  to  prevent,  materially  delay or
            materially  impair Parent's  ability to consummate the  transactions
            contemplated by this Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement.

      (e) Reports; Financial Statements.  Parent has made or will make available
      to the Company each  registration  statement,  report,  proxy statement or
      information   statement  prepared  by  Parent  since  December  31,  1996,
      including Parent's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended December
      31, 1996,  December 31, 1997 and December 31, 1998 and Parent's  Quarterly
      Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarters  ended  March 31,  1999 and June 30,
      1999 in the form (including exhibits,  annexes and any amendments thereto)
      filed  with  the SEC  (collectively,  including  any  such  reports  filed
      subsequent to the date of this Agreement, "Parent's Reports"). As of their
      respective  dates,  Parent's  Reports  complied as to form in all material
      respects with all applicable  requirements  under the Securities  Act, the
      Exchange Act and the rules and regulations  thereunder and 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  in which  they  were  made,  not
      misleading.  Each  of  the  consolidated  balance  sheets  included  in or
      incorporated  by reference  into Parent's  Reports  (including the related
      notes and schedules) fairly presents the consolidated  financial  position
      of Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of its date and each of the
      consolidated  statements  of income,  stockholders'  equity and cash flows
      included in or incorporated by reference into Parent's Reports  (including
      any related notes and schedules) fairly presents the consolidated  results
      of operations,  statement of  shareholders'  investment and cash flows, as
      the case may be,  of  Parent  and its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  for the
      periods set forth therein (subject,  in the case of unaudited  statements,
      to the absence of notes (to the extent  permitted by the rules  applicable
      to Form 10-Q) and to normal  year-end audit  adjustments  that will not be


                                       22
<PAGE>


      material  in  amount or  effect),  in each  case in  accordance  with GAAP
      consistently  applied during the periods involved,  except as may be noted
      therein.

      (f)  Absence of  Certain  Changes.  Except as  disclosed  in the  Parent's
      Reports  filed  prior  to the  date  of  this  Agreement  or as  expressly
      contemplated  by this  Agreement,  since December 31, 1998,  there has not
      been: (i) any change in the financial  condition,  liabilities  and assets
      (taken  together)  or  business  of  Parent  and its  Subsidiaries  which,
      individually or in the aggregate,  is reasonably likely to have a Material
      Adverse  Effect  on  Parent;  or (ii) any  declaration,  setting  aside or
      payment of any  dividend  or other  distribution  in  respect of  Parent's
      capital stock other than regular quarterly cash dividends  consistent with
      past  practice and other than any  dividend  that would be received by the
      holders of Company Common Stock on an equivalent basis per share of Parent
      Common Stock after the Effective Time.

      (g) Accounting and Tax Matters. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries
      or Pooling  Affiliates  (as defined in Section 6.7) has taken or agreed to
      take any  action,  nor do  Parent's  executive  officers  have any  actual
      knowledge  of any fact or  circumstance,  that would  prevent  Parent from
      accounting for the business  combination to be effected by the Merger as a
      "pooling-of-interests"  in  accordance  with the Pooling  Requirements  or
      prevent  the  Merger  from  qualifying  as a  "reorganization"  within the
      meaning  of  Section  368(a) of the Code.  Neither  Parent  nor any of its
      Subsidiaries  owns any shares of capital stock of the Company or any other
      securities  convertible  into or otherwise  exercisable to acquire capital
      stock of the Company other than any  securities  that may be held pursuant
      to any pension or benefit plan of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

      (h) Compliance  with Laws.  Except as set forth in Parent's  Reports filed
      prior to the date of this Agreement,  the businesses of each of Parent and
      its Subsidiaries have not been, and are not being,  conducted in violation
      of  any  Laws  except  for   violations  or  possible   violations   that,
      individually  or in the  aggregate,  are not  reasonably  likely to have a
      Material  Adverse  Effect on Parent and that to the  knowledge of Parent's
      executive officers,  as of the date hereof, would not prevent,  materially
      delay or materially impair Parent's ability to consummate the transactions
      contemplated by this Agreement and the Stock Option  Agreement.  Except as
      set forth in Parent's  Reports filed prior to the date of this  Agreement,
      to the actual knowledge of Parent's executive  officers,  no investigation
      or review by any Governmental  Entity with respect to Parent or any of its
      Subsidiaries  is pending or threatened,  nor has any  Governmental  Entity
      indicated an intention to conduct the same, which,  individually or in the
      aggregate,  are  reasonably  likely to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on
      Parent or that to the knowledge of Parent's executive officers,  as of the
      date hereof,  would be reasonably  likely to prevent,  materially delay or
      materially   impair  Parent's   ability  to  consummate  the  transactions
      contemplated  by this  Agreement  and the Stock Option  Agreement.  To the
      actual  knowledge of Parent's  executive  officers,  no material change is
      required in Parent's or any of its Subsidiaries' processes,  properties or
      procedures  in order to comply  with any such  Laws,  and  Parent  has not
      received  any  written  notice or written  communication  of any  material
      noncompliance with any such Laws that has not been cured as of the date of
      this Agreement, except for changes and noncompliance that, individually or


                                       23
<PAGE>


      in the  aggregate,  are not reasonably  likely to have a Material  Adverse
      Effect on Parent and that to the knowledge of Parent's executive officers,
      as of the date hereof,  would not prevent,  materially delay or materially
      impair  Parent's  ability to consummate the  transactions  contemplated by
      this  Agreement  and the Stock  Option  Agreement.  Each of Parent and its
      Subsidiaries  has all  Permits  necessary  to conduct  their  business  as
      presently conducted,  except for those the absence of which,  individually
      or in the aggregate,  are not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
      Effect on Parent and that to the knowledge of Parent's executive officers,
      as of the date hereof,  would not prevent,  materially delay or materially
      impair  Parent's  ability to consummate the  transactions  contemplated by
      this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement.

      (i) Litigation and  Liabilities.  Except as disclosed in Parent's  Reports
      filed  prior  to the  date  of this  Agreement,  there  are no (i)  civil,
      criminal   or   administrative   actions,    suits,   claims,    hearings,
      investigations  or  proceedings  pending  or, to the actual  knowledge  of
      Parent's  executive  officers,  threatened  against  Parent  or any of its
      Affiliates  or (ii)  obligations  or  liabilities  of Parent or any of its
      Subsidiaries,  whether or not accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether
      or not  required  to be  disclosed,  including  those  relating to matters
      involving  any  Environmental  Law, in either such case,  except for those
      that, individually or in the aggregate,  are not reasonably likely to have
      a Material  Adverse Effect on Parent and that to the knowledge of Parent's
      executive officers,  as of the date hereof, would not prevent,  materially
      delay or materially impair Parent's ability to consummate the transactions
      contemplated by this Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement.

      (j)  Environmental  Matters.  Except as disclosed or reflected in Parent's
      Reports  filed  prior to the date of this  Agreement  and  except for such
      matters that, alone or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have
      a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  Parent:  (i)  each  of  Parent  and  its
      Subsidiaries  has complied with all applicable  Environmental  Laws;  (ii)
      neither  Parent  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has  received  any  notice,
      demand,  letter,  claim or request for information alleging that Parent or
      any of its  Subsidiaries  may  be in  violation  of or  liable  under  any
      Environmental  Law;  (iii) neither Parent nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is
      subject to any orders, decrees, injunctions or other arrangements with any
      Governmental Entity or is subject to any indemnity or other agreement with
      any third  party  relating to  liability  under any  Environmental  Law or
      relating to Hazardous  Substances;  and (iv) there are no circumstances or
      conditions  involving  Parent  or  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  that  could
      reasonably be expected to result in any claims, liability, investigations,
      costs  or  restrictions  on the  ownership,  use,  or  transfer  of any of
      Parent's properties pursuant to any Environmental Law.

      (k) Taxes. Except to the extent of any inaccuracy or incompleteness of any
      of  the  following  which  is  not,  individually  or  in  the  aggregate,
      reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent,  (i) Parent
      and each of its  Subsidiaries  have prepared or will prepare in good faith
      and duly and timely  filed  (taking  into  account any  extension  of time
      within which to file), or will so file, all material Tax Returns  required
      to be filed by any of them at or before  the  Effective  Time and all such
      filed Tax Returns are or will be complete  and  accurate,  (ii) Parent and


                                       24
<PAGE>


      each of its  Subsidiaries  as of the Effective Time (x) will have paid all
      Taxes that they are required to pay prior to the Effective  Time,  and (y)
      will have withheld all federal,  state and local income taxes,  FICA, FUTA
      and other Taxes,  including,  without  limitation,  similar foreign Taxes,
      required to be withheld from amounts  owing to any  employee,  creditor or
      third party, (iii) as of the date of this Agreement, there are not pending
      or  threatened in writing,  any audits,  examinations,  investigations  or
      other proceedings in respect of Taxes or Tax matters,  (iv) there are not,
      to the actual  knowledge of Parent's  executive  officers,  any unresolved
      questions,   claims  or  outstanding  proposed  or  assessed  deficiencies
      concerning Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries' Tax liability,  (v) neither
      Parent  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has any  liability  with  respect to
      income,  franchise  or similar  Taxes in excess of the amounts  accrued in
      respect of such  Taxes  that are  reflected  in the  financial  statements
      included  in  Parent's  Reports  and (vi)  neither  Parent  nor any of its
      Subsidiaries  has executed any waiver of any statute of limitations on, or
      extended the period for the assessment or collection of, any Tax.


                                   ARTICLE VI.

                                    Covenants

      6.1. Interim Operations.  Except as set forth in the corresponding
sections or subsections of the Company Disclosure Letter and the Parent
Disclosure Letter, as appropriate:

      (a) The  Company  covenants  and agrees as to itself and its  Subsidiaries
      that,  after the date of this  Agreement and prior to the  Effective  Time
      (unless Parent shall otherwise  approve in writing and except as otherwise
      required  by  applicable  Law, in which case,  the Company  shall  provide
      Parent  with  prior  reasonable  notice  of such  requirement,  or  unless
      expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement):

            (i) Its business and that of its Subsidiaries shall be conducted
            only in the ordinary and usual course and, to the extent consistent
            therewith, it and its Subsidiaries shall use their commercially
            reasonable efforts to preserve their business organizations intact
            and maintain their existing relations and goodwill with customers,
            suppliers, regulators, distributors, creditors, lessors, employees
            and business associates; provided, however, that no action by the
            Company or its Subsidiaries with respect to matters specifically
            addressed by any other provision of this Section 6.1(a) shall be
            deemed a breach of this Section 6.1(a)(i) unless such action would
            constitute a breach of one or more such other provisions;

            (ii) It shall not: (A) amend its  certificate  of  incorporation  or
            bylaws; (B) split, combine,  subdivide or reclassify its outstanding
            shares of capital stock; (C) declare,  set aside or pay any dividend
            on the Common Shares or other  capital stock of the Company  payable
            in cash,  stock or  property  in respect of any such  capital  stock
            (other than regular quarterly  dividends on the Common Shares not to
            exceed $.11 per common share per quarter); or (D) repurchase, redeem
            or otherwise acquire, except in connection with existing commitments
            under  the  Company   Stock  Plans  but  subject  to  the  Company's


                                       25
<PAGE>


            obligations  under  subparagraph  (iii) below,  or permit any of its
            Subsidiaries  to purchase or  otherwise  acquire,  any shares of its
            capital stock or any securities  convertible into or exchangeable or
            exercisable for any shares of its capital stock;

            (iii) Neither it nor any of its  Subsidiaries  shall take any action
            that   would    prevent    the   Merger    from    qualifying    for
            "pooling-of-interests"  accounting  treatment in accordance with the
            Pooling Requirements or as a "reorganization"  within the meaning of
            Section 368(a) of the Code;

            (iv)  Neither  it  nor  any  of  its  ERISA  Affiliates  shall:  (A)
            accelerate,  amend or  change  the  period of  exercisability  of or
            terminate,  establish,  adopt,  enter  into,  make any new grants or
            awards  of  stock-based  compensation  or other  benefits  under any
            Compensation  and Benefit Plans;  (B) amend or otherwise  modify any
            Compensation  and Benefit Plans;  or (C) increase the salary,  wage,
            bonus or other compensation of any directors,  officers or employees
            except, in the case of (A), (B) and (C), (x) for grants or awards to
            employees  with  annual   salaries  below  $150,000  under  existing
            Compensation  and Benefit Plans in such amounts and on such terms as
            are  consistent  with past  practice,  (y) in the  normal  and usual
            course  of  its  business   (which  may  include   normal   periodic
            performance  reviews and related  compensation and benefit increases
            and the provision of  individual  Company  Compensation  and Benefit
            Plans  consistent  with past  practice  for  promoted or newly hired
            employees  below  the  level  of  Company  Vice  President  on terms
            consistent  with past  practice),  or (z) for actions  necessary  to
            satisfy  existing  contractual  obligations  under  Compensation and
            Benefit Plans existing as of the date of this  Agreement,  including
            pursuant  to rights  and  obligations  under such  Compensation  and
            Benefit Plans that vest or mature  automatically with the passage of
            time or the  satisfaction  of other  conditions;  provided,  that it
            shall not take such action unless it shall provide Parent with prior
            reasonable notice; or to comply with applicable law or regulations;

            (v) Except for  transactions  between the Company and one or more of
            its wholly-owned  Subsidiaries or between wholly-owned  Subsidiaries
            of the Company,  neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries shall incur,
            repay or retire prior to maturity or refinance any  indebtedness for
            borrowed money or guarantee any such  indebtedness  or issue,  sell,
            repurchase  or  redeem  prior to  maturity  any debt  securities  or
            warrants or rights to acquire any debt  securities  or guarantee any
            debt securities of others in all such cases in excess of $10,000,000
            in the  aggregate  or except  for the use of  foreign  bank lines of
            credit in the ordinary course;

            (vi)  Neither  it nor any of its  Subsidiaries  shall  (A)  make any
            capital  expenditures  prior to December  31,  1999 in an  aggregate
            amount in excess of $8,000,000, except as set forth in the Company's
            1999 capital  budget which has been made  available to Parent or (B)
            make any capital expenditures  subsequent to December 31, 1999 in an
            amount in excess of an average of $10,000,000 per month;



                                       26
<PAGE>


            (vii) Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries  shall issue,  deliver,
            sell, pledge or encumber shares of any class of its capital stock or
            any  securities   convertible  or  exchangeable  into,  any  rights,
            warrants or options to acquire, or any bonds,  debentures,  notes or
            other debt  obligations  having the right to vote or  convertible or
            exercisable for any such shares except for transactions  between the
            Company and one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, or between
            wholly-owned  Subsidiaries  of the  Company  and except for  Company
            Shares issued  pursuant to options and other awards  outstanding  on
            the  date of  this  Agreement  under  the  Company  Stock  Plans  or
            otherwise permitted by Section 6.1(a)(iv);

            (viii) Except as  permitted  by  Sections  6.2 and  8.3(b),
            neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries  shall authorize,  propose or
            announce  an  intention  to  authorize  or  propose or enter into an
            agreement  with  respect to, any merger,  consolidation  or business
            combination (other than the Merger),  or any purchase,  sale, lease,
            license or other  acquisition or disposition of any business or of a
            material amount of assets or securities excluding sales of inventory
            or products in the ordinary course of business;

            (ix)  It  shall  not  make  any  material  change  in its  financial
            accounting  policies or procedures,  other than any such change that
            is required  by GAAP,  or revalue  any  assets,  including,  without
            limitation,  writing down the value of material inventory or writing
            off notes or accounts  receivable in a material amount other than as
            required by GAAP;

            (x) Except in the  ordinary  and usual  course of  business or as is
            required by law, it shall not release,  assign, settle or compromise
            any material  claims or litigation or make any material tax election
            or settle or compromise any material United States  federal,  state,
            local or foreign tax liability; and

            (xi) Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries shall authorize or enter
            into any agreement to do any of the foregoing.

      (b) Parent  covenants and agrees as to itself and its  Subsidiaries  that,
      after the date of this  Agreement and prior to the Effective  Time (unless
      the Company  shall  otherwise  approve in writing and except as  otherwise
      required  by  applicable  Law,  in which case,  Parent  shall  provide the
      Company  with  prior  reasonable  notice  of such  requirement,  or unless
      expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement):

            (i) It shall not: (A) amend its certificate of incorporation or
            bylaws in any manner that would adversely affect the Merger or
            the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
            Stock Option Agreement; (B) split, combine, subdivide or
            reclassify its outstanding shares of capital stock; (C) declare,
            set aside or pay any dividend on the Parent Common Stock or other
            capital stock of Parent payable in cash, stock or property in
            respect of any such capital stock (other than regular quarterly
            dividends on the Parent Common Stock consistent with past
            practice and other than any dividend that would be received by
            the holders of Company Common Stock on an equivalent basis per


                                       27
<PAGE>


            share of Parent Common Stock after the Effective Time); or (D)
            repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, except in connection
            with existing commitments under Parent's employee benefit plans
            but subject to Parent's obligations under subparagraph (iii)
            below, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to purchase or otherwise
            acquire, any shares of its capital stock or any securities
            convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of
            its capital stock;

            (ii)  Neither it nor any of its  Subsidiaries  shall take any action
            that   would    prevent    the   Merger    from    qualifying    for
            "pooling-of-interests"  accounting  treatment in accordance with the
            Pooling Requirements or as a "reorganization"  within the meaning of
            Section 368(a) of the Code; and

            (iii)  Neither it nor any of its  Subsidiaries  shall  authorize  or
            enter into any agreement to do any of the foregoing.

      (c) Parent and the Company agree that any written approval  obtained under
      Section  6.1(a)  must be signed by the Chief  Executive  Officer or Senior
      Vice  President,  General  Counsel and Secretary of Parent and any written
      approval  obtained  under  Section  6.1(b)  must be  signed  by the  Chief
      Executive Officer or Senior Vice President,  General Counsel and Secretary
      of the Company.

      (d) Parent and the  Company  agree that prior to the  Closing,  the record
      date for  determining  shareholders  of the Company or Parent  entitled to
      receive the regular quarterly  dividends  permitted  hereunder that may be
      declared by the board of directors of either  Parent or the Company  after
      the date of this  Agreement but prior to the Closing shall be the close of
      business on the day on which Parent's then current fiscal quarter ends.



                                       28
<PAGE>


      6.2. Acquisition Proposals.

      (a) The Company agrees that it shall not nor shall it knowingly permit any
      of its  Subsidiaries  or any of the  officers  and  directors of it or its
      Subsidiaries  to,  and that it shall  direct and use its  reasonable  best
      efforts  to  cause  its  and  its  Subsidiaries'  employees,   agents  and
      representatives  (including any investment banker,  attorney or accountant
      retained by it or any of its Subsidiaries) (the Company,  its Subsidiaries
      and their officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives being
      referred  to  as  the  "Company  Representatives")  not  to,  directly  or
      indirectly,   initiate,  solicit,  or  knowingly  encourage  or  otherwise
      intentionally  facilitate  any  inquiries or the making of any proposal or
      offer  with  respect  to  a  merger,   reorganization,   share   exchange,
      consolidation,   business  combination,   recapitalization,   liquidation,
      dissolution or similar transaction  involving the Company, or any purchase
      or sale of the consolidated  assets (including without limitation stock of
      Subsidiaries) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
      having an  aggregate  value equal to 15% or more of the  Company's  market
      capitalization,  or any  purchase or sale of, or tender or exchange  offer
      for,  15% or more of its equity  securities  (any such  proposal  or offer
      being hereinafter referred to as an "Acquisition  Proposal").  The Company
      further agrees that it shall not nor shall it knowingly  permit any of its
      Subsidiaries   or  any  of  the  officers  and  directors  of  it  or  its
      Subsidiaries  to,  and that it shall  direct and use its  reasonable  best
      efforts  to  cause  the  Company   Representatives  not  to,  directly  or
      indirectly,   have  any  discussion  in  furtherance  of  or  provide  any
      confidential  information or data to any Person relating to an Acquisition
      Proposal or engage in any negotiations concerning an Acquisition Proposal,
      or  otherwise  intentionally  facilitate  any effort or attempt to make or
      implement  an  Acquisition  Proposal;   provided,  however,  that  nothing
      contained in this Agreement  shall prevent either the Company or its Board
      of Directors  from: (A) complying  with Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2  promulgated
      under the Exchange Act with regard to an Acquisition Proposal;  (B) if the
      Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company  determines  in  good  faith  after
      consultation  with  outside  counsel,  that  in  order  for the  Board  of
      Directors  of  the  Company  to  comply  with  its  fiduciary   duties  to
      stockholders under applicable law it should take such action,  engaging in
      any discussions or negotiations  with or providing any information or data
      to  any  Person  (including  its   Representatives)   in  response  to  an
      unsolicited  written  Acquisition  Proposal by any such Person;  provided,
      that  prior  to  providing  any  information  or  data  to any  Person  in
      connection with an Acquisition  Proposal by any such Person,  the Board of
      Directors  of the  Company  shall  receive  from such  Person an  executed
      confidentiality   agreement  on  terms  substantially   similar  to  those
      contained in the confidentiality agreement previously entered into between
      Parent and the  Company in  connection  with  their  consideration  of the
      Merger;  provided  further,  that  such  confidentiality  agreement  shall
      contain terms that allow the Company to comply with its obligations  under
      this  Section  6.2  or  (C)  recommending  such  an  unsolicited   written
      Acquisition  Proposal to the  stockholders  of the Company if, and only to
      the extent that,  with  respect to the actions  referred to in clause (C),
      (i) the Board of Directors  of the Company  concludes in good faith (after
      consultation  with its outside legal  counsel and its  financial  advisor)


                                       29
<PAGE>


      that such Acquisition  Proposal is reasonably  capable of being completed,
      and would, if consummated,  result in a transaction  more favorable to the
      Company's  stockholders than the Merger (a "Superior Proposal"),  and (ii)
      the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  determines  in good faith  after
      consultation  with  outside  legal  counsel  that the failure to take such
      action would be reasonably  likely to be  inconsistent  with its fiduciary
      duty to the Company's stockholders under applicable Law.

      (b)  Except as  disclosed  in  Section  6.1(a) of the  Company  Disclosure
      Letter,  the Company agrees that it will immediately cease and cause to be
      terminated any existing  activities,  discussions or negotiations with any
      parties conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition Proposal. The
      Company  agrees  that it will  promptly  inform  its  executive  officers,
      directors,  attorneys and financial advisors of the obligations undertaken
      in Section  6.2(a).  The Company agrees that it will notify Parent as soon
      as reasonably practicable, if any such proposals or offers are received by
      it, any such  information is requested from it or any such  discussions or
      negotiations are sought to be initiated with it, indicating, in connection
      with such notice,  the name of such Person making such inquiry,  proposal,
      offer or request and a description of the substance of any such inquiries,
      proposals,  offers or requests.  The Company  thereafter shall keep Parent
      informed as soon as reasonably practicable, of the status and terms of any
      such inquiries, proposals or offers.

      6.3.  Information  Supplied.  The Company and Parent each  agrees,  as to
itself and its  Subsidiaries,  that none of the  information  supplied  or to be
supplied by it or its  Subsidiaries  for inclusion or incorporation by reference
in (i) the Registration Statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the SEC by Parent
in  connection  with the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock in the Merger
(including the joint proxy statement of Parent and the Company and prospectus of
Parent (the "Prospectus/Proxy Statement") constituting a part thereof) (the "S-4
Registration  Statement")  will,  at the  time  the S-4  Registration  Statement
becomes  effective  under  the  Securities  Act,  and (ii) the  Prospectus/Proxy
Statement and any  amendment or supplement  thereto will, at the date of mailing
to  stockholders  and at the time of the meetings of stockholders of the Company
and Parent to be held in connection with the Merger,  in any such case,  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.  If at any time prior to the Effective Time any information relating
to Parent or the Company,  or any of their  respective  Affiliates,  officers or
directors,  is  discovered by Parent or the Company which should be set forth in
an  amendment  or  supplement  to any of the S-4  Registration  Statement or the
Prospectus/Proxy  Statement, so that any of such documents would not include any
misstatement  of a  material  fact or would  omit to  state  any  material  fact
required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements  therein,  in
the light of the circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading,  the
party which discovers such  information  shall promptly notify the other parties
to this Agreement and an  appropriate  amendment or supplement  describing  such
information  shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by
law, disseminated to the stockholders of the Company and Parent.



                                       30
<PAGE>


      6.4. Stockholders Meetings.

       (a) The Company will take,  in  accordance  with  applicable  Law and its
      certificate of incorporation and bylaws, all action necessary to convene a
      meeting of holders of Company Shares (the "Company Stockholders  Meeting")
      as promptly as reasonably practicable after the S-4 Registration Statement
      is  declared  effective  to  consider  and vote upon the  adoption of this
      Agreement.  The Company's  Board of Directors shall (i) recommend that the
      stockholders  of the Company adopt this Agreement and thereby  approve the
      transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) solicit such adoption
      (including  soliciting  proxies);  provided,  however,  that the Company's
      Board of Directors may, at any time prior to the Effective Time, withdraw,
      modify or change any such  recommendation to the extent that the Company's
      Board of  Directors  determines  in good faith,  after  consultation  with
      outside  legal  counsel,  that the  failure to take such  action  would be
      reasonably  likely to be  inconsistent  with its  fiduciary  duties to the
      Company's stockholders under applicable Law.

      (b)  Parent  will  take,  in  accordance   with  applicable  Law  and  its
      certificate of incorporation and bylaws, all action necessary to convene a
      meeting  of  its  stockholders  (the  "Parent  Stockholders  Meeting")  as
      promptly as reasonably practicable after the S-4 Registration Statement is
      declared effective to consider and vote upon the issuance of the aggregate
      Merger Consideration pursuant to this Agreement. The Board of Directors of
      Parent shall: (i) recommend that the stockholders  approve the issuance of
      the Merger Consideration pursuant to this Agreement; and (ii) solicit such
      approval (including soliciting proxies). Notwithstanding the foregoing, at
      any time  following  determination  of the Exchange Ratio but prior to the
      Parent Stockholders Meeting,  Parent may cancel and not convene the Parent
      Stockholders  Meeting if the rules and listing policies of the NYSE do not
      require the  stockholders  of Parent to approve the issuance of the Merger
      Consideration in the Merger.

      6.5. Filings; Other Actions; Notification.

      (a) Parent and the Company  shall  promptly  prepare and file with the SEC
      the Prospectus/Proxy Statement, and Parent shall prepare and file with the
      SEC the S-4 Registration Statement as promptly as practicable.  Parent and
      the Company  each shall use its  reasonable  best  efforts to have the S-4
      Registration  Statement  declared  effective  under the  Securities Act as
      promptly as practicable  after such filing,  and promptly  thereafter mail
      the  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement to the stockholders of the Company and to
      the  stockholders  of Parent.  Parent shall also use its  reasonable  best
      efforts  to obtain  prior to the  effective  date of the S-4  Registration
      Statement all  necessary  state  securities  law or "blue sky" permits and
      approvals   required  in   connection   with  the  Merger  and  the  other
      transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  and will pay all  expenses
      incident thereto.

      (b) The Company and Parent each shall use its respective  reasonable  best
      efforts  to cause to be  delivered  to the other  party and its  directors
      letters of its independent  auditors,  dated (i) the date on which the S-4
      Registration  Statement shall become  effective and (ii) the Closing Date,
      and addressed to the other party and its directors,  in form customary for
      "comfort"   letters  delivered  by  independent   public   accountants  in


                                       31
<PAGE>


      connection with  registration  statements  similar to the S-4 Registration
      Statement.

      (c) The Company and Parent shall cooperate with each other and, subject to
      Sections   6.5(d)  and  (e),   use  (and  shall  cause  their   respective
      Subsidiaries to use) their respective  reasonable best efforts (i) to take
      or cause to be taken all  actions,  and do or cause to be done all things,
      necessary,  proper or advisable on their part under this Agreement and the
      Stock  Option  Agreement  and  applicable  Laws  to  consummate  and  make
      effective  the  Merger  and the other  transactions  contemplated  by this
      Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement as soon as practicable, including
      (A) obtaining comfort letters and opinions of their respective accountants
      and  attorneys  referred  to in  Section  6.5(b) and  Article  VII of this
      Agreement,  (B)  preparing  and  filing as  promptly  as  practicable  all
      documentation,  including  all  additional  information  requested  by any
      Governmental  Entity,  to  effect  all  necessary  applications,  notices,
      petitions,  filings and other documents  (including  under the HSR Act (as
      defined below) and other  Competition  Laws (as defined  below)),  and (C)
      instituting  court actions and other  proceedings  necessary to obtain the
      approval or clearance  required to, or have lifted any injunction or order
      which would not permit the parties hereto to, consummate the Merger or the
      other  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement and the Stock Option
      Agreement or defending or otherwise  opposing all court  actions and other
      proceedings  instituted by a Governmental Entity or other Person under the
      Competition  Laws or otherwise for purposes of preventing the consummation
      of the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement
      and  the  Stock  Option  Agreement  and  (ii) to  obtain  as  promptly  as
      practicable all consents,  clearances,  registrations,  approvals, permits
      and  authorizations  and to achieve the  termination  or expiration of all
      applicable  waiting periods necessary or advisable to be obtained from any
      Governmental  Entity  in order to  consummate  the  Merger  and the  other
      transactions   contemplated   by  this  Agreement  and  the  Stock  Option
      Agreement. Subject to applicable Laws and existing obligations relating to
      the exchange of  information,  Parent and the Company shall have the right
      to review in advance,  and to the extent practicable each will consult the
      other on, all the  information  relating to Parent or the Company,  as the
      case may be, and any of their respective Subsidiaries,  that appear in any
      filing  made with,  or written  materials  submitted  to, any third  party
      and/or any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger and the other
      transactions   contemplated   by  this  Agreement  and  the  Stock  Option
      Agreement.  In  exercising  the foregoing  right,  each of the Company and
      Parent shall act reasonably and as promptly as  practicable,  including by
      (i)  permitting  the other  party to review and  discuss in  advance,  and
      considering in good faith the views of one another in connection with, any
      proposed written (or any material  proposed oral)  communication  with any
      Governmental  Entity,  (ii)  not  participating  in any  meeting  with any
      Governmental Entity unless it consults with the other party in advance and
      to the extent permitted by such Governmental  Entity gives the other party
      the opportunity to attend and participate  thereat,  and (iii)  furnishing
      the other party with such necessary  information and reasonable assistance
      as such  other  party  may  reasonably  request  in  connection  with  its
      preparation  of necessary  filings or  submissions  of  information to any
      Governmental Entity;  provided,  however,  that subject to its obligations
      hereunder  Parent  shall  have the right to  direct  the  strategy  of the
      parties in a manner  consistent  with the terms of this  Agreement  in any
      communications,  meetings or proceedings with any  Governmental  Entity in
      connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this


                                       32
<PAGE>


      Agreement and the Stock Option  Agreement.  The Company and Parent may, as
      each deems advisable and necessary, reasonably designate any competitively
      sensitive  material  provided to the other under this  Section as "outside
      counsel only." Such materials and the information  contained therein shall
      be given only to the outside  legal  counsel to the recipient and will not
      be disclosed by such outside counsel to employees,  officers, or directors
      of the recipient unless express permission is obtained in advance from the
      source of the materials (the Company or Parent, as the case may be) or its
      legal counsel.

      (d)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in this Agreement,  (i) the
      Company shall not, without  Parent's prior written consent,  commit to any
      divestitures,  licenses,  hold separate  arrangements or similar  matters,
      including  covenants  affecting business operating practices (or allow its
      Subsidiaries  to  commit  to any  divestitures,  licenses,  hold  separate
      arrangements  or similar  matters),  and the Company  shall commit to, and
      shall  use  reasonable  best  efforts  to  effect  (and  shall  cause  its
      Subsidiaries to commit to and use reasonable best efforts to effect),  any
      such divestitures, licenses, hold separate arrangements or similar matters
      as Parent shall request, but solely if such divestitures,  licenses,  hold
      separate arrangements or similar matters are contingent on consummation of
      the Merger and (ii) neither  Parent nor any of its  Subsidiaries  shall be
      required  (pursuant to Section 6.5(c) or otherwise) to agree (with respect
      to (x) Parent or its Subsidiaries or (y) the Company or its  Subsidiaries)
      to any  divestitures,  licenses,  hold  separate  arrangements  or similar
      matters,  including covenants affecting business operating  practices,  if
      such divestitures, licenses, arrangements or similar matters, individually
      or in the  aggregate,  would  reasonably  be  expected  to have a Material
      Adverse Effect on Parent or the Company.

      (e) Except as  provided  below,  nothing in this  Section 6.5 or any other
      part of this Agreement  shall require Parent to refrain from entering into
      any  agreement  with respect to, or issuing  Parent  Common Stock or other
      consideration  in  connection  with, a business  combination  with,  or an
      acquisition  of, a third party after the date of this  Agreement and prior
      to the Effective Time (a  "Subsequent  Transaction");  provided,  however,
      that (i) the aggregate fair market value of the  consideration  paid or to
      be paid by Parent in all such  Subsequent  Transactions  shall not  exceed
      $1.5 billion and the fair market value of the consideration  paid or to be
      paid by Parent in any individual  Subsequent  Transaction shall not exceed
      $750 million (provided that these amounts may be exceeded with the consent
      of the Company's Chief Executive Officer) and (ii) Parent has a good faith
      belief at the time it enters into the definitive agreement calling for any
      such  Subsequent  Transaction  that  such  Subsequent  Transaction  is not
      reasonably  likely  to  prevent  or  delay  satisfaction  of  any  of  the
      conditions  set  forth  in  Article  VII.  In the  event  of a  Subsequent
      Transaction  which  would be  permissible  under the  preceding  sentence,
      Parent  shall  agree  to  any   divestitures,   licenses,   hold  separate
      arrangements or similar matters  (including  covenants  affecting business
      operating  practices)  necessary  in  order  to  obtain  approval  of  the
      transactions  contemplated by this Agreement under applicable  Competition
      Laws that would not  otherwise  have been required in order to obtain such
      approval but for the Subsequent Transaction.



                                       33
<PAGE>


      (f) The  Company  and Parent  each  shall,  upon  request by the other and
      subject  to  applicable  laws and  existing  obligations  relating  to the
      exchange of information, furnish the other with all information concerning
      itself,  its Subsidiaries,  directors,  officers and stockholders and such
      other  matters as may be  reasonably  necessary or advisable in connection
      with the Prospectus/Proxy Statement, the S-4 Registration Statement or any
      other  statement,  filing,  notice or application  made by or on behalf of
      Parent,  the Company or any of their respective  Subsidiaries to any third
      party and/or any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger and the
      transactions   contemplated   by  this  Agreement  and  the  Stock  Option
      Agreement.

      (g) The  Company  and Parent  each shall  keep the other  apprised  of the
      status of matters relating to completion of the transactions  contemplated
      by this  Agreement  and the Stock  Option  Agreement,  including  promptly
      furnishing  the  other  with  copies  of  notice  or other  communications
      received  by  Parent  or the  Company,  as the case may be,  or any of its
      Subsidiaries,  from any Governmental Entity with respect to the Merger and
      the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Stock Option
      Agreement.

      6.6. Access; Consultation.

      (a) Upon reasonable  notice, and except as may be prohibited by applicable
      Law, each of the Company and Parent shall (and shall cause its  respective
      Subsidiaries to) afford to the other employees, agents and representatives
      (including any investment banker,  attorney or accountant  retained by the
      other  or  any of  its  Subsidiaries)  reasonable  access,  during  normal
      business hours  throughout the period prior to the Effective  Time, to its
      properties, books, contracts and records and, during such period, it shall
      (and shall cause its  Subsidiaries  to) furnish  promptly to the other all
      information  concerning  its  business,  properties  and  personnel as may
      reasonably be requested;  provided that no investigation  pursuant to this
      Section 6.6(a) shall affect or be deemed to modify any  representation  or
      warranty made by the Company or Parent under this Agreement; and provided,
      further,  that the  foregoing  shall not require the Company to permit any
      inspection,  or to  disclose  any  information,  that  in  the  reasonable
      judgment of such party would result in the disclosure of any trade secrets
      of third  parties or the waiver of any  privilege  or violate  any of such
      party's  obligations with respect to  confidentiality  if such party shall
      have used all reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of such third party
      to such  inspection  or  disclosure  or to preserve  such  privilege.  All
      requests for  information  made  pursuant to this Section  6.6(a) shall be
      directed to an executive  officer of the Company or Parent, or such Person
      as may be designated by any such executive officer, as the case may be.

      (b) Subject to applicable  Laws  relating to the exchange of  information,
      from the date of this Agreement to the Effective  Time, the Company agrees
      to consult with Parent on a regular  basis on a schedule to be agreed with
      regard to the Company's operations.

      (c) Prior to the  Closing,  the Company will provide to Parent a worldwide
      list of all patents,  trade names,  registered  trademarks  and registered
      service  marks,  and  applications  for  any of the  foregoing,  owned  or
      possessed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.



                                       34
<PAGE>


      6.7. Affiliates.

      (a) Each of the  Company  and Parent  shall  deliver to the other a letter
      identifying all Persons whom such party believes to be, at the date of the
      Company  Stockholders  Meeting,  affiliates  of such party for purposes of
      applicable  interpretations  regarding  use  of  the  pooling-of-interests
      accounting method ("Pooling  Affiliates") and, in the case of the Company,
      affiliates  of the Company for  purposes of Rule 145 under the  Securities
      Act ("Rule 145 Affiliates").  Each of the Company and Parent shall use all
      reasonable  efforts to cause each  Person who is  identified  as a Pooling
      Affiliate or Rule 145 Affiliate in the letter referred to above to deliver
      to Parent on or prior to the date of the  Company  Stockholders  Meeting a
      written  agreement,  in the form  attached  as Exhibit B, in the case of a
      Pooling  Affiliate  or Rule 145  Affiliate  of the Company  (the  "Company
      Affiliate's Letter"), and Exhibit C (or Exhibit C-1 as applicable), in the
      case of a Pooling Affiliate of Parent (the "Parent  Affiliate's  Letter").
      Prior to the Effective  Time, each of the Company and Parent shall use all
      reasonable  efforts to cause each  additional  Person who is identified by
      such  party  as its  Pooling  Affiliate  or by the  Company  as a Rule 145
      Affiliate  after the date of the Company  Stockholders  Meeting to execute
      the applicable written agreement as set forth in this Section 6.7, as soon
      as practicable after such Person is identified.

      (b) Shares of Parent  Common  Stock  issued to Pooling  Affiliates  of the
      Company in exchange  for Company  Shares shall not be  transferable  until
      such  time as  financial  results  covering  at least 30 days of  combined
      operations of Parent and the Company shall have been published  within the
      meaning of Section 201.01 of the SEC's Codification of Financial Reporting
      Policies,  regardless of whether each such Pooling  Affiliate has provided
      the written  agreement  referred to in this Section,  except to the extent
      permitted by, and in accordance  with, SEC  Accounting  Series Release 135
      and SEC  Staff  Accounting  Bulletins  65 and 76.  The  Company  shall not
      register the transfer of any  Certificate  unless such transfer is made in
      compliance with the foregoing.

      6.8. Stock Exchange  Listing.  To the extent they are not already listed,
Parent  shall use its  reasonable  best  efforts  to cause the  shares of Parent
Common  Stock to be issued in the Merger to be approved  for listing on the NYSE
and on all other stock exchanges on which shares of Parent Common Stock are then
listed, subject to official notice of issuance, prior to the Closing Date.

      6.9.  Publicity.  The initial  press  release  with respect to the Merger
shall  be a joint  press  release.  Thereafter,  unless  otherwise  required  by
applicable  law  or  pursuant  to any  listing  agreement  with  or  rules  of a
securities exchange,  the Company and Parent shall consult with each other prior
to issuing any press  releases or otherwise  making  public  announcements  with
respect to the Merger and the other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement
and prior to making any  filings  with any third party  and/or any  Governmental
Entity (including any securities exchange) with respect thereto.



                                       35
<PAGE>


      6.10.      Benefits.

      (a)   Stock Options.

            (i) At the  Effective  Time,  each  outstanding  option to  purchase
            Company  Shares (a "Company  Option") under the Company Stock Plans,
            whether  vested  or  unvested,  shall be  converted  to an option to
            acquire  the same  number of shares  of Parent  Common  Stock as the
            holder of such Company  Option  would have been  entitled to receive
            pursuant to the Merger had such holder exercised such Company Option
            in full immediately prior to the Effective Time (rounded down to the
            nearest whole number) (a "Substitute  Option"), at an exercise price
            per share  (rounded  to the  nearest  whole  cent)  equal to (y) the
            aggregate   exercise   price  for  the  Company   Shares   otherwise
            purchasable  pursuant  to such  Company  Option  divided  by (z) the
            number of full  shares of Parent  Common  Stock  deemed  purchasable
            pursuant to such Company Option in accordance with the foregoing. To
            illustrate the foregoing,  a Company Option outstanding  immediately
            prior to the  Effective  Time that  entitles  the holder to purchase
            1,000  Company  Shares for an  aggregate  exercise  price of $25,000
            would be converted at the Effective Time into a Substitute Option to
            purchase  [1,000 * Exchange Ratio] shares of Parent Common Stock for
            an exercise per share of Parent  Common Stock of $[25,000 ) (1,000 *
            Exchange Ratio)].

            (ii) As  promptly  as  practicable  after the  Effective  Time,  the
            Company shall deliver to the participants in the Company Stock Plans
            appropriate notices setting forth such participants' rights pursuant
            to the Substitute Options.

      (b) Conversion and  Registration.  At or prior to the Effective  Time, the
      Company shall make all necessary  arrangements with respect to the Company
      Stock Plans to permit the conversion of the  unexercised  Company  Options
      into  Substitute  Options  pursuant to this Section and register under the
      Securities  Act on Form S-8 or other  appropriate  form  (and use its best
      efforts to maintain the  effectiveness  thereof)  shares of Parent  Common
      Stock issuable  pursuant to all Substitute  Options with respect to Parent
      Common Stock not later than three business days after the Effective Time.

      (c) Prior to the Effective  Time, the Board of Directors of Parent,  or an
      appropriate  committee of non-employee  directors  thereof,  shall adopt a
      resolution  consistent with the  interpretive  guidance of the SEC so that
      the acquisition by any officer or director of the Company who may become a
      covered  person of Parent for  purposes of Section 16 of the  Exchange Act
      and the  rules  and  regulations  thereunder  ("Section  16") of shares of
      Parent Common Stock or options to acquire  Parent Common Stock pursuant to
      this Agreement and the Merger shall be an exempt  transaction for purposes
      of Section 16.

      (d) From and after the Effective Time, Parent in its sole discretion shall
      either  itself assume or cause one of its  Affiliates to assume,  or shall
      cause the Company to continue to maintain,  the  Compensation  and Benefit
      Plans in effect  immediately  before the  Effective  Time;  provided  that
      nothing  shall  prevent  Parent or its  Affiliates  or the  Company or its
      Affiliates from amending or terminating  any  Compensation or Benefit Plan
      to the extent permitted by its terms or applicable law.



                                       36
<PAGE>


      (e) For purposes of determining the eligibility of any individual employed
      by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries immediately before the Effective
      Time (a "Company Employee") to participate in and have vested rights under
      the employee benefit plans of Parent and its Affiliates providing benefits
      to Company Employees after the Effective Time, each Company Employee shall
      be  credited  with his or her years of service  with the  Company  and its
      Affiliates  before the Effective  Time, to the same extent as such Company
      Employee was entitled,  before the Effective  Time, to credit for any such
      service under similar  Compensation and Benefit Plans.  "Eligibility"  for
      purposes of this  paragraph (e) shall mean (i)  eligibility to participate
      in any such employee  benefit plan, (ii)  eligibility for  post-retirement
      health and life benefits (to the extent such benefits are  conditioned  on
      the  satisfaction  of specified  age and service  requirements)  and (iii)
      eligibility for early  retirement  under any employee pension benefit plan
      of Parent and its  Affiliates  (to the extent  that  early  retirement  is
      conditioned   on  the   satisfaction   of   specified   age  and   service
      requirements).  Years of service with the Company and its Affiliates prior
      to the Effective Time shall also be  recognized:  (i) under any severance,
      separation pay or vacation pay plan or policy of Parent and its Affiliates
      extended to Company  Employees  after the  Effective  Time for purposes of
      determining the amount of a Company  Employee's benefit under such plan or
      policy; (ii) under any savings,  401(k) or other defined contribution plan
      in which any Company  Employee  participates  after the Effective Time for
      purposes  of  determining  the amount of  employer  contributions  to such
      Company  Employee's  account thereunder (to the extent service is relevant
      for that purpose);  and (iii) under any plan providing welfare benefits in
      which any  Company  Employee  participates  after the  Effective  Time for
      purposes of determining  the level of benefits and the amounts the Company
      Employee  is  required  to pay with  respect  thereto  (including  without
      limitation premiums, co-payments, deductibles and the like), to the extent
      service is relevant for those  purposes,  but only with respect to Company
      Employees who are eligible for that  category of welfare  benefit (such as
      post-retirement  health care) under a Compensation and Benefit Plan on the
      date of this  Agreement,  or who would be so  eligible if they had met the
      requisite age and service  requirements for  eligibility.  For purposes of
      determining a Company  Employee's  benefits  under a pension  benefit plan
      which is merged with or has its assets and  liabilities  transferred to an
      employee  benefit  plan of Parent or its  Affiliates  after the  Effective
      Time,  such  benefit  shall  not be less  than the  benefit  to which  any
      affected  Company  Employee  would be entitled  had the  Company  employee
      benefit  plan been frozen at the time of such  merger or transfer  and the
      Parent or Affiliate employee benefit plan began accruing benefits from and
      after the date of such  merger  or  transfer.  In  addition,  and  without
      limiting  the  generality  of the  foregoing,  to the extent  permitted by
      applicable law, if a Company Employee participates, immediately before the
      Effective  Time,  in a pension  benefit  plan  under  which  such  Company
      Employee  accrues a benefit  based upon final  average  pay (as opposed to
      career average pay), and such Company  pension benefit plan is merged into
      a pension  benefit plan of Parent or one of its Affiliates  that continues
      to provide a benefit based upon final average pay, such Company Employee's
      pay increases from the Company and its Affiliates after the Effective Time
      shall be applied to his or her  pre-Effective  Time  service  and  benefit
      formula,  except  to  the  extent  such  application  would  result  in  a
      duplication of benefits,  so that such Company Employee's combined pension


                                       37
<PAGE>


      benefit  under the merged plan will  reflect his or her final  average pay
      following  the  Effective  Time as applied to all years of  service,  both
      before and after the Effective Time,  under whichever  formula is relevant
      to the different periods of service. Furthermore, and without limiting the
      generality of the  foregoing,  for purposes of each employee  benefit plan
      sponsored  by the Parent and its  Affiliates  which  provides for medical,
      dental,  pharmaceutical  and/or vision  benefits to any Company  Employee,
      Parent   shall   cause   all   pre-existing   condition   exclusions   and
      actively-at-work  requirements  of such new  employee  benefit  plan to be
      waived for such Employee and his or her covered dependents and to have any
      eligible  expenses  incurred  by  such  Employee  and  his or her  covered
      dependents  during the  portion of the plan year of a prior plan ending on
      the date such employee's participation in a replacement plan, begins to be
      taken into account under such  replacement plan for purposes of satisfying
      all  deductible,   coinsurance  and  maximum  out-of-pocket   requirements
      applicable  to such  employee  and his or her covered  dependents  for the
      applicable  plan year as if such amounts had been paid in accordance  with
      such replacement plan. No provision in the foregoing shall be construed as
      requiring  Parent or any of its Affiliates to extend  participation in any
      employee  benefit plan sponsored by Parent or any of its Affiliates to any
      Company Employee. In addition,  the foregoing provisions of this paragraph
      (e) shall not apply to any  benefits  that are the  subject of  collective
      bargaining,  and nothing in this paragraph (e) shall limit or restrict the
      right of  Parent or any of its  Affiliates  to amend or  terminate  any of
      their employee benefit plans at any time.

      6.11.  Expenses.  Whether or not the Merger is  consummated,  all
costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party
incurring  such expense,  except that expenses  incurred in connection  with the
filing  fee  for  the S-4  Registration  Statement,  printing  and  mailing  the
Prospectus/Proxy  Statement,  the S-4 Registration Statement and the filing fees
under the HSR Act and any other Competition Law filings shall be paid by Parent.

      6.12.      Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance.

      (a) From and after the Effective Time, (i) Parent will, and will cause the
      Surviving  Corporation  to,  indemnify  and hold harmless each present and
      former  director  or officer of the Company and (ii) Parent will cause the
      Surviving  Corporation  to  indemnify  and hold  harmless  each present or
      former  director or officer of any  subsidiary  or division of the Company
      and each  person who served at the  request of the  Company as a director,
      officer, trustee or fiduciary of another corporation,  partnership,  joint
      venture, trust, pension, or other employee benefit plan or enterprise (the
      Persons  indemnified under (i) and (ii) being the "Indemnified  Parties"),
      in the case of (i) and  (ii),  against  any costs or  expenses  (including
      reasonable attorneys' fees), judgments,  fines, losses, claims, damages or
      liabilities  and  amounts  paid  in  settlement  (provided  that  no  such
      settlement is entered into without the approval of Parent or the Surviving
      Corporation,   which   approval  shall  not  be   unreasonably   withheld)
      (collectively,  "Costs")  incurred in connection  with any claim,  action,
      suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative
      or  investigative,  arising out of or  pertaining  to matters  existing or
      occurring at or prior to the Effective  Time  relating to the  Indemnified
      Party's service with or at the request of the Company, whether asserted or


                                       38
<PAGE>


      claimed  prior to, at or after the Effective  Time, to the fullest  extent
      permitted  under Law (in the case of (i)) and to the  fullest  extent  the
      Company would have been  permitted to so indemnify  under Delaware law (in
      the case of (ii)). In the case of (i),  Parent shall,  and shall cause the
      Surviving Corporation to, advance expenses to the fullest extent permitted
      under applicable Law, provided that, if required under applicable Law, the
      Person to whom expenses are advanced shall provide an undertaking to repay
      such  advances  if it is  ultimately  determined  that such  Person is not
      entitled to  indemnification.  In the case of (ii), Parent shall cause the
      Surviving  Corporation  to advance  expenses  as  incurred  to the fullest
      extent  permitted  under  Delaware  law,  provided that the Person to whom
      expenses are advanced  shall provide an undertaking to repay such advances
      if it is  ultimately  determined  that  such  Person  is not  entitled  to
      indemnification. The indemnification rights hereunder shall be in addition
      to any other rights such Indemnified  Party may have under the Certificate
      of  Incorporation  and Bylaws of the Surviving  Corporation  or any of its
      Subsidiaries,   under  the  DGCL  or   otherwise.   The   Certificate   of
      Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving  Corporation shall contain,  and
      Parent  shall  cause the  Surviving  Corporation  to  fulfill  and  honor,
      provisions with respect to  indemnification  and  exculpation  that are at
      least as  favorable to the  Indemnified  Parties as those set forth in the
      certificate of  incorporation  and bylaws of the Company as of 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 any of the
      Indemnified  Parties.  The parties agree that the  provisions  relating to
      exoneration  of directors and officers and the rights to  indemnification,
      including  provisions relating to advances of expenses incurred in defense
      of any action or suit, in the certificate of  incorporation  and bylaws of
      Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to matters occurring through the
      Effective Time,  shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force
      and effect for a period of six years from the  Effective  Time;  provided,
      however,  that all  rights to  indemnification  in  respect  of any action
      pending or asserted or claim made within such period shall  continue until
      the disposition of such action or resolution of such claim.

      (b) Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under paragraph
      (a) of this Section 6.12 shall  promptly  notify  Parent and the Surviving
      Corporation,  upon learning of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or
      investigation,  but the failure to so notify shall not relieve  Parent and
      the  Surviving  Corporation  of  any  liability  they  may  have  to  such
      Indemnified Party if such failure does not materially prejudice Parent and
      the Surviving  Corporation.  In the event of any such claim, action, suit,
      proceeding or investigation (whether arising before or after the Effective
      Time),  (i) Parent or the  Surviving  Corporation  shall have the right to
      assume the  defense  thereof  (unless the  Indemnified  Parties (or any of
      them) determine in good faith (after consultation with legal counsel) that
      there are issues which raise conflicts of interest  between an Indemnified
      Party,  on the one hand,  and Parent and the Surviving  Corporation on the
      other hand), and Parent and the Surviving  Corporation shall not be liable
      to such Indemnified Parties for any legal expenses of other counsel or any
      other  expenses  subsequently  incurred  by such  Indemnified  Parties  in
      connection  with  the  defense  thereof  (except  that if  Parent  and the
      Surviving  Corporation  elect not to assume  such  defense or if there are


                                       39
<PAGE>


      issues which raise conflicts of interest  between Parent and the Surviving
      Corporation,  on the one hand, and one or more of the Indemnified Parties,
      on the other, the Indemnified  Parties may retain counsel  satisfactory to
      them,  and Parent and the Surviving  Corporation  shall pay all reasonable
      fees and expenses of such counsel for the Indemnified  Parties promptly as
      statements therefor are received);  provided, however, that Parent and the
      Surviving Corporation shall be obligated pursuant to this paragraph (b) to
      pay for only one firm of counsel (in  addition to local  counsel)  for all
      Indemnified  Parties in any jurisdiction  (unless there is such a conflict
      of interest),  (ii) the Indemnified  Parties will cooperate in the defense
      of any such matter and (iii) Parent and the  Surviving  Corporation  shall
      not be liable for any  settlement  effected  without  their prior  written
      consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

      (c) Parent shall cause the Surviving  Corporation  to maintain a policy of
      officers' and  directors'  liability  insurance  covering the  Indemnified
      Parties for acts and omissions occurring on or prior to the Effective Time
      ("D&O  Insurance") with coverage in amount and scope at least as favorable
      as the Company's  existing  directors' and officers'  liability  insurance
      coverage  for a period of six years after the  Effective  Time;  provided,
      however, if the existing D&O Insurance expires, is terminated or canceled,
      or if the annual  premium  therefor is increased to an amount in excess of
      200% of the last annual  premium paid prior to the date of this  Agreement
      (the "Current Premium"),  in each case during such six-year period, Parent
      and the  Surviving  Corporation  will use their best efforts to obtain D&O
      Insurance  in an  amount  and  scope as great as can be  obtained  for the
      remainder  of such  period for a premium  not in excess (on an  annualized
      basis) of 200% of the Current  Premium.  The  provisions  of this  Section
      6.12(c)  shall be deemed to have been  satisfied if prepaid  policies have
      been obtained by the Company prior to the Closing,  which policies provide
      such  directors and officers with coverage for an aggregate  period of six
      years with respect to claims arising from facts or events that occurred on
      or before the Effective Time, including, without limitation, in respect of
      the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement and for a premium not in
      excess  of the  aggregate  of the  premiums  set  forth  in the  preceding
      sentence. If such prepaid policies have been obtained by the Company prior
      to the Closing,  Parent shall and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to
      maintain such policies in full force and effect, and continue to honor the
      Company's obligations thereunder.

      (d) If Parent or the  Surviving  Corporation  or any of its  successors or
      assigns (i) shall  consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or
      entity and shall not be the continuing or surviving  corporation or entity
      of  such   consolidation   or  merger  or  (ii)  shall   transfer  all  or
      substantially  all  of  its  properties  and  assets  to  any  individual,
      corporation or other entity, then and in each such case, proper provisions
      shall  be made  so that  the  successors  and  assigns  of  Parent  or the
      Surviving  Corporation  shall assume all of the  obligations  set forth in
      this Section. Parent shall (in the case of Section 6.12(a)(i)), and Parent
      shall   cause  the   Surviving   Corporation   (in  the  case  of  Section
      6.12(a)(ii)),  to pay all expenses,  including reasonable attorneys' fees,
      that may be incurred by the Indemnified Parties in successfully  enforcing
      the indemnity and other rights in this Section 6.12.



                                       40
<PAGE>


      (e)  Parent  shall  cause  the  Surviving   Corporation   to  perform  its
      obligations under this Section 6.12 and shall, in addition,  guarantee, as
      co-obligor  with  the  Surviving  Corporation,  the  performance  of  such
      obligations by the Surviving  Corporation subject to the limits imposed on
      the Surviving Corporation under the DGCL.

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

      6.13.  Takeover Statute.  If any Takeover Statute is or may become
applicable  to the  Merger  or  the  other  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement,  each of Parent and the Company and its
Board of  Directors  shall  grant such  approvals  and take such  actions as are
necessary  so  that  such   transactions  may  be  consummated  as  promptly  as
practicable  on the terms  contemplated  by this  Agreement or by the Merger and
otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects of such statute or regulation
on such transactions.

      6.14.  Confidentiality.  The Company and Parent each acknowledges
and confirms that it has entered into a Confidentiality  Agreement, dated August
25,  1999  (the  "Confidentiality  Agreement"),  and  that  the  Confidentiality
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

      6.15 Tax-Free  Reorganization.  Parent,  Merger Sub, and the Company shall
each  use all  reasonable  efforts  to  cause  the  Merger  to be  treated  as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and to obtain an
opinion of its respective counsel as contemplated by Sections 7.2(c) and 7.3(c),
respectively.





                                       41
<PAGE>


                                  ARTICLE VII.

                                   Conditions

      7.1.   Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.
The  respective  obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject to the
satisfaction or waiver, if applicable, at or prior to the Effective Time of each
of the following conditions:

      (a) Stockholder  Approval.  This Agreement shall have been duly adopted by
      the  stockholders  of the Company and, if required by the rules or listing
      policies of the NYSE, the issuance of the aggregate  Merger  Consideration
      by Parent shall have been approved by the stockholders of Parent;

      (b) NYSE  Listing.  The  shares of Parent  Common  Stock  issuable  to the
      Company  stockholders  pursuant to this Agreement shall have been approved
      for listing  (either  before or after the execution of this  Agreement) on
      the NYSE subject to official notice of issuance;

      (c) Consents. (i) The waiting period applicable to the consummation of the
      Merger  under the HSR Act shall have expired or been  terminated  and (ii)
      any  consents  to the Merger  required  under (A) the  European  Community
      Merger Control  Regulation or (B) other applicable  Competition Laws shall
      have been  obtained,  except with  respect to (B) for those  consents  the
      failure of which to obtain  would not  reasonably  be  expected  to have a
      Material  Adverse  Effect on the Company or a Material  Adverse  Effect on
      Parent.

      (d) Laws and Orders.  No  Governmental  Entity of  competent  jurisdiction
      shall have  enacted,  issued,  promulgated,  enforced  or entered  any Law
      (whether  temporary,  preliminary  or  permanent)  that is in  effect  and
      restrains,  enjoins or otherwise  prohibits  consummation of the Merger or
      prohibits  consummation of the Merger under  applicable  Competition  Laws
      (collectively,   an  "Order")  and  neither  the  United  States   federal
      government (or any agency, commission, department or similar entity of the
      United States federal government),  the European Community (or any agency,
      commission,  department or similar  entity of the European  Community) nor
      the government (or any agency, commission, or department or similar entity
      of such  government) of any  jurisdiction  in which Parent and the Company
      had, on a combined  basis,  revenues of $100 million or more in the twelve
      months  ending June 30,  1999 shall have  instituted  and be pursuing  any
      proceeding seeking any such Order.



                                       42
<PAGE>


      (e) S-4. The S-4 Registration  Statement shall have become effective under
      the Securities Act. No stop order suspending the  effectiveness of the S-4
      Registration Statement shall have been issued, and no proceedings for that
      purpose  shall  have been  initiated  or,  through a senior  official,  be
      threatened by the SEC; and

      (f) Pooling.  (i) Parent shall have received a letter from its independent
      public  accounting  firm to the effect that the Merger should  qualify for
      "pooling-of-interests"  accounting  treatment  and (ii) the Company  shall
      have received a letter from its independent  public accounting firm to the
      effect that the Company is a poolable entity.

      7.2.  Conditions  to  Obligations  of Parent and Merger Sub. The
obligations  of Parent and  Merger Sub to effect the Merger are also  subject to
the  satisfaction  or waiver by Parent at or prior to the Effective  Time of the
following conditions:

      (a) Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties
      of the Company set forth in Section  5.1(b),  5.1(c) (other than the third
      sentence),  5.1(j),  5.1(l) or 5.1(s) of this Agreement  shall be true and
      correct in all material respects,  and (ii) the other  representations and
      warranties  of the Company set forth in this  Agreement  (x) to the extent
      qualified  by  Material  Adverse  Effect  shall be true and  correct as so
      qualified and (y) to the extent not qualified by Material  Adverse  Effect
      shall be true and  correct  (except  that this  clause (y) shall be deemed
      satisfied so long as any failures of such  representations  and warranties
      to be true and correct,  taken together,  would not reasonably be expected
      to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company),  in the case of each of
      (i) and (ii),  as of the date of this  Agreement and (except to the extent
      such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date) as of the
      Closing  Date as though  made on and as of the  Closing  Date,  and Parent
      shall have  received a  certificate  signed on behalf of the Company by an
      executive officer of the Company to such effect;

      (b)  Performance  of  Obligations  of the Company.  The Company shall have
      performed  in  all  material  respects  all  obligations  required  to  be
      performed by it under this  Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and
      Parent shall have received a  certificate  signed on behalf of the Company
      by an executive officer of the Company to such effect; and



                                       43
<PAGE>


      (c) Tax Opinion.  Parent shall have received the opinion of Mayer, Brown &
      Platt,  counsel to Parent,  dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the
      Merger will be treated for Federal income tax purposes as a reorganization
      within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and that each of Parent,
      Merger Sub and the Company will be a party to that  reorganization  within
      the meaning of Section  368(b) of the Code.  In rendering  such  opinions,
      such counsel may rely upon customary  representations  and certificates of
      Parent,  Merger  Sub  and  the  Company  reasonably  satisfactory  to such
      counsel.

      7.3.  Conditions to Obligation of the Company.  The obligation of
the Company to effect the Merger is also subject to the  satisfaction  or waiver
by the Company at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

      (a) Representations and Warranties. (i) the representations and warranties
      of  Parent  set  forth in  Sections  5.2(b),  5.2(c)  and  5.2(g)  of this
      Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects, and (ii) the
      other representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in
      this Agreement (x) to the extent  qualified by Material Adverse Effect and
      (y) to the extent not qualified by Material  Adverse  Effect shall be true
      and correct (except that this clause (y) shall be deemed satisfied so long
      as any  failures of such  representations  and  warranties  to be true and
      correct,  taken  together,  would not  reasonably  be  expected  to have a
      Material  Adverse Effect on Parent),  in the case of each of (i) and (ii),
      as of  the  date  of  this  Agreement  and  (except  to  the  extent  such
      representations  and warranties  speak as of an earlier  date),  as of the
      Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, and the Company
      shall  have  received  a  certificate  signed  on  behalf  of Parent by an
      executive officer of Parent to such effect;

      (b)  Performance  of  Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. Each of Parent
      and  Merger  Sub  shall  have  performed  in  all  material  respects  all
      obligations  required to be  performed  by it under this  Agreement  at or
      prior  to the  Closing  Date,  and  the  Company  shall  have  received  a
      certificate  signed on behalf of Parent  and  Merger  Sub by an  executive
      officer of Parent to such effect; and

      (c) Tax Opinion.  The Company shall have received the opinion of Wachtell,
      Lipton,  Rosen & Katz, counsel to the Company,  dated the Closing Date, to
      the effect that the Merger will be treated for Federal income tax purposes
      as a reorganization  within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and
      that each of Parent,  Merger Sub and the  Company  will be a party to that
      reorganization  within  the  meaning  of  Section  368(b) of the Code.  In
      rendering   such   opinions,   such   counsel  may  rely  upon   customary
      representations  and  certificates  of Parent,  Merger Sub and the Company
      reasonably satisfactory to such counsel.



                                       44
<PAGE>


                                  ARTICLE VIII.

                                   Termination

      8.1.    Termination  by  Mutual  Consent.  This  Agreement  may be
terminated  and the Merger may be abandoned  at any time prior to the  Effective
Time,  whether  before or after the  approval  by  stockholders  of the  Company
referred  to in Section  7.1(a),  by mutual  written  consent of the Company and
Parent, through action of their respective Boards of Directors.

      8.2.   Termination by Either Parent or the Company.  This Agreement
may be  terminated  and the  Merger  may be  abandoned  at any time prior to the
Effective  Time by  action  of the Board of  Directors  of either  Parent or the
Company if (i) the Merger shall not have been consummated prior to April 9, 2000
(the "Termination Date");  provided,  however,  that either party shall have the
option, in its sole discretion, to extend the Termination Date for an additional
period of time not to exceed 90 days if all other  conditions to consummation of
the Merger are satisfied or capable of then being  satisfied and the sole reason
that the Merger  has not been  consummated  by such date is that  either (A) the
condition set forth in Section  7.1(c) has not been satisfied due to the failure
to obtain the necessary consents and approvals under applicable Competition Laws
and Parent or the Company are still attempting to obtain such necessary consents
and approvals under applicable Competition Laws or are contesting the refusal of
the relevant  Governmental  Entities to give such consents or approvals in court
or through  other  applicable  proceedings,  or (B) the  condition  set forth in
Section 7.1(d) has not been  satisfied;  (ii) the Company  Stockholders  Meeting
shall have been held and  completed  and the  adoption of this  Agreement by the
Company's  stockholders  referred to in Section  7.1(a) shall not have occurred;
(iii) the  issuance  of the  aggregate  Merger  Consideration  is required to be
approved by Parent's  stockholders  pursuant to the rules or listing policies of
the NYSE, the Parent Stockholders Meeting shall have been held and completed and
the  approval  of the  issuance  of the Merger  Consideration  pursuant  to this
Agreement  referred to in Section  7.1(a) shall not have  occurred;  or (iv) any
Order of a court of competent jurisdiction permanently restraining, enjoining or
otherwise  prohibiting  consummation  of  the  Merger  shall  become  final  and
non-appealable  (whether  before  or  after  the  adoption  or  approval  by the
stockholders  of the Company or Parent);  provided,  that the right to terminate
this Agreement  pursuant to clause (i) above shall not be available to any party
that has breached in any material  respect its obligations  under this Agreement
in any manner that shall have been the cause of, or resulted  in, the failure of
the Merger to be consummated on or before the Termination Date.

      8.3.   Termination by the Company. This Agreement may be terminated
and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether
before  or after the  adoption  of this  Agreement  by the  stockholders  of the
Company  referred to in Section  7.1(a),  by action of the Board of Directors of
the Company:

      (a) if there has been a  material  breach  by Parent or Merger  Sub of any
      representation,   warranty,   covenant  or  agreement  contained  in  this
      Agreement  which (x) would result in a failure of a condition set forth in
      Section  7.3(a) or 7.3(b) and (y)  cannot be or is not cured  prior to the
      Termination Date; or

      (b) at any time prior to the adoption of this  Agreement by the  Company's
      stockholders,  by reason of a Superior Proposal;  provided,  however, that


                                       45
<PAGE>


      the Company may not  terminate  this  Agreement  pursuant to this  Section
      8.3(b) unless:  (i) the Company shall have complied with Section 6.2; (ii)
      the Board of Directors of the Company shall have  concluded in good faith,
      prior to giving effect to all concessions which may be offered the Company
      by Parent,  that such proposal is a Superior  Proposal;  (iii) the Company
      shall have (A) notified  Parent in writing of its receipt of such Superior
      Proposal,  (B) further  notified  Parent in such  writing that the Company
      intends,  not earlier than the fourth  business day following such notice,
      to enter  into a binding  agreement  for such  Superior  Proposal  and (C)
      attached the most current written version of such Superior  Proposal (or a
      summary  containing  all material  terms and  conditions  of such Superior
      Proposal) to such notice;  and (iv) during such four  business day period,
      the Company  shall,  and shall cause its  respective  financial  and legal
      advisors to,  consider any  adjustment in the terms and conditions of this
      Agreement that Parent may propose;  provided,  further, that it shall be a
      condition to termination  pursuant to this Section 8.3(b) that the Company
      shall have made the payment of the  Termination  Fee to Parent required by
      Section 8.5(b).

      8.4.   Termination by Parent. This Agreement may be terminated and
the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective  Time,  before or
after the  approval by the  stockholders  of the Company  referred to in Section
7.1(a), by action of the Board of Directors of Parent if:

      (a) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have withdrawn, materially
      modified in a manner  adverse to Parent or changed in a manner  adverse to
      Parent its approval or recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger; or

      (b) there has been a material breach by the Company of any representation,
      warranty,  covenant or  agreement  contained in this  Agreement  which (i)
      would  result in a failure of a condition  set forth in Section  7.2(a) or
      7.2(b) and (ii) cannot be or is not cured prior to the Termination Date.

      8.5.     Effect of Termination and Abandonment.

      (a) In the event of termination  of this Agreement and the  abandonment of
      the Merger  pursuant to this Article VIII,  this Agreement  (other than as
      set forth in  Section  9.2)  shall  become  void and of no effect  with no
      liability  (other than as set forth in Section 8.5(b) or in the proviso at
      the end of this sentence) on the part of any party to this Agreement or of
      any of its  directors,  officers,  employees,  agents,  legal or financial
      advisors  or  other  representatives;  provided,  however,  that  no  such
      termination  shall relieve any party to this  Agreement from any liability
      resulting from any breach of this Agreement.

      (b) In the event that (i) an  Acquisition  Proposal is publicly  announced
      and not withdrawn prior to the Company Stockholders  Meeting, the Board of
      Directors of the Company shall have withdrawn or materially modified, in a
      manner adverse to Parent, its approval or recommendation of this Agreement
      or the Merger and this  Agreement is  terminated  by the Company or Parent
      pursuant to Section  8.2(ii),  (ii) this Agreement is terminated by Parent
      pursuant to Section  8.4(a) (but with respect to Section  8.4(a),  only if
      the Board of Directors of the Company shall have withdrawn its approval or
      recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger or modified or changed that


                                       46
<PAGE>


      approval  or  recommendation  to  such  an  extent  that  it is no  longer
      approving  or  recommending  this  Agreement  or  the  Merger),  (iii)  an
      Acquisition  Proposal is publicly announced and not withdrawn prior to the
      Company Stockholders  Meeting, this Agreement is terminated by the Company
      or Parent  pursuant  to  Section  8.2(ii)  and  within one year after such
      termination the Company enters into a definitive agreement with respect to
      an Acquisition  Proposal or an  Acquisition  Proposal is  consummated,  in
      either case with any Person or (iv) this  Agreement is  terminated  by the
      Company  pursuant to Section  8.3(b),  then the Company shall pay Parent a
      fee  equal to $75  million  (the  "Termination  Fee").  In the  event of a
      termination  by  the  Company  described  in  clause  (i) or  (iv)  of the
      preceding sentence,  the Termination Fee shall be payable by wire transfer
      of same day funds as a condition  precedent  to such  termination;  in the
      event the Termination Fee shall become payable pursuant to clause (iii) of
      the  preceding  sentence,  the  Termination  Fee shall be  payable by wire
      transfer  of same  day  funds  simultaneously  with the  execution  of the
      definitive agreement or the consummation of the Acquisition Proposal which
      gives rise to the obligation to pay the Termination  Fee; and in the event
      of a  termination  by  Parent  described  in  clause  (i) or  (ii)  of the
      preceding sentence,  the Termination Fee shall be payable by wire transfer
      of same day funds promptly,  but in no event later than two days after the
      date of such  termination of this Agreement.  For purposes of this Section
      8.5(b),  the  definition of  "Acquisition  Proposal"  shall be modified by
      changing all references to "15%" to "50%." The Company  acknowledges  that
      the  agreements  contained in this Section  8.5(b) are an integral part of
      the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  and that, without these
      agreements,  Parent and  Merger  Sub would not enter into this  Agreement.
      Accordingly,  if the Company fails to pay promptly the amount due pursuant
      to this Section  8.5(b),  and, in order to obtain such payment,  Parent or
      Merger Sub  commences  a suit which  results  in a  judgment  against  the
      Company for the fee set forth in this paragraph (b), the Company shall pay
      to Parent or Merger  Sub its  costs  and  expenses  (including  reasonable
      attorneys'  fees) in connection with such suit,  together with interest on
      the amount of the fee at the prime rate of Citibank  N.A. in effect on the
      date such payment was required to be made.

                                   ARTICLE IX.

                            Miscellaneous and General

      9.1. Certain Definitions. Terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement shall
have the meanings set forth therein for all purposes of this  Agreement,  unless
otherwise  specified  to the  contrary.  The  following  terms  shall  have  the
following meanings:

      "Affiliates"  shall have the  meaning  set forth in Rule  12b-2  under the
Exchange Act.

      "Competition  Laws"  includes the HSR Act, the European  Community  Merger
Control  Regulation,  and any other  antitrust or competition  Law of the United
States  of  America,  the  European  Community  or any other  nation,  province,
territory or  jurisdiction  which must be satisfied or complied with in order to
consummate and make effective the Merger.

      "DGCL" means the Delaware General Corporation Law.



                                       47
<PAGE>


      "Environmental  Law"  means  any Law  relating  to:  (A)  the  protection,
investigation  or restoration of the environment or natural  resources;  (B) the
handling,  use,  presence,  disposal,  release  or  threatened  release  of  any
Hazardous Substance; or (C) noise, odor, wetlands,  pollution,  contamination or
any  injury or threat of injury to  persons  or  property  or  notifications  to
government agencies or the public in connection with any Hazardous Substance.

      "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.

      "ERISA  Affiliate"  means  any  corporation  or trade or  business  which,
together  with the Company,  is a member of a  controlled  group of Persons or a
group of trades or businesses  under common  control with the Company within the
meaning of Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.

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

      "GAAP" means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

      "Hazardous  Substance"  means any substance that is listed,  classified or
regulated  pursuant to any Environmental Law, including any petroleum product or
by-product,  asbestos-containing  material,  lead-containing  paint or plumbing,
polychlorinated  biphenyls,   electromagnetic  fields,  microwave  transmission,
radioactive materials or radon.

      "HSR Act" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended.

      "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service.

      "Laws" means any law, statute,  ordinance,  regulation,  judgment,  order,
decree,  injunction,  license,  authorization,  opinion,  agency  requirement or
permit of any Governmental Entity or common law.

      "Material  Adverse Effect" means,  with respect to any Person,  a material
adverse  effect  on the  financial  condition,  assets  and  liabilities  (taken
together),  or business of such Person and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,
provided,  however, that none of the following shall be deemed to constitute and
shall not be taken into  account in  determining  the  occurrence  of a Material
Adverse Effect with respect to a party:  (i) any effect arising from or relating
to general business or economic  conditions or financial market  fluctuations or
conditions  which do not affect  such party in any  materially  disproportionate
manner,  (ii) any  effect  relating  to or  affecting  industries  in which such
party's businesses operate generally;  (iii) any effect arising from or relating
to  changes  in  accounting  rules  or  procedures  announced  by the  Financial
Accounting  Standards  Board, or (iv) any effect arising from or relating to the
announcement  of the  Merger  or a  failure  of a Person  to  achieve  Year 2000
Compliance as a result of supplier, customer or third-party non-compliance.

      "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

      "Permits"  means permits,  licenses,  franchises,  variances,  exemptions,
orders and other governmental authorizations, consents and approvals.

      "Person" means any  individual,  corporation  (including  not-for-profit),
general  or limited  partnership,  limited  liability  company,  joint  venture,
estate,  trust,  association,  organization,  Governmental Entity (as defined in
Section 5.1(d)(i)) or other entity of any kind or nature.



                                       48
<PAGE>


      "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

      "Significant  Agreements" means (i) all Contracts  required to be filed as
exhibits  to the  Company's  Reports  filed prior to the date  hereof;  (ii) all
Contracts  reasonably  expected  to require  the  payment  (whether by or to the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries)  of $10,000,000 or more in the aggregate or
payments in any twelve-month  period  aggregating  $2,000,000 or more; and (iii)
all Contracts between the Company and any of its Subsidiaries,  on the one hand,
and any Affiliate of the Company, on the other hand excluding in each of clauses
(i), (ii) and (iii), Compensation and Benefit Plans.

      "Significant  Investees"  means,  with respect to any Person,  Significant
Subsidiaries  of such  Person and any entity in which such  Person has an equity
interest of 20% or more.

      "Significant  Subsidiaries" with respect to any Person has the meaning set
forth in Rule 1-02(w) of  Regulation  S-X  promulgated  pursuant to the Exchange
Act.

      "Subsidiary"  means,  with  respect to any  Person,  any  entity,  whether
incorporated or unincorporated,  of which at least 50% of the stock,  securities
or other  ownership  interests  having by their terms  ordinary  voting power to
elect at least 50% of the Board of Directors or other persons performing similar
functions  is directly  or  indirectly  owned by such  Person and  "wholly-owned
subsidiary"  shall  include  Subsidiaries  which  are  wholly-owned  except  for
directors' qualifying shares.

      "Tax"  (including,  with  correlative  meaning,  the  terms  "Taxes,"  and
"Taxable")  means  all  federal,  state,  local  and  foreign  income,  profits,
franchise,   gross  receipts,   environmental,   customs  duty,  capital  stock,
severance,  stamp, payroll, sales, employment,  unemployment,  disability,  use,
property,  withholding,  excise,  production,  value added,  occupancy and other
taxes,  duties  or  assessments  of any  nature  whatsoever,  together  with all
interest,  penalties and additions  imposed with respect to such amounts and any
interest in respect of such penalties and additions.

      "Tax  Return"  means all  federal,  state,  local and foreign  returns and
reports (including elections,  declarations,  disclosures,  schedules, estimates
and information  returns) required to be supplied to a Tax authority relating to
Taxes.

      9.2.  Survival.  Article II, Article III,  Article IV and this Article IX
and the  agreements of the Company,  Parent and Merger Sub contained in Sections
6.7(b) (Affiliates),  6.10 (Benefits),  6.11 (Expenses),  6.12 (Indemnification;
Directors' and Officers'  Insurance) and 6.15  (Tax-Free  Reorganization)  shall
survive the consummation of the Merger.  This Article IX (other than Section 9.3
(Modification or Amendment), Section 9.4 (Waiver of Conditions) and Section 9.13
(Assignment)) and the agreements of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub contained
in Section  6.11  (Expenses),  Section  6.13  (Takeover  Statute),  Section 6.14
(Confidentiality)  and Section 8.5 (Effect of Termination and Abandonment) shall
survive  the   termination  of  this  Agreement.   All  other   representations,
warranties,  covenants and  agreements in this  Agreement  shall not survive the
consummation of the Merger or the termination of this Agreement.



                                       49
<PAGE>


      9.3.  Modification  or  Amendment.  Subject  to  the  provisions  of  the
applicable  law, at any time prior to the  Effective  Time,  the parties to this
Agreement may modify or amend this Agreement,  by written agreement executed and
delivered by duly authorized officers of the respective parties.

      9.4. Waiver of Conditions.

      (a) Any  provision of this  Agreement may be waived prior to the Effective
      Time if,  and  only  if,  such  waiver  is in  writing  and  signed  by an
      authorized  representative  or the party  against whom the waiver is to be
      effective.

      (b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or
      privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall
      any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further
      exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.
      Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the rights and remedies
      herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or
      remedies provided by Law. The payments required to be made to Parent
      pursuant to Section 8.5(b) shall not prevent Parent from pursuing remedies
      for breach of this Agreement or in tort if, prior to instituting any
      proceeding in any court seeking such remedies, Parent shall reject such
      payments and refund such payments to the Company in full, it being agreed
      that a termination of this Agreement by the Company in accordance with
      Section 8.3(b) and the taking of actions in accordance with Section 6.2
      shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement.

      9.5. Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original
instrument, and all such counterparts shall together constitute the same
agreement.

      9.6. GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

      (a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MADE IN AND IN ALL RESPECTS SHALL
      BE  INTERPRETED,  CONSTRUED AND GOVERNED BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW
      OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE  WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES
      THEREOF.  The parties hereby  irrevocably and  unconditionally  consent to
      submit  to the  exclusive  jurisdiction  of the  courts  of the  State  of
      Delaware  and of the  United  States of  America  located  in  Wilmington,
      Delaware  (the  "Delaware  Courts") for any  litigation  arising out of or
      relating  to this  Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated  by this
      Agreement  (and agree not to  commence  any  litigation  relating  thereto
      except in such  Delaware  Courts),  waive any  objection  to the laying of
      venue of any such litigation in the Delaware Courts and agree not to plead
      or claim in any Delaware Court that such  litigation  brought  therein has
      been brought in an inconvenient forum.

      (b) EACH PARTY  ACKNOWLEDGES  AND AGREES  THAT ANY  CONTROVERSY  WHICH MAY
      ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE  COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT
      ISSUES,   AND   THEREFORE   EACH  SUCH  PARTY   HEREBY   IRREVOCABLY   AND
      UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN
      RESPECT  OF  ANY  LITIGATION  DIRECTLY  OR  INDIRECTLY  ARISING  OUT OF OR
      RELATING  TO THIS  AGREEMENT,  OR THE  TRANSACTIONS  CONTEMPLATED  BY THIS


                                       50
<PAGE>


      AGREEMENT.   EACH   PARTY   CERTIFIES   AND   ACKNOWLEDGES   THAT  (i)  NO
      REPRESENTATIVE,  AGENT OR  ATTORNEY  OF ANY OTHER  PARTY HAS  REPRESENTED,
      EXPRESSLY OR  OTHERWISE,  THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF
      LITIGATION,  SEEK TO ENFORCE THE  FOREGOING  WAIVER,  (ii) EACH SUCH PARTY
      UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) EACH
      SUCH PARTY  MAKES THIS  WAIVER  VOLUNTARILY,  AND (iv) EACH SUCH PARTY HAS
      BEEN  INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS  AGREEMENT  BY, AMONG OTHER  THINGS,  THE
      MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.6.

      9.7. Notices.  Notices,  requests,  instructions or other documents to be
given under this  Agreement  shall be in writing and shall be deemed given,  (i)
when received if sent by facsimile, (ii) when delivered, if delivered personally
to the  intended  recipient,  and  (iii)  one  business  day  later,  if sent by
overnight delivery via a national courier service,  and in each case,  addressed
to a party at the following address for such party:

      If to Parent or Merger Sub:

            Illinois Tool Works Inc.
            3600 West Lake Avenue
            Glenview, IL 60025-5811
            Attention: Chief Executive Officer
            Fax: (847) 657-4392

            and

            Illinois Tool Works Inc.
            3600 West Lake Avenue
            Glenview, IL 60025-5811
            Attention: General Counsel
            Fax: (847) 657-4392

      with a copy to:

            Scott J. Davis and James T. Lidbury
            Mayer, Brown & Platt
            190 South LaSalle Street
            Chicago, Illinois 60603
            Fax:  (312) 701-7711

      and if to the Company:

            Premark International, Inc.
            1717 Deerfield Road
            Deerfield, IL 60015
            Attention:  Chief Executive Officer
            Fax: (847) 405-6333



                                       51
<PAGE>


            and

            Premark International, Inc.
            1717 Deerfield Road
            Deerfield, IL 60015
            Attention: General Counsel
            Fax: (847) 405-6333

      with a copy to:

            Daniel A. Neff
            Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
            51 West 52nd Street
            New York, New York 10019
            Fax:  (212) 403-2000

or to such other  persons or  addresses as may be  designated  in writing by the
party to receive such notice as provided above.

      9.8.  Entire  Agreement.  This Agreement  (including any exhibits to this
Agreement),  the Stock Option  Agreement,  the  Confidentiality  Agreement,  the
Company Disclosure Letter and the Parent Disclosure Letter constitute the entire
agreement,   and   supersede   all  other  prior   agreements,   understandings,
representations  and  warranties  both written and oral,  among the parties with
respect to the subject  matter of this  Agreement.  EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT
AGREES THAT,  EXCEPT FOR THE  REPRESENTATIONS  AND WARRANTIES  CONTAINED IN THIS
AGREEMENT,   NEITHER   PARENT  AND  MERGER  SUB  NOR  THE   COMPANY   MAKES  ANY
REPRESENTATIONS   OR   WARRANTIES,   AND  EACH   HEREBY   DISCLAIMS   ANY  OTHER
REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES MADE BY ITSELF OR ANY OF ITS OFFICERS,  DIRECTORS,
EMPLOYEES,  AGENTS, FINANCIAL AND LEGAL ADVISORS OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVES,  WITH
RESPECT TO THE  EXECUTION  AND DELIVERY OF THIS  AGREEMENT  OR THE  TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED  BY THIS AGREEMENT,  NOTWITHSTANDING  THE DELIVERY OR DISCLOSURE TO
THE  OTHER  OR  THE  OTHER'S  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  ANY  DOCUMENTATION  OR  OTHER
INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE FOREGOING.

      9.9. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 6.10(a),
Section  6.10(c) and Section 6.12, this Agreement is not intended to confer upon
any Person other than the parties to this Agreement any rights or remedies under
this Agreement.

      9.10.    Obligations  of Parent and of the Company.  Whenever  this
Agreement requires a Subsidiary of Parent (including,  after the Effective Time,
the Surviving  Corporation) to take any action, such requirement shall be deemed
to include an undertaking on the part of Parent to cause such Subsidiary to take
such action.  Whenever  this  Agreement  requires a Subsidiary of the Company to
take any action,  such requirement  shall be deemed to include an undertaking on
the part of the Company to cause such  Subsidiary to take such action and, after
the  Effective  Time,  on the part of the  Surviving  Corporation  to cause such
Subsidiary to take such action.

      9.11.    Severability.  The provisions of this  Agreement  shall be
deemed severable and the invalidity or  unenforceability  of any provision shall
not  affect the  validity  or  enforceability  of the other  provisions  of this
Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any
Person or any  circumstance,  is invalid or  unenforceable,  (a) a suitable  and
equitable provision shall be substituted  therefor in order to carry out, so far
as may be valid and  enforceable,  the  intent and  purpose  of such  invalid or


                                       52
<PAGE>


unenforceable  provision  and  (b)  the  remainder  of  this  Agreement  and the
application  of such  provision to other Persons or  circumstances  shall not be
affected by such  invalidity or  unenforceability,  nor shall such invalidity or
unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the
application thereof, in any other jurisdiction.

      9.12.   Interpretation.  The table of contents and headings in this
Agreement are for  convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this
Agreement  and  shall  not be deemed  to limit or  otherwise  affect  any of the
provisions of this  Agreement.  Where a reference in this Agreement is made to a
Section or Exhibit,  such reference  shall be to a Section of or Exhibit to this
Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  Whenever the words "include,"  "includes"
or "including" are used in this  Agreement,  they shall be deemed to be followed
by the  words  "without  limitation."  The  definitions  in this  Agreement  are
applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.

      9.13.   Assignment.   This  Agreement  shall  not  be  assignable;
provided,  however,  that Parent may designate  prior to the Effective  Time, by
written  notice  to  the  Company,  another  wholly  owned  direct  or  indirect
Subsidiary to be a party to the Merger in lieu of Merger Sub, in which event all
references  in this  Agreement to Merger Sub shall be deemed  references to such
other Subsidiary (except with respect to representations  and warranties made in
this Agreement, with respect to Merger Sub as of the date of this Agreement) and
all  representations and warranties made herein with respect to Merger Sub as of
the  date of this  Agreement  shall  also be made  with  respect  to such  other
subsidiary as of the date of such  designation.  Any assignment in contravention
of the preceding sentence shall be null and void.



                                       53
<PAGE>


      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
the duly  authorized  officers of the parties to this  Agreement  as of the date
first written above.

                                    PREMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                                    By:  /s/ James M. Ringler
                                         ----------------------------------
                                         Name:   James M. Ringler
                                         Title:  Chairman of the Board,
                                                 Chief Executive Officer and
                                                 President


                                    ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.


                                    By:  /s/ W. James Farrell
                                         ----------------------------------
                                         Name:   W. James Farrell
                                          Title: Chairman and Chief
                                                 Executive Officer


                                    CS MERGER SUB INC.


                                    By:  /s/ Frank S. Ptak
                                         ----------------------------------
                                         Name:   Frank S. Ptak
                                         Title:  President





                                       54
<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT A

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


      This  STOCK  OPTION  AGREEMENT,  dated  as  of  September  9,  1999  (this
"Agreement"),  is between PREMARK  INTERNATIONAL,  INC., a Delaware  corporation
("Issuer"), and ILLINOIS TOOLWORKS INC., a Delaware corporation ("Grantee").


                                    RECITALS

      A.  The Merger  Agreement.  Prior to the entry into this Agreement and
prior to the grant of the Option (as defined in Section 1(a)), Issuer,  Grantee,
and CS Merger Sub Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Grantee ("Merger Sub") have
entered  into an  Agreement  and  Plan of  Merger,  dated as of the date of this
Agreement (the "Merger Agreement"),  pursuant to which Grantee and Issuer intend
to effect a merger of Merger Sub with and into Issuer (the "Merger").

      B.   The Stock Option  Agreement.  As an  inducement  and  condition to
Grantee's and Merger Sub's willingness to enter into the Merger  Agreement,  and
in  consideration  thereof,  the board of  directors  of Issuer has approved the
grant to Grantee of the Option pursuant to this Agreement and the acquisition of
Common Stock (as defined below) by Grantee pursuant to this Agreement; provided,
that such grant was  expressly  conditioned  upon,  and made of no effect  until
after,  execution  and delivery by Issuer,  Grantee and Merger Sub of the Merger
Agreement.

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

      1.  The Option.  (a) Issuer  hereby  grants to Grantee an  irrevocable
option (the  "Option") to purchase,  subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, up to 12,203,694 fully paid and nonassessable shares of common stock,
$1.00 par value per share  ("Common  Stock"),  of Issuer at a price per share in
cash equal to $34.06 (the "Option Price");  provided,  however, that in no event
shall the number of shares for which the Option is  exercisable  exceed 19.9% of
the  shares of Common  Stock  issued  and  outstanding  at the time of  exercise
(without  giving  effect to the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable  under
the  Option)  (the  "Maximum  Applicable  Percentage").  The number of shares of
Common Stock  purchasable  upon  exercise of the Option and the Option Price are
subject to adjustment as set forth in this Agreement.

      (b) In the event that any additional  shares of Common Stock are issued or
otherwise  become  outstanding  after  the date of this  Agreement  (other  than



<PAGE>


pursuant to this  Agreement),  the  aggregate  number of shares of Common  Stock
purchasable upon exercise of the Option (inclusive of shares, if any, previously
purchased upon exercise of the Option) shall automatically be increased (without
any further  action on the part of Issuer or Grantee  being  necessary) so that,
after such  issuance,  it equals the  Maximum  Applicable  Percentage.  Any such
increase shall not affect the Option Price.

      2.     Exercise;  Closing.  (a)  Conditions  to  Exercise;  Termination.
Grantee  (sometimes  referred to as the  "Holder")  may exercise the Option,  in
whole or in part, by delivering a written  notice thereof as provided in Section
2(d) within 135 days following the occurrence of a Triggering  Event (as defined
in Section 2(b)) unless prior to such  Triggering  Event the Effective  Time (as
defined in the Merger  Agreement)  shall have  occurred or the Option shall have
terminated in accordance with the following  sentence.  If no notice pursuant to
the  preceding  sentence  has been  delivered  prior  thereto,  the Option shall
terminate upon either (i) the occurrence of the Effective Time or (ii) the close
of business  on the earlier of (x) the day 135 days after the date that  Grantee
becomes  entitled  to  receive  the  Termination  Fee (as  defined in the Merger
Agreement)  under Section  8.5(b) of the Merger  Agreement and (y) the date that
Grantee is no longer  potentially  entitled to receive the Termination Fee under
Section 8.5(b) of the Merger  Agreement for a reason other than that Grantee has
already received the Termination Fee.

      (b)  Triggering  Event.  A  "Triggering  Event" shall have occurred if the
Merger Agreement is terminated and Grantee shall have become entitled to receive
the Termination Fee pursuant to Section 8.5(b) of the Merger Agreement.

      (c) Notice of  Triggering  Event by Issuer.  Issuer shall  notify  Grantee
promptly  in  writing  of the  occurrence  of any  Triggering  Event,  it  being
understood  that the giving of such notice by Issuer shall not be a condition to
the right of the Holder to exercise the Option.

      (d) Notice of Exercise by Grantee.  If the Holder shall be entitled to and
wishes to  exercise  the Option,  it shall send to Issuer a written  notice (the
date of which is referred to in this Agreement as the "Notice Date")  specifying
(i) the total  number of shares that the Holder will  purchase  pursuant to such
exercise  and (ii) a place and date (a "Closing  Date") not  earlier  than three
business  days nor later  than 20  business  days from the  Notice  Date for the
closing of such purchase (a "Closing");  provided, that if the Closing cannot be
effected by reason of the application of any laws, (x) the Holder or Issuer,  as
required,  promptly  after the giving of such  notice  shall  file the  required
notice,  report,  filing or  application  for approval  and shall  expeditiously
process  the same and (y) the  Closing  Date shall be extended to not later than
the  tenth   business  day  following  the  expiration  or  termination  of  the
restriction imposed by such law. Each of the Holder and the Issuer agrees to use
its reasonable best efforts to cooperate with and provide  information to Issuer
or Holder,  as the case may be, for the purpose of any required notice,  report,
filing or application for approval.


                                       2
<PAGE>


      (e) Payment of Purchase  Price.  At each Closing,  the Holder shall pay to
Issuer the  aggregate  purchase  price for the shares of Common Stock  purchased
pursuant to the exercise of the Option in immediately  available funds by a wire
transfer to a bank  account  designated  by Issuer;  provided,  that  failure or
refusal of Issuer to designate such a bank account shall not preclude the Holder
from exercising the Option, in whole or in part.

      (f) Delivery of Common  Stock.  At such Closing,  simultaneously  with the
payment of the purchase price by the Holder,  Issuer shall deliver to the Holder
a certificate or certificates  representing the number of shares of Common Stock
purchased  by the Holder and, if the Option  shall be  exercised in part only, a
new Option  evidencing  the rights of the Holder to  purchase  the  balance  (as
adjusted  pursuant  to  Section  1(b))  of  the  shares  of  Common  Stock  then
purchasable under this Agreement and the Holder shall deliver to the Company its
written agreement that the Holder will not offer to sell or otherwise dispose of
such shares of Common Stock in violation of law or this Agreement.

      (g)  Restrictive  Legend.  Certificates  for Common  Stock  delivered at a
Closing  shall  be  endorsed   with  a   restrictive   legend  that  shall  read
substantially as follows:

      "The transfer of the shares  represented by this certificate is subject to
  resale restrictions  arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
  pursuant to the terms of a Stock  Option  Agreement  dated as of  September 9,
  1999. A copy of such  agreement  will be provided to the holder hereof without
  charge upon receipt by the Company of a written request therefor."

It is understood  and agreed that the above legend shall be removed,  insofar as
it  refers  to  the   Securities   Act  of  1933,   by  delivery  of  substitute
certificate(s)  without  such  reference  to the  Securities  Act of 1933 if the
Holder  shall have  delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or a written opinion of counsel, in form and
substance  reasonably  satisfactory to Issuer, to the effect that such reference
is not  required  for purposes of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the
"Securities Act"). In addition, such certificates shall bear any other legend as
may be required by applicable law.

      3.     Covenants  of Issuer.  In  addition to its other  agreements  and
covenants in this Agreement, Issuer agrees:

      (a) Shares Reserved for Issuance.  It will maintain,  free from preemptive
  rights,  sufficient authorized but unissued or treasury shares of Common Stock
  to issue the  appropriate  number of shares of Common  Stock  pursuant  to the
  terms of this  Agreement  so that the  Option may be fully  exercised  without
  additional  authorization  of Common  Stock after  giving  effect to all other
  options, warrants, convertible securities and other rights of third parties to
  purchase shares of Common Stock from Issuer.



                                       3
<PAGE>


      (b) No Avoidance.  It will not avoid or seek to avoid  (whether by charter
  amendment  or  through  reorganization,  consolidation,  merger,  issuance  of
  rights,  dissolution  or sale of assets,  or by any other  voluntary  act) the
  observance or performance of any of the covenants, agreements or conditions to
  be observed or performed under this Agreement by Issuer.

      (c) Further Assurances. After the date of this Agreement, it will promptly
  take all actions as may from time to time be required (including (i) complying
  with all  applicable  premerger  notification,  reporting  and waiting  period
  requirements under the Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements Act of 1976,
  as amended and (ii) in the event that prior notice, report, filing or approval
  with  respect to any  Governmental  Entity is necessary  under any  applicable
  foreign or United States federal,  state or local law before the Option may be
  exercised,  cooperating  fully with the Holder in preparing and processing the
  required  applications  or notices) in order to permit each Holder to exercise
  the Option and  purchase  shares of Common  Stock  pursuant  to such  exercise
  subject to the terms and conditions hereof.

      (d) Stock Exchange  Listing.  It will use its  reasonable  best efforts to
  cause the  shares of Common  Stock to be issued  pursuant  to the Option to be
  approved  for listing  (to the extent they are not already  listed) on the New
  York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"),  if the Common Stock is then listed on the NYSE,
  and on all other stock exchanges on which shares of Common Stock of the Issuer
  are then listed, subject to official notice of issuance.

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

      (a) Merger Agreement.  Issuer hereby makes each of the representations and
  warranties  contained in Section  5.1(a),  (b),  (c),  (d), (j) and (s) of the
  Merger Agreement to the extent they relate to Issuer and this Agreement, as if
  such representations were set forth in this Agreement.

      (b) Shares  Reserved for  Issuance;  Capital  Stock.  Issuer has taken all
  necessary  corporate  action to authorize  and reserve,  free from  preemptive
  rights, and permit it to issue, sufficient authorized but unissued or treasury
  shares of  Common  Stock so that the  Option  may be fully  exercised  without
  additional  authorization  of Common  Stock after  giving  effect to all other
  options, warrants, convertible securities and other rights of third parties to
  purchase  shares  of Common  Stock  from  Issuer,  and all such  shares,  upon
  issuance  pursuant to the Option,  will be duly  authorized,  validly  issued,
  fully  paid and  nonassessable,  and will be  delivered  free and clear of all
  claims, liens, encumbrances,  and security interests (other than those created
  by this Agreement) and not subject to any preemptive rights.



                                       4
<PAGE>


      5.     Representations  and Warranties of Grantee.  Grantee hereby makes
each of the representations and warranties  contained in Section 5.2(a), (c) and
(d) of the Merger  Agreement  to the extent  they relate to the Grantee and this
Agreement, as if such representations were set forth in this Agreement.

      6.     Exchange;  Replacement.  This Agreement and the Option granted by
this Agreement are exchangeable,  without expense,  at the option of the Holder,
upon  presentation  and surrender of this  Agreement at the principal  office of
Issuer,  for other Agreements  providing for Options of different  denominations
entitling  the holder  thereof to purchase in the  aggregate  the same number of
shares of Common Stock purchasable at such time under this Agreement, subject to
corresponding  adjustments  in the number of shares of Common Stock  purchasable
upon exercise so that the aggregate number of such shares under all stock option
agreements  issued in respect  of this  Agreement  shall not exceed the  Maximum
Applicable  Percentage.  Unless the context shall require  otherwise,  the terms
"Agreement"  and  "Option" as used in this  Agreement  include any stock  option
agreements and related  Options for which this Agreement (and the Option granted
by this  Agreement)  may be  exchanged.  Upon (i)  receipt by Issuer of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction of this Agreement,
or  mutilation  of  this  Agreement,   (ii)  receipt  by  Issuer  of  reasonably
satisfactory  indemnification  in the case of loss, theft or destruction of this
Agreement and (iii) surrender and  cancellation of this Agreement in the case of
mutilation,  Issuer will  execute and deliver a new  Agreement of like tenor and
date.

      7.     Adjustments.  In addition to the adjustment to the total number of
shares of Common  Stock  purchasable  upon  exercise  of the Option  pursuant to
Section 1(b),  the total number of shares of Common Stock  purchasable  upon the
exercise of the Option and the Option Price shall be subject to adjustment  from
time to time as follows:

      In the event of any change in the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock by
  reason   of   stock   dividends,   split-ups,   mergers,    recapitalizations,
  combinations,  subdivisions, conversions, exchanges of shares or the like, the
  type and number of shares of Common  Stock  purchasable  upon  exercise of the
  Option, and the Option Price therefor,  shall be appropriately  adjusted,  and
  proper  provision  shall  be  made  in  the  agreements   governing  any  such
  transaction,  so that (i) any Holder shall receive upon exercise of the Option
  the number and class of shares,  other securities,  property or cash that such
  Holder  would  have  received  in  respect  of  the  shares  of  Common  Stock
  purchasable  upon exercise of the Option if the Option had been  exercised and
  such shares of Common Stock had been issued to such Holder  immediately  prior
  to such event or the record  date  therefor,  as  applicable,  and (ii) in the
  event any  additional  shares of  Common  Stock are to be issued or  otherwise
  become  outstanding  as a result of any such change (other than pursuant to an
  exercise of the Option), the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon
  exercise of the Option  shall be increased  so that,  after such  issuance and
  together  with  shares of  Common  Stock  previously  issued  pursuant  to the


                                       5
<PAGE>


  exercise of the Option (as adjusted on account of any of the foregoing changes
  in the Common Stock),  the number of shares so purchasable  equals the Maximum
  Applicable  Percentage  of the  number of shares of Common  Stock  issued  and
  outstanding immediately after the consummation of such change.

      8.   Registration.  (a) Upon the  occurrence  of a  Triggering  Event,
Issuer  shall,  at the request of Grantee  delivered  in the  written  notice of
exercise of the Option  provided for in Section 2(d), as promptly as practicable
prepare,  file  and  keep  current  a shelf  registration  statement  under  the
Securities  Act covering any or all shares  issued and issuable  pursuant to the
Option and shall use its  reasonable  best  efforts  to cause such  registration
statement  to become and remain  effective  for such period not in excess of 180
days from the day such registration  statement first becomes effective as may be
reasonably  necessary to permit the sale or other  disposition  of any shares of
Common  Stock  issued  upon total or  partial  exercise  of the Option  ("Option
Shares")  in  accordance  with any plan of  disposition  requested  by  Grantee;
provided,  however,  that  Issuer  may  suspend  filing  of or  maintaining  the
effectiveness of a registration  statement relating to a registration request by
Grantee  under this  Section 8 for a period of time (not in excess of 60 days in
the aggregate) if in its judgment such filing of such registration  statement or
the maintenance of its  effectiveness  would require the disclosure of nonpublic
information  that Issuer has a good faith  business  purpose for  preserving  as
confidential.  Subject to the  foregoing,  Issuer will use its  reasonable  best
efforts to cause such  registration  statement  to become  effective  as soon as
practicable. In connection with any such registration,  Issuer and Grantee shall
provide  each  other with  representations,  warranties,  indemnities  and other
agreements customarily given in connection with such registrations. If requested
by Grantee in connection with such registration,  Issuer shall become a party to
any underwriting  agreement relating to the sale of such shares, but only to the
extent  of  obligating  Issuer  in  respect  of   representations,   warranties,
indemnities,  contribution and other  agreements  customarily made by issuers in
such underwriting agreements.

      (b) To the extent  consistent  with the other  provisions  hereof,  in the
event that Grantee so requests,  the closing of the sale or other disposition of
the Common Stock or other securities pursuant to a registration  statement filed
pursuant  to Section  8(a) shall  occur  substantially  simultaneously  with the
exercise of the Option.

      (c)   Notwithstanding   any  other  provision  hereof,   any  request  for
registration  shall permit the Issuer,  upon written notice given within 30 days
of the request for registration, to repurchase from the Grantee any shares as to
which the  Grantee  requests  registration  at a price  per  share  equal to the
average of the closing  price per share of Common  Stock on the NYSE as reported
in the Wall Street  Journal,  New York City edition,  on the twenty NYSE trading
days ending on the second  business  day prior to the date Issuer  notifies  the
Grantee of its decision to so repurchase.



                                       6
<PAGE>


      9.   Repurchase of Option and/or Shares.  (a)  Repurchase;  Repurchase
Price.  Upon the  occurrence  of a  Triggering  Event,  (i) at the  request of a
Holder,  delivered in writing within 135 days of such  occurrence (or such later
period as  provided  in  Section  2(d) with  respect to any  required  notice or
application  or in Section  12),  Issuer  shall  repurchase  the Option from the
Holder, in whole or in part, at a price (the "Option Repurchase Price") equal to
the  number of shares of Common  Stock then  purchasable  upon  exercise  of the
Option (or such lesser number of shares as may be  designated in the  repurchase
notice)  multiplied  by the amount by which the  market/offer  price (as defined
below)  exceeds the Option Price and (ii) at the request of a Holder,  delivered
in writing within 135 days of such  occurrence (or such later period as provided
in Section 2(d) with respect to any required notice or application or in Section
12),  Issuer shall  repurchase  such number of Option Shares from such Holder as
the Holder  shall  designate  in the  Repurchase  Notice at a price (the "Option
Share Repurchase Price") equal to the number of shares designated  multiplied by
the market/offer price. The term "market/offer  price" shall mean the highest of
(x) the price per share of Common Stock at which a tender or exchange  offer for
Common  Stock has been made  during  the term of the  Option,  (y) the price per
share of Common  Stock to be paid by any third party  pursuant  to an  agreement
with Issuer with respect to a Business  Combination  Transaction (defined below)
and (z) the highest trading price for shares of Common Stock on the NYSE (or, if
the Common Stock is not then listed on the NYSE, any other  national  securities
exchange or automated  quotation system on which the Common Stock is then listed
or quoted) within the six-month period immediately preceding the delivery of the
repurchase  notice. In the event that a tender or exchange offer is made for the
Common  Stock or an  agreement  is entered  into for a merger,  share  exchange,
consolidation or  reorganization  involving  consideration  other than cash, the
value of the  securities or other  property  issuable or deliverable in exchange
for the Common Stock shall (I) if such  consideration  is in securities and such
securities are listed on a national securities exchange, be determined to be the
highest trading price for such securities on such national  securities  exchange
within the six month period immediately preceding the delivery of the repurchase
notice or (II) if such consideration is not securities,  or if in securities and
such securities are not traded on a national securities exchange,  be determined
in good faith by a nationally  recognized investment banking firm selected by an
investment  banking firm  designated by Grantee and an  investment  banking firm
designated  by  Issuer.  "Business  Combination  Transaction"  shall  mean (i) a
consolidation,  exchange of shares or merger of Issuer  with any  Person,  other
than the Grantee or one of its  subsidiaries,  and, in the case of a merger,  in
which Issuer shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation, (ii) a merger
of Issuer with a Person,  other than the Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries,  in
which  Issuer shall be the  continuing  or  surviving  corporation  but the then
outstanding  shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock
or other  securities of Issuer or any other Person or cash or any other property
or the shares of Common Stock outstanding  immediately  before such merger shall
after such merger  represent less than 50% of the common shares and common share
equivalents of Issuer outstanding  immediately after the merger or (iii) a sale,
lease or other transfer of all or substantially  all the assets of Issuer to any
Person, other than the Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries.



                                       7
<PAGE>


      (b)  Method of  Repurchase.  A Holder  may  exercise  its right to require
Issuer to repurchase the Option,  in whole or in part,  and/or any Option Shares
then owned by such Holder  pursuant to this Section 9 by  surrendering  for such
purpose to Issuer, at its principal  office,  this Agreement or certificates for
Option Shares, as applicable, accompanied by a written notice or notices stating
that the Holder elects to require  Issuer to  repurchase  the Option and/or such
Option Shares in accordance  with the  provisions of this Section 9. As promptly
as practicable,  and in any event within three business days after the surrender
of the Option and/or certificates  representing Option Shares and the receipt of
the  repurchase  notice  relating  thereto,  Issuer shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Holder the applicable Option Repurchase Price and/or the Option
Share Repurchase Price subject to receipt by Issuer of a certificate executed by
the Holder containing  representations and warranties that, immediately prior to
the  repurchase  thereof  pursuant to this Section 9, the Holder had sole record
and  beneficial  ownership of the Option or the Option  Shares,  or both, as the
case may be, and that, other than pursuant to this Agreement,  the Option or the
Option  Shares,  or both,  as the case may be,  were  held free and clear of all
material  liens.  Any Holder shall have the right to require that the repurchase
of Option  Shares shall occur  immediately  after the exercise of all or part of
the Option. In the event that the repurchase notice shall request the repurchase
of the Option in part,  Issuer shall deliver with the Option  Repurchase Price a
new Stock Option  Agreement  evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase that
number of shares of Common Stock purchasable  pursuant to the Option at the time
of delivery of the repurchase  notice minus the number of shares of Common Stock
represented by that portion of the Option then being repurchased.

      (c) Effect of Statutory or  Regulatory  Restraints on  Repurchase.  To the
extent that,  upon or following the delivery of a repurchase  notice,  Issuer is
prohibited under  applicable law or regulation from  repurchasing the Option (or
portion thereof) and/or any Option Shares subject to such repurchase notice (and
Issuer will undertake to use its reasonable  best efforts to obtain all required
regulatory and legal  approvals and to file any required  notices as promptly as
practicable in order to accomplish such repurchase), Issuer shall immediately so
notify the Holder in writing and  thereafter  deliver or cause to be  delivered,
from time to time, to the Holder the portion of the Option  Repurchase Price and
the Option  Share  Repurchase  Price that  Issuer is no longer  prohibited  from
delivering,  within two business days after the date on which it is no longer so
prohibited;  provided,  however,  that upon notification by Issuer in writing of
such  prohibition,  the  Holder  may,  within  five  days  of  receipt  of  such
notification from Issuer,  revoke in writing its repurchase  notice,  whether in
whole or to the extent of the prohibition, whereupon, in the latter case, Issuer
shall  promptly (i) deliver to the Holder that portion of the Option  Repurchase
Price and/or the Option  Share  Repurchase  Price that Issuer is not  prohibited
from  delivering;  and (ii)  deliver to the  Holder,  as  appropriate,  (A) with
respect to the Option, a new Stock Option Agreement  evidencing the right of the
Holder  to  purchase  that  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  for which the
surrendered  Stock Option  Agreement was  exercisable at the time of delivery of
the  Repurchase  Notice  less  the  number  of  shares  as to which  the  Option
Repurchase Price has theretofore  been delivered to the Holder,  and/or (B) with
respect to Option  Shares,  a certificate  for the Option Shares as to which the


                                       8
<PAGE>


Option Share  Repurchase Price has not theretofore been delivered to the Holder.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement,  including,  without
limitation,  the time limitations on the exercise of the Option,  the Holder may
give notice of exercise of the Option for 135 days after a notice of  revocation
has been issued pursuant to this Section 9(c) and thereafter exercise the Option
in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement.

      (d)  Acquisition  Transactions.  In addition to any other  restrictions or
covenants,  Issuer agrees that, in the event that a Holder delivers a repurchase
notice,  Issuer shall not enter or agree to enter into an agreement or series of
agreements relating to a merger with or into or the consolidation with any other
person or entity,  the sale of all or substantially  all of the assets of Issuer
or any similar  disposition  unless the other party or parties to such agreement
or agreements agree to assume in writing Issuer's obligations under Section 9(a)
and,  notwithstanding any notice of revocation delivered pursuant to the proviso
to Section  9(c),  a Holder may  require  such other party or parties to perform
Issuer's  obligations  under  Section  9(a)  unless  such party or  parties  are
prohibited by law or regulation from such performance,  in which case such party
or parties shall be subject to the obligations of the Issuer under Section 9(c).

      10. Repurchase at the Option of the Company.

      (a) To the extent the  Grantee  shall not have  previously  exercised  its
rights under Section 9, at the written request of Issuer made at any time during
the 135-day  period  commencing  at the  expiration  of the 135-day  periods for
exercise of rights under Section 9 (the "Call  Period"),  Issuer may  repurchase
from the  Holder,  and the  Holder  shall  sell,  or cause to be sold to Issuer,
three-quarters (but not less than  three-quarters) of the shares of Common Stock
acquired by the Holder  pursuant hereto and with respect to which the Holder has
ownership  at the time of such  repurchase  at a price  per  share  equal to the
greater of (A) the  market/offer  price (as  defined  in  Section 9,  except all
references to any repurchase notice shall instead be to the written request made
by Issuer  pursuant to this Section 10(a)) and (B) the Option Price per share in
respect of the shares so acquired  (the  higher of such per share  prices in (A)
and (B)  multiplied  by the number of shares of Common  Stock to be  repurchased
pursuant to this Section 10 being herein called the "Call  Consideration").  The
date on which the Company exercises its rights under this Section 10 is referred
to as the "Call Date."

      (b) If the Company  exercises  its rights  under this  Section 10,  Issuer
shall,  within three  business days pay the Call  Consideration  in  immediately
available funds and the Holder shall surrender to Issuer certificates evidencing
the shares of Common Stock purchased hereunder,  and the Holder shall warrant to
Issuer  that,  immediately  prior to the  repurchase  thereof  pursuant  to this
Section 10, the Holder had sole record and  beneficial  ownership of such shares
and that such shares were then held free and clear of all material liens.

      (c) To the extent that the Holder shall  exercise  the Option,  the Holder
shall,  unless the Holder shall exercise its rights under Section 9 to cause the
repurchase  of the  Option  Shares,  or  Issuer  shall  exercise  its  rights to


                                       9
<PAGE>


repurchase the Option Shares under this Section 10, retain sole ownership of the
Option Shares acquired through the end of the Call Period.

      11. First Refusal.  Subject to the provisions of Sections 9 and 10 herein,
at any time after the first  occurrence  of a Triggering  Event and prior to the
second  anniversary  of the first purchase of shares of Common Stock pursuant to
the Option,  if the Holder shall desire to sell,  assign,  transfer or otherwise
dispose of all or any of the Option  Shares or other  securities  acquired by it
pursuant to the  Option,  it shall give Issuer  written  notice of the  proposed
transaction  (an  "Offeror's  Notice"),  identifying  the  proposed  transferee,
accompanied  by a copy of a  binding  offer to  purchase  such  shares  or other
securities signed by such transferee and setting forth the terms of the proposed
transaction.  An  Offeror's  Notice  shall be deemed  an offer by the  Holder to
Issuer, which may be accepted, in whole but not in part, within 20 business days
of the receipt of such Offeror's Notice, on the same terms and conditions and at
the same price at which  Issuer is  proposing  to transfer  such shares or other
securities  to such  transferee.  The  purchase  of any  such  shares  or  other
securities by Issuer shall be settled within 20 business days of the date of the
acceptance  of the offer and the  purchase  price shall be paid to the Holder in
immediately  available funds. If Issuer shall fail or refuse to purchase all the
shares or other  securities  covered by an  Offeror's  Notice,  the Holder  may,
within 60 days from the date of the  Offeror's  Notice,  sell all,  but not less
than all, of such shares or other  securities  to the proposed  transferee at no
less than the price  specified  and on terms no more  favorable  than  those set
forth in the Offeror's Notice;  provided,  however,  that the provisions of this
sentence  shall not limit the rights the Holder may otherwise have if Issuer has
accepted the offer contained in the Offeror's  Notice and wrongfully  refuses to
purchase the shares or other  securities  subject  thereto.  The requirements of
this Section 11 shall not apply to (a) any  disposition as a result of which the
proposed  transferee  would own beneficially not more than 2% of the outstanding
voting power of Issuer,  (b) any disposition of Common Stock or other securities
by a Person to whom the Holder has assigned its rights under the Option with the
consent of Issuer,  (c) any sale by means of a public offering  registered under
the  Securities  Act or (d) any  transfer to a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of the
Holder which agrees in writing to be bound by the terms hereof.

      12.  Extension of Exercise  Periods.  The 135-day  periods for exercise of
certain rights under Sections 2 and 9 shall be extended in each such case at the
request of the Holder to the extent  necessary to avoid  liability by the Holder
under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Section
16(b)"),  by  reason of such  exercise.  Furthermore,  in the event the  Company
exercises its rights under Section 10, the Holder may defer the Call Date to the
extent necessary to avoid liability by the Holder under Section 16(b).

      13. Assignment.  Neither party may assign any of its rights or obligations
under this  Agreement  or the Option to any other  person  without  the  express
written consent of the other party. Any attempted assignment in contravention of
the preceding sentence shall be null and void.



                                       10
<PAGE>


      14. Filings;  Other Actions.  The parties hereto will use their reasonable
best  efforts to make all filings  with,  and to obtain  consents  of, all third
parties and  governmental  authorities  necessary  for the  consummation  of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

      15. Specific Performance. The parties acknowledge that damages would be an
inadequate  remedy for a breach of this  Agreement  by either party and that the
obligations of the parties shall be specifically  enforceable through injunctive
or other equitable relief.

      16.  Severability.  If  any  term,  provision,  covenant,  or  restriction
contained in this Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state  regulatory
agency of competent  jurisdiction  to be invalid,  void, or  unenforceable,  the
remainder of the terms,  provisions,  covenants,  and restrictions  contained in
this  Agreement  shall  remain in full force and effect,  and shall in no way be
affected,  impaired, or invalidated.  If for any reason such court or regulatory
agency determines that the Holder is not permitted to acquire,  or Issuer is not
permitted  to  repurchase  pursuant  to  Sections 9, 10 or 11 the full number of
shares of Common Stock  provided in Section 1(a) of this  Agreement (as adjusted
pursuant to Sections 1(b) and 7 of this Agreement),  it is the express intention
of Issuer to allow the Holder to acquire or to require Issuer to repurchase such
lesser  number  of  shares  as may be  permissible,  without  any  amendment  or
modification of this Agreement.

      17.  Notices.  Notices,  requests,  instructions  or other documents to be
given under this  Agreement  shall be in writing and shall be deemed given,  (i)
when  received,  if  sent  by  facsimile,  (ii)  when  delivered,  if  delivered
personally to the intended recipient,  and (iii) one business day later, if sent
by  overnight  delivery  via a  national  courier  service,  in each case at the
respective addresses of the parties set forth in the Merger Agreement.

      18. Expenses.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or
in the Merger Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by
the  party  incurring  such  expense,  including  fees and  expenses  of its own
financial consultants, investment bankers, accountants, and counsel.

      19. Entire Agreement.  This Agreement,  the Confidentiality  Agreement (as
defined in the Merger Agreement) and the Merger Agreement  constitute the entire
agreement,   and   supersede   all  other  prior   agreements,   understandings,
representations and warranties, both written and oral, between the parties, with
respect to the subject  matter of this  Agreement.  The terms and  conditions of
this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and
their respective successors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, is
intended  to confer  upon any person or entity,  other than the  parties to this
Agreement,  and their respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights or
remedies under this Agreement.



                                       11
<PAGE>


      20.  Governing Law and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial .

      (a) This Agreement shall be deemed to be made in and in all respects shall
be  interpreted,  construed and governed by and in accordance  with Delaware law
without  regard  to  the  conflict  of  law  principles  thereof.   The  parties
irrevocably and unconditionally  consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction
of the  courts of the State of  Delaware  and of the  United  States of  America
located in  Wilmington,  Delaware  (the  "Delaware  Courts") for any  litigation
arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated
by this  Agreement (and agree not to commence any  litigation  relating  thereto
except in such Delaware  Courts),  waive any objection to the laying of venue of
any such  litigation  in the Delaware  Courts and agree not to plead or claim in
any Delaware Court that such  litigation  brought therein has been brought in an
inconvenient forum.

      (b) EACH PARTY  ACKNOWLEDGES  AND AGREES  THAT ANY  CONTROVERSY  WHICH MAY
ARISE  UNDER THIS  AGREEMENT  IS LIKELY TO  INVOLVE  COMPLICATED  AND  DIFFICULT
ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY
RIGHT  SUCH  PARTY  MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL  BY JURY IN  RESPECT  OF ANY  LITIGATION
DIRECTLY OR  INDIRECTLY  ARISING OUT OF OR  RELATING TO THIS  AGREEMENT,  OR THE
TRANSACTIONS   CONTEMPLATED  BY  THIS   AGREEMENT.   EACH  PARTY  CERTIFIES  AND
ACKNOWLEDGES  THAT (i) NO  REPRESENTATIVE,  AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF THE OTHER PARTY
HAS REPRESENTED,  EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT THE OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE
EVENT OF  LITIGATION,  SEEK TO ENFORCE  THE  FOREGOING  WAIVER,  (ii) EACH PARTY
UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) EACH PARTY
MAKES THIS  WAIVER  VOLUNTARILY,  AND (iv) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN  INDUCED TO ENTER
INTO  THIS   AGREEMENT   BY,  AMONG  OTHER  THINGS,   THE  MUTUAL   WAIVERS  AND
CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 20.

      21. Captions. The Section and paragraph captions in this Agreement are for
convenience  of reference  only, do not  constitute  part of this  Agreement and
shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise  affect any of the  provisions of this
Agreement.

      22. Limitation on Profit. (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Agreement including, without limitation,  Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 hereof, in no
event  shall the  Grantee's  Total  Profit  (as  defined  herein)  exceed in the
aggregate $30 million (the "Maximum  Amount") and, if it otherwise  would exceed
such amount,  the Grantee,  at its sole election,  shall either:  (i) reduce the
number of shares of Common  Stock  subject to this  Option;  (ii) deliver to the
Issuer for cancellation Option Shares previously purchased by Grantee; (iii) pay
cash to the Issuer;  or (iv) any  combination  thereof,  so that Grantee's Total
Profit shall not exceed the Maximum  Amount  taking into  account the  foregoing
actions.



                                       12
<PAGE>


      (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this Option may
not be  exercised  for a number of shares as would,  as of the date of exercise,
result in a Notional  Total  Profit (as defined  below)  which would  exceed the
Maximum  Amount;  provided,  that nothing in this  sentence  shall  restrict any
exercise of the Option  permitted hereby on any subsequent date if such exercise
would not then be restricted by this Section 22(b).

      (c) As used in this Agreement, the "Total Profit" shall mean the aggregate
amount (before taxes) of the following:  (i) (x) the amount  received by Grantee
or  concurrently  being paid to Grantee  pursuant to Issuer's  repurchase of the
Option (or any portion  thereof) or any Option Shares pursuant to Sections 9, 10
or 11 less, in the case of any repurchase of Option  Shares,  (y) the Grantee `s
purchase  price  for  such  Option  Shares,  as the case may be and (ii) (x) the
amounts  received by Grantee or concurrently  being paid to Grantee  pursuant to
the sale of Option Shares (or any other securities into which such Option Shares
are converted or exchanged) to the Issuer or any other Person (as defined in the
Merger Agreement)  including sales made pursuant to a registration  statement or
an exemption  therefrom,  less (y) the Grantee's  purchase price for such Option
Shares.

      (d) As used in this  Agreement,  the term  "Notional  Total  Profit"  with
respect to any number of shares as to which  Grantee may propose to exercise the
Option  shall be the Total  Profit  determined  as of the date of such  proposal
assuming  that the Option were  exercised on such date for such number of shares
and assuming  that such shares,  together  with all other Option  Shares held by
Grantee and its  affiliates  as of such date,  were sold for cash at the closing
market price for the Common  Stock as of the close of business on the  preceding
trading day (less  customary  brokerage  commissions)  and including all amounts
theretofore  received or concurrently  being paid to Grantee pursuant to clauses
(i) and (ii) of the definition of Total Profit.



                                       13
<PAGE>


      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
duly  authorized  officers of the  parties as of the day and year first  written
above.



                                          PREMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.




                                          By:
                                                 ------------------------------
                                          Name:  James M. Ringler
                                          Title: Chairman of the Board, Chief
                                                 Executive Officer and President



                                          ILLINOIS TOOLWORKS INC.




                                          By:
                                                 ------------------------------
                                          Name:  W. James Farrell
                                          Title: Chairman and Chief Executive
                                                 Officer



<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT B

                              STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENT


      This   STOCKHOLDER   AGREEMENT,   dated  as  of  _______  __,  1999  (this
"Agreement")  is between  Illinois  Tool  Works  Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation
("Parent"),   and  the  undersigned   stockholder   ("Stockholder")  of  Premark
International,  Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").  Capitalized terms
not otherwise  defined in this Agreement  have the meanings  ascribed to them in
the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

                                    RECITALS

      A. Parent and the Company have entered into an Agreement and Plan
of Merger, dated as of September 9, 1999 (the "Merger  Agreement"),  pursuant to
which CS Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware  corporation and a wholly owned  subsidiary
of Parent ("Merger  Sub"),  will merge with and into the Company (the "Merger"),
with the Company  surviving the Merger and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent;

      B. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement,  at the Effective Time,  outstanding
shares of Company  Common  Stock,  including  any Company  Common Stock owned by
Stockholder, will be converted into the right to receive shares of Parent Common
Stock;

      C. It is a condition to each party's obligation to effect the Merger that
(i)  legal  counsel  to the  Company  and  Parent  shall  have  delivered  their
respective   opinions  to  the  effect  that  the  Merger  will   constitute   a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986,  as amended (the "Code"),  and Parent,  Merger Sub and the Company each
will be a party to the  reorganization  within the meaning of Section  368(b) of
the Code, (ii) Parent shall have received a letter from its  independent  public
accounting   firm  to  the  effect   that  the   Merger   should   qualify   for
"pooling-of-interests"  accounting  treatment  and (iii) the Company  shall have
received a letter from its independent  public accounting firm to the effect
that the Company is a poolable entity;

      D. The execution  and delivery of this  Agreement by  Stockholder  is a
material  inducement  to  Parent  and the  Company  to enter  into the  Merger
Agreement; and

      E.  Stockholder has been advised that  Stockholder may be deemed to be an
"affiliate" of the Company,  as such term is used (i) for purposes of paragraphs
(c)  and  (d) of  Rule  145 of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the
"Commission")  under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), or (ii)
in the Commission's Accounting Series Releases 130 and 135, as amended, although
nothing  contained herein shall be construed as an admission by Stockholder that
Stockholder is in fact an affiliate of the Company.

      NOW,  THEREFORE,  intending  to be legally  bound,  the  parties  agree as
follows:

      1.   Acknowledgments  by  Stockholder.   Stockholder   acknowledges  and
understands  that  the   representations,   warranties  and  covenants  made  by
Stockholder  set forth in this  Agreement  will be relied  upon by  Parent,  the
Company and their respective affiliates,  counsel and accounting firms, and that



<PAGE>


substantial  losses and damages may be incurred by such persons if Stockholder=s
representations, warranties or covenants are breached. Stockholder has carefully
read this  Agreement and the Merger  Agreement and has consulted with such legal
counsel  and  financial  advisers  as  Stockholder  has  deemed  appropriate  in
connection with the execution of this Agreement.

      2.   Compliance with Rule 145 and the Act.

            (a) Stockholder has been advised that (i) the issuance of shares of
Parent  Common  Stock in  connection  with the Merger is expected to be effected
pursuant to a Registration Statement filed by Parent on Form S-4, and the resale
of such shares will be subject to the  restrictions  set forth in Rule 145 under
the Act unless such shares are  otherwise  transferred  pursuant to an effective
registration   statement  under  the  Act  or  an  appropriate   exemption  from
registration,  and (ii)  Stockholder  may be  deemed to be an  affiliate  of the
Company, although nothing contained herein shall be construed as an admission by
Stockholder that Stockholder is an affiliate of the Company.  Stockholder agrees
not to sell,  pledge,  transfer  or  otherwise  dispose  of any shares of Parent
Common Stock issued to Stockholder  in the Merger unless (i) such sale,  pledge,
transfer or other  disposition is made in conformity  with the  requirements  of
Rule 145 under the Act, (ii) such sale, pledge, transfer or other disposition is
made  pursuant to an effective  registration  statement  under the Act, or (iii)
Stockholder  delivers  to  Parent a  written  opinion  of  counsel,  in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to Parent, or a "no-action" letter obtained from
the staff of the Commission,  to the effect that such sale, pledge,  transfer or
other disposition is otherwise exempt from registration under the Act.

            (b) Parent will give stop  transfer  instructions  to its  transfer
agent with respect to any Parent Common Stock received by  Stockholder  pursuant
to the Merger,  and there will be placed on the certificates  representing  such
Parent  Common  Stock,  or  any  substitutions  therefor,   legends  stating  in
substance:

      "THE SHARES  REPRESENTED  BY THIS  CERTIFICATE  WERE ISSUED  PURSUANT TO A
      BUSINESS  COMBINATION  WHICH  IS  BEING  ACCOUNTED  FOR  AS A  POOLING  OF
      INTERESTS,  IN A  TRANSACTION  TO WHICH  RULE 145  PROMULGATED  UNDER  THE
      SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 APPLIES,  AND MAY ONLY BE TRANSFERRED IN CONFORMITY
      WITH RULE 145,  PURSUANT TO AN  EFFECTIVE  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT,  OR IN
      ACCORDANCE WITH A WRITTEN OPINION OF COUNSEL, REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE
      ISSUER,  IN FORM AND  SUBSTANCE TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS EXEMPT
      FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. SUCH SHARES MAY NOT BE
      TRANSFERRED  UNTIL  SUCH TIME AS PARENT  SHALL  HAVE  PUBLISHED  FINANCIAL
      RESULTS  COVERING AT LEAST 30 DAYS OF COMBINED  OPERATIONS  FOLLOWING  THE
      MERGER WITH THE COMPANY."

      and

      "THE SHARES  REPRESENTED  BY THIS  CERTIFICATE  MAY NOT BE OFFERED,  SOLD,
      PLEDGED,  TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE  DISPOSED OF EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE  WITH
      THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE STOCKHOLDER  AGREEMENT
      DATED AS OF _______ __, 1999  BETWEEN THE HOLDER OF THIS  CERTIFICATE  AND
      PARENT,  A COPY OF WHICH  AGREEMENT MAY BE INSPECTED BY THE HOLDER OF THIS
      CERTIFICATE  AT THE PRINCIPAL  OFFICES OF PARENT OR FURNISHED BY PARENT TO
      THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE."

The  legends set forth  above  shall be removed  (by  delivery  of a  substitute
certificate  without such  legends),  and Parent shall  promptly so instruct its
transfer  agent, if a registration  statement  respecting the sale of the shares
has  been  declared  effective  under  the  Act or if  Parent  is  provided  (i)


                                       2
<PAGE>


satisfactory  written evidence that the shares have been sold in compliance with
Rule 145 (in which case, the substitute  certificate  will be issued in the name
of the transferee), (ii) an opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to Parent,  or (iii) a "no-action" letter obtained from the staff of
the Commission to the effect that sale of the shares by the holder thereof is no
longer subject to Rule 145 or  Stockholder  was not at the time of the Merger an
affiliate of the Company.

      (3.) Covenants Related to Pooling of Interests.

            (a)  During the period  beginning  on the date 30 days prior to the
Closing  Date (as defined in the Merger  Agreement)  and ending on the day after
Parent has published  (within the meaning of Section 201.01 of the  Commission=s
Codification of Financial  Reporting  Policies)  financial  results  covering at
least 30 days of  combined  operations  following  the  Merger of Parent and the
Company  (the  "Restricted  Period"),   Stockholder  will  not  sell,  exchange,
transfer,  pledge,  distribute  or  otherwise  dispose  of or grant any  option,
establish any "short" or "put"-equivalent position with respect to or enter into
any similar transaction  (through  derivatives or otherwise) intended to have or
having the effect, directly or indirectly,  or reducing its risk relative to (i)
any shares of Company  Common Stock owned by  Stockholder  or (ii) any shares of
Parent Common Stock received by Stockholder in connection  with the Merger.  The
parties  acknowledge  that sales of Parent Common Stock  issuable on exercise of
stock options  solely to provide for payment of the exercise price of such stock
options  simultaneously  with the  exercise  of such  stock  options  shall  not
constitute  such  reduction  of  relative  risk.  The  foregoing  does not cover
withholding taxes, which would constitute a reduction of risk.

            (b)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained in Section
3(a), Stockholder will be permitted, during the Restricted Period, (ii) to sell,
exchange,  transfer,  pledge,  distribute  or otherwise  dispose of or grant any
option,  establish any "short" or  "put"-equivalent  position with respect to or
enter into any similar transaction  (through  derivatives or otherwise) intended
to have or having the effect,  directly  or  indirectly,  of  reducing  its risk
relative to any shares of Company  Common Stock or Parent Common Stock  received
by Stockholder in connection with the Merger (a "Transfer")  equal to the lesser
of (A) 10% of the Company Common Stock, or equivalent  post-Merger Parent Common
Stock,  owned by Stockholder and (B) Stockholder's pro rata portion of 1% of the
total  number of  outstanding  shares of Company  Common  Stock,  or  equivalent
post-Merger Parent Common Stock, owned by Stockholder and all other stockholders
of the Company (in each of clause (A) and clause (B) above as measured as of the
date of such  Transfer  and  subject  to  confirmation  of such  calculation  by
Parent),  and (ii) to make bona fide charitable  contributions  or gifts of such
securities;  provided,  however,  that  the  transferee(s)  of  such  charitable
contributions  or gifts  agree(s)  in  writing to hold such  securities  for the
period specified in Section 3(a).

      4. Miscellaneous.

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

            (b) This Agreement  shall be enforceable by, and shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon, the parties and their respective  successors and
assigns.  As used in this  Agreement,  the term  "successors and assigns" means,
where the context to permits,  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  trustees and
successor trustees, and personal and other representatives.



                                       3
<PAGE>


            (c)  This  Agreement  shall  be  deemed  to be  made  in and in all
respects shall be interpreted,  construed and governed by and in accordance with
Delaware  law without  regard to the  conflict of law  principles  thereof.  The
parties  irrevocably  and  unconditionally  consent  to submit to the  exclusive
jurisdiction  of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the United States of
America  located  in  Wilmington,  Delaware  (the  "Delaware  Courts")  for  any
litigation  arising out of or relating to this  Agreement  and the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement  (and  agree  not to  commence  any  litigation
relating  thereto  except in such Delaware  Courts),  waive any objection to the
laying of venue of any such  litigation in the Delaware  Courts and agree not to
plead or claim in any Delaware Court that such  litigation  brought  therein has
been brought in an inconvenient forum.

            (d) If any term,  provision,  covenant, or restriction contained in
this  Agreement  is held by a court or a federal or state  regulatory  agency of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid,  void, or unenforceable,  the remainder of
the terms,  provisions,  covenants, and restrictions contained in this Agreement
shall  remain  in full  force  and  effect,  and  shall  in no way be  affected,
impaired, or invalidated.

            (e)  Counsel  to and  accountants  for the  parties  to the  Merger
Agreement shall be entitled to rely upon this Agreement as needed.

            (f) This Agreement  shall not be modified or amended,  or any right
waived or any obligations excused,  except by a written agreement signed by both
parties.

            (g)   Notwithstanding   any  other  provision   contained  in  this
Agreement,  this  Agreement  and all  obligations  under  this  Agreement  shall
terminate upon the  termination of the Merger  Agreement in accordance  with its
terms.

            (h) From and after the Effective  Time of the Merger and as long as
is necessary in order to permit  Stockholder to sell Parent Common Stock held by
Stockholder  pursuant to Rule 145 and, to the extent applicable,  Rule 144 under
the Act, Parent will file on a timely basis all reports  required to be filed by
it pursuant to the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and the rules
and  regulations  thereunder,  as the same  shall be in effect at the time,  and
shall otherwise make available adequate public  information  regarding Parent in
such manner as may be required to satisfy the  requirements  of paragraph (c) of
Rule 144 under the Act.



                                       4
<PAGE>


      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed as of the date first stated
above.




<PAGE>


                                                 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.,
                                                 a Delaware corporation

                                                 By:
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:

                                                 STOCKHOLDER

                                                 By:
                                                 Name:
                                                 Name of Signatory
                                                 (if different from name of
                                                 Stockholder):



                                                 Title of Signatory
                                                 (if applicable):
                                                 Number of Shares Owned:
                                                 Number of Shares Issuable upon
                                                 Exercise of Stock Options:


<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT C

                              STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENT

      This   STOCKHOLDER   AGREEMENT,   dated  as  of  _______  __,  1999  (this
"Agreement"), is by and between Illinois Tool Works Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Parent"),   and  the  undersigned   stockholder   ("Stockholder")  of  Parent.
Capitalized  terms not  otherwise  defined in this  Agreement  have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

                                    RECITALS

      A. Parent and Premark International, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"),  have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
September  9, 1999 (the  "Merger  Agreement"),  pursuant  to which CS Merger Sub
Inc., a Delaware  corporation  and a wholly owned  subsidiary of Parent ("Merger
Sub"),  will merge with and into the Company  (the  "Merger"),  with the Company
surviving the Merger and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent;

      B. It is a condition  to the  effectiveness  of the Merger that (i) legal
counsel to Parent and the Company shall have delivered their respective opinions
to the effect  that the  Merger  will  constitute  a  reorganization  within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code")  and  Parent,  Merger  Sub and the  Company  each will be a party to the
reorganization  within the  meaning of Section  368(b) of the Code,  (ii) Parent
shall have received a letter from its independent  public accounting firm to the
effect  that the Merger  should  qualify for  "pooling-of-interests"  accounting
treatment  and  (iii)  the  Company  shall  have  received  a  letter  from  its
independent  public accounting firm to the effect that the Company is a poolable
entity;

      C. The execution  and delivery of this  Agreement by  Stockholder  is a
material  inducement  to  Parent  and the  Company  to enter  into the  Merger
Agreement; and

      D.  Stockholder has been advised that  Stockholder may be deemed to be an
"affiliate"  of  Parent,  as such  term is used in the  Commission's  Accounting
Series Releases 130 and 135, as amended, although nothing contained herein shall
be  construed  as an admission by  Stockholder  that  Stockholder  is in fact an
affiliate of Parent.

      NOW,  THEREFORE,  intending  to be legally  bound,  the  parties  agree as
follows:

      1.   Acknowledgments  by  Stockholder.   Stockholder   acknowledges  and
understands  that  the   representations,   warranties  and  covenants  made  by
Stockholder  set forth in this  Agreement  will be relied  upon by the  Company,
Parent and their respective  affiliates,  counsel and accounting firms, and that
substantial  losses and damages may be incurred by such persons if Stockholder's
representations, warranties or covenants are breached. Stockholder has carefully
read this  Agreement and the Merger  Agreement and has consulted with such legal
counsel  and  financial  advisers  as  Stockholder  has  deemed  appropriate  in
connection with the execution of this Agreement.




<PAGE>


      2.   Covenants Related to Pooling of Interests.

            (a)  During the period  beginning  on the date 30 days prior to the
Closing  Date (as defined in the Merger  Agreement)  and ending on the day after
Parent has published  (within the meaning of Section 201.01 of the  Commission's
Codification of Financial  Reporting  Policies)  financial  results  covering at
least 30 days of  combined  operations  following  the Merger of the Company and
Parent (the "Restricted Period"), Stockholder will not sell, exchange, transfer,
pledge,  distribute or otherwise  dispose of or grant any option,  establish any
"short" or  "put"-equivalent  position with respect to or enter into any similar
transaction  (through  derivatives or otherwise)  intended to have or having the
effect,  directly or indirectly,  of reducing its risk relative to any shares of
Parent Common Stock owned by Stockholder.  The parties acknowledge that sales of
Parent Common Stock  issuable on exercise of stock options solely to provide for
payment of the  exercise  price of such stock  options  simultaneously  with the
exercise of such stock options shall not constitute  such reduction of relative
risk.

            (b)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained in Section
2(a), Stockholder will be permitted,  during the Restricted Period, (i) to sell,
exchange,  transfer,  pledge,  distribute  or otherwise  dispose of or grant any
option,  establish any "short" or  "put"-equivalent  position with respect to or
enter into any similar transaction  (through  derivatives or otherwise) intended
to have or having the effect,  directly  or  indirectly,  of  reducing  its risk
relative  to  any  shares  of  Parent  Common  Stock  owned  by  Stockholder  (a
"Transfer")  equal to the lesser of (A) 10% of the Parent  Common Stock owned by
Stockholder and (B)  Stockholder's pro rata portion of 1% of the total number of
outstanding  shares of Parent  Common Stock owned by  Stockholder  and all other
stockholders  of Parent (in each of clause (A) and clause (B) above as  measured
as of the date of such Transfer and subject to confirmation of such  calculation
by Parent), and (ii) to make bona fide charitable contributions or gifts of such
securities;  provided,  however,  that  the  transferee(s)  of  such  charitable
contributions  or gifts  agree(s)  in  writing to hold such  securities  for the
period  specified in Section  2(a).  The  foregoing  does not cover  withholding
taxes, which would constitute a reduction of risk.

      3. Miscellaneous.

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

            (b) This Agreement  shall be enforceable by, and shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon, the parties and their respective  successors and
assigns.  As used in this  Agreement,  the term  "successors and assigns" means,
where the context so permits,  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  trustees and
successor trustees, and personal and other representatives.

            (c)  This  Agreement  shall  be  deemed  to be  made  in and in all
respects shall be interpreted,  construed and governed by and in accordance with
Delaware  law without  regard to the  conflict of law  principles  thereof.  The
parties  irrevocably  and  unconditionally  consent  to submit to the  exclusive
jurisdiction  of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the United States of
America  located  in  Wilmington,  Delaware  (the  "Delaware  Courts")  for  any
litigation  arising out of or relating to this  Agreement  and the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement  (and  agree  not to  commence  any  litigation
relating  thereto  except in such Delaware  Courts),  waive any objection to the
laying of venue of any such  litigation in the Delaware  Courts and agree not to
plead or claim in any Delaware Court that such  litigation  brought  therein has
been brought in an inconvenient forum.



                                       2
<PAGE>


      (d) If any term,  provision,  covenant,  or restriction contained in this
Agreement  is held  by a court  or a  federal  or  state  regulatory  agency  of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid,  void, or unenforceable,  the remainder of
the terms,  provisions,  covenants, and restrictions contained in this Agreement
shall  remain  in full  force  and  effect,  and  shall  in no way be  affected,
impaired, or invalidated.

      (e) Counsel to and accountants for the parties to the Merger Agreement
shall be entitled to rely upon this Agreement as needed.

      (f) This Agreement shall not be modified or amended,  or any right waived
or any obligation excused, except by a written agreement signed by both parties.

      (g) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, this
Agreement and all  obligations  under this  Agreement  shall  terminate upon the
termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms.




<PAGE>


      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed as of the date first stated
above.





                                        ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.,
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        By:
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                        Stockholder

                                        By:
                                        Name:
                                        Name of Signatory
                                        (if different from name of Stockholder):



                                        Title of Signatory
                                        (if applicable):
                                        Number of Shares Owned:
                                        Number of Shares Issuable upon
                                        Exercise of Stock Options:


<PAGE>


                                   EXHIBIT C-1

                              STOCKHOLDER AGREEMENT

      This   STOCKHOLDER   AGREEMENT,   dated  as  of  _______  __,  1999  (this
"Agreement"),  is  by  and  between  Illinois  Tool  Works  Inc.  ,  a  Delaware
corporation  ("Parent"),  and the  undersigned  stockholder  ("Stockholder")  of
Parent.  Capitalized  terms not  otherwise  defined in this  Agreement  have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

                                    RECITALS

      A. Parent and Premark International, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"),  have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
September  9, 1999 (the  "Merger  Agreement"),  pursuant  to which CS Merger Sub
Inc., a Delaware  corporation  and a wholly owned  subsidiary of Parent ("Merger
Sub"),  will merge with and into the Company  (the  "Merger"),  with the Company
surviving the Merger and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent;

      B. It is a condition  to the  effectiveness  of the Merger that (i) legal
counsel to Parent and the Company shall have delivered their respective opinions
to the effect  that the  Merger  will  constitute  a  reorganization  within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code")  and  Parent,  Merger  Sub and the  Company  each will be a party to the
reorganization  within the  meaning of Section  368(b) of the Code,  (ii) Parent
shall have received a letter from its independent  public accounting firm to the
effect  that the Merger  should  qualify for  "pooling-of-interests"  accounting
treatment  and  (iii)  the  Company  shall  have  received  a  letter  from  its
independent  public accounting firm to the effect that the Company is a poolable
entity;


      C. The execution  and delivery of this  Agreement by  Stockholder  is a
material  inducement  to  Parent  and the  Company  to enter  into the  Merger
Agreement; and

      D.  Stockholder has been advised that  Stockholder may be deemed to be an
"affiliate"  of  Parent,  as such  term is used in the  Commission's  Accounting
Series Releases 130 and 135, as amended, although nothing contained herein shall
be  construed  as an admission by  Stockholder  that  Stockholder  is in fact an
affiliate of Parent.

      NOW,  THEREFORE,  intending  to be legally  bound,  the  parties  agree as
follows:

      1.   Acknowledgments  by  Stockholder.   Stockholder   acknowledges  and
understands  that  the   representations,   warranties  and  covenants  made  by
Stockholder  set forth in this  Agreement  will be relied  upon by the  Company,
Parent and their respective  affiliates,  counsel and accounting firms, and that
substantial  losses and damages may be incurred by such persons if Stockholder's
representations, warranties or covenants are breached. Stockholder has carefully
read this  Agreement and the Merger  Agreement and has consulted with such legal
counsel  and  financial  advisers  as  Stockholder  has  deemed  appropriate  in
connection with the execution of this Agreement.




<PAGE>


      2.   Covenants Related to Pooling of Interests.

            (a)  During the period  beginning  on the date 30 days prior to the
Closing  Date (as defined in the Merger  Agreement)  and ending on the day after
Parent has published  (within the meaning of Section 201.01 of the  Commission's
Codification of Financial  Reporting  Policies)  financial  results  covering at
least 30 days of  combined  operations  following  the Merger of the Company and
Parent (the "Restricted Period"), Stockholder will not sell, exchange, transfer,
pledge,  distribute or otherwise  dispose of or grant any option,  establish any
"short" or  "put"-equivalent  position with respect to or enter into any similar
transaction  (through  derivatives or otherwise)  intended to have or having the
effect,  directly or indirectly,  of reducing its risk relative to any shares of
Parent Common Stock owned by Stockholder.  The parties acknowledge that sales of
Parent Common Stock  issuable on exercise of stock options solely to provide for
payment of the  exercise  price of such stock  options  simultaneously  with the
exercise of such stock options shall not  constitute  such reduction of relative
risk.

            (b)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained in Section
2(a), Stockholder will be permitted,  during the Restricted Period, (i) to sell,
exchange,  transfer,  pledge,  distribute  or otherwise  dispose of or grant any
option,  establish any "short" or  "put"-equivalent  position with respect to or
enter into any similar transaction  (through  derivatives or otherwise) intended
to have or having the effect,  directly  or  indirectly,  of  reducing  its risk
relative  to  any  shares  of  Parent  Common  Stock  owned  by  Stockholder  (a
"Transfer")  equal to the lesser of (A) 10% of the Parent  Common Stock owned by
Stockholder and (B)  Stockholder=s pro rata portion of 1% of the total number of
outstanding  shares of Parent  Common Stock owned by  Stockholder  and all other
stockholders  of Parent (in each of clause (A) and clause (B) above as  measured
as of the date of such Transfer and subject to confirmation of such  calculation
by Parent), and (ii) to make bona fide charitable contributions or gifts of such
securities;  provided,  however,  that  the  transferee(s)  of  such  charitable
contributions  or gifts  agree(s)  in  writing to hold such  securities  for the
period  specified in Section  2(a).  The  foregoing  does not cover  withholding
taxes, which would constitute a reduction of risk.

      3. Covenants Related to Voting.  The Stockholder agrees that all of the
shares of Parent Common Stock  directly  owned by the  Stockholder at the record
date for any meeting of  stockholders  of Parent  called to consider and vote to
approve the  issuance  (the  "Issuance")  of Parent  Common  Stock in the Merger
and/or the  transactions  relating  thereto will be voted by the  Stockholder in
favor of the Issuance. In addition, the Stockholder agrees to use all reasonable
efforts,  subject to his fiduciary duties as trustee,  to cause the trusts as to
which he is a trustee to vote the shares of Parent Common Stock  directly  owned
by such trusts in favor of the Issuance.

      4.   Miscellaneous.

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

            (b) This Agreement  shall be enforceable by, and shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon, the parties and their respective  successors and
assigns.  As used in this  Agreement,  the term  "successors and assigns" means,
where the context so permits,  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  trustees and
successor trustees, and personal and other representatives.



                                       2
<PAGE>


     (c) This Agreement shall be deemed to be made in and in all respects shall
be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with Delaware law
without regard to the conflict of law principles thereof. The parties
irrevocably and unconditionally consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction
of the courts of the State of Delaware and of the United States of America
located in Wilmington, Delaware (the "Delaware Courts") for any litigation
arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement (and agree not to commence any litigation relating thereto
except in such Delaware Courts), waive any objection to the laying of venue of
any such litigation in the Delaware Courts and agree not to plead or claim in
any Delaware Court that such litigation brought therein has been brought in an
inconvenient forum.

      (d) If any term,  provision,  covenant,  or restriction contained in this
Agreement  is held  by a court  or a  federal  or  state  regulatory  agency  of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid,  void, or unenforceable,  the remainder of
the terms,  provisions,  covenants, and restrictions contained in this Agreement
shall  remain  in full  force  and  effect,  and  shall  in no way be  affected,
impaired, or invalidated.

      (e) Counsel to and  accountants  for the parties to the Merger  Agreement
shall be entitled to rely upon this Agreement as needed.

      (f) This Agreement shall not be modified or amended,  or any right waived
or any obligation excused, except by a written agreement signed by both parties.

      (g) Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, this
Agreement and all  obligations  under this  Agreement  shall  terminate upon the
termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms.



                                       3
<PAGE>


      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed as of the date first stated
above.

                                        ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.,
                                        a Delaware corporation

                                        By:
                                        Name:
                                        Title:

                                        Stockholder

                                        By:
                                        Name:
                                        Name of Signatory
                                        (if different from name of Stockholder):



                                        Title of Signatory
                                        (if applicable):
                                        Number of Shares Owned:
                                        Number of Shares Issuable upon
                                        Excise of Stock Options




                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


      This  STOCK  OPTION  AGREEMENT,  dated  as  of  September  9,  1999  (this
"Agreement"),  is between PREMARK  INTERNATIONAL,  INC., a Delaware  corporation
("Issuer"), and ILLINOIS TOOLWORKS INC., a Delaware corporation ("Grantee").


                                    RECITALS

      A.  The Merger  Agreement.  Prior to the entry into this Agreement and
prior to the grant of the Option (as defined in Section 1(a)), Issuer,  Grantee,
and CS Merger Sub Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Grantee ("Merger Sub") have
entered  into an  Agreement  and  Plan of  Merger,  dated as of the date of this
Agreement (the "Merger Agreement"),  pursuant to which Grantee and Issuer intend
to effect a merger of Merger Sub with and into Issuer (the "Merger").

      B.  The Stock Option  Agreement.  As an  inducement  and  condition to
Grantee's and Merger Sub's willingness to enter into the Merger  Agreement,  and
in  consideration  thereof,  the board of  directors  of Issuer has approved the
grant to Grantee of the Option pursuant to this Agreement and the acquisition of
Common Stock (as defined below) by Grantee pursuant to this Agreement; provided,
that such grant was  expressly  conditioned  upon,  and made of no effect  until
after,  execution  and delivery by Issuer,  Grantee and Merger Sub of the Merger
Agreement.

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

      1.  The Option.  (a) Issuer  hereby  grants to Grantee an  irrevocable
option (the  "Option") to purchase,  subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, up to 12,203,694 fully paid and nonassessable shares of common stock,
$1.00 par value per share  ("Common  Stock"),  of Issuer at a price per share in
cash equal to $34.06 (the "Option Price");  provided,  however, that in no event
shall the number of shares for which the Option is  exercisable  exceed 19.9% of
the  shares of Common  Stock  issued  and  outstanding  at the time of  exercise
(without  giving  effect to the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable  under
the  Option)  (the  "Maximum  Applicable  Percentage").  The number of shares of
Common Stock  purchasable  upon  exercise of the Option and the Option Price are
subject to adjustment as set forth in this Agreement.

      (b) In the event that any additional  shares of Common Stock are issued or
otherwise  become  outstanding  after  the date of this  Agreement  (other  than
pursuant to this  Agreement),  the



<PAGE>


aggregate number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of the
Option (inclusive of shares, if any, previously purchased upon exercise of the
Option) shall automatically be increased (without any further action on the part
of Issuer or Grantee being necessary) so that, after such issuance, it equals
the Maximum Applicable Percentage. Any such increase shall not affect the Option
Price.

      2. Exercise;  Closing.  (a)  Conditions  to  Exercise;  Termination.
Grantee  (sometimes  referred to as the  "Holder")  may exercise the Option,  in
whole or in part, by delivering a written  notice thereof as provided in Section
2(d) within 135 days following the occurrence of a Triggering  Event (as defined
in Section 2(b)) unless prior to such  Triggering  Event the Effective  Time (as
defined in the Merger  Agreement)  shall have  occurred or the Option shall have
terminated in accordance with the following  sentence.  If no notice pursuant to
the  preceding  sentence  has been  delivered  prior  thereto,  the Option shall
terminate upon either (i) the occurrence of the Effective Time or (ii) the close
of business  on the earlier of (x) the day 135 days after the date that  Grantee
becomes  entitled  to  receive  the  Termination  Fee (as  defined in the Merger
Agreement)  under Section  8.5(b) of the Merger  Agreement and (y) the date that
Grantee is no longer  potentially  entitled to receive the Termination Fee under
Section 8.5(b) of the Merger  Agreement for a reason other than that Grantee has
already received the Termination Fee.

      (b)  Triggering  Event.  A  "Triggering  Event" shall have occurred if the
Merger Agreement is terminated and Grantee shall have become entitled to receive
the Termination Fee pursuant to Section 8.5(b) of the Merger Agreement.

      (c) Notice of Triggering Event by Issuer. Issuer shall notify Grantee
promptly in writing of the occurrence of any Triggering Event, it being
understood that the giving of such notice by Issuer shall not be a condition to
the right of the Holder to exercise the Option.

      (d) Notice of Exercise by Grantee.  If the Holder shall be entitled to and
wishes to  exercise  the Option,  it shall send to Issuer a written  notice (the
date of which is referred to in this Agreement as the "Notice Date")  specifying
(i) the total  number of shares that the Holder will  purchase  pursuant to such
exercise  and (ii) a place and date (a "Closing  Date") not  earlier  than three
business  days nor later  than 20  business  days from the  Notice  Date for the
closing of such purchase (a "Closing");  provided, that if the Closing cannot be
effected by reason of the application of any laws, (x) the Holder or Issuer,  as
required,  promptly  after the giving of such  notice  shall  file the  required
notice,  report,  filing or  application  for approval  and shall  expeditiously
process  the same and (y) the  Closing  Date shall be extended to not later than
the  tenth   business  day  following  the  expiration  or  termination  of  the
restriction imposed by such law. Each of the Holder and the Issuer agrees to use
its reasonable best efforts to cooperate with and provide  information to Issuer
or Holder,  as the case may be, for the purpose of any required notice,  report,
filing or application for approval.



                                       2
<PAGE>


      (e) Payment of Purchase  Price.  At each Closing,  the Holder shall pay to
Issuer the  aggregate  purchase  price for the shares of Common Stock  purchased
pursuant to the exercise of the Option in immediately  available funds by a wire
transfer to a bank  account  designated  by Issuer;  provided,  that  failure or
refusal of Issuer to designate such a bank account shall not preclude the Holder
from exercising the Option, in whole or in part.

      (f) Delivery of Common  Stock.  At such Closing,  simultaneously  with the
payment of the purchase price by the Holder,  Issuer shall deliver to the Holder
a certificate or certificates  representing the number of shares of Common Stock
purchased  by the Holder and, if the Option  shall be  exercised in part only, a
new Option  evidencing  the rights of the Holder to  purchase  the  balance  (as
adjusted  pursuant  to  Section  1(b))  of  the  shares  of  Common  Stock  then
purchasable under this Agreement and the Holder shall deliver to the Company its
written agreement that the Holder will not offer to sell or otherwise dispose of
such shares of Common Stock in violation of law or this Agreement.

      (g)  Restrictive  Legend.  Certificates  for Common  Stock  delivered at a
Closing  shall  be  endorsed   with  a   restrictive   legend  that  shall  read
substantially as follows:

            "The  transfer  of the shares  represented  by this  certificate  is
      subject to resale  restrictions  arising under the Securities Act of 1933,
      as amended, and pursuant to the terms of a Stock Option Agreement dated as
      of  September 9, 1999.  A copy of such  agreement  will be provided to the
      holder  hereof  without  charge  upon  receipt by the Company of a written
      request therefor."

It is understood  and agreed that the above legend shall be removed,  insofar as
it  refers  to  the   Securities   Act  of  1933,   by  delivery  of  substitute
certificate(s)  without  such  reference  to the  Securities  Act of 1933 if the
Holder  shall have  delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or a written opinion of counsel, in form and
substance  reasonably  satisfactory to Issuer, to the effect that such reference
is not  required  for purposes of the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the
"Securities Act"). In addition, such certificates shall bear any other legend as
may be required by applicable law.

      3. Covenants  of Issuer.  In  addition to its other  agreements  and
covenants in this Agreement, Issuer agrees:

            (a)  Shares  Reserved  for  Issuance.  It will  maintain,  free from
      preemptive rights,  sufficient  authorized but unissued or treasury shares
      of Common Stock to issue the appropriate  number of shares of Common Stock
      pursuant  to the terms of this  Agreement  so that the Option may be fully
      exercised  without  additional  authorization of Common Stock after giving
      effect to all other options,  warrants,  convertible  securities and other
      rights of third parties to purchase shares of Common Stock from Issuer.



                                       3
<PAGE>


            (b) No Avoidance. It will not avoid or seek to avoid (whether by
      charter amendment or through reorganization, consolidation, merger,
      issuance of rights, dissolution or sale of assets, or by any other
      voluntary act) the observance or performance of any of the covenants,
      agreements or conditions to be observed or performed under this
      Agreement by Issuer.

            (c) Further  Assurances.  After the date of this Agreement,  it will
      promptly take all actions as may from time to time be required  (including
      (i) complying with all applicable  premerger  notification,  reporting and
      waiting  period   requirements  under  the   Hart-Scott-Rodino   Antitrust
      Improvements  Act of 1976,  as  amended  and (ii) in the event  that prior
      notice, report, filing or approval with respect to any Governmental Entity
      is necessary under any applicable foreign or United States federal,  state
      or local law before the Option may be  exercised,  cooperating  fully with
      the Holder in  preparing  and  processing  the  required  applications  or
      notices)  in order to  permit  each  Holder to  exercise  the  Option  and
      purchase  shares of Common Stock pursuant to such exercise  subject to the
      terms and conditions hereof.

            (d) Stock Exchange Listing.  It will use its reasonable best efforts
      to cause the shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Option to
      be approved for listing (to the extent they are not already listed) on the
      New York Stock  Exchange  ("NYSE"),  if the Common Stock is then listed on
      the NYSE, and on all other stock exchanges on which shares of Common Stock
      of the Issuer are then listed, subject to official notice of issuance.

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

            (a)   Merger   Agreement.   Issuer   hereby   makes   each   of  the
      representations and warranties contained in Section 5.1(a), (b), (c), (d),
      (j) and (s) of the Merger  Agreement  to the extent  they relate to Issuer
      and this  Agreement,  as if such  representations  were set  forth in this
      Agreement.

            (b) Shares  Reserved for Issuance;  Capital Stock.  Issuer has taken
      all  necessary  corporate  action  to  authorize  and  reserve,  free from
      preemptive  rights,  and  permit it to issue,  sufficient  authorized  but
      unissued  or  treasury  shares of Common  Stock so that the  Option may be
      fully exercised  without  additional  authorization  of Common Stock after
      giving effect to all other options,  warrants,  convertible securities and
      other  rights of third  parties to  purchase  shares of Common  Stock from
      Issuer, and all such shares, upon issuance pursuant to the Option, will be
      duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and will be
      delivered free and clear of all claims, liens, encumbrances,  and security
      interests  (other than those created by this Agreement) and not subject to
      any  preemptive  rights.



                                       4
<PAGE>


     5. Representations and Warranties of Grantee. Grantee hereby makes each of
the representations and warranties contained in Section 5.2(a),(c) and (d) of
the Merger Agreement to the extent they relate to the Grantee and this
Agreement, as if such representations were set forth in this Agreement.

     6. Exchange; Replacement. This Agreement and the Option granted by this
Agreement are exchangeable, without expense, at the option of the Holder, upon
presentation and surrender of this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer,
for other Agreements providing for Options of different denominations entitling
the holder thereof to purchase in the aggregate the same number of shares of
Common Stock purchasable at such time under this Agreement, subject to
corresponding adjustments in the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable
upon exercise so that the aggregate number of such shares under all stock option
agreements issued in respect of this Agreement shall not exceed the Maximum
Applicable Percentage. Unless the context shall require otherwise, the terms
"Agreement" and "Option" as used in this Agreement include any stock option
agreements and related Options for which this Agreement (and the Option granted
by this Agreement) may be exchanged. Upon (i) receipt by Issuer of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction of this Agreement,
or mutilation of this Agreement, (ii) receipt by Issuer of reasonably
satisfactory indemnification in the case of loss, theft or destruction of this
Agreement and (iii) surrender and cancellation of this Agreement in the case of
mutilation, Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement of like tenor and
date.

     7. Adjustments. In addition to the adjustment to the total number of shares
of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Option pursuant to Section
1(b), the total number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise
of the Option and the Option Price shall be subject to adjustment from time to
time as follows:

            In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of Common Stock
      by  reason  of stock  dividends,  split-ups,  mergers,  recapitalizations,
      combinations,  subdivisions, conversions, exchanges of shares or the like,
      the type and number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of
      the  Option,  and  the  Option  Price  therefor,  shall  be  appropriately
      adjusted,  and proper provision shall be made in the agreements  governing
      any such  transaction,  so that (i) any Holder shall receive upon exercise
      of the Option the number and class of shares,  other securities,  property
      or cash that such Holder  would have  received in respect of the shares of
      Common  Stock  purchasable  upon  exercise of the Option if the Option had
      been  exercised  and such  shares of Common  Stock had been issued to such
      Holder  immediately  prior to such event or the record date  therefor,  as
      applicable,  and (ii) in the event any  additional  shares of Common Stock
      are to be issued or otherwise  become  outstanding as a result of any such
      change (other than  pursuant to an exercise of the Option),  the number of
      shares of Common Stock  purchasable  upon  exercise of the Option shall be
      increased so that,  after such issuance and together with shares of Common
      Stock  previously  issued  pursuant  to the  exercise  of the  Option  (as


                                       5
<PAGE>


      adjusted on account of any of the foregoing  changes in the Common Stock),
      the  number  of  shares  so  purchasable  equals  the  Maximum  Applicable
      Percentage of the number of shares of Common Stock issued and  outstanding
      immediately after the consummation of such change.

      8. Registration.  (a) Upon the  occurrence  of a  Triggering  Event,
Issuer  shall,  at the request of Grantee  delivered  in the  written  notice of
exercise of the Option  provided for in Section 2(d), as promptly as practicable
prepare,  file  and  keep  current  a shelf  registration  statement  under  the
Securities  Act covering any or all shares  issued and issuable  pursuant to the
Option and shall use its  reasonable  best  efforts  to cause such  registration
statement  to become and remain  effective  for such period not in excess of 180
days from the day such registration  statement first becomes effective as may be
reasonably  necessary to permit the sale or other  disposition  of any shares of
Common  Stock  issued  upon total or  partial  exercise  of the Option  ("Option
Shares")  in  accordance  with any plan of  disposition  requested  by  Grantee;
provided,  however,  that  Issuer  may  suspend  filing  of or  maintaining  the
effectiveness of a registration  statement relating to a registration request by
Grantee  under this  Section 8 for a period of time (not in excess of 60 days in
the aggregate) if in its judgment such filing of such registration  statement or
the maintenance of its  effectiveness  would require the disclosure of nonpublic
information  that Issuer has a good faith  business  purpose for  preserving  as
confidential.  Subject to the  foregoing,  Issuer will use its  reasonable  best
efforts to cause such  registration  statement  to become  effective  as soon as
practicable. In connection with any such registration,  Issuer and Grantee shall
provide  each  other with  representations,  warranties,  indemnities  and other
agreements customarily given in connection with such registrations. If requested
by Grantee in connection with such registration,  Issuer shall become a party to
any underwriting  agreement relating to the sale of such shares, but only to the
extent  of  obligating  Issuer  in  respect  of   representations,   warranties,
indemnities,  contribution and other  agreements  customarily made by issuers in
such underwriting agreements.

      (b) To the extent  consistent  with the other  provisions  hereof,  in the
event that Grantee so requests,  the closing of the sale or other disposition of
the Common Stock or other securities pursuant to a registration  statement filed
pursuant  to Section  8(a) shall  occur  substantially  simultaneously  with the
exercise of the Option.

      (c)   Notwithstanding   any  other  provision  hereof,   any  request  for
registration  shall permit the Issuer,  upon written notice given within 30 days
of the request for registration, to repurchase from the Grantee any shares as to
which the  Grantee  requests  registration  at a price  per  share  equal to the
average of the closing  price per share of Common  Stock on the NYSE as reported
in the Wall Street  Journal,  New York City edition,  on the twenty NYSE trading
days ending on the second  business  day prior to the date Issuer  notifies  the
Grantee of its decision to so repurchase.



                                       6
<PAGE>


     9. Repurchase of Option and/or Shares. (a) Repurchase; Repurchase Price.
Upon the occurrence of a Triggering Event, (i) at the request of a Holder,
delivered in writing within 135 days of such occurrence (or such later period as
provided in Section 2(d) with respect to any required notice or application or
in Section 12), Issuer shall repurchase the Option from the Holder, in whole or
in part, at a price (the "Option Repurchase Price") equal to the number of
shares of Common Stock then purchasable upon exercise of the Option (or such
lesser number of shares as may be designated in the repurchase notice)
multiplied by the amount by which the market/offer price (as defined below)
exceeds the Option Price and (ii) at the request of a Holder, delivered in
writing within 135 days of such occurrence (or such later period as provided in
Section 2(d) with respect to any required notice or application or in Section
12), Issuer shall repurchase such number of Option Shares from such Holder as
the Holder shall designate in the Repurchase Notice at a price (the "Option
Share Repurchase Price") equal to the number of shares designated multiplied by
the market/offer price. The term "market/offer price" shall mean the highest of
(x) the price per share of Common Stock at which a tender or exchange offer for
Common Stock has been made during the term of the Option, (y) the price per
share of Common Stock to be paid by any third party pursuant to an agreement
with Issuer with respect to a Business Combination Transaction (defined below)
and (z) the highest trading price for shares of Common Stock on the NYSE (or, if
the Common Stock is not then listed on the NYSE, any other national securities
exchange or automated quotation system on which the Common Stock is then listed
or quoted) within the six-month period immediately preceding the delivery of the
repurchase notice. In the event that a tender or exchange offer is made for the
Common Stock or an agreement is entered into for a merger, share exchange,
consolidation or reorganization involving consideration other than cash, the
value of the securities or other property issuable or deliverable in exchange
for the Common Stock shall (I) if such consideration is in securities and such
securities are listed on a national securities exchange, be determined to be the
highest trading price for such securities on such national securities exchange
within the six month period immediately preceding the delivery of the repurchase
notice or (II) if such consideration is not securities, or if in securities and
such securities are not traded on a national securities exchange, be determined
in good faith by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by an
investment banking firm designated by Grantee and an investment banking firm
designated by Issuer. "Business Combination Transaction" shall mean (i) a
consolidation, exchange of shares or merger of Issuer with any Person, other
than the Grantee or one of its subsidiaries, and, in the case of a merger, in
which Issuer shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation, (ii) a merger
of Issuer with a Person, other than the Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries, in
which Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving corporation but the then
outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock
or other securities of Issuer or any other Person or cash or any other property
or the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before such merger shall
after such merger represent less than 50% of the common shares and common share
equivalents of Issuer outstanding immediately after the merger or (iii) a sale,
lease or other transfer of all or substantially all the assets of Issuer to any
Person, other than the Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries.



                                       7
<PAGE>


      (b)  Method of  Repurchase.  A Holder  may  exercise  its right to require
Issuer to repurchase the Option,  in whole or in part,  and/or any Option Shares
then owned by such Holder  pursuant to this Section 9 by  surrendering  for such
purpose to Issuer, at its principal  office,  this Agreement or certificates for
Option Shares, as applicable, accompanied by a written notice or notices stating
that the Holder elects to require  Issuer to  repurchase  the Option and/or such
Option Shares in accordance  with the  provisions of this Section 9. As promptly
as practicable,  and in any event within three business days after the surrender
of the Option and/or certificates  representing Option Shares and the receipt of
the  repurchase  notice  relating  thereto,  Issuer shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Holder the applicable Option Repurchase Price and/or the Option
Share Repurchase Price subject to receipt by Issuer of a certificate executed by
the Holder containing  representations and warranties that, immediately prior to
the  repurchase  thereof  pursuant to this Section 9, the Holder had sole record
and  beneficial  ownership of the Option or the Option  Shares,  or both, as the
case may be, and that, other than pursuant to this Agreement,  the Option or the
Option  Shares,  or both,  as the case may be,  were  held free and clear of all
material  liens.  Any Holder shall have the right to require that the repurchase
of Option  Shares shall occur  immediately  after the exercise of all or part of
the Option. In the event that the repurchase notice shall request the repurchase
of the Option in part,  Issuer shall deliver with the Option  Repurchase Price a
new Stock Option  Agreement  evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase that
number of shares of Common Stock purchasable  pursuant to the Option at the time
of delivery of the repurchase  notice minus the number of shares of Common Stock
represented by that portion of the Option then being repurchased.

      (c) Effect of Statutory or  Regulatory  Restraints on  Repurchase.  To the
extent that,  upon or following the delivery of a repurchase  notice,  Issuer is
prohibited under  applicable law or regulation from  repurchasing the Option (or
portion thereof) and/or any Option Shares subject to such repurchase notice (and
Issuer will undertake to use its reasonable  best efforts to obtain all required
regulatory and legal  approvals and to file any required  notices as promptly as
practicable in order to accomplish such repurchase), Issuer shall immediately so
notify the Holder in writing and  thereafter  deliver or cause to be  delivered,
from time to time, to the Holder the portion of the Option  Repurchase Price and
the Option  Share  Repurchase  Price that  Issuer is no longer  prohibited  from
delivering,  within two business days after the date on which it is no longer so
prohibited;  provided,  however,  that upon notification by Issuer in writing of
such  prohibition,  the  Holder  may,  within  five  days  of  receipt  of  such
notification from Issuer,  revoke in writing its repurchase  notice,  whether in
whole or to the extent of the prohibition, whereupon, in the latter case, Issuer
shall  promptly (i) deliver to the Holder that portion of the Option  Repurchase
Price and/or the Option  Share  Repurchase  Price that Issuer is not  prohibited
from  delivering;  and (ii)  deliver to the  Holder,  as  appropriate,  (A) with
respect to the Option, a new Stock Option Agreement  evidencing the right of the
Holder  to  purchase  that  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  for which the
surrendered  Stock Option  Agreement was  exercisable at the time of delivery of
the  Repurchase  Notice  less  the  number  of  shares  as to which  the  Option
Repurchase Price has theretofore  been delivered to the Holder,  and/or (B) with
respect to Option  Shares,  a certificate  for the Option Shares as to which the
Option Share  Repurchase Price has not

                                       8
<PAGE>


theretofore been delivered to the Holder. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement, including, without limitation, the time limitations
on the exercise of the Option, the Holder may give notice of exercise of the
Option for 135 days after a notice of revocation has been issued pursuant to
this Section 9(c) and thereafter exercise the Option in accordance with the
applicable provisions of this Agreement.

      (d)  Acquisition  Transactions.  In addition to any other  restrictions or
covenants,  Issuer agrees that, in the event that a Holder delivers a repurchase
notice,  Issuer shall not enter or agree to enter into an agreement or series of
agreements relating to a merger with or into or the consolidation with any other
person or entity,  the sale of all or substantially  all of the assets of Issuer
or any similar  disposition  unless the other party or parties to such agreement
or agreements agree to assume in writing Issuer's obligations under Section 9(a)
and,  notwithstanding any notice of revocation delivered pursuant to the proviso
to Section  9(c),  a Holder may  require  such other party or parties to perform
Issuer's  obligations  under  Section  9(a)  unless  such party or  parties  are
prohibited by law or regulation from such performance,  in which case such party
or parties shall be subject to the obligations of the Issuer under Section 9(c).

      10. Repurchase at the Option of the Company.

      (a) To the extent the  Grantee  shall not have  previously  exercised  its
rights under Section 9, at the written request of Issuer made at any time during
the 135-day  period  commencing  at the  expiration  of the 135-day  periods for
exercise of rights under Section 9 (the "Call  Period"),  Issuer may  repurchase
from the  Holder,  and the  Holder  shall  sell,  or cause to be sold to Issuer,
three-quarters (but not less than  three-quarters) of the shares of Common Stock
acquired by the Holder  pursuant hereto and with respect to which the Holder has
ownership  at the time of such  repurchase  at a price  per  share  equal to the
greater of (A) the  market/offer  price (as  defined  in  Section 9,  except all
references to any repurchase notice shall instead be to the written request made
by Issuer  pursuant to this Section 10(a)) and (B) the Option Price per share in
respect of the shares so acquired  (the  higher of such per share  prices in (A)
and (B)  multiplied  by the number of shares of Common  Stock to be  repurchased
pursuant to this Section 10 being herein called the "Call  Consideration").  The
date on which the Company exercises its rights under this Section 10 is referred
to as the "Call Date."

      (b) If the Company  exercises  its rights  under this  Section 10,  Issuer
shall,  within three  business days pay the Call  Consideration  in  immediately
available funds and the Holder shall surrender to Issuer certificates evidencing
the shares of Common Stock purchased hereunder,  and the Holder shall warrant to
Issuer  that,  immediately  prior to the  repurchase  thereof  pursuant  to this
Section 10, the Holder had sole record and  beneficial  ownership of such shares
and that such shares were then held free and clear of all material liens.

      (c) To the extent that the Holder shall  exercise  the Option,  the Holder
shall,  unless the Holder shall exercise its rights under Section 9 to cause the
repurchase  of the  Option  Shares,  or  Issuer  shall  exercise  its  rights to
repurchase the Option Shares under this Section 10, retain sole ownership of the
Option Shares acquired through the end of the Call Period.



                                       9
<PAGE>


      11. First Refusal.  Subject to the provisions of Sections 9 and 10 herein,
at any time after the first  occurrence  of a Triggering  Event and prior to the
second  anniversary  of the first purchase of shares of Common Stock pursuant to
the Option,  if the Holder shall desire to sell,  assign,  transfer or otherwise
dispose of all or any of the Option  Shares or other  securities  acquired by it
pursuant to the  Option,  it shall give Issuer  written  notice of the  proposed
transaction  (an  "Offeror's  Notice"),  identifying  the  proposed  transferee,
accompanied  by a copy of a  binding  offer to  purchase  such  shares  or other
securities signed by such transferee and setting forth the terms of the proposed
transaction.  An  Offeror's  Notice  shall be deemed  an offer by the  Holder to
Issuer, which may be accepted, in whole but not in part, within 20 business days
of the receipt of such Offeror's Notice, on the same terms and conditions and at
the same price at which  Issuer is  proposing  to transfer  such shares or other
securities  to such  transferee.  The  purchase  of any  such  shares  or  other
securities by Issuer shall be settled within 20 business days of the date of the
acceptance  of the offer and the  purchase  price shall be paid to the Holder in
immediately  available funds. If Issuer shall fail or refuse to purchase all the
shares or other  securities  covered by an  Offeror's  Notice,  the Holder  may,
within 60 days from the date of the  Offeror's  Notice,  sell all,  but not less
than all, of such shares or other  securities  to the proposed  transferee at no
less than the price  specified  and on terms no more  favorable  than  those set
forth in the Offeror's Notice;  provided,  however,  that the provisions of this
sentence  shall not limit the rights the Holder may otherwise have if Issuer has
accepted the offer contained in the Offeror's  Notice and wrongfully  refuses to
purchase the shares or other  securities  subject  thereto.  The requirements of
this Section 11 shall not apply to (a) any  disposition as a result of which the
proposed  transferee  would own beneficially not more than 2% of the outstanding
voting power of Issuer,  (b) any disposition of Common Stock or other securities
by a Person to whom the Holder has assigned its rights under the Option with the
consent of Issuer,  (c) any sale by means of a public offering  registered under
the  Securities  Act or (d) any  transfer to a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of the
Holder which agrees in writing to be bound by the terms hereof.

      12.  Extension of Exercise  Periods.  The 135-day  periods for exercise of
certain rights under Sections 2 and 9 shall be extended in each such case at the
request of the Holder to the extent  necessary to avoid  liability by the Holder
under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Section
16(b)"),  by  reason of such  exercise.  Furthermore,  in the event the  Company
exercises its rights under Section 10, the Holder may defer the Call Date to the
extent necessary to avoid liability by the Holder under Section 16(b).

      13. Assignment.  Neither party may assign any of its rights or obligations
under this  Agreement  or the Option to any other  person  without  the  express
written consent of the other party. Any attempted assignment in contravention of
the preceding sentence shall be null and void.



                                       10
<PAGE>


      14. Filings;  Other Actions.  The parties hereto will use their reasonable
best  efforts to make all filings  with,  and to obtain  consents  of, all third
parties and  governmental  authorities  necessary  for the  consummation  of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

      15. Specific Performance. The parties acknowledge that damages would be an
inadequate  remedy for a breach of this  Agreement  by either party and that the
obligations of the parties shall be specifically  enforceable through injunctive
or other equitable relief.

      16.  Severability.  If  any  term,  provision,  covenant,  or  restriction
contained in this Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state  regulatory
agency of competent  jurisdiction  to be invalid,  void, or  unenforceable,  the
remainder of the terms,  provisions,  covenants,  and restrictions  contained in
this  Agreement  shall  remain in full force and effect,  and shall in no way be
affected,  impaired, or invalidated.  If for any reason such court or regulatory
agency determines that the Holder is not permitted to acquire,  or Issuer is not
permitted  to  repurchase  pursuant  to  Sections 9, 10 or 11 the full number of
shares of Common Stock  provided in Section 1(a) of this  Agreement (as adjusted
pursuant to Sections 1(b) and 7 of this Agreement),  it is the express intention
of Issuer to allow the Holder to acquire or to require Issuer to repurchase such
lesser  number  of  shares  as may be  permissible,  without  any  amendment  or
modification of this Agreement.

      17.  Notices.  Notices,  requests,  instructions  or other documents to be
given under this  Agreement  shall be in writing and shall be deemed given,  (i)
when  received,  if  sent  by  facsimile,  (ii)  when  delivered,  if  delivered
personally to the intended recipient,  and (iii) one business day later, if sent
by  overnight  delivery  via a  national  courier  service,  in each case at the
respective addresses of the parties set forth in the Merger Agreement.

      18. Expenses.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or
in the Merger Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by
the  party  incurring  such  expense,  including  fees and  expenses  of its own
financial consultants, investment bankers, accountants, and counsel.

      19. Entire Agreement.  This Agreement,  the Confidentiality  Agreement (as
defined in the Merger Agreement) and the Merger Agreement  constitute the entire
agreement,   and   supersede   all  other  prior   agreements,   understandings,
representations and warranties, both written and oral, between the parties, with
respect to the subject  matter of this  Agreement.  The terms and  conditions of
this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and
their respective successors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, is
intended  to confer  upon any person or entity,  other than the  parties to this
Agreement,  and their respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights or
remedies under this Agreement.



                                       11
<PAGE>


      20.Governing Law and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial.

      (a) This Agreement shall be deemed to be made in and in all respects shall
be  interpreted,  construed and governed by and in accordance  with Delaware law
without  regard  to  the  conflict  of  law  principles  thereof.   The  parties
irrevocably and unconditionally  consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction
of the  courts of the State of  Delaware  and of the  United  States of  America
located in  Wilmington,  Delaware  (the  "Delaware  Courts") for any  litigation
arising out of or relating to this Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated
by this  Agreement (and agree not to commence any  litigation  relating  thereto
except in such Delaware  Courts),  waive any objection to the laying of venue of
any such  litigation  in the Delaware  Courts and agree not to plead or claim in
any Delaware Court that such  litigation  brought therein has been brought in an
inconvenient forum.

      (b) EACH PARTY  ACKNOWLEDGES  AND AGREES  THAT ANY  CONTROVERSY  WHICH MAY
ARISE  UNDER THIS  AGREEMENT  IS LIKELY TO  INVOLVE  COMPLICATED  AND  DIFFICULT
ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY
RIGHT  SUCH  PARTY  MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL  BY JURY IN  RESPECT  OF ANY  LITIGATION
DIRECTLY OR  INDIRECTLY  ARISING OUT OF OR  RELATING TO THIS  AGREEMENT,  OR THE
TRANSACTIONS   CONTEMPLATED  BY  THIS   AGREEMENT.   EACH  PARTY  CERTIFIES  AND
ACKNOWLEDGES  THAT (i) NO  REPRESENTATIVE,  AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF THE OTHER PARTY
HAS REPRESENTED,  EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT THE OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE
EVENT OF  LITIGATION,  SEEK TO ENFORCE  THE  FOREGOING  WAIVER,  (ii) EACH PARTY
UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) EACH PARTY
MAKES THIS  WAIVER  VOLUNTARILY,  AND (iv) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN  INDUCED TO ENTER
INTO  THIS   AGREEMENT   BY,  AMONG  OTHER  THINGS,   THE  MUTUAL   WAIVERS  AND
CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 20.

      21. Captions. The Section and paragraph captions in this Agreement are for
convenience  of reference  only, do not  constitute  part of this  Agreement and
shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise  affect any of the  provisions of this
Agreement.

      22. Limitation on Profit. (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Agreement including, without limitation,  Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 hereof, in no
event  shall the  Grantee's  Total  Profit  (as  defined  herein)  exceed in the
aggregate $30 million (the "Maximum  Amount") and, if it otherwise  would exceed
such amount,  the Grantee,  at its sole election,  shall either:  (i) reduce the
number of shares of Common  Stock  subject to this  Option;  (ii) deliver to the
Issuer for cancellation Option Shares previously purchased by Grantee; (iii) pay
cash to the Issuer;  or (iv) any  combination  thereof,  so that Grantee's Total
Profit shall not exceed the Maximum  Amount  taking into  account the  foregoing
actions.



                                       12
<PAGE>


      (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this Option may
not be  exercised  for a number of shares as would,  as of the date of exercise,
result in a Notional  Total  Profit (as defined  below)  which would  exceed the
Maximum  Amount;  provided,  that nothing in this  sentence  shall  restrict any
exercise of the Option  permitted hereby on any subsequent date if such exercise
would not then be restricted by this Section 22(b).

      (c) As used in this Agreement, the "Total Profit" shall mean the aggregate
amount (before taxes) of the following:  (i) (x) the amount  received by Grantee
or  concurrently  being paid to Grantee  pursuant to Issuer's  repurchase of the
Option (or any portion  thereof) or any Option Shares pursuant to Sections 9, 10
or 11 less, in the case of any repurchase of Option  Shares,  (y) the Grantee `s
purchase  price  for  such  Option  Shares,  as the case may be and (ii) (x) the
amounts  received by Grantee or concurrently  being paid to Grantee  pursuant to
the sale of Option Shares (or any other securities into which such Option Shares
are converted or exchanged) to the Issuer or any other Person (as defined in the
Merger Agreement)  including sales made pursuant to a registration  statement or
an exemption  therefrom,  less (y) the Grantee's  purchase price for such Option
Shares.

      (d) As used in this  Agreement,  the term  "Notional  Total  Profit"  with
respect to any number of shares as to which  Grantee may propose to exercise the
Option  shall be the Total  Profit  determined  as of the date of such  proposal
assuming  that the Option were  exercised on such date for such number of shares
and assuming  that such shares,  together  with all other Option  Shares held by
Grantee and its  affiliates  as of such date,  were sold for cash at the closing
market price for the Common  Stock as of the close of business on the  preceding
trading day (less  customary  brokerage  commissions)  and including all amounts
theretofore  received or concurrently  being paid to Grantee pursuant to clauses
(i) and (ii) of the definition of Total Profit.



                                       13
<PAGE>


      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
duly  authorized  officers of the  parties as of the day and year first  written
above.



                                          PREMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.




                                          By:    /s/ James M. Ringler
                                                 -------------------------------
                                          Name:  James M. Ringler
                                          Title: Chairman of the Board, Chief
                                                 Executive Officer and President



                                          ILLINOIS TOOLWORKS INC.




                                          By:    /s/ W. James Farrell
                                                 -------------------------------
                                          Name:  W. James Farrell
                                          Title: Chairman and Chief Executive
                                                 Officer




                          AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT


            AMENDMENT,  dated as of September 9, 1999, to the Rights  Agreement,
dated as of November 6, 1996 by and between  Premark  International,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  and Norwest Bank  Minnesota,  N.A. (as Rights Agent) (as  heretofore
amended, the "Rights Agreement").

            WHEREAS, the Company and the Rights Agent have heretofore
executed and entered into the Rights Agreement; and

            WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 27 of the Rights Agreement, the Company
may from time to time  supplement  or amend the Rights  Agreement in  accordance
with the provisions of Section 27 thereof; and

            WHEREAS,  the Company intends to enter into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (as it may be  amended or  supplemented  from time to time,  the  "Merger
Agreement"),  dated as of September 9, 1999, among the Company and Illinois Tool
Works  Inc.  ("Parent")  and CS  Merger  Sub Inc.  ("Sub"),  and a Stock  Option
Agreement (as it may be amended or  supplemented  from time to time,  the "Stock
Option  Agreement"),  dated as of  September  9, 1999,  between  the Company and
Parent (all capitalized  terms used in this Amendment and not otherwise  defined
herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement); and

            WHEREAS,  the Board of Directors has determined  that the Merger and
the other  transactions  contemplated by the Merger Agreement are fair to and in
the best interests of the Company and its stockholders; and

            WHEREAS,  the Board of Directors has determined that it is desirable
to amend the  Rights  Agreement  to exempt the  Merger  Agreement  and the Stock
Option Agreement and the transactions  contemplated thereby from the application
of the Rights Agreement.

            NOW,  THEREFORE,  the Company hereby amends the Rights  Agreement as
follows:

            1.  Section  1(a) of the Rights  Agreement  is hereby  modified  and
amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof:

            Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  neither  Illinois  Tool Works Inc.
            ("Parent") nor CS Merger Sub Inc. ("Sub"),  shall be deemed to be an
            Acquiring  Person by virtue of the  execution  and  delivery  of the
            Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger  Agreement") to be entered
            into as of September 9, 1999, among the Company,  Parent and Sub, or
            the Stock Option  Agreement  (the "Stock  Option  Agreement")  to be
            entered  into as of  September  9, 1999,  between  the  Company  and
            Parent,  or as a  result  of the  consummation  of the  transactions
            contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement."



                                      1
<PAGE>


            2.  Section  1(l) of the Rights  Agreement  is hereby  modified  and
amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof:

            "Neither the execution  and delivery of the Merger  Agreement or the
            Stock  Option  Agreement,   nor  consummation  of  the  transactions
            contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the Stock Option  Agreement,
            shall cause a Shares Acquisition Date."

            3.  Section  3(a) of the Rights  Agreement  is hereby  modified  and
amended to add the following sentence  immediately  following the first sentence
thereof:

            "Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  neither the execution and delivery
            of  the  Merger  Agreement  or  the  Stock  Option  Agreement,   nor
            consummation  of  the   transactions   contemplated  by  the  Merger
            Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement,  shall cause a Distribution
            Date."

            4.  Clause (i) of Section  7(a) of the  Rights  Agreement  is hereby
modified, amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

            "(i) the  earliest of (x) the close of business on November 6, 2006,
            (y) such other date as may be  established by the Board of Directors
            prior to the expiration of the Rights,  or (z) the time  immediately
            prior to the  consummation of the merger  contemplated by the Merger
            Agreement (such earliest date, the "Final Expiration Date"),

            5. Section 15 of the Rights Agreement is hereby modified and amended
to add the following sentence at the end thereof:

            "Nothing in this Agreement  shall be construed to give any holder of
            Rights or any other Person any legal or equitable rights,  remedy or
            claim  under this  Agreement  in  connection  with any  transactions
            contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement."

                                    * * *

                                       2
<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  this  Amendment  has been duly executed by the
Company and the Rights Agent as of the day and year first written above.

                           PREMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.



                           By:     /s/ Nancy Rosengrin
                                   -----------------------------
                           Name:   Nancy Rosengrin
                           Title:  Vice President



                          NORWEST BANK MINNESOTA, N.A.
                           (as Rights Agent)



                           By:     /s/ Lawrence W. Skatoff
                                   -----------------------------
                           Name:   Lawrence W. Skatoff
                           Title:  Senior Vice President and
                                   Chief Financial Officer




                                       3



ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. AND PREMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC. AGREE TO MERGER

GLENVIEW, Ill., and DEERFIELD, Ill., Sept. 9 -- Illinois Tool Works Inc.,
a diversified manufacturer of engineered components and specialty systems
worldwide, and Premark International, Inc., a manufacturer of commercial and
consumer products, announced today that they have entered into a merger
agreement that will combine their multibillion dollar businesses. Premark
shareholders will receive ITW stock at the closing with a market value of $55
per share for each of their Premark shares if the average closing market price
of ITW stock stays within a 15% plus or minus range of $78.03 per share during
the 20 trading days prior to the merger. If ITW's average closing market price
increases or decreases more than 15% from $78.03 during this period, Premark's
shareholders will receive ITW stock with a market value that is somewhat higher
or lower than $55 per share for each of their Premark shares. In no event,
however, will Premark shareholders receive more than .9181 or less than .5776 of
a share of ITW stock for each of their Premark shares.

The transaction is valued at approximately $3.4 billion. Premark shares closed
at $34.19 and ITW shares closed at $79.69 on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999. The
transaction is structured as a tax-free reorganization and will be accounted for
as a pooling of interests. At the current market price of ITW stock, the merger
is expected to be modestly accretive. As a result of the transaction Premark
will become a wholly owned subsidiary of ITW. Premark's share repurchase program
has been terminated.

With annual revenues of $2.7 billion and 19,000 employees, Premark is a leading
developer and manufacturer of brand name products that are marketed in more than
100 countries. The company operates in three business segments: food equipment,
decorative products, and consumer products. Key brand names within the Premark
line include Hobart, Vulcan, Traulsen, Wilsonart, Florida Tile, West Bend and
Precor.

Premark's Food Equipment Group serves restaurants, hotels, hospitals,
cafeterias, supermarkets, bakeries and delis. The Decorative Products Group
features laminates for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, cabinets, office
equipment and furniture and store fixtures. The Consumer Products Group is made
up of small electrical appliances, direct to home cookware, and fitness
equipment.

<PAGE>

"Over the years, Premark has built a distinct reputation for developing brand
name products that are leaders within its respective markets," said W. James
Farrell, ITW's chairman and chief executive officer. "This combination of strong
product development and marketing know-how would make Premark an ideal addition
to ITW's increasingly diversified line of products, particularly in our
construction products and specialty systems areas."

According to James M. Ringler, Premark's chairman and chief executive officer,
"This transaction enhances our prospects for accelerated progress in improving
growth and returns. It also optimizes shareholder value and allows our
stockholders to participate in the future growth of ITW, one of the world's
leading diversified manufacturing companies." It is anticipated that Ringler
will assume a senior management role at ITW upon completion of the merger.

This transaction is subject to customary regulatory reviews and approval by the
shareholders of Premark and depending on the number of ITW shares to be issued,
the shareholders of ITW. The Board of Directors of both companies have approved
the transaction.

ITW is a $5.6 billion diversified manufacturer of highly engineered components
and industrial systems. The company consists of more than 400 decentralized
operations in 36 countries and employs approximately 29,000 people.

Contacts: ITW:       John Brooklier, 847-657-4104
          Premark:   Isabelle Goossen, 847-405-6218
<PAGE>
                           Premark International, Inc.
                                   Fact Sheet
    Overview

    Premark International is a multibillion-dollar manufacturer of commercial
    and consumer products which comprise three segments:

    o Food Equipment ... commercial food equipment for restaurants, hotels,
       hospitals, cafeterias, supermarkets, bakeries and delis. 52% of '98
       sales; 47% of '98 operating income.
    o Decorative Products ... laminates for kitchen countertops, bathroom
       vanities, cabinets, office equipment, and furniture and store fixtures
       as well as ceramic tile for residential and commercial usage. 36% of
       '98 sales; 40% of '98 operating income.
    o Consumer Products ... small electrical appliances and direct to home
       cookware; fitness equipment for specialty retailers.  12% of '98 sales;
       13% of '98 operating income.

    Key Brands
    o Hobart, Vulcan, Traulsen, Wilsonart, Florida Tile, West Bend, Precor

    Financial Highlights (dollars in millions except per share amount)

                                      1998            1997        % Increase
    Net Sales                     $2,739.1        $2,406.8            13.8%
    Operating Income                 219.6           174.7            25.7
    Net Income                       136.1           103.8            31.2
    Net Income Per Share (Diluted)    2.11            1.59            32.7

    Selected Segment Data (dollars in millions)

                                      1998           1997         % Increase
    Net Sales
      Food Equipment              $1,411.2        $1,286.0             9.7%
      Decorative Products            996.0           790.2            26.0
      Consumer Products              331.9           330.6             0.4
        Total                     $2,739.1        $2,406.8            13.8%

                       SOURCE: Illinois Tool Works Inc.


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