NETWORK GENERAL CORPORATION
SC 13D, 1997-10-23
COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
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<PAGE>
 
                                 UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                 SCHEDULE 13D

                   UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                          NETWORK GENERAL CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               (Name of Issuer)

                                 COMMON STOCK
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        (Title of Class of Securities)

                                   641210109
                                   ---------
                                (CUSIP Number)


       PRABHAT GOYAL, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, McAFEE ASSOCIATES, INC.,
       ----------------------------------------------------------------
                              2805 BOWERS AVENUE
                              ------------------
                        SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA  95051
                        ------------------------------
                                (408) 988-3832
                                --------------
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and
                                Communications)

                               October 13, 1997
                               ----------------
            (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)


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

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

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE 13D

- ------------------------                               -------------------------
CUSIP NO. 641210109                                     PAGE 2 OF 7 PAGES       
- ------------------------                               -------------------------

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

1              NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
               S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON              
                                                                     
               McAFEE ASSOCIATES, INC.                                        
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2              CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*   (A) [_]
                                                                    (B) [_]
               N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3              SEC USE ONLY
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4              SOURCE OF FUNDS*
 
               00
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5              CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED 
               PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E) [_]
               
 
               N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
6              CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
               STATE OF DELAWARE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    7  SOLE VOTING POWER                               
                       N/A                                             
                  
                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
  NUMBER OF         8  SHARED VOTING POWER                              
    SHARES             2,725,484                                        
 BENEFICIALLY    ---------------------------------------------------------------
   OWNED BY         9  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER                              
     EACH              N/A                                                 
  REPORTING      ---------------------------------------------------------------
    PERSON         10  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER                              
     WITH              N/A                                                   
                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
11    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
      2,725,484
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES  [_]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
      6.4%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
      CO
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
         INCLUDE BOTH SIDES OF THE COVER PAGE, RESPONSES TO ITEMS 1-7
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE 13D

- ------------------------                               -------------------------
CUSIP NO. 641210109                                     PAGE 3 OF 7 PAGES       
- ------------------------                               -------------------------

Neither the filing of this Schedule 13D nor any of its contents shall be deemed
to constitute an admission by McAfee Associates, Inc. that it is the beneficial
owner of any of the Common Stock referred to herein for purposes of Section
13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), or for any
other purpose, and such beneficial ownership is expressly disclaimed.

ITEM 1.   SECURITY AND ISSUER.

          This statement on Schedule 13D relates to the Common Stock of Network
          General Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Network General" or
          "Issuer"). The principal executive offices of Network General are
          located at 4200 Bohannan Drive, Menlo Park, California 94025.

ITEM 2.   IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.

          The name of the corporation filing this statement is McAfee
          Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("McAfee"). McAfee's
          principal business is the development, marketing, distribution and
          support of network security and management software products. The
          address of the principal executive offices of McAfee is 2805 Bowers
          Avenue, Santa Clara, California 95051. Set forth on Schedule A is the
          name and present principal occupation or employment and the name,
          principal business and address of any corporation or other
          organization in which such employment is conducted, of each of
          McAfee's directors and executive officers, as of the date hereof.

          Neither McAfee, nor to McAfee's best knowledge, any person named on
          Schedule A hereto is required to disclose legal proceedings pursuant
          to Items 2(d) or 2(e).
 
ITEM 3.   SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.

          Pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated October 13,
          1997, as amended by the First Amendment thereto dated as of October 
          22, 1997, (the "Reorganization Agreement"), among McAfee, Mystery
          Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary
          of McAfee ("Merger Sub") and Network General, and subject to the
          conditions set forth therein (including approval by stockholders of
          Network General), Merger Sub will merge with and into Network General
          and Network General will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of McAfee
          (such events constituting the "Merger"). Once the Merger is
          consummated, Merger Sub will cease to exist as a corporation and all
          of the business, assets, liabilities and obligations of Merger Sub
          will be merged into Network General with Network General remaining as
          the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation"). As a result
          of the Merger, each outstanding share of Network General Common Stock,
          other than shares owned by Merger Sub, McAfee or any wholly-owned
          subsidiary of McAfee, will be converted into the right to receive
          0.4167 of a share (the "Exchange Ratio") of McAfee Common Stock, and
          each outstanding option to purchase
<PAGE>
 
                                 SCHEDULE 13D

- ------------------------                               -------------------------
CUSIP NO. 641210109                                     PAGE 4 OF 7 PAGES       
- ------------------------                               -------------------------

          Network General Common Stock under Network General's stock option
          plans (each, a "Network General Common Stock Option") will be assumed
          by McAfee (each, an "Assumed Option") and will become an option to
          purchase that number of shares of McAfee Common Stock as is equal
          (subject to rounding) to the number of shares of Network General
          Common Stock that was subject to such option immediately prior to the
          Merger, multiplied by the Exchange Ratio. The exercise price of each
          Assumed Option will be equal to the quotient determined by dividing
          the exercise price per share of Network General Common Stock at which
          such Network General Common Stock Option was exercisable immediately
          prior to the effective time of the Merger by the Exchange Ratio,
          rounded up to the nearest whole cent. The foregoing summary of the
          Merger is qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of the
          Reorganization Agreement included as Exhibit 1 to this Schedule 13D
          and incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

ITEM 4.   PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION.

          (a) - (b) As described in Item 3 above, this statement relates to the
          Merger of Merger Sub, a wholly-owned subsidiary of McAfee, with and
          into Network General in a statutory merger pursuant to the Delaware
          General Corporation Law. At the effective time of the Merger, the
          separate existence of Merger Sub will cease to exist and Network
          General will continue as the Surviving Corporation and as a wholly-
          owned subsidiary of McAfee. Holders of outstanding Network General
          Common Stock will receive, in exchange for each share of Issuer Common
          Stock held by them, 0.4167 shares of McAfee Common Stock. McAfee will
          assume the outstanding options issued under Network General stock
          option plans.

          As an inducement to McAfee to enter into the Reorganization Agreement,
          each stockholder who is a party to a Voting Agreement, dated as of
          October 13, 1997 (collectively, the "Voting Agreements"), among the
          parties thereto (collectively, the "Voting Agreement Stockholders")
          and McAfee, has, by executing a Voting Agreement, irrevocably
          appointed McAfee (or any nominee of McAfee) as his, hers or its lawful
          attorney and proxy. Such proxies, collectively, give McAfee the
          limited right to vote each of the 2,725,484 shares (including options
          vested or scheduled to vest within 60 days of the date of the Voting
          Agreement) of Network General Common Stock beneficially and
          collectively owned by the Voting Agreement Stockholders in all matters
          related to the Merger. The shared voting power with the certain
          shareholders of Issuer relates to the same 2,725,484 shares of Issuer
          Common Stock (including options vested or scheduled to vest within 60
          days of the date of the Voting Agreement) (the "Shares"). The Voting
          Agreement Stockholders and the number of shares beneficially owned by
          each of them is set forth in Schedule B hereto which is hereby
          incorporated by this reference. The foregoing summary of the Voting
          Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of the
          form of Voting Agreement included as Exhibit 2 to this Schedule 13D
          and incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
<PAGE>
 
                                 SCHEDULE 13D

- ------------------------                               -------------------------
CUSIP NO. 641210109                                     PAGE 5 OF 7 PAGES       
- ------------------------                               -------------------------

          In exercising its right to vote the Shares as lawful attorney and
          proxy of the Voting Agreement Stockholders, McAfee (or any nominee of
          McAfee) will be limited, at every Network General stockholders meeting
          and every written consent in lieu of such meeting to vote the shares
          in favor of approval of the Merger and the Reorganization Agreement.
          The Voting Agreement Stockholders may vote the Shares on all other
          matters. The Voting Agreements terminate upon the earlier to occur
          of (i) such date and time as the Merger shall become effective in
          accordance with the terms and provisions of the Reorganization
          Agreement and (ii) the date of termination of the Reorganization
          Agreement.

          (c)  Not applicable.

          (d)  It is anticipated that upon consummation of the Merger, the
          directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be the current directors
          of Network General. It is anticipated that the initial officers of the
          Surviving Corporation shall be the officers of Merger Sub, until their
          respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.

          (e)  Other than as a result of the Merger described in Item 3 above,
          not applicable.

          (f)  Not applicable.

          (g)  Upon consummation of the Merger, the Certificate of Incorporation
          of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Merger, shall be
          the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until
          thereafter amended as provided by Delaware Law and such Certificate of
          Incorporation; provided, however, that Article I of the Certificate of
          Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended to read as
          follows: "The name of the corporation is Network General Corporation."
          Upon consummation of the Merger, the Bylaws of Merger Sub, as in
          effect immediately prior to the Merger, shall be the Bylaws of the
          Surviving Corporation until hereafter amended.

          (h) - (i)  If the Merger is consummated as planned, the Network
          General Common Stock will be deregistered under the Act and delisted
          from The Nasdaq National Market.

          (j)  Other than described above, McAfee currently has no plan or
          proposals which relate to, or may result in, any of the matters listed
          in Items 4(a) - (j) of Schedule 13D (although McAfee reserves the
          right to develop such plans).

ITEM 5.   INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

          (a) - (b)  As a result of the Voting Agreements, McAfee may be deemed
          to be the beneficial owner of at least 2,725,484 shares of Issuer
          Common Stock. Such Issuer Common Stock
<PAGE>
 
                                 SCHEDULE 13D

- ------------------------                               -------------------------
CUSIP NO. 641210109                                     PAGE 6 OF 7 PAGES       
- ------------------------                               -------------------------

          constitutes approximately 6.4% of the issued and outstanding shares of
          Issuer Common Stock.

          McAfee has shared power to vote all of the Shares for the limited
          purposes described above. McAfee does not have the sole power to vote
          or to direct the vote or to dispose or to direct the disposition of
          any shares of Issuer Common Stock. Leslie G. Denend, a director of
          McAfee and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Network
          General, beneficially owns 423,694 shares of Network General Common
          Stock, including options vested or scheduled to vest within 60 days of
          the signing of the Voting Agreement.

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

          Other than the Reorganization Agreement and Voting Agreements, to the
          best knowledge of McAfee, there are no contracts, arrangements,
          understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise) among the persons
          named in Item 2 and between such persons and any person with respect
          to any securities of Network General, including but not limited to
          transfer or voting of any of the securities, finder's fees, joint
          ventures, loan or option arrangement, puts or calls, guarantees of
          profits, division of profits or loss, or the giving or withholding of
          proxies.

ITEM 7.   MATERIALS TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

          The following documents are filed as exhibits:

          1.   Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated October 13, 1997,
               as Amended by the First Amendment thereto dated as of October
               22, 1997, by and among McAfee Associates, Inc., a Delaware
               corporation, Mystery Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation
               and wholly-owned subsidiary of McAfee Associates, Inc., and
               Network General Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

          2.   Form of Voting Agreement, dated October 13, 1997, by and among
               McAfee Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and certain
               stockholders of Network General Corporation, a Delaware
               corporation.
<PAGE>
 
                                 SCHEDULE 13D

- ------------------------                               -------------------------
CUSIP NO. 641210109                                     PAGE 7 OF 7 PAGES       
- ------------------------                               -------------------------

                                   SIGNATURE
                                   ---------

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

Dated: October 23, 1997

                                         McAFEE ASSOCIATES, INC.


                                         By: /s/ Prabhat K. Goyal
                                            --------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                                  Schedule A

                      DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF
                            McAFEE ASSOCIATES, INC.

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                  Present Principal Occupation Including
Name and Title                                    Name of Employer
- --------------                                    --------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>
William Larson                                   McAfee Associates, Inc.
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Board of Directors

Prabhat Goyal                                    McAfee Associates, Inc.
Chief Financial Officer,
Vice President Administration

Dennis Cline                                     McAfee Associates, Inc.
Vice President of International Sales

Zachary Nelson                                   McAfee Associates, Inc.
Vice President and General Manager -
Network Management

Peter Watkins                                    McAfee Associates, Inc.
Vice President and General Manager - Security

John Bolger                                      96 Sutherland Drive
Director                                         Atherton, CA 94027

Leslie Denend                                    President and Chief Executive Officer
Director                                         Network General
                                                 4200 Bohannon Drive
                                                 Menlo Park, CA 94025

Virginia Gemmell                                 President
Director                                         GlidePath, Inc.
                                                 211 N. Union Street, Suite 100
                                                 Alexandria, VA 22314

Edwin Harper                                     President and Chief Executive Officer
Director                                         Syquest
                                                 47071 Bayside Parkway
                                                 Fremont, CA 94538
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
                                  Schedule B
                                  ----------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Stockholder             Shares Beneficially Owned
- -----------             -------------------------
<S>                     <C>
Harry J. Saal                       1,845,400     
                                                  
Charles J. Abbe                        36,833     
                                                  
Douglas C. Chance                      24,500     
                                                  
Leslie G. Denend                      423,694     
                                                  
Howard Frank                           41,666     
                                                  
Gregory M. Gallo                       56,166     
                                                  
Laurence R. Hootnick                   58,666     
                                                  
Janet L. Hyland                        24,166     
                                                  
David M. Carver                        78,750     
                                                  
James T. Richardson                    78,123     
                                                  
John R. Stringer                       55,020     
                                                  
Scott C. Neely                          2,500     
                                                  
Michael M. Cully                            0     
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A
 
EXHIBIT 1
- ---------



                      AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

                                  BY AND AMONG

                            MCAFEE ASSOCIATES, INC.

                           MYSTERY ACQUISITION CORP.

                                      AND

                          NETWORK GENERAL CORPORATION



                          DATED AS OF OCTOBER 13, 1997
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----
<S>                                                                        <C>
ARTICLE I THE MERGER.....................................................     2
     1.1    The Merger...................................................     2
     1.2    Effective Time; Closing......................................     2
     1.3    Effect of the Merger.........................................     2
     1.4    Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws.........................     3
     1.5    Directors and Officers.......................................     3
     1.6    Effect on Capital Stock......................................     3
     1.7    Surrender of Certificates....................................     5
     1.8    No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock..........     6
     1.9    Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.......................     7
     1.10   Tax and Accounting Consequences..............................     7
     1.11   Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action...................     7

ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY.....................     7
     2.1    Organization of Company......................................     8
     2.2    Company Capital Structure....................................     8
     2.3    Obligations With Respect to Capital Stock....................     9
     2.4    Authority....................................................     9
     2.5    SEC Filings; Company Financial Statements....................    11
     2.6    Absence of Certain Changes or Events.........................    12
     2.7    Tax..........................................................    13
     2.8    Title to Properties; Absence of Liens and Encumbrances.......    14
     2.9    Intellectual Property........................................    15
     2.10   Compliance; Permits; Restrictions............................    18
     2.11   Litigation...................................................    19
     2.12   Brokers' and Finders' Fees...................................    19
     2.13   Employment Matters...........................................    19
     2.14   Environmental Matters........................................    24
     2.15   Agreements, Contracts and Commitments........................    25
     2.16   Pooling of Interests.........................................    26
     2.17   Certain Payments.............................................    26
     2.18   Registration Statement; Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.....    26
     2.19   Board Approval...............................................    27
     2.20   Fairness Opinion.............................................    27
     2.21   Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law Not
            Applicable; Company Rights Plan..............................    27
     2.22   Customs......................................................    28
</TABLE>

                                      -i-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----
<S>                                                                        <C>
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB......    28
     3.1    Organization of Parent.......................................    28
     3.2    Parent and Merger Sub Capital Structure......................    29
     3.3    Obligations With Respect to Capital Stock....................    29
     3.4    Authority....................................................    30
     3.5    SEC Filings; Parent Financial Statements.....................    31
     3.6    Absence of Certain Changes or Events.........................    32
     3.7    Tax..........................................................    33
     3.8    Title to Properties; Absence of Liens and Encumbrances.......    33
     3.9    Intellectual Property........................................    33
     3.10   Compliance; Permits; Restrictions............................    35
     3.11   Litigation...................................................    36
     3.12   Brokers' and Finders' Fees...................................    36
     3.13   Statements; Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.................    36
     3.14   Valid Issuance...............................................    37
     3.15   No Ownership of Company Common Stock.........................    37
     3.16   Pooling of Interests.........................................    37
     3.17   Board Approval...............................................    37
     3.18   Fairness Opinion.............................................    37

ARTICLE IV CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME...........................    37
     4.1    Conduct of Business by Company...............................    37
     4.2    Conduct of Business by Parent................................    40

ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS..........................................    41
     5.1    Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus; Registration Statement; 
            Other Filings; Board Recommendations.........................    41
     5.2    Meetings of Stockholders.....................................    43
     5.3    Confidentiality; Access to Information.......................    43
     5.4    No Solicitation..............................................    44
     5.5    Public Disclosure............................................    47
     5.6    Reasonable Efforts; Notification.............................    48
     5.7    Third Party Consents.........................................    49
     5.8    Stock Options and Employee Benefits..........................    49
     5.9    Form S-8.....................................................    50
     5.10   Indemnification..............................................    50
     5.11   Nasdaq Listing...............................................    51
</TABLE>

                                     -ii-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----
<S>                                                                        <C> 
     5.12   Affiliate Agreements.........................................    51
     5.13   Regulatory Filings; Reasonable Efforts.......................    51
     5.14   Board of Directors of Parent Following the Merger............    52

ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER......................................    52
     6.1    Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger.    52
     6.2    Additional Conditions to Obligations of Company..............    53
     6.3    Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger
            Sub..........................................................    54

ARTICLE VII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER............................    55
     7.1    Termination..................................................    55
     7.2    Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination.................    57
     7.3    Fees and Expenses............................................    58
     7.4    Amendment....................................................    60
     7.5    Extension; Waiver............................................    60

ARTICLE VIII GENERAL PROVISIONS..........................................    60
     8.1    Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties...............    60
     8.2    Notices......................................................    60
     8.3    Interpretation; Knowledge....................................    62
     8.4    Counterparts.................................................    62
     8.5    Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries..................    62
     8.6    Severability.................................................    63
     8.7    Other Remedies; Specific Performance.........................    63
     8.8    Governing Law................................................    63
     8.9    Rules of Construction........................................    63
     8.10   Assignment...................................................    64
     8.11   Waiver of Jury Trial.........................................    64
</TABLE>

                                     -iii-
<PAGE>
 
                               INDEX OF EXHIBITS
                               -----------------


Exhibit A-1         Form of Company Voting Agreement

Exhibit A-2         Form of Parent Voting Agreement

Exhibit B-1         Form of Company Affiliate Agreement

Exhibit B-2         Form of Parent Affiliate Agreement

                                     -iv-
<PAGE>
 
                     AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION


     This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION is made and entered into as of
October 13, 1997, among McAfee Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("PARENT"), Mystery Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent ("MERGER SUB"), and Network General Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("COMPANY").

                                   RECITALS
                                   --------

     A.   Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement (as
defined in Section 1.2 below) and in accordance with the Delaware General
Corporation Law ("DELAWARE LAW"), Parent and Company intend to enter into a
business combination transaction.
 
     B.   The Boards of Directors of Company and Parent (i) have determined that
the Merger (as defined in Section 1.1) is consistent with and in furtherance of
their respective long-term business strategies and fair to, and in the best
interests of, their respective stockholders, (ii) have approved this Agreement,
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (iii)
have, in the case of Company, subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
determined to recommend that the stockholders of Company adopt and approve this
Agreement and approve the Merger and, in the case of Parent, subject to the
provisions of this Agreement, determined to recommend that the stockholders of
Parent approve the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock (as defined in
Section 1.6(a)) pursuant to the Merger.

     C.   The Board of Directors of Merger Sub has approved this Agreement, the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     D.   Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and as a condition
and inducement to Parent's and Company's respective willingness to enter into
this Agreement, certain stockholders of Company are entering into Voting
Agreements in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-1 (the
                                                        -----------     
"COMPANY VOTING AGREEMENTS"), and certain stockholders of Parent are entering
into Voting Agreements in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-2
                                                                    -----------
(the "PARENT VOTING AGREEMENTS").

     E.   The parties intend, by executing this Agreement, to adopt a plan of
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "CODE").
<PAGE>
 
     F.   It is also intended by the parties hereto that the Merger shall
qualify for accounting treatment as a pooling of interests.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises and
representations set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree
as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I
                                  THE MERGER

     1.1  The Merger. At the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2) and
          ----------                                                        
subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the
applicable provisions of Delaware Law, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into
Company (the "MERGER"), the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall
cease and Company shall continue as the surviving corporation.  Company as the
surviving corporation after the Merger is hereinafter sometimes referred to as
the "SURVIVING CORPORATION."

     1.2  Effective Time; Closing. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
          -----------------------                                               
the parties hereto shall cause the Merger to be consummated by filing a
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in
accordance with the relevant provisions of Delaware Law (the "CERTIFICATE OF
MERGER") (the time of such filing (or such later time as may be agreed in
writing by Company and Parent and specified in the Certificate of Merger) being
the "EFFECTIVE TIME") as soon as practicable on or after the Closing Date (as
herein defined).  The closing of the Merger (the "CLOSING") shall take place at
the offices of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, at a
time and date to be specified by the parties, which shall be no later than the
second business day after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth
in Article VI, or at such other time, date and location as the parties hereto
agree in writing (the "CLOSING DATE").

     1.3  Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger
          --------------------                                                  
shall be as provided in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of Delaware
Law.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at
the Effective Time all the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises
of Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all
debts, liabilities and duties of Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts,
liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
     1.4  Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws.
          ------------------------------------ 

          (a) At the Effective Time, the Certificate of Incorporation of Merger
Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter
amended as provided by law and such Certificate of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation; provided, however, that at the Effective Time the
                       --------  -------                                
Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended so
that the name of the Surviving Corporation shall be "Network General
Corporation."

          (b) The Bylaws of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time, shall be, at the Effective Time, the Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation until thereafter amended.

     1.5  Directors and Officers. The directors of Company immediately prior to
          ----------------------                                                
the Effective Time shall continue as directors of the Surviving Corporation
(together with such additional directors as may be elected by Parent effective
as of or after the Effective Time).  For transition purposes, Parent intends
that such directors shall continue to serve as directors of the Surviving
Corporation for 180 days or more following the Effective Time.  The initial
officers of the Surviving Corporation shall be the officers of Merger Sub
immediately prior to the Effective Time.

     1.6  Effect on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the
          -----------------------                                          
Merger and without any action on the part of Merger Sub, Company or the holders
of any of the following securities:

          (a) Conversion of Company Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock,
              ----------------------------------                              
$0.01 par value per share, of Company  (including, with respect to each such
share of Company Common Stock, the associated Rights (as defined in that certain
Rights Agreement (the "COMPANY RIGHTS PLAN") dated as of June 26, 1992,  between
Company and Chemical Trust Company of California, as Rights Agent, as
amended))(the "COMPANY COMMON STOCK") issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time, other than any shares of Company Common Stock to be
canceled pursuant to Section 1.6(b),  will be canceled and extinguished and
automatically converted (subject to Sections 1.6(e) and (f)) into the right to
receive 0.4167 (the "EXCHANGE RATIO") shares of Common Stock of Parent (the
"PARENT COMMON STOCK") upon surrender of the certificate representing such share
of Company Common Stock in the manner provided in Section 1.7 (or in the case of
a lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, upon delivery of an affidavit (and
bond, if required) in the manner provided in Section 1.9).

          (b) Cancellation of Parent-Owned Stock. Each share of Company Common
              ----------------------------------                               
Stock held by Company or owned by Merger Sub, Parent or any direct or 

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Company or of Parent immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall be canceled and extinguished without any conversion
thereof.

          (c) Stock Options; Employee Stock Purchase Plans. At the Effective
              --------------------------------------------                   
Time, all options to purchase Company Common Stock then outstanding under
Company's 1989 Stock Option Plan (the "ISO PLAN"), Company's 1989 Outside
Directors Stock Option Plan (the "DIRECTORS' PLAN"), the Cinco Networks, Inc.
1997 Stock Option Plan (the "CINCO PLAN"), and options granted by ProTools, Inc.
and assumed by Company (the "PROTOOLS OPTIONS" and together with the ISO Plan,
the Directors' Plan and the Cinco Plan, the "COMPANY STOCK OPTION PLANS") shall
be assumed by Parent in accordance with Section 5.8 hereof.  Rights outstanding
under Company's 1989 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP") shall be treated
as set forth in Section 5.8.

          (d) Capital Stock of Merger Sub. Each share of Common Stock, $0.001
              ---------------------------                                     
par value per share, of Merger Sub (the "MERGER SUB COMMON STOCK") issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into one
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock, $0.01 par
value per share, of the Surviving Corporation.  Each certificate evidencing
ownership of shares of Merger Sub Common Stock shall evidence ownership of such
shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation.

          (e) Adjustments to Exchange Ratio. The Exchange Ratio shall be
              -----------------------------                              
adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any stock split, reverse stock
split, stock dividend (including any dividend or distribution of securities
convertible into Parent Common Stock or Company Common Stock), reorganization,
recapitalization, reclassification or other like change with respect to Parent
Common Stock or Company Common Stock occurring on or after the date hereof and
prior to the Effective Time.

          (f) Fractional Shares. No fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock
              -----------------                                                
will be issued by virtue of the Merger, but in lieu thereof each holder of
shares of Company Common Stock who would otherwise be entitled to a fraction of
a share of Parent Common Stock (after aggregating all fractional shares of
Parent Common Stock that otherwise would be received by such holder) shall
receive from Parent an amount of cash (rounded to the nearest whole cent) equal
to the product of (i) such fraction, multiplied by (ii) the average closing
price of one share of Parent Common Stock for the five (5) most recent days that
Parent Common Stock has traded ending on the trading day immediately prior to
the Effective Time, as reported on the Nasdaq National Market System ("NASDAQ").

     1.7  Surrender of Certificates.
          ------------------------- 

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
          (a) Exchange Agent. Parent shall select a bank or trust company
              --------------                                              
reasonably acceptable to Company to act as the exchange agent (the "EXCHANGE
AGENT") in the Merger.

          (b) Parent to Provide Common Stock. Promptly after the Effective
              ------------------------------                               
Time, Parent shall make available to the Exchange Agent for exchange in
accordance with this Article I, the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable
pursuant to Section 1.6 in exchange for outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock, and cash in an amount sufficient for payment in lieu of fractional shares
pursuant to Section 1.6(f) and any dividends or distributions to which holders
of shares of Company Common Stock may be entitled pursuant to Section 1.7(d).

          (c) Exchange Procedures. As soon as practicable after the Effective
              -------------------                                             
Time, and in no event later than five (5) business days thereafter, Parent shall
cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record (as of the Effective
Time) of a certificate or certificates (the "CERTIFICATES"), which immediately
prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock whose shares were converted into shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to
Section 1.6, cash in lieu of any fractional shares pursuant to Section 1.6(f)
and any dividends or other distributions pursuant to Section 1.7(d), (i) a
letter of transmittal in customary form (which shall specify that delivery shall
be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only
upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent and shall contain such
other provisions as Parent may reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for use
in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for certificates
representing shares of Parent Common Stock, cash in lieu of any fractional
shares pursuant to Section 1.6(f) and any dividends or other distributions
pursuant to Section 1.7(d).  Upon surrender of Certificates for cancellation to
the Exchange Agent or to such other agent or agents as may be appointed by
Parent, together with such letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly
executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, the holders of such
Certificates shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor certificates
representing the number of whole shares of Parent Common Stock into which their
shares of Company Common Stock were converted at the Effective Time, payment in
lieu of fractional shares which such holders have the right to receive pursuant
to Section 1.6(f) and any dividends or distributions payable pursuant to Section
1.7(d), and the Certificates so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled.  Until
so surrendered, outstanding Certificates will be deemed from and after the
Effective Time, for all corporate purposes, subject to Section 1.7(d) as to the
payment of dividends, to evidence only the ownership of the number of full
shares of Parent Common Stock into which such shares of Company Common Stock
shall have been so converted and the right to receive an amount in cash in lieu
of the issuance of any fractional shares in accordance with Section 1.6(f) and
any dividends or distributions payable pursuant to Section 1.7(d).

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
          (d) Distributions With Respect to Unexchanged Shares. No dividends or
              ------------------------------------------------                  
other distributions declared or made after the date of this Agreement with
respect to Parent Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time will
be paid to the holders of any unsurrendered Certificates with respect to the
shares of Parent Common Stock represented thereby until the holders of record of
such Certificates shall surrender such Certificates.  Subject to applicable law,
following surrender of any such Certificates, the Exchange Agent shall deliver
to the record holders thereof, without interest, certificates representing whole
shares of Parent Common Stock issued in exchange therefor along with payment in
lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section 1.6(f) hereof and the amount of
any such dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective
Time payable with respect to such whole shares of Parent Common Stock.

          (e) Transfers of Ownership. If certificates representing shares of
              ----------------------                                         
Parent Common Stock are to be issued in a name other than that in which the
Certificates surrendered in exchange therefor are registered, it will be a
condition of the issuance thereof that the Certificates so surrendered will be
properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the persons
requesting such exchange will have paid to Parent or any agent designated by it
any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the issuance of certificates
representing shares of Parent Common Stock in any name other than that of the
registered holder of the Certificates surrendered, or established to the
satisfaction of Parent or any agent designated by it that such tax has been paid
or is not payable.

          (f) No Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
              ------------                                                   
Section 1.7, neither the Exchange Agent, Parent, the Surviving Corporation nor
any party hereto shall be liable to a holder of shares of Parent Common Stock or
Company Common Stock for any amount properly paid to a public official pursuant
to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.

     1.8  No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock. All shares of
          ---------------------------------------------------                
Parent Common Stock issued in accordance with the terms hereof (including any
cash paid in respect thereof pursuant to Section 1.6(f) and 1.7(d)) shall be
deemed to have been issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such
shares of Company Common Stock, and there shall be no further registration of
transfers on the records of the Surviving Corporation of shares of Company
Common Stock which were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.  If
after the Effective Time Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation
for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this Article
I.

     1.9  Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event any Certificates
          --------------------------------------                                
shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Exchange Agent shall issue in
exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates, upon the making of an
affidavit of that 

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
fact by the holder thereof, certificates representing the shares of Parent
Common Stock into which the shares of Company Common Stock represented by such
Certificates were converted pursuant to Section 1.6, cash for fractional shares,
if any, as may be required pursuant to Section 1.6(f) and any dividends or
distributions payable pursuant to Section 1.7(d); provided, however, that Parent
                                                  --------  -------
may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance of such
certificates representing shares of Parent Common Stock, cash and other
distributions, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates
to deliver a bond in such sum as it may reasonably direct as indemnity against
any claim that may be made against Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the
Exchange Agent with respect to the Certificates alleged to have been lost,
stolen or destroyed.

     1.10 Tax and Accounting Consequences.
          ------------------------------- 

          (a) It is intended by the parties hereto that the Merger shall
constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code, and
each of the parties hereto will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause
the Merger to be treated as such a reorganization.  The parties hereto adopt
this Agreement as a "plan of reorganization" within the meaning of Sections
1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) of the United States Income Tax Regulations.

          (b) It is intended by the parties hereto that the Merger shall qualify
for accounting treatment as a pooling of interests.

     1.11 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. If, at any time after the
          ------------------------------------------                            
Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the
purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Corporation with full
right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers
and franchises of Company and Merger Sub, the officers and directors of Company
and Merger Sub will take all such lawful and necessary action.  Parent shall
cause Merger Sub to perform all of its obligations relating to this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated thereby.




                                  ARTICLE II
                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY

     Company represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub, subject to the
exceptions specifically disclosed in writing in the disclosure letter and
referencing a specific representation supplied by Company to Parent dated as of
the date hereof and 

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
certified by a duly authorized officer of Company (the "COMPANY SCHEDULES"), as
follows:

     2.1  Organization of Company.
          ----------------------- 

          (a) Company and each of its material subsidiaries (i) is a corporation
or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized; (ii) has the
corporate or other power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and
property and to carry on its business as now being conducted; and (iii), except
as would not be material to Company, is duly qualified or licensed to do
business in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned,
leased or operated by it or the nature of its activities makes such
qualification or licensing necessary.

          (b) Company has delivered to Parent a true and complete list of all of
Company's subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement, indicating the
jurisdiction of organization of each subsidiary and Company's equity interest
therein.

          (c) Company has delivered or made available to Parent a true and
correct copy of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Company and
similar governing instruments of each of its material subsidiaries, each as
amended to date, and each such instrument is in full force and effect.  Neither
Company nor any of its material subsidiaries is in violation of any of the
provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or equivalent governing
instruments.

     2.2  Company Capital Structure. The authorized capital stock of Company
          -------------------------                                          
consists of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of
which there were 42,461,275 shares issued and outstanding as of October 10, 1997
(excluding shares held in treasury of which there are none), and 2,000,000
shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which no shares are
issued or outstanding.  All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are not subject to
preemptive rights created by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws
of Company or any agreement or document to which Company is a party or by which
it is bound.  As of October 10, 1997, Company had reserved an aggregate of
11,300,548 shares of Company Common Stock, net of exercises, for issuance
pursuant to the Company Stock Option Plans.  As of October 10, 1997, there were
options outstanding to purchase an aggregate of 2,699,996 shares of Company
Common Stock pursuant to the Company Stock Option Plans.  As of October 10,
1997, Company had reserved an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of Company Common
Stock for issuance pursuant to the ESPP.  All shares of Company Common Stock
subject to issuance as aforesaid, upon issuance on the terms and conditions
specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, would be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and 

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
nonassessable. The Company Schedules list each person who holds options to
acquire shares of Company Common Stock of which the exercisability will be
accelerated in any way by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as
well as the number of shares subject to such options and the extent of such
acceleration.

     2.3  Obligations With Respect to Capital Stock. Except as set forth in
          -----------------------------------------                         
Section 2.2, there are no equity securities, partnership interests or similar
ownership interests of any class of Company, or any securities exchangeable or
convertible into or exercisable for such equity securities, partnership
interests or similar ownership interests, issued, reserved for issuance or
outstanding.  Except for securities Company owns free and clear of all claims
and encumbrances, directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, and
except for shares of capital stock or other similar ownership interests of
certain subsidiaries of Company that are owned by certain nominee equity holders
as required by the applicable law of the jurisdiction of organization of such
subsidiaries, as of the date of this Agreement, there are no equity securities,
partnership interests or similar ownership interests of any class of any
material subsidiary of Company, or any security exchangeable or convertible into
or exercisable for such equity securities, partnership interests or similar
ownership interests, issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding.  Except as
set forth in Section 2.2, there are no options, warrants, equity securities,
partnership interests or similar ownership interests, calls, rights (including
preemptive rights), commitments or agreements of any character to which Company
or any of its material subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound
obligating Company or any of its material subsidiaries to issue, deliver or
sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, or repurchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire, or cause the repurchase, redemption or acquisition of, any
shares of capital stock, partnership interests or similar ownership interests of
Company or any of its material subsidiaries or obligating Company or any of its
material subsidiaries to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of or enter into
any such option, warrant, equity security, call, right, commitment or agreement.
As of the date of this Agreement, except as contemplated by this Agreement, the
Company Voting Agreement and the Company Affiliate Agreement (as defined in
Section 5.12), there are no registration rights and, to the knowledge of
Company, there are no voting trusts, proxies or other agreements or
understandings to which Company is a party or by which it is bound with respect
to any equity security of any class of Company or with respect to any equity
security, partnership interest or similar ownership interest of any class of any
of its material subsidiaries. Stockholders of Company will not be entitled to
dissenters rights under applicable state law in connection with the Merger.

     2.4  Authority.
          --------- 

          (a) Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby,

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
subject only to the approval of the Merger and the approval and adoption of this
Agreement by the stockholders of Company.  The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Company,
subject only to the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the approval of
the Merger by Company's stockholders and the filing of the Certificate of Merger
pursuant to Delaware Law.  A vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock is sufficient for Company's
stockholders to approve and adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger.  This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Company and, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and Merger Sub, constitutes a
valid and binding obligation of Company, enforceable against Company in
accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy
and other similar laws and general principles of equity.  The execution and
delivery of this Agreement by Company do not, and the performance of this
Agreement by Company will not, (i) conflict with or violate the Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws of Company or the equivalent organizational documents of
any of its material subsidiaries, (ii) subject to obtaining the approval and
adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the Merger by Company's
stockholders as contemplated in Section 5.2 and compliance with the requirements
set forth in Section 2.4(b) below, conflict with or violate any law, rule,
regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to Company or any of its
material subsidiaries or by which Company or any of its material subsidiaries or
any of their respective properties is bound or affected, or (iii) result in any
material breach of or constitute a material default (or an event that with
notice or lapse of time or both would become a material default) under, or
materially impair Company's material rights or alter the material rights or
material obligations of  any third party under, or give to others any rights of
termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the
creation of a material lien or encumbrance on any of the material properties or
assets of Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any material note,
bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit,
franchise or other instrument or obligation to which Company or any of its
material subsidiaries is a party or by which Company or any of its material
subsidiaries or its or any of their respective properties are bound or affected.
The Company Schedules list all consents, waivers and approvals under any of
Company's or any of its material subsidiaries' agreements, contracts, licenses
or leases required to be obtained in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, which, if individually or in the aggregate not
obtained, would result in a material loss of benefits to Company, Parent or the
Surviving Corporation as a result of the Merger.

          (b) No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration,
declaration or filing with any court, administrative agency or commission or
other governmental authority or instrumentality, foreign or domestic
("GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY"), is required to be obtained or made by Company or any of

                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
its material subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or the consummation of the Merger, except for (i) the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (ii)
the filing of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (as defined in Section 2.18)
with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), (iii) such
consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and
filings as may be required under applicable federal, foreign and state
securities (or related) laws and the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements
Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR ACT"), and the securities or antitrust laws of
any foreign country, and (iv) such other consents, authorizations, filings,
approvals and registrations which if not obtained or made would not be material
to Company or have a material adverse effect on the ability of Company to
consummate the Merger.

      2.5   SEC Filings; Company Financial Statements.
            ----------------------------------------- 

            (a)  Company has filed all forms, reports and documents required to
be filed by Company with the SEC since September 1, 1994 and has made available
to Parent such forms, reports and documents in the form filed with the SEC. All
such required forms, reports and documents (including those that Company may
file subsequent to the date hereof) are referred to herein as the "COMPANY SEC
REPORTS." As of their respective dates, the Company SEC Reports (i) were
prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the
rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to such Company SEC
Reports and (ii) did not at the time they were filed (or if amended or
superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, then on the date of
such filing) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. None of Company's subsidiaries is required to file any
forms, reports or other documents with the SEC.

            (b)  Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in
each case, any related notes thereto) contained in the Company SEC Reports (the
"COMPANY FINANCIALS"), including each Company SEC Report filed after the date
hereof until the Closing, (i) complied as to form in all material respects with
the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) was
prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of
unaudited interim financial statements, as may be permitted by the SEC on Form
10-Q under the Exchange Act) and (iii) fairly presented the consolidated
financial position of Company and its subsidiaries as at the respective dates
thereof and the consolidated results of Company's operations 

                                     -11-
<PAGE>
 
and cash flows for the periods indicated, except that the unaudited interim
financial statements may not contain footnotes and were or are subject to
customary year-end adjustments which will not have a Material Adverse Effect (as
defined in Section 8.3(c)) on Company. The balance sheet of Company contained in
Company SEC Reports as of June 30, 1997 is hereinafter referred to as the
"COMPANY BALANCE SHEET." Except as disclosed in the Company Financials, since
the date of the Company Balance Sheet neither Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has any liabilities required under GAAP to be set forth on a
balance sheet (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) which are,
individually or in the aggregate, material to the business, results of
operations or financial condition of Company and its subsidiaries taken as a
whole, except for liabilities incurred since the date of the Company Balance
Sheet in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices.

     2.6    Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Since the date of the Company
            ------------------------------------                                
Balance Sheet there has not been: (i) any Material Adverse Effect on Company,
(ii) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend on, or other
distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of, any of
Company's or any of its material subsidiaries' capital stock, or any purchase,
redemption or other acquisition by Company of any of Company's capital stock or
any other securities of Company or its material subsidiaries or any options,
warrants, calls or rights to acquire any such shares or other securities except
for repurchases from employees following their termination pursuant to the terms
of their pre-existing stock option or purchase agreements, (iii) any split,
combination or reclassification of any of Company's or any of its material
subsidiaries' capital stock, (iv) any granting by Company or any of its
subsidiaries of any increase in compensation or fringe benefits, except for
normal increases of cash compensation in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, or any payment by Company or any of its
subsidiaries of any bonus, except for bonuses made in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, or any granting by Company or any of its
subsidiaries of any increase in severance or termination pay or any entry by
Company or any of its subsidiaries into any currently effective employment,
severance, termination or indemnification agreement or any agreement the
benefits of which are contingent or the terms of which are materially altered
upon the occurrence of a transaction involving Company of the nature
contemplated hereby, (v) entry by Company or any of its subsidiaries into any
licensing or other agreement with regard to the acquisition or disposition of
any material Intellectual Property (as defined in Section 2.9) other than
licenses in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or any
amendment or consent with respect to any licensing agreement filed or required
to be filed by Company with the SEC, (vi) any material change by Company in its
accounting methods, principles or practices, except as required by concurrent
changes in GAAP, or (vii) any material revaluation by Company of any of its
assets, including, without limitation, writing down the value of capitalized
inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable other than in the ordinary
course of business.

                                     -12-
<PAGE>
 
      2.7   Taxes.
            ----- 

            (a)  Definition of Taxes.  For the purposes of this Agreement, 
                 -------------------                                       
"TAX" or "TAXES" refers to any and all federal, state, local and foreign taxes,
assessments and other governmental charges, duties, impositions and liabilities
relating to taxes, including taxes based upon or measured by gross receipts,
income, profits, sales, use and occupation, and value added, ad valorem,
transfer, franchise, withholding, payroll, recapture, employment, excise and
property taxes, together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed with
respect to such amounts and any obligations under any agreements or arrangements
with any other person with respect to such amounts and including any liability
for taxes of a predecessor entity.

            (b)  Tax Returns and Audits.
                 ---------------------- 

                 (i)   Company and each of its subsidiaries have timely filed
all federal, state, local and foreign returns, estimates, information statements
and reports ("RETURNS") relating to Taxes required to be filed by Company and
each of its subsidiaries with any Tax authority, except such Returns which are
not material to Company, and have paid all Taxes shown to be due on such
Returns.

                 (ii)  Company and each of its material subsidiaries as of the
Effective Time will have withheld with respect to its employees all federal and
state income taxes, Taxes pursuant to the Federal Insurance Contribution Act
("FICA"), Taxes pursuant to the Federal Unemployment Tax Act ("FUTA") and other
Taxes required to be withheld.

                 (iii) Neither Company nor any of its material subsidiaries has
been delinquent in the payment of any Tax nor is there any Tax deficiency
outstanding, proposed or assessed against Company or any of its material
subsidiaries, nor has Company or any of its material subsidiaries executed any
unexpired waiver of any statute of limitations on or extending the period for
the assessment or collection of any Tax.

                 (iv)  No audit or other examination of any Return of Company or
any of its material subsidiaries by any Tax authority is presently in progress,
nor has Company or any of its material subsidiaries been notified of any request
for such an audit or other examination.

                 (v)   No adjustment relating to any Returns filed by Company or
any of its material subsidiaries has been proposed in writing formally or
informally by any Tax authority to Company or any of its material subsidiaries
or any representative thereof.

                                     -13-
<PAGE>
 
                 (vi)  Neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any
liability for unpaid Taxes which has not been accrued for or reserved on the
Company Balance Sheet, whether asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise,
which is material to Company, other than any liability for unpaid Taxes that may
have accrued since the date of the Company Balance Sheet in connection with the
operation of the business of Company and its subsidiaries in the ordinary
course.

                 (vi)  There is no contract, agreement, plan or arrangement to
which Company is a party as of the date of this Agreement, including but not
limited to the provisions of this Agreement, covering any employee or former
employee of Company or any of its subsidiaries that, individually or
collectively, could give rise to the payment of any amount that would not be
deductible pursuant to Sections 280G, 404 or 162(m) of the Code.

                (vi)   Neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries has filed any
consent agreement under Section 341(f) of the Code or agreed to have Section
341(f)(2) of the Code apply to any disposition of a subsection (f) asset (as
defined in Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by Company.

                 (ix)  Neither Company nor any of its material subsidiaries is
party to or has any obligation under any tax-sharing, tax indemnity or tax
allocation agreement or arrangement.

                 (x)   Except as may be required as a result of the Merger,
Company and its material subsidiaries have not been and will not be required to
include any adjustment in Taxable income for any Tax period (or portion thereof)
pursuant to Section 481 or Section 263A of the Code or any comparable provision
under state or foreign Tax laws as a result of transactions, events or
accounting methods employed prior to the Closing.

                 (xi)  None of Company's or its subsidiaries' assets are tax
exempt use property within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the Code.

      2.8   Title to Properties; Absence of Liens and Encumbrances.
            ------------------------------------------------------ 

            (a)  The Company Schedules list the real property interests owned by
Company as of the date of this Agreement. The Company Schedules list all real
property leases to which Company is a party as of the date of this Agreement and
which provide for the lease, in each case, of not less than 10,000 square feet
("MATERIAL REAL PROPERTY LEASES"), and each amendment thereto that is in effect
as of the date of this Agreement. All such Material Real Property Leases are in
full force and effect, are valid and effective in accordance with their
respective terms, and there is not, under any of such leases, any existing
default or event of default (or event

                                     -14-
<PAGE>
 
which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) that
would give rise to a claim in an amount greater than $100,000.

            (b)  Company has good and valid title to, or, in the case of leased
properties and assets, valid leasehold interests in, all of its tangible
properties and assets, real, personal and mixed, used or held for use in its
business, free and clear of any liens, pledges, charges, claims, security
interests or other encumbrances of any sort ("LIENS"), except as reflected in
the Company Financials and except for liens for taxes not yet due and payable
and such Liens or other imperfections of title and encumbrances, if any, which
are not material in character, amount or extent, and which do not materially
detract from the value, or materially interfere with the present use, of the
property subject thereto or affected thereby.

      2.9   Intellectual Property.  For the purposes of this Agreement, the
            ---------------------                                          
following terms have the following definitions:

            "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" shall mean any or all of the following and
             ---------------------                                            
            all rights in, arising out of, or associated therewith: (i) all
            United States, international and foreign patents and applications
            therefor and all reissues, divisions, renewals, extensions,
            provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof; (ii)
            all inventions (whether patentable or not), invention disclosures,
            improvements, trade secrets, proprietary information, know how,
            technology, technical data and customer lists, and all documentation
            relating to any of the foregoing; (iii) all copyrights, copyright
            registrations and applications therefor, and all other rights
            corresponding thereto throughout the world; (iv) all industrial
            designs and any registrations and applications therefor throughout
            the world; (v) all trade names, logos, common law trademarks and
            service marks, trademark and service mark registrations and
            applications therefor throughout the world; (vi) all databases and
            data collections and all rights therein throughout the world; (vii)
            all moral and economic rights of authors and inventors, however
            denominated, throughout the world, and (viii) any similar or
            equivalent rights to any of the foregoing anywhere in the world.

            "COMPANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" shall mean any Intellectual 
             -----------------------------                                      
            Property that is owned by, or exclusively licensed to, Company or
            any of its material subsidiaries.

            "REGISTERED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" means all United States,
             --------------------------------                          
            international and foreign: (i) patents and patent applications
            (including provisional applications); (ii) registered trademarks,
            applications to register trademarks, intent-to-use applications, or
            other registrations 

                                     -15-
<PAGE>
 
            or applications related to trademarks; (iii) registered copyrights
            and applications for copyright registration; and (iv) any other
            Intellectual Property that is the subject of an application,
            certificate, filing, registration or other document issued, filed
            with, or recorded by any state, government or other public legal
            authority.

            "COMPANY REGISTERED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" means all of the 
             ----------------------------------------                   
            Registered Intellectual Property owned by, or filed in the name of,
            Company.

            (a)  No material Company Intellectual Property or product or service
of Company is subject to any proceeding or outstanding decree, order, judgment,
agreement, or stipulation restricting in any manner the use, transfer, or
licensing thereof by Company, or which may affect the validity, use or
enforceability of such Company Intellectual Property.

            (b)  Each material item of Company Registered Intellectual Property
is valid and subsisting, all necessary registration, maintenance and renewal
fees currently due in connection with such Registered Intellectual Property have
been made and all necessary documents, recordations and certificates in
connection with such Registered Intellectual Property have been filed with the
relevant patent, copyright, trademark or other authorities in the United States
or foreign jurisdictions, as the case may be, for the purposes of maintaining
such Registered Intellectual Property.

            (c)  Company owns and has good and exclusive title to, or has
license (sufficient for the conduct of its business as currently conducted and
as proposed to be conducted) to, each material item of Company Intellectual
Property free and clear of any lien or encumbrance (excluding licenses and
related restrictions); and Company is the exclusive owner of all trademarks and
trade names used in connection with the operation or conduct of the business of
Company, including the sale of any products or the provision of any services by
Company.

            (d)  Company owns exclusively, and has good title to, all
copyrighted works that are Company products or which Company otherwise expressly
purports to own.

            (e)  To the extent that any material Intellectual Property has been
developed or created by a third party for Company, Company has a written
agreement with such third party with respect thereto and Company thereby either
(i) has obtained ownership of, and is the exclusive owner of, or (ii) has
obtained a license (sufficient for the conduct of its business as currently
conducted and as proposed to be 

                                     -16-
<PAGE>
 
conducted) to all such third party's Intellectual Property in such Intellectual
Property by operation of law or by valid assignment.

            (f)  Company has not transferred ownership of, or granted any
exclusive license with respect to, any Intellectual Property that is or was
material Company Intellectual Property, to any third party.

            (g)  The Company Schedules list all material contracts, licenses and
agreements to which Company is a party (i) with respect to Company Intellectual
Property licensed or transferred to any third party (other than end-user
licenses in the ordinary course); or (ii) pursuant to which a third party has
licensed or transferred any material Intellectual Property to Company.

            (h)  All material contracts, licenses and agreements relating to the
Company Intellectual Property are in full force and effect. The consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will neither violate nor result
in the breach, modification, cancellation, termination, or suspension of such
contracts, licenses and agreements. Company is in material compliance with, and
has not materially breached any term any of such contracts, licenses and
agreements and, to the knowledge of Company, all other parties to such
contracts, licenses and agreements are in compliance with, and have not
materially breached any term of, such contracts, licenses and agreements.
Following the Closing Date, the Surviving Corporation will be permitted to
exercise all of Company's rights under such contracts, licenses and agreements
to the same extent Company would have been able to had the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement not occurred and without the payment of any
additional amounts or consideration other than ongoing fees, royalties or
payments which Company would otherwise be required to pay.

            (i)  The operation of the business of Company as such business
currently is conducted, including Company's design, development, manufacture,
marketing and sale of the products or services of Company (including with
respect to products currently under development) has not, does not and will not
infringe or misappropriate the Intellectual Property of any third party
(provided that with respect to patent rights, such representation is limited to
Company's knowledge) or, to its knowledge, constitute unfair competition or
trade practices under the laws of any jurisdiction.

            (j)  Company has not received notice from any third party that the
operation of the business of Company or any act, product or service of Company,
infringes or misappropriates the Intellectual Property of any third party or
constitutes unfair competition or trade practices under the laws of any
jurisdiction.

                                     -17-
<PAGE>
 
            (k)  To the knowledge of Company, no Person has or is infringing or
misappropriating any Company Intellectual Property.

            (l)  Company has taken reasonable steps to protect Company's rights
in Company's confidential information and trade secrets that it wishes to
protect or any trade secrets or confidential information of third parties
provided to Company, and, without limiting the foregoing, Company has and
enforces a policy requiring each employee and contractor to execute a
proprietary information/confidentiality agreement substantially in the form
provided to Parent and all current and former employees and contractors of
Company have executed such an agreement, except where the failure to do so is
not reasonably expected to be material to Company.

      2.10  Compliance; Permits; Restrictions.
            --------------------------------- 

            (a)  Neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries is, in any material
respect, in conflict with, or in default or in violation of (i) any law, rule,
regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to Company or any of its
subsidiaries or by which Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties is bound or affected, or (ii) any material note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or
other instrument or obligation to which Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
party or by which Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or any of their
respective properties is bound or affected, except for conflicts, violations and
defaults that (individually or in the aggregate) would not cause Company to lose
any material benefit or incur any material liability. No investigation or review
by any Governmental Entity is pending or, to Company's knowledge, has been
threatened in a writing delivered to Company against Company or any of its
subsidiaries, nor, to Company's knowledge, has any Governmental Entity indicated
an intention to conduct an investigation of Company or any of its subsidiaries.
There is no material agreement, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding
upon Company or any of its material subsidiaries which has or could reasonably
be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any
business practice of Company or any of its material subsidiaries, any
acquisition of material property by Company or any of its subsidiaries or the
conduct of business by Company as currently conducted.

            (b)  Company and its subsidiaries hold, to the extent legally
required, all permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, orders and approvals
from governmental authorities that are material to and required for the
operation of the business of Company as currently conducted (collectively, the
"COMPANY PERMITS"). Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all
material respects with the terms of the Company Permits, except where the
failure to obtain any Company Permits or to be in compliance with the terms of
the Company Permits would not be material to Company.

                                     -18-
<PAGE>
 
      2.11  Litigation.  There is no action, suit, proceeding, claim, 
            ----------                                                
arbitration or investigation pending, and to Company's knowledge, no person has
threatened in a writing delivered to Company to commence any action, suit,
proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation against Company or any of its
subsidiaries which would be likely to be material to Company. No Governmental
Entity has at any time challenged or questioned in a writing delivered to
Company the legal right of Company to design, manufacture, offer or sell any of
its products in the present manner or style thereof.

      2.12  Brokers' and Finders' Fees.  Except for fees payable to Hambrecht &
            --------------------------                                         
Quist LLC pursuant to an engagement letter dated September 22, 1997, a copy of
which has been provided to Parent, Company has not incurred, nor will it incur,
directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage or finders' fees or agents'
commissions or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated hereby.

       2.13  Employment Matters.
            ------------------ 

            (a)  Definitions.  With the exception of the definition of 
                 -----------                                           
"Affiliate" set forth in Section 2.13(a)(i) below (which definition shall apply
only to this Section 2.13), for purposes of this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the meanings set forth below:

                 (i)   "AFFILIATE" shall mean any other person or entity under
common control with Company within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or
(o) of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder;

                 (ii)  "COMPANY EMPLOYEE PLAN" shall mean (x) all employee
benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), (y) all bonus, stock
option, stock purchase, incentive, deferred compensation, supplemental
retirement, severance and other similar employee benefit plans, and (z) all
unexpired severance agreements and arrangements, written or otherwise, for the
benefit of, or relating to, any current or former employee of Company or any
trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is an Affiliate or any
subsidiary of Company;

                 (iii) "COBRA" shall mean the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended

                 (iv)  "DOL"  shall mean the Department of Labor;

                                     -19-
<PAGE>
 
                 (v)   "EMPLOYEE" shall mean any current, former, or retired
employee, officer, or director of Company or any Affiliate;

                 (vi)  "EMPLOYEE AGREEMENT" shall mean each management,
employment, severance, consulting, relocation, repatriation, expatriation,
visas, work permit or similar agreement or contract between Company or any
Affiliate and any individual entitled to receive annual compensation from
Company or any Affiliate with value equal to or greater than $75,000;

                 (vii) "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended ;

                 (viii) "FMLA" shall mean the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993,
as amended;

                 (ix)  "INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYEE PLAN" shall mean each Company
Employee Plan that has been adopted or maintained by Company, whether informally
or formally, for the benefit of Employees outside the United States;

                 (x)   "IRS" shall mean the Internal Revenue Service;

                 (xi)  "MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" shall mean any "Pension Plan" (as
defined below) which is a "multiemployer plan," as defined in Section 3(37) of
ERISA;

                 (xii) "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation; and

                 (xiii) "PENSION PLAN" shall mean each Company Employee Plan
which is an "employee pension benefit plan," within the meaning of Section 3(2)
of ERISA.

            (b)  Schedule.  The Company Schedules contain an accurate and 
                 --------    
complete list of each Company Employee Plan and each material Employee
Agreement. Company does not have any plan or commitment to establish any new
Company Employee Plan, to modify any Company Employee Plan or Employee Agreement
(except to the extent required by law or to conform any such Company Employee
Plan or Employee Agreement to the requirements of any applicable law, in each
case as previously disclosed to Parent in writing, or as required by this
Agreement), or to enter into any Company Employee Plan or material Employee
Agreement, nor does it have any intention or commitment to do any of the
foregoing.

                                     -20-
<PAGE>
 
            (c)  Documents.  Company has provided to Parent: (i) correct and
                 ---------                                                  
complete copies of each Company Employee Plan and each Employee Agreement
including all amendments thereto; (ii) the most recent annual actuarial
valuations, if any, prepared for each Company Employee Plan; (iii) the three (3)
most recent annual reports (Form Series 5500 and all schedules and financial
statements attached thereto), if any, required under ERISA or the Code in
connection with each Company Employee Plan or related trust; (iv) if the Company
Employee Plan is funded, the most recent annual and periodic accounting of
Company Employee Plan assets; (v) the most recent summary plan description
together with the summary of material modifications thereto, if any, required
under ERISA with respect to each Company Employee Plan; (vi) all IRS
determination, opinion, notification and advisory letters, and rulings relating
to Company Employee Plans and copies of all applications and correspondence to
or from the IRS or the DOL with respect to any Company Employee Plan (and to the
extent not delivered are not material); (vii) all material written agreements
and contracts relating to each Company Employee Plan, including, but not limited
to, administrative service agreements, group annuity contracts and group
insurance contracts; (viii) forms of all COBRA forms and related notices; and
(ix) all registration statements and prospectuses prepared in connection with
each Company Employee Plan.

            (d)  Employee Plan Compliance. (i) Company has performed in all
                 ------------------------                                  
material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under, is not
in default or violation of, and has no knowledge of any default or violation by
any other party to each Company Employee Plan, and each Company Employee Plan
has been established and maintained in all material respects in accordance with
its terms and in compliance with all applicable laws, statutes, orders, rules
and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA or the Code; (ii) each
Company Employee Plan intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code and
each trust intended to qualify under Section 501(a) of the Code has either
received a favorable determination letter from the IRS with respect to each such
Plan as to its qualified status under the Code, including all amendments to the
Code effected by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and subsequent legislation, or has
remaining a period of time under applicable Treasury regulations or IRS
pronouncements in which to apply for such a determination letter and make any
amendments necessary to obtain a favorable determination; (iii) no "prohibited
transaction," within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Sections 406 and
407 of ERISA, and not otherwise exempt under Section 408 of ERISA, has occurred
with respect to any Company Employee Plan; (iv) there are no actions, suits or
claims pending, or, to the knowledge of Company, threatened or reasonably
anticipated (other than routine claims for benefits) against any Company
Employee Plan or against the assets of any Company Employee Plan; (v) each
Company Employee Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after
the Effective Time in accordance with its terms, without material (in each case
relative to the liabilities under such Plan) liability to Parent, Company or any
of its Affiliates 

                                     -21-
<PAGE>
 
(other than ordinary administration expenses typically incurred in a termination
event); (vi) there are no audits, inquiries or proceedings pending or, to the
knowledge of Company or any Affiliates, threatened by the IRS or DOL with
respect to any Company Employee Plan; and (vii) neither Company nor any
Affiliate is subject to any penalty or tax with respect to any Company Employee
Plan under Section 502(i) of ERISA or Sections 4975 through 4980 of the Code.

            (e)  Pension Plans.  Company does not now, nor has it ever, 
                 -------------                                          
maintained, established, sponsored, participated in, or contributed to, any
Pension Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.

            (f)  Multiemployer Plans.  At no time has Company contributed to or
                 -------------------                                           
been requested to contribute to any Multiemployer Plan.

            (g)  No Post-Employment Obligations.  No Company Employee Plan
                 ------------------------------                           
provides, or has any liability to provide, retiree life insurance, retiree
health or other retiree employee welfare benefits to any person for any reason,
except as may be required by COBRA or other applicable statute, and Company has
never represented, promised or contracted (whether in oral or written form) to
any Employee (either individually or to Employees as a group) or any other
person that such Employee(s) or other person would be provided with retiree life
insurance, retiree health or other retiree employee welfare benefit, except to
the extent required by statute.

            (h)  Neither Company nor any Affiliate has, prior to the Effective
Time, and in any material respect, violated any of the health care continuation
requirements of COBRA, the requirements of FMLA or any similar provisions of
state law applicable to its Employees.

            (i)  Effect of Transaction
                 ---------------------

                 (i)    The execution of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby will not (either alone or upon the
occurrence of any additional or subsequent events) constitute an event under any
Company Employee Plan, Employee Agreement, trust or loan that will or may result
in any payment (whether of severance pay or otherwise), acceleration,
forgiveness of indebtedness, vesting, distribution, increase in benefits or
obligation to fund benefits with respect to any Employee.

                 (ii)   No payment or benefit which will or may be made by
Company or its Affiliates with respect to any Employee as a result of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will be characterized as an "excess
parachute payment," within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code.

                                     -22-
<PAGE>
 
            (j)  Employment Matters.  Company and each of its material
                 ------------------                                   
subsidiaries:  (i) is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable
foreign, federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations respecting
employment, employment practices and wages and hours, in each case, in each
location in which Company or any of its material subsidiaries employs persons;
(ii) has withheld all amounts required by law or by agreement to be withheld
from the wages, salaries and other payments to Employees; (iii) is not liable
for any material arrears of wages or any taxes or any penalty for failure to
comply with any of the foregoing; and (iv) is not liable for any material
payment to any trust or other fund or to any governmental or administrative
authority, with respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security
or other benefits or obligations for Employees (other than routine payments to
be made in the normal course of business and consistent with past practice).
There are no pending, threatened or reasonably anticipated claims or actions for
benefits under Company's worker's compensation policy or long-term disability
policy that would not be covered by such policy.  To Company's knowledge, no
employee of Company has violated any employment contract, nondisclosure
agreement or noncompetition agreement by which such employee is bound due to
such employee being employed by Company and disclosing to Company or using trade
secrets or proprietary information of any other person or entity.

            (k)  Labor.  No work stoppage or labor strike against Company is
                 -----                                                      
pending,  threatened or reasonably anticipated.  Company does not know of any
activities or proceedings of any labor union to organize any Employees.  There
are no actions, suits, claims, labor disputes or grievances pending, or, to the
knowledge of Company, threatened or reasonably anticipated relating to any
labor, safety or discrimination matters involving any Employee, including,
without limitation, charges of unfair labor practices or discrimination
complaints, which, if adversely determined, would, individually or in the
aggregate, result in any material liability to Company.  Neither Company nor any
of its subsidiaries has engaged in any unfair labor practices within the meaning
of the National Labor Relations Act.  Company is not presently, nor has it been
in the past, a party to, or bound by, any collective bargaining agreement or
union contract with respect to Employees and no collective bargaining agreement
is being negotiated by Company.

            (l)  International Employee Plan.  Each International Employee 
                 ---------------------------                               
Plan has been established, maintained and administered in material compliance
with its terms and conditions and with the requirements prescribed by any and
all statutory or regulatory laws that are applicable to such International
Employee Plan. Furthermore, no International Employee Plan has unfunded
liabilities, that as of the Effective Time, will not be offset by insurance or
fully accrued. Except as required by law, no condition exists that would prevent
Company or Parent from terminating or amending any International Employee Plan
at any time for any reason.

                                     -23-
<PAGE>
 
      2.14  Environmental Matters.
            --------------------- 

            (a)  Hazardous Material.  Except as reasonably would not be likely
                 ------------------                                           
to result in material liability to Company, no underground storage tanks and no
amount of any substance that has been designated by any Governmental Entity or
by applicable federal, state or local law to be radioactive, toxic, hazardous or
otherwise a danger to health or the environment, including, without limitation,
PCBs, asbestos, petroleum, urea-formaldehyde and all substances listed as
hazardous substances pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, or defined as a hazardous
waste pursuant to the United States Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of
1976, as amended, and the regulations promulgated pursuant to said laws, but
excluding office and janitorial supplies, (a "HAZARDOUS MATERIAL") are present,
as a result of the actions of Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
affiliate of Company, or, to Company's knowledge, as a result of any actions of
any third party or otherwise, in, on or under any property, including the land
and the improvements, ground water and surface water thereof, that Company or
any of its subsidiaries has at any time owned, operated, occupied or leased.

            (b)  Hazardous Materials Activities. Except as reasonably would not
                 ------------------------------                              
be likely to result in a material liability to Company (in any individual case
or in the aggregate) (i) neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
transported, stored, used, manufactured, disposed of, released or exposed its
employees or others to Hazardous Materials in violation of any law in effect on
or before the Closing Date, and (ii) neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries
has disposed of, transported, sold, used, released, exposed its employees or
others to or manufactured any product containing a Hazardous Material
(collectively "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ACTIVITIES") in violation of any rule,
regulation, treaty or statute promulgated by any Governmental Entity in effect
prior to or as of the date hereof to prohibit, regulate or control Hazardous
Materials or any Hazardous Material Activity.

            (c)  Permits.  Company and its subsidiaries currently hold all 
                 -------                                                   
material environmental approvals, permits, licenses, clearances and consents
(the "COMPANY ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITS") necessary for the conduct of Company's and
its subsidiaries' Hazardous Material Activities and other businesses of Company
and its material subsidiaries as such activities and businesses are currently
being conducted.

            (d)  Environmental Liabilities.  No action, proceeding, revocation
                 -------------------------                                    
proceeding, amendment procedure, writ or injunction is pending, and to Company's
knowledge, no action, proceeding, revocation proceeding, amendment procedure,
writ or injunction has been threatened by any Governmental Entity against
Company or any of its subsidiaries in a writing delivered to Company concerning
any Company 

                                     -24-
<PAGE>
 
Environmental Permit, Hazardous Material or any Hazardous Materials Activity of
Company or any of its subsidiaries. Company is not aware of any fact or
circumstance which could involve Company or any of its subsidiaries in any
environmental litigation or impose upon Company any material environmental
liability.

      2.15  Agreements, Contracts and Commitments.  Neither Company nor any of
            -------------------------------------                             
its material subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by:

            (a)  any employment or consulting agreement, contract or commitment
with any officer or director or higher level employee or member of Company's
Board of Directors, other than those that are terminable by Company or any of
its subsidiaries on no more than thirty days notice without liability or
financial obligation, except to the extent general principles of wrongful
termination law may limit Company's or any of its subsidiaries' ability to
terminate employees at will;

            (b)  any agreement or plan, including, without limitation, any stock
option plan, stock appreciation right plan or stock purchase plan, any of the
benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting of benefits of which will be
accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the value of any of the benefits of which will be calculated on the
basis of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

            (c)  any agreement of indemnification or any guaranty other than any
agreement of indemnification entered into in connection with the sale or
license of software products in the ordinary course of business;

            (d)  any agreement, contract or commitment containing any covenant
limiting in any material respect the right of Company or any of its material
subsidiaries to engage in any line of business or to compete with any person or
granting any exclusive distribution rights;

            (e)  any material agreement, contract or commitment currently in
force relating to the disposition or acquisition by Company or any of its
subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement of a material amount of assets not
in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to which Company has any material
ownership interest in any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other
business enterprise other than Company's subsidiaries;

            (f)  any material joint marketing or development agreement currently
in force under which Company or any of its subsidiaries have continuing material
obligations to jointly market any product, technology or service and which may
not be canceled without penalty upon notice of 90 days or less, or any material
agreement pursuant to which Company or any of its subsidiaries have continuing

                                     -25-
<PAGE>
 
material obligations to jointly develop any intellectual property that will not
be owned, in whole or in part, by Company or any of its subsidiaries and which
may not be canceled without penalty upon notice of 90 days or less;

            (g)  any agreement, contract or commitment currently in force to
provide source code to any third party for any product or technology that is
material to Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; or

            (h)  any agreement, contract or commitment currently in force to
license any third party to manufacture or reproduce any Company product, service
or technology except as a distributor in the normal course of business.

      Neither Company nor any of its material subsidiaries, nor to Company's
knowledge any other party to a Company Contract (as defined below), is in
breach, violation or default under, and neither Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has received written notice that it has breached, violated or
defaulted under, any of the material terms or conditions of any of the
agreements, contracts or commitments to which Company or any of its subsidiaries
is a party or by which it is bound that are required to be disclosed in the
Company Schedules pursuant to clauses (a) through (h) above or pursuant to
Section 2.9 hereof (any such agreement, contract or commitment, a "COMPANY
CONTRACT") in such a manner as would permit any other party to cancel or
terminate any such Company Contract, or would permit any other party to seek
material damages or other remedies (for any or all of such breaches, violations
or defaults, in the aggregate).

      2.16  Pooling of Interests.  To the knowledge of Company, based on
            --------------------                                        
consultation with its independent accountants, neither Company nor any of its
directors, officers, affiliates or stockholders has taken any action which would
preclude Parent's ability to account for the Merger as a pooling of interests.

      2.17  Certain Payments.  The Company Schedules set forth each plan or
            ----------------                                               
agreement pursuant to which any amounts may become payable (whether currently or
in the future) to current or former officers and directors of Company as a
result of or in connection with the Merger.

      2.18  Registration Statement; Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.  The
            --------------------------------------------------------      
information supplied by Company for inclusion in the Registration Statement (as
defined in Section 3.4(b)) shall not at the time the Registration Statement is
filed with the SEC and at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act
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 information supplied by Company for inclusion in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus to be sent to (a) the 

                                     -26-
<PAGE>
 
stockholders of Company in connection with the meeting of Company's stockholders
to consider the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the
Merger (the "COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING") and (b) the stockholders of Parent
in connection with the meeting of Parent's stockholders to consider the approval
of the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to the Merger (the
"PARENT STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING") (such joint proxy statement/prospectus as
amended or supplemented is referred to herein as the "JOINT PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS") shall not, on the date the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus is first mailed to Company's stockholders and Parent's
stockholders or at the time of the Company Stockholders' Meeting or the Parent
Stockholders' Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
are made, not false or misleading; or omit to state any material fact necessary
to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to the
solicitation of proxies for the Company Stockholders' Meeting or the Parent
Stockholders' Meeting which has become false or misleading. If at any time prior
to the Effective Time any event relating to Company or any of its affiliates,
officers or directors should be discovered by Company which is required to be
set forth in an amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, Company shall promptly inform Parent.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Company makes no representation or warranty with
respect to any information supplied by Parent or Merger Sub which is contained
in any of the foregoing documents.

      2.19  Board Approval.  The Board of Directors of Company has, as of the 
           --------------                                                     
date of this Agreement, determined (i) that the Merger is fair to, and in the
best interests of Company and its stockholders, and, (ii) subject to the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to recommend that the stockholders
of Company approve and adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger.

      2.20  Fairness Opinion.  Company's Board of Directors has received an
            ----------------                                               
opinion from Hambrecht & Quist LLC dated as of the date hereof, to the effect
that as of the date hereof, the Merger and the Exchange Ratio are fair to
Company's stockholders from a financial point of view and has delivered or will
promptly deliver to Parent a copy of such opinion.

      2.21  Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law Not Applicable;
            -------------------------------------------------------------------
Company Rights Plan.  The Board of Directors of Company has taken all actions so
- -------------------                                                             
that (a) the restrictions contained in Section 203 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law applicable to a "business combination" (as defined in such
Section 203) will not apply to the execution, delivery or performance of this
Agreement or to the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and (b) the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement and the

                                     -27-
<PAGE>
 
consummation of the Merger will not cause any change, effect or result under the
Company Rights Plan which is adverse to the interests of Parent. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, if necessary to accomplish the
foregoing, the Company Rights Plan has been amended to (i) render the Company
Rights Plan inapplicable to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, (ii) ensure that (x) none of Parent or its subsidiaries is an
Acquiring Person (as defined in the Company Rights Plan) pursuant to the Company
Rights Plan by virtue of the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby and (y) a Distribution
Date, Flip-In Event, Triggering Event or Flip-Over Event (as such terms are
defined in the Company Rights Plan) does not occur by reason of the execution of
this Agreement, the consummation of the Merger, or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, and such amendment may not be further amended
by Company without the prior consent of Parent in its sole discretion.

      2.22  Customs. Company has acted with reasonable care to properly value
            -------                                                          
and classify, in accordance with applicable tariff laws, rules and regulations,
all goods that Company or any of its subsidiaries import into the United States
or into any other country (the "IMPORTED GOODS").  To Company's knowledge, there
are currently no material claims pending against Company by the U.S. Customs
Service (or other foreign customs authorities) relating to the valuation,
classification or marking of the Imported Goods.


                                  ARTICLE III
                       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
                             PARENT AND MERGER SUB

      Parent and Merger Sub represent and warrant to Company, subject to the
exceptions specifically disclosed in writing in the disclosure letter and
referencing a specific representation supplied by Parent to Company dated as of
the date hereof and certified by a duly authorized officer of Parent (the
"PARENT SCHEDULES"), as follows: 

      3.1   Organization of Parent.
            ---------------------- 

            (a)  Each of Parent, Merger Sub and the material subsidiaries of
Parent (i) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized; (ii) has
the corporate or other power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets
and property and to carry on its business as now being conducted; and (iii),
except as would not be material to Parent, is duly qualified or licensed to do
business in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned,
leased or operated by it or the nature of its activities makes such
qualification or licensing necessary.

                                     -28-
<PAGE>
 
            (b)  Parent has delivered or made available to Company a true and
correct copy of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Parent, each as
amended to date, and each such instrument is in full force and effect.  Neither
Parent nor any of its material subsidiaries is in violation of any of the
provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or equivalent governing
instruments.

      3.2   Parent and Merger Sub Capital Structure.  The authorized capital 
            ---------------------------------------                          
stock of Parent consists of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which there
were 51,259,448 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 1997, and
5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, of which one share of Series A Preferred
Stock is issued and outstanding. As of September 30, 1997, Parent had reserved
an aggregate of 10,317,588 shares of Parent Common Stock, net of exercises, for
issuance pursuant to Parent's 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, the FSA Stock Option
Plan, Parent's Outside Director Stock Option Plan, the SA93 Stock Option Plan,
the SAII Stock Option Plan, Parent's Non-Officer Stock Option Plan and Parent's
1992 Stock Option Plan. As of September 30, 1997, there were options outstanding
to purchase an aggregate of 8,016,938 shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to
such plans. As of September 30, 1997, Parent had reserved an aggregate of
354,181 shares of Parent Common Stock, net of purchases, for issuance pursuant
to Parent's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. All outstanding shares of Parent
Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
and are not subject to preemptive rights created by statute, the Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws of Parent or any agreement or document to which Parent
is a party or by which it is bound. The authorized capital stock of Merger Sub
consists of 1000 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value, all of which, as of
the date hereof, are issued and outstanding and are held by Parent. Merger Sub
was formed on or about October 10, 1997, for the purpose of consummating the
Merger and has no material assets or liabilities except as necessary for such
purpose.

      3.3   Obligations With Respect to Capital Stock.  Except as set forth in
            -----------------------------------------                         
Section 3.2, there are no equity securities, partnership interests or similar
ownership interests of any class of Parent, or any securities exchangeable or
convertible into or exercisable for such equity securities, partnership
interests or similar ownership interests, issued, reserved for issuance or
outstanding. Except for securities Parent owns free and clear of all claims and
encumbrances, directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, and
except for shares of capital stock or other similar ownership interests of
certain subsidiaries of Parent that are owned by certain nominee equity holders
as required by the applicable law of the jurisdiction of organization of such
subsidiaries, as of the date of this Agreement, there are no equity securities,
partnership interests or similar ownership interests of any class of any
material subsidiary of Parent, or any security exchangeable or convertible into
or exercisable for such equity securities, partnership interests or similar
ownership interests, issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. Except as set
forth in Section 3.2, there are no 

                                     -29-
<PAGE>
 
options, warrants, equity securities, partnership interests or similar ownership
interests, calls, rights (including preemptive rights), commitments or
agreements of any character to which Parent is a party or by which it is bound
obligating Parent to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or
sold, or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or cause the repurchase,
redemption or acquisition of, any shares of capital stock, partnership interests
or similar ownership interests of Company or obligating Company to grant,
extend, accelerate the vesting of or enter into any such option, warrant, equity
security, call, right, commitment or agreement. As of the date of this
Agreement, except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Parent Voting Agreement
and the Parent Affiliate Agreement, there are no voting trusts, proxies or other
agreements or understandings to which Parent is a party or by which it is bound
with respect to any equity security of any class of Parent or with respect to
any equity security, partnership interest or similar ownership interest of any
class of any of its material subsidiaries.

      3.4   Authority.
            --------- 

            (a)  Each of Parent and Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power
and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby, subject only to the approval of the issuance of Parent
Common Stock pursuant to the Merger by Parent's stockholders. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of Parent and Merger Sub, subject only to the approval of the issuance of Parent
Common Stock pursuant to the Merger by Parent's stockholders and the filing of
the Certificate of Merger pursuant to Delaware Law. Approval by the stockholders
of Parent of the issuance of Parent Common Stock pursuant to the Merger may be
obtained by the vote of a majority of the total votes cast regarding such
proposal at a duly called and noticed meeting of Parent's stockholders at which
a quorum is present. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each
of Parent and Merger Sub and, assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery by Company, constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Parent and
Merger Sub, enforceable against Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its
terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy and other similar
laws and general principles of equity. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by each of Parent and Merger Sub does not, and the performance of this
Agreement by each of Parent and Merger Sub will not, (i) conflict with or
violate the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of Parent or Merger Sub, (ii)
conflict with or violate any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree
applicable to Parent or Merger Sub or by which any of their respective
properties is bound or affected or (iii) result in any material breach of or
constitute a material default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or
both would become a material default) under, or materially impair Parent's
material rights or alter the material rights or material obligations of any
third party under, or give to others any rights of 

                                     -30-
<PAGE>
 
termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the
creation of a material lien or encumbrance on any of the material properties or
assets of Parent or Merger Sub pursuant to, any material note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other
instrument or obligation to which Parent or Merger Sub is a party or by which
Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective properties are bound or
affected. The Parent Schedules list all consents, waivers and approvals under
any of Parent's or any of its material subsidiaries' agreements, contracts,
licenses or leases required to be obtained in connection with the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby, which, if individually or in the
aggregate not obtained, would result in a material loss of benefits to Parent as
a result of the Merger.

            (b)  No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or
registration, declaration or filing with any Governmental Entity is required to
be obtained or made by Parent, Merger Sub, or any material subsidiary of Parent
in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the
consummation of the Merger, except for (i) the filing of a Form S-4 (or any
similar successor form thereto) Registration Statement (the "REGISTRATION
STATEMENT") with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act, (ii) the filing
of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, (iii) such consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations,
declarations and filings as may be required under applicable federal, foreign
and state securities (or related) laws and the HSR Act and the securities or
antitrust laws of any foreign country, and (iv) such other consents,
authorizations, filings, approvals and registrations which if not obtained or
made would not be material to Parent or have a material adverse effect on the
ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Merger.

            (c)  The Board of Directors of Parent has all requisite corporate
power and authority to take the actions described in Section 5.14 hereof.

      3.5   SEC Filings; Parent Financial Statements.
            ---------------------------------------- 

            (a)  Parent has filed all forms, reports and documents required to
be filed by Parent with the SEC since September 1, 1994, and has made available
to Company such forms, reports and documents in the form filed with the SEC. All
such required forms, reports and documents (including those that Parent may file
subsequent to the date hereof) are referred to herein as the "PARENT SEC
REPORTS." As of their respective dates, the Parent SEC Reports (i) were prepared
in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder
applicable to such Parent SEC Reports, and (ii) did not at the time they were
filed (or if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this
Agreement, then on the date of such filing) contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be 

                                     -31-
<PAGE>
 
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. None of
Parent's subsidiaries is required to file any forms, reports or other documents
with the SEC.

            (b)  Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in
each case, any related notes thereto) contained in the Parent SEC Reports (the
"PARENT FINANCIALS"), including any Parent SEC Reports filed after the date
hereof until the Closing, (i) complied as to form in all material respects with
the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) was
prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the
periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the
case of unaudited interim financial statements, as may be permitted by the SEC
on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act) and (iii) fairly presented the consolidated
financial position of Parent and its subsidiaries as at the respective dates
thereof and the consolidated results of Parent's operations and cash flows for
the periods indicated, except that the unaudited interim financial statements
may not contain footnotes and were or are subject to normal and recurring year-
end adjustments. The balance sheet of Parent contained in Parent SEC Reports as
of June 30, 1997 is hereinafter referred to as the "PARENT BALANCE SHEET."
Except as disclosed in the Parent Financials, since the date of the Parent
Balance Sheet neither Parent nor any of its subsidiaries has any liabilities
required under GAAP to be set forth on a balance sheet (absolute, accrued,
contingent or otherwise) which are, individually or in the aggregate, material
to the business, results of operations or financial condition of Parent and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole, except for liabilities incurred since the date of
the Parent Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practices.

      3.6   Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since the date of the Parent
            ------------------------------------                              
Balance Sheet there has not been: (i) any Material Adverse Effect on Parent,
(ii) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend on, or other
distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of, any of Parent's
capital stock, or any purchase, redemption or other acquisition by Parent of any
of Parent's capital stock or any other securities of Parent or any options,
warrants, calls or rights to acquire any such shares or other securities except
for repurchases from employees following their termination pursuant to the terms
of their pre-existing stock option or purchase agreements, (iii) any split,
combination or reclassification of any of Parent's capital stock, (iv) entry by
Parent or any of its subsidiaries into any licensing or other agreement with
regard to the acquisition or disposition of any material Intellectual Property
other than licenses in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice or any amendment or consent with respect to any licensing agreement
filed or required to be filed by Parent with the SEC, (v) any material change by
Parent in its accounting methods, principles or practices, except as required by
concurrent changes in GAAP, or (vi) any material revaluation by Parent of any of
its assets, 

                                     -32-
<PAGE>
 
including, without limitation, writing down the value of capitalized inventory
or writing off notes or accounts receivable other than in the ordinary course of
business.

      3.7   Taxes.
            ----- 

            (a)  Parent and each of its subsidiaries have timely filed all
Returns relating to Taxes required to be filed by Parent and each of its
subsidiaries with any Tax authority, except such Returns which are not material
to Parent, and have paid all Taxes shown to be due on such Returns.

            (b)  Neither Parent nor any of its material subsidiaries has been
delinquent in the payment of any Tax nor is there any Tax deficiency
outstanding, proposed or assessed against Parent or any of its material
subsidiaries, nor has Parent or any of its material subsidiaries executed any
unexpired waiver of any statute of limitations on or extending the period for
the assessment or collection of any Tax.

            (c)  Neither Parent nor any of its subsidiaries has any liability
for unpaid Taxes which has not been accrued for or reserved on the Parent
Balance Sheet, whether asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise, which is
material to Parent, other than any liability for unpaid Taxes that may have
accrued since the date of the Parent Balance Sheet in connection with the
operation of the business of Parent and its subsidiaries in the ordinary course.

      3.8   Title to Properties; Absence of Liens and Encumbrances.  Parent has
            ------------------------------------------------------             
good and valid title to, or, in the case of leased properties and assets, valid
leasehold interests in, all of its tangible properties and assets, real,
personal and mixed, used or held for use in its business, free and clear of any
Liens, except as reflected in the Parent Financials and except for liens for
taxes not yet due and payable and such Liens or other imperfections of title and
encumbrances, if any, which are not material in character, amount or extent, and
which do not materially detract from the value, or materially interfere with the
present use, of the property subject thereto or affected thereby.

      3.9   Intellectual Property. For the purposes of this Agreement, the
            ---------------------                                         
following terms have the following definitions:

            "PARENT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" shall mean any Intellectual Property
             ----------------------------                                      
              that is owned by, or exclusively licensed to, Parent or any of its
              material subsidiaries.

            "PARENT REGISTERED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" means all of the
             _______________________________________
             Registered Intellectual Property owned by, or filed in the name of,
             Parent.

                                     -33-
<PAGE>
 
            (a)  No material Parent Intellectual Property or product or service
of Parent is subject to any proceeding or outstanding decree, order, judgment,
agreement, or stipulation restricting in any manner the use, transfer, or
licensing thereof by Parent, or which may affect the validity, use or
enforceability of such Parent Intellectual Property.

            (b)  Each material item of Parent Registered Intellectual Property
is valid and subsisting, all necessary registration, maintenance and renewal
fees currently due in connection with such Registered Intellectual Property have
been made and all necessary documents, recordations and certificates in
connection with such Registered Intellectual Property have been filed with the
relevant patent, copyright, trademark or other authorities in the United States
or foreign jurisdictions, as the case may be, for the purposes of maintaining
such Registered Intellectual Property.

            (c)  Parent owns and has good and exclusive title to, or has license
(sufficient for the conduct of its business as currently conducted and as
proposed to be conducted) to, each material item of Parent Intellectual Property
free and clear of any lien or encumbrance (excluding licenses and related
restrictions); and Parent is the exclusive owner of all trademarks and trade
names used in connection with the operation or conduct of the business of
Parent, including the sale of any products or the provision of any services by
Parent.

            (d)  Parent owns exclusively, and has good title to, all copyrighted
works that are Parent products or which Parent otherwise expressly purports to
own.

            (e)  To the extent that any material Intellectual Property has been
developed or created by a third party for Parent, Parent has a written agreement
with such third party with respect thereto and Parent thereby either (i) has
obtained ownership of, and is the exclusive owner of, or (ii) has obtained a
license (sufficient for the conduct of its business as currently conducted and
as proposed to be conducted) to all such third party's Intellectual Property in
such Intellectual Property by operation of law or by valid assignment.
 
            (f)  All material contracts, licenses and agreements relating to the
Parent Intellectual Property are in full force and effect. The consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will neither violate nor result
in the breach, modification, cancellation, termination, or suspension of such
contracts, licenses and agreements.  Parent is in material compliance with, and
has not materially breached any term any of such contracts, licenses and
agreements and, to the knowledge of Parent, all other parties to such contracts,
licenses and agreements are in compliance with, and have not materially breached
any term of, such contracts, licenses and agreements.

                                     -34-
<PAGE>
 
            (g)  The operation of the business of Parent as such business
currently is conducted, including Parent's design, development, manufacture,
marketing and sale of the products or services of Parent (including with respect
to products currently under development) has not, does not and will not infringe
or misappropriate the Intellectual Property of any third party (provided that
with respect to patent rights, such representation is limited to Parent's
knowledge) or, to its knowledge, constitute unfair competition or trade
practices under the laws of any jurisdiction.

            (h)  Parent has not received notice from any third party that the
operation of the business of Parent or any act, product or service of Parent,
infringes or misappropriates the Intellectual Property of any third party or
constitutes unfair competition or trade practices under the laws of any
jurisdiction.

            (i)  To the knowledge of Parent, no Person has or is infringing or
misappropriating any Parent Intellectual Property.

            (j)  Parent has taken reasonable steps to protect Parent's rights in
Parent's confidential information and trade secrets that it wishes to protect or
any trade secrets or confidential information of third parties provided to
Parent, and, without limiting the foregoing, Parent has and enforces a policy
requiring each employee and contractor to execute a proprietary
information/confidentiality agreement substantially in the form provided to
Parent and all current and former employees and contractors of Parent have
executed such an agreement, except where the failure to do so is not reasonably
expected to be material to Parent.

      3.10  Compliance; Permits; Restrictions.
            --------------------------------- 

            (a)  Neither Parent nor any of its subsidiaries is, in any material
respect, in conflict with, or in default or in violation of (i) any law, rule,
regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to Parent or any of its
subsidiaries or by which Parent or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties is bound or affected, or (ii) any material note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or
other instrument or obligation to which Parent or any of its subsidiaries is a
party or by which Parent or any of its subsidiaries or its or any of their
respective properties is bound or affected, except for conflicts, violations and
defaults that (individually or in the aggregate) would not cause Parent to lose
any material benefit or incur any material liability. No investigation or review
by any Governmental Entity is pending or, to Parent's knowledge, has been
threatened in a writing delivered to Parent against Parent or any of its
subsidiaries, nor, to Parent's knowledge, has any Governmental Entity indicated
an intention to conduct an investigation of Parent or any of its subsidiaries.
There is no material agreement, 

                                     -35-
<PAGE>
 
judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon Parent or any of its
subsidiaries which has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of
prohibiting or materially impairing any business practice of Parent, any
acquisition of material property by Parent or the conduct of business by Parent
as currently conducted.

            (b)  Parent and its subsidiaries hold, to the extent legally
required, all permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, orders and approvals
from governmental authorities that are material to and required for the
operation of the business of Parent as currently conducted (collectively, the
"PARENT PERMITS"). Parent and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material
respects with the terms of the Parent Permits, except where the failure to be in
compliance with the terms of the Parent Permits would not be material to Parent.

      3.11  Litigation.  There is no action, suit, proceeding, claim,
            ----------
arbitration or investigation pending, and to Parent's knowledge, no person has
threatened in a writing delivered to Parent to commence any action, suit,
proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation against Parent or any of its
subsidiaries which would be likely to be material to Parent. No Governmental
Entity has at any time challenged or questioned in a writing delivered to Parent
the legal right of Parent to design, manufacture, offer or sell any of its
products in the present manner or style thereof.

      3.12  Brokers' and Finders' Fees.  Except for fees payable to Morgan
            --------------------------
Stanley & Co. pursuant to an engagement letter dated September 9, 1997, a copy
of which has been made available to Company, Parent has not incurred, nor will
it incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage or finders' fees
or agents' commissions or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement
or any transaction contemplated thereby.

      3.13  Statements; Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.  The information
            --------------------------------------------                  
supplied by Parent for inclusion in the Registration Statement shall not at the
time the Registration Statement is filed with the SEC and at the time it becomes
effective under the Securities Act, 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 information supplied by Parent
for inclusion in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall not, on the date the
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus is first mailed to Company's stockholders or
Parent's stockholders or at the time of the Company Stockholders' Meeting or the
Parent Stockholders' Meeting contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they are made, not false or misleading; or omit to state any material fact
necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to
the solicitation of proxies for the Company Stockholders' Meeting or the 

                                     -36-
<PAGE>
 
Parent Stockholders' Meeting which has become false or misleading. If at any
time prior to the Effective Time, any event relating to Parent or any of its
affiliates, officers or directors should be discovered by Parent which is
required to be set forth in an amendment to the Registration Statement or a
supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, Parent shall promptly inform
Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent makes no representation or
warranty with respect to any information supplied by Company which is contained
in any of the foregoing documents.

      3.14  Valid Issuance.  The Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger,
            --------------                                                      
when issued in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement: (a) will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; and (b) will not be subject to any
restrictions on resale under the Securities Act, other than restrictions imposed
by Rule 145 promulgated under the Securities Act.

      3.15  No Ownership of Company Common Stock.  Parent does not own,
            ------------------------------------                       
beneficially or of record, any shares of Company Common Stock.

      3.16  Pooling of Interests.  To the knowledge of Parent, based on
            --------------------                                       
consultation with its independent accountants, neither Parent nor any of its
directors, officers, affiliates or stockholders has taken any action which would
preclude Parent's ability to account for the Merger as a pooling of interests.

      3.17  Board Approval.  The Board of Directors of Parent has, as of the
            --------------
date of this Agreement, determined (i) that the Merger is fair to, and in the
best interests of Parent and its stockholders, and, (ii) subject to the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to recommend that the stockholders
of Parent approve the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to the
Merger.

      3.18  Fairness Opinion.  Parent's Board of Directors has received an
            ----------------
opinion from Morgan Stanley & Co. dated as of on or about the date hereof, to
the effect that as of the date hereof, the Merger and the Exchange Ratio are
fair to Parent's stockholders from a financial point of view and has delivered
or will promptly deliver to Company a copy of such opinion.


                                  ARTICLE IV
                      CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME

      4.1   Conduct of Business by Company.  During the period from the date of
            ------------------------------                                     
this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to its terms or the Effective Time, Company and each of its
subsidiaries shall, except to the extent that Parent shall otherwise consent in
writing, carry on its 

                                     -37-
<PAGE>
 
business, in all material respects, in the usual, regular and ordinary course,
in substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted and in compliance in
all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, pay its debts
and taxes when due subject to good faith disputes over such debts or taxes, pay
or perform other material obligations when due, and use its commercially
reasonable efforts consistent with past practices and policies to (i) preserve
intact its present business organization, (ii) keep available the services of
its present officers and employees and (iii) preserve its relationships with
customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees, and others with which
it has business dealings. In addition, Company will promptly notify Parent of
any material event involving its business or operations.

      In addition, except as permitted by the terms of this Agreement, and
except as provided in Article 4 of the Company Schedules, without the prior
written consent of Parent, during the period from the date of this Agreement and
continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
its terms or the Effective Time, Company shall not do any of the following and
shall not permit its subsidiaries to do any of the following:

            (a)  Waive any stock repurchase rights, accelerate, amend or change
the period of exercisability of options or restricted stock, or reprice options
granted under any employee, consultant, director or other stock plans or
authorize cash payments in exchange for any options granted under any of such
plans;

            (b)  Grant any severance or termination pay to any officer or
employee except pursuant to written agreements outstanding, or policies
existing, on the date hereof and as previously disclosed in writing or made
available to Parent, or adopt any new severance plan;

            (c)  Transfer or license to any person or entity or otherwise
extend, amend or modify in any material respect any rights to the Company
Intellectual Property, or enter into grants to future patent rights, other than
non-exclusive licenses in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practice;

            (d)  Declare, set aside or pay any dividends on or make any other
distributions (whether in cash, stock, equity securities or property) in respect
of any capital stock or split, combine or reclassify any capital stock or issue
or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or
in substitution for any capital stock;

            (e)  Purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly,
any shares of capital stock of Company or its subsidiaries, except repurchases
of unvested shares at cost in connection with the termination of the employment

                                     -38-
<PAGE>
 
relationship with any employee, consultant or director pursuant to stock option
or purchase agreements in effect on the date hereof;

            (f)  Issue, deliver, sell, authorize, pledge or otherwise encumber
or propose any of the foregoing of, any shares of capital stock or any
securities convertible into shares of capital stock, or subscriptions, rights,
warrants or options to acquire any shares of capital stock or any securities
convertible into shares of capital stock, or enter into other agreements or
commitments of any character obligating it to issue any such shares or
convertible securities, other than the issuance delivery and/or sale of (i)
options pursuant to any of the Company Stock Option Plans with strike prices
equal to fair market value at the time of grant or options pursuant to the ESPP,
in each case, in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice,
and subject to and in compliance with the restrictions of Section 4.1(p), (ii)
shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of stock options
therefor outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and (iii) shares of
Company Common Stock issuable to participants in the ESPP consistent with the
terms thereof;

            (g)  Cause, permit or propose any amendments to its Certificate of
Incorporation, Bylaws or other charter documents (or similar governing
instruments of any of its material subsidiaries);

            (h)  Acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with,
or by purchasing any equity interest in or a material portion of the assets of,
or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership,
association or other business organization or division thereof, or otherwise
acquire or agree to acquire any assets which are material, individually or in
the aggregate, to the business of Company or enter into any material joint
ventures, strategic partnerships or alliances;

            (i)  Sell, lease, license, encumber or otherwise dispose of any
properties or assets which are material, individually or in the aggregate, to
the business of Company, except sales of product and inventory in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice;

            (j)  Incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such
indebtedness of another person, issue or sell any debt securities or options,
warrants, calls or other rights to acquire any debt securities of Company, enter
into any "keep well" or other agreement to maintain any financial statement
condition or enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of the
foregoing other than (i) in connection with the financing of ordinary course
trade payables consistent with past practice or (ii) pursuant to existing credit
facilities in the ordinary course of business;

                                     -39-
<PAGE>
 
            (k)  Adopt or amend any employee benefit plan or employee stock
purchase or employee stock option plan, or enter into any employment contract or
collective bargaining agreement (other than offer letters and letter agreements
entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
with employees who are terminable "at will,"), pay any special bonus or special
remuneration to any director or employee, or increase the salaries or wage rates
or fringe benefits (including rights to severance or indemnification) of its
directors, officers, employees or consultants other than in the ordinary course
of business, consistent with past practice, or change in any material respect
any management policies or procedures;

            (l)  Make any payments outside of the ordinary course of business in
excess of $1 million;

            (m)  except in the ordinary course of business, modify, amend or
terminate any material contract or agreement to which Company or any subsidiary
thereof is a party or waive, release or assign any material rights or claims
thereunder;

            (n)  enter into any contracts, agreements, or obligations relating
to the distribution, sale, license or marketing by third parties of Company's
products or products licensed by Company other than in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;

            (o)  revalue any of its material assets or, except as required by
GAAP, make any change in accounting methods, principles or practices;

            (p)  Take any action that would be reasonably likely to interfere
with Parent's ability to account for the Merger as a pooling of interests
whether or not otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Article IV; or

            (q)  Agree in writing or otherwise to take any of the actions
described in Section 4.1(a) through (p) above.

      4.2   Conduct of Business by Parent.  During the period from the date of
            -----------------------------                                     
this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to its terms or the Effective Time, (i) Parent shall consult
with Company prior to taking any material action outside of the ordinary course
of business and (ii) Parent shall consult with and seek the advice of Leslie G.
Denend, Gregory M. Gallo, Laurence R. Hootnick and Harry J. Saal (to the extent
such persons continue as directors of Company and are reasonably available for
such consultation), regarding its intention to effect any material acquisition
described in Section 4.2(c) (and will share the material terms of such
acquisition with such persons) prior to the earlier of the public announcement
of such acquisition, the consummation thereof or the execution by Parent of a
definitive written agreement obligating Parent (subject to 

                                     -40-
<PAGE>
 
customary conditions) to consummate such acquisition. In addition, during the
period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the
termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms or the Effective Time,
except as permitted by the terms of this Agreement and except as provided in
Section 4.2 of the Parent Schedules, without the prior written consent of
Company, during the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until
the earlier of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms or the
Effective Time, Parent shall not do any of the following:

            (a)  Declare, set aside or pay any dividends on or make any other
distributions (whether in cash, stock, equity securities or property) in respect
of any capital stock or split, combine or reclassify any capital stock or issue
or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or
in substitution for any capital stock;

            (b)  Take any action that would be reasonably likely to interfere
with Parent's ability to account for the Merger as a pooling of interests; or

            (c)  Acquire or enter into any agreement to acquire a majority of
the voting securities or all or substantially all of the assets of any
corporation or other business entity (other than Company), whether by merger,
consolidation, stock tender or otherwise, unless the Board of Directors of
Parent determines in good faith that consummation of such transaction and
subsequent integration of the business proposed to be acquired, when considered
in light of the integration of operations of Parent and Company following the
Merger, would be in the best interests of Parent and the stockholders of Parent
following the Merger;

            (d)  Cause, permit or propose any amendments to its Certificate of
Incorporation, Bylaws or other charter documents; or

            (e)  Agree in writing or otherwise to take any of the actions
described in Section 4.1(a) through (d) above.


                                   ARTICLE V
                             ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

      5.1   Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus; Registration Statement; Other
            ---------------------------------------------------------------
Filings; Board Recommendations.
- ------------------------------ 

            (a)  As promptly as practicable after the execution of this
Agreement, Company and Parent will prepare, and file with the SEC, the Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus and Parent will prepare and file with the SEC the
Registration
                                     -41-
<PAGE>
 
Statement in which the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be included as a
prospectus. Each of Company and Parent will respond to any comments of the SEC,
will use its respective commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration
Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable
after such filing and each of Company and Parent will cause the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus to be mailed to its stockholders at the earliest
practicable time after the Registration Statement is declared effective by the
SEC. As promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement, each of
Company and Parent will prepare and file any other filings required to be filed
by it under the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or any other Federal, foreign
or Blue Sky or related laws relating to the Merger and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the "OTHER FILINGS"). Each of Company and Parent
will notify the other promptly upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or
its staff or any other government officials and of any request by the SEC or its
staff or any other government officials for amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement, the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any Other Filing
or for additional information and will supply the other with copies of all
correspondence between such party or any of its representatives, on the one
hand, and the SEC, or its staff or any other government officials, on the other
hand, with respect to the Registration Statement, the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus, the Merger or any Other Filing. Each of Company and Parent
will cause all documents that it is responsible for filing with the SEC or other
regulatory authorities under this Section 5.1(a) to comply in all material
respects with all applicable requirements of law and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder. Whenever any event occurs which is required to be set
forth in an amendment or supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the
Registration Statement or any Other Filing, Company or Parent, as the case may
be, will promptly inform the other of such occurrence and cooperate in filing
with the SEC or its staff or any other government officials, and/or mailing to
stockholders of Company, such amendment or supplement.

            (b)  The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will include the
recommendation of the Board of Directors of Company in favor of adoption and
approval of this Agreement and approval of the Merger, except to the extent that
the Board of Directors of Company shall have withdrawn or modified its approval
of this Agreement or the Merger in accordance with Section 5.4(a)(ii).

            (c)  The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will include the
recommendation of the Board of Directors of Parent in favor of approval of
issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to the Merger, except that
the Board of Directors of Parent may withdraw, modify or refrain from making
such recommendation to the extent that such Board determines, in good faith,
after consultation with outside legal counsel, that compliance with the Board's
fiduciary duties would require it to do so.

                                     -42-
<PAGE>
 
      5.2   Meetings of Stockholders.  Promptly after the date hereof, each of
            ------------------------                                          
Company and Parent will take all action necessary in accordance with the
Delaware Law and its Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to convene the
Company Stockholders' Meeting or the Parent Stockholders' Meeting, respectively,
to be held as promptly as practicable, and in any event (to the extent
permissible under applicable law) within 45 days after the declaration of
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, for the purpose of voting upon this
Agreement and the Merger or the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock
pursuant to the Merger, respectively.  Company will use its commercially
reasonable efforts to solicit from its stockholders proxies in favor of the
adoption and approval of this Agreement and the approval of the Merger and will
take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of
its stockholders required by the rules of Nasdaq or Delaware Law to obtain such
approvals, except to the extent that the Board of Directors of Company shall
have withdrawn or modified its approval of this Agreement or the Merger in
accordance with Section 5.4(a)(ii).  Parent will use its commercially reasonable
efforts to solicit from its stockholders proxies in favor of approval of
issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to the Merger and will take
all other action necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of its
stockholders required by the rules of Nasdaq or Delaware Law to obtain such
approvals, except to the extent that the Board of Directors of Parent shall have
withdrawn or modified its approval of such matters in accordance with Section
5.1(c).  Company will consult with Parent and use its commercially reasonable
efforts to hold the Company Stockholders' Meeting on the same day and at the
same time as the Parent Stockholders' Meeting.

      5.3   Confidentiality; Access to Information.
            -------------------------------------- 

            (a)  The parties acknowledge that Company and Parent have previously
executed a Confidentiality Agreement], dated as of on or about September 12,
1997 (the "CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT"), which Confidentiality Agreement will
continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

            (b)  Access to Information.  Each of Company and Parent will afford
                 ---------------------
the other and the other's accountants, counsel and other representatives
reasonable access during normal business hours to its properties, books, records
and personnel during the period prior to the Effective Time to obtain all
information concerning its business, including the status of product development
efforts, properties, results of operations and personnel, as such other party
may reasonably request. No information or knowledge obtained by any party hereto
in any investigation pursuant to this Section 5.3 will affect or be deemed to
modify any representation or warranty contained herein or the conditions to the
obligations of the parties to consummate the Merger.

      5.4   No Solicitation.
            --------------- 
                                     -43-
<PAGE>
 
            (a)  Obligations of Company.
                 ---------------------- 

                 (i)    From and after the date of this Agreement until the
earlier of the Effective Time or termination of this Agreement pursuant to its
terms Company and its subsidiaries will not, nor will they authorize or permit
any of their respective officers, directors or employees or any investment
banker, attorney or other advisor or representative retained by any of them to,
directly or indirectly, (x) solicit, initiate or encourage the submission of any
Alternative Proposal (as hereinafter defined) or (y) participate in any
discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any non-public
information with respect to, or take any other action to facilitate any
inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes or would reasonably be
expected to lead to, any Alternative Proposal; provided, however, that if, at
                                               --------  -------
any time prior to obtaining the approval of the stockholders of Company of this
Agreement and the Merger by the requisite vote under applicable law (the
"STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL") the Board of Directors of Company determines in good
faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that it is necessary to do
so in order to comply with its fiduciary duties to Company's stockholders under
applicable law, Company may, in response to an Alternative Proposal that was
unsolicited or that did not otherwise result from a breach of this Section
5.4(a), and subject to compliance with Section 5.4(a)(iii) and Section
5.4(a)(v), furnish information with respect to Company and participate in
negotiations regarding such Alternative Proposal. Company and its subsidiaries
will immediately cease any and all existing activities, discussions or
negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with respect to any
Alternative Proposal. Without limiting the foregoing, it is understood that any
violation of the restrictions set forth in the preceding two sentences by any
officer, director or employee of Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
investment banker, attorney or other advisor or representative of Company or any
of its subsidiaries shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.4(a) by
Company. For purposes of this Agreement, "ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL" means any
inquiry, proposal or offer from any person or "group" (as defined under Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder) relating to
any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase of a substantial amount of assets
of Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than the purchase of Company's
products in the ordinary course of business) or more than a 10% interest in the
total outstanding voting securities of Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any person or
"group" (as defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder) beneficially owning 10% or more of the total outstanding
voting securities of Company or any of its subsidiaries or any merger,
consolidation, business combination, sale of substantially all the assets,
recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving
Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.

                                     -44-
<PAGE>
 
                 (ii)   Neither the Board of Directors of Company nor any
committee thereof shall (x) withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw
or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent or Merger Sub, the approval or
recommendation by such Board of Directors or any such committee of this
Agreement or the Merger or (y) cause Company to enter into any letter of intent,
agreement in principle, acquisition agreement or other similar agreement (an
"ACQUISITION AGREEMENT") with respect to any Alternative Proposal. In addition,
subject to the other provisions of this Section 5.4(a), from and after the date
of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and termination of
this Agreement pursuant to its terms, Company and its subsidiaries will not, nor
will they authorize or permit any of their respective officers, directors or
employees or any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or representative
retained by any of them to, directly or indirectly, make or authorize any public
statement, recommendation or solicitation in support of any Alternative
Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else contained in this
Agreement, prior to obtaining the Stockholder Approval, the Board of Directors
of Company, to the extent it determines in good faith, after consultation with
outside legal counsel, that it is necessary to do so in order to comply with its
fiduciary duties to Company's stockholders under applicable law, may withdraw or
modify its approval or recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger (and, to
the extent it does so, Company may refrain from soliciting proxies to secure the
vote of its stockholders as may otherwise be required by Section 5.2) or approve
or recommend any Superior Proposal (as hereinafter defined), in each case at any
time after the third business day following Parent's receipt of bona fide
written notice (a "NOTICE OF SUPERIOR PROPOSAL") advising Parent that the Board
of Directors of Company has received a Superior Proposal, specifying the
material terms and conditions of the Superior Proposal and identifying the
person making such Superior Proposal (it being understood that any amendment to
the price or material terms of a Superior Proposal shall require an additional
Notice of Superior Proposal and an additional three business day period
thereafter to the extent permitted under applicable law); provided, that unless
                                                          --------
this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7.1, nothing contained in this
Section shall limit Company's obligation to hold and convene the Company
Stockholders' Meeting (regardless of whether the recommendation of the Board of
Directors of Company shall have been withdrawn, modified or not yet made) or to
provide Company stockholders with material information relating to such meeting.
For purposes of this Agreement, a "SUPERIOR PROPOSAL" means any bona fide
proposal made by a third party to acquire, directly or indirectly, including
pursuant to a tender offer, exchange offer, merger, consolidation, business
combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction,
for consideration consisting of cash and/or securities, more than 50% of the
voting power of Company Common Stock or all or substantially all the assets of
Company and otherwise on terms which the Board of Directors of Company
determines in its good faith judgment (after consultation with a financial
advisor of nationally recognized reputation) to be more favorable to Company's
stockholders than the
                                     -45-
<PAGE>
 
Merger and for which financing, to the extent required, is then committed or
which, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of Company, is
capable of being obtained by such third party.

                 (iii)  In addition to the obligations of Company set forth in
paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 5.4(a), Company as promptly as
practicable shall advise Parent orally and in writing of any request for non-
public information which Company reasonably believes would lead to an
Alternative Proposal or of any Alternative Proposal, the material terms and
conditions of such request or Alternative Proposal, and the identity of the
person making any such request, Alternative Proposal or inquiry.  Company will
keep Parent informed in all material respects of the status and details
(including material amendments) of any such request or Alternative Proposal.

                 (iv)   Nothing contained in this Section 5.4(a) or elsewhere in
this Agreement shall prohibit Company from (x) taking and disclosing to its
stockholders a position contemplated by Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated
under the Exchange Act or (y) making any disclosure to Company's stockholders
if, in the good faith judgment of the majority of the members of the Board of
Directors of Company, after consultation with independent legal counsel, failure
to so disclose would be inconsistent with applicable laws; provided that none of
                                                           --------
Company nor its Board of Directors nor any committee thereof shall, except in
accordance with the provisions of Section 5.4(a)(ii), withdraw or modify, or
publicly propose to withdraw or modify, its position with respect to this
Agreement or the Merger or approve or recommend, or propose to approve or
recommend, an Alternative Proposal.

                 (v)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section
5.4(a), Company will not provide any non-public information to a third party
unless: (x) Company provides such non-public information pursuant to a
nondisclosure agreement with terms regarding the protection of confidential
information at least as restrictive as such terms in the Confidentiality
Agreement; and (y) such non-public information has been previously or is
contemporaneously delivered to Parent.

            (b)  Obligations of Parent.  From and after the date of this
                 ---------------------
Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time or termination of this
Agreement pursuant to its terms, Parent and its subsidiaries will not, nor will
they authorize or permit any of their respective officers, directors or
employees or any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or representative
retained by any of them to, directly or indirectly, (x) solicit, initiate or
encourage the submission of any Parent Proposal (as hereinafter defined) or (y)
participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any
person any non-public information with respect to, or take any other action to
facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes or

                                     -46-
<PAGE>
 
would reasonably be expected to lead to, any Parent Proposal; provided, however,
                                                              --------  -------
that if the Board of Directors of Parent determines in good faith, after
consultation with outside legal counsel, that it is necessary to do so in order
to comply with its fiduciary duties to Parent's stockholders under applicable
law, Parent may, in response to a Parent Proposal that was unsolicited or that
did not otherwise result from a breach of this Section 5.4(b), furnish
information with respect to Parent and participate in negotiations regarding
such Parent Proposal. Parent and its subsidiaries will immediately cease any and
all existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted
heretofore with respect to any Parent Proposal. In addition, nothing contained
in this Section 5.4(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall prohibit Parent from
(x) taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated by Rules
14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or (y) making any
disclosure to Parent's stockholders if, in the good faith judgment of the
majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Parent, after consultation
with independent legal counsel, failure to so disclose would be inconsistent
with applicable laws. Without limiting the foregoing, it is understood that any
violation of the restrictions set forth in the first two sentences of this
Section 5.4(b) by any officer, director or employee of Parent or any of its
subsidiaries or any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or
representative of Parent or any of its subsidiaries shall be deemed to be a
breach of this Section 5.4(b) by Parent. For purposes of this Agreement, "PARENT
PROPOSAL" means any proposal made by a third party to consummate any of the
following transactions or series of related transactions (other than the
Merger): (i) a merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization,
liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving Parent pursuant to
which the stockholders of Parent immediately preceding such transaction or
series of related transactions hold less than 60% of the equity interests in the
surviving or resulting entity of such transaction or transactions (without
respect to any overlap in the companies' stockholder bases); (ii) a sale or
other disposition by Parent of assets (excluding inventory and used equipment
sold in the ordinary course of business) representing in excess of 40% of the
fair market value of Parent's business immediately prior to such sale; or (iii)
the acquisition by any person or group (including by way of a tender offer or an
exchange offer or issuance by Parent), directly or indirectly, of beneficial
ownership or a right to acquire beneficial ownership of 40% or more of the then
outstanding shares of capital stock of Parent.

      5.5   Public Disclosure.  Parent and Company will consult with each other,
            -----------------                                                   
and to the extent practicable, agree, before issuing any press release or
otherwise making any public statement with respect to the Merger, this Agreement
or an Alternative Proposal and will not issue any such press release or make any
such public statement prior to such consultation, except as may be required by
law or any listing agreement with a national securities exchange.  The parties
have agreed to the text of the joint press release announcing the signing of
this Agreement.

                                     -47-
<PAGE>
 
      5.6   Reasonable Efforts; Notification.
            -------------------------------- 

            (a)  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, each of the parties agrees to use reasonable efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, such actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist
and cooperate with the other parties in doing, such things as are necessary,
proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, as expeditiously as
reasonably practicable, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, including using reasonable efforts to accomplish the following:
(i) the taking of such reasonable acts as are necessary to cause the conditions
precedent set forth in Article VI to be satisfied, (ii) the obtaining of all
necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, consents, approvals, orders and
authorizations from Governmental Entities and the making of all necessary
registrations, declarations and filings (including registrations, declarations
and filings with Governmental Entities, if any) and the taking of such
reasonable steps as may be necessary to avoid any suit, claim, action,
investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, (iii) the obtaining of
all necessary consents, approvals or waivers from third parties, (iv) the
defending of any suits, claims, actions, investigations or proceedings, whether
judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby, including seeking to have any stay or
temporary restraining order entered by any court or other Governmental Entity
vacated or reversed and (v) the execution or delivery of any additional
instruments necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by, and to
fully carry out the purposes of, this Agreement.  In connection with and without
limiting the foregoing, Company and its Board of Directors shall, if any state
takeover statute or similar statute or regulation is or becomes applicable to
the Merger, this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, use reasonable efforts to ensure that the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be consummated as promptly as
practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to
minimize the effect of such statute or regulation on the Merger, this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby.  Notwithstanding anything herein to
the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to require Parent or
Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof to agree to any divestiture by
itself or any of its affiliates of shares of capital stock or of any business,
assets or property, or the imposition of any material limitation on the ability
of any of them to conduct their businesses or to own or exercise control of such
assets, properties and stock.

            (b)  Company shall give prompt notice to Parent of any
representation or warranty made by it contained in this Agreement becoming
untrue or inaccurate, or any failure of Company to comply with or satisfy in any
material respect any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or
satisfied by it under this Agreement, in each case, such that the conditions set
forth in Section 6.3(a) or 6.3(b) would not be satisfied, provided, however,
                                                          --------  -------
that no such notification shall 

                                     -48-
<PAGE>
 
affect the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the parties
or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement.

            (c)  Parent shall give prompt notice to Company of any
representation or warranty made by it or Merger Sub contained in this Agreement
becoming untrue or inaccurate, or any failure of Parent or Merger Sub to comply
with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition or agreement to
be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement, in each case, such
that the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a) or 6.2(b) would not be
satisfied, provided, however, that no such notification shall affect the
           --------  -------
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the parties or the
conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement.

      5.7   Third Party Consents.  As soon as reasonably practicable following
            --------------------
the date hereof, Parent and Company will each use its commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain any material consents, waivers and approvals under any of its
or its subsidiaries' respective agreements, contracts, licenses or leases
required to be obtained in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.

      5.8   Stock Options and Employee Benefits.
            ----------------------------------- 

            (a)  At the Effective Time, each outstanding option to purchase
shares of Company Common Stock (each a "COMPANY STOCK OPTION") under the Company
Stock Option Plans, whether or not exercisable, will be assumed by Parent. Each
Company Stock Option so assumed by Parent under this Agreement will continue to
have, and be subject to, the same terms and conditions set forth in the
applicable Company Stock Option Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time
(including, without limitation, any repurchase rights or vesting provisions),
except that (i) each Company Stock Option will be exercisable (or will become
exercisable in accordance with its terms) for that number of whole shares of
Parent Common Stock equal to the product of the number of shares of Company
Common Stock that were issuable upon exercise of such Company Stock Option
immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the Exchange Ratio,
rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares of Parent Common Stock and
(ii) the per share exercise price for the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of such assumed Company Stock Option will be equal to the quotient
determined by dividing the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock at
which such Company Stock Option was exercisable immediately prior to the
Effective Time by the Exchange Ratio, rounded up to the nearest whole cent.

            (b)  It is intended that Company Stock Options assumed by Parent
shall qualify following the Effective Time as incentive stock options as defined
in Section 422 of the Code to the extent Company Stock Options qualified as
incentive 

                                     -49-
<PAGE>
 
stock options immediately prior to the Effective Time and the provisions of this
Section 5.8 shall be applied consistent with such intent.

            (c)  Rights outstanding under the ESPP shall be treated in a manner
reasonably acceptable to Parent and Company, provided that in no event shall any
such treatment interfere with Parent's ability to account for the Merger as a
pooling of interests.

            (d)  Parent will reserve sufficient shares of Parent Common Stock
for issuance under Section 5.8 and under Section 1.6(c) hereof.

      5.9   Form S-8.  Parent agrees to file a registration statement on Form S-
            --------
8 for the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable with respect to assumed Company
Stock Options within five days after the Effective Time and shall use its
commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such
registration statement thereafter for as long as any of such options or other
rights remain outstanding.

      5.10  Indemnification.
            --------------- 

            (a)  From and after the Effective Time, Parent will fulfill and
honor and will cause the Surviving Corporation to fulfill and honor in all
respects the obligations of Company pursuant to any indemnification agreements
between Company and its directors and officers as of the Effective Time (the
"INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") and any indemnification provisions under Company's
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws as in effect on the date hereof. The
Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Surviving Corporation will
contain provisions with respect to exculpation and indemnification that are at
least as favorable to the Indemnified Parties as those contained in the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Company as in effect on the date
hereof, which provisions will not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for
a period of six years from the Effective Time in any manner that would adversely
affect the rights thereunder of individuals who, immediately prior to the
Effective Time, were directors, officers, employees or agents of Company, unless
such modification is required by law.

            (b)  For a period of six years after the Effective Time, Parent will
maintain or cause the Surviving Corporation to maintain in effect, if available,
directors' and officers' liability insurance covering those persons who are
currently covered by Company's directors' and officers' liability insurance
policy on terms comparable to those applicable to the current directors and
officers of  Company; provided, however, that in no event will Parent or the
                      --------  -------                                     
Surviving Corporation be required to expend in excess of 150% of the annual
premium currently paid by Company for such coverage (or such coverage as is
available for such 150% of such annual premium).

                                     -50-
<PAGE>
 
      5.11  Nasdaq Listing.  Parent agrees to use its commercially reasonable
            --------------                                                   
efforts to cause to be authorized for listing on Nasdaq prior to the Effective
Time the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable, and those required to be
reserved for issuance, in connection with the Merger, upon official notice of
issuance.

      5.12  Affiliate Agreements.
            -------------------- 

            (a)  Set forth on the Company Schedules is a list of those persons
who may be deemed to be, in Company's reasonable judgment, affiliates of Company
within the meaning of Rule 145 promulgated under the Securities Act (each a
"COMPANY AFFILIATE"). Company will provide Parent with such information and
documents as Parent reasonably requests for purposes of reviewing such list.
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver or cause to be
delivered to Parent, as promptly as practicable on or following the date hereof,
from each Company Affiliate an executed affiliate agreement in substantially the
form attached hereto as Exhibit B-1 (the "COMPANY AFFILIATE AGREEMENT"), each of
                        -----------                                             
which will be in full force and effect as of the Effective Time.  Parent will be
entitled to place appropriate legends on the certificates evidencing any Parent
Common Stock to be received by a Company Affiliate pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement, and to issue appropriate stop transfer instructions to the transfer
agent for the Parent Common Stock, consistent with the terms of the Company
Affiliate Agreement.

            (b)  Set forth on the Parent Schedules is a list of those persons
who may be deemed to be, in Parent's reasonable judgment, affiliates of Parent
(each a "PARENT AFFILIATE"). Parent will provide Company with such information
and documents as Parent reasonably requests for purposes of reviewing such list.
Parent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver or cause to be
delivered to Company, as promptly as practicable on or following the date
hereof, from each Parent Affiliate an executed affiliate agreement in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B-2 (the "PARENT AFFILIATE
                                          -----------                       
AGREEMENT"), each of which will be in full force and effect as of the Effective
Time.

      5.13  Regulatory Filings; Reasonable Efforts.  As soon as may be
            --------------------------------------
reasonably practicable, Company and Parent each shall file with the United
States Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") and the Antitrust Division of the
United States Department of Justice ("DOJ") Notification and Report Forms
relating to the transactions contemplated herein as required by the HSR Act, as
well as comparable pre-merger notification forms required by the merger
notification or control laws and regulations of any applicable jurisdiction, as
reasonably agreed to by the parties. Company and Parent each shall promptly (a)
supply the other with any information which may be required in order to
effectuate such filings and (b) supply any additional information which
reasonably may be required by the FTC, the DOJ or the

                                     -51-
<PAGE>
 
competition or merger control authorities of any other jurisdiction and which
the parties may reasonably deem appropriate.

      5.14  Board of Directors of Parent Following the Merger.  The Board of
            -------------------------------------------------               
Directors of Parent will take all actions within its power to cause the Board of
Directors of Parent, effective no later than one day following the Effective
Time, to consist of five persons, one of whom shall be Leslie G. Denend (who
shall retain his present position as a Class II director), one of whom will be
Harry J. Saal (who shall be offered a position as a Class II director) and the
remaining three of whom shall have served on the Board of Directors of Parent
immediately prior to the Effective Time.  If, prior to the Effective Time, any
of the foregoing designees shall decline or be unable to serve as a director,
Company (if such person is Leslie Denend or Harry Saal) or Parent (in all other
cases) shall designate another person to serve in such person's stead, which
person shall be reasonably acceptable to the other party.


                                  ARTICLE VI
                           CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER

     6.1    Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger.  The
            ------------------------------------------------------------      
respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to effect the Merger
shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing Date of the
following conditions:

            (a)  Company Stockholder Approval.  This Agreement shall have been
                 ----------------------------                                 
approved and adopted, and the Merger shall have been duly approved, by the
requisite vote under applicable law, by the stockholders of Company.

            (b)  Parent Stockholder Approval.  The issuance of shares of Parent
                 ---------------------------                                   
Common Stock pursuant to the Merger shall have been duly approved by the
requisite vote under applicable law by the stockholders of Parent.

            (c)  Registration Statement Effective; Proxy Statement.  The SEC
                 -------------------------------------------------   
shall have declared the Registration Statement effective. No stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof
shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose, and no similar
proceeding in respect of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, shall have been
initiated or threatened in writing by the SEC.

            (d)  No Order; HSR Act.  No Governmental Entity shall have enacted,
                 -----------------                                             
issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any statute, rule, regulation,
executive order, decree, injunction or other order (whether temporary,
preliminary or permanent) which is in effect and which has the effect of making
the Merger illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger.  All
waiting periods, if any, 

                                     -52-
<PAGE>
 
under the HSR Act relating to the transactions contemplated hereby will have
expired or terminated early and all material foreign antitrust approvals
required to be obtained prior to the Merger in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby shall have been obtained.

            (e)  Tax Opinions.  Parent and Company shall each have received
                 ------------
written opinions from their respective tax counsel (Wilson Sonsini Goodrich &
Rosati, Professional Corporation, and Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich, a
Professional Corporation, respectively), in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to them, to the effect that the Merger will constitute a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and such
opinions shall not have been withdrawn; provided, however, that if the counsel
                                        --------  -------
to either Parent or Company does not render such opinion, this condition shall
nonetheless be deemed to be satisfied with respect to such party if counsel to
the other party renders such opinion to such party. The parties to this
Agreement agree to make and use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause
their shareholders to make such reasonable representations as requested by such
counsel for the purpose of rendering such opinions.

            (f)  Opinion of Accountants.  Each of Parent and Company shall have
                 ----------------------                                        
received letters from each of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.  and Arthur Andersen LLP,
respectively, dated within two (2) business days prior to the Effective Time,
regarding that firm's concurrence with Parent's management's and Company's
management's conclusions as to the appropriateness of pooling of interest
accounting for the Merger under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 16, if
the Merger is consummated in accordance with this Agreement.

            (g)  Nasdaq Listing.  The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued
                 --------------
to Company stockholders pursuant to the Merger shall have been approved for
listing on Nasdaq upon notice of issuance.

     6.2    Additional Conditions to Obligations of Company.  The obligation of
            -----------------------------------------------                    
Company to consummate and effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction
at or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions, any of
which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by Company:

            (a)  Representations and Warranties. The representations and
                 ------------------------------
warranties of Parent and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement (i) shall have
been true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement
and (ii) shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the
Closing Date except for changes contemplated by this Agreement and except for
those representations and warranties which address matters only as of a
particular date (which shall have been true and correct as of such particular
date), with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date,
except, with regard to the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), 

                                     -53-
<PAGE>
 
in such cases (other than the representations in Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.16 and
3.18) where the failure to be so true and correct would not have or be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. Company shall
have received a certificate with respect to the foregoing signed on behalf of
Parent by an authorized officer of Parent.

            (b)  Agreements and Covenants.  Parent and Merger Sub shall have
                 ------------------------                                   
performed or complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants
required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by them on or prior
to the Closing Date, and Company shall have received a certificate to such
effect signed on behalf of Parent by an authorized officer of Parent.

            (c)  Material Adverse Effect.  No Material Adverse Effect with
                 -----------------------
respect to Parent shall have occurred since the date of this Agreement or be
reasonably likely to occur.

            (d)  Affiliate Agreements.  Each of the Parent Affiliates shall have
                 --------------------                                           
entered into the Parent Affiliate Agreement and each of such agreements will be
in full force and effect as of the Effective Time.

            (e)  Certain Actions.  The Board of Directors of Parent shall have
                 ---------------                                              
complied in all material respects with the provisions of Section 5.14 hereof.

            (f)  Consents.  Parent shall have obtained all consents, waivers and
                 --------                                                       
approvals required in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby in connection with the agreements, contracts, licenses or
leases set forth on Section 6.2 of the Company Schedules.

     6.3    Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. 
            -----------------------------------------------------------------
The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate and effect the Merger
shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing Date of each of
the following conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by
Parent:

            (a)  Representations and Warranties. The representations and
                 ------------------------------
warranties of Company contained in this Agreement (i) shall have been true and
correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) shall
be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date
except for changes contemplated by this Agreement and except for those
representations and warranties which address matters only as of a particular
date (which shall have been true and correct as of such particular date), with
the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date, except, with
regard to the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), in such cases (other than the
representations in Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.20 and 2.21) where the failure to be so
true and correct would not have or be reasonably likely to have a 

                                     -54-
<PAGE>
 
Material Adverse Effect on Company. Parent shall have received a certificate
with respect to the foregoing signed on behalf of Company by an authorized
officer of Company.

            (b)  Agreements and Covenants.  Company shall have performed or
                 ------------------------                                  
complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants required by
this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing
Date, and Parent shall have received a certificate to such effect signed on
behalf of Company by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer
of Company.

            (c)  Material Adverse Effect.  No Material Adverse Effect with
                 -----------------------
respect to Company shall have occurred since the date of this Agreement or be
reasonably likely to occur.

            (d)  Affiliate Agreements.  Each of the Company Affiliates shall
                 --------------------
have entered into the Company Affiliate Agreement and each of such agreements
will be in full force and effect as of the Effective Time.

            (e)  Consents.  Company shall have obtained all consents, waivers
                 --------
and approvals required in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby in connection with the agreements, contracts, licenses or
leases set forth on Section 6.3(e) of the Parent Schedules.


                                  ARTICLE VII
                       TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

     7.1    Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to
            -----------                                                        
the Effective Time, whether before or after the requisite approvals of the
stockholders of Company or Parent:

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

            (b)  by either Company or Parent if the Merger shall not have been
consummated by March 31, 1998 for any reason; provided, however, that the right
                                              --------  -------                
to terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(b) shall not be available to
any party whose action or failure to act has been a principal cause of or
resulted in the failure of the Merger to occur on or before such date and such
action or failure to act constitutes a breach of this Agreement;

            (c)  by either Company or Parent if a Governmental Entity shall have
issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action, in any case 

                                     -55-
<PAGE>
 
having the effect of permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting
the Merger, which order, decree, ruling or other action is final and
nonappealable;

            (d)  by either Company or Parent if the required approvals of the
stockholders of Company contemplated by this Agreement shall not have been
obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at a meeting of
Company stockholders duly convened therefor or at any adjournment thereof
(provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(d)
 --------                                                                     
shall not be available to Company where the failure to obtain Company
stockholder approval shall have been caused by the action or failure to act of
Company and such action or failure to act constitutes a breach by Company of
this Agreement);

            (e)  by either Company or Parent if the required approval of the
stockholders of Parent contemplated by this Agreement shall not have been
obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at a meeting of
Parent stockholders duly convened therefor or at any adjournment thereof
(provided that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(e)
 --------                                                                     
shall not be available to Parent where the failure to obtain Parent stockholder
approval shall have been caused by the action or failure to act of Parent and
such action or failure to act constitutes a material breach by Parent of this
Agreement);

            (f)  by Parent if (i) the Board of Directors of Company or any
committee thereof shall have withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse to Parent
its approval or recommendation of the Merger or this Agreement, (ii) Company
shall have failed to include in the Joint/Proxy Statement/Prospectus the
recommendation of the Board of Directors of Company in favor of approval of the
Merger and this Agreement, (iii) the Board of Directors of Company shall have
failed to reconfirm such recommendation within ten business days after a written
request to do so at any time following the public announcement or disclosure of
an Alternative Proposal (iv) the Board of Directors of Company or any committee
thereof shall have recommended any Alternative Proposal or (v)  the Board of
Directors of Company or any committee thereof shall have resolved to do any of
the foregoing;

            (g)  by Company if (i) the Board of Directors of Parent or any
committee thereof shall have withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse to
Company its recommendation of approval of the issuance of shares of Parent
Common Stock pursuant to the Merger, (ii) Parent shall have failed to include in
the Joint/Proxy Statement/Prospectus the recommendation of the Board of
Directors of Parent in favor of approval of the issuance of shares of Parent
Common Stock pursuant to the Merger, (iii) the Board of Directors of Parent
shall have failed to reconfirm such recommendation within ten business days
after a written request to do so at any time following the public announcement
or disclosure of a Parent Contingent Proposal (as 

                                     -56-
<PAGE>
 
defined in Section 7.3(d)) or (iv) the Board of Directors of Parent or any
committee thereof shall have resolved to do any of the foregoing;

            (h)  by Company at any time prior to the approval of the Merger by
Company's stockholders and following the earlier of (i) three days following the
date the Registration Statement is declared effective pursuant to the Securities
Act by the SEC or (ii) sixty days following the date hereof, if the Board of
Directors of Company recommends a Superior Proposal to the stockholders of
Company;

            (i)  by Company, upon a breach of any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement on the part of Parent set forth in this Agreement, or if
any representation or warranty of Parent shall have become untrue, in either
case such that the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a) or Section 6.2(b)
would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or as of the time such
representation or warranty shall have become untrue, provided that Company may
                                                     --------                 
not terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(i) if such inaccuracy in
Parent's representations and warranties or breach by Parent is curable by Parent
through the exercise of its commercially reasonable efforts prior to March 31,
1998, provided Parent continues to exercise commercially reasonable efforts to
cure such breach (it being understood that Company may not terminate this
Agreement pursuant to this paragraph (i) if it shall have materially breached
this Agreement or if such breach by Parent is cured prior to March 31, 1998); or

            (j)  by Parent, upon a breach of any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement on the part of Company set forth in this Agreement, or if
any representation or warranty of Company shall have become untrue, in either
case such that the conditions set forth in Section 6.3(a) or Section 6.3(b)
would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or as of the time such
representation or warranty shall have become untrue, provided, that Parent may
                                                     --------
not terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(j) if such inaccuracy in
Company's representations and warranties or breach by Company is curable by
Company through the exercise of its commercially reasonable efforts prior to
March 31, 1998, provided Company continues to exercise commercially reasonable
efforts to cure such breach (it being understood that Parent may not terminate
this Agreement pursuant to this paragraph (j) if it shall have materially
breached this Agreement or if such breach by Company is cured prior to March 31,
1998).

     7.2    Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination.  Any termination of
            --------------------------------------------
this Agreement under Section 7.1 above will be effective immediately upon the
delivery of written notice of the terminating party to the other parties hereto.
In the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 7.1,
this Agreement shall be of no further force or effect, except (i) as set forth
in this Section 7.2, Section 7.3 and Article 8 (miscellaneous), each of which
shall survive the termination of this 

                                     -57-
<PAGE>
 
Agreement, and (ii) nothing herein shall relieve any party from liability for
any willful breach of this Agreement. No termination of this Agreement shall
affect the obligations of the parties contained in the Confidentiality
Agreement, all of which obligations shall survive termination of this Agreement
in accordance with their terms.

     7.3    Fees and Expenses.
            ----------------- 

            (a)  General.  Except as set forth in this Section 7.3, all fees and
                 -------                                                        
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses whether
or not the Merger is consummated; provided, however, that Parent and Company
                                  --------  -------                         
shall share equally all fees and expenses, other than attorneys' and accountants
fees and expenses, incurred in relation to the printing and filing (with the
SEC) of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (including any preliminary
materials related thereto) and the Registration Statement (including financial
statements and exhibits) and any amendments or supplements thereto.

            (b)  Company Payments.  In the event that this Agreement is
                 ----------------
terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 7.1(f) or Company pursuant to Section
7.1(h), Company shall promptly, but in no event later than two days after the
date of such termination, pay Parent a fee equal to $30 million in immediately
available funds (the "COMPANY TERMINATION FEE"). If this Agreement shall be
terminated by any party hereto pursuant to Section 7.1(d) and prior to such
termination an Alternative Proposal shall have been publicly announced or
otherwise publicly disclosed, and prior to the date 12 months following the date
of the termination of this Agreement either (i) a Company Acquisition (as
hereinafter defined) shall be consummated or (ii) Company shall enter into an
Acquisition Agreement providing for a Company Acquisition, then Company shall
pay to Parent the Company Termination Fee in immediately available funds in the
case of clause (i) concurrently with the consummation of such Company
Acquisition or in the case of clause (ii) one half of the Company Termination
Fee concurrently with the execution of such Acquisition Agreement and the
remaining half of the Company Termination Fee upon the consummation of any
Company Acquisition occurring with twelve months following such execution.
Company acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 7.3(b) are an
integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that,
without these agreements, Parent would not enter into this Agreement;
accordingly, if Company fails promptly to pay the amounts due pursuant to this
Section 7.3(b) , and, in order to obtain such payment, Parent commences a suit
which results in a judgment against Company for the amounts set forth in this
Section 7.3(b) and such judgment is not set aside or reversed, Company shall pay
to Parent its reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees and
expenses) in connection with such suit, together with interest on the amounts
set forth in this Section 7.3(b) at the prime rate of The Chase Manhattan Bank
in effect on the date 

                                     -58-
<PAGE>
 
such payment was required to be made. "COMPANY ACQUISITION" shall mean any of
the following transactions or series of related transactions: (i) a merger,
consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution
or similar transaction involving Company pursuant to which the stockholders of
Company immediately preceding such transaction or series of related transactions
hold less than 60% of the equity interests in the surviving or resulting entity
of such transaction or transactions (without respect to any overlap in the
companies' stockholder bases) (other than the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement); (ii) a sale or other disposition by Company of assets (excluding
inventory and used equipment sold in the ordinary course of business)
representing in excess of 40% of the fair market value of Company's business
immediately prior to such sale; or (iii) the acquisition by any person or group
(including by way of a tender offer or an exchange offer or issuance by
Company), directly or indirectly, of beneficial ownership or a right to acquire
beneficial ownership of 40% or more of the then outstanding shares of capital
stock of Company.

          (c)  Payment of the fees described in Section 7.3(b) above shall not
be in lieu of damages incurred in the event of material and willful breach of
this Agreement.

          (d)  Parent Payments.  In the event that this Agreement is terminated
               ---------------                                                 
by Company pursuant to Section 7.1(g), Parent shall promptly, but in no event
later than two days after the date of such termination, pay Company a fee equal
to $30 million in immediately available funds (the "PARENT TERMINATION FEE").
If this Agreement shall be terminated by any party hereto pursuant to Section
7.1(e) and prior to the time of the occurrence of the event entitling such party
to terminate this Agreement pursuant to such provision a Parent Contingent
Proposal shall have been publicly announced or otherwise publicly disclosed, and
prior to the date 12 months following the date of the termination of this
Agreement either (i) the transaction contemplated by such Parent Contingent
Proposal shall be consummated or (ii) Parent shall enter into a written
agreement providing for the consummation of the transaction contemplated by such
Parent Contingent Proposal, then Parent shall pay to Company the Parent
Termination Fee in immediately available funds, in the case of clause (i)
concurrently with the consummation of the transaction contemplated by such
Parent Contingent Proposal and in the case of clause (ii) one half of the Parent
Termination Fee concurrently with the execution of such agreement and the
remaining half of the Parent Termination Fee upon the consummation of the
transaction contemplated by such agreement.  Parent acknowledges that the
agreements contained in this Section 7.3(d) are an integral part of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these agreements,
Company would not enter into this Agreement; accordingly, if Parent fails
promptly to pay the amounts due pursuant to this Section 7.3(d), and, in order
to obtain such payment, Company commences a suit which results in a judgment
against Parent for the amounts set forth in this

                                     -59-
<PAGE>
 
Section 7.3(d) and such judgment is not set aside or reversed, Parent shall pay
to Company its reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees and
expenses) in connection with such suit, together with interest on the amounts
set forth in this Section 7.3(d) at the prime rate of The Chase Manhattan Bank
in effect on the date such payment was required to be made. Payment of the fees
described in this Section 7.3(d) shall not be in lieu of damages incurred in the
event of material and willful breach of this Agreement. "PARENT CONTINGENT
PROPOSAL" shall mean a Parent Proposal, which proposal is and is publicly
disclosed to be contingent upon the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock
pursuant to the Merger not being approved by the stockholders of Parent or the
Merger otherwise not being consummated.

      7.4   Amendment.  Subject to applicable law, this Agreement may be amended
            ---------                                                           
by the parties hereto at any time by execution of an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of each of Parent and Company.

      7.5   Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time any party
            -----------------
hereto may, to the extent legally allowed, (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 made to such
party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (iii)
waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of
such party 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. Delay in exercising any right under this
Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right.


                                  ARTICLE VII
                              GENERAL PROVISIONS

      8.1   Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties.  The representations
            ----------------------------------------------                      
and warranties of Company, Parent and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement
shall terminate at the Effective Time, and only the covenants that by their
terms survive the Effective Time (such as those set forth in Section 5.10) shall
survive the Effective Time.

      8.2   Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
            -------                                                             
writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or by commercial
delivery service, or sent via telecopy (receipt confirmed) to the parties at the
following addresses or telecopy numbers (or at such other address or telecopy
numbers for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

                                     -60-
<PAGE>
 
                    (a)  if to Parent or Merger Sub, to:

                         McAfee Associates, Inc.                      
                         2710 Walsh Avenue                            
                         Santa Clara, California  95051-0963          
                         Attention: President                         
                         Telephone No.: (408) 988-3832                
                         Telecopy No.:  (408) 988-6054               
                                                                      
                         with a copy to:                              
                                                                      
                         Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.       
                         650 Page Mill Road                           
                         Palo Alto, California 94304-1050             
                         Attention: Jeff Saper, Esq.                 
                                    Marty Korman, Esq.                
                         Telephone No.: (650) 493-9300               
                         Telecopy No.:  (650) 493-6811               

                    (b)  if to Company, to:

                         Network General Corporation               
                         4200 Bohannon Drive                       
                         Menlo Park, California  94025             
                         Attention:  President                     
                         Telephone No.: (650) 473-2000            
                         Telecopy No.:  (650) 321-0878       
                                                                   
                         with a copy to:                           
                         Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich              
                         A Professional Corporation                
                         400 Hamilton Avenue                       
                         Palo Alto, California  94301-1825         
                         Attention:  Rod Howard, Esq.              
                         Telephone No.: (650) 328-6561            
                         Telecopy No.:  (650) 327-3699            

                                     -61-
<PAGE>
 
      8.3   Interpretation; Knowledge.
            ------------------------- 

            (a)  When a reference is made in this Agreement to Exhibits, such
reference shall be to an Exhibit to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.
When a reference is made in this Agreement to Sections, such reference shall be
to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  The words "INCLUDE,"
"INCLUDES" and "INCLUDING" when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be
followed by the words "without limitation."  The table of contents and headings
contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect
in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  When reference is
made herein to "THE BUSINESS OF" an entity, such reference shall be deemed to
include the business of all direct and indirect subsidiaries of such entity.
Reference to the subsidiaries of an entity shall be deemed to include all direct
and indirect subsidiaries of such entity.

            (b)  For purposes of this Agreement the term "KNOWLEDGE" means with
respect to a party hereto, with respect to any matter in question, that any of
the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Director
of Legal Affairs or Controller of such party, has actual knowledge of such
matter.

            (c)  For purposes of this Agreement, the term "MATERIAL ADVERSE
EFFECT" when used in connection with an entity means any change, event or effect
that is materially adverse to the business, assets (including intangible
assets), financial condition or results of operations of such entity and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole, except for those changes, events and effects that
(i) are directly and primarily caused by conditions affecting the United States
economy as a whole or affecting the industry in which such entity competes as a
whole, which conditions do not affect such entity in a disproportionate manner,
or (ii) are directly and primarily related to or result from announcement or
pendency of the Merger.

      8.4   Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
            ------------                                                
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the parties and delivered to the other party, it being understood that all
parties need not sign the same counterpart.

      8.5   Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the
            -------------------------------------------  
documents and instruments and other agreements among the parties hereto as
contemplated by or referred to herein, including the Company Schedules and the
Parent Schedules (a) constitute the entire agreement among the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof, it being understood that the Confidentiality Agreement
shall continue in full force and effect until the Closing and shall survive any
termination of this Agreement; and

                                     -62-
<PAGE>
 
(b)  are not intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies
hereunder, except as specifically provided in Section 5.10.

      8.6   Severability.  In the event that any provision of this Agreement or
            ------------                                                       
the application thereof, becomes or is declared by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this
Agreement will continue in full force and effect and the application of such
provision to other persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably
to effect the intent of the parties hereto.  The parties further agree to
replace such void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and
enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic,
business and other purposes of such void or unenforceable provision.

      8.7    Other Remedies; Specific Performance.  Except as otherwise provided
             ------------------------------------                               
herein, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a party will be
deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby,
or by law or equity upon such party, and the exercise by a party of any one
remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy.  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 seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent
breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions
hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, this
being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in
equity.

      8.8   Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
            -------------                                                       
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that
might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof.
Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any state
or federal court within the Northern District of California or the State of
Delaware, in connection with any matter based upon or arising out of this
Agreement or the matters contemplated herein, agrees that process may be served
upon them in any manner authorized by the laws of the State of California or the
State of Delaware, as is appropriate, for such persons and waives and covenants
not to assert or plead any objection which they might otherwise have to such
jurisdiction and such process.

      8.9   Rules of Construction.  The parties hereto agree that they have been
            ---------------------                                               
represented by counsel during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement
and, therefore, waive the application of any law, regulation, holding or rule of
construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will
be construed against the party drafting such agreement or document.

                                     -63-
<PAGE>
 
      8.10  Assignment.  No party may assign either this Agreement or any of its
            ----------                                                          
rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval
of  the other parties.  Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall
be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and permitted assigns.

      8.1   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH OF PARENT, COMPANY AND MERGER SUB HEREBY
            --------------------                                                
IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR
COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF PARENT, COMPANY OR MERGER SUB IN
THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.


                                     *****

                                     -64-
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized respective officers as of the date first
written above.


                              McAFEE ASSOCIATES, INC.


                              By:        /s/William L. Larson
                                         --------------------

                              Name:      William L. Larson
                                         -----------------

                              Title:     Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
                                         ------------------------------------



                              MYSTERY ACQUISITION CORP.


                              By:        /s/ Prabhat K. Goyal
                                         --------------------

                              Name:      Prabhat K. Goyal
                                         ----------------

                              Title:     President
                                         ---------



                              NETWORK GENERAL CORPORATION


                              By:        /s/Laurence R. Hootnick
                                         -----------------

                              Name:      Laurence R. Hootnick
                                         --------------

                              Title:     Director
                                         --------------

 


                      ****REORGANIZATION AGREEMENT****
<PAGE>
 
                    FIRST AMENDMENT, dated as of October 22, 1997 (the "First
               Amendment"), to the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as
               of October 13, 1997 (the "Reorganization Agreement") among McAfee
               Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), Mystery
               Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned
               subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), and Network General
               Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

     WHEREAS Parent, Merger Sub and the Company each desire to amend the
Reorganization Agreement.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

     1.   Section 5.14 of the Reorganization Agreement is hereby amended and
restated to read in its entirety as follows:

               Section 5.14  Board of Directors of Parent Following the Merger.
                             -------------------------------------------------  
          The Board of Directors of Parent shall take all actions within its
          power to cause the Board of Directors of Parent, effective no later
          than one day following the Effective Time, to consist of six persons,
          one of whom shall be Leslie G. Denend (who shall retain his present
          position as a Class II director), one of whom shall be Harry J. Saal
          (who shall be offered a position as a Class II director) and the
          remaining four of whom shall have served on the Board of Directors of
          Parent immediately prior to the Effective Time (each a "Parent
          Designee").  If, prior to the Effective Time, any of the foregoing
          designees shall decline or be unable to serve as a director, Company
          (if such person is Leslie Denend or Harry Saal) or Parent (in all
          other cases) shall designate another person to serve in such person's
          stead, which person shall be reasonably acceptable to the other party;
          provided, however, that the Board of Directors of McAfee shall take
          all actions within its power to ensure the Board of Directors of
          Parent will be reduced to five directors in the event any Parent
          Designee shall resign or decline or be unable to serve as a director.

     2.   The First Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might
otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

     3.   This First Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, all
of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become
effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties
and delivered to the other parties.

     4.   Except as expressly modified and amended by this First Amendment, the
Reorganization Agreement shall continue in full force and effect and is hereby
ratified and confirmed in all respects.
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Amendment to
the Reorganization Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized respective
officers as of the date first written above.

                              McAFEE ASSOCIATES, INC.


                              By:        /s/William L. Larson
                                         --------------------

                              Name:      William L. Larson
                                         -----------------

                              Title:     Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
                                         ------------------------------------



                              MYSTERY ACQUISITION CORP.


                              By:        /s/ Prabhat K. Goyal
                                         --------------------

                              Name:      Prabhat K. Goyal
                                         ----------------

                              Title:     President
                                         ---------



                              NETWORK GENERAL CORPORATION


                              By:        /s/Scott C. Neely
                                         -----------------

                              Name:      Scott C. Neely
                                         --------------

                              Title:     Vice President
                                         --------------



             ****FIRST AMENDMENT TO REORGANIZATION AGREEMENT****

<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT B

EXHIBIT 2
- ---------


                                  EXHIBIT A-1

                       NETWORK GENERAL VOTING AGREEMENT


     This Voting Agreement ("AGREEMENT") is made and entered into as of October
__, 1997, between McAfee Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("PARENT"),
and the undersigned stockholder ("STOCKHOLDER") of Network General Corporation,
a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY").

                                   RECITALS

     A.   Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Parent, the Company
and Mystery Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent ("MERGER SUB"), are entering  into an Agreement and Plan of
Reorganization (the "MERGER AGREEMENT") which provides for the merger (the
"MERGER") of Merger Sub with and into the Company.  Pursuant to the Merger,
shares of capital stock of the Company will be converted into Common Stock of
Parent on the basis described in the Merger Agreement.

     B.   The Stockholder is the record holder of the number of outstanding
shares of Common Stock of the Company indicated on the final page of this
Agreement.  In addition, the Stockholder holds options to purchase the number of
shares of Common Stock of the Company indicated on the final page of this
Agreement.

     C.   As a material inducement to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent
desires the Stockholder to agree, and the Stockholder is willing to agree, to
vote the Shares (as defined below) and other such shares of capital stock of the
Company over which Stockholder has voting power so as to facilitate consummation
of the Merger.

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

     1.   Agreement to Vote Shares; Additional Purchases.
          ---------------------------------------------- 

          1.1  Agreement to Vote Shares.  At every meeting of the stockholders
               ------------------------                                       
of the Company called with respect to any of the following, and at every
adjournment thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of the
stockholders of the Company with respect to any of the following, Stockholder
shall cause the Shares and any New Shares (as defined below) to be voted in
favor of approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger.
<PAGE>
 
          1.2  Definition.  For purposes of this Agreement, "SHARES" shall mean
               ----------                                                      
all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company owned of record
or beneficially (over which beneficially-owned shares the Stockholder exercises
voting power) by the Stockholder as of the record date for persons entitled (a)
to receive notice of, and to vote at the meeting of the stockholders of the
Company called for the purpose of voting on the matter referred to in Section
1.1, or (b) to take action by written consent of the stockholders of the Company
with respect to the matter referred to in Section 1.1

          1.3  Additional Purchases.  Stockholder agrees that any shares of
               --------------------                                        
capital stock of the Company that Stockholder purchases or with respect to which
Stockholder otherwise acquires beneficial ownership (over which beneficially-
owned shares Stockholder exercises voting power) after the execution of this
Agreement and prior to the date of termination of this Agreement ("NEW SHARES")
shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement to the same
extent as if they constituted Shares.

     2.   Irrevocable Proxy.  Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement,
          -----------------                                                     
Stockholder agrees to deliver to Parent a proxy in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A (the "PROXY"), which shall be irrevocable, with respect to the Shares.

     3.   Representations and Warranties of the Stockholder.  Stockholder (i) is
          -------------------------------------------------                     
the owner of the shares of Common Stock of the Company, and the options to
purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company, indicated on the final page of
this Agreement, which at the date hereof are free and clear of any liens,
claims, options, charges or other encumbrances; (ii) does not beneficially own
any securities of the Company other than the shares of Common Stock of the
Company, and options to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company,
indicated on the final page of this Agreement; and (iii) has full power and
authority to make, enter into and carry out the terms of this Agreement.

     4.   Additional Documents.  Stockholder and Parent hereby covenant and
          --------------------                                             
agree to execute and deliver any additional documents necessary or desirable, in
the reasonable opinion of Parent or Stockholder, as the case may be, to carry
out the intent of this Agreement.

     5.   Consent and Waiver.  Stockholder (not in his capacity as a director or
          ------------------                                                    
officer of the Company) hereby gives any consents or waivers that are reasonably
required for the consummation of the Merger under the terms of any agreements to
which Stockholder is a party or pursuant to any rights Stockholder may have.

     6.   Termination.  This Agreement shall terminate and shall have no further
          -----------                                                           
force or effect as of the earlier to occur of (i) such date and time as the
Merger shall become effective in accordance with the terms and provisions of the
Merger Agreement or (ii) such date and time as the Merger Agreement shall have
been  terminated pursuant to Article VII thereof.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
     7.   Miscellaneous.
          ------------- 

          7.1  Severability.  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
               ------------                                                     
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void
or unenforceable, then the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall
in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

          7.2  Binding Effect and Assignment.  This Agreement and all of the
               -----------------------------                                
provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, but, except as
otherwise specifically provided herein, neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights, interests or obligations of the parties hereto may be assigned by either
of the parties without prior written consent of the other.

          7.3  Amendments and Modification.  This Agreement may not be modified,
               ---------------------------                                      
amended, altered or supplemented except upon the execution and delivery of a
written agreement executed by the parties hereto.

          7.4  Specific Performance; Injunctive Relief.  The parties hereto
               ---------------------------------------                     
acknowledge that Parent will be irreparably harmed and that there will be no
adequate remedy at law for a violation of any of the covenants or agreements of
Stockholder set forth herein.  Therefore, it is agreed that, in addition to any
other remedies that may be available to Parent upon any such violation, Parent
shall have the right to enforce such covenants and agreements by specific
performance, injunctive relief or by any other means available to Parent at law
or in equity.

          7.5  Notices.  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
               -------                                                   
communications hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if delivered in
person, by cable, telegram or telex, or sent by mail (registered or certified
mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested) or overnight courier (prepaid)
to the respective parties as follows:

          If to Parent:       McAfee Associates, Inc.                     
                              2805 Bowers Avenue                          
                              Santa Clara, CA  95051                      
                              Attn: President and Chief Executive Officer  

          With a copy  to:    Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.
                              650 Page Mill Road                             
                              Palo Alto, California 94304-1050               
                              Attn: Jeff Saper, Esq.                     
                              Marty Korman, Esq.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
          If to the Stockholder:    To the address for notice set forth on the
     last page hereof.

          With a copy to:  Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich, P.C.
                           400 Hamilton Avenue        
                           Palo Alto, CA  94301       
                           Attn: Rod Howard, Esq. 

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing
in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall only be
effective upon receipt.

          7.6  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and
               -------------                                           
construed and enforced in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of
Delaware (without regard to the principles of conflict of laws thereof).

          7.7  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement contains the entire
               ----------------                                     
understanding of the parties in respect of the subject matter hereof, and
supersedes all prior negotiations and understandings between the parties with
respect to such subject matter.

          7.8  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in several
               ------------                                            
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.

          7.9  Effect of Headings.  The section headings herein are for
               ------------------                                      
convenience only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this
Agreement.

                                    * * * *

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Voting Agreement to be
duly executed on the date and year first above written.

                                   PARENT

                                   By:________________________________________
                                                                    
                                   Name:______________________________________
                                                                    
                                   Title:_____________________________________
                                                                    
                                   STOCKHOLDER:                     
                                                                    
                                   By:________________________________________
                                                                    
                                   Name:______________________________________
                                                                    
                                   Title:_____________________________________
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                   Stockholder's Address for Notice: 

                                   ___________________________________________ 
                                   ___________________________________________ 
                                   ___________________________________________

                                   _______ Outstanding Shares of Common Stock of
                                   the Company

                                   _______ Outstanding Shares of Common Stock of
                                   the Company subject to outstanding stock
                                   options


                        ***COMPANY VOTING AGREEMENT***

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT A

                               IRREVOCABLE PROXY


     The undersigned Stockholder of Network General Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "COMPANY"), hereby irrevocably appoints the directors on the
Board of Directors of McAfee Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("PARENT"), and each of them, as the sole and exclusive attorneys and proxies of
the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to the full
extent of the undersigned's rights with respect to the voting of the Shares (as
defined in the Voting Agreement of even date between Parent and the Stockholder
(the "VOTING AGREEMENT")) on the matter described below (and on no other
matter), until such time as that certain Agreement and Plan of Reorganization
dated as of October13, 1997 (the "MERGER AGREEMENT"), among Parent, Mystery
Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Parent ("MERGER SUB"), and the Company, shall be terminated in accordance with
its terms or the Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement) becomes effective.
Upon the execution hereof, all prior proxies given by the undersigned with
respect to the Shares and any and all other shares or securities issued or
issuable in respect thereof on or after the date hereof are hereby revoked and
no subsequent proxies will be given.

     This proxy is irrevocable, is granted pursuant to the Voting Agreement and
is granted in consideration of Parent entering into the Merger Agreement.  The
attorneys and proxies named above will be empowered at any time prior to the
earlier of termination of the Merger Agreement and the date on which the Merger
becomes effective to exercise all voting rights (including, without limitation,
the power to execute and deliver written consents with respect to the Shares) of
the undersigned at every annual, special or adjourned meeting of the Company's
stockholders, and in every written consent in lieu of such a meeting, or
otherwise, to vote the Shares in favor of approval of the Merger and the Merger
Agreement.

     The attorneys and proxies named above may only exercise this proxy to vote
the Shares subject hereto at any time prior to the earlier of termination of the
Merger Agreement and the date on which the Merger becomes effective, at every
annual, special or adjourned meeting of the Stockholders of the Company and in
every written consent in lieu of such meeting, in favor of approval of the
Merger and the Merger Agreement.  The undersigned Stockholder may vote the
Shares on all other matters.

     Any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the
successors and assigns of the undersigned.

     This proxy is irrevocable.

Dated: [__________], 1997

     Signature of Stockholder:__________________

     Print Name of Stockholder:_________________



                              ***COMPANY PROXY***



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