S3 INC
8-K, 1999-06-25
COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
Previous: S3 INC, SC 13D, 1999-06-25
Next: FIRST UNION COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE SECURITIES INC, 8-K, 1999-06-25






<PAGE>

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934



                          Date of Report: June 25, 1999




                                S3 INCORPORATED
           ------------------------------------------------------
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



            Delaware                    0-21126               77-0204341
- ------------------------------   -------------------    ----------------------
 (State or Other Jurisdiction        (Commission          (I.R.S. Employer
        of Incorporation)            File Number)       Identification Number)



         2841 Mission College Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA            95054
          ----------------------------------------------       --------------
            (Address of principal executive offices)             (Zip Code)



                                 (408) 588-8000
                        -------------------------------
                        (Registrant's telephone number,
                              including area code)



<PAGE>



Item 5.           Other Events.
                  -------------

     S3 Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the "Registrant" or "S3") and
Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Diamond"), have
entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 21, 1999 (the
"Merger Agreement"), whereby a wholly-owned subsidiary of S3 ("Merger Sub") will
be merged with and into Diamond, with Diamond as the surviving entity (the
"Merger").

     As a result of the Merger, the outstanding shares of common stock,
$0.001 par value per share, of Diamond (the "Diamond Common Stock") will be
converted into shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of S3 (the
"S3 Common Stock") at an exchange ratio equal to 0.52 share of S3 Common Stock
for each share of Diamond Common Stock. As a result of the Merger, Diamond will
become a wholly-owned subsidiary of S3.

     The closing of the Merger is subject to certain conditions, including
the approval of the stockholders of Diamond and S3 and the expiration or early
termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act.

     S3 and Diamond entered into a Credit Agreement, dated as of June 10,
1999, and amended on June 14, 1999 (the "Credit Agreement"), pursuant to which
S3 agreed to make three (3) separate loans to Diamond in amounts not exceeding
$20.0 million in the aggregate. As of the date hereof, S3 has made two of those
three loans to Diamond in the aggregate amount of $10.0 million. In connection
with the aforesaid loans, Diamond issued to S3 three (3) warrants to purchase an
aggregate of 4,597,871 shares of Diamond Common Stock at exercise prices ranging
from $4.18 to $4.471875 per share.

     Copies of the Merger Agreement and the Credit Agreement are attached as
exhibits to this report and are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.
          ---------------------------------

          (a) Exhibits.

                 2.1           Agreement and Plan of Merger between Diamond
                               Multimedia Systems, Inc. and S3 Incorporated,
                               dated as of June 21, 1999.

                 10.1  (1)     Credit Agreement, dated as of June 11, 1999, by
                               and between Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. and
                               S3 Incorporated.

                 10.2  (2)     First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as
                               of June 14, 1999, by and between Diamond
                               Multimedia Systems, Inc. and S3 Incorporated.


                                       -2-


<PAGE>


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

(1)     Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Schedule 13D filed by
        Registrant (as the Reporting Person) on June 25, 1999 in connection
        with securities issued by Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.

(2)     Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Schedule 13D filed by
        Registrant (as the Reporting Person) on June 25, 1999 in connection
        with securities issued by Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.



                                       -3-

<PAGE>



                                    SIGNATURE


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

     Dated:  June 25, 1999.

                                 S3 INCORPORATED



                                 By        /s/ Walter D. Amaral
                                   ------------------------------------
                                             Walter D. Amaral
                                      Senior Vice President, Finance
                                          Chief Financial Officer


                                       -4-


<PAGE>


                                   EXHIBIT INDEX


      Exhibit No.                           Description
      ------------                          -----------

          2.1             Agreement and Plan of Merger between Diamond
                          Multimedia Systems, Inc. and S3 Incorporated,
                          dated as of June 21, 1999.

       10.1 (1)           Credit Agreement, dated as of June 11, 1999, by
                          and between Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. and
                          S3 Incorporated.

       10.2 (2)           First Amendment To Credit Agreement, dated as of
                          June 14, 1999, by and between Diamond
                          Multimedia Systems, Inc. and S3 Incorporated.


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

(1)     Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Schedule 13D filed by
        Registrant (as the Reporting Person) on June 25, 1999 in connection
        with securities issued by Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.

(2)     Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Schedule 13D filed by
        Registrant (as the Reporting Person) on June 25, 1999 in connection
        with securities issued by Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.

                                       -5-





<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 2.1


                               AGREEMENT AND PLAN

                                    OF MERGER

                                     BETWEEN

                        DIAMOND MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS, INC.

                                       AND

                                 S3 INCORPORATED

                            Dated as of June 21, 1999




<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



                                    ARTICLE I
                                   THE MERGER
Section 1.1    The Merger.....................................................1
Section 1.2    Conversion of Shares...........................................2
Section 1.3    Surrender and Payment..........................................3
Section 1.4    Stock Options..................................................4
Section 1.5    Adjustments....................................................5
Section 1.6    Fractional Shares..............................................5
Section 1.7    Withholding Rights.............................................5
Section 1.8    Lost Certificates..............................................6


                                   ARTICLE II
                           CERTAIN GOVERNANCE MATTERS
Section 2.1    Acquirer Board of Directors.................... ...............6
Section 2.2    Acquirer Officers..............................................6
Section 2.3    Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation......6
Section 2.4    By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation...........................6
Section 2.5    Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation. ..........6


                                   ARTICLE III
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Section 3.1    Organization and Qualification.................................7
Section 3.2    Capitalization.................................................7
Section 3.3    Authority......................................................8
Section 3.4    Governmental Authorization.....................................8
Section 3.5    Non-Contravention..............................................9
Section 3.6    Subsidiaries...................................................9
Section 3.7    SEC Filings.................................................. 10
Section 3.8    Financial Statements. ....................................... 10
Section 3.9    Disclosure Documents......................................... 10
Section 3.11   No Undisclosed Material Liabilities.......................... 11
Section 3.12   Litigation................................................... 12
Section 3.13   Taxes........................................................ 12
Section 3.14   Employee Benefit Plans....................................... 12
Section 3.15   Compliance with Laws......................................... 14
Section 3.16   Finders' or Advisors' Fees................................... 14
Section 3.17   Environmental Matters........................................ 14
Section 3.18   Labor Matters................................................ 14
Section 3.19   Title to Property............................................ 14
Section 3.20   Leaseholds................................................... 15
Section 3.21   Management Payments.......................................... 15
Section 3.22   Intellectual Property........................................ 15
Section 3.23   Insurance.................................................... 16
Section 3.25   Opinion of Financial Advisor................................. 16
Section 3.26   Tax Treatment................................................ 16
Section 3.27   Takeover Statutes............................................ 16

                                        i

<PAGE>

                                                                          Page



                                   ARTICLE IV
                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIRER
Section 4.1    Organization and Qualification............................... 16
Section 4.2    Capitalization............................................... 17
Section 4.3    Authority.................................................... 18
Section 4.4    Governmental Authorization................................... 18
Section 4.5    Non-Contravention............................................ 18
Section 4.6    Subsidiaries................................................. 18
Section 4.7    SEC Filings.................................................. 19
Section 4.8    Financial Statements. ....................................... 19
Section 4.9    Disclosure Documents......................................... 20
Section 4.11   No Undisclosed Material Liabilities.......................... 21
Section 4.12   Litigation................................................... 21
Section 4.13   Taxes........................................................ 21
Section 4.14   Employee Benefit Plans....................................... 21
Section 4.15   Compliance with Laws......................................... 23
Section 4.16   Finders' or Advisors' Fees................................... 23
Section 4.17   Environmental Matters........................................ 23
Section 4.18   Labor Matters................................................ 23
Section 4.19   Title to Property............................................ 23
Section 4.20   Leaseholds................................................... 23
Section 4.21   Management Payments.......................................... 24
Section 4.22   Intellectual Property........................................ 24
Section 4.23   Insurance.................................................... 24
Section 4.25   Opinion of Financial Advisor................................. 25
Section 4.26   Tax Treatment................................................ 25


                                    ARTICLE V
                            COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 5.1     Conduct of Business of the Company.......................... 25
Section 5.2     No Solicitation............................................. 26


                                   ARTICLE VI
                              COVENANTS OF ACQUIRER
Section 6.1     Conduct of Business of Acquirer............................. 27
Section 6.2     No Solicitation............................................. 28
Section 6.3     Indemnification............................................. 29
Section 6.4     NNM Listings................................................ 30
Section 7.1     Access to Information....................................... 30
Section 7.2     Registration Statement and Proxy Statement.................. 30
Section 7.3     Stockholders' Meetings...................................... 31
Section 7.4     Reasonable Efforts; Other Actions........................... 31
Section 7.5     Public Announcements........................................ 31
Section 7.6     Notification of Certain Matters............................. 31
Section 7.7     Expenses.................................................... 32
Section 7.8     Affiliates.................................................. 32
Section 7.9     Certain Benefit Plans....................................... 32

                                       ii


<PAGE>


                                                                          Page


Section 7.10    Formation of Merger Subsidiary.............................. 32


                                  ARTICLE VIII
                            CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
Section 8.1     Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party................. 33
Section 8.2     Conditions to the Obligations of Acquirer and Merger
                    Subsidiary.............................................. 33
Section 8.3     Conditions to the Obligations of the Company................ 34


                                   ARTICLE IX
                                   TERMINATION
Section 9.1     Termination................................................. 35
Section 9.2     Termination by Acquirer..................................... 35
Section 9.3     Termination by the Company.................................. 36
Section 9.4     Procedure for Termination................................... 36
Section 9.5     Effect of Termination....................................... 37


                                    ARTICLE X
                                  MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1    Notices..................................................... 38
Section 10.2    Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties.............. 39
Section 10.3    Amendments; No Waivers...................................... 39
Section 10.4    Successors and Assigns...................................... 39
Section 10.5    Governing Law............................................... 39
Section 10.6    Jurisdiction................................................ 39
Section 10.7    Waiver of Jury Trial........................................ 40
Section 10.8    Counterparts; Effectiveness................................. 40
Section 10.9    Entire Agreement............................................ 40
Section 10.10   Captions.................................................... 40
Section 10.11   Severability................................................ 40

        SCHEDULES

Schedule 1.4         Company Stock Option Plans
Schedule 8.1(d)      Required Third Party Consents

        EXHIBITS

Exhibit 7.8          Form of Affiliate Agreement


                                       iii


<PAGE>



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

        AGREEMENT  AND  PLAN  OF  MERGER,  dated  as  of  June  21,  1999,  (the
"Agreement"),  by and  between  DIAMOND  MULTIMEDIA  SYSTEMS,  INC.,  a Delaware
corporation  (the  "Company")  and  S3  INCORPORATED,   a  Delaware  corporation
("Acquirer").

                                    RECITALS

        WHEREAS,  Acquirer will cause a wholly owned Delaware  corporation to be
formed as soon as practicable following the date hereof ("Merger Subsidiary");

        WHEREAS,  the respective Boards of Directors of Acquirer and the Company
have approved this Agreement, and deem it advisable and in the best interests of
each  corporation  and its respective  stockholders  to consummate the merger of
Merger  Subsidiary  with and into the Company  upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement;

        WHEREAS,  pursuant to the Merger, among other things, and subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, all of the issued and outstanding shares
of capital  stock of the Company  shall be  converted  into the right to receive
shares of voting  common  stock of  Acquirer,  and all  outstanding  options  to
purchase shares of common stock of the Company shall be assumed by Acquirer;

        WHEREAS,   it  is  intended  that  the  Merger  qualify  as  a  tax-free
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and be accounted for as a purchase transaction;
and

        WHEREAS,   each  of  the   parties   hereto   desire  to  make   certain
representations,  warranties,  covenants and  agreements in connection  with the
transactions contemplated hereby:

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

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   THE MERGER

        Section 1.1 The Merger.  (a) In accordance  with the  provisions of this
Agreement  and  the  General  Corporation  Law of the  State  of  Delaware  (the
"Delaware Law"), at the Effective Time,  Merger  Subsidiary shall be merged (the
"Merger") with and into the Company,  whereupon the separate existence of Merger
Subsidiary  shall  cease  and the  Company  shall be the  surviving  corporation
(hereinafter  sometimes called the "Surviving  Corporation") in the Merger and a
wholly owned subsidiary of Acquirer.

        (b) As soon as  practicable  after but no later than two  business  days
following  satisfaction  or, to the extent  permitted  hereunder,  waiver of all
conditions  to the  Merger,  the  Company  and  Merger  Subsidiary  shall file a
certificate  of merger with the  Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and
make all other filings or recordings required by Delaware Law in connection with
the Merger. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the certificate of
merger is duly filed with the  Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at
such later time as is specified  in the  certificate  of merger (the  "Effective
Time").

                                        1


<PAGE>


        (c) From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving  Corporation  shall
possess all the  rights,  privileges,  property,  powers and  franchises  and be
subject  to all of the  restrictions,  disabilities,  debts  and  duties  of the
Company and Merger Subsidiary, all as provided under the Delaware Law.

        (d) Unless this Agreement is earlier  terminated  pursuant to Section 9,
the  closing of the Merger  (the  "Closing")  shall take place at the offices of
Pillsbury  Madison & Sutro LLP, 2550 Hanover  Street,  Palo Alto,  California as
soon as practicable,  but in any event within two business days after the day on
which the last to be fulfilled or waived of the  conditions set forth in Article
VIII (other than those  conditions  that by their  nature are to be fulfilled at
the Closing,  but subject to the fulfillment or waiver of such conditions) shall
be fulfilled or waived in accordance  with this Agreement or at such other time,
place and date as is mutually  agreed to in writing by the parties  hereto.  The
date of the Closing is referred to in this Agreement as the "Closing Date."

        Section 1.2  Conversion of Shares.  (a) As of the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holders thereof:

        (i)  Each  share  of  common  stock  of  Merger  Subsidiary  outstanding
immediately  prior to the Effective  Time shall be converted into and become one
validly issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable  share of common stock, par value
$.001 per share, of the Surviving  Corporation with the same rights,  powers and
privileges as the shares so converted, and such shares shall constitute the only
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation. From and after
the Effective  Time, all  certificates  representing  the common stock of Merger
Subsidiary shall be deemed for all purposes to represent the number of shares of
common  stock of the  Surviving  Corporation  into which they were  converted in
accordance with this Section 1.2(a)(i).

        (ii) Each  share of common  stock,  par value  $.001 per  share,  of the
Company (a "Company  Share")  held by the Company as treasury  stock or owned by
Acquirer or any subsidiary of Acquirer, shall be cancelled, and no payment shall
be made with respect thereto.

        (iii) Each Company Share outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 1.2(a)(ii), by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of the holder  thereof,  be  converted
into the right to receive .052 shares (the "Exchange  Ratio") of validly issued,
fully paid and  nonassessable  common  stock,  par value  $.0001  per share,  of
Acquirer ("Acquirer Common Stock").

        (b) From and after the Effective  Time, all Company Shares  converted in
accordance  with Section  1.2(a)(iii)  shall no longer be outstanding  and shall
automatically  be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder
of a certificate  representing  any such Company  Shares shall cease to have any
rights  with   respect   thereto,   except  the  right  to  receive  the  Merger
Consideration  (as defined  below),  as  applicable,  and any dividends  payable
pursuant to Section 1.3(f).

        (c) The Acquirer Common Stock to be received as  consideration  pursuant
to the Merger by each holder of Company  Shares  (together  with cash in lieu of
fractional  shares of Acquirer  Common Stock as specified  below) is referred to
herein as the "Merger Consideration."

        (d) For purposes of this Agreement, the word "Subsidiary" when used with
respect  to  any  Person  means  any  other  Person,   whether  incorporated  or
unincorporated,  of which (i) more than fifty percent (50%) of the securities or
other ownership  interests or (ii) securities or other interests having by their
terms ordinary  voting power to elect more than fifty percent (50%) of the board
of  directors  or others  performing  similar  functions  with  respect  to such
corporation or other organization, is directly owned

                                        2


<PAGE>


or  controlled  by such  Person or by any one or more of its  Subsidiaries.  For
purposes of this  Agreement,  "Person"  means an individual,  a  corporation,  a
limited liability company, a partnership,  an association,  a trust or any other
entity or organization,  including a government or political  subdivision or any
agency or instrumentality thereof.

        Section 1.3  Surrender  and Payment.  (a) Prior to the  Effective  Time,
Acquirer  shall  appoint an agent  reasonably  acceptable  to the  Company  (the
"Exchange  Agent")  for the  purpose  of  exchanging  certificates  representing
Company Shares (the "Certificates") for the Merger Consideration.  Acquirer will
make available to the Exchange Agent, as needed, the Merger  Consideration to be
paid in  respect of the  Company  Shares.  Promptly  after the  Effective  Time,
Acquirer will send, or will cause the Exchange  Agent to send, to each holder of
record at the Effective Time of Company  Shares a letter of transmittal  for use
in such exchange  (which shall specify that the delivery shall be effected,  and
risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates
to the Exchange  Agent) in such form as the Company and Acquirer may  reasonably
agree, for use in effecting delivery of Company Shares to the Exchange Agent.

        (b) Each holder of Company  Shares that have been converted into a right
to receive the Merger  Consideration,  upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of a
Certificate,  together with a properly completed letter of transmittal,  will be
entitled to receive the Merger  Consideration  in respect of the Company  Shares
represented by such  Certificate.  Until so surrendered,  each such  Certificate
shall,  after the Effective  Time,  represent for all purposes only the right to
receive such Merger Consideration.

        (c) If any portion of the Merger Consideration is to be paid to a Person
other than the Person in whose name the Certificate is registered, it shall be a
condition to such payment that the Certificate so surrendered  shall be properly
endorsed  or  otherwise  be in  proper  form for  transfer  and that the  Person
requesting  such payment  shall pay to the Exchange  Agent any transfer or other
taxes required as a result of such payment to a Person other than the registered
holder of such  Certificate  or  establish to the  satisfaction  of the Exchange
Agent that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

        (d) After the Effective Time, there shall be no further  registration of
transfers of Company  Shares.  If, after the Effective  Time,  Certificates  are
presented to the Surviving Corporation, they shall be canceled and exchanged for
the consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth,
in this Article I.

        (e) Any  portion  of the  Merger  Consideration  made  available  to the
Exchange Agent pursuant to Section 1.3(a) that remains  unclaimed by the holders
of Company  Shares  one year  after the  Effective  Time  shall be  returned  to
Acquirer,  upon demand,  and any such holder who has not exchanged such holder's
Company Shares for the Merger  Consideration in accordance with this Section 1.3
prior to that time shall  thereafter  look only to  Acquirer  for payment of the
Merger Consideration in respect of such holder's Company Shares. Notwithstanding
the foregoing,  Acquirer shall not be liable to any holder of Company Shares for
any amount paid to a public official pursuant to applicable  abandoned property,
escheat or similar laws.

        (f) No dividends or other  distributions with respect to Acquirer Common
Stock  issued in the  Merger  shall be paid to the  holder of any  unsurrendered
Certificates until such Certificates are surrendered as provided in this Section
1.3. Subject to the effect of applicable laws,  following such surrender,  there
shall be paid,  without  interest,  to the record holder of the Acquirer  Common
Stock  issued  in  exchange  therefor  (i) at the  time of such  surrender,  all
dividends and other  distributions  payable in respect of such  Acquirer  Common
Stock with a record date after the Effective Time and a payment date on or prior
to the  date  of  such  surrender  and  not  previously  paid  and  (ii)  at the
appropriate payment

                                        3


<PAGE>


date, the dividends or other distributions payable with respect to such Acquirer
Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time but with a payment date
subsequent to such surrender.  For purposes of dividends or other  distributions
in respect of Acquirer  Common  Stock,  all  Acquirer  Common Stock to be issued
pursuant to the Merger (but not options  therefor issued pursuant to Section 1.4
unless actually  exercised at the Effective Time) shall be entitled to dividends
pursuant to the immediately  preceding  sentence as if issued and outstanding as
of the Effective Time.

        Section 1.4 Stock Options.  (a) At the Effective Time, each  outstanding
option to purchase  Company Shares (a "Company Stock Option")  granted under the
Company's plans identified in the Schedule 1.4 as being the only compensation or
benefit  plans or  agreements  pursuant  to which  Company  Shares may be issued
(collectively,  the "Company Stock Option Plans"), whether vested or not vested,
shall be deemed assumed by Acquirer and shall thereafter be deemed to constitute
an option to acquire, on the same terms and conditions (including any provisions
for  acceleration)  as were applicable  under such Company Stock Option prior to
the  Effective  Time (in  accordance  with the past practice of the Company with
respect to  interpretation  and application of such terms and  conditions),  the
number  (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of shares of Acquirer  Common
Stock determined by multiplying (x) the number of Company Shares subject to such
Company Stock Option immediately prior to the Effective Time by (y) the Exchange
Ratio,  at a price per share of Acquirer Common Stock (rounded up to the nearest
whole  cent)  equal  to (A) the  exercise  price  per  Company  Share  otherwise
purchasable  pursuant to such Company  Stock Option  divided by (B) the Exchange
Ratio.  The parties  intend that the  conversion  of the Company  Stock  Options
hereunder  will meet the  requirements  of  Section  424(a) of the Code and this
Section 1.4(a) shall be interpreted  consistent with such intention.  Subject to
the terms of the Company Stock Options and the documents  governing such Company
Stock  Options,  the Merger will not terminate or  accelerate  any Company Stock
Option or any right of exercise,  vesting or  repurchase  relating  thereto with
respect to Acquirer  Common Stock acquired upon exercise of such assumed Company
Stock  Option.  Holders of Company Stock Options will not be entitled to acquire
Company Shares after the Merger.  In addition,  prior to the Effective Time, the
Company  will  make  any  amendments  to the  terms  of  such  stock  option  or
compensation  plans or  arrangements  that are  necessary  to give effect to the
transactions  contemplated by this Section 1.4. Promptly following the Effective
Time,  Acquirer will issue to each holder of an outstanding Company Stock Option
a document  evidencing the foregoing  assumption of such Company Stock Option by
Acquirer.

        (b) Acquirer  shall take all corporate  action  necessary to reserve for
issuance a  sufficient  number of shares of Acquirer  Common  Stock for delivery
pursuant to the terms set forth in this Section 1.4.

        (c) At the Effective Time, each outstanding  purchase right with respect
to all open offering  periods under the Company's  Employee  Stock Purchase Plan
(each an "Assumed  Purchase  Right")  shall be assumed by Parent.  Each  Assumed
Purchase  Right  shall  continue  to have,  and be  subject  to,  the  terms and
conditions  set forth in the  Company's  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan and the
documents  governing the Assumed Purchase Right,  except that the purchase price
of such shares of Acquirer Common Stock for each respective  purchase date under
each Assumed Purchase Right shall be the lower of (i) the quotient determined by
dividing  eighty-five  percent  (85%) of the fair  market  value of the  Company
Common  Stock  on the  offering  date of each  assumed  offering  period  by the
Exchange Ratio or (ii) eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair market value of the
Acquirer  Common Stock on each  purchase  date of each assumed  offering  period
occurring  after the Effective  Time (with the number of shares  rounded down to
the nearest  whole share and the purchase  price rounded up to the nearest whole
cent).  The Assumed  Purchase  Rights shall be exercised at such times following
the Effective  Time as set forth in the Company's  Employee Stock Purchase Plan,
and each  participant  shall,  accordingly,  be issued shares of Acquirer Common
Stock at such times. The Company's  Employee Stock Purchase Plan shall terminate
with the exercise of the last Assumed Purchase Right, and no additional purchase
rights shall

                                        4

<PAGE>


be granted  under the  Company's  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan  following the
Effective  Time.  Acquirer  agrees  that  from and  after  the  Effective  Time,
employees of the Company may  participate in Acquirer's  employee stock purchase
plan, subject to the terms and conditions of such plan.

        (d) At the Effective Time, each award or account  (including  restricted
stock,  stock  equivalents and stock units, but excluding  Company Stock Options
and Assumed Purchase Rights) outstanding as of the date hereof ("Company Award")
that has been  established,  made or granted  under any  employee  incentive  or
benefit  plans,   programs  or  arrangements  and  non-employee  director  plans
maintained  by the  Company on or prior to the date  hereof  which  provide  for
grants of  equity-based  awards or  equity-based  accounts  shall be  amended or
converted  into a  similar  instrument  of  Acquirer,  in each  case  with  such
adjustments  to  the  terms  and  conditions  of  such  Company  Awards  as  are
appropriate  to  preserve  the value  inherent  in such  Company  Awards with no
detrimental  effects on the holders  thereof.  The other terms and conditions of
each Company  Award,  and the plans or agreements  under which they were issued,
shall continue to apply in accordance with their terms and conditions, including
any  provisions  for  acceleration  (as such  terms  and  conditions  have  been
interpreted and applied by the Company in accordance with its past practice).

        (e) At the Effective  Time,  Acquirer shall file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration  statement on an appropriate form
or a post-effective amendment to a previously filed registration statement under
the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the "1933 Act"),  with respect to the
Acquirer  Common Stock subject to options and other  equity-based  awards issued
pursuant to this Section 1.4, and shall use all commercially  reasonable efforts
to maintain the current status of the prospectus  contained therein,  as well as
comply with any applicable  state  securities or "blue sky" laws, for so long as
such options or other equity-based awards remain outstanding.

        Section 1.5  Adjustments.  If at any time during the period  between the
date of this  Agreement and the Effective  Time,  any change in the  outstanding
shares of capital stock of Acquirer or the Company  (other than as  contemplated
in Section 3.2 or Section 4.2 or permitted  under this  Agreement)  shall occur,
including,    without   limitation,   by   reason   of   any   reclassification,
recapitalization,  stock  split or  combination,  exchange  or  readjustment  of
shares, or any stock dividend thereon with a record date during such period, the
Merger Consideration shall be appropriately adjusted.

        Section 1.6  Fractional  Shares.  (a) No  fractional  shares of Acquirer
Common Stock shall be issued in the Merger.  All  fractional  shares of Acquirer
Common  Stock that a holder of Company  Shares  would  otherwise  be entitled to
receive as a result of the Merger shall be aggregated and if a fractional  share
results from such aggregation, such holder shall be entitled to receive from the
Exchange Agent, in lieu thereof, an amount in cash determined by multiplying the
closing  price of one share of  Acquirer  Common  Stock on the  Nasdaq  National
Market ("NNM") on the Closing Date by the fraction of a share of Acquirer Common
Stock to which such  holder  would  otherwise  have been  entitled.  The parties
acknowledge that payment of the cash consideration in lieu of issuing fractional
shares was not separately  bargained for  consideration  but merely represents a
mechanical rounding off for purposes of simplifying the corporate and accounting
problems that would otherwise be caused by the issuance of fractional shares. As
promptly as practicable  after the  determination of the amount of cash, if any,
to be paid to holders of  fractional  interests,  the  Exchange  Agent  shall so
notify  Acquirer,  and Acquirer  shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the
Exchange  Agent such amount and shall cause the Exchange Agent to make available
such amounts to such holders of fractional interests without interest.

        Section 1.7 Withholding  Rights.  Each of the Surviving  Corporation and
Acquirer  shall be  entitled  to  deduct  and  withhold  from the  consideration
otherwise payable to any person pursuant to this Article I such amounts as it is
required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such

                                        5


<PAGE>


payment under any provision of federal,  state, local or foreign tax law. To the
extent that amounts are so withheld by the Surviving Corporation or Acquirer, as
the case may be, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this
Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Company  Shares in respect of
which such deduction and  withholding  was made by the Surviving  Corporation or
Acquirer, as the case may be.

        Section 1.8 Lost Certificates.  If any Certificate shall have been lost,
stolen or destroyed,  upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person
claiming such  Certificate  to be lost,  stolen or destroyed and, if required by
the Exchange  Agent,  the posting by such person of a bond,  in such  reasonable
amount as the Exchange Agent may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may
be made against it, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent with respect
to such  Certificate,  the Exchange  Agent will issue in exchange for such lost,
stolen or destroyed  Certificate the Merger  Consideration to be paid in respect
of the Company Shares  represented by such  Certificate as  contemplated by this
Article I.


                                   ARTICLE II
                           CERTAIN GOVERNANCE MATTERS

        Section 2.1 Acquirer Board of Directors. At the Effective Time, Acquirer
shall  cause the Board of  Directors  of  Acquirer  to consist of either five or
seven  directors  (with  the total  number of  directors  to be  established  by
Acquirer), a majority of one of whom shall be directors of Acquirer prior to the
Effective  Time and the  remainder of whom shall be directors  designated by the
Company after consultation with the Acquirer (the "Company Board Designees").

        Section 2.2 Acquirer  Officers.  The officers of the Acquirer  after the
Effective  Time shall be  determined  by the Board of  Directors of the Acquirer
immediately  after  the  Effective  Time,  following  consultation  between  the
respective Chief Executive Officers of Acquirer and the Company, except that Mr.
Kenneth  F.  Potashner  shall be the  Chairman  and Chief  Executive  Officer of
Acquirer and Mr. William J. Schroeder shall be offered the position of President
and Chief  Operating  Officer of  Acquirer,  to hold  office  from and after the
Effective Time (assuming such  individuals  desire to continue in such positions
as of such date)  until  their  respective  successors  are duly  appointed  and
qualify in the manner  provided in the By-Laws of the  Acquirer or as  otherwise
provided by law or their earlier resignation or removal.

        Section 2.3 Certificate of Incorporation  of the Surviving  Corporation.
The certificate of incorporation of Merger Subsidiary in effect at the Effective
Time shall be the  certificate  of  incorporation  of the Surviving  Corporation
until amended in accordance with applicable law.

        Section 2.4  By-Laws of the  Surviving  Corporation.  Subject to Section
6.3, the by-laws of Merger  Subsidiary in effect at the Effective  Time shall be
the  by-laws of the  Surviving  Corporation  until  amended in  accordance  with
applicable law.

        Section 2.5 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation. Subject
to Section 6.3, from and after the Effective  Time,  until  successors  are duly
elected or appointed and qualified in accordance  with  applicable  law, (a) the
directors of Merger  Subsidiary at the Effective  Time shall be the directors of
the Surviving Corporation,  and (b) the officers of the Company at the Effective
Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation.


                                        6

<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE III
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

        Except as  disclosed  in a letter  delivered  by the Company to Acquirer
immediately  prior to the  execution  of this  Agreement  and  signed  by a duly
authorized officer of the Company (the "Company Disclosure Letter"), the Company
represents and warrants to Acquirer as follows:

        Section 3.1 Organization and Qualification. The Company is a corporation
duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the
State of Delaware and has all  requisite  corporate  power and authority to own,
lease and operate its respective  properties and to carry on its business as now
being conducted.

        The Company is qualified to do business as a foreign  corporation and is
in good standing under the laws of each state or other jurisdiction in which the
nature of its business requires such qualification,  except where the failure to
be so qualified or in good standing  which,  taken  together with all other such
failures,  would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. For purposes
of this  Agreement,  the term  "Material  Adverse  Effect"  means,  when used in
connection  with the  Company  or  Acquirer,  as the case  may be,  any  change,
violation, inaccuracy,  circumstance or effect that is materially adverse to the
business,   properties,   assets  (including  intangible  assets),  liabilities,
capitalization  or financial  condition  of either  party and its  Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole,  as the case may be;  provided,  however,  that the  following
shall not be taken into account in  determining  whether there has been or could
or would be a "Material  Adverse Effect" on or with respect to a party:  (i) any
occurrences  relating  to the  economy  of the  United  States in general or the
economies  in which such entity  operates or the multi-  media and  connectivity
products for personal computer industry in general and not specifically relating
to such  party,  (ii) the  delay or  cancellation  of  orders  for such  party's
products  from  customers  or  distributors   (or  other   resellers)   directly
attributable  to the  announcement  of this  Agreement  or the  pendency  of the
Merger,  (iii)  the  lack of or  delay  in  availability  of  components  or raw
materials from such party's suppliers directly  attributable to the announcement
of this Agreement or the pendency of the Merger,  (iv) any litigation brought or
threatened against a party or any officer or member of the Board of Directors of
such party in respect of this Agreement or the Merger (including any stockholder
class action  litigation  arising from allegations or a breach of fiduciary duty
relating to this Agreement), (v) the loss of employees as a result of reductions
in force that are  mutually  agreed upon by the Company and  Acquirer,  (vi) the
loss of employees  with titles of director or officer in an amount not in excess
of fifteen  percent (15%) of the number of such employees as of the date of this
Agreement or the loss of employees with titles other than director or officer in
an amount not in excess of fifteen percent (15%) of the number of such employees
as of the date of this Agreement (excluding in each case employees lost pursuant
to reductions in force described in clause (v) and in the case of employees with
titles of director or officer losses resulting solely from a failure by Acquirer
to offer commercially reasonable retention incentives to such employees prior to
the Closing), and (vii) changes in trading prices for such party's securities.

        The Company has made  available to Acquirer true and complete  copies of
the Company's  certificate of incorporation and by-laws,  as amended to the date
hereof.

        Section 3.2 Capitalization.  The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of 75,000,000  Company Shares and 8,000,000  shares of Preferred Stock,
par value $.001 per share,  all of which shares of Preferred Stock have not been
designated.  As of May 31, 1999, (i)  35,573,024  Company Shares were issued and
outstanding,  (ii) no shares of  Preferred  Stock were  issued and  outstanding,
(iii) no Company  Shares were held in the  treasury of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries,  and (iv)  9,891,497  Company  Shares are  reserved  for  issuance
pursuant to the Company Option Plans, of which stock options to


                                        7

<PAGE>

purchase  8,650,905  Company  Shares  have been  granted  (of which  options  to
purchase an aggregate of 1,954,324 shares were exercisable). As of May 31, 1999,
1,050,000  Company  Shares were  reserved  under the  Company's  Employee  Stock
Purchase Plan, of which 649,422 have been granted. All the outstanding shares of
the  Company's  capital  stock are,  and all  Company  Shares that may be issued
pursuant to the exercise of  outstanding  employee  stock  options will be, when
issued in accordance with the terms thereof,  duly  authorized,  validly issued,
fully paid and  non-assessable.  Except as disclosed  in the Company  Disclosure
Letter  and except  for  changes  since the close of  business  on May 31,  1999
resulting from the exercise of employee  stock options  outstanding on such date
or options  granted as permitted by Section 5.1,  there are  outstanding  (x) no
shares of  capital  stock or other  voting  securities  of the  Company,  (y) no
securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital
stock or voting securities of the Company, and (z) no options, warrants or other
rights to  acquire  from the  Company,  and no  preemptive  or  similar  rights,
subscription or other rights, convertible securities,  agreements,  arrangements
or commitments  of any character,  relating to the capital stock of the Company,
obligating the Company to issue,  transfer or sell,  any capital  stock,  voting
securities or securities  convertible  into or exchangeable for capital stock or
voting  securities of the Company or obligating the Company to grant,  extend or
enter into any such option,  warrant,  subscription or other right,  convertible
security,  agreement,  arrangement or commitment  (the items in clauses (x), (y)
and (z) being referred to collectively as the "Company  Securities").  There are
no  outstanding  obligations  of the  Company  or any  of  its  Subsidiaries  to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company Securities. There are not as
of the date hereof and there will not be at the Effective  Time any  stockholder
agreements,  voting trusts or other  agreements or  understandings  to which the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party or by which it is bound relating
to the  voting  of any  shares  of  the  capital  stock  of the  Company  or any
agreements, arrangements, or other understandings to which the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries  is a party or by which it is bound that will limit in any way
the  solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of the Company from, or the casting
of votes by, the stockholders of the Company with respect to the Merger.

        Section  3.3  Authority.  The  Company  has  full  corporate  power  and
authority to execute and deliver this  Agreement  and,  subject to the requisite
approval  of its  stockholders,  to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby  have been duly and  validly  authorized  and
approved  by the  Company's  Board of  Directors,  and other than the  requisite
approval by its  stockholders,  no other corporate  proceedings are necessary to
authorize this Agreement or the  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby.  This Agreement has been duly and validly  executed and delivered by the
Company and,  assuming this  Agreement  constitutes  a legal,  valid and binding
agreement of the other parties hereto, it constitutes a legal, valid and binding
agreement of the Company,  enforceable  against it in accordance with its terms,
except (i) as  limited by  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,
moratorium  and other  laws of  general  application  affecting  enforcement  of
creditors'  rights  generally  and  (ii)  as  limited  by laws  relating  to the
availability  of  specific  performance,  injunctive  relief or other  equitable
remedies.

        Section 3.4  Governmental  Authorization.  The  execution,  delivery and
performance by the Company of this Agreement and the  consummation of the Merger
by the Company  require no consent of, or filing with,  any  governmental  body,
agency,  official or  authority  other than (a) the filing of a  certificate  of
merger in  accordance  with  Delaware Law, (b)  compliance  with any  applicable
requirements of the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements Act of 1976 (the
"HSR Act"),  (c) compliance  with any applicable  requirements of the Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended,  and the rules and  regulations  promulgated
thereunder (the "Exchange Act"), (d) compliance with any applicable requirements
of the 1933 Act and state  securities  laws,  and (e) other  actions  or filings
which if not taken or made would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

                                        8

<PAGE>


        Section 3.5 Non-Contravention.  The execution,  delivery and performance
by the  Company of this  Agreement  and the  consummation  by the Company of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby do not and will not (a)  assuming  compliance
with the matters  referred to in Section 3.3,  contravene  or conflict  with the
certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company,  (b) assuming compliance
with the matters  referred to in Section  3.4,  contravene  or conflict  with or
constitute  a  violation  of any  provision  of any law,  regulation,  judgment,
injunction,  order or decree binding upon or applicable to the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries,  (c)  constitute  a default  under or give rise to a right of
termination,  cancellation  or  acceleration  of any right or  obligation of the
Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  or to a loss of any  benefit  to which the
Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  is  entitled  under any  provision  of any
agreement,  contract or other instrument  binding upon the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any license,  franchise,  permit or other similar  authorization
held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (d) result in the creation or
imposition  of any Lien on any asset of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,
except for such  contraventions,  conflicts or violations  referred to in clause
(b) or defaults, rights of termination,  cancellation or acceleration, or losses
or Liens referred to in clause (c) or (d) that would not, individually or in the
aggregate,  have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  For purposes of this
Agreement,  "Lien" means,  with respect to any asset of the Company or Acquirer,
as the case may be, any mortgage,  lien,  pledge,  charge,  security interest or
encumbrance  of any kind in respect of such asset other than any such  mortgage,
lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance (i) for Taxes (as defined
in  Section  3.13) not yet due or being  contested  in good faith (and for which
adequate accruals or reserves have been established on the Company Balance Sheet
or the  Acquirer  Balance  Sheet (as such terms are defined in Sections  3.8 and
4.8,  respectively),  as  the  case  may  be)  or  (ii)  which  is a  carriers',
warehousemen's,  mechanics',  materialmen's,  repairmen's  or  other  like  lien
arising in the ordinary  course of business.  Except as disclosed in the Company
Disclosure  Letter,  neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary of the Company is a
party to any agreement that  expressly  limits the ability of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, or would limit Acquirer or any Subsidiary of Acquirer
after the  Effective  Time,  to compete in or conduct  any line of  business  or
compete with any Person or in any  geographic  area or during any period of time
except to the extent that any such limitation, individually or in the aggregate,
would not be  reasonably  likely to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on Acquirer
after the Effective Time.

        Section  3.6  Subsidiaries.  Each  of the  Company's  Subsidiaries  is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its jurisdiction of incorporation  and has all requisite  corporate power and
authority to own,  lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business
as it is now being  conducted.  Each of the  Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a
foreign  corporation  to  do  business,   and  is  in  good  standing,  in  each
jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or leased or the nature
of its activities makes such qualification  necessary,  except where the failure
to be so qualified or in good standing would not have a Material  Adverse Effect
on the Company.  Exhibit 21 to the Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 (the "1998 10-K"),  as filed with SEC, lists
the only  Subsidiaries of the Company at December 31, 1998, and all Subsidiaries
of the  Company  thereafter  formed  or  acquired  are  listed  in  the  Company
Disclosure  Letter.  All of the  outstanding  shares  of  capital  stock  of the
Subsidiaries are validly issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable  and, other than
directors' qualifying shares in the case of foreign  Subsidiaries,  are owned by
the Company or by a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company free and clear of all
material liens,  claims,  charges or encumbrances,  and there are no irrevocable
proxies  with  respect  to such  shares.  Except  as set  forth  in the  Company
Disclosure  Letter and except for the  capital  stock of its  Subsidiaries,  the
Company  does  not own,  directly  or  indirectly,  any  capital  stock or other
ownership  interest in any  corporation,  partnership,  joint  venture,  limited
liability  company or other  entity  which is  material  to the  business of the
Company  and  its  Subsidiaries,  taken  as  a  whole.  There  are  no  material
restrictions on the Company to vote the stock of any of its Subsidiaries.


                                        9

<PAGE>


        Section 3.7 SEC Filings.  (a) The Company has made available to Acquirer
(i) its annual  reports on Form 10-K for its fiscal  years  ended  December  31,
1996,  1997 and 1998,  (ii) its  quarterly  reports on Form 10-Q for its quarter
ended March 31,  1999,  (iii) its proxy or  information  statements  relating to
meetings  of, or actions  taken  without a meeting by, the  stockholders  of the
Company  held  since  December  31,  1998,  and (iv) all of its  other  reports,
statements,  schedules  and  registration  statements  filed  with the SEC since
December  31, 1998 (the  documents  referred  to in this  Section  3.7(a)  being
referred  to  collectively  as  the  "Company  SEC  Documents").  The  Company's
quarterly  report on Form 10-Q for its fiscal  quarter  ended  March 31, 1998 is
referred to herein as the "Company 10-Q."

        (b) As of its filing date, each Company SEC Document complied as to form
in all material  respects with the applicable  requirements  of the Exchange Act
and the 1933 Act.

        (c) As of its filing date,  each Company SEC Document  filed pursuant to
the Exchange Act did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state  any  material  fact  necessary  in order to make the  statements  made
therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  under  which they were  made,  not
misleading.

        (d) Each such  registration  statement,  as amended or supplemented,  if
applicable,  filed  pursuant  to the 1933 Act as of the date such  statement  or
amendment  became  effective did not contain any untrue  statement of a material
fact or omit to state  any  material  fact  required  to be  stated  therein  or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

        Section 3.8 Financial  Statements.  The audited  consolidated  financial
statements  and  unaudited  consolidated  interim  financial  statements  of the
Company  (including  any  related  notes and  schedules)  included in its annual
reports  on Form  10-K and the  quarterly  report on Form  10-Q  referred  to in
Section  3.7  fairly  present  in all  material  respects,  in  conformity  with
generally accepted accounting  principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis
(except as may be indicated in the notes thereto),  the  consolidated  financial
position  of the  Company  and its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  as of the  dates
thereof and their  consolidated  results of operations  and changes in financial
position for the periods then ended (subject to normal year-end  adjustments and
the absence of notes in the case of any unaudited interim financial statements).
For purposes of this Agreement,  "Company  Balance Sheet" means the consolidated
balance  sheet of the Company as of March 31, 1999 set forth in the Company 10-Q
and "Company Balance Sheet Date" means March 31, 1999.

        Section 3.9 Disclosure  Documents.  (a) The joint proxy statement of the
Company and Acquirer relating to the meetings of stockholders of the Company and
Acquirer  contemplated by Section 7.3 and prospectus of Acquirer relating to the
shares of Acquirer  Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Merger (the
"Joint Proxy  Statement/Prospectus") to be filed with the SEC in connection with
the Merger and the  registration  statement  on Form S-4 of Acquirer  (the "Form
S-4") to be filed under the 1933 Act relating to the issuance of Acquirer Common
Stock in the Merger,  and any  amendments or  supplements  thereto,  will,  when
filed, subject to the last sentence of Section 3.9(b),  comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the 1933 Act.

        (b) Neither the Joint  Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  to be filed with the
SEC, nor any amendment or supplement thereto,  will, at the date the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus  or any such  amendment  or  supplement  is first mailed to
stockholders  of Company or at the time such  stockholders  vote on the adoption
and approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, contain
any untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state any  material  fact
necessary  in  order  to  make  the  statements  therein,  in the  light  of the
circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading.  Neither the Form S-4
nor any  amendment or supplement  thereto will at the time it becomes  effective
under the 1933 Act

                                       10

<PAGE>


or at the Effective Time contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading.  No representation or warranty is made by the
Company in this Section 3.9 with respect to statements  made or  incorporated by
reference  therein  based on  information  supplied by Acquirer for inclusion or
incorporation by reference in the Joint Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  or the Form
S-4.

        Section  3.10  Absence  of Certain  Changes.  Except as set forth in the
Company Disclosure Letter, since the Company Balance Sheet Date, the Company and
its Subsidiaries have conducted their business in the ordinary course consistent
with past practice and there has not been:

        (a) any event,  occurrence or development of a state of circumstances or
facts which has had or reasonably would be expected to have,  individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company;

        (b) any  declaration,  setting aside or payment of any dividend or other
distribution  with respect to any shares of capital  stock of the Company or any
repurchase,  redemption  or  other  acquisition  by  the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries of any outstanding  shares of capital stock or other securities of,
or other ownership interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,  except
for the repurchase of shares of employees at cost upon termination of employment
with the Company;

        (c) any  amendment of any material term of any  outstanding  security of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

        (d) any  transaction or commitment  made, or any contract,  agreement or
settlement entered into, by (or judgment, order or decree affecting) the Company
or any of its  Subsidiaries  relating to its assets or business  (including  the
acquisition or disposition of any assets) or any  relinquishment  by the Company
or any of its  Subsidiaries  of any  contract or other  right,  in either  case,
material  to the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  other  than
transactions,  commitments,  contracts,  agreements  or  settlements  (including
without  limitation  settlements  of  litigation  and  tax  proceedings)  in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, those contemplated by
this Agreement, or as agreed to in writing by Acquirer;

        (e) any change in any method of accounting or accounting practice (other
than any change for tax  purposes)  by the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,
except for any such  change  which is not  significant  or which is  required by
reason of a concurrent change in GAAP; or

        (f) any (i) grant of any severance or  termination  pay to (or amendment
to any such existing arrangement with) any director,  officer or employee of the
Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries,  (ii)  entering  into  of any  employment,
deferred  compensation or other similar  agreement (or any amendment to any such
existing agreement) with any director, officer or employee of the Company or any
of its  Subsidiaries,  (iii)  increase in benefits  payable  under any  existing
severance or termination pay policies or employment  agreements or (iv) increase
in (or amendments to the terms of) compensation, bonus or other benefits payable
to directors,  officers or employees of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,
other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,  as
permitted by this Agreement, or as agreed to in writing by Acquirer.

        Section  3.11  No  Undisclosed  Material   Liabilities.   There  are  no
liabilities  of  the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  of the  Company  of any  kind
whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent,  absolute, determined,  determinable or
otherwise, other than:


<PAGE>

        (a) liabilities disclosed or provided for in the Company Balance Sheet
or in the notes thereto;

        (b) liabilities  which in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company;

        (c) liabilities  disclosed in the Company SEC Documents  filed prior to
the date hereof or set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter; and

        (d) liabilities under this Agreement.

        Section  3.12  Litigation.  Except  as  disclosed  in  the  Company  SEC
Documents  filed  prior  to  the  date  hereof,   there  is  no  action,   suit,
investigation or proceeding pending against,  or to the knowledge of the Company
threatened  against or affecting,  the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any
of  their  respective   properties   before  any  court  or  arbitrator  or  any
governmental body, agency or official which would reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

        Section  3.13 Taxes.  Except as set forth in the Company  Balance  Sheet
(including  the  notes  thereto)  or as  otherwise  set  forth  in  the  Company
Disclosure  Letter and except as would not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,
have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the  Company,  (i) all  Company  Tax Returns
required  to be filed  with any taxing  authority  by, or with  respect  to, the
Company and its  Subsidiaries  have been filed in accordance with all applicable
laws; (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries  have timely paid all Taxes shown as
due and payable on the Company Tax Returns  that have been so filed,  and, as of
the time of filing,  the  Company  Tax  Returns  correctly  reflected  the facts
regarding the income, business, assets, operations, activities and the status of
the Company and its Subsidiaries  (other than Taxes which are being contested in
good faith and for which adequate  reserves are reflected on the Company Balance
Sheet); (iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have made provision for all Taxes
payable by the Company and its  Subsidiaries for which no Company Tax Return has
yet been filed;  (iv) the charges,  accruals and reserves for Taxes with respect
to the Company and its  Subsidiaries  reflected on the Company Balance Sheet are
adequate  under  GAAP to cover the Tax  liabilities  accruing  through  the date
thereof; (v) there is no action, suit,  proceeding,  audit or claim now proposed
or pending against or with respect to the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries in
respect  of any Tax  where  there  is a  reasonable  possibility  of an  adverse
determination;  and  (vi) to the best of the  Company's  knowledge  and  belief,
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is liable for any Tax imposed on
any entity other than such Person,  except as the result of the  application  of
Treas.  Reg. Section  1.1502-6 (and any comparable  provision of the tax laws of
any state,  local or foreign  jurisdiction) to the affiliated group of which the
Company is the common parent. For purposes of this Agreement, "Taxes" shall mean
any and all  taxes,  charges,  fees,  levies  or other  assessments,  including,
without limitation, all net income, gross income, gross receipts, excise, stamp,
real  or  personal  property,  ad  valorem,  withholding,  social  security  (or
similar),  unemployment,  occupation,  use, service,  service use, license,  net
worth, payroll, franchise, severance, transfer, recording,  employment, premium,
windfall profits, environmental (including taxes under Section 59A of the Code),
customs duties, capital stock, profits, disability,  sales, registration,  value
added,  alternative or add-on minimum,  estimated or other taxes, assessments or
charges imposed by any federal,  state, local or foreign governmental entity and
any interest,  penalties, or additions to tax attributable thereto. For purposes
of this Agreement,  "Tax Returns" shall mean any return, report, form or similar
statement  required to be filed with respect to any Tax  (including any attached
schedules),  including,  without limitation,  any information return,  claim for
refund, amended return or declaration of estimated Tax.

        Section 3.14 Employee Benefit Plans. (a) Prior to the date hereof, the
Company has provided Acquirer with a list (set forth in the Company Disclosure
Letter) identifying each material "employee

                                       12

<PAGE>

benefit  plan," as defined in Section  3(3) of the  Employee  Retirement  Income
Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"),  each material employment,  severance or similar
contract,  plan,  arrangement  or  policy  applicable  to any  director,  former
director,  employee or former  employee of the Company and each material plan or
arrangement   (written   or  oral),   providing   for   compensation,   bonuses,
profit-sharing,  stock  option or other stock  related  rights or other forms of
incentive  or  deferred  compensation,  vacation  benefits,  insurance  coverage
(including  any  self-insured   arrangements),   health  or  medical   benefits,
disability benefits, workers' compensation,  supplemental unemployment benefits,
severance  benefits  and   post-employment  or  retirement  benefits  (including
compensation,  pension,  health,  medical or life insurance  benefits)  which is
maintained,  administered  or  contributed  to by the  Company  and  covers  any
employee  or director or former  employee or director of the  Company,  or under
which the Company has any  liability.  Such material  plans  (excluding any such
plan that is a  "multiemployer  plan," as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA) are
referred to collectively herein as the "Company Employee Plans."

        (b) Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure  Letter,  each Company
Employee  Plan has been  maintained  in  compliance  with its terms and with the
requirements  prescribed by any and all statutes,  orders, rules and regulations
(including  but not limited to ERISA and the Code) which are  applicable to such
Plan,  except  where  failure  to so comply  would not,  individually  or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

        (c) Neither the Company nor any  affiliate of the Company has incurred a
liability  under Title IV of ERISA that has not been  satisfied in full,  and no
condition  exists that  presents a material risk to the Company or any affiliate
of the Company of incurring any such liability other than liability for premiums
due the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (which premiums have been paid when
due).

        (d) All Company  Employee Plans that are intended to be qualified  under
Section  401(a) of the Code have been the  subject  of  determination,  opinion,
notification or advisory letters from the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") which
the Company has made  available to Acquirer.  Each such letter has the effect of
stating that each such  Company  Employee  Plan is qualified  and is exempt from
Federal income taxes under Section  501(a) of the Code.  The remedial  amendment
period with respect to each such Company  Employee  Plan has not expired for any
amendment to any such Company  Employee  Plan that was made on or after the date
of the  application  for the  determination,  opinion,  notification or advisory
letter. No such determination, opinion, notification or advisory letter has been
revoked,  nor has any  event  occurred  since the date of the most  recent  such
letter that would adversely affect its qualification, other than as set forth in
the Company Disclosure Letter.

        (e) Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter, no director or
officer or other employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  will become
entitled  to any  retirement,  severance  or  similar  benefit  or  enhanced  or
accelerated   benefit  (including  any  acceleration  of  vesting  or  lapse  of
repurchase  rights or  obligations  with respect to any employee stock option or
other benefit under any stock option plan or compensation plan or arrangement of
the Company) solely as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby.

        (f) Except as set forth in the  Company  Disclosure  Letter,  no Company
Employee  Plan  provides  post-retirement  health  and  medical,  life or  other
insurance  benefits  for  retired  employees  of  the  Company  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  (other  than  benefit  coverage  mandated by  applicable  statute,
including  benefits  provided  pursuant  to  the  Consolidated   Omnibus  Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985, as codified in Code section 4980B and ERISA sections
601 et seq., as amended from time to time ("COBRA")).

        (g) Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter, there has been
no amendment to, written interpretation or announcement (whether or not written)
by the Company or any of its affiliates relating

                                       13

<PAGE>

to, or change in employee  participation or coverage under, any Company Employee
Plan which would increase  materially  the expense of  maintaining  such Company
Employee Plan above the level of the expense incurred in respect thereof for the
12 months ended on the Company Balance Sheet Date.

        Section 3.15  Compliance  with Laws.  Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries  is in violation  of, or has since  January 1, 1999  violated,  any
applicable  provisions of any laws,  statutes,  ordinances or regulations except
for any violations that, individually or in the aggregate,  would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

        Section 3.16 Finders' or Advisors' Fees.  Except for Lazard Freres & Co.
and  Wasserstein  Perella & Co., Inc.,  there is no investment  banker,  broker,
finder or other  intermediary which has been retained by or is authorized to act
on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who might be entitled to any
fee or commission  in  connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement.

        Section 3.17 Environmental  Matters. (a) Except with such exceptions as,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  have not had, and would not  reasonably  be
expected  to have,  a Material  Adverse  Effect on the  Company,  (i) no notice,
notification,  demand, request for information,  citation, summons, complaint or
order  has  been  received  by,  and  no  investigation,  action,  claim,  suit,
proceeding  or review is pending or, to the  knowledge  of the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries,  threatened by any Person against,  the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, and no penalty has been assessed against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries,  in each case, with respect to any matters  relating to or arising
out of any Environmental Law; (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have
been  in  compliance  with  all  Environmental  Laws;  and  (iii)  there  are no
liabilities of or relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to
or arising out of any Environmental Law of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued,
contingent,  absolute,  determined,  determinable or otherwise,  and there is no
existing condition,  situation or set of circumstances which could reasonably be
expected to result in such a liability.

        (b) For  purposes  of this  Section  3.17  and  Section  4.17,  the term
"Environmental Laws" means any federal,  state, local and foreign statutes, laws
(including,  without limitation,  common law), judicial decisions,  regulations,
ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, codes, injunctions,  permits, governmental
agreements or governmental restrictions relating to human health and safety, the
environment or to pollutants, contaminants, wastes, or chemicals.

        Section 3.18 Labor Matters.  There are no  controversies  pending or, to
the best  knowledge  of each of the  Company  and its  respective  Subsidiaries,
threatened,  between  the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  and any of their
respective  employees,  which controversies have or could reasonably be expected
to  have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on the  Company.  As of the  date of this
Agreement,  neither the Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party to any
collective  bargaining  agreement or other labor union  contract  applicable  to
persons  employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries nor does the Company or its
Subsidiaries  know of any  activities  or  proceedings  of any  labor  union  to
organize any such employees (i) as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) which,
as of the Closing Date, have or could  reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse  Effect  on the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries.  As of the date of this
Agreement,  neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any knowledge of
any strikes,  slowdowns,  work stoppages or lockouts,  or threats thereof, by or
with respect to any employees of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  (x) as
of the date of this  Agreement and (y) which,  as of the Closing  Date,  have or
could  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Company
and its Subsidiaries.

        Section 3.19 Title to Property. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries
has good and marketable title to all of its material properties and assets, free
and clear of all Liens, except for liens

                                       14

<PAGE>

for taxes not yet due and payable and such liens or other imperfections of title
and use restrictions,  if any, as do not materially detract from the value of or
interfere  with the  present  use of the  property  affected  thereby  or which,
individually  or in the aggregate,  would not have a Material  Adverse Effect on
the Company.

        Section 3.20 Leaseholds. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has given or received  notice of any material  default under any material  lease
under  which  the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  is the  lessee  of real
property (each a "Company Lease" and collectively the "Company  Leases") and, to
the  knowledge of the Company,  neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries
nor any other party  thereto is in default in any material  respect under any of
the Company Leases.  All of the Company Leases are in full force and effect, and
are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms, except (i) as
limited by applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium and
other  laws of  general  application  affecting  enforcement  of  creditors'  or
lessors'  rights  generally  and  (ii)  as  limited  by  laws  relating  to  the
availability  of  specific  performance,  injunctive  relief or other  equitable
remedies.  Except as set forth in the  Company  Disclosure  Letter,  neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has leased, subleased, licensed or assigned,
as the case may be,  all or any  portion  of its  leasehold  interest  under any
Company Lease to any person.

        Section 3.21 Management Payments. Other than as set forth in the Company
Disclosure  Letter,  no  employee  or former  employee  of the  Company  will be
entitled to additional  compensation  or to the early vesting or acceleration of
payment  of  any  compensation  that  arises  out  of  or  are  related  to  the
consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby.

        Section 3.22 Intellectual Property. The Company or its Subsidiaries owns
each of the  patents  and patent  applications  referred  to in the  Company SEC
Documents  and,  except as set forth in the  Company SEC  Documents,  (i) to the
knowledge  of the  Company,  each of the  Company and its  Subsidiaries  owns or
possesses,  or could obtain  ownership or possession of (on terms not materially
adverse to the consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity, or results
of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole) adequate and
enforceable  rights to use all other  Intellectual  Property (as defined  below)
necessary for the conduct of their businesses, (ii) no claims are pending or, to
the knowledge of the Company,  threatened  that the Company or any Subsidiary is
infringing on or otherwise violating the rights of any Person with regard to any
Intellectual Property that, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or
finding, could reasonably be expected to (or, with respect to any pending patent
litigation,  the Company does not believe will) have a Material  Adverse  Effect
and the Company  knows of no basis  therefor,  and (iii) to the knowledge of the
Company,  no person is  infringing  on or otherwise  violating  any right of the
Company or any Subsidiary with respect to any Intellectual  Property owned by or
licensed  to the Company or any  Subsidiary.  Except as set forth in the Company
SEC Documents,  the Company has received no notice of potential indemnity claims
from  customers  based  upon a notice  of  infringement  any such  customer  has
received  from a patent  owner  relating to an assertion  of  infringement  of a
patent  other  than  potential  indemnity  claims  that  individually  or in the
aggregate  would not reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect.
The  Company's  policy  is to  require  that its  employees  execute  agreements
assigning  to the  Company  all rights such  employees  otherwise  would have in
Intellectual  Property  developed by such  employees  while in the employ of the
Company.

        For purposes of this Agreement, "Intellectual Property" shall mean, with
respect a Person, patents, copyrights, trademarks (registered and unregistered),
service marks,  brand names,  trade names, and registrations in any jurisdiction
of, and applications in any jurisdiction to register, the foregoing, technology,
know-how,  software,  and  tangible or  intangible  proprietary  information  or
materials and any other trade secrets related thereto.

                                       15

<PAGE>

        Section 3.23  Insurance.  The  insurance  carried by the Company and its
Subsidiaries  is in such  types  and  amounts  and  covering  such  risks as are
consistent  with  customary  practices  and  standards of  companies  engaged in
businesses and operations  similar to those of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Except as would not have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on the  Company,  all such
insurance  is in full force and effect  and none of the  Company  nor any of its
Subsidiaries  is in  default  thereunder.  Except as would  not have a  Material
Adverse Effect on the Company,  all claims  thereunder  have been filed in a due
and timely  fashion.  Except as would not have a Material  Adverse Effect on the
Company,  neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has been notified in
writing of a refusal of any  material  insurance  coverage  relating to products
liability  (including  renewals of any such products liability  coverage) by any
insurance  carrier to which it has applied for  insurance  during the past three
years.

        Section 3.24 Year 2000  Compliance.  Except as would not  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company,  all of the Company's
Information  Technology (as defined below)  effectively  addresses the Year 2000
Issues,  and will not cause an  interruption  in the ongoing  operations  of the
Company's  business on or after January 1, 2000. For purposes of this Agreement,
the term "Information Technology" shall mean and include all software, hardware,
firmware,  telecommunications  systems,  network  systems,  embedded systems and
other systems,  components and/or services that are owned or used by the Company
in the conduct of its  business,  and the term "Year 2000 Issues" shall mean the
question  of  whether  product  or  software  accurately  processes  and  stores
date/time  data   (including,   but  not  limited  to  calculating,   comparing,
displaying,  recording  and  sequencing  operations  involving  date/time  data)
during, from and into and between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries,  and
the years 1999 and 2000, including correct processing of leap year data.

        Section 3.25 Opinion of Financial Advisor.  The Company has received the
opinion of Wasserstein Perella & Co., Inc. to the effect that, as of the date of
such opinion,  the Exchange Ratio is fair from a financial  point of view to the
holders of Company  Shares  (other than Acquirer or any of its  Subsidiaries  or
affiliates), and, as of the date hereof, such opinion has not been withdrawn.

        Section 3.26 Tax  Treatment.  Neither the Company nor, to the  Company's
knowledge,  any of its  affiliates  has taken or agreed to take any action or is
aware of any fact or circumstance  that would prevent the Merger from qualifying
as a  reorganization  within  the  meaning  of  Section  368 of the Code (a "368
Reorganization").

        Section 3.27  Takeover  Statutes.  The Board of Directors of the Company
has taken the necessary action to make inapplicable  Section 203 of the Delaware
Law and any other  applicable  antitakeover  or similar statute or regulation to
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.



                                   ARTICLE IV
                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIRER

        Except as  disclosed  in a letter  delivered  by Acquirer to the Company
immediately  prior to the  execution  of this  Agreement  and  signed  by a duly
authorized  officer of Acquirer (the  "Acquirer  Disclosure  Letter"),  Acquirer
represents and warrants to the Company as follows (provided,  that the following
representations  and warranties  relating to Merger  Subsidiary shall instead be
made as of such time as Merger Subsidiary becomes a party hereto):

        Section 4.1  Organization and Qualification.  Each of Acquirer and
Merger Subsidiary is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware

                                       16

<PAGE>

and has all requisite  corporate  power and authority to own,  lease and operate
its respective properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.

        Each of Acquirer and Merger  Subsidiary is qualified to do business as a
foreign  corporation  and is in good  standing  under the laws of each  state or
other   jurisdiction  in  which  the  nature  of  its  business   requires  such
qualification,  except where the failure to be so qualified or in good  standing
which,  taken together with all other such  failures,  would not have a Material
Adverse Effect on Acquirer.

        Since the date of its  incorporation,  Merger Subsidiary has not engaged
in any  activities  other than in  connection  with or as  contemplated  by this
Agreement.  Acquirer has made available to the Company true and complete  copies
of Acquirer's and Merger Subsidiary's  certificate of incorporation and by-laws,
as amended to the date hereof.

        Section 4.2  Capitalization.  The  authorized  capital stock of Acquirer
consists of 120,000,000  shares of Acquirer Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of
preferred  stock,  par value  $.0001 per share,  of which  there are  designated
500,000  shares  of Series A  Participating  Preferred  Stock and the  remaining
shares of which have not been  designated.  As of May 31, 1999,  (i)  52,752,810
shares of Acquirer Common Stock were issued and  outstanding,  (ii) no shares of
Series A  Participating  Preferred Stock (all of which are reserved for issuance
in accordance with the Rights Agreement (the "Acquirer Rights  Agreement") dated
as of May 14, 1997,  between Acquirer and The First National Bank of Boston,  as
Rights  Agent,  pursuant to which  Acquirer  has issued  Rights  (the  "Acquirer
Rights") to purchase  Series A  Participating  Preferred  Stock) were issued and
outstanding,  and (iii) no  shares of  Acquirer  Common  Stock  were held in the
treasury of Acquirer or any of its Subsidiaries. As of June 21, 1999, 30,734,468
shares of Acquirer Common Stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to Acquirer's
plans  identified  in  the  Acquirer   Disclosure   Letter  as  being  the  only
compensation or benefit plans or agreements pursuant to which shares of Acquirer
Common Stock may be issued (collectively, the "Acquirer Stock Option Plans"), of
which stock options to purchase  15,730,732 shares of Acquirer Common Stock have
been granted and are  outstanding  (of which options to purchase an aggregate of
6,283,522  shares were  exercisable).  All the outstanding  shares of Acquirer's
capital  stock are,  and all shares of Acquirer  Common Stock that may be issued
pursuant to the exercise of outstanding  employee stock options and  convertible
securities  will be,  when issued in  accordance  with the terms  thereof,  duly
authorized,  validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.  Except as disclosed
in the  Acquirer  Disclosure  Letter and except for  changes  since the close of
business on May 31, 1999,  there are  outstanding (x) no shares of capital stock
or  other  voting  securities  of  Acquirer,   (y)  no  securities  of  Acquirer
convertible  into  or  exchangeable  for  shares  of  capital  stock  or  voting
securities of Acquirer, and (z) no options,  warrants or other rights to acquire
from  Acquirer,  and no  preemptive  or similar  rights,  subscription  or other
rights, convertible securities,  agreements,  arrangements or commitments of any
character,  relating to the capital  stock of Acquirer,  obligating  Acquirer to
issue,  transfer or sell,  any capital  stock,  voting  securities or securities
convertible  into or  exchangeable  for capital  stock or voting  securities  of
Acquirer or obligating  Acquirer to grant, extend or enter into any such option,
warrant,   subscription  or  other  right,   convertible  security,   agreement,
arrangement or commitment  (the items in clauses (x), (y) and (z) being referred
to  collectively  as the  "Acquirer  Securities").  Except  as set  forth in the
Acquirer Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding  obligations of Acquirer or
any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase,  redeem or otherwise acquire any Acquirer
Securities.  There are not as of the date  hereof  and there  will not be at the
Effective Time any stockholder agreements,  voting trusts or other agreements or
understandings  to which  Acquirer or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party or by
which it is bound  relating to the voting of any shares of the capital  stock of
Acquirer  or any  agreements,  arrangements,  or other  understandings  to which
Acquirer or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound that will
limit in any way the  solicitation  of proxies by or on behalf of Acquirer from,
or the casting of votes by, the  stockholders  of Acquirer  with  respect to the
Merger.

                                       17

<PAGE>

        Section 4.3 Authority.  Each of Acquirer and Merger  Subsidiary has full
corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject
to the requisite  approval of its  stockholders,  to consummate the transactions
contemplated  hereby.  The  execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement  and the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
authorized  and approved by the  respective  Boards of Directors of Acquirer and
Merger   Subsidiary,   and  except  for  any  required  approval  by  Acquirer's
stockholders of (i) the Merger, (ii) the amendment of Acquirer's  certificate of
incorporation  to increase the number of  authorized  shares of Acquirer  Common
Stock to 175,000,000,  (iii) the issuance of Acquirer Common Stock in connection
with the  Merger,  and (iv) the  election  of the  Company  Board  Designees  to
Acquirer's  Board of  Directors  (clauses  (i),  (ii),  (iii) and (iv) being the
"Acquirer Stockholder  Approval"),  no other corporate proceedings are necessary
to authorize this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.  This  Agreement  has been duly and validly  executed  and  delivered by
Acquirer and Merger Subsidiary and, assuming this Agreement constitutes a legal,
valid and binding agreement of the other parties hereto, it constitutes a legal,
valid and binding  agreement of Acquirer,  enforceable  against it in accordance
with its terms,  except (i) as limited  by  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium  and other  laws of  general  application  affecting
enforcement of creditors'  rights generally and (ii) as limited by laws relating
to  the  availability  of  specific  performance,  injunctive  relief  or  other
equitable remedies.

        Section 4.4  Governmental  Authorization.  The  execution,  delivery and
performance  by  Acquirer  and  Merger  Subsidiary  of  this  Agreement  and the
consummation of the Merger by Acquirer and Merger Subsidiary  require no consent
of, or filing with, any governmental body,  agency,  official or authority other
than (a) the filing of a certificate of merger in accordance  with Delaware Law,
(b) compliance  with any applicable  requirements of the HSR Act, (c) compliance
with any applicable  requirements  of the Exchange Act, (d) compliance  with any
applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and state securities laws, and (e) other
actions or filings which if not taken or made would not,  individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquirer.

        Section 4.5 Non-Contravention.  The execution,  delivery and performance
by Acquirer and Merger  Subsidiary  of this  Agreement and the  consummation  by
Acquirer and Merger  Subsidiary of the transactions  contemplated  hereby do not
and will not (a)  assuming  compliance  with the matters  referred to in Section
4.3,  contravene or conflict with the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of
Acquirer or Merger Subsidiary, (b) assuming compliance with the matters referred
to in Section 4.4,  contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any
provision of any law, regulation,  judgment, injunction, order or decree binding
upon or  applicable  to Acquirer or any of its  Subsidiaries,  (c)  constitute a
default  under  or  give  rise  to  a  right  of  termination,  cancellation  or
acceleration  of any right or obligation of Acquirer or any of its  Subsidiaries
or to a loss of any  benefit to which  Acquirer  or any of its  Subsidiaries  is
entitled  under any  provision of any  agreement,  contract or other  instrument
binding upon  Acquirer or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any  license,  franchise,
permit  or  other  similar   authorization  held  by  Acquirer  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries,  or (d) result in the  creation or  imposition  of any Lien on any
asset of Acquirer or any of its  Subsidiaries,  except for such  contraventions,
conflicts  or  violations  referred  to in  clause  (b) or  defaults,  rights of
termination,  cancellation  or  acceleration,  or losses or Liens referred to in
clause (c) or (d) that  would  not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a
Material  Adverse  Effect on  Acquirer.  Except  as  disclosed  in the  Acquirer
Disclosure Letter, neither Acquirer nor any Subsidiary of Acquirer is a party to
any agreement that expressly limits the ability of Acquirer or any Subsidiary of
Acquirer  to compete  in or conduct  any line of  business  or compete  with any
Person or in any  geographic  area or during  any  period of time  except to the
extent that any such limitation,  individually or in the aggregate, would not be
reasonably  likely  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on  Acquirer  after the
Effective Time.

        Section 4.6  Subsidiaries.  Each of Acquirer's Subsidiaries is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has all requisite

                                       18

<PAGE>

corporate  power and authority to own,  lease and operate its  properties and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted.  Each of the Subsidiaries is
duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business, and is in good standing,
in each  jurisdiction  where the character of its properties  owned or leased or
the nature of its activities makes such  qualification  necessary,  except where
the failure to be so  qualified  or in good  standing  would not have a Material
Adverse Effect on Acquirer.  Exhibit 21 to Acquirer's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 (the "Acquirer 10-K"), as filed with
the SEC,  lists the only  Subsidiaries  of Acquirer at December 31,  1998,  and,
except for Merger Subsidiary,  all Subsidiaries of Acquirer thereafter formed or
acquired are listed in the Acquirer  Disclosure  Letter.  All of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Subsidiaries  are validly issued,  fully paid and
nonassessable  and,  other  than  directors'  qualifying  shares  in the case of
foreign  Subsidiaries,  are owned by Acquirer or by a wholly owned Subsidiary of
Acquirer free and clear of all material liens, claims,  charges or encumbrances,
and there are no irrevocable proxies with respect to such shares.  Except as set
forth in the Acquirer  Disclosure Letter and except for the capital stock of its
Subsidiaries,  Acquirer does not own, directly or indirectly,  any capital stock
or other  ownership  interest in any  corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,
limited  liability  company or other entity which is material to the business of
Acquirer  and  its  Subsidiaries,  taken  as a  whole.  There  are  no  material
restrictions on Acquirer to vote the stock of any of its Subsidiaries.

        Section 4.7 SEC Filings.  (a) Acquirer has made available to the Company
(i) its annual  reports on Form 10-K for its fiscal  years  ended  December  31,
1996,  1997 and 1998,  (ii) its  quarterly  reports on Form 10-Q for its quarter
ended March 31,  1999,  (iii) its proxy or  information  statements  relating to
meetings of, or actions taken without a meeting by, the stockholders of Acquirer
held since  December 31, 1998,  and (iv) all of its other  reports,  statements,
schedules and registration statements filed with the SEC since December 31, 1998
(the documents referred to in this Section 4.7(a) being referred to collectively
as the "Acquirer SEC Documents").  Acquirer's  quarterly report on Form 10-Q for
its fiscal  quarter  ended March 31, 1998 is referred to herein as the "Acquirer
10-Q."

        (b) As of its filing date,  each  Acquirer  SEC Document  complied as to
form in all material  respects with the applicable  requirements of the Exchange
Act and the 1933 Act.

        (c) As of its filing date,  each Acquirer SEC Document filed pursuant to
the Exchange Act did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state  any  material  fact  necessary  in order to make the  statements  made
therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  under  which they were  made,  not
misleading.

        (d) Each such  registration  statement,  as amended or supplemented,  if
applicable,  filed  pursuant  to the 1933 Act as of the date such  statement  or
amendment  became  effective did not contain any untrue  statement of a material
fact or omit to state  any  material  fact  required  to be  stated  therein  or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

        Section 4.8 Financial  Statements.  The audited  consolidated  financial
statements and unaudited  consolidated  interim financial statements of Acquirer
(including  any related notes and  schedules)  included in its annual reports on
Form 10-K and the  quarterly  report on Form 10-Q  referred  to in  Section  4.7
fairly present in all material  respects,  in conformity  with GAAP applied on a
consistent  basis  (except  as  may be  indicated  in the  notes  thereto),  the
consolidated financial position of Acquirer and its consolidated Subsidiaries as
of the dates thereof and their consolidated results of operations and changes in
financial  position  for the  periods  then ended  (subject  to normal  year-end
adjustments  and the  absence  of  notes in the  case of any  unaudited  interim
financial statements). For purposes of this Agreement,  "Acquirer Balance Sheet"
means the consolidated  balance sheet of Acquirer as of March 31, 1999 set forth
in Acquirer 10-Q and "Acquirer Balance Sheet Date" means March 31, 1999.

                                       19

<PAGE>

        Section 4.9 Disclosure Documents. (a) The Joint Proxy Statement/
Prospectus to be filed with the SEC in connection with the Merger and the Form
S-4 to be filed under the 1933 Act relating to the issuance of Acquirer Common
Stock in the Merger, and any amendments or supplements thereto, will, when
filed, subject to the last sentence of Section 4.9(b), comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the 1933 Act.

        (b) Neither the Joint  Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  to be filed with the
SEC, nor any amendment or supplement thereto,  will, at the date the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus  or any such  amendment  or  supplement  is first mailed to
stockholders of Acquirer or at the time such  stockholders  vote on the adoption
and approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, contain
any untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state any  material  fact
necessary  in  order  to  make  the  statements  therein,  in the  light  of the
circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading.  Neither the Form S-4
nor any  amendment or supplement  thereto will at the time it becomes  effective
under the 1933 Act or at the  Effective  Time contain any untrue  statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or
necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading.  No  representation or
warranty is made by Acquirer in this Section 4.9 with respect to statements made
or  incorporated  by  reference  therein  based on  information  supplied by the
Company  for  inclusion  or  incorporation  by  reference  in  the  Joint  Proxy
Statement/Prospectus or the Form S-4.

        Section  4.10  Absence  of Certain  Changes.  Except as set forth in the
Acquirer Disclosure Letter,  since Acquirer Balance Sheet Date, Acquirer and its
Subsidiaries  have conducted  their business in the ordinary  course  consistent
with past practice and there has not been:

        (a) any event,  occurrence or development of a state of circumstances or
facts which has had or reasonably would be expected to have,  individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Acquirer;

        (b) any  declaration,  setting aside or payment of any dividend or other
distribution  with  respect to any shares of capital  stock of  Acquirer  or any
repurchase,   redemption  or  other  acquisition  by  Acquirer  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries of any outstanding  shares of capital stock or other securities of,
or other ownership interests in, Acquirer or any of its Subsidiaries;

        (c) any  amendment of any material term of any  outstanding  security of
Acquirer or any of its Subsidiaries;

        (d) any  transaction or commitment  made, or any contract,  agreement or
settlement entered into, by (or judgment, order or decree affecting) Acquirer or
any of its  Subsidiaries  relating  to its  assets or  business  (including  the
acquisition or disposition of any assets) or any  relinquishment  by Acquirer or
any of its Subsidiaries of any contract or other right, in either case, material
to Acquirer  and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  other than  transactions,
commitments,  contracts, agreements or settlements (including without limitation
settlements  of  litigation  and tax  proceedings)  in the  ordinary  course  of
business consistent with past practice, those contemplated by this Agreement, or
as agreed to in writing by the Company;

        (e) any change in any method of accounting or accounting practice (other
than any change for tax purposes) by Acquirer or any of its Subsidiaries, except
for any such change which is not significant or which is required by reason of a
concurrent change in GAAP; or

        (f) any (i) grant of any severance or  termination  pay to (or amendment
to any such  existing  arrangement  with) any  director,  officer or employee of
Acquirer or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) entering

                                       20

<PAGE>

into of any employment, deferred compensation or other similar agreement (or any
amendment to any such existing agreement) with any director, officer or employee
of Acquirer or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) increase in benefits payable under
any existing  severance or termination pay policies or employment  agreements or
(iv) increase in (or  amendments to the terms of)  compensation,  bonus or other
benefits  payable to directors,  officers or employees of Acquirer or any of its
Subsidiaries, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice,  as  permitted  by this  Agreement,  or as agreed to in writing by the
Company.

        Section  4.11  No  Undisclosed  Material   Liabilities.   There  are  no
liabilities  of Acquirer or any  Subsidiary of Acquirer of any kind  whatsoever,
whether accrued, contingent,  absolute,  determined,  determinable or otherwise,
other than:

        (a) liabilities disclosed or provided for in Acquirer Balance Sheet or
in the notes thereto;

        (b) liabilities  which in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquirer;

        (c)  liabilities  disclosed in Acquirer SEC Documents filed prior to the
date hereof or set forth in the Acquirer Disclosure Letter; and

        (d) liabilities under this Agreement.

        Section 4.12  Litigation.  Except as disclosed in Acquirer SEC Documents
filed  prior to the date  hereof,  there is no action,  suit,  investigation  or
proceeding pending against,  or to the knowledge of Acquirer  threatened against
or affecting,  Acquirer or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any of their  respective
properties  before any court or arbitrator or any governmental  body,  agency or
official which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Acquirer.

        Section 4.13 Taxes.  Except as set forth in the Acquirer  Balance  Sheet
(including  the  notes  thereto)  or as  otherwise  set  forth  in the  Acquirer
Disclosure  Letter and except as would not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,
have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on  Acquirer,  (i) all  Acquirer  Tax  Returns
required to be filed with any taxing  authority by, or with respect to, Acquirer
and its  Subsidiaries  have been filed in accordance  with all applicable  laws;
(ii) Acquirer and its  Subsidiaries  have timely paid all Taxes shown as due and
payable on Acquirer Tax Returns that have been so filed,  and, as of the time of
filing, Acquirer Tax Returns correctly reflected the facts regarding the income,
business,  assets,  operations,  activities  and the status of Acquirer  and its
Subsidiaries  (other than Taxes which are being  contested in good faith and for
which  adequate  reserves are reflected on the Acquirer  Balance  Sheet);  (iii)
Acquirer  and its  Subsidiaries  have made  provision  for all Taxes  payable by
Acquirer  and its  Subsidiaries  for which no  Acquirer  Tax Return has yet been
filed;  (iv) the  charges,  accruals  and  reserves  for Taxes  with  respect to
Acquirer  and its  Subsidiaries  reflected  on the  Acquirer  Balance  Sheet are
adequate  under  GAAP to cover the Tax  liabilities  accruing  through  the date
thereof; (v) there is no action, suit,  proceeding,  audit or claim now proposed
or pending  against or with  respect to Acquirer or any of its  Subsidiaries  in
respect  of any Tax  where  there  is a  reasonable  possibility  of an  adverse
determination;  and (vi) to the best of Acquirer's knowledge and belief, neither
Acquirer nor any of its Subsidiaries is liable for any Tax imposed on any entity
other than such Person,  except as the result of the application of Treas.  Reg.
Section  1.1502-6  (and any  comparable  provision of the tax laws of any state,
local or foreign  jurisdiction) to the affiliated group of which Acquirer is the
common parent.

        Section 4.14  Employee Benefit Plans.  (a) Prior to the date hereof,
Acquirer has provided the Company with a list (set forth in the Acquirer
Disclosure Letter) identifying each material "employee

                                       21

<PAGE>

benefit  plan," as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA,  each material  employment,
severance or similar  contract,  plan,  arrangement or policy  applicable to any
director,  former  director,  employee or former  employee of Acquirer  and each
material plan or  arrangement  (written or oral),  providing  for  compensation,
bonuses,  profit-sharing,  stock option or other stock  related  rights or other
forms of  incentive  or  deferred  compensation,  vacation  benefits,  insurance
coverage (including any self-insured arrangements),  health or medical benefits,
disability benefits, workers' compensation,  supplemental unemployment benefits,
severance  benefits  and   post-employment  or  retirement  benefits  (including
compensation,  pension,  health,  medical or life insurance  benefits)  which is
maintained,  administered  or contributed to by Acquirer and covers any employee
or director or former employee or director of Acquirer,  or under which Acquirer
has any  liability.  Such  material  plans  (excluding  any such  plan that is a
"multiemployer  plan," as  defined in Section  3(37) of ERISA) are  referred  to
collectively herein as the "Acquirer Employee Plans."

        (b) Except as set forth in the Acquirer Disclosure Letter, each Acquirer
Employee  Plan has been  maintained  in  compliance  with its terms and with the
requirements  prescribed by any and all statutes,  orders, rules and regulations
(including  but not limited to ERISA and the Code) which are  applicable to such
Plan,  except  where  failure  to so comply  would not,  individually  or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquirer.

        (c)  Neither  Acquirer  nor any  affiliate  of Acquirer  has  incurred a
liability  under Title IV of ERISA that has not been  satisfied in full,  and no
condition  exists that  presents a material risk to Acquirer or any affiliate of
Acquirer of incurring any such  liability  other than liability for premiums due
the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation  (which premiums have been paid when
due).

        (d) All Acquirer  Employee Plans that are intended to be qualified under
Section  401(a) of the Code have been the  subject  of  determination,  opinion,
notification or advisory  letters from the IRS which Acquirer has made available
to the  Company.  Each such  letter  has the  effect of  stating  that each such
Acquirer  Employee  Plan is qualified  and is exempt from  Federal  income taxes
under Section 501(a) of the Code. The remedial  amendment period with respect to
each such  Acquirer  Employee Plan has not expired for any amendment to any such
Acquirer Employee Plan that was made on or after the date of the application for
the   determination,   opinion,   notification  or  advisory  letter.   No  such
determination,  opinion,  notification or advisory letter has been revoked,  nor
has any event  occurred since the date of the most recent such letter that would
adversely  affect its  qualification,  other  than as set forth in the  Acquirer
Disclosure Letter.

        (e) Except as set forth in the Acquirer  Disclosure  Letter, no director
or officer or other employee of Acquirer or any of its Subsidiaries  will become
entitled  to any  retirement,  severance  or  similar  benefit  or  enhanced  or
accelerated   benefit  (including  any  acceleration  of  vesting  or  lapse  of
repurchase  rights or  obligations  with respect to any employee stock option or
other benefit under any stock option plan or compensation plan or arrangement of
Acquirer) solely as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby.

        (f) Except as  reflected in Acquirer  SEC  Documents  filed prior to the
date hereof,  no Acquirer  Employee  Plan  provides  post-retirement  health and
medical,  life or other insurance  benefits for retired employees of Acquirer or
any of its  Subsidiaries  (other than benefit  coverage  mandated by  applicable
statute, including benefits provided pursuant to COBRA).

        (g) Except as set forth in the  Acquirer  Disclosure  Letter,  there has
been no amendment to, written  interpretation  or  announcement  (whether or not
written) by Acquirer or any of its affiliates relating to, or change in employee
participation or coverage under, any Acquirer Employee Plan which would

                                       22

<PAGE>

increase materially the expense of maintaining such Acquirer Employee Plan above
the level of the expense  incurred in respect thereof for the 12 months ended on
the Acquirer Balance Sheet Date.

        Section  4.15  Compliance  with Laws.  Neither  Acquirer  nor any of its
Subsidiaries  is in violation  of, or has since  January 1, 1999  violated,  any
applicable  provisions of any laws,  statutes,  ordinances or regulations except
for any violations that, individually or in the aggregate,  would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquirer.

        Section 4.16  Finders' or  Advisors'  Fees.  Except for Lehman  Brothers
Inc., there is no investment banker,  broker, finder or other intermediary which
has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of Acquirer or any of its
Subsidiaries  who might be entitled to any fee or commission in connection  with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

        Section  4.17  Environmental  Matters.  Except for such  exceptions  as,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  have not had, and would not  reasonably  be
expected  to have,  a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  Acquirer,  (i) no  notice,
notification,  demand, request for information,  citation, summons, complaint or
order  has  been  received  by,  and  no  investigation,  action,  claim,  suit,
proceeding  or review is pending or, to the  knowledge of Acquirer or any of its
Subsidiaries,  threatened  by  any  Person  against,  Acquirer  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries,  and no penalty has been assessed  against  Acquirer or any of its
Subsidiaries,  in each case, with respect to any matters  relating to or arising
out of any  Environmental  Law; (ii) Acquirer and its  Subsidiaries are and have
been  in  compliance  with  all  Environmental  Laws;  and  (iii)  there  are no
liabilities of or relating to Acquirer or any of its Subsidiaries relating to or
arising out of any  Environmental  Law of any kind whatsoever,  whether accrued,
contingent,  absolute,  determined,  determinable or otherwise,  and there is no
existing condition,  situation or set of circumstances which could reasonably be
expected to result in such a liability.

        Section 4.18 Labor Matters.  There are no  controversies  pending or, to
the  best  knowledge  of  each of  Acquirer  and  its  respective  Subsidiaries,
threatened,  between  Acquirer  or any  of its  Subsidiaries  and  any of  their
respective  employees,  which controversies have or could reasonably be expected
to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  of the  Acquirer.  As of the  date of this
Agreement,  neither  Acquirer  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is a  party  to any
collective  bargaining  agreement or other labor union  contract  applicable  to
persons  employed  by  Acquirer  or its  Subsidiaries  nor does  Acquirer or its
Subsidiaries  know of any  activities  or  proceedings  of any  labor  union  to
organize any such employees (i) as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) which,
as of the Closing Date, have or could  reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse  Effect  on  Acquirer  and  its  Subsidiaries.  As of the  date  of this
Agreement, neither Acquirer nor any of its Subsidiaries has any knowledge of any
strikes,  slowdowns,  work stoppages or lockouts, or threats thereof, by or with
respect to any  employees of Acquirer or any of its  Subsidiaries  (x) as of the
date of this  Agreement  and (y) which,  as of the Closing  Date,  have or could
reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on Acquirer  and its
Subsidiaries.

        Section  4.19 Title to Property.  Acquirer and each of its  Subsidiaries
has good and marketable title to all of its material properties and assets, free
and clear of all Liens,  except for liens for taxes not yet due and  payable and
such liens or other  imperfections of title and use restrictions,  if any, as do
not  materially  detract from the value of or interfere  with the present use of
the property affected thereby or which, individually or in the aggregate,  would
not have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquirer.

        Section 4.20  Leaseholds.  Neither  Acquirer nor any of its Subsidiaries
has given or received  notice of any material  default under any material  lease
under which Acquirer or any of its  Subsidiaries  is the lessee of real property
(each an "Acquirer Lease" and  collectively  the "Acquirer  Leases") and, to the
knowledge of Acquirer,  neither  Acquirer  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  nor any
other party thereto

                                       23

<PAGE>

is in default in any material respect under any of the Acquirer  Leases.  All of
the  Acquirer  Leases are in full force and effect,  and are valid,  binding and
enforceable in accordance with their terms,  except (i) as limited by applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium  and other laws of general
application affecting enforcement of creditors' or lessors' rights generally and
(ii) as limited by laws relating to the  availability  of specific  performance,
injunctive  relief  or other  equitable  remedies.  Except  as set  forth in the
Acquirer  Disclosure  Letter,  neither  Acquirer nor any of its Subsidiaries has
leased, subleased,  licensed or assigned, as the case may be, all or any portion
of its leasehold interest under any Acquirer Lease to any person.

        Section  4.21  Management  Payments.  Other  than  as set  forth  in the
Acquirer  Disclosure  Letter, no employee or former employee of Acquirer will be
entitled to additional  compensation  or to the early vesting or acceleration of
payment  of  any  compensation  that  arises  out  of  or  are  related  to  the
consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby.

        Section 4.22  Intellectual  Property.  Acquirer or its Subsidiaries owns
each of the patents and patent  applications  referred  to in the  Acquirer  SEC
Documents  and,  except as set forth in the Acquirer SEC  Documents,  (i) to the
knowledge of Acquirer,  each of Acquirer and its Subsidiaries owns or possesses,
or could obtain  ownership or possession of (on terms not materially  adverse to
the  consolidated  financial  position,  stockholders'  equity,  or  results  of
operations  of Acquirer  and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole)  adequate  and
enforceable  rights to use all other  Intellectual  Property  necessary  for the
conduct of their businesses,  (ii) no claims are pending or, to the knowledge of
Acquirer,  threatened  that  Acquirer  or any  Subsidiary  is  infringing  on or
otherwise  violating  the rights of any Person with  regard to any  Intellectual
Property  that, if the subject of an  unfavorable  decision,  ruling or finding,
could  reasonably  be  expected  to (or,  with  respect  to any  pending  patent
litigation,  Acquirer does not believe will) have a Material  Adverse Effect and
Acquirer knows of no basis therefor,  and (iii) to the knowledge of Acquirer, no
person is  infringing  on or  otherwise  violating  any right of Acquirer or any
Subsidiary  with respect to any  Intellectual  Property  owned by or licensed to
Acquirer or any  Subsidiary.  Except as set forth in the Acquirer SEC Documents,
Acquirer  has received no notice of potential  indemnity  claims from  customers
based upon a notice of infringement any such customer has received from a patent
owner relating to an assertion of  infringement of a patent other than potential
indemnity  claims that  individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Acquirer's policy is to require that
its employees execute agreements assigning to Acquirer all rights such employees
otherwise would have in Intellectual  Property developed by such employees while
in the employ of Acquirer.

        Section  4.23  Insurance.  The  insurance  carried by  Acquirer  and its
Subsidiaries  is in such  types  and  amounts  and  covering  such  risks as are
consistent  with  customary  practices  and  standards of  companies  engaged in
businesses  and  operations  similar to those of Acquirer and its  Subsidiaries.
Except  as would  not have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  Acquirer,  all such
insurance  is in full  force  and  effect  and none of  Acquirer  nor any of its
Subsidiaries  is in  default  thereunder.  Except as would  not have a  Material
Adverse Effect on Acquirer,  all claims  thereunder have been filed in a due and
timely fashion.  Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquirer,
neither  Acquirer nor any of its  Subsidiaries has been notified in writing of a
refusal of any  material  insurance  coverage  relating  to  products  liability
(including  renewals of any such products  liability  coverage) by any insurance
carrier to which it has applied for insurance during the past three years.

        Section 4.24 Year 2000  Compliance.  Except as would not  reasonably  be
expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on  Acquirer,  all of  Acquirer's
Information  Technology effectively addresses the Year 2000 Issues, and will not
cause an  interruption  in the ongoing  operations of Acquirer's  business on or
after January 1, 2000.

                                       24

<PAGE>

        Section  4.25 Opinion of  Financial  Advisor.  Acquirer has received the
opinion  of Lehman  Brothers  Inc.  to the effect  that,  as of the date of such
opinion,  the Exchange Ratio is fair from a financial point of view to Acquirer,
and, as of the date hereof, such opinion has not been withdrawn.

        Section  4.26  Tax  Treatment.   Neither  Acquirer  nor,  to  Acquirer's
knowledge,  any of its  affiliates  has taken or agreed to take any action or is
aware of any fact or circumstance  that would prevent the Merger from qualifying
as a 368 Reorganization.


                                    ARTICLE V
                            COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

        Section 5.1 Conduct of Business of the Company.  Except as  contemplated
by this Agreement or as expressly  agreed to in writing by Acquirer,  during the
period from the date of this Agreement to the earlier of the termination of this
Agreement  in  accordance  with  Article  IX (the  "Termination  Date")  and the
Effective  Time,  each of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  will  conduct its
operations  according to its ordinary  course of business  consistent  with past
practice,  and will use all commercially  reasonable  efforts to preserve intact
its business  organization,  to keep  available the services of its officers and
employees   and  to  maintain   satisfactory   relationships   with   suppliers,
distributors,  customers and others having  business  relationships  with it and
will take no action which would  materially  adversely affect the ability of the
parties to consummate the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement.  Without
limiting the  generality  of the  foregoing,  and except as otherwise  expressly
provided in this  Agreement,  prior to earlier of the  Termination  Date and the
Effective Time, the Company will not nor will it permit any of its  Subsidiaries
to, without the prior written consent of Acquirer:

        (a) amend its certificate of incorporation or by-laws;

        (b) authorize for issuance, issue, sell, deliver, grant any options for,
or otherwise  agree or commit to issue,  sell or deliver any shares of any class
of its capital stock or any securities  convertible  into shares of any class of
its capital  stock,  except (i) pursuant to and in accordance  with the terms of
currently  outstanding  convertible  securities  and  options,  and (ii) options
granted under the Company Stock Option Plans, in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice (but in no event shall options be granted covering
more than 5,000 Company Shares per  individual or 100,000  Company Shares in the
aggregate);

        (c)  split,  combine or  reclassify  any  shares of its  capital  stock,
declare,  set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution  (whether in cash,
stock  or  property  (including  stock  of any  Subsidiary)  or any  combination
thereof)  in respect  of its  capital  stock or  purchase,  redeem or  otherwise
acquire any shares of its own capital  stock or any of its  Subsidiaries,  other
than the  repurchase at cost of shares of employees  upon  termination  of their
employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries;

        (d) except in the  ordinary  course of  business,  consistent  with past
practice (i) create,  incur,  assume,  maintain or permit to exist any long-term
debt or any  short-term  debt for borrowed money other than under existing lines
of credit,  except for any loans to be made by Acquirer to the Company  pursuant
to the Credit  Agreement  dated as of June 11,  1999,  as amended;  (ii) assume,
guarantee,  endorse or otherwise become liable or responsible (whether directly,
contingently  or otherwise)  for the  obligations of any other person except its
wholly owned Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practices;  or (iii) make any loans,  advances or capital contributions to,
or investments in, any other person;


                                       25

<PAGE>

        (e) except as otherwise  expressly  contemplated by this Agreement or in
the ordinary course of business,  consistent with past practice, (i) increase in
any  manner  the  compensation  of any  of  its  directors,  officers  or  other
employees;  (ii) pay or agree to pay any pension,  retirement allowance or other
employee  benefit  not  required,  or enter  into or  agree  to  enter  into any
agreement or arrangement with such director,  officer or employee,  whether past
or present, relating to any such pension, retirement allowance or other employee
benefit,  except as  required  under  currently  existing  agreements,  plans or
arrangements; (iii) grant any severance or termination pay to, or enter into any
employment or severance  agreement with any of its directors,  officers or other
employees;  or (iv) except as may be required  to comply  with  applicable  law,
become  obligated  (other  than  pursuant  to  any  new  or  renewed  collective
bargaining  agreement) under any new pension plan,  welfare plan,  multiemployer
plan,   employee  benefit  plan,  benefit   arrangement,   or  similar  plan  or
arrangement, which was not in existence on the date hereof, including any bonus,
incentive,   deferred   compensation,   stock  purchase,   stock  option,  stock
appreciation right, group insurance,  severance pay, retirement or other benefit
plan,  agreement or arrangement,  or employment or consulting  agreement with or
for the  benefit  of any  person,  and to amend any of such plans or any of such
agreements in existence on the date hereof;

        (f) except as otherwise  expressly  contemplated  by this  Agreement and
except with respect to commitments or  liabilities  incurred in connection  with
this  Agreement  and  the  transactions   contemplated  hereby,   including  the
incurrence of legal, accounting and investment banking fees and expenses,  enter
into any  other  material  agreements,  commitments  or  contracts,  other  than
agreements, commitments or contracts for the purchase, sale or lease of goods or
services in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice;

        (g) except in the  ordinary  course of  business,  consistent  with past
practice, or as contemplated by this Agreement authorize,  recommend, propose or
announce an intention  to  authorize,  recommend  or propose,  or enter into any
agreement in principle or an agreement  with respect to, any plan of liquidation
or  dissolution,  any  acquisition of a material amount of assets or securities,
any sale, transfer,  lease, license,  pledge,  mortgage, or other disposition or
encumbrance of a material  amount of assets or securities or any material change
in its capitalization, or any entry into a material contract or any amendment or
modification of any material  contract or any release or  relinquishment  of any
material contract rights; or

        (h) agree to do any of the foregoing.

        Section 5.2 No Solicitation. The Company agrees that, from and after the
date of this  Agreement  until  the  earlier  of the  Termination  Date  and the
Effective Time,  neither it nor any of its  Subsidiaries nor any of the officers
or directors of it or its Subsidiaries,  nor its or their employees,  investment
bankers,   attorneys,   accountants,   financial   advisors,   agents  or  other
representatives (collectively, "Representatives"), shall directly or indirectly,
initiate,  solicit or otherwise  induce any inquiries or the making of a Company
Acquisition Proposal (as defined below). The Company further agrees that neither
it nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of its or its  Subsidiaries'  officers or
directors shall, and that it shall direct and use its best reasonable efforts to
cause its Representatives  not to, directly or indirectly,  have any discussions
with or provide any confidential information or data to any Person relating to a
Company Acquisition Proposal or engage in any negotiations  concerning a Company
Acquisition  Proposal,  or otherwise facilitate any effort or attempt to make or
implement  a Company  Acquisition  Proposal;  provided,  however,  that  nothing
contained in this Agreement  shall prevent the Company or its Board of Directors
from (i)  making  any  disclosure  to its  stockholders  if,  in the good  faith
judgment of its Board of Directors, failure so to disclose would be inconsistent
with its obligations  under  applicable law; (ii) negotiating with or furnishing
information to any Person who has made a bona fide written  Company  Acquisition
Proposal which did not result from a breach of this Section 5.2; or (iii)

                                       26

<PAGE>

recommending such Company Acquisition Proposal to its stockholders,  if and only
to the extent that, in the case of actions  referred to in clause (ii) or clause
(iii),  such  Company  Acquisition  Proposal is a Superior  Proposal (as defined
below) and Acquirer is given at least two business  days' notice of the identity
of the  third  party  and all  material  terms and  conditions  of the  Superior
Proposal to respond to such Superior Proposal.  The Company agrees that it will,
on the date hereof,  immediately  cease and cause to be terminated  any existing
activities,  discussions or negotiations  with any Person  conducted  heretofore
with  respect to any Company  Acquisition  Proposal.  Nothing  contained in this
Agreement  shall  prevent the Board of Directors  of the Company from  complying
with Rule 14d-9 and Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to
a Company  Acquisition  Proposal;  provided  that the Board of  Directors of the
Company shall not recommend  that the  stockholders  of the Company tender their
shares in  connection  with a tender  offer  except to the  extent  the Board of
Directors  of the  Company  determines  in its good faith  judgment  that such a
recommendation  is required to comply with the fiduciary  duties of the Board of
Directors of the Company to stockholders  under  applicable law, after receiving
the advice of outside legal counsel.

        For purposes of this  Agreement,  "Company  Acquisition  Proposal" shall
mean any  offer or  proposal  (other  than an offer  or  proposal  by  Acquirer)
relating to any transaction or series of related transactions involving: (A) any
purchase  from the Company or  acquisition  by any Person or "group" (as defined
under  Section  13(d)  of  the  Exchange  Act  and  the  rules  and  regulations
thereunder)  of more than a five percent (5%) interest in the total  outstanding
voting  securities of the Company 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 five percent (5%) or more of the total  outstanding  voting securities of
the  Company  or any  merger,  consolidation,  business  combination  or similar
transaction  involving  the  Company;  (B) any sale,  lease  (other  than in the
ordinary  course of business),  exchange,  transfer,  license (other than in the
ordinary  course of  business),  acquisition  or  disposition  of more than five
percent (5%) of the assets of the Company; or (C) any liquidation or dissolution
of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement,  a "Superior Proposal" means, in
respect of the Company, an unsolicited,  bona fide Company Acquisition  Proposal
for or in respect of at least a majority of the  outstanding  Company  Shares on
terms that the Board of Directors of the Company  determines,  in its good faith
judgment  (based  on  consultation  with  its  financial  advisors)  to be  more
favorable to the Company's  stockholders  than the terms of the Merger,  that is
not  subject  to a  financing  condition,  and is  from  a  Person  that  in the
reasonable  judgment of the Company's Board of Directors (based on advice from a
nationally  recognized  investment bank) is financially  capable of consummating
such proposal.


                                   ARTICLE VI
                              COVENANTS OF ACQUIRER

        Section 6.1 Conduct of Business of Acquirer.  Except as  contemplated by
this Agreement or as expressly  agreed to in writing by the Company,  during the
period from the date of this  Agreement to the earlier of the  Termination  Date
and the  Effective  Time,  each of Acquirer  and its  Subsidiaries  will use all
commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact its business organization, to
keep  available  the  services of its  officers  and  employees  and to maintain
satisfactory  relationships with suppliers,  distributors,  customers and others
having  business  relationships  with it and will  take no  action  which  would
materially  adversely  affect the  ability  of the  parties  to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement.  Notwithstanding  anything to the
contrary  herein,  Acquirer may (subject to Section 6.2 and paragraph (d) below)
issue,  sell or  deliver,  grant any options  for,  or commit to issue,  sell or
deliver  any  shares  of any  class of its  capital  stock  or other  securities
convertible  into any class of its capital  stock prior to the Closing  Date and
may (subject to Section 6.1(d) below) purchase or acquire

                                       27

<PAGE>

the securities or assets of other entities.  Without  limiting the generality of
the foregoing,  and except as otherwise  expressly  provided in this  Agreement,
prior to the  Effective  Time,  Acquirer  will not nor will it permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of the Company:

        (a) amend its certificate of incorporation or by-laws, except as
required by the terms of this Agreement;

        (b)  split,  combine or  reclassify  any  shares of its  capital  stock,
declare,  set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution  (whether in cash,
stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock or
purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its own capital stock or any
of its  Subsidiaries,  other than the  repurchase at cost of shares of employees
upon termination of their employment with Acquirer or its Subsidiaries;

        (c) except in the  ordinary  course of  business,  consistent  with past
practice,  create, incur, assume, maintain or permit to exist any long-term debt
or any  short-term  debt for borrowed  money other than under  existing lines of
credit or in an amount in excess of $50,000,000;

        (d) except in the  ordinary  course of  business,  consistent  with past
practice, or as contemplated by this Agreement, authorize, recommend, propose or
announce an intention  to  authorize,  recommend  or propose,  or enter into any
agreement in principle or an agreement  with respect to, any plan of liquidation
or dissolution,  or any acquisition of a material amount of assets or securities
that  individually  or in the aggregate would require  Acquirer's  stockholders'
approval or the acquisition of assets for consideration in excess of $50,000,000
or the acquisition, by merger or otherwise, of all the outstanding securities of
any entity whose  securities are listed and publicly  traded on the Nasdaq Stock
Market,  the New York or American Stock Exchange or an equivalent  foreign stock
exchange; or

        (e) agree to do any of the foregoing.

        Section 6.2 No  Solicitation.  Acquirer  agrees that, from and after the
date of this  Agreement  until  the  earlier  of the  Termination  Date  and the
Effective Time,  neither it nor any of its  Subsidiaries nor any of the officers
or directors of it or its  Subsidiaries or its or their  Representatives  shall,
directly or indirectly,  initiate, solicit or otherwise facilitate any inquiries
or the making of an Acquirer Acquisition  Proposal (as defined below).  Acquirer
further agrees that neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of its or its
Subsidiaries'  officers or directors shall, and that it shall direct and use its
best  reasonable  efforts  to cause  its  Representatives  not to,  directly  or
indirectly, have any discussions with or provide any confidential information or
data to any Person relating to an Acquirer Acquisition Proposal or engage in any
negotiations   concerning  an  Acquirer  Acquisition   Proposal,   or  otherwise
facilitate  any effort or attempt to make or implement  an Acquirer  Acquisition
Proposal;  provided,  however,  that nothing  contained in this Agreement  shall
prevent Acquirer or its Board of Directors from (i) making any disclosure to its
stockholders  if, in the good faith judgment of its Board of Directors,  failure
so to disclose would be inconsistent  with its obligations under applicable law;
(ii)  negotiating  with or furnishing  information  to any Person who has made a
bona fide  written  Acquirer  Acquisition  Proposal  which did not result from a
breach of this  Section 6.2; or (iii)  recommending  such  Acquirer  Acquisition
Proposal to its  stockholders,  if and only to the extent  that,  in the case of
actions  referred to in clause (ii) or clause (iii),  such Acquirer  Acquisition
Proposal is a Superior  Proposal (as defined  below) and the Company is given at
least two business  days' notice of the  existence  of such  Superior  Proposal.
Acquirer agrees that it will, on the date hereof, immediately cease and cause to
be terminated  any existing  activities,  discussions or  negotiations  with any
Person conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquirer  Acquisition  Proposal.
Nothing  contained  in this  Agreement  shall  prevent the Board of Directors of
Acquirer from  complying  with Rule 14d-9 and Rule 14e-2  promulgated  under the
Exchange

                                       28

<PAGE>

Act with regard to an Acquirer Acquisition Proposal;  provided that the Board of
Directors of Acquirer  shall not  recommend  that the  stockholders  of Acquirer
tender their shares in  connection  with a tender offer except to the extent the
Board of Directors of Acquirer determines in its good faith judgment that such a
recommendation  is required to comply with the fiduciary  duties of the Board of
Directors of Acquirer to stockholders  under applicable law, after receiving the
advice of outside legal counsel.

        For purposes of this Agreement,  "Acquirer  Acquisition  Proposal" shall
mean any offer or  proposal  relating  to any  transaction  or series of related
transactions  involving:  (A) any purchase from Acquirer or  acquisition  by any
person or "group" (as defined  under  Section  13(d) of the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations thereunder) of more than a fifty percent (50%) interest in
the total  outstanding  voting  securities  of Acquirer  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  fifty  percent  (50%)  or more  of the  total
outstanding voting securities of Acquirer or any merger, consolidation, business
combination or similar transaction  involving Acquirer in which the stockholders
of Acquirer  immediately prior to such transaction do not own, immediately after
such transaction,  at least a majority of the outstanding securities entitled to
vote  generally for the election of directors or similar  managing  authority of
the  surviving  or resulting  entity in such  transaction;  (B) any sale,  lease
(other than in the ordinary  course of business),  exchange,  transfer,  license
(other than in the ordinary  course of business),  acquisition or disposition of
all or  substantially  all of the assets of Acquirer;  or (C) any liquidation or
dissolution of Acquirer.  For purposes of this Agreement,  a "Superior Proposal"
means, in respect of Acquirer,  an unsolicited,  bona fide Acquirer  Acquisition
Proposal on terms that the Board of  Directors  of Acquirer  determines,  in its
good faith judgment  (based on consultation  with its financial  advisors) to be
fair to Acquirer's  stockholders,  that is not subject to a financing condition,
and is from a Person  that in the  reasonable  judgment of  Acquirer's  Board of
Directors  (based on advice from a  nationally  recognized  investment  bank) is
financially capable of consummating such proposal.

        Section 6.3  Indemnification.  (a) Acquirer shall indemnify,  defend and
hold harmless the present and former officers,  directors,  employees and agents
of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  against  all  losses,  claims,  damages,
expenses or liabilities  arising out of actions or omissions or alleged  actions
or omissions  occurring at or prior to the Effective Time to the same extent and
on the same terms and  conditions  (including  with  respect to  advancement  of
expenses) provided for in the Company's certificate of incorporation and by-laws
and  agreements  in effect at the date  hereof  (to the extent  consistent  with
applicable law). The certificate of  incorporation  and by-laws of the Surviving
Corporation  shall contain the provisions  with respect to  indemnification  and
exculpation   from   liability  set  forth  in  the  Company's   certificate  of
incorporation and by-laws on the date of this Agreement,  which provisions shall
not be amended,  repealed or otherwise  modified for a period of six years after
the  Effective  Time in any  manner  that  would  adversely  affect  the  rights
thereunder of any person who,  immediately  prior to the Effective  Time, was an
indemnified party under such provisions.

        (b) For a period of six years after the Effective  Time,  Acquirer shall
cause to be  maintained  in  effect  the  current  policies  of  directors'  and
officers' liability insurance  maintained by the Company (provided that Acquirer
may  substitute  therefor  policies  of at least the same  coverage  and amounts
containing terms and conditions which are no less  advantageous) with respect to
claims  arising from facts or events which  occurred on or before the  Effective
Time;  provided,  however,  that Acquirer  shall not be obligated to make annual
premium  payments  for such  insurance  to the extent such  premiums  exceed two
hundred percent (200%) of the premiums paid as of the date hereof by the Company
for such insurance.

        (c) The  provisions  of this  Section  6.3  are  intended  to be for the
benefit of, and shall be enforceable by each indemnified party hereunder, his or
her heirs and his or her representatives.

                                       29

<PAGE>


        Section  6.4  NNM  Listings.   Acquirer  shall  promptly  following  the
execution  of this  Agreement  prepare and submit to The Nasdaq  Stock  Market a
listing application covering the shares of Acquirer Common Stock (and associated
Acquirer  Rights)  issuable in the Merger and upon exercise of the Company Stock
Options,  and shall use all commercially  reasonable efforts to obtain, prior to
the Effective Time,  approval for the listing of such Acquirer Common Stock (and
associated Acquirer Rights), subject to official notice of issuance.


                                   ARTICLE VII
                      COVENANTS OF ACQUIRER AND THE COMPANY

        Section 7.1 Access to  Information.  (a) From the date of this Agreement
until the earlier of the  Termination  Date and the Effective  Time, each of the
Company  and   Acquirer   will  give  the  other  party  and  their   authorized
representatives   (including  counsel,   environmental  and  other  consultants,
accountants and auditors) access during normal business hours to all facilities,
personnel  and   operations  and  to  all  books  and  records  of  it  and  its
Subsidiaries,  will  permit the other party to make such  inspections  as it may
reasonably  require and will cause its officers and those of its Subsidiaries to
furnish  the  other  party  with such  financial  and  operating  data and other
information  with respect to its business and  properties as such party may from
time to time reasonably request.

        (b) Each of the parties hereto will hold and will cause its  consultants
and  advisors  to hold in  strict  confidence  pursuant  to the  Confidentiality
Agreement   previously  entered  into  by  the  parties  (the   "Confidentiality
Agreement") all documents and  information  furnished to the other in connection
with the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement as if each such consultant
or advisor was a party thereto.

        Section 7.2 Registration Statement and Proxy Statement. (a) Acquirer and
the Company shall file with the SEC as soon as is reasonably  practicable  after
the date hereof the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and Acquirer shall file the
Registration  Statement in which the Joint Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  shall be
included. Acquirer and the Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts
to have the Registration  Statement declared effective by the SEC as promptly as
practicable.  Acquirer  shall also take any action  required  to be taken  under
applicable  state blue sky or securities laws in connection with the issuance of
shares of Acquirer  Common Stock  pursuant to this  Agreement.  Acquirer and the
Company  shall  promptly  furnish to each other all  information,  and take such
other actions,  as may reasonably be requested in connection  with any action by
any of them in connection with this Section 7.2(a).

        (b) If at any time prior to the  Effective  Time any event  shall  occur
which is required to be  described  in the Joint Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  or
Form S-4, such event shall be so described, and an amendment or supplement shall
be promptly  filed with the SEC and, as  required  by law,  disseminated  to the
stockholders  of  Acquirer  and  the  Company;  provided  that no  amendment  or
supplement to the Joint Proxy  Statement/Prospectus or the Form S-4 will be made
by Acquirer  or the Company  without  the  approval of the other  party.  To the
extent  applicable,  each of  Acquirer  and the  Company  will advise the other,
promptly  after it receives  notice  thereof,  of the time when the Form S-4 has
become  effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, the issuance of
any stop order,  the suspension of the  qualification  of the shares of Acquirer
Common Stock issuable in connection  with the Merger for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction,  or any  request  by the  SEC for  amendment  of the  Joint  Proxy
Statement/Prospectus  or the Form S-4 or comments thereon and responses  thereto
or requests by the SEC for additional information.


                                       30

<PAGE>

        (c) Acquirer and the Company shall each use all commercially  reasonable
efforts  to  cause  to be  delivered  to  the  other  a  comfort  letter  of its
independent  auditors,  dated a date within two business  days of the  effective
date of the Form S-4,  in form  reasonably  satisfactory  to the other party and
customary in scope and  substance  for such letters in  connection  with similar
registration statements.

        Section 7.3 Stockholders'  Meetings. The Company and Acquirer each shall
call a meeting of its respective stockholders (the "Company Stockholder Meeting"
and  the  "Acquirer  Stockholder  Meeting,"  respectively,   and  together,  the
"Stockholders  Meetings")  to be held as promptly as  practicable  in accordance
with applicable law and each company's  certificate of incorporation and by-laws
for the purpose of voting upon (i) in the case of the Company,  the adoption and
approval  of  this  Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  (the
"Company  Stockholder  Approval"),  and (ii) in the case of Acquirer,  the items
contemplated by the Acquirer Stockholder Approval.  Except as otherwise required
by the fiduciary  duties of its Board of Directors (as  determined in good faith
by such Board  following  the receipt of advice of its outside  legal counsel to
such effect) and in accordance with Sections 5.2 and 6.2, as the case may be, of
this  Agreement,  (i)(A)  the  Company  will,  through  its Board of  Directors,
recommend to its  stockholders  the approval and adoption of this  Agreement and
the Merger and (B) Acquirer will,  through its Board of Directors,  recommend to
its  stockholders  the approval of the issuance of Acquirer  Common Stock in the
Merger  and  the  approval  of  the  amendments  to  Acquirer's  certificate  of
incorporation  to increase the  authorized  number of shares of Acquirer  Common
Stock to  175,000,000  shares and (ii) each of the Company and Acquirer will use
all commercially  reasonable  efforts to obtain the foregoing  approval of their
respective stockholders. Acquirer and the Company shall coordinate and cooperate
with respect to the timing of the  Stockholders  Meetings and shall each use all
commercially reasonable efforts to hold Stockholders Meetings on the same day as
soon as practicable after the date on which the Form S-4 becomes effective.

        Section 7.4 Reasonable Efforts; Other Actions.  Subject to the terms and
conditions  herein  provided and applicable  law, the Company and Acquirer shall
use all commercially  reasonable efforts promptly to take, or cause to be taken,
all other  actions  and do, or cause to be done,  all  other  things  necessary,
proper or appropriate  under  applicable  laws and regulations to consummate and
make  effective the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  including,
without  limitation,  (i) the filing of Notification  and Report Forms under the
HSR Act with the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") and the Antitrust Division
of the  Department  of  Justice  (the  "Antitrust  Division")  and  using  their
reasonable  best efforts to respond as promptly as  practicable to all inquiries
received from the FTC or the Antitrust  Division for  additional  information or
documentation,  (ii) the taking of any actions required to qualify the Merger as
a 368 Reorganization,  (iii) the obtaining of all necessary consents,  approvals
or waivers under its material  contracts,  and (iv) the lifting of any legal bar
to the Merger.

        Section 7.5 Public  Announcements.  Before  issuing any press release or
otherwise making any public statements with respect to the Merger,  Acquirer and
the Company will consult with each other as to its form and  substance and shall
not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such
consultation, except as may be required by law.

        Section 7.6  Notification  of Certain  Matters.  Each of the Company and
Acquirer  shall give  prompt  notice to the other party of (i) any notice of, or
other communication relating to, a breach of this Agreement or event which, with
notice or lapse of time or both, would become a breach, received by it or any of
its  Subsidiaries  subsequent  to the date of this  Agreement  and  prior to the
Effective Time,  under any contract to which it or any of its  Subsidiaries is a
party  or it,  any  of its  Subsidiaries  or  any  of  its or  their  respective
properties  is  subject,  which  breach  would be  reasonably  likely  to have a
Material  Adverse Effect on it, or (ii) any notice or other  communication  from
any third party alleging

                                       31

<PAGE>

that the consent of such third party is or may be  required in  connection  with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

        Section 7.7 Expenses.  Except as set forth in Section 9.5, Acquirer, and
the Company,  shall bear their respective  expenses  incurred in connection with
the Merger,  including,  without  limitation,  the  preparation,  execution  and
performance of this Agreement and the transactions  contemplated hereby, and all
fees  and   expenses  of   investment   bankers,   finders,   brokers,   agents,
representatives,  counsel  and  accountants,  except that  expenses  incurred in
printing,  mailing and filing (including without limitation, SEC filing fees and
stock  exchange  listing   application  fees)  Form  S-4  and  the  Joint  Proxy
Statement/Prospectus shall be shared equally by the Company and Acquirer.

        Section 7.8  Affiliates.  Each of the Company and Acquirer shall deliver
to the other a letter identifying all persons who, as of the date hereof, may be
deemed to be "affiliates"  thereof for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities
Act (the  "Affiliates") and shall advise the other in writing of any persons who
become an Affiliate  prior to the Effective  Time.  The Company shall cause each
person who is so  identified  as an Affiliate  to deliver to Acquirer,  no later
than the earlier of July 8, 1999 or the date such person becomes an Affiliate, a
written agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 7.8 hereto.

        Section 7.9 Certain  Benefit  Plans.  As soon as  practicable  after the
execution  of  this  Agreement,   the  Company  and  Acquirer  shall  use  their
commercially  reasonable  efforts to confer and work  together  in good faith to
agree upon mutually  acceptable  employee  benefit  arrangements  (and terminate
Company Employee Plans  immediately  prior to the Effective Time if appropriate)
so as to provide  benefits to employees of the Company  generally  equivalent in
the aggregate to those provided to similarly situated employees of Acquirer.  In
addition,  the Company agrees that it and its  Subsidiaries  shall terminate any
and all group severance,  separation,  retention and salary  continuation plans,
programs or arrangements  (other than  contractual  agreements  disclosed on the
Company  Disclosure  Letter) prior to the Effective Time.  Years of service with
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or predecessor organizations thereof (and
service  otherwise  credited  by the  Company  or any  of  its  Subsidiaries  or
predecessor organizations thereof) prior to the Effective Time shall be credited
under the  Acquirer  Employee  Plans listed under Items 3, 11 and 12 of Schedule
4.14(a) to the  Acquirer  Disclosure  Letter to the same extent as service  with
Acquirer is credited under such Acquirer  Employee Plans (including for purposes
of  eligibility,  vesting and  benefit  accrual).  Employees  of the Company who
participate  in an Acquirer  Employee  Plan  listed  under Items 3, 11 and 12 of
Schedule  4.14(a) to the Acquirer  Disclosure  Letter shall  participate in such
Acquirer Employee Plan on terms no less favorable than those offered by Acquirer
to employees of Acquirer (including those provisions relating to the coverage of
dependents). Acquirer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any
and all  pre-existing  condition  limitations,  eligibility  waiting periods and
evidence of  insurability  requirements  under any group plans to be waived with
respect to Employees  of the Company who  participate  in any Acquirer  Employee
Plan  listed  under  Items  3, 11 and 12 of  Schedule  4.14(a)  to the  Acquirer
Disclosure  Letter, and their eligible  dependents,  and shall provide each such
participant and dependent with credit for any  co-payments and deductibles  paid
prior  to  the  Effective   Time  for  purposes  of  satisfying  any  applicable
deductible,  out-of-pocket,  or  similar  requirements  under all such  Acquirer
Employee Plans in which such  participants are eligible to participate after the
Effective Time.  Notwithstanding  any of the foregoing to the contrary,  none of
the provisions  contained herein shall operate to duplicate any benefit provided
to any employee of the Company or the funding of any such benefit.

        Section 7.10  Formation  of Merger  Subsidiary.  As soon as  practicable
following the execution of this Agreement,  but no later than one week following
such date,  Acquirer shall cause Merger  Subsidiary to be formed in the State of
Delaware and to take all corporate action necessary to approve

                                       32

<PAGE>

and to become a party to this Agreement.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that
upon  formation  of Merger  Subsidiary  it shall  execute an  amendment  to this
Agreement  and  such  other  documents  as  may be  necessary  to  cause  Merger
Subsidiary to become a party to this Agreement.


                                  ARTICLE VIII
                            CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER

        Section 8.1 Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The obligations
of the Company,  Acquirer and Merger  Subsidiary  to  consummate  the Merger are
subject to the satisfaction (or, to the extent legally  permissible,  waiver) at
or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:

        (a) this Agreement  shall have been adopted by the  stockholders  of the
Company in accordance with Delaware Law;

        (b) any  applicable  waiting  period  under the HSR Act  relating to the
Merger shall have expired or terminated early;

        (c) no provision of any  applicable  law or regulation  and no judgment,
injunction,  order or decree shall  prohibit or enjoin the  consummation  of the
Merger;

        (d) the parties  shall have  received all required  approvals  and third
party consents listed on Schedule 8.1(d);

        (e) the matters  constituting  the Acquirer  Stockholder  Approval shall
have been approved by the stockholders of Acquirer in accordance with applicable
law or regulation;

        (f) the Form S-4 shall have been declared  effective  under the 1933 Act
and no stop  order  suspending  the  effectiveness  of the Form S-4  shall be in
effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened
by the SEC; and

        (g) the shares of Acquirer Common Stock to be issued in the Merger shall
have been  approved  for  listing  on the NNM,  subject  to  official  notice of
issuance.

        Section  8.2  Conditions  to the  Obligations  of  Acquirer  and  Merger
Subsidiary.  The obligations of Acquirer and Merger Subsidiary to consummate the
Merger are subject to the satisfaction  (or, to the extent legally  permissible,
waiver) of the following further conditions:

        (a)(i) the Company shall have performed in all material  respects all of
its  obligations  hereunder  required to be  performed  by it at or prior to the
Effective Time, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company contained
in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date with the same
force  and  effect  as if made on the  Closing  Date  (provided  that  any  such
representation and warranty made as of a specific date shall be true and correct
as of such specific date),  except for such inaccuracies that individually or in
the  aggregate  do not have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Company as of the
Closing Date and except for changes  contemplated  by this  Agreement  (it being
understood   that,   for   purposes  of   determining   the   accuracy  of  such
representations and warranties, all "Material Adverse Effect" qualifications and
other  qualifications  based on the word "material" or similar phrases contained
in such  representations and warranties shall be disregarded,  and any update of
or modification to the Company  Disclosure  Letter made or proposed to have been
made after the execution of this Agreement

                                       33

<PAGE>

shall be  disregarded),  and (iii)  Acquirer  shall have  received a certificate
signed by the chief  executive  officer of the Company to the foregoing  effect;
and

        (b) Acquirer shall have received an opinion of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro
LLP in form and substance reasonably  satisfactory to Acquirer,  on the basis of
certain facts,  representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion, dated
the  Effective  Time,  to the effect that the Merger will be treated for federal
income tax  purposes as a  reorganization  qualifying  under the  provisions  of
Section 368(a) of the Code and that each of Acquirer,  Merger Subsidiary and the
Company  will be a party to the  reorganization  within  the  meaning of Section
368(b) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, such counsel shall be entitled to
rely upon  certain  representations  of  officers  of  Acquirer  and the Company
reasonably  requested  by counsel.  If the opinion  referred to in this  Section
8.2(b) is not delivered,  such condition  shall be deemed to be satisfied if the
Acquirer shall have received an opinion from Wilson  Sonsini  Goodrich & Rosati,
Professional  Corporation,  or another  law firm  selected  by the  Company  and
reasonably  acceptable to Acquirer.  Acquirer will  cooperate in obtaining  such
opinion, including, without limitation,  making (and requesting from affiliates)
appropriate representations with respect to relevant matters.

        Section 8.3 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company. The obligation
of the Company to consummate the Merger is subject to the  satisfaction  (or, to
the extent legally permissible, waiver) of the following further conditions:

        (a)(i) Acquirer shall have performed in all material respects all of its
obligations  hereunder  required  to be  performed  by it at  or  prior  to  the
Effective Time, (ii) the representations and warranties of Acquirer contained in
this  Agreement  shall be true and correct as of the Closing  Date with the same
force  and  effect  as if made on the  Closing  Date  (provided  that  any  such
representation and warranty made as of a specific date shall be true and correct
as of such specific date),  except for such inaccuracies that individually or in
the  aggregate  do not have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on  Acquirer  as of the
Closing Date and except for changes  contemplated  by this  Agreement  (it being
understood   that,   for   purposes  of   determining   the   accuracy  of  such
representations and warranties, all "Material Adverse Effect" qualifications and
other  qualifications  based on the word "material" or similar phrases contained
in such  representations and warranties shall be disregarded,  and any update of
or modification to the Acquirer  Disclosure Letter made or proposed to have been
made after the execution of this Agreement shall be disregarded),  and (iii) the
Company shall have received a certificate  signed by the chief executive officer
of Acquirer to the foregoing effect; and

        (b) the  Company  shall  have  received  an  opinion  of Wilson  Sonsini
Goodrich & Rosati,  Professional  Corporation,  in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Company, on the basis of certain facts,  representations and
assumptions  set forth in such opinion,  dated the Effective Time, to the effect
that  the  Merger  will  be  treated  for  federal  income  tax  purposes  as  a
reorganization qualifying under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Code and
that each of the Company,  Merger Subsidiary and Acquirer will be a party to the
reorganization  within the meaning of Section  368(b) of the Code.  In rendering
such   opinion,   such   counsel   shall  be  entitled  to  rely  upon   certain
representations of officers of the Company and Acquirer reasonably  requested by
counsel.  If the opinion  referred to in this Section  8.3(b) is not  delivered,
such  condition  shall be deemed to be  satisfied  if the  Acquirer  shall  have
received  an opinion  from  Pillsbury  Madison & Sutro LLP or  another  law firm
selected by Acquirer and reasonably  acceptable to the Company. The Company will
cooperate in obtaining such opinion, including, without limitation,  making (and
requesting from affiliates) appropriate representations with respect to relevant
matters.

                                       34

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                   TERMINATION

        Section 9.1  Termination.  This  Agreement may be terminated at any time
prior  to  the  Effective  Time,   whether  before  or  after  approval  by  the
stockholders of the Company or Acquirer:

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

        (b) by either  Acquirer or the Company if the Merger shall not have been
consummated on or before  December 31, 1999 (the "End Date"),  which date may be
extended by mutual written  consent of the parties  hereto;  provided,  however,
that the right to terminate this  Agreement  under this Section 9.1(b) shall not
be  available to any party prior to February 28, 2000 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
material breach of this Agreement.

        (c) by  either  Acquirer  or the  Company,  if any  court  of  competent
jurisdiction  in the  United  States or other  governmental  body in the  United
States  shall have issued an order (other than a temporary  restraining  order),
decree or ruling or taken any other action  restraining,  enjoining or otherwise
prohibiting  the Merger,  and such order,  decree,  ruling or other action shall
have  become  final  and  nonappealable;  provided  that the  party  seeking  to
terminate this Agreement shall have used all commercially  reasonable efforts to
avoid, remove or lift such order, decree or ruling; or

        (d) by either  Acquirer or the  Company,  if the  requisite  stockholder
approvals of the stockholders of either Acquirer or the Company are not obtained
at the meeting of stockholders duly called and held therefor; provided, however,
that the right to terminate this  Agreement  under this Section 9.1(d) shall not
be  available to a Person  where the failure to obtain  stockholder  approval of
such  Person  shall  have been  caused by the  action or  failure to act of such
Person and such action or failure to act  constitutes a material  breach by such
Person of this Agreement.

        Section 9.2 Termination by Acquirer. This Agreement may be terminated by
action of the Board of Directors of Acquirer, at any time prior to the Effective
Time,  before or after the  approval  by the  stockholders  of  Acquirer  or the
Company,  if (a) the Company shall have failed to comply in any material respect
with any of the  covenants or  agreements  contained in Articles I, V and VII of
this  Agreement  to be complied  with or performed by the Company at or prior to
such date of termination;  provided,  however, that if such failure to comply is
capable of being cured prior to the End Date,  such failure  shall not have been
cured  within 15 days of  delivery  to the  Company  of  written  notice of such
failure, (b) there exists a breach or breaches of any representation or warranty
of the Company  contained in this Agreement such that the closing  condition set
forth in Section 8.2(a) would not be satisfied;  provided, however, that if such
breach or  breaches  are  capable  of being  cured  prior to the End Date,  such
breaches  shall not have been cured within 15 days of delivery to the Company of
written notice of such breach or breaches,  (c) a Company  Triggering  Event (as
defined below) shall have occurred, or (d)(i) the Board of Directors of Acquirer
authorizes Acquirer,  subject to complying with the terms of this Agreement,  to
enter into a binding written agreement concerning a transaction that constitutes
a Superior  Proposal with respect to Acquirer and Acquirer  notifies the Company
in writing in accordance  with Section 6.2 that it intends to enter into such an
agreement,   attaching  the  most  current  version  of  such  agreement  (or  a
description  of all material  terms and  conditions  thereof) to such notice and
(ii)  Acquirer  upon such  termination  pursuant  to this clause (d) pays to the
Company in immediately  available funds the fees required to be paid pursuant to
Section 9.5.  Acquirer agrees to notify the Company promptly if its intention to
enter into a written  agreement  referred  to in its  notification  pursuant  to
clause (d) above shall change at any time after giving such notification.

                                       35

<PAGE>

        For the purposes of this Agreement,  a "Company  Triggering Event" shall
be deemed to have  occurred if: (i) the Board of Directors of the Company or any
committee  thereof shall for any reason have  withdrawn or shall have amended or
modified in a manner  adverse to Acquirer  its  recommendation  in favor of, the
adoption and approval of the  Agreement or the approval of the Merger;  (ii) the
Company shall have failed to include in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus the
recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Company in favor of the adoption
and approval of the Agreement and the approval of the Merger; (iii) the Board of
Directors  of the  Company  or any  committee  thereof  shall have  approved  or
recommended any Superior Proposal with respect to the Company;  or (iv) a tender
or  exchange  offer  relating  to  securities  of the  Company  shall  have been
commenced by a Person  unaffiliated with Acquirer and the Company shall not have
sent  to its  securityholders  pursuant  to Rule  14e-2  promulgated  under  the
Exchange Act,  within ten business  days after such tender or exchange  offer is
first  published,  sent or  given,  a  statement  disclosing  that  the  Company
recommends rejection of such tender or exchange offer.

        Section 9.3 Termination by the Company. This Agreement may be terminated
at any time prior to the  Effective  Time,  before or after the  approval by the
stockholders of Acquirer or the Company,  by action of the Board of Directors of
the Company, if (a) Acquirer shall have failed to comply in any material respect
with any of the covenants or agreements  contained in Articles I, II, VI and VII
of this  Agreement  to be complied  with or performed by Acquirer at or prior to
such date of termination;  provided,  however, that if such failure to comply is
capable of being cured prior to the End Date,  such failure  shall not have been
cured within 15 days of delivery to Acquirer of written  notice of such failure,
(b) there  exists a breach or  breaches  of any  representation  or  warranty of
Acquirer  contained in this Agreement such that the closing  condition set forth
in Section 8.3(a) would not be satisfied; provided, however, that if such breach
or breaches  are capable of being  cured  prior to the End Date,  such  breaches
shall not have been cured  within 15 days of  delivery  to  Acquirer  of written
notice of such breach or breaches,  (c) an Acquirer Triggering Event (as defined
below)  shall have  occurred,  or (d)(i) the Board of  Directors  of the Company
authorizes the Company,  subject to complying with the terms of this  Agreement,
to  enter  into a  binding  written  agreement  concerning  a  transaction  that
constitutes  a Superior  Proposal  with  respect to the  Company and the Company
notifies  Acquirer in writing in accordance  with Section 5.2 that it intends to
enter  into  such an  agreement,  attaching  the most  current  version  of such
agreement (or a description  of all material  terms and  conditions  thereof) to
such notice and (ii) the Company upon such  termination  pursuant to this clause
(d) pays to Acquirer in immediately available funds the fees required to be paid
pursuant to Section 9.5.

        For the purposes of this Agreement, an "Acquirer Triggering Event" shall
be deemed to have  occurred  if: (i) the Board of  Directors  of Acquirer or any
committee  thereof shall for any reason have  withdrawn or shall have amended or
modified in a manner adverse to the Company its  recommendation in favor of, the
adoption  and  approval of the  Agreement  or the  approval of the Merger;  (ii)
Acquirer  shall have failed to include in the Joint  Proxy  Statement/Prospectus
the  recommendation  of the  Board  of  Directors  of  Acquirer  in favor of the
adoption and approval of the Agreement and the approval of the Merger; (iii) the
Board of Directors of Acquirer or any  committee  thereof shall have approved or
recommended any Superior Proposal with respect to Acquirer;  or (iv) a tender or
exchange offer relating to securities of Acquirer shall have been commenced by a
Person  unaffiliated  with  Acquirer  and  Acquirer  shall  not have sent to its
securityholders pursuant to Rule 14e- promulgated under the Exchange Act, within
ten business days after such tender or exchange offer is first  published,  sent
or given,  a statement  disclosing  that Acquirer  recommends  rejection of such
tender or exchange offer.

        Section 9.4 Procedure for  Termination.  In the event of  termination by
Acquirer or the Company  pursuant to this  Article IX,  written  notice  thereof
shall forthwith be given to the other.


                                       36

<PAGE>

        Section 9.5 Effect of  Termination.  (a) In the event of  termination of
this  Agreement  pursuant  to this  Article  IX, no party  hereto (or any of its
directors or officers)  shall have any  liability or further  obligation  to any
other  party to this  Agreement,  except as  provided  in this  Section  9.5 and
Section 7.1(b) hereof.

        (b) If

               (i) the Company shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to
        Section 9.3(d);

               (ii) Acquirer shall terminate this Agreement  pursuant to Section
        9.2(c),  unless at the time of such Company Triggering Event, any of the
        conditions  set forth in Section 8.3(a) would not have been satisfied as
        of such date and would not be reasonably capable of being satisfied; or

               (iii)  either  the  Company  or  Acquirer  shall  terminate  this
        Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(d) in circumstances  where the Company
        Stockholder  Approval was not been  obtained at the Company  Stockholder
        Meeting  and  prior  to  the  Company   Stockholder  Meeting  a  Company
        Acquisition  Proposal  was made by any Person and within  twelve  months
        after  termination of this  Agreement the Company  consummates a Company
        Acquisition  or enters into a definitive  agreement with respect to such
        Company Acquisition Proposal that provides for a Company Acquisition;

then in any case as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) the Company shall pay
to Acquirer (by wire transfer of immediately  available funds not later than the
date of termination of this Agreement or, in the case of clause (iii),  the date
of such definitive agreement) an amount equal to $5,000,000.  Except as provided
in Section 9.5(d),  the fees provided for in this Section 9.5(b) are intended to
be liquidated  damages and, as such,  the sole and exclusive  remedy for any and
all  claims on any  theory  that might be  asserted  with  respect to any of the
matters  discussed  in this  Article  IX,  and no party  hereto  shall  seek any
additional damages or remedies at law or in equity as a result or consequence of
any such  matter.  Acceptance  by  Acquirer  of the  payment  referred to in the
foregoing sentence shall constitute  conclusive evidence that this Agreement has
been  validly  terminated  and upon  acceptance  of payment  of such  amount the
Company shall be fully released and discharged  from any liability or obligation
resulting from or under this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the term
"Company  Acquisition"  shall  mean  (i)  a  merger,   consolidation,   business
combination,  recapitalization,  liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction
involving  the  Company  pursuant  to  which  the  stockholders  of the  Company
immediately preceding such transaction hold less than fifty percent (50%) of the
aggregate  equity  interests  in the  surviving  or  resulting  entity  of  such
transaction,  (ii)  a  sale  or  other  disposition  by the  Company  of  assets
representing in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate fair market value
of the  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  the  Company),  directly  or  indirectly,  of
beneficial  ownership  or a right to  acquire  beneficial  ownership  of  shares
representing  in excess of fifty  percent  (50%) of the voting power of the then
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company.

        (c) If

               (i) Acquirer shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
        9.2(d);

               (ii) the  Company  shall  terminate  this  Agreement  pursuant to
        Section 9.3(c),  unless at the time of such Acquirer  Triggering  Event,
        any of the  conditions  set forth in Section  8.2(a) would not have been
        satisfied as of such date and would not be  reasonably  capable of being
        satisfied;

                                       37

<PAGE>

               (iii)  either  the  Company  or  Acquirer  shall  terminate  this
        Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(d) in circumstances where the Acquirer
        Stockholder  Approval was not been obtained at the Acquirer  Stockholder
        Meeting  and  prior to the  Acquirer  Stockholder  Meeting  an  Acquirer
        Acquisition  Proposal  was made by any Person and within  twelve  months
        after termination of this Agreement Acquirer consummates the transaction
        contemplated  by such  Acquirer  Acquisition  Proposal  or enters into a
        definitive agreement with respect to such Acquirer Acquisition Proposal;

then in any case as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) Acquirer shall pay to
the Company (by wire transfer of immediately  available funds not later than the
date of termination of this Agreement or, in the case of clause (iii),  the date
of such definitive agreement) an amount equal to $5,000,000.  Except as provided
in Section 9.5(d),  the fees provided for in this Section 9.5(c) are intended to
be liquidated  damages and, as such,  the sole and exclusive  remedy for any and
all  claims on any  theory  that might be  asserted  with  respect to any of the
matters  discussed  in this  Article  IX,  and no party  hereto  shall  seek any
additional damages or remedies at law or in equity as a result or consequence of
any such  matter.  Acceptance  by the Company of the payment  referred to in the
foregoing sentence shall constitute  conclusive evidence that this Agreement has
been validly  terminated and upon  acceptance of payment of such amount Acquirer
shall  be  fully  released  and  discharged  from any  liability  or  obligation
resulting from or under this Agreement.

        (d)  Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary,  payment  of the  fees
provided  for in  Section  9.5 shall not be in lieu of damages  incurred  in the
event of a willful or intentional breach of this Agreement by either party.


                                    ARTICLE X
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

        Section 10.1 Notices. Any notice, request, instruction or other document
to be  given  hereunder  by any  party to the  other  shall  be in  writing  and
delivered  personally or sent by certified mail,  postage  prepaid,  by telecopy
(with receipt confirmed and promptly confirmed by personal delivery,  U.S. first
class mail, or courier), or by courier service, as follows:

        (a)  If to Acquirer or Merger Subsidiary to:

               S3 Incorporated
               2801 Mission College Boulevard
               Santa Clara, CA 95052-8058
               Attn:  Chief Executive Officer
               Telecopier:  (408) 588-8050

        with a copy to:

               Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
               2550 Hanover Street
               Palo Alto, CA 94304
               Attn:  Jorge A. del Calvo
               Telecopier:  (650) 233-4545


                                       38

<PAGE>

        (b) If to the Company to:

               Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.
               2880 Junction Avenue
               San Jose, CA 95134
               Attention:  Chief Executive Officer
               Telecopier:  (408) 325-7145

        with a copy to:

               Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
               650 Page Mill Road
               Palo Alto, CA 94306
               Attn:  Jeffrey D. Saper
               Telecopier:  (650) 493-6811

        Section  10.2  Non-Survival  of  Representations  and  Warranties.   The
representations and warranties  contained herein and in any certificate or other
writing  delivered  pursuant  hereto shall not survive the Effective Time or the
termination of this Agreement.

        Section 10.3 Amendments; No Waivers. (a) Any provision of this Agreement
(including the Exhibits and Schedules  hereto) may be amended or waived prior to
the Effective  Time if, and only if, such  amendment or waiver is in writing and
signed,  in the  case of an  amendment,  by the  Company,  Acquirer  and  Merger
Subsidiary,  or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is
to be  effective;  provided  that after the  adoption of this  Agreement  by the
stockholders  of the Company,  no such  amendment or waiver  shall,  without the
further approval of such stockholders, alter or change (i) the amount or kind of
consideration  to be received in exchange for any shares of capital stock of the
Company,  (ii) any term of the  certificate  of  incorporation  of the Surviving
Corporation  or (iii) any of the terms or conditions  of this  Agreement if such
alteration or change would adversely affect the holders of any shares of capital
stock of the Company.

        (b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising  any right,  power or
privilege  hereunder  shall operate as a waiver  thereof nor shall any single or
partial  exercise  thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right, power or privilege.  The rights and remedies herein
provided  shall be  cumulative  and not  exclusive  of any  rights  or  remedies
provided by law.

        Section 10.4  Successors  and Assigns.  The provisions of this Agreement
shall be binding  upon and inure to the benefit of the parties  hereto and their
respective successors and assigns;  provided that no party may assign,  delegate
or otherwise  transfer  any of its rights or  obligations  under this  Agreement
without the consent of the other parties  hereto  except that Merger  Subsidiary
may transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more of
its  affiliates,  its rights  under this  Agreement,  but any such  transfer  or
assignment will not relieve Merger Subsidiary of its obligations hereunder.

        Section  10.5  Governing  Law.  This  Agreement  shall be  construed  in
accordance with and governed by the law of the State of Delaware, without regard
to principles of conflicts of law.

        Section 10.6  Jurisdiction.  Any suit,  action or proceeding  seeking to
enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection
with, this Agreement or the  transactions  contemplated  hereby shall be brought
exclusively  in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware,  and each of the
parties  hereby  consents  to  the  jurisdiction  of  such  court  (and  of  the
appropriate appellate

                                       39

<PAGE>

courts therefrom) in any such suit, action or proceeding and irrevocably waives,
to the  fullest  extent  permitted  by law,  any  objection  which it may now or
hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding
in any such court or that any such suit,  action or proceeding  which is brought
in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Process in any such
suit,  action or  proceeding  may be served on any party  anywhere in the world,
whether within or without the  jurisdiction of any such court.  Without limiting
the  foregoing,  each  party  agrees  that  service  of process on such party as
provided in Section  10.1 shall be deemed  effective  service of process on such
party.

        Section  10.7 Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH OF THE PARTIES  HERETO  HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES  ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL  PROCEEDING
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS  AGREEMENT  OR THE  TRANSACTIONS  CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY.

        Section 10.8 Counterparts;  Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be signed
in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same
effect as if the  signatures  thereto and hereto were upon the same  instrument.
This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall have received
counterparts hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto.

        Section 10.9 Entire  Agreement.  This Agreement  (including the Exhibits
and Schedules hereto) and the  Confidentiality  Agreement  constitute the entire
agreement  between  the  parties  with  respect  to the  subject  matter of this
Agreement and supersede all prior agreements and  understandings,  both oral and
written,  between the parties  with  respect to the  subject  matter  hereof and
thereof. Except as provided in Section 6.3(c), no provision of this Agreement or
any other  agreement  contemplated  hereby is  intended  to confer on any Person
other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies.

        Section 10.10 Captions. The captions herein are included for convenience
of reference  only and shall be ignored in the  construction  or  interpretation
hereof.

        Section  10.11  Severability.   If  any  term,  provision,  covenant  or
restriction  of this Agreement is held by a court of competent  jurisdiction  or
other  authority  to be invalid,  void or  unenforceable,  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
so long as the  economic or legal  substance  of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby is not affected in any manner materially  adverse to any party. Upon such
a  determination,  the  parties  shall  negotiate  in good faith to modify  this
Agreement  so as to effect  the  original  intent of the  parties  as closely as
possible in an acceptable manner in order that

                                       40

<PAGE>


the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated
to the fullest extent possible.

        IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  have  caused  this  Agreement  to be
executed, all as of the date first above written.

                                       S3 INCORPORATED



                                       By        /s/ Kenneth F. Potashner
                                          --------------------------------------
                                                    Kenneth F. Potashner
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer


                                        DIAMOND MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS, INC.



                                       By       /s/ William J. Schroeder
                                          --------------------------------------
                                                  William J. Schroeder
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                                       41




© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission