DIRECT CONNECT INTERNATIONAL INC
8-K, 1998-12-10
GAMES, TOYS & CHILDREN'S VEHICLES (NO DOLLS & BICYCLES)
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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) November 30, 1998
                                                        -----------------

                        Direct Connect International Inc.
                        ---------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


   Delaware                       0-18288                   22-2705223
   --------                       -------                   ----------
(State or other                   (Commission              (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                    File Number)             Identification No.)
incorporation)


P. O. Box 14, Hawthorne, New Jersey                                  07507
- -----------------------------------                                  -----
(Address of principal executive offices)                           (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code                (201)445-2101
                                                                  -------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




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Item 5.  Other Events

Direct Connect  International Inc. (DCI) signed a merger agreement,  dated as of
November 30, 1998(the  Agreement),  with Image Technology Corp.  (Image) whereby
DCI will merge into a  subsidiary  of Image,  and DCI will become the  surviving
corporation.   Each  DCI  shareholder  will  receive,   subject  to  adjustment,
approximately  25% of Image's  issued and  outstanding  common  stock  after the
merger.

The  Agreement  is subject to receipt by DCI's Board of  Directors of a fairness
opinion by an independent  financial  consultant or investment  banking firm and
shareholder  approval.  The  Agreement  is also  subject to  approval of Image's
shareholders.

In anticipation of the proposed merger, DCI will loan Image, for working capital
purposes,  the principal amount of $260,000 with interest at the rate of six and
one-half  percent  (6-1/2%) per annum.  The promissory  note, dated November 30,
1998,  evidencing  the  obligation  is due, in the event that the  Agreement  is
terminated by Image, on or before the 30th day after such termination.

The Agreement  provides that at the time of filing of the  Certificate of Merger
in  Delaware,  DCI will  have at least  $1,000,000  of  unrestricted  free  cash
together with a sufficient sum of liquid  tangible assets to pay all outstanding
liabilities  and all  other  fees  of DCI in  connection  with  the  merger.  In
addition,  Image will use its best efforts to raise a minimum of  $2,000,000  of
additional  capital during the period ending  September 30, 1999. If Image fails
to raise such additional  capital,  then the holders of Image's common stock, at
the date of  execution  of the  Agreement,  will be entitled  to increase  their
aggregate  holdings so as to be equivalent to 85% of the  outstanding  shares of
Image common stock at the time of filing of the Certificate of Merger.

Image's  principal  business is conducted  through Court Record  Services,  Inc.
which is one of the  leading  providers  of Records  and Briefs for the  Federal
Courts of  Appeal  and the U.S.  Supreme  Court to law  libraries  and the legal
profession.  Image has significant assets in its vast collections of microfilmed
and digitized  Records and Briefs of the U.S.  Federal  Courts of Appeal and the
U.S.  Supreme Court.  The collection also includes cases for appellate courts of
the states of New York and  Pennsylvania.  These assets enable Image through its
CourtRecordServices.com  web site to offer  Records  and Briefs  instantaneously
through the Internet to the  attorney,  professor or law  librarian who requires
such information.

The  assets  of DCI will  assist  Image to  achieve  its  goal of  becoming  the
proprietary supplier of judicial Records and Briefs over the Internet.

DCI and Omnet  Technology  Corporation  have mutually  agreed to terminate their
prior merger agreement.




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

           Financial Statements:                              Not applicable.
           Pro Forma Financial Information:                   Not applicable.
           Exhibits:
              Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization by and among Image
              Technology  Corp., Inc.,  Direct  Connect  International  Inc. and
              Image Acquisition Inc. , dated as of  November 30, 1998.





<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.

                                     DIRECT CONNECT INTERNATIONAL INC.
                                                (Registrant)

Date: December 9 ,1998               By:  /s/ Peter L. Schneider
      ----------------                    ----------------------
                                          Peter L. Schneider
                                          President and Chief Operating Officer





<PAGE>




                  AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION ("Agreement"),
dated as of November  30,  1998 by and among IMAGE  TECHNOLOGY  CORP.,  INC.,  a
Delaware corporation having an office at Arsenal Business Center Building 210-3,
5301 Tacony Street,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania  19137 (the "Company"),  DIRECT
CONNECT  INTERNATIONAL  INC., a Delaware  corporation  with a mailing address at
P.O.  Box  14,  Hawthorne,  New  Jersey  07507  ("Direct  Connect"),  and  IMAGE
ACQUISITION  CORP.,  a  Delaware  corporation  to be formed  having an office at
Arsenal  Business  Center  Building  210-3,  5301 Tacony  Street,  Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19137 ("Sub").

                              W I T N E S S E T H :

                  WHEREAS,  the Board of Directors of the Company, in accordance
with the Delaware General  Corporation Law (the "DGCL"),  has determined that it
is advisable and in the best interests of their stockholders to consummate,  and
subject  to  the  approval  of  its  shareholders,   the  business   combination
transaction  provided  for herein in which Direct  Connect  would merge with and
into  Sub (the  "Merger"),  and  Direct  Connect  shall  become  the  "Surviving
Corporation;"

                  WHEREAS,   the  Board  of  Directors  of  Direct  Connect,  in
accordance  with  the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law  (the  "DGCL"),   has
determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of their  stockholders
to  consummate,  and have  approved,  the Merger,  subject to the receipt from a
qualified investment banking or financial institution of an opinion stating that
the Merger is fair to the holders of the capital stock of Direct  Connect from a
financial  point of view (the  "Fairness  Opinion")  and  subject to approval of
Direct Connect's shareholders;

                  WHEREAS,  the Company,  Sub and Direct  Connect desire to make
certain representations, warranties and agreements in connection with the Merger
and also to prescribe various conditions to the Merger; and

                  WHEREAS,  it is the express intention of the Company,  Sub and
Direct Connect that this Agreement constitute a plan of reorganization  intended
to qualify for federal  income tax  purposes  as a  "reorganization"  within the
meaning of Section  368(a)(1)B of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time, and any successor statute thereto (the "Code").



<PAGE>



                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  mutual  premises,
covenants and  agreements  set forth in this  Agreement,  and for other good and
valuable  consideration,  the  receipt  and  sufficiency  of  which  are  hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

          1.      THE MERGER.

1.1 Terms of the Merger. At the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2), upon
the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement,  Direct Connect shall
be merged with and into Sub in accordance with the DGCL. Direct Connect shall be
the surviving  corporation in the Merger.  In consideration  of the Merger,  the
common  stock of the  Company  shall be  issued  to the  shareholders  of Direct
Connect in the manner and amount provided in Article II hereof.

1.2 Effective Time. At the Closing (as defined in Section 1.3), a certificate of
merger (the  "Certificate  of Merger")  shall be duly  prepared  and executed by
Direct Connect and  thereafter  delivered to the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware (the  "Secretary")  for filing on, or as soon as practicable  after,
the Closing Date (as defined in Section 1.3). The Merger shall become  effective
at the time of the filing of the  Certificate  of Merger with the Secretary (the
date and time of such filing being referred to herein as the "Effective  Time").
At the Effective Time,  Direct Connect shall file with the Secretary of State of
the State of  Delaware  all other  necessary  documentation  to  effectuate  the
Merger.

1.3 Closing.  The closing of the Merger (the  "Closing")  will take place at the
offices of  McLaughlin & Stern,  LLP,  260 Madison  Avenue,  New York,  New York
10016,  on or about  February  28,  1999,  or at such other time or place as the
parties hereto mutually agree (the "Closing  Date"),  on a date and at a time to
be  specified  by the  parties,  which shall in no event be later than April 30,
1999,  provided that the closing  conditions  set forth in Article VII have been
satisfied or, if permissible, waived in accordance with this Agreement.

1.4 Certificate of Incorporation  and By-laws of the Surviving  Corporation.  At
the Effective Time, (i) the Certificate of Incorporation of Direct Connect as in
effect  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time shall be the  Certificate  of


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Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until as may be thereafter amended as
provided by law and such certificate of  incorporation,  and (ii) the By-laws of
Direct Connect as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
By-laws of the Surviving  Corporation  and thereafter may be amended as provided
therein and under the DGCL.

1.5 Directors of the Surviving  Corporation and Direct  Connect.  From and after
the Effective  Time,  the directors of Direct Connect  immediately  prior to the
Closing Date shall  resign and be replaced by the  directors  designated  by the
Company. The new directors of the Surviving  Corporation shall serve until their
successors  shall have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until the
earlier of their death,  resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving
Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws.

1.6 Effects of the Merger.  Subject to the foregoing,  the effects of the Merger
shall be as provided in the applicable provisions of the DGCL.


          2. STATUS AND CONVERSION OF SECURITIES.

             2.1 Stock of the Company.

(1) Each share of common stock of Direct Connect, par value $.01 per share, (the
"Direct  Connect  Common  Stock")  issued and  outstanding at the Effective Time
shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holders
thereof,  be converted  into the right to receive  shares of the Common Stock of
the Company,  par value $.00000005 a share (the "Stock  Consideration"),  at the
rate of 14 shares of Direct  Connect  Common  Stock for one (1) share of Company
Common Stock (the  "Ratio").  The total Stock  Consideration  shall be 1,878,142
shares of the Company's  Common Stock and shall  include all issued  outstanding
unexpired  options and warrants to purchase the Direct  Connect  Common Stock as
set forth in  Schedules  2.1 and 2.2.  There  shall not be included in the Stock
Consideration  the  9,887,517  shares of Direct  Connect  Common Stock  issuable
pursuant  to the terms of the  Redeemable  Class A Warrants  and the  Redeemable
Class B Warrants (the "Redeemable Warrants") currently outstanding, which Direct
Connect has represented is the maximum number of shares of Direct Connect Common
Stock issuable under such  Redeemable  Warrants.  All warrants,  options and the
Redeemable  Warrants  shall be  adjusted  as to the number of shares the holders
thereof are entitled to receive  pursuant to the Ratio,  and the exercise  price
shall likewise be adjusted pursuant to the Ratio.



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<PAGE>



(2) The Stock Consideration shall include Direct Connect's Convertible Preferred
Stock. Prior to the Effective Time, Direct Connect shall use its best efforts to
issue to holders of the  Convertible  Preferred Stock shares of the Common Stock
at the rate of three (3) shares of Common Stock for each  Convertible  Preferred
Share  outstanding  in accordance  with the terms of the  Convertible  Preferred
Stock. At the Effective Time, the holders of the Common Stock received by virtue
of the conversion shall receive shares of the Company Common Stock in accordance
with the Ratio.  The  holders  shall not be  entitled  to sell,  hypothecate  or
otherwise  transfer the Company  Common Stock for a period of 13 months from the
date of issuance by the Company.  The stock  certificates  issued by the Company
shall bear a legend incorporating such restrictions.


          (3)   Exchange of Direct Connect Common Stock.

(1) The Stock  Consideration  issued upon the  surrender  for exchange of Direct
Connect Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have
been fully paid  non-assessable and issued, as applicable,  in full satisfaction
of all rights pertaining to such shares of Direct Connect Common Stock.

(2)  After  the  Effective  Time,  there  shall be no  further  registration  of
transfers on the stock  transfer books of Direct Connect of the shares of Common
Stock that were outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective Time. After the
Effective Time, any then holders of certificates  representing  shares of Direct
Connect  Common Stock shall cease to have any rights as  shareholders  of Direct
Connect except such rights, if any, as they may have pursuant to Delaware law.

(3) No fractional  shares of Company Common Stock and no  certificates  or scrip
therefor,  or other  evidence  of  ownership  thereof,  shall be issued upon the
surrender for exchange of Direct Connect Common Stock. All fractional  shares of
Direct Connect Common Stock which entitle the  shareholders of Direct Connect to
receive Company Common Stock upon the merger,  at the Effective  Time,  shall be
aggregated. If a fractional share results from such aggregation, such fractional
share shall be rounded up to the nearest  whole number and that number of shares
of Company Common Stock shall be issued to such holder.


                                       4
<PAGE>



(4) Appraisal Rights. If any holder of Direct Connect Common Stock has not voted
in favor of the merger and has complied with the  requirements of Section 262 of
the DGCL (a "Direct Connect Shareholder"), notwithstanding anything contained in
this Agreement to the contrary,  said Shareholder shall be entitled to appraisal
rights,  and each share of Direct Connect Common Stock held by such  Shareholder
shall not be  converted  into or  represent  the  right to  receive  the  Merger
Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1, but such Shareholder shall be entitled to
the rights specified in the DGCL;  however,  if said Shareholder fails to comply
with the  requirements  of Section 262 of the DGCL,  the Direct  Connect  Common
Stock held by such person shall be deemed to be  converted  as of the  Effective
Time,  into the Merger  Consideration  as set forth in Section 2.1,  without any
interest thereon.


          2.2    Assumption of Direct Connect Options and Warrants.

(1) Schedule 2.2 sets forth a true, correct and complete list of the outstanding
Redeemable  Class A and Class B Warrants  and all other  options and warrants to
acquire Direct Connect Common Stock (all hereinafter  referred to as the "Direct
Connect  Warrants").  The Class A and Class B Warrants  expire  March 31,  1999.
Direct Connect agrees not to extend the exercise date beyond the Effective Date.

(2) At the Effective  Time, all  outstanding  Direct  Connect  Warrants shall be
canceled and replaced with fully vested warrants (all hereinafter referred to as
the "Substituted Warrants") to acquire, on the same terms and conditions as were
applicable under such Direct Connect Warrants; however, each Substituted Warrant
shall be adjusted at the rate of one (1)  Substituted  Warrant for fourteen (14)
Direct Connect  Warrants  issued to holder thereof prior to the Effective  Time,
which  shall  entitle  the  holder  thereof  to  purchase  one (1)  share of the
Company's  Common  Stock at an exercise  price equal to fourteen  (14) times the
exercise price in effect prior to the Effective Time.

(3) The  Company  shall take all  corporate  action  necessary  to  reserve  for
issuance a  sufficient  number of shares of Company  Common  Stock for  delivery
under the  Substituted  Warrants and the Direct  Connect  Convertible  Preferred
Stock as defined in Section 3.4 pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.


                                       5

<PAGE>



           3.   COVENANTS.


              3.1 Covenants of the Company.  The Company  agrees that,  unless
Direct  Connect  otherwise agrees in writing:

(1) Articles of  Incorporation  and By-laws.  Until the earlier of the Effective
Time or the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII (the "Release
Time"), no amendment will be made to the articles of incorporation or By-laws of
the Company or Sub.

(2) Shares and Options.  Until the Release Time, no share of Common Stock of the
Company, option or warrant for any such share, right to subscribe to or purchase
any such share, or security convertible into or exchangeable for any such share,
shall be  authorized,  issued or sold by the Company nor shall the Company enter
into  any  agreement  or  commitment  to  effect  any  such  issuance  or  sale.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,  the Company may issue in its sole discretion its
Common  Stock  and/or  warrants or options to purchase  its Common  Stock not to
exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the issued and  outstanding  Common Stock at the
date of execution of this  Agreement.  The Company shall provide  Direct Connect
with written  notice  prior to such  issuance of its Common Stock or warrants or
options to purchase its Common Stock.

(3)  Dividends  and  Purchases of Stock.
Until the Release Time,  no cash or non-cash  dividend or  liquidating  or other
distribution or stock split shall be authorized,  declared, paid, or effected by
the Company in respect of the outstanding  shares of the Company's Common Stock.
Until the Release Time,  no direct or indirect  redemption,  purchase,  or other
acquisition  shall be made by the  Company  of  shares of the  Company's  Common
Stock.

(4) Leases and  Indebtedness.  Until the Release time, the Company shall not (A)
acquire,  lease or dispose or agree to acquire, lease or dispose of any material
capital  assets  or any  other  assets  other  than in the  ordinary  course  of
business,  except  that the Company may make  equipment  purchases  or leases of
equipment in an amount not to exceed the sum of $500,000;  (B) incur  additional
indebtedness or encumber or grant a security interest in any asset other than in
each  case  in the  ordinary  course  of  business  or in  connection  with  the
refinancing  of  indebtedness  outstanding  on the date of this  Agreement or in
connection with purchases of equipment in an amount not to exceed $500,000;  (C)
acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a


                                       6

<PAGE>


substantial  equity  interest  in, or by any other  manner,  any business or any
corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division
thereof,  except  that the  Company  shall be  permitted  to acquire or agree to
acquire by merging,  consolidating  with or by purchasing an equity  interest in
any business or  corporation  if such  acquisition or purchase does not exceed a
value of more than twenty percent (20%) of the Company's  total assets as of the
date of execution of this Agreement; or (D) enter into any contract,  agreement,
commitment  or  arrangement  with  respect  to any of the  foregoing,  except an
increase in borrowings up to $1,000,000, provided the proceeds of which are used
for working capital purposes.

(5)  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary  herein,  the Company  shall not
encumber or sell or otherwise  transfer any of its software,  databases or other
intellectual property without the prior written consent of Direct Connect.

(6) Benefits.  Except as set forth in Schedule  3.1(e),  until the Release Time,
the Company shall not except as may be required to comply with applicable law or
regulation and except as provided in hereof, (A) adopt, enter into, terminate or
amend any bonus, profit sharing,  compensation,  severance,  termination,  stock
option, pension, retirement, deferred compensation,  employment or other Company
Benefit  Plan (as  defined  in Section  4.7),  agreement,  trust,  fund or other
arrangement  for the benefit or welfare of any  director,  officer or current or
former  employee,  (B) increase in any manner the compensation or fringe benefit
of any director or officer,  (C) pay any benefit not provided under any existing
plan or  arrangement,  or (D)  grant any  awards  under  any  bonus,  incentive,
performance or other compensation plan or arrangement or Company Benefit Plan.

(7)  Access.  Until the Release  Time,  the  Company  will afford the  officers,
directors,  employees,  counsel, agents,  investment bankers,  accountants,  and
other  representatives  of  Direct  Connect  reasonable  access  to the  plants,
properties, books, and records of the Company and the Company subsidiaries, will
permit them to make extracts from and copies of such books and records, and will
from time to time furnish  Direct  Connect with such  additional  financial  and
operating data and other information as to the financial  condition,  results of
operations,  businesses, properties, assets, liabilities, or future prospects of
the Company and the Company subsidiaries as Direct Connect from time to time may
reasonably request. As soon as practicable, the Company shall provide to Direct


                                       7

<PAGE>

Connect audited financial statements for the periods ended December 31, 1996 and
December 31,  1997,  or as otherwise  requested by the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"), and the Company's unaudited financial statements for the
nine (9) months ended  September  30, 1998,  and the most recent  quarter of the
Company prior to the Closing.  All information  furnished by or on behalf of the
Company  pursuant to this Section 3.1(f) or otherwise  obtained from the Company
as  contemplated  by this Section 3.1(f) shall be held as confidential by Direct
Connect and its representatives.

(8) Conduct of Business.  Except as otherwise  contemplated or permitted hereby,
until the Release  Time,  the Company shall not take any action that would or is
reasonably likely to result in any of the  representations  or warranties of the
Company set forth in this  Agreement  being untrue at the Closing Date or in any
of the  conditions  to the Merger set forth in Article VII not being  satisfied.
The Company  shall carry on its  respective  business in the usual,  regular and
ordinary course in substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted,  other
than the  offering  of court  records  and  briefs  over  the  Internet  and the
implementation  thereof,  and shall,  and shall cause its  subsidiaries  to, use
reasonable efforts to preserve intact their present business organizations, keep
available the services of their employees and preserve their  relationships with
customers,  suppliers and others having business dealings with them. The Company
shall (i) maintain  insurance  coverages and its books,  accounts and records in
the usual manner  consistent with prior  practices;  (ii) comply in all material
respects with all laws,  ordinances and regulations of Governmental Entities (as
defined in Section  4.10)  applicable  to the Company;  and (iii) perform in all
material  respects its obligations  under all contracts and commitments to which
it is a party or by which it is bound,  in each case referred to in this Section
3.1(g)  other than where the failure to so maintain,  comply or perform,  either
individually or in the aggregate, would not result in a Company Material Adverse
Effect (as defined in Section 4.1).

(9) Advice of Changes.  Until the Release Time, the Company will promptly advise
Direct Connect in a reasonably detailed written notice of any fact or occurrence
or any pending or threatened  occurrence of which it obtains knowledge and which
(if existing and known at the date of the  execution  of this  Agreement)  would
have been required to be set forth or disclosed in or pursuant to the Agreement,
which (if existing and known at any time prior to or at the Effective Time)


                                       8

<PAGE>

would  make  the  performance  by any  party  of a  covenant  contained  in this
Agreement impossible or make such performance  materially more difficult than in
the absence of such fact or  occurrence,  or which (if existing and known at the
time of the Effective  Time) would cause a condition to any party's  obligations
under this Agreement not to be fully satisfied.

(10) Public Statements.  Before the Company releases any information  concerning
this Agreement, the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement  which is intended for or is  reasonably  expected to result in public
dissemination  thereof,  the Company shall cooperate with Direct Connect,  shall
furnish  drafts of all documents or proposed oral  statements to Direct  Connect
for  comments,  and shall not  release  any such  information  without the prior
consent of Direct Connect;  provided,  however,  that the foregoing shall not be
deemed to prevent the  Company  from  releasing  any  information  or making any
disclosure  to the extent  that the  Company  reasonably  determines  that it is
required to do so by law.

(11) Other  Proposals.  Until the Release Time, the Company shall not, and shall
not  authorize  or permit  any  officer,  director,  employee,  counsel,  agent,
investment banker,  accountant, or other representative of the Company, directly
or indirectly,  to: (i) initiate  contact with any person or entity in an effort
to solicit any Takeover  Proposal (as defined  below);  (ii) cooperate  with, or
furnish or cause to be  furnished  any  non-public  information  concerning  the
financial  condition,  results of operations,  businesses,  properties,  assets,
liabilities,  or future  prospects  of the  Company  to any  person or entity in
connection with any Company Takeover  Proposal;  (iii) negotiate with any person
or entity with respect to any Company Takeover Proposal;  or (iv) enter into any
agreement  or  understanding  with  the  intent  to  effect a  Company  Takeover
Proposal;  provided,  however,  that the  Company  shall be entitled to take any
action  described in the foregoing  clauses  (ii)-(iv) if and to the extent that
the Board of Directors  of the Company  determines  in good faith,  based on the
advice of its counsel,  that the failure to take any such action  would  violate
its fiduciary duties to the Company's shareholders. The Company will immediately
give  prompt  written  notice to Direct  Connect of the  details of any  Company
Takeover  Proposal of which the Company  becomes aware.  As used in this Section
3.1(j),  "Company  Takeover  Proposal"  shall mean any  proposal,  other than as
contemplated by this  Agreement,  for a merger,  consolidation,  reorganization,
other business combination,  or recapitalization  involving the Company, for the
acquisition of a 15% or greater interest in the equity or in any class or series
of capital stock of the Company, for the acquisition of the right to cast 15% or


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<PAGE>

more of the votes on any  matter  with  respect to the  Company  or any  Company
subsidiary,  or for the  acquisition of one of its divisions or of a substantial
portion of any of their respective assets,  other than in the ordinary course of
their respective businesses,  the effect of which may be to prohibit,  restrict,
or  delay  the  consummation  of the  Merger  or any of the  other  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement or impair the  contemplated  benefits to Direct
Connect  of the  Merger or any of the other  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement.

(12) Transfer  Taxes.  The Company shall timely prepare and file any declaration
or filing  necessary to comply with any  transfer tax statutes  that require any
such filing before the Effective Time.

(13)  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained herein or elsewhere in
this Agreement,  if the Company  determines to enter into any transaction  which
exceeds the  limitations  in subsection  (b) or (d) of this Section 3.1 then the
Company shall be required to furnish prior notice thereof to Direct Connect, and
if Direct Connect does not consent to such transaction by written notice thereof
to the Company within five (5) business days after receipt of Company's  written
notice,  then the Company may terminate this Agreement,  provided  Company gives
prompt written notice of such  termination to Direct Connect.  If Company elects
to terminate this  Agreement,  it shall pay Direct Connect all reasonable  legal
expenses,  filing and registration fees,  accounting fees, appraisal or fairness
opinion  fees,  printing  expenses  and other  miscellaneous  expenses  directly
related to this Agreement and the transactions  contemplated herein.  Payment of
such fees and expenses shall be due on or before the thirtieth (30th) days after
receipt by Company of Direct Connect's invoice and supporting  documentation for
said fees and expenses.  In addition thereto, the Loan set forth in 3.2(k) shall
be  repaid by  Company  on or before  the  thirtieth  (30) day after the date of
Company's written notice of termination.


          3.2   Covenants of Direct Connect.  Direct Connect agrees that, unless
the Company otherwise agrees in writing:

(1)  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and  By-laws.  Until the Release  Time,  no
amendment will be made to the Certificate of  Incorporation or By-laws of Direct
Connect;   except  for  an  amendment  to  Direct   Connect's   Certificate   of
Incorporation (i) increasing the number of authorized shares of Direct Connect



                                       10

<PAGE>


Common Stock in an amount at least  sufficient to meet the  requirements  of the
issuance of shares for its outstanding  warrants and options and the Convertible
Preferred Stock (as defined in Section 3.4).

(2) Shares and Options.  Until the Release  Time,  no share of capital  stock of
Direct Connect,  option or warrant for any such share,  right to subscribe to or
purchase any such share, or security  convertible  into or exchangeable  for any
such  share,  shall be issued or amended  in any way or sold by Direct  Connect,
except as provided herein,  nor shall Direct Connect enter into any agreement or
commitment  or amend an existing  agreement to effect any such issuance or sale,
otherwise  than as may be required upon the exercise of stock  options,  related
stock  appreciation  rights,  or warrants now  outstanding or hereafter  granted
pursuant  to any Direct  Connect  employee  benefit  plan which was or is now in
effect, all as set forth in Schedules 2.1 and 2.2.

(3)  Dividends  and  Purchases  of Stock.  Until the  Release  Time,  no cash or
non-cash  dividend or liquidating or other  distribution or stock split shall be
authorized,  declared,  paid,  or effected  by Direct  Connect in respect of the
outstanding  shares of Direct Connect  Common Stock.  Until the Release Time, no
direct or indirect redemption,  purchase,  or other acquisition shall be made by
Direct Connect of shares of Direct Connect Common Stock.

(4) Leases and  Indebtedness.  Direct  Connect  shall not (A) acquire,  lease or
dispose or agree to acquire,  lease or dispose of any material capital assets or
any other  assets  other  than in the  ordinary  course of  business;  (B) incur
additional  indebtedness  or encumber or grant a security  interest in any asset
other than in each case in the ordinary course of business or in connection with
the refinancing of indebtedness  outstanding on the date of this Agreement;  (C)
acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a
substantial  equity  interest  in, or by any other  manner,  any business or any
corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division
thereof;  or (E) enter into any contract,  agreement,  commitment or arrangement
with respect to any of the foregoing.

(5) Benefits. Direct Connect shall not, except as may be required to comply with
applicable law or regulation and except as provided in hereof,  (A) adopt, enter
into,  terminate or amend any bonus,  profit sharing,  compensation,  severance,
termination,   stock  option,   pension,   retirement,   deferred  compensation,
employment or Direct Connect Benefit Plans (as defined in Section 6.7),


                                       11

<PAGE>


agreement,  trust,  fund or other  arrangement for the benefit or welfare of any
director,  officer or current or former employee, (B) increase in any manner the
compensation  or fringe benefit of any director or officer,  (C) pay any benefit
not provided  under any existing  plan or  arrangement,  or (D) grant any awards
under  any  bonus,   incentive,   performance  or  other  compensation  plan  or
arrangement or Direct Connect Benefit Plan.

(6) Access.  Until the Release  Time,  Direct  Connect will afford the officers,
directors,  employees,  counsel, agents,  investment bankers,  accountants,  and
other   representatives   of  the  Company  reasonable  access  to  the  plants,
properties,  books,  and  records of Direct  Connect,  will  permit them to make
extracts  from and copies of such books and records,  and will from time to time
furnish the Company with such additional  financial and operating data and other
information as to the financial  condition,  results of operations,  businesses,
properties,  assets,  liabilities,  or future prospects of Direct Connect as the
Company from time to time may reasonably request.  All information  furnished by
or on behalf of Direct  Connect  pursuant to this  Section  3.2(f) or  otherwise
obtained from Direct  Connect as  contemplated  by this Section  3.2(f) shall be
held as confidential.

(7) Conduct of Business.  Until the Release Time,  Direct Connect shall not take
any  action  that  would  or is  reasonably  likely  to  result  in  any  of the
representations  and  warranties of Direct  Connect set forth in this  Agreement
being untrue at the Closing Date or to any of the  conditions  to the Merger set
forth in Article  VII not being  satisfied.  Direct  Connect  shall carry on its
business in the usual,  regular and ordinary  course in  substantially  the same
manner as heretofore  conducted,  and shall use  reasonable  efforts to preserve
intact its present  business  organization,  keep  available the services of its
employees and preserve its  relationships  with customers,  suppliers and others
having  business  dealings  with it ;  provided,  however,  that neither (i) the
resignation of one or more executive  officers of the Company in connection with
the Merger nor (ii) the sale of Datatec  Systems,  Inc.  common  stock by Direct
Connect shall be deemed a breach of the foregoing  requirement.  Direct  Connect
shall (i) maintain  insurance  coverages and its books,  accounts and records in
the usual manner  consistent with prior  practices;  (ii) comply in all material
respects with all laws,  ordinances  and  regulations of  Governmental  Entities
applicable to Direct  Connect;  and (iii)  perform in all material  respects its
obligations  under all  contracts and  commitments to  which it is a party or by



                                       12

<PAGE>

which it is bound,  in each case referred to in this  subsection  (g) other than
where the failure to so maintain,  comply or perform,  either individually or in
the aggregate,  would not result in a Direct Connect Material Adverse Effect (as
defined in Section 6.1).  Except as otherwise  contemplated or permitted hereby,
until the Release Time,  Direct Connect will conduct no other material  business
except  in  connection  with this  Agreement,  the  Merger,  or any of the other
transactions  contemplated by this  Agreement,  or as may be required as part of
its ordinary business.

(8) Advice of Changes.  Except as otherwise  contemplated  or permitted  hereby,
until the Release Time,  Direct  Connect shall not take any action that would or
is reasonably  likely to result in any of the  representations  or warranties of
Direct Connect set forth in this  Agreement  being untrue at the Closing Date or
in any of the  conditions  to the  Merger  set  forth in  Article  VII not being
satisfied.  Until the Release  Time,  Direct  Connect will  promptly  advise the
Company in a reasonably detailed written notice of any fact or occurrence or any
pending or  threatened  occurrence  of which it obtains  knowledge and which (if
existing and known at the date of the  execution of this  Agreement)  would have
been  required to be set forth or  disclosed  in or pursuant to this  Agreement,
which (if  existing  and known at any time  prior to or at the  Effective  Time)
would  make  the  performance  by any  party  of a  covenant  contained  in this
Agreement impossible or make such performance  materially more difficult than in
the absence of such fact or  occurrence,  or which (if existing and known at the
time of the Effective  Time) would cause a condition to any party's  obligations
under this Agreement not to be fully satisfied.

(9) Public Statements. Before Direct Connect releases any information concerning
this Agreement,  the Merger,  or any of the other  transactions  contemplated by
this  Agreement  which is intended  for or is  reasonably  expected to result in
public dissemination  thereof,  Direct Connect shall cooperate with the Company,
shall furnish  drafts of all  documents or proposed oral  statements to Benjamin
Zitron,  Chairman  of the  Board of the  Company,  for  comments,  and shall not
release any such information without the prior consent of the Company; provided,
however,  that the foregoing  shall not be deemed to prevent Direct Connect from
releasing  any  information  or making any  disclosure to the extent that Direct
Connect reasonably determines that it is required to do so by law.


                                       13

<PAGE>


(10) Consents Without Any Condition. Direct Connect shall not make any agreement
or reach any  understanding,  not  approved  in  writing  by the  Company,  as a
condition for obtaining any consent,  authorization,  approval,  order, license,
certificate,  or  permit  required  for  the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

(11) Loan.  Concurrently  with the execution of this  Agreement,  Direct Connect
shall loan the sum of (i) $110,000 to the Company and (ii) $150,000 on or before
15 days after execution of this  Agreement,  exclusive of the date of execution,
at an interest rate of 6.5% per annum (hereinafter,  the "Loan"),  and principal
and interest of the Loan shall be due on or before one hundred eighty (180) days
after termination of this Agreement, except the Note shall be due and payable on
or before the  thirtieth  (30th)  day after the  termination  of this  Agreement
pursuant to Article VIII hereof or as otherwise  provided.  After the  Effective
Time,  the Company  intends to cause  Direct  Connect to cancel the  outstanding
Loan.

(12) Board Action.  The Board of Directors of Direct Connect shall duly call and
hold a meeting,  as soon as  reasonably  possible  after the  execution  of this
Agreement,  whereby the requisite  vote of all  directors  present (a) determine
that the  Merger  is  advisable  and fair and in the best  interests  of  Direct
Connect and its  stockholders,  subject to the receipt of the Fairness  Opinion,
(b) approve the Merger in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL,
(c)  recommend  the  approval  of  this  Agreement  and  the  Merger,   and  the
transactions contemplated thereby, by the holders of Direct Connect Common Stock
and  Convertible  Preferred  Stock and direct that the Merger be  submitted  for
consideration by Direct Connect's  stockholders at Direct Connect  Stockholders'
Meeting (as defined in Section 3.4) and (d) recommend the increase of authorized
Direct  Connect  Common Stock of an amount  sufficient  to issue Direct  Connect
Common Stock to satisfy the requirements of the Convertible  Preferred Stock and
the outstanding warrants and options and submit such recommendation for approval
by the  stockholders  of Direct  Connect  at the  Direct  Connect  Stockholders'
Meeting.

(13) At the Effective  Time,  Direct  Connect shall have at least  $1,000,000 of
unrestricted  free cash together with a sufficient sum of liquid tangible assets
to pay all liabilities then outstanding and all other fees and expenses required
to be paid by Direct Connect in connection with this transaction, including but


                                       14

<PAGE>


not limited to legal  fees,  commissions,  SEC fees or NASD fees.  "Unrestricted
free cash"  shall mean cash or  marketable  US  Government  securities  having a
maturity of no more than 15 days.


          3.3   Preparation of Registration Statement and Proxy Statement.

(1) Direct  Connect  shall  prepare and file with the SEC as soon as  reasonably
practicable after the date hereof the proxy statement of Direct Connect required
to be mailed to the  shareholder's  of Direct  Connect  in  connection  with the
Merger (the "Proxy Statement"),  and the Company shall prepare and file with the
SEC as soon as  reasonably  practicable  after  the date  hereof a  registration
statement as may be required on Form S-4 together with a registration  statement
covering the issuance of the Company's Common Stock in the Merger, as amended or
supplemented   from  time  to  time  (as  so  amended  and   supplemented,   the
"Registration Statement"), in which the Proxy Statement will be included as part
of the  prospectus.  The Company and Direct Connect shall use their best efforts
to have the Registration  Statement declared effective by the SEC as promptly as
practicable  after such filing.  The Company  shall also take any action  (other
than  qualifying  as a foreign  corporation  or taking  any action  which  would
subject it to service of process in any  jurisdiction  where the  Company is not
now so qualified or subject)  required to be taken under  applicable  state blue
sky or securities laws in connection  with the issuance of the Company's  Common
Stock in connection with the Merger.  If at any time prior to the Effective Time
any  event  shall  occur  that  should  be set  forth  in an  amendment  of or a
supplement to the  Registration  Statement,  Direct  Connect  and/or the Company
shall  prepare  and file  with  the SEC such  amendment  or  supplement  as soon
thereafter as is reasonably  practicable.  Direct  Connect and the Company shall
cooperate with each other in the preparation of the  Registration  Statement and
the Proxy  Statement  and any amendment or  supplement  thereto,  and each shall
notify the other of the receipt of any comments from the SEC with respect to the
Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement and of any requests by the SEC for
any amendment or supplement  thereto or for  additional  information,  and shall
provide to the other promptly copies of all  correspondence  between the SEC and
Direct Connect or the Company, as the case may be, or any of its representatives
with respect to the Registration  Statement or the Proxy Statement.  The parties
and  their  counsel  shall  have the  opportunity  to  review  the  Registration
Statement  and all  responses  to requests  for  additional  information  by and
replies to  comments of the SEC before  their being filed with,  or sent to, the
SEC.  Each of the Company  and Direct  Connect  agrees to use its best  efforts,
after consultation with the other parties hereto, to respond promptly to all

                                       15

<PAGE>

such comments of and requests by the SEC and to cause the Registration Statement
to be declared effective by the SEC, and the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the
holders of Direct  Connect  Common Stock  entitled to vote at the Direct Connect
Stockholder's Meeting at the earliest practicable time.

(2) None of the  information  supplied by the Company for  inclusion  in (i) the
Registration  Statement  and (ii) the Proxy  Statement  will, in the case of the
Proxy  Statement or any  amendments or supplements  thereto,  at the time of the
mailing of the Proxy Statement and any amendments or supplements thereto, and at
the time of the Direct  Connect  Stockholders'  Meeting,  or, in the case of the
Registration  Statement,  at the time it becomes  effective and at the Effective
Time in regard to the Company,  will 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 are made, not misleading.

(3) None of the information  with respect to Direct Connect or its subsidiary to
be  included  or  incorporated  by  reference  in  the  Proxy  Statement  or the
Registration  Statement  will,  in  the  case  of  the  Proxy  Statement  or any
amendments  or  supplements  thereto,  at the time of the  mailing  of the Proxy
Statement and any  amendments  or  supplements  thereto,  and at the time of the
Direct  Connect  Stockholders'  Meeting,  or,  in the  case of the  Registration
Statement,  at the time it becomes effective and at the Effective Time,  contain
any untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state any  material  fact
required  to be stated  therein  or  necessary  in order to make the  statements
therein,  in  light  of  the  circumstances  under  which  they  are  made,  not
misleading.  The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects
with the provisions of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 as amended,  and the
rules and regulations thereunder (the "Exchange Act"). 


                                       16
<PAGE>


          3.4    Approval of Stockholders.

(1) Direct Connect shall, through it Board of Directors,  duly call, give notice
of,  convene and hold a special  meeting of the holders of Direct Connect Common
Stock and the holders of Direct Connect convertible  preferred stock, par value,
$.001 per share (the "Convertible  Preferred Stock"), each of whom shall vote as
a separate class (the "Direct Connect Stockholders' Meeting") for the purpose of
(i) ratifying and approving this Agreement and any transactions  contemplated by
this  Agreement  (the  "Direct  Connect  Merger  Proposal"),  (ii)  electing new
directors nominated by the Board of Directors, whose election shall be effective
as soon as  reasonably  practicable  following  the  Effective  Time  and  (iii)
amending the 1988  Incentive  Stock Option Plan of Direct  Connect or adopting a
new stock option plan  consistent with the terms of the Company's 1988 Incentive
Stock  Option  Plan.  Subject to the  exercise of  fiduciary  obligations  under
applicable law as advised by independent legal counsel and the Fairness Opinion,
Direct  Connect  shall,  through  its Board of  Directors,  include in the Proxy
Statement the  recommendation  of the Board of Directors of Direct  Connect that
the  stockholders  of Direct  Connect vote in favor of the Direct Connect Merger
Proposal  and the  nominees  to the  Board of  Directors  (the  "Direct  Connect
Stockholders'  Approval") and the amendment to 1988 Incentive  Stock Option Plan
and shall use its best efforts to obtain such adoption and approval as set forth
in Schedules 2.1 and 2.4.

(2) Subject to the exercise of fiduciary  obligations  under  applicable  law as
advised by  independent  counsel,  (i) the Company  shall,  through its Board of
Directors,  duly  call,  give  notice  of,  convene  and hold a  meeting  of its
stockholders (the "Company Stockholders' Meetings" and, together with the Direct
Connect Stockholder's Meeting, the "Stockholders'  Meetings") for the purpose of
approving  this  Agreement and the approval of the Merger (the " Company  Merger
Proposal") as soon as reasonably practicable after the date hereof; and (ii) the
Company shall,  through its Board of Directors,  recommend that the stockholders
of the  Company  vote in favor of the  Company  Merger  Proposal  (the  "Company
Stockholders'  Approval"),  and  shall  use its  best  efforts  to  obtain  such
approval.  In lieu of a meeting,  the Company may obtain the written  consent of
the shareholders of the Company to approve the Company Merger Proposal.

(3) Direct  Connect and the Company shall  coordinate and cooperate with respect
to the timing of the Stockholders'  Meetings and shall use their best efforts to



                                       17
<PAGE>


cause  the  Stockholders'  Meetings  to be held on the  same  day and as soon as
practicable after the date hereof.

3.5 During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, Sub
shall not engage in any activities of any nature whatsoever,  except as provided
or contemplated by this Agreement.

3.6 Notice of Breach. Each party shall promptly give written notice to the other
party upon  becoming  aware of the  occurrence of any event which would cause or
constitute  a breach  of any of its  representations,  warranties  or  covenants
contained  or  referenced  in this  Agreement  and will use its best  efforts to
prevent or promptly remedy the same. Any such  notification  shall not be deemed
an amendment of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule (as defined in Article III) or
Direct Connect Disclosure Schedule (as defined in Article IV).

3.7 HSR Act and Related  Matters.  The Company and Direct  Connect shall file as
soon as  practicable,  but in no event later than 10 days after the date hereof;
if required,  notifications under the Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements
Act of 1976,  as amended (the "HSR Act") in  connection  with the Merger and the
transactions  contemplated  hereby, and shall respond as promptly as practicable
to any inquiries  received from the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") and the
Antitrust  Division of the Department of Justice (the "Antitrust  Division") for
additional  information  or  documentation  and to all  inquiries  and  requests
received  from any State  Attorney  General or other  governmental  authority in
connection  with  antitrust  matters.  Direct  Connect  shall take all  actions,
including   without   limitation   sales,   transfers,   divestitures  or  other
dispositions of businesses, product lines or assets of Direct Connect, or, after
the Merger,  of the Company as shall be necessary to obtain timely  governmental
or  regulatory  action or  non-action,  consent or approval of the Merger by the
FTC, the Antitrust Division and any other Governmental Entity in connection with
antitrust matters.

3.8 Additional Agreements.  Subject to the terms and conditions herein provided,
each of the parties  hereto  agrees to use best efforts to take,  or cause to be
taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary,  proper
or advisable  under  applicable  laws and  regulations  to  consummate  and make
effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,  including using best
efforts to obtain all necessary permits, waivers, consents and approvals, to



                                       18

<PAGE>

effect all necessary  registrations and filings (including,  but not limited to,
filings under the HSR Act and with all applicable  Governmental Entities) and to
lift any  injunction  or other legal bar to the Merger  (and,  in such case,  to
proceed with the Merger as expeditiously as possible),  subject, however, in the
case of this Agreement,  to the appropriate  vote of the  stockholders of Direct
Connect.

3.9 Additional Actions. In case at any time after the Effective Time any further
action is necessary  or  desirable to carry out the purposes of this  Agreement,
the proper  officers  and/or  directors of Direct  Connect,  the Company and the
Surviving  Corporation  shall take all such necessary action at their respective
corporation's expense and at times and locations reasonably satisfactory to such
respective officers.

4.  REPRESENTATIONS  AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.  The Company  represents and
warrants to Direct Connect that,  except as disclosed in the Company  Disclosure
Schedule attached hereto(the "Company Disclosure Schedule"):

4.1 Organization and Qualification. The Company is a corporation duly organized,
validly  existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the State of Delaware
and  has the  corporate  power  to  carry  on its  business  as it is now  being
conducted.  Except as set forth in  Schedule  4.1  hereto,  the  Company is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation to do business,  and is in good standing,  in
each  jurisdiction  where the  character of its  properties  owned or held under
lease or the nature of its activities make such qualification necessary,  except
where the failure to be so qualified will not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a material  adverse  effect on the business or  financial  condition of the
Company (a "Company Material Adverse Effect").

4.2  Capitalization.  The  authorized  capital stock of the Company  consists of
20,000,000  shares of Image Common Stock,  par value  $.00000005  per share,  of
which 5,500,000 shares are issued and outstanding.  There are 750,000 options to
purchase 750,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock at various prices.  Except
as set forth in Schedule  4.2,  there are no options,  warrants,  calls or other
rights,  agreements or commitments presently outstanding  obligating the Company
to issue,  deliver or sell shares of its capital  stock or debt  securities,  or
obligating the Company to grant, extend or enter into any such option,  warrant,
call or other such right, agreement or commitment.  All of the shares of Company
Common Stock  issuable in accordance  with this Agreement in exchange for Direct
Connect Common Stock (including options or warrants to purchase Company Common


                                       19
<PAGE>


Stock) at the Effective  Time in  accordance  with this  Agreement  will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.


4.3  Subsidiaries.  The Company has no subsidiaries other than Sub.

4.4 Authority Relative to this Agreement. The Company has the corporate power to
enter into this Agreement and, subject to the Company Stockholders' Approval, to
carry out its obligations  hereunder and thereunder.  The execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby
and thereby have been duly authorized by the Company's Board of Directors.  This
Agreement  constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable
in accordance  with its terms.  The Company is not subject to or obligated under
(i) any charter or By-law provision or (ii) any indenture or other loan document
provision,  any other  contract,  license,  franchise,  permit,  order,  decree,
concession,  lease,  instrument,  judgment,  statute,  law,  ordinance,  rule or
regulation  applicable  to the  Company  or any of  its  subsidiaries  or  their
respective  properties or assets, which would be breached or violated,  or under
which  there  would be a default  (with or without  notice or lapse of time,  or
both), or under which there would arise a right of termination,  cancellation or
acceleration  of any  obligation  or the  loss  of a  material  benefit,  by its
executing and carrying out this Agreement other than, in the case of clause (ii)
only,  (A) any  breaches,  violations,  defaults,  terminations,  cancellations,
accelerations or losses which, either singly or in the aggregate,  will not have
a  Company   Material   Adverse  Effect  or  prevent  the  consummation  of  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby or thereby  and (B) the laws and  regulations
referred to in the next sentence.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.4 hereto or
in  connection,  or in  compliance,  with the  provisions  of the HSR  Act,  the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the environmental, corporation, securities
or blue sky laws or regulations of the various states, no filing or registration
with, or authorization,  consent or approval of; any public body or authority is
necessary  for the  consummation  by the  Company  of the  Merger  or the  other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than filings,  registrations,
authorizations,  consents  or  approvals  the failure of which to make or obtain
would not have a Company  Material Adverse Effect or prevent the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

4.5  Financial  Statements.  As soon as  practicable,  but no later than 45 days
after execution of this Agreement,  the Company will furnish Direct Connect with


                                       20

<PAGE>


true and complete copies of the audited financial statements for the years ended
December 31, 1996 and December  31, 1997,  or as otherwise  required by the SEC,
and its unaudited  financial  statements for the nine months ended September 30,
1998 and the most  recent  quarter  of the  Company  prior to the  Closing  Date
("Company Financial Statements").  The audited consolidated financial statements
and  unaudited  interim  financial  statements  of the  Company  shall have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted  accounting  principles  ("GAAP")
applied on a  consistent  basis  (except as may be  indicated  therein or in the
notes thereto) and fairly present the financial  position of the Company and its
subsidiaries  as at the dates  thereof and the results of their  operations  and
changes in financial position for the periods then ended subject, in the case of
the unaudited interim financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments
and any other adjustments described therein.

4.6  Litigation.  Except as  disclosed  in Schedule  4.6 hereto,  as of the date
hereof;  there is no suit, action or proceeding  pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company,  threatened against or affecting the Company which, alone or in the
aggregate,  is likely,  insofar as the Company  reasonably  foresees,  to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect, nor is there any judgment,  decree, injunction,
rule  or  order  of any  court,  governmental  department,  commission,  agency,
instrumentality  or  arbitrator  outstanding  against  the Company or any of its
subsidiaries having, or which,  insofar as the Company reasonably  foresees,  in
the future  could  have,  either  alone or in the  aggregate,  any such  Company
Material Adverse Effect. 

4.7 Employee  Benefit  Plans.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.7, there are no
material  employee  benefit or compensation  plans,  agreements or arrangements,
including "employee benefit plans," as defined in the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"),  and including,  but not limited to,
plans, agreements or arrangements relating to former employees,  including,  but
not limited to,  retiree  medical  plans  maintained  by the Company or material
collective bargaining agreements to which the Company is a party (together,  the
"Company Benefit  Plans").  No default exists with respect to the obligations of
the Company under any such Company Benefit Plan, which default,  alone or in the
aggregate,  would have a Company Material  Adverse Effect.  There are no pending
disputes or grievances subject to any grievance procedure, unfair labor practice
proceedings,  arbitration or litigation under such Company Benefit Plans,  which
have not been finally resolved,  settled or otherwise  disposed of; nor is there


                                       21

<PAGE>

any default, or any condition which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute such a default,  under any such Company Benefit Plans, by the Company
or  its  subsidiaries  or,  to  the  best  knowledge  of  the  Company  and  its
subsidiaries,  any other party  thereto,  which  failure to  resolve,  settle or
otherwise dispose of or default, alone or in the aggregate, would have a Company
Material  Adverse  Effect.  There  are no  pending  strikes,  lockouts  or  work
stoppages  or  slowdowns,  or to the  best  knowledge  of the  Company  and  its
subsidiaries,  jurisdictional  disputes  or  organizing  activity  occurring  or
threatened  with  respect to the  business or  operations  of the Company or its
subsidiaries which have had or would have a Company Material Adverse Effect.


4.8 ERISA.  All Company  Benefit  Plans are in  compliance  with the  applicable
provisions  of ERISA,  except  where such  failures  to comply  would not have a
Company  Material  Adverse  Effect.  Each of the Company  Benefit Plans which is
intended  to meet  the  requirements  of the Code  has  been  determined  by the
Internal  Revenue Service to be "qualified,"  within the meaning of such section
of the Code, and the Company knows of no fact which is likely to have an adverse
affect on the qualified status of such plans.  There is no `accumulated  funding
deficiency"  (whether  or not waived) as that term is defined in of the Code for
any of the Company Benefit Plans which are defined benefit pension plans and the
fair market  value of the assets of each such plan equals or exceeds the accrued
liabilities of such plan. There are no non-exempt "prohibited  transactions," as
such term is defined  in of the Code or of ERISA,  involving  a Company  Benefit
Plan which could  subject the Company to the penalty or tax imposed under (i) of
ERISA or of the Code.  No Company  Benefit  Plan which is subject to Title IV of
ERISA has been completely or partially terminated;  no proceedings to completely
or partially  terminate any Company Benefit Plan have been instituted within the
meaning of Subtitle C of said Title IV of ERISA;  and no reportable event within
the meaning of 3(b) of said Subtitle C of ERISA has occurred with respect to any
Company Benefit Plan. The Company has not made a complete or partial withdrawal,
within the meaning of ERISA, from any multiemployer  plan which has resulted in,
or is reasonably expected to result in, any withdrawal  liability to the Company
except for any such liability  which would not have a Company  Material  Adverse
Effect.

4.9  Financial  Advisor.  The Company  represents  and warrants  that no broker,
finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage,  finder's or other fee



                                       22
<PAGE>


or commission in connection with the Merger or the transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company.

4.10  Compliance  with  Applicable  Laws.  Except as set forth in Schedule  4.10
hereto, the Company hold all permits, licenses,  variances,  exemptions,  orders
and approvals of all courts,  administrative  agencies  (including  the Food and
Drug  Administration)  or  commissions  or  other  governmental  authorities  or
instrumentalities,  domestic or foreign (each, a "Governmental Entity"),  except
for such  permits,  licenses,  variances,  exemptions,  orders and approvals the
failure of which to hold would not have a Company  Material  Adverse Effect (the
"Company  Permits").  To the best  knowledge of the  Company,  the Company is in
compliance  with the terms of the Company  Permits,  except for such failures to
comply,  which  singly or in the  aggregate,  would not have a Company  Material
Adverse Effect. To the best knowledge of the Company, the business operations of
the  Company  is not being  conducted  in  violation  of any law,  ordinance  or
regulation of any  Governmental  Entity,  except for possible  violations  which
individually  or in the  aggregate do not and would not have a Company  Material
Adverse Effect.


          4.11     Intellectual Property.

(1)  Schedule  4.11 hereto  sets forth a complete  list and  description  of the
following:

(1)  all  trademarks,  service  marks,  trade  names,  label  filings,  patents,
copyrights,  royalty  rights,  logos,  applications  therefor and  registrations
thereof  and  inventions  owned  or used  (pursuant  to  license  agreements  or
otherwise)  by the Company in or  applicable  to the  businesses  of the Company
(collectively,  the "Proprietary  Rights"),  and the  jurisdictions in which the
Proprietary Rights have been registered, filed or issued;

(2)  contracts, agreements or understandings pursuant to which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries has authorized any person to use any of the  Proprietary
Rights; and

(3) all research and development  results,  records of experiments,  scientific,
technical, engineering and marketing data and literature and other know-how,


                                       23

<PAGE>


formulae and techniques,  recorded or available in any form whatsoever which are
used  in  connection  with  the  operation  of the  businesses  of  the  Company
(collectively, the "Trade Secrets").

(2) The Proprietary Rights have been properly registered, filed or issued in the
offices  and  jurisdictions  in which such  registration,  filing or issuance is
necessary  to protect  the rights  therein of the Company for the conduct of its
business,  and all  applicable  fees due and payable  have been paid.  Except as
otherwise  indicated  in Schedule  4.11,  the Company is the sole and  exclusive
owners of the  Proprietary  Rights and the Trade Secrets and all rights  related
thereto,  free and  clear of any  obligation  to pay  royalties  or any  similar
obligation and free and clear of all mortgages, liens or other encumbrances.

(3)  None  of  the  Proprietary   Rights  will  be  adversely  affected  by  the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(4) Except as set forth in Schedule 4.11, to the best of the Company's knowledge
after due investigation, there are no claims or demands of any person pertaining
to the  Proprietary  Rights or the Trade  Secrets or the  rights of the  Company
thereunder,  and no proceedings  have been  instituted or are pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company,  threatened  which challenge the rights of the Company
in respect  thereof;  and none of the issued  trademarks,  service marks,  trade
names, label filings, patents, copyrights,  logos, registrations thereof; or, as
the case may be, the rights granted to the Company in respect  thereof and to be
listed in Schedule 4.11,  infringes on or is being infringed upon by others, and
none  is  subject  to any  outstanding  order,  decree,  judgment,  stipulation,
injunction,  restriction  or  agreement  restricting  the  scope  of the  use by
Company.

(5) Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.11, to the best of the Company's knowledge
after due investigation,  the Company is not infringing or violating, and during
the past five years, the Company has not infringed or violated,  any Proprietary
Rights of others,  nor used any  confidential  information  or trade  secrets or
patentable or unpatentable  inventions of any former employer of any employee of
the Company.

                                       24
<PAGE>



(6) Except as is disclosed in Schedule 4.11, the Company has no knowledge of any
patented  device or application  therefor  which could  materially and adversely
affect the operation of the businesses of the Company, as now conducted.

(7) Except as indicated in Schedule  4.11, the Trade Secrets have been, and will
not be, disclosed by the Company to any person other than Direct Connect and its
agents and representatives, and comprise all of the same necessary to permit the
continued operation of the businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries.


      4.12   Insurance.

(1) The Company  maintains,  and, at all times has  maintained,  insurance  with
financially sound and reputable  insurance companies insuring against such risks
and in such amounts as reasonably prudent and appropriate  considering its size,
business and operations.

(2) The Company is not in default with respect to any provision of any policy of
fire, liability,  products liability, workers compensation,  title or other form
of insurance held by it.

(3) The  Company  has not failed to give any notice or to submit any claim under
any policy of insurance in a proper and timely fashion.


      4.13  Taxes.  Except as specifically set forth on the attached schedules:

(1) The Company and any combined,  consolidated,  unitary or affiliated group of
which the  Company is or has been a member on or prior to the  Closing  Date (i)
has paid all Taxes,  as defined in Section  4.13(o),  required  to be paid on or
prior to the Closing Date (including,  without limitation,  estimated Taxes) for
which the Company could be held liable; (ii) has accurately and timely filed (or
timely  filed an  extension  for),  all  federal,  state,  local and foreign Tax
Returns (as defined in Section 4.13(o)),  with respect to such Taxes required to
be filed by them on or before  the  Closing  Date and (iii) has  established  an
adequate  accrual or reserve for the payment of all Taxes  payable in respect of
the period,  including portions and contingent  portions thereof;  subsequent to
the period covered by such returns up to and including the Closing Date.


                                       25
<PAGE>



(2) No deficiency or proposed adjustment which has not been settled or otherwise
resolved for any amount of Tax has been proposed,  asserted,  or assessed by any
taxing  authority  against,  or with respect to the activities of the Company or
any member of any combined,  consolidated,  unitary or affiliated group of which
the Company is or has been a member on or prior to the Closing Date.


(3) The Company has not  consented to extend the time within which any Taxes may
be assessed or collected.

(4) The Company has not  requested  or been granted an extension of time for the
filing any Tax Return to a date later than the Closing Date.

(5)  There is no  action,  suit,  tax  authority  proceeding,  or  audit  now in
progress,  pending,  or  threatened  against or with respect to the Company with
respect to any Taxes.

(6) The  Company has not been a member of an  affiliated  group or filed or been
included in a combined, consolidated, or unitary Tax Return.

(7) No claim has ever been made by a taxing  authority in a  jurisdiction  where
the  Company  does not pay Taxes or file Tax  Returns  that the  Company  may be
subject to the Taxes assessed by such jurisdiction.

(8) The Company has withheld and paid all Taxes  required to have been  withheld
and paid in  connection  with amounts paid or owing to any  employee,  creditor,
independent  contractor,  or  other  party  pursuant  to the  Federal  Insurance
Contributions Act, the Federal  Unemployment Tax Act, or Chapter 24 of the Code,
with respect to the withholding of income tax at the source on wages.

(9)  The  Company  has  disclosed  on the Tax  Returns  of the  Company  and any
combined,  consolidated,  unitary or affiliated group of which the Company is or
has been a member on or prior to the  Closing  Date has  disclosed  on their Tax
Returns all  positions  taken  therein  which  could give rise to a  substantial
understatement of federal Tax.


                                       26
<PAGE>


(10) There is no material dispute or claim concerning any liability for Taxes of
the Company  either (i) claimed or raised by any authority in writing or (ii) as
to which the Company has knowledge based upon personal contact with any agent of
such authority.

(11)  The  Company  (i) has not  filed  a  consent  under  Code  Section  341(f)
concerning collapsible  corporations;  (ii) has not made any payments, nor is it
obligated to make any payments,  nor is it a party to any  agreement  that under
certain  circumstances  could  obligate it to make any payments that will not be
deductible  under Code Section 280G; (iii) will not have any liability after the
Closing Date pursuant to any tax allocation or sharing agreement;  and (iv) does
not have any liability for the Taxes of any person as a transferee or successor,
by contract,  or otherwise,  including pursuant to any tax allocation or sharing
agreement.

(12) Schedule 4.13(1) contains a list setting forth all the states, territories,
jurisdictions  in which the Company is required to file a Tax Return relating to
its  operations  and  the  Taxes  to  which  the  Company  is  subject  in  such
jurisdictions.

(13) The Company has no liability outstanding,  contingent, or proposed and will
not have any liability outstanding,  contingent,  or proposed resulting from the
operation of Treasury Regulations ss. 1.1502-6,  or any similar state, local, or
foreign  provision,  arising from an obligation for Taxes of a corporation which
is or was a member of any combined, consolidated, unitary or affiliated group of
which the Company is or has been a member on or prior to the Closing Date.

(14) Any  allocation  or sharing  agreement of the Company with respect to Taxes
shall be cancelled as of the date of the Closing Date.

(15) For purposes of this Agreement, (i) Taxes means all federal, state or local
taxes  and  foreign  taxes and  other  government  fees,  charges,  levies,  and
assessments,  including but not limited to, income, property,  franchise, sales,
use, ad valorem, profits, gross receipts, payroll, employment, and excise taxes,
which are payable or remittable by the Company or levied on its property, income
or assets by any federal,  state, local or foreign government or governmental or
quasi-governmental  agency  or  instrumentality,   and  all  additions  to  tax,
penalties and interest relating thereto; and (ii) Tax Return means any return,

                                       27

<PAGE>


declaration,  report,  claim for  refund,  or  information  return or  statement
relating to Taxes, including interest and penalties.


          4.14  Environmental Matters.

(1) The Company has no liability  under, and there is no fact currently known to
the  Company  that could  hereafter  give rise to any  liability  of the Company
under,  any  federal,  state,  foreign,  provincial  or  local  laws,  statutes,
ordinances,  regulations,  rules  and  orders  pertaining  to  the  environment,
pollution   and/or  the  health  and  safety  of  human  beings   (collectively,
"Environmental Laws").

(2) To the  Company's  knowledge,  there  is no,  and has  been  no,  discharge,
spillage, uncontrolled loss, seepage or filtration of hazardous waste (including
without  limitation  all inks and oils) on-site at the Company's  premises.  All
hazardous  waste  on-site  at the  premises  of the  Company  has been and shall
continue to be disposed of in compliance with all  Environmental  Laws and other
applicable laws, and is being managed in accordance with all Environmental  Laws
and other applicable laws.

(3) Except as disclosed on Schedule  4.14, the Company has not received a notice
or claim relating to the exposure of employees to hazardous waste, in the course
and scope of their respective employments with Company or its predecessors.

4.15 Labor  Matters.  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.15, the Company is not a
party to any collective bargaining agreement and there are no material or formal
complaints,  charges,  cases or  controversies  or any  conciliation  agreement,
consent or decree pending or threatened  Company and any of its employees acting
individually or in concert and/or any administrative agency of the United States
government and no organization is presently attempting to gain,  petitioning for
or  asserting  representational  status  with  respect to any group or groups of
employees  of Company,  and Company is in material  compliance  with federal and
state laws respecting employment practices,  terms and conditions of employment,
wages and hours,  and is not  presently  engaged in any unfair  labor  practice,
There is no labor  strike or other  labor  dispute  and  there is no  complaint,
proceeding or other action  instituted under the Equal  Opportunity Act pending,
threatened against Company.  No key employee of Company has indicated that he is
considering terminating his employment.

                                       28

<PAGE>

5.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING SUB.  The  Company and  Sub jointly
and  severally represent and warrant to Direct Connect as follows:

5.1  Organization.  Sub will be duly  organized  within ten (10) days hereof and
will be validly  existing  and in good  standing  under the laws of the State of
Delaware. Sub will not engage in any business (other than certain organizational
matters) since it was incorporated.

5.2  Capitalization.  The  authorized  capital  stock of Sub will consist of 100
shares of common  stock,  no par value per  share,  all of which will be validly
issued  and  outstanding,  fully  paid and  nonassessable  and are  owned by the
Company free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances.

5.3 Authority  Relative to this Agreement.  Sub will have the corporate power to
enter  into  this  Agreement  and to carry  out its  obligations  hereunder  and
thereunder,  respectively.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly
authorized by the Board of Directors and sole stockholder of Sub,  respectively,
and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Sub are necessary to authorize
this   Agreement  and  the   transactions   contemplated   hereby  and  thereby,
respectively.  Except as referred to herein or in connection,  or in compliance,
with the provisions of the HSR Act, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the
environmental,  corporation,  securities or blue sky laws or  regulations of the
various states,  no filing or registration  with, or  authorization,  consent or
approval of, any public body or authority is necessary for the  consummation  by
Sub of the Merger or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than
filings,  registrations,  authorizations,  consents or approvals  the failure to
make  or  obtain  would  not  prevent  the   consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.

6.  REPRESENTATIONS  AND  WARRANTIES OF DIRECT  CONNECT.  Direct Connect and its
subsidiary represent and warrant to the Company that, except as disclosed in the
Direct  Connect  Disclosure  Schedules  attached  hereto  (the  "Direct  Connect
Disclosure Schedule"):

                                       29
<PAGE>


6.1  Organization  and  Qualification.  Direct  Connect  is a  corporation  duly
organized,  validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware and has the corporate power to carry on its business as it is now being
conducted.  Except as set forth in Schedule 6.1 hereof,  Direct  Connect is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation to do business,  and is in good standing,  in
each  jurisdiction  where the  character of its  properties  owned or held under
lease or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except
where the failure to be so qualified will not have a material  adverse effect on
the  business  or  financial  condition  of Direct  Connect (a  "Direct  Connect
Material Adverse Effect").

6.2  Capitalization.  The authorized capital stock of Direct Connect consists of
15,000,000  shares of Company  Common  Stock and  5,000,000  shares of Preferred
Stock.  As of August 31, 1998,  9,062,066  shares of Direct Connect Common Stock
were validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable.  As of August
31,  1998,  5,000,000  shares of  Convertible  Preferred  Stock were  issued and
outstanding and are convertible into 15,000,000  shares of Direct Connect Common
Stock. The authorized capital stock of Direct Connect is currently  insufficient
to fulfill the conversion  features of the Convertible  Preferred Shares and the
exercise  provisions  of the  outstanding  warrants and options.  As of the date
hereof,  there are no bonds,  debentures,  notes or other indebtedness issued or
outstanding  having the right to vote on any matters on which  Direct  Connect's
stockholders  may vote.  Schedule 6.2 sets forth all options,  warrants,  calls,
convertible  securities or other rights,  agreements  or  commitments  presently
outstanding  obligating  Direct Connect to issue,  deliver or sell shares of its
capital stock or debt securities,  or obligating Direct Connect to grant, extend
or enter into any such option,  warrant, call or other such right,  agreement or
commitment  and the  amount of Direct  Connect  Common  Stock for which they may
converted or exchanged.

6.3 Subsidiaries.  The only subsidiary of Direct Connect is Amerawell  Products,
Ltd. ("Amerawell"),  which is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, Hong Kong,
and  has the  corporate  power  to  carry  on its  business  as it is now  being
conducted or currently proposed to be conducted.  Amerawell is duly qualified as
a  foreign  corporation  to do  business,  and  is in  good  standing,  in  each
jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or held under lease or


                                       30

<PAGE>

the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary except where the
failure  to be so  qualified  will not have a Direct  Connect  Material  Adverse
Effect.  All the  outstanding  shares of capital  stock of Amerawell are validly
issued,  fully paid and nonassessable and owned by Direct Connect or by a wholly
owned  subsidiary  of Direct  Connect,  free and clear of any  liens,  claims or
encumbrances.  There are no existing options,  warrants,  calls or other rights,
agreements or  commitments  of any character  relating to the issued or unissued
capital stock or other securities of Amerawell.

6.4 Authority Relative to this Agreement. Direct Connect has the corporate power
to enter into this Agreement  and,  subject to approval of this Agreement by the
holders of Direct Connect Common Stock, to carry out its obligations  hereunder.
The  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  and the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly authorized by Direct Connect's
Board of Directors. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of
Direct Connect  enforceable in accordance with its terms.  Direct Connect is not
subject to or  obligated  under (i) any charter or by-law  provision or (ii) any
indenture  or other  loan  document  provision,  any  other  contract,  license,
franchise,  permit,  order, decree,  concession,  lease,  instrument,  judgment,
statute, law, ordinance,  rule or regulation applicable to Direct Connect or its
subsidiary or their  respective  properties or assets which would be breached or
violated,  or under which there  would be a default  (with or without  notice or
lapse  of  time,  or  both),  or  under  which  there  would  arise a  right  of
termination,  cancellation  or  acceleration  of any obligation or the loss of a
material benefit, by its executing and carrying out this Agreement,  other than,
in the  case of  clause  (ii)  only,  (A) any  breaches,  violations,  defaults,
terminations, cancellations,  accelerations or losses which, either singly or in
the aggregate, will not have a Direct Connect Material Adverse Effect or prevent
the  consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby and (B) the laws and
regulations referred to in the next sentence.  Except as disclosed in the Direct
Connect  Disclosure  Schedule or, with respect to the Merger or the transactions
contemplated  thereby, in connection,  or in compliance,  with the provisions of
the HSR Act,  the  Securities  Act, the  Exchange  Act,  and the  environmental,
corporation,  securities or blue sky laws or regulations of the various  states,
no filing or registration  with, or  authorization,  consent or approval of, any
public body or authority is necessary for the  consummation by Direct Connect of
the Merger or the other transactions  contemplated  hereby,  other than filings,
registrations,  authorizations,  consents or  approvals  the failure of which to
make or  obtain  would  not have a Direct  Connect  Material  Adverse  Effect or
prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.


                                       31
<PAGE>


          6.5  Reports and Financial Statements;  Outstanding Obligations.

(1) Direct Connect has duly complied and is complying, in all material respects,
with all federal and State  securities  laws,  including all periodic  reporting
requirements,  and  to  Direct  Connect's  knowledge  there  is  no  pending  or
threatened  investigation by the SEC or any state securities  regulatory  agency
concerning Direct Connect, its subsidiary or any officer or director thereof.

(2) Direct Connect will furnish the Company with true and complete copies of its
(i) Annual  Reports on Form 10-K for the three years ended  April 30,  1998,  as
filed with the Commission,(ii) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the most recent
quarter ended October 31, 1998, as filed with the SEC, and (iii) Current Reports
on Form 8-K relating to events  occurring after December 31, 1995, as filed with
the SEC, (clauses (i) through (iii) being referred to herein collectively as the
"Direct  Connect  SEC  Reports").  As of their  respective  dates  and to Direct
Connect's  knowledge,  Direct  Connect SEC Reports have complied in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
of the SEC thereunder applicable to such Direct Connect SEC Reports. As of their
respective  dates,  Direct  Connect  SEC  Reports  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  therein,  in light of the
circumstances   under  which  they  were  made,  not  misleading.   The  audited
consolidated  financial statements and unaudited interim financial statements of
Direct  Connect  included in Direct Connect SEC Reports comply as to form in all
material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published
rules  and  regulations  of the SEC  with  respect  thereto,  and the  financial
statements  included  in  Direct  Connect  SEC  Reports  have been  prepared  in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis  (except as may be indicated  therein or in the notes  thereto) and fairly
present the financial  position of Direct  Connect and its  subsidiary as at the
dates  thereof and the  results of their  operations  and  changes in  financial
position  for the  periods  then  ended  subject,  in the case of the  unaudited
interim financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments and any other
adjustments described therein.


                                       32

<PAGE>



6.6  Litigation.  Except as  disclosed  in Schedule  6.6, as of the date hereof,
there is no suit,  action or  proceeding  pending or, to the knowledge of Direct
Connect, threatened against or affecting Direct Connect or its subsidiary which,
either  alone  or in  the  aggregate,  is  likely,  insofar  as  Direct  Connect
reasonably  foresees,  to have a Direct Connect Material Adverse Effect,  nor is
there any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any court, governmental
department,   commission,  agency,  instrumentality  or  arbitrator  outstanding
against  Direct Connect or its subsidiary  having,  or which,  insofar as Direct
Connect  reasonably  foresees,  in the future could have, either alone or in the
aggregate, any such Direct Connect Material Adverse Effect.


6.7 Employee  Benefit  Plans.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 6.7, there are no
employee benefit or compensation  plans,  agreements or arrangements,  including
"employee  benefit  plans,"  as defined  in) of ERISA,  and  including,  but not
limited to, plans,  agreements  or  arrangements  relating to former  employees,
including,  but not limited to,  retiree  medical  plans,  maintained  by Direct
Connect or its subsidiary or material collective  bargaining agreements to which
Direct  Connect or its  subsidiary  is a party  (together,  the "Direct  Connect
Benefit  Plans").  No default  exists with respect to the  obligations of Direct
Connect or its subsidiary under such Direct Connect Benefit Plan, which default,
alone or in the aggregate,  would have a Direct Connect Material Adverse Effect.
There are no pending disputes or grievances subject to any grievance  procedure,
unfair labor practice  proceedings,  arbitration or litigation under such Direct
Connect  Benefit  Plans,  which  have  not been  finally  resolved,  settled  or
otherwise  disposed of, nor is there any default,  or any condition which,  with
notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, under any such
Direct  Connect  Benefit  Plans,  by Direct Connect or its subsidiary or, to the
best  knowledge of Direct Connect and its  subsidiary,  any other party thereto,
which  failure to settle or  otherwise  dispose of or  default,  alone or in the
aggregate,  would have a Direct Connect  Material  Adverse Effect.  There are no
pending  strikes,  lockouts  or work  stoppages.  or  slowdowns,  or to the best
knowledge  of Direct  Connect  and its  subsidiary,  jurisdictional  disputes or
organizing  activity  occurring  or  threatened  with respect to the business or
operations of Direct  Connect or its  subsidiary  which have had or would have a
Direct Connect Material Adverse Effect. 

6.8  ERISA.  All  Direct  Connect  Benefit  Plans  are in  compliance  with  the
applicable  provisions of ERISA,  except where such failures to comply would not
have a Direct Connect  Material  Adverse Effect.  Each of Direct Connect Benefit


                                       33
<PAGE>

Plans which is intended to meet the requirements of the Code has been determined
by the Internal  Revenue Service to be  "qualified,"  within the meaning of such
section of the Code, and Direct Connect knows of no fact which is likely to have
an adverse  effect on the  qualified  status of such  plans.  No Direct  Connect
Benefit  Plan is  subject  to  Title  IV of ERISA  or of the  Code,  other  than
multiemployer  pension plans  disclosed in Direct Connect  Disclosure  Schedule.
There are no non-exempt "prohibited transactions," as such term is defined in of
the Code or of ERISA,  involving  Direct  Connect's  Benefit  Plans  which could
subject  Direct  Connect,  its  subsidiary  or the Company to the penalty or tax
imposed  under  (i) of ERISA or of the  Code.  Neither  Direct  Connect  nor its
subsidiary has made a complete or partial withdrawal, within the meaning of 3(b)
of said Subtitle C of ERISA, from any multiemployer  plan which has resulted in,
or is  reasonably  expected  to result in, any  withdrawal  liability  to Direct
Connect or its subsidiary  except for any such liability  which would not have a
Direct Connect Material Adverse Effect.

6.9 Financial  Advisor.  Direct Connect  represents and warrants that no broker,
finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage,  finder's or other fee
or commission in connection with the Merger or the transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Direct Connect.

6.10 Compliance  with Applicable  Laws. To the best knowledge of Direct Connect,
Direct  Connect  and its  subsidiary  hold  all  permits,  licenses,  variances,
exemptions,  orders and approvals of all Governmental Entities,  except for such
permits, licenses,  variances,  exemptions,  orders and approvals the failure of
which to hold  would not have a Direct  Connect  Material  Adverse  Effect  (the
"Direct  Connect  Permits").  To the best  knowledge of Direct  Connect,  Direct
Connect and its  subsidiary  are in compliance  with the terms of Direct Connect
Permits,  except for such failures to comply,  which singly or in the aggregate,
would not have a Direct Connect Material  Adverse Effect.  To the best knowledge
of Direct Connect, except as disclosed in Direct Connect SEC Reports filed prior
to the date of this Agreement, the business operations of Direct Connect and its
subsidiary  are not  being  conducted  in  violation  of any law,  ordinance  or
regulation of any  Governmental  Entity,  except for possible  violations  which
individually  or in the  aggregate  do not and would  not have a Direct  Connect
Material Adverse Effect.


                                       34
<PAGE>



          6.11   Intellectual Property.


(1)  Schedule 6.11 sets forth a complete list and description of the following:

(1)  all  trademarks,  service  marks,  trade  names,  label  filings,  patents,
copyrights,  royalty  rights,  logos,  applications  therefor and  registrations
thereof  and  inventions  owned  or used  (pursuant  to  license  agreements  or
otherwise)  by  Direct  Connect  or  its  subsidiary  in or  applicable  to  the
businesses  of Direct  Connect  and its  subsidiary  (collectively,  the "Direct
Connect Proprietary Rights"),  and the jurisdictions in which the Direct Connect
Proprietary Rights have been registered, filed or issued;

(2) contracts,  agreements or understandings pursuant to which Direct Connect or
its  subsidiary  has  authorized  any  person to use any of the  Direct  Connect
Proprietary Rights; and

(3) all research and development  results,  records of experiments,  scientific,
technical,  engineering  and marketing data and  literature and other  know-how,
formulae and techniques,  recorded or available in any form whatsoever which are
used in connection  with the operation of the  businesses of Direct  Connect and
its subsidiary (collectively, the "Direct Connect Trade Secrets").

(2) The Direct Connect Proprietary Rights have been properly  registered,  filed
or issued in the offices and jurisdictions in which such registration, filing or
issuance is  necessary to protect the rights  therein of Direct  Connect and its
subsidiary for the conduct of their businesses,  and all applicable fees due and
payable  have been paid.  Except as otherwise  indicated  in the Schedule  6.11,
Direct  Connect  and its  subsidiary  are the sole and  exclusive  owners of the
Proprietary  Rights and the Direct  Connect Trade Secrets and all rights related
thereto,  free and  clear of any  obligation  to pay  royalties  or any  similar
obligation and free and clear of all mortgages, liens or other encumbrances.

(3) None of the Direct Connect  Proprietary Rights will be adversely affected by
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.


                                       35

<PAGE>


(4) Except as set forth in Schedule 6.11,  there are no claims or demands of any
person pertaining to the Direct Connect Proprietary Rights or the Direct Connect
Trade Secrets or the rights of Direct Connect and its subsidiary thereunder, and
no  proceedings  have been  instituted  or are pending or, to the  knowledge  of
Direct  Connect,  threatened  which  challenge  the rights of Direct  Connect in
respect thereof, and none of the issued trademarks,  service marks, trade names,
label filings,  patents,  copyrights,  logos,  registrations thereof, or, as the
case may be, the rights granted to Direct  Connect in respect  thereof and to be
listed in Schedule 6.11,  infringes on or is being infringed upon by others, and
none  is  subject  to any  outstanding  order,  decree,  judgment,  stipulation,
injunction,  restriction or agreement restricting the scope of the use by Direct
Connect.

(5) Except as disclosed in Schedule  6.11,  Direct  Connect is not infringing or
violating,  and during the past five years,  Direct Connect has not infringed or
violated,  any  Direct  Connect  Proprietary  Rights  of  others,  nor  used any
confidential   information  or  trade  secrets  or  patentable  or  unpatentable
inventions of any former employer of any employee of Direct Connect.

(6) Except as is disclosed in Schedule 6.11,  Direct Connect has no knowledge of
any patented device or application therefor which could materially and adversely
affect the operation of the businesses of Direct Connect, as now conducted.

(7)Except as indicated in Schedule  6.11,  the Direct Connect Trade Secrets have
been,  and will not be,  disclosed  by Direct  Connect to any person  other than
Direct Connect and its agents and representatives,  and comprise all of the same
necessary to permit the continued  operation of the businesses of Direct Connect
and its subsidiary.


          6.12 Insurance.

(1) Except as indicated in Schedule 6.12(a),  Direct Connect maintains,  and, at
all  times has  maintained,  insurance  with  financially  sound  and  reputable
insurance  companies  insuring  against  such  risks  and  in  such  amounts  as
reasonably   prudent  and  appropriate   considering  its  size,   business  and
operations.


                                       36
<PAGE>



(2) Direct Connect is not in default with respect to any provision of any policy
of fire, liability,  products liability,  workers  compensation,  title or other
form of insurance held by it.


(3)  Direct  Connect  has not  failed to give any  notice or to submit any claim
under any policy of insurance in a proper and timely fashion.


       6.13  Taxes.  Except as specifically set forth on the attached schedules:

(1) Direct Connect,  its subsidiary and any combined,  consolidated,  unitary or
affiliated  group of which  Direct  Connect or its  subsidiary  is or has been a
member on or prior to the  Closing  Date (i) has paid all Taxes,  required to be
paid on or prior to the Closing Date (including,  without limitation,  estimated
Taxes) for which Direct Connect or its subsidiary could be held liable; (ii) has
accurately  and timely filed (or timely filed an  extension  for),  all federal,
state,  local and foreign Tax Returns with respect to such Taxes  required to be
filed by them on or  before  the  Closing  Date and  (iii)  has  established  an
adequate  accrual or reserve for the payment of all Taxes  payable in respect of
the period,  including portions and contingent  portions thereof,  subsequent to
the period covered by such returns up to and including the Closing Date.

(2) Direct Connect and its subsidiary  have delivered to the Company correct and
complete copies of all Tax Returns and information  statements,  schedules,  and
worksheets which relate to Direct Connect or its subsidiary contained within the
Tax Returns,  filed with respect to Direct Connect or its subsidiary for taxable
periods ending on or after December 31, 1993,  and all  examination  reports and
statements of  deficiencies  assessed  against or agreed to by Direct Connect or
its subsidiary with respect to such taxable periods.

(3) No deficiency or proposed adjustment which has not been settled or otherwise
resolved for any amount of Tax has been proposed,  asserted,  or assessed by any
taxing authority against, or with respect to the activities of Direct Connect or
its  subsidiary  or  any  member  of  any  combined,  consolidated,  unitary  or
affiliated  group of which  Direct  Connect or its  subsidiary  is or has been a
member on or prior to the Closing Date.

(4) Neither  Direct  Connect nor its  subsidiary has not consented to extend the
time within which any Taxes may be assessed or collected.


                                       37
<PAGE>

(5) Neither  Direct Connect nor its subsidiary has not requested or been granted
an  extension  of time for the  filing  any Tax  Return to a date later than the
Closing Date.

(6)  There is no  action,  suit,  tax  authority  proceeding,  or  audit  now in
progress,  pending,  or threatened  against or with respect to Direct Connect or
its subsidiary with respect to any Taxes.

(7) Neither Direct Connect nor its subsidiary has been a member of an affiliated
group or filed or been  included  in a  combined,  consolidated,  or unitary Tax
Return,  except for the current consolidation with its Hong Kong subsidiary know
as Amerawell Products, Limited.

(8) No claim has ever been made by a taxing  authority in a  jurisdiction  where
Direct  Connect or its  subsidiary  does not pay Taxes or file Tax Returns  that
Direct  Connect or its  subsidiary  may be subject to the Taxes assessed by such
jurisdiction.

(9) Except as indicated in Schedule  6.13,  Direct Connect has withheld and paid
all Taxes  required to have been  withheld and paid in  connection  with amounts
paid or owing to any employee, creditor,  independent contractor, or other party
pursuant to the Federal Insurance  Contributions  Act, the Federal  Unemployment
Tax Act, or Chapter 24 of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended (the
"Code"), with respect to the withholding of income tax at the source on wages.

(10) Direct  Connect and its subsidiary  have disclosed on their  respective Tax
Returns,  and any combined,  consolidated,  unitary or affiliated group of which
Direct  Connect  or its  subsidiary  is or has been a member  on or prior to the
Closing Date has  disclosed on their Tax Returns,  all  positions  taken therein
which could give rise to a substantial understatement of federal Tax.

(11) There is no material dispute or claim concerning any liability for Taxes of
Direct Connect or its  subsidiary  either (i) claimed or raised by any authority
in writing or (ii) as to which Direct  Connect or its  subsidiary  has knowledge
based upon personal contact with any agent of such authority.

                                       38

<PAGE>

(12) Neither  Direct  Connect nor its  subsidiary  (i) has filed a consent under
Code  Section  341(f)  concerning  collapsible  corporations;  (ii) has made any
payments, nor is obligated to make any payments, nor is a party to any agreement
that under  certain  circumstances  could  obligate it to make any payments that
will  not be  deductible  under  Code  Section  280G;  (iii)  will  not have any
liability  after the  Closing  Date  pursuant to any tax  allocation  or sharing
agreement; and (iv) does not have any liability for the Taxes of any person as a
transferee or successor,  by contract,  or otherwise,  including pursuant to any
tax allocation or sharing agreement.

(13) Schedule 6.13(m) contains a list setting forth all the states, territories,
jurisdictions  in which Direct  Connect or its  subsidiary is required to file a
Tax Return  relating to its operations and the Taxes to which Direct Connect and
its subsidiary is subject in such jurisdictions.

(14) Neither Direct  Connect nor its  subsidiary has any liability  outstanding,
contingent, or proposed and will not have any liability outstanding, contingent,
or proposed  resulting from the operation of Treasury  Regulations ss. 1.1502-6,
or any similar state,  local, or foreign  provision,  arising from an obligation
for  Taxes  of a  corporation  which  is  or  was  a  member  of  any  combined,
consolidated,  unitary  or  affiliated  group of  which  Direct  Connect  or its
subsidiary is or has been a member on or prior to the Closing Date.

(15) Any  allocation or sharing  agreement of Direct  Connect or its  subsidiary
with respect to Taxes shall be cancelled as of the date of the Closing Date.

(16) Neither Direct Connect nor its subsidiary will recognize  income or gain as
a result of the Merger pursuant to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1502-13 or 19.

          6.14 Environmental Matters.

(1)  Direct  Connect  has no  liability  under,  and there is no fact  currently
existing that could hereafter give rise to any liability of Direct Connect under
the Environmental Laws.

(2)  There is no,  and has  been no,  discharge,  spillage,  uncontrolled  loss,
seepage or filtration of hazardous waste (including without limitation all inks


                                       39
<PAGE>

and oils) on-site at Direct Connect's  premises.  All hazardous waste on-site at
the premises of Direct  Connect has been and shall continue to be disposed of in
compliance with all  Environmental  Laws and other applicable laws, and is being
managed in accordance with all Environmental Laws and other applicable laws.

(3)  Direct  Connect  has not used,  and there has not been  generated,  stored,
disposed  of, or located on its property or on premises  which it occupies,  any
hazardous,  toxic or illegal waste or substance,  including  without  limitation
those defined in the Resource  Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, or any
other  of the  Environmental  Laws,  nor has  there  been any  other  pollution,
contamination or similar harm to its property or on premises which it occupies.

(4) Except as  disclosed  on Schedule  6.14,  Direct  Connect has not received a
notice or claim relating to the exposure of employees to hazardous waste, in the
course and scope of their  respective  employments  with  Direct  Connect or its
predecessors.

6.15 Labor Matters.  Except as set forth in Schedule 6.15, Direct Connect is not
a party to any  collective  bargaining  agreement  and there are no  material or
formal  complaints,   charges,   cases  or  controversies  or  any  conciliation
agreement,  consent or decree  pending or threatened  against Direct Connect and
any of its employees acting individually or in concert and/or any administrative
agency  of the  United  States  government  and  no  organization  is  presently
attempting to gain,  petitioning for or asserting  representational  status with
respect  to any group or groups of  employees  of  Direct  Connect,  and  Direct
Connect  is in  material  compliance  with  Federal  and state  laws  respecting
employment practices,  terms and conditions of employment,  wages and hours, and
is not presently engaged in any unfair labor practice,  There is no labor strike
or other labor  dispute and there is no  complaint,  proceeding  or other action
instituted under the Equal  Opportunity Act pending,  threatened  against Direct
Connect.  No key employee of Direct Connect has indicated that he is considering
terminating his employment.

6.16 Material Contracts,  Assets, Employment Agreements.  Except as disclosed in
Schedule 6.16,  Direct Connect has no employment  agreements or material assets,
leases or contracts.

                                       40

<PAGE>



          7.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.


7.1 Conditions to Each Party's  Obligation to Effect the Merger.  The respective
obligations  of each  party  to  effect  the  Merger  shall  be  subject  to the
fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

(1) This Agreement and the transactions  contemplated hereby shall be subject to
the  receipt  by Direct  Connect  of the  Fairness  Opinion  and shall have been
approved  and adopted by the  requisite  vote of the  holders of Direct  Connect
Common Stock and  Convertible  Preferred Stock and further subject to a fairness
opinion for the Company if required and approval of the holders of the Company's
securities entitled to vote hereon.

(2) The waiting period  applicable to the  consummation  of the Merger under the
HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated.

(3) The Proxy  Statement  shall
have been approved by the Commission,  and the Registration Statement shall have
become  effective in accordance  with the provisions of the  Securities  Act. No
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have
been issued by the SEC and remain in effect.

(4) No  litigation  shall be in
process or pending or threatened  which challenges the validity or the propriety
of the  Merger,  or if any federal or state  investigations  is  commenced  with
respect to any party to this Agreement or the Merger.

7.2 Conditions to Obligation of the Company to Effect the Merger. The obligation
of the Company to effect the Merger  shall be subject to the  fulfillment  at or
prior to the  Effective  Time of the  additional  following  conditions,  unless
waived by the Company:

(1) Direct  Connect  shall  have  performed  its  agreements  contained  in this
Agreement  required to be  performed on or prior to the  Effective  Time and the
representations  and  warranties of Direct  Connect  contained in this Agreement
shall be true when made on and as of the Effective  Time as if made on and as of
such date, except as contemplated by this Agreement and except for such failures
to perform  agreements and such inaccuracies in  representations  and warranties
that in the  aggregate  do not  constitute  a Direct  Connect  Material  Adverse
Effect; and the Company shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive
Officer of Direct Connect to the foregoing effect.


                                       41
<PAGE>


(2) On the Closing Date,  Direct Connect shall have  $1,000,000 in  unrestricted
free cash together with a sufficient  sum of liquid  tangible  assets to pay all
liabilities then outstanding and all other fees,  expenses and payments required
to be paid by Direct Connect in connection with this transaction.

(3) The Registration  Statement provided for in this Agreement shall have become
effective in accordance  with the provisions of the Securities  Act, and no stop
order  suspending the  effectiveness of such  registration  statement shall have
been issued by the Commission and remain in effect.

(4) The Company shall have received at the Closing Date an opinion of McLaughlin
& Stern,  LLP,  counsel for Direct Connect  ("McLaughlin & Stern"),  dated as of
such  date,   addressed  to  the  Company,  in  form  and  substance  reasonably
satisfactory to the Company regarding customary corporate matters.

(5)  Direct  Connect  shall  have  delivered  to the  Company at or prior to the
Closing Date such other documents as the Company may reasonably request in order
to enable the Company to determine  whether the conditions to their  obligations
under this  Agreement have been met and otherwise to carry out the provisions of
this Agreement.

(6) All actions,  proceedings,  instruments,  and  documents  required by Direct
Connect to carry out this Agreement or incidental  thereto and all other related
legal matters shall be subject to the reasonable approval of Loselle, Greenawalt
Kaplan & Blair,  LLP,  counsel to the  Company,  and Direct  Connect  shall have
furnished  such  counsel  such  documents  as such  counsel may have  reasonably
requested for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(7) There shall not have been  instituted  or  threatened  any legal  proceeding
relating to, or seeking to prohibit or otherwise  challenge the consummation of,
the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  or to  obtain  substantial
damages with respect thereto.

(8) There shall not have been any action taken,  or any law,  rule,  regulation,
order, judgment, or decree proposed,  promulgated,  enacted, enforced, or deemed
applicable to the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement by any federal,
state, local, or other governmental authority or by any court or other tribunal,
including the entry of a preliminary or permanent injunction, which, in the


                                       42
<PAGE>

reasonable judgment of the Company, (i) makes this Agreement, the Merger, or any
of the other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement illegal,  (ii) results
in a material  delay in the  ability of the  Company,  Sub or Direct  Connect to
consummate  the  Merger or any of the other  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement,  or  (iii)  otherwise  materially  prohibits,  restricts,  or  delays
consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or materially  impairs the contemplated  benefits to the Company,  and
the  stockholders  of the  Company of this  Agreement,  the Merger or any of the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(9) There shall not have been change in the  business  of Direct  Connect  which
constitutes a Direct Connect Material Adverse Effect.

(10) The exercise price of the Redeemable  Class A Warrants shall be adjusted to
provide that one (1) Redeemable Class A Warrants  entitles the holder thereof to
purchase one (1) share of the  Company's  Common  Stock at an exercise  price of
$7.42 per share,  and the  Redeemable  Class B  Warrants  shall be  adjusted  to
provide that one (1) Redeemable Class B Warrants  entitles the holder thereof to
purchase one (1) share of the  Company's  Common  Stock at an exercise  price of
$10.50 per share, which adjustment is in accordance with the ratio.

7.3  Conditions  to  Obligations  of Direct  Connect to Effect the  Merger.  The
obligations  of Direct  Connect to effect the Merger  shall be  subject,  unless
waived by Direct  Connect,  to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time
of the additional conditions that:

(1) The Company and Sub shall have  performed its  agreements  contained in this
Agreement  required to be  performed on or prior to the  Effective  Time and the
representations  and  warranties  of the  Company  and  Sub  contained  in  this
Agreement  shall be true when made on and as of the Effective Time as if made on
and as of such date as stated therein,  except as contemplated by this Agreement
and except for such  failures to perform  agreements  and such  inaccuracies  in
representations and warranties that in the aggregate do not constitute a Company
Material Adverse Effect; and Direct Connect shall have received a certificate of
the Chief Executive Officer of the Company to that effect;


                                       43

<PAGE>

(2) The Registration Statement provided for in this Agreement, shall have become
effective in accordance  with the provisions of the Securities  Act, and no stop
order  suspending the  effectiveness of such  registration  statement shall have
been issued by the Commission and remain in effect;

(3) Direct Connect shall have received the Fairness Opinion;

(4) Direct  Connect  shall have received on the Closing Date opinions of Loselle
Greenawalt Kaplan & Blair, LLP, counsel for the Company,  dated as of such date,
addressed to Direct Connect,  in form and substance  reasonably  satisfactory to
Direct Connect regarding customary corporate matters;

(5) The Company and Sub shall have  delivered  to Direct  Connect at or prior to
the Closing Date such other  documents as Direct Connect may reasonably  request
in order to enable  Direct  Connect to determine  whether the  conditions to its
obligations  under this  Agreement  have been met and otherwise to carry out the
provisions of this Agreement;

(6) All actions, proceedings, instruments, and documents required by the Company
and Sub to carry out this Agreement or incidental  thereto and all other related
legal matters shall be subject to the reasonable approval of McLaughlin & Stern,
and the Company shall have furnished such counsel such documents as such counsel
may have reasonably requested for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such
matters;

(7) There shall not have been  instituted  or  threatened  any legal  proceeding
relating to, or seeking to prohibit or otherwise  challenge the consummation of,
the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  or to  obtain  substantial
damages with respect thereto;

(8) There shall not have been any action taken,  or any law,  rule,  regulation,
order, judgment, or decree proposed, promulgated, enacted, entered, enforced, or
deemed  applicable to the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement by any
federal,  state, local, or other governmental authority or by any court or other
tribunal,  including the entry of a preliminary or permanent injunction,  which,
in the reasonable  judgment of Direct  Connect,  (i) makes this  Agreement,  the
Merger, or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal,
(ii) results in a material  delay in the ability of the  Company,  Sub or Direct
Connect to consummate the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated


                                       44
<PAGE>

by this Agreement, or (iii) otherwise materially prohibits, restricts, or delays
consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or materially  impairs the contemplated  benefits to Direct Connect or
the  stockholders of Direct Connect of this Agreement,  the Merger or any of the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;


(9) The Company shall have reserved sufficient authorized shares for issuance to
holders of the Redeemable  Class A Warrants and Redeemable Class B Warrants upon
exercise of the aforesaid  warrants by the holders thereof and for issuance upon
the exercise of all other outstanding options and warrants; and

(10) There  shall not have been  change in the  business  of the  Company or Sub
which constitutes a Company Material Adverse Effect.

          8. TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.

8.1  Termination.  This  Agreement  may be  terminated  at any time prior to the
Effective Time,  whether before or after approval by the  stockholders of Direct
Connect:

(1) by mutual  consent of the Board of  Directors  of  Company  and the Board of
Directors of the Direct Connect;

(2) by either  Direct  Connect or the Company if the Merger  shall not have been
consummated on or before the Release Time provided the terminating  party is not
otherwise in material breach of its  representations,  warranties or obligations
under this Agreement;

(3) by either Direct Connect or the Company, if the Direct Connect Meetin or the
Company Meeting, or any adjournments thereof,  shall have been concluded without
having  obtained  votes of the  holders of Direct  Connect  Common  Stock or the
Company  Common Stock  sufficient for the required  stockholder  approval of the
Direct Connect Merger Proposal,  or if the Company Meeting,  or any adjournments
thereof,  shall have been concluded without having obtained votes of the holders
of Company Common Stock sufficient for the requisite stockholder approval of the
Merger and adoption of this  Agreement  (provided the  terminating  party is not
otherwise in material breach of its  representations,  warranties or obligations
under this Agreement);


                                       45

<PAGE>


(4) by the Company  within  thirty (30) days after Direct  Connect has failed to
deliver the balance of the Loan as provided by subsection 3.2(k).

8.2 Effect of  Termination.  In the event of  termination  of this  Agreement by
either Direct Connect or the Company,  as provided  above,  this Agreement shall
forthwith  become void and there shall be no liability on the part of either the
Company,  Sub or Direct Connect or their respective  officers or directors,  and
each party shall pay their respective expenses associated with this Agreement or
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

8.3  Amendment.  This  Agreement  may be amended by the  parties  hereto,  by or
pursuant to action taken by their  respective  Boards of Directors,  at any time
before or after approval  hereof by the  stockholders  of the Company and Direct
Connect,  but, after such approval, no amendment shall be made which changes the
exchange  ratio at which Direct  Connect  Common  Stock is to be converted  into
Company  Common  Stock as provided in or which in any way  materially  adversely
affects the rights of such  stockholders,  without the further  approval of such
stockholders.  This  Agreement  may not be amended  except by an  instrument  in
writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

8.4 Waiver.  At any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties hereto,  by or
pursuant to action taken by their respective  Boards of Directors,  may mutually
(i) extend the time for the  performance of any of the obligations or other acts
of the other parties hereto,  (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations
and warranties  contained herein or in any documents  delivered  pursuant hereto
and (iii) waive  compliance  with any of the agreements or conditions  contained
herein.  Any  agreement on the part of a party  hereto to any such  extension or
waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an  instrument  in writing  signed on
behalf of such party.


                                       46
<PAGE>



          8.5    Indemnification.


(1) The Company agrees that all rights to  indemnification  existing in favor of
the directors, officers or employees of the Company as provided in the Company's
Articles of Incorporation or By-laws or in  indemnification  agreements with the
Company,  in each case as in  effect  as of the date  hereof,  with  respect  to
matters  occurring on or prior to the Effective  Time,  shall survive the Merger
and shall continue in full force and effect without limitation as to time.

(2) From and after the Effective  Time,  Company will indemnify each  individual
who served as a director  or officer of Direct  Connect at any time prior to the
Effective  Time  from  and  against  any and all  actions,  suits,  proceedings,
hearings,  investigations,  charges, complaints,  claims, demands,  injunctions,
judgments,  orders, decrees,  rulings,  damages, dues, penalties,  fines, costs,
amounts paid in settlement,  liabilities,  obligations,  taxes,  liens,  losses,
expenses, and fees, including all court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses,  resulting  from,  arising out of,  relating  to, in the nature of, or
caused by the conduct of the company and/or its officer or directors arising out
of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated herein.

9.  ADJUSTMENTS.  The Company  shall use its best  efforts to raise a minimum of
$2,000,000  additional  capital at an average  price per share of at least $4.00
during the period from the date of  execution  of this  Agreement  and up to and
including  September 30, 1999. If, however,  and  notwithstanding  the Company's
best  efforts,  the Company  fails to raise such  additional  capital,  then the
holders of the Company's  outstanding  Common Stock, as of the date of execution
of this Agreement,  will be entitled to increase their aggregate  holdings so as
to be equivalent to 85% of the outstanding  shares of the Company's Common Stock
as if the merger had been  effected at the date of execution of this  Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if at the Effective Time Direct
has liquid assets in excess of $1,000,000 of  unrestricted  free cash and assets
sufficient to pay all liabilities and fees and expenses then  outstanding,  then
such  excess  shall be  applied to the  obligation  to raise the  $2,000,000  of
additional capital as provided herein.


        

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<PAGE>

          10.   GENERAL PROVISIONS.

10.1   Non-Survival  of   Representations,   Warranties  and   Agreements.   The
representations,   warranties,   covenants  and  agreements  contained  in  this
Agreement  or in any  instrument  delivered  pursuant  to this  Agreement  shall
survive the Merger for one year after the Effective Time.

10.2 Notices.  All notices or other communications under this Agreement shall be
in writing  and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon
receipt) by delivery in person, by cable, telegram,  telex, overnight courier or
other standard form of  telecommunications,  or by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

                 If to the Company:      Image Technology Corporation
                       Arsenal Business Center Bldg. 210-3
                                         5301 Tacony Street
                                         Philadelphia, PA 19137
                          Attention:
                          Telecopy No.:

                 With a copy to:         Loselle  Greenawalt  Kaplan & Blair LLP
                 (which copy shall       Two Grand Central Tower
                  not constitute notice) 140 East 45th Street
                                         New York, NY 10017-3144
                          Attention:     Steven M. Kaplan, Esq.
                          Telecopy No.:  212-986-6852

                If to Direct Connect:    P.O. Box 14
                           Hawthorne, New Jersey 07507
                       Attention: William B. Rodman, Esq.
                                         General Counsel
                          Telecopy No.:  201-891-0361

                With a copy to:          McLaughlin & Stern, LLP
                (which copy shall        260 Madison Avenue
                 not constitute notice)  New York, NY 10016
                          Attention:     Richard J. Blumberg, Esq.
                          Telecopy No.:  212-448-0066

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other parties in
writing in accordance with this Section.


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<PAGE>



10.3 Fees and Expenses. Whether or not the Merger is consummated,  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
expenses.

10.4  Publicity.  So long as this Agreement is in effect,  Direct  Connect,  the
Company and Sub agree to consult with each other in issuing any press release or
otherwise   making  any  public  statement  with  respect  to  the  transactions
contemplated by this  Agreement,  and none of them shall issue any press release
or make any  public  statement  prior  to such  consultation,  except  as may be
required by law or by  obligations  pursuant to any listing  agreement  with any
national securities exchange or NASDAQ.

10.5 Specific  Performance.  The parties  hereto agree that  irreparable  damage
would occur in the event that any of the  provisions of this  Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It
is  accordingly  agreed that the parties  shall be entitled to an  injunction or
injunctions to prevent  breaches of this  Agreement and to enforce  specifically
the terms and provisions  hereof,  this being in addition to any other remedy to
which they are entitled at law or in equity.

10.6  Miscellaneous.  This Agreement  (including  the documents and  instruments
referred to herein) (a)  constitutes  the entire  agreement and  supersedes  all
other prior  agreements  and  understandings,  both written and oral,  among the
parties,  or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof,  (b) is not
intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies  hereunder;  and
(c) shall not be  assigned by  operation  of law or  otherwise,  except that Sub
shall  have the right to assign to Direct  Connect or any  direct  wholly  owned
subsidiary  of Direct  Connect any and all rights and  obligations  of Sub under
this  Agreement.  The rights of any  third-party  beneficiary  hereunder are not
subject to any defense,  offset or counterclaim.  This Agreement,  except to the
extent that the Delaware  corporate law is mandatorily  applicable to the Merger
and the rights of the stockholders of Direct Connect, the Company and Sub, shall
be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York (without giving
effect to the  provisions  thereof  relating to conflicts of law). The exclusive
venue for the  adjudication  of any  dispute or  proceeding  arising out of this
Agreement  or the  performance  thereof  shall be the  federal  or state  courts
located in the State of New York, County of New York and the parties hereto and


                                       49

<PAGE>

their  affiliates each consents to and hereby submits to the jurisdiction of any
court located in the State of New York. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts which together shall constitute a single agreement.


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  Direct Connect,  the Company and Sub have
caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective  officers thereunder duly
authorized as of the date first written above.

                                        IMAGE TECHNOLOGY CORP., INC.

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


                                        DIRECT CONNECT INTERNATIONAL INC.

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


                                        IMAGE ACQUISITION CORP.

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



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