CYRIX CORP
8-K, 1997-08-04
SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES
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<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 (Date of Earliest Event Reported): July 28, 1997

                             CYRIX CORPORATION
        (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


Delaware                      0-21904                      75-2218250
(State or other           (Commission File              (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                Number)                   Identification
incorporation)                                             Number)


                       2703 North Central Expressway
       Richardson, Texas                                   75080
       (Address of Principal Executive Offices)          (Zip Code)


                              (972) 968-8387
           (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

<PAGE>

ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS 

        On July 28, 1997 National Semiconductor Corporation and Cyrix 
Corporation ("the Company") issued a joint press release announcing the 
Company's agreement to a merger with National Semiconductor Corporation.  
Such press release is filed as Exhibit 20.1 to this report and is 
incorporated herein by reference.  The Agreement and Plan of Merger between 
National Semiconductor Corporation, Nova Acquisition Corporation, a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of National Semiconductor Corporation, and Cyrix 
Corporation dated July 28, 1997 and the related Stock Option Agreement 
between National Semiconductor Corporation and Cyrix Corporation dated July 
28, 1997 are filed as Exhibit 2.1 and 2.2, respectively, and are incorporated 
herein by reference.

ITEM 7.  EXHIBITS

(c)   Exhibits

2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger between National Semiconductor Corporation, 
      Nova Acquisition Corporation and Cyrix Corporation dated July 28, 1997

2.2   Stock Option Agreement between National Semiconductor Corporation and 
      Cyrix Corporation dated July 28, 1997

20.1  Joint press release issued by National Semiconductor Corporation and 
      Cyrix Corporation dated July 28, 1997

<PAGE>
                                       
                                  SIGNATURES
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Security and Exchange Act of 1934, the 
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned hereunto duly authorized. 

        CYRIX CORPORATION 

        By: /s/ James W. Swent, III
                James W. Swent, III 
                Chief Financial Officer and acting Chief 
                Executive Officer 



 Date: August 4, 1997 

<PAGE>
                                       
                              INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number     Description

2.1        Agreement and Plan of Merger between National Semiconductor 
           Corporation, Nova Acquisition Corporation and Cyrix Corporation 
           dated July 28, 1997

2.2        Stock Option Agreement between National Semiconductor Corporation 
           and Cyrix Corporation dated July 28, 1997

20.1       Joint press release issued by National Semiconductor Corporation 
           and Cyrix Corporation dated July 28, 1997


<PAGE>




                 AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                         BY AND AMONG


             NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION,


                    NOVA ACQUISITION CORP.


                             AND


                      CYRIX CORPORATION


                  DATED AS OF JULY 28, 1997

<PAGE>

                      TABLE OF CONTENTS


                          ARTICLE I
                          THE MERGER

Section 1.1   The Merger                                    2
Section 1.2   Effective Date of the Merger                  2
Section 1.3   Effects of the Merger                         2

                          ARTICLE II
                  THE SURVIVING CORPORATION

Section 2.1   Certificate of Incorporation                  3
Section 2.2   By-laws                                       3
Section 2.3   Board of Directors; Officers                  3

                         ARTICLE III
                   CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

Section 3.1   Exchange Ratio                                3
Section 3.2   Parent to Make Certificates Available         5
Section 3.3   Dividends; Transfer Taxes                     5
Section 3.4   No Fractional Shares                          6
Section 3.5   Company Shareholders' Meeting                 6
Section 3.6   Closing of the Company's Transfer Books       7
Section 3.7   Assistance in Consummation of the Merger      7
Section 3.8   Closing                                       7

                          ARTICLE IV
       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB

Section 4.1   Organization and Qualification                7
Section 4.2   Capitalization                                8
Section 4.3   Subsidiaries                                  8
Section 4.4   Authority Relative to This Merger
                Agreement                                   9
Section 4.5   Reports and Financial Statements             10
Section 4.6   Absence of Certain Changes or Events         11
Section 4.7   Litigation                                   11
Section 4.8   Information in Disclosure Documents,
                Registration Statements, Etc.              11
Section 4.9   Parent Action                                12
Section 4.10  Compliance With Applicable Laws              12
Section 4.11  Tax and Accounting Matters                   12
Section 4.11  Intel License                                13

                             -i-
<PAGE>

                          ARTICLE V
        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

Section 5.1   Organization and Qualification               13
Section 5.2   Capitalization                               13
Section 5.3   Subsidiaries                                 14
Section 5.4   Authority Relative to This Merger
                Agreement                                  15
Section 5.5   Reports and Financial Statements             16
Section 5.6   Absence of Certain Changes or Events         16
Section 5.7   Litigation                                   17
Section 5.8   Information in Disclosure Documents          17
Section 5.9   Labor Matters                                18
Section 5.10  Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA                18
Section 5.11  Takeover Provisions Inapplicable             21
Section 5.12  Company Action                               21
Section 5.13  Fairness Opinion                             21
Section 5.14  Financial Advisor                            21
Section 5.15  Compliance With Applicable Laws              22
Section 5.16  Liabilities                                  22
Section 5.17  Taxes                                        22
Section 5.18  Certain Agreements                           23
Section 5.19  Inventory                                    24
Section 5.20  Patents, Trademarks, Etc.                    25
Section 5.21  Product Liability                            26
Section 5.22  Environment                                  26
Section 5.23  Tax and Accounting Matters                   27
Section 5.24  Authorized Stock                             27

                          ARTICLE VI
            CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER

Section 6.1   Conduct of Business by the Company
                Pending the Merger                         28
Section 6.2   Conduct of Business by Parent and Sub
                Pending the Merger                         30
Section 6.3   Notice of Breach                             31

                         ARTICLE VII
                    ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

Section 7.1   Access and Information                       31
Section 7.2   Registration Statement/Proxy Statement       32
Section 7.3   Affiliates; Publication of Combined
                Financial Results                          32
Section 7.4   Stock Exchange Listing                       33
Section 7.5   Employment Arrangements                      33
Section 7.6   Indemnification                              34
Section 7.7   HSR Act                                      35
Section 7.8   Additional Agreements                        35

                             -ii-
<PAGE>

Section 7.9   No Solicitation                              36
Section 7.10  Employee Agreements                          39
Section 7.11  Company Stock Plans                          39
Section 7.12  Independent Auditors                         39

                         ARTICLE VIII
                     CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Section 8.1   Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to
                Effect the Merger                          39
Section 8.2   Conditions to Obligation of the Company
                to Effect the Merger                       40
Section 8.3   Conditions to Obligations of Parent
                and Sub to Effect the Merger               41

                          ARTICLE IX
              TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

Section 9.1   Termination                                  42
Section 9.2   Effect of Termination; Fees                  43
Section 9.3   Amendment                                    44
Section 9.4   Waiver                                       44

                          ARTICLE X
                      GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 10.1  Non-Survival of Representations,
                Warranties and Agreements                  45
Section 10.2  Notices                                      45
Section 10.3  Expenses                                     46
Section 10.4  Publicity                                    46
Section 10.5  Specific Performance                         46
Section 10.6  Interpretation                               47
Section 10.7  Miscellaneous                                47

                             -iii-

<PAGE>

                       AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

      THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "MERGER AGREEMENT"), dated as 
of July 28, 1997, by and among National Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware 
corporation ("PARENT"), Nova Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a 
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("SUB"), and Cyrix Corporation, a Delaware 
corporation (the "COMPANY"):

                           W I T N E S S E T H:

      WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Parent has determined that a 
combination with the Company is in the long-term strategic best interests of 
its stockholders;

      WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined that the 
Merger Agreement is consistent with and in furtherance of the long-term 
business strategy of the Company, and the Company desires to combine its 
business of designing, developing and marketing microprocessors for the 
personal computer industry with the semiconductor operations of Parent and 
for the Company's stockholders to have a continuing equity interest in the 
combined businesses;

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

      WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Merger 
Agreement, as a condition and inducement to Parent's willingness to enter 
into this Merger Agreement, Parent and the Company have entered into a Stock 
Option Agreement dated as of the date hereof in the form of Exhibit A (the 
"STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT"), pursuant to which the Company has granted to 
Parent an option (the "OPTION") to purchase shares of Company Common Stock 
(as defined below);

      WHEREAS, immediately prior to the execution and delivery of this 
Merger Agreement, as a condition and inducement to Parent's willingness to 
enter into this Merger Agreement, certain stockholders of the Company have 
executed and delivered to Parent a Support Agreement dated as of the date 
hereof in the form of Exhibit B (the "SUPPORT AGREEMENT"), pursuant to which 
such stockholders have agreed to vote in favor of the Merger;

      WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the 
Merger shall qualify as a "reorganization" 

<PAGE>

within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as 
amended (the "CODE"); and

      WHEREAS, for accounting purposes, it is intended that the Merger shall 
be accounted for as a "pooling of interests";

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

                                 THE MERGER

      Section 1.1  THE MERGER. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions 
hereof, on the Effective Date (as defined below in Section 1.2), Sub shall be 
merged into the Company and the separate existence of Sub shall thereupon 
cease, and the name of the Company, as the surviving corporation in the 
Merger (the "SURVIVING CORPORATION"), shall by virtue of the Merger remain 
"Cyrix Corporation."

      Section 1.2  EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE MERGER. The Merger shall become 
effective when a properly executed Certificate of Merger is duly filed with 
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at such later date and 
time as may be specified therein, which filing shall be made as soon as 
practicable after the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Merger 
Agreement in accordance with Section 3.8. When used in this Merger Agreement, 
the term "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall mean the date and time at which such filing 
shall have been made or such later date and time as may be specified in such 
filing.

     Section 1.3  EFFECTS OF THE MERGER.  The Merger shall have the effects set 
forth in the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law 
(the "DGCL").  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject 
thereto, at the Effective Date, except as otherwise provided herein, all of 
the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Sub and the 
Company shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities 
and duties of Sub and the Company shall become the debts, liabilities and 
duties of the Surviving Corporation.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
                                  ARTICLE II

                         THE SURVIVING CORPORATION

     Section 2.1  CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION.  The Certificate of 
Incorporation of Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date 
shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation after 
the Effective Date except that Article I thereof shall be amended to read 
"The name of the corporation is Cyrix Corporation," and subject to Section 
7.6(c), thereafter may be amended in accordance with its terms and as 
provided by law and this Merger Agreement.

      Section 2.2  BY-LAWS.  The By-laws of Sub as in effect on the Effective 
Date shall be the By-laws of the Surviving Corporation.

      Section 2.3  BOARD OF DIRECTORS; OFFICERS.  The directors of Sub 
immediately prior to the Effective Date shall be the directors of the 
Surviving Corporation and the officers of the Company immediately prior to 
the Effective Date shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, in 
each case until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.
 
                               ARTICLE III

                       CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

      Section 3.1  EXCHANGE RATIO. As of the Effective Date, by virtue of the 
Merger and without any action on the part of any holder of any capital stock 
of the Company:

      (a)  All shares of capital stock of the Company which are held by the 
Company or any subsidiary of the Company as treasury stock, and any shares of 
capital stock of the Company owned by Parent, Sub or any other subsidiary of 
Parent, shall be cancelled.

      (b)  Subject to Section 3.4, each remaining outstanding share of common 
stock, $.004 par value, of the Company  ("COMPANY COMMON STOCK") issued and 
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date shall be converted into 
0.825 (the "EXCHANGE RATIO") fully paid and nonassessable shares of the 
common stock, $.50 par value, of Parent ("PARENT COMMON STOCK"). One 
preferred share purchase right issuable pursuant to the Rights Agreement 
dated as of August 8, 1988 between Parent and The First National Bank of 
Boston, as amended, or any other purchase right issued in substitution 
thereof (the "PARENT RIGHTS"), shall be issued together with and shall attach 
to 

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

each share of Parent Common Stock issued pursuant to this Section 3.1(b), 
unless the Parent Rights have been redeemed prior to the Effective Date.

      (c)  In the event of any stock dividend, stock split,
reclassification, recapitalization, combination or exchange of shares with 
respect to, or rights issued in respect of, Parent Common Stock prior to the 
Effective Date, the Exchange Ratio shall be adjusted accordingly.

      (d) Each issued and outstanding share of capital stock of Sub shall be 
converted into and become one fully paid and nonassessable share of common 
stock, $.01 par value, of the Surviving Corporation.

      (e) Each option to purchase Company Common Stock ("COMPANY STOCK 
OPTIONS") granted under the Company Plans (as defined herein) which is 
outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Date shall 
cease to represent a right to acquire shares of Company Common Stock and 
shall be converted into an option to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock 
in an amount and at an exercise price determined as follows: (i) the number 
of shares of Parent Common Stock to be subject to the new option shall be 
equal to the product of the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject 
to the original option multiplied by the Exchange Ratio and rounded to the 
nearest whole share; and (ii) the exercise price per share of Parent Common 
Stock under the new option shall be equal to the quotient of the exercise 
price per share of Company Common Stock under the original option divided by 
the Exchange Ratio and rounded to the nearest whole cent.  The terms and 
conditions of the new option, including vesting provisions, shall be the same 
as the original option except that all references to the Company shall be 
deemed to be references to Parent.  The adjustment provided herein with 
respect to any Company Stock Options which are "incentive stock options" (as 
defined in Section 422 of the Code) shall be and is intended to be effected 
in a manner which is consistent with Section 424(a) of the Code. Prior to the 
Effective Date, Parent and the Company shall take all action necessary to 
permit the adjustments set forth in this Section 3.1(e).  Parent shall 
reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of Parent Common Stock for 
delivery with respect to the converted Company Stock Options. As soon as 
practicable after the Effective Date, Parent shall file a registration 
statement on Form S-8 (or any successor or other appropriate form) with 
respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock subject to such options.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

      (f) The Company's 5-1/2% Convertible Subordinated Notes due June 1, 
2001 (the "COMPANY NOTES") outstanding im mediately prior to the Effective 
Date shall be assumed by Parent and remain outstanding thereafter as an 
obligation of Parent and the Surviving Corporation as co-obligors, and, from 
and after the Effective Date, the holders of the Company Notes shall have the 
right to convert such Company Notes into the number of shares of Parent 
Common Stock receivable in the Merger by a holder of the number of shares of 
Company Common Stock into which such Company Notes could have been converted 
immediately prior to the Merger. Parent shall enter into a supplemental 
indenture with respect to such obligations in accordance with the terms of 
the indenture pursuant to which the Company Notes were issued.

      Section 3.2  PARENT TO MAKE CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE.  Prior to the 
Effective Date, Parent shall select Boston Equiserve or such other person or 
persons reasonably satisfactory to the Company to act as exchange agent for 
the Merger (the "EXCHANGE AGENT").  As soon as practicable after the 
Effective Date, Parent shall make available, and each holder of Company 
Common Stock to be converted pursuant to Section 3.1 (each, a "COMPANY 
HOLDER") will be entitled to receive, upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of 
one or more certificates representing such stock ("CERTIFICATES") for 
cancellation, certificates representing the number of shares of Parent Common 
Stock into which such shares are converted in the Merger and cash in 
consideration of fractional shares as provided in Section 3.4. Such shares of 
Parent Common Stock issued in the Merger shall each be deemed to have been 
issued at the Effective Date.

     Section 3.3  DIVIDENDS; TRANSFER TAXES.  No dividends or other 
distributions that are declared or made on Parent Common Stock will be paid 
to persons entitled to receive certificates representing Parent Common Stock 
pursuant to this Merger Agreement until such persons surrender their 
Certificates representing Company Common Stock. Upon such surrender, there 
shall be paid to the person in whose name the certificates representing such 
Parent Common Stock shall be issued any dividends or other distributions 
which shall have become payable with respect to such Parent Common Stock in 
respect of a record date after the Effective Date. In no event shall the 
person entitled to receive such dividends be entitled to receive interest on 
such dividends. In the event that any certificates for any shares of Parent 
Common Stock are to be issued in a name other than that in which the 
Certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock surrendered in 
exchange therefor are registered, it shall be a condition of such exchange 
that the person requesting such exchange shall pay to the Exchange Agent any 
transfer or other taxes required by reason of the 

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

issuance of certificates for such shares of Parent Common Stock in a name 
other than that of the registered holder of the Certificate surrendered, or 
shall establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax has  
been paid or is not applicable.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the 
Exchange Agent nor any party hereto shall be liable to a Company Holder for 
any shares of Parent Common Stock or dividends thereon delivered to a public 
official pursuant to any applicable escheat laws.

      Section 3.4  NO FRACTIONAL SHARES. No certificates or scrip 
representing less than one full share of Parent Common Stock shall be issued 
upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates representing Company Common 
Stock pursuant to Section 3.1(b). In lieu of any such fractional share, each 
Company Holder who would otherwise have been entitled to a fraction of a 
share of Parent Common Stock upon surrender of Certificates for exchange 
pursuant to Section 3.1(b) shall be paid upon such surrender cash (without 
interest) in an amount equal to the product of the closing price of Parent 
Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") Composite Tape on the 
Effective Date multiplied by the fractional interest such Company Holder 
would otherwise be entitled to receive.  For purposes of paying such cash in 
lieu of fractional shares, all Certificates surrendered for exchange on the 
same letter of transmittal shall be aggregated, with the holder thereof 
receiving the aggregate whole number of shares of Parent Common Stock, and no 
Company Holder shall receive cash in lieu of fractional shares in an amount 
equal to or greater than the value of one full share of Parent Common Stock 
with respect to such surrendered Certificates.

      Section 3.5  COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING.  Unless this Merger 
Agreement has been terminated pursuant to Section 9.1, the Company shall take 
all action necessary, in accordance with applicable law and its Restated 
Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, to convene a special meeting of the 
holders of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote thereat (the 
"COMPANY MEETING") as promptly as practicable for the purpose of considering 
and taking action upon this Merger Agreement. Subject to Section 7.9(c), the 
Board of Directors of the Company will recommend that holders of any capital 
stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon vote in favor of and approve 
the Merger and the adoption of this Merger Agreement at the Company Meeting. 
At the Company Meeting, all of the shares of Company Common Stock then owned 
by Parent, Sub, or any other subsidiary of Parent, or with respect to which 
Parent, Sub, or any other subsidiary of Parent holds the power to direct the 
voting, will be voted in favor of approval of the Merger and adoption of this 
Merger Agreement.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

      Section 3.6  CLOSING OF THE COMPANY'S TRANSFER BOOKS.  At the close of 
business on the Effective Date, the stock transfer books of the Company shall 
be closed and no transfer of any shares of capital stock of the Company shall 
be made thereafter.  In the event that, after the Effective Date, 
Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation, they shall be 
cancelled and exchanged for Parent Common Stock and/or cash as provided in 
Sections 3.1(b) and 3.4.

      Section 3.7  ASSISTANCE IN CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER.  Each of Parent, 
Sub and the Company shall provide all reasonable assistance to, and shall 
cooperate with, each other to bring about the consummation of the Merger as 
soon as possible in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Merger 
Agreement.  Parent shall cause Sub to perform all of its obligations in 
connection with this Merger Agreement.

      Section 3.8  CLOSING.  The closing of the transactions contemplated by 
this Merger Agreement shall take place (i) at the offices of Wachtell, 
Lipton, Rosen & Katz, 51 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, at 10:00 
A.M. local time as soon as practicable (but in any event within three 
business days) after the day on which the last of the conditions set forth in 
Article VIII is fulfilled or waived or (ii) at such other time and place as 
Parent and the Company shall agree in writing.
                                       
                                 ARTICLE IV

            REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB

      Parent and Sub represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

      Section 4.1  ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. Each of Parent and Sub is 
a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the 
laws of the State of Delaware and has the corporate power to carry on its 
business as it is now being conducted or currently proposed to be conducted. 
Parent is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business, and is in 
good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties 
owned or held under lease or the nature of its activities make such 
qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified will 
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. 
As used in this Merger Agreement, "PARENT MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" shall 
mean a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, 
financial condition or results of operations of Parent and its subsidiaries 
taken as a whole, but 

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

excluding any such effect resulting directly and primarily from (i) general 
economic or financial market conditions or (ii) the announcement or 
consummation of the Merger.

      Section 4.2  CAPITALIZATION. (a) PARENT.  The authorized capital stock 
of Parent consists of 300,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock and 1,000,000 
shares of preferred stock, $.50 par value.  As of June 22, 1997, 145,674,568 
shares of Parent Common Stock were validly issued and outstanding, fully paid 
and nonassessable and no shares of Parent Common Stock were held in treasury. 
As of May 25, 1997, Parent had reserved (x) 6,048,387 shares of Parent 
Common Stock for future issuance upon conversion of Parent's 6.50% 
Convertible Subordinated Notes and (y) 48,105,495 shares of Parent Common 
Stock for issuance under Parent's stock option, benefit and stock purchase 
plans, of which options representing the right to purchase an aggregate of 
15,327,741 shares of Parent Common Stock were outstanding and 20,931,318 
shares were issued (pursuant to option plans). As of June 22, 1997, there 
were no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having the right to 
vote on any matters on which the Parent's shareholders may vote issued or 
outstanding. As of May 25, 1997, except for the aforementioned and the Parent 
Rights, there are no options, warrants, calls or other rights, agreements or 
commitments presently outstanding obligating Parent to issue, deliver or sell 
shares of its capital stock or debt securities, or obligating Parent to 
grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call or other such 
right, agreement or commitment. All of the shares of Parent Common Stock 
issuable in accordance with this Merger Agreement in exchange for Company 
Common Stock at the Effective Date in accordance with this Merger Agreement 
will be, when so issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and 
nonassessable.

     (b) SUB. The authorized capital stock of Sub consists of 100 shares of 
common stock, par value $0.01 per share, all of which are validly issued and 
outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by Parent free and 
clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances.

       Section 4.3   SUBSIDIARIES.  The only "Significant Subsidiaries" (as 
such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION")) ("SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES") of 
Parent are those named in the Parent SEC Reports (as defined herein) filed 
prior to the date of this Merger Agreement. Each Significant Subsidiary is a 
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the 
laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has the corporate power to 
carry on its business as it is now being conducted or currently proposed to 
be conducted.  

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

Each Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do 
business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character 
of its properties owned or held under lease or the nature of its activities 
makes such qualification necessary except where the failure to be so 
qualified will not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. All the outstanding 
shares of capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary are validly issued, 
fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by Parent or by a Significant 
Subsidiary of Parent free and clear of any liens, claims or encumbrances. 
There are no existing options, warrants, calls or other rights, agreements or 
commitments of any character relating to the issued or unissued capital stock 
or other securities of any Significant Subsidiaries of Parent.

      Section 4.4  AUTHORITY RELATIVE TO THIS MERGER AGREEMENT. Parent and 
Sub have the corporate power to enter into this Merger Agreement and to 
carry out their respective obligations hereunder.  The execution and 
delivery of this Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions 
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of 
Parent and Sub. This Merger Agreement constitutes a valid and binding 
obligation of Parent and Sub enforceable against such parties in accordance 
with its terms. No other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or Sub 
are necessary to authorize this Merger Agreement and the transactions 
contemplated hereby. Parent and Sub are not subject to or obligated under (i) 
any charter or by-law provision or (ii) any contract, license, indenture or 
other loan document, franchise, permit, order, decree, concession, lease, 
instrument, judgment, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable 
to Parent or Sub or any of their respective subsidiaries or their respective 
properties or assets, which would be breached or violated, or under which 
there would be a default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), 
or under which there would arise a right of termination, cancellation or 
acceleration of any obligation or the loss of a material benefit, by its 
executing and carrying out this Merger Agreement other than, in the case of 
clause (ii) only, (A) any breaches, violations, defaults, terminations, 
cancellations, accelerations or losses which, either individually or in the 
aggregate, will not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect or prevent the 
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and (B) the laws and 
regulations referred to in the next sentence. Except as referred to herein or 
in connection, or in compliance, with the provisions of the Hart-Scott-Rodino 
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR ACT"), the 
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), and other governmental 
approvals required under the applicable laws of any foreign jurisdiction 

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

("FOREIGN LAWS") and the environmental, corporation, securities or blue sky 
laws or regulations of the various states, no filing or registration with, or 
authorization, consent or approval of, any public body or authority is 
necessary for the consummation by Parent and Sub of the Merger or the other 
transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement, other than filings, 
registrations, authorizations, consents or approvals the failure of which to 
make or obtain would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect or prevent the 
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

      Section 4.5  REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  Parent has previously 
furnished the Company with true and complete copies of (i) its Annual Report 
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 26, 1996, as filed with the 
Commission, (ii) its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended 
August 25, 1996, November 24, 1996 and February 23, 1997, as filed with the 
Commission, (iii) its proxy statements related to all meetings of its 
stockholders (whether annual or special) since December 31, 1995, and (iv) 
all other reports or registration statements filed by Parent with the 
Commission since December 31, 1995, except registration statements on Form 
S-8 relating to employee benefit plans, which are all the documents (other 
than preliminary material) that Parent was required to file with the 
Commission since that date (clauses (i) through (iv) being referred to herein 
collectively as the "PARENT SEC REPORTS"). As of their respective dates, the 
Parent SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of 
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and 
regulations of the Commission thereunder applicable to such Parent SEC 
Reports.  As of their respective dates, the Parent SEC Reports did not 
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material 
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements 
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not 
misleading.  The audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited 
interim financial statements of Parent included in the Parent SEC Reports 
comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting 
requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the Commission 
with respect thereto, and the financial statements included in the Parent SEC 
Reports have been prepared in accordance with United States generally 
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis (except 
as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto) and fairly present the 
financial position of Parent and its subsidiaries as at the dates thereof 
and the results of their operations and changes in financial position for the 
periods then ended, subject, in the case of the unaudited interim financial 
statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments and any other adjustments 
described therein. The 

                                     -10-
<PAGE>

financial information set forth in the earnings release promulgated by Parent 
on June 5, 1997, will not be materially different from the corresponding 
financial information contained in the audited consolidated financial 
statements of Parent included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
fiscal year ended May 25, 1997, as filed with the Commission.

      Section 4.6  ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS.  Except as disclosed 
in the Parent SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof, since December 31, 
1996, there has not been (i) any transaction, commitment, dispute or other 
event or condition (financial or otherwise) of any character (whether or not 
in the ordinary course of business), individually or in the aggregate, having 
a Parent Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) any damage, destruction or loss, 
whether or not covered by insurance, which, insofar as reasonably can be 
foreseen, in the future would be likely to have a Parent Material Adverse 
Effect.

      Section 4.7  LITIGATION. Except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Reports 
filed prior to the date hereof, there is no suit, action or proceeding 
pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened against or affecting 
Parent or any of its subsidiaries which, alone or in the aggregate, is likely 
to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect, nor is there any judgment, decree, 
injunction, rule or order of any court, governmental department, commission, 
agency, instrumentality or arbitrator outstanding against Parent or any of 
its subsidiaries having, or which in the future is likely to have, either 
alone or in the aggregate, any Parent Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 4.8  INFORMATION IN DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS, REGISTRATION 
STATEMENTS, ETC.  None of the information supplied or to be supplied by 
Parent or Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the 
Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission by Parent on Form S-4 
under the Securities Act for the purpose of registering the shares of Parent 
Common Stock to be issued in the Merger (the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") and 
(ii) the proxy statement of the Company (the "PROXY STATEMENT") required to 
be mailed to the shareholders of the Company in connection with the Merger 
will, in the case of the Proxy Statement or any amendments or supplements 
thereto, at the time of the mailing of the Proxy Statement and any amendments 
or supplements thereto, and at the time of the Company Meeting to be held in 
connection with the Merger, or, in the case of the Registration Statement, at 
the time it becomes effective and at the Effective Date, contain any untrue 
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to 
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in 
light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.  The 
Registration Statement will comply as to form 

                                     -11-
<PAGE>

in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act, and the 
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

      Section 4.9  PARENT ACTION.  The Board of Directors of Parent (at a 
meeting duly called and held) has by the requisite vote of directors (a) 
approved the Merger in accordance with the DGCL, (b) taken any necessary 
steps to render Section 203 of the DGCL and the Parent Rights inapplicable to 
the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement, and 
(c) adopted any necessary resolution having the effect of causing Parent not 
to be subject, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to any state 
takeover law that may purport to be applicable to the Merger and the 
transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement.

     Section 4.10  COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.  Parent and its 
subsidiaries hold all permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, orders and 
approvals of all courts, administrative agencies or commissions or other 
governmental authorities or instrumentalities, domestic or foreign (each, a 
"GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY"), except for such permits, licenses, variances, 
exemptions, orders and approvals the failure of which, individually or in the 
aggregate, to hold would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect (the 
"PARENT PERMITS"). Parent and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the 
terms of the Parent Permits, except for such failures to comply which, singly 
or in the aggregate, would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Except 
as disclosed in the Parent SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Merger 
Agreement, the businesses of Parent and its subsidiaries are not being 
conducted in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of any 
Governmental Entity, except for possible violations which, individually or in 
the aggregate, do not and would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. 
Except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Reports, no investigation or review by 
any Governmental Entity with respect to Parent or any of its subsidiaries is 
pending or threatened, nor has any Governmental Entity indicated an intention 
to conduct the same, other than those the outcome of which would not have a 
Parent Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 4.11  TAX AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS.  Neither Parent nor, to its best 
knowledge, any of its affiliates, has through the date hereof, taken or 
agreed to take any action, nor are they aware of any circumstances relating 
to Parent or its affiliates which currently exist, that would (i) prevent 
Parent from accounting for the business combination to be effected by the 
Merger as a "pooling of interests" or (ii) prevent the Merger from 
constituting a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the 
Code.

                                     -12-
<PAGE>

     Section 4.12  INTEL LICENSE. To the knowledge of Parent, as of the date 
of this Merger Agreement, the License Agreement dated June 1, 1976 between 
Intel Corporation ("INTEL") and Parent, as amended on January 1, 1983, 
constitutes a valid and binding agreement, remains in full force and effect 
and does not conflict in any material respect with, or violate in any material
respect, the terms of this Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated 
hereby.


                                 ARTICLE V

               REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     The Company represents and warrants to Parent, except as set forth in a 
disclosure schedule delivered by the Company concurrently herewith (the 
"COMPANY DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE"), as follows:

     Section 5.1  ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION.  The Company is a 
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the 
laws of the State of Delaware and has the corporate power to carry on its 
business as it is now being conducted or currently proposed to be conducted.  
The Company is  duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business, and 
is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of its 
properties owned or held under lease or the nature of its activities makes 
such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified 
will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse 
Effect. As used in this Merger Agreement, "COMPANY MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" 
shall mean a material adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, 
financial condition, or results of operations of the Company and its 
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, but excluding any such effect resulting 
directly and primarily from (i) general economic or financial market 
conditions, (ii) the announcement or consummation of the Merger, including 
any effect therefrom on the Company's silicon wafer manufacturing agreements, 
or (iii) adverse developments in the pending litigation between the Company 
and Intel or between the Company and Creative Labs, Inc. or new litigation 
between the Company and Intel or between the Company and Creative Labs, Inc. 
Complete and correct copies as of the date hereof of the Restated Certificate 
of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and each of its Significant 
Subsidiaries have, to the extent requested, been delivered to Parent as part of
the Company Disclosure Schedule.

     Section 5.2  CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of the Company 
consists of 60,000,000 shares of Company


                                    -13-

<PAGE>

Common Stock, and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.004 per 
share ("COMPANY PREFERRED STOCK"). As of June 29, 1997, 19,681,940 shares of 
Company Common Stock were validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and 
nonassessable, no shares of Company Preferred Stock were outstanding, and 
545,938 shares of Company Common Stock were held in treasury. There have been 
no material changes in such numbers of shares through the date hereof. As of 
the date hereof, there are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness 
having the right to vote on any matters on which the Company's shareholders 
may vote issued or outstanding.  As of June 29, 1997, except for (i) employee 
and director stock options to acquire 3,483,104 shares of Company Common 
Stock pursuant to the Cyrix Corporation 1988 Incentive Stock Plan, the Cyrix 
Corporation  Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and  the  Cyrix Corporation 
Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan and (ii) 3,182,386 shares of Company Common 
Stock issuable upon conversion of the Company's 5-1/2% Convertible 
Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2001 (issued pursuant to an Indenture dated 
May 28, 1996), there are no options, warrants, calls or other rights, 
agreements or commitments presently outstanding obligating the Company to 
issue, deliver or sell shares of its capital stock or debt securities, or 
obligating the Company to grant, extend or enter into any such option, 
warrant, call or other such right, agreement or commitment, and there have 
been no material changes in such numbers through the date hereof. No options 
will accelerate as a result of the execution of this Merger Agreement or 
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

     Section 5.3  SUBSIDIARIES.  The only direct or indirect subsidiaries of 
the Company are those set forth in Schedule 5.3 of the Company Disclosure 
Schedule. Each such subsidiary is a corporation duly organized, validly 
existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of 
incorporation and has the corporate power to carry on its business as it is 
now being conducted or currently proposed to be conducted.  Each such 
subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business, and is 
in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties 
owned or held under lease or the nature of its activities makes such 
qualification necessary except where the failure to be so qualified will not 
have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All the outstanding shares of capital 
stock of each such subsidiary are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable 
and are owned by the Company or by a subsidiary of the Company free and clear 
of any liens, claims or encumbrances. There are no existing options, warrants, 
calls or other rights, agreements or commitments of any character relating to 
the issued or unissued capital stock or other securities of any of the 
subsidiaries of the Company. Except as set forth in the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for 


                                     -14-

<PAGE>

the fiscal year ended December 29, 1996, the Company does not directly or 
indirectly own any securities of or any other interest in any other corporation,
partnership, joint venture or other business association or entity.

     Section 5.4  AUTHORITY RELATIVE TO THIS MERGER AGREEMENT.  The Company 
has the corporate power to enter into this Merger Agreement, subject to the 
requisite approval of this Merger Agreement by the holders of a majority of 
the Company Common Stock, and to enter into the Stock Option Agreement and to 
carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and 
delivery of this Merger Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement and the 
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been 
duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company. Each of this Merger 
Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement constitutes a valid and binding 
obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with 
its terms.  Except for the requisite approval by the holders of Company 
Common Stock, no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are 
necessary to authorize this Merger Agreement and the transactions 
contemplated hereby. No other corporate proceedings are necessary to 
authorize the Stock Option Agreement and the transactions contemplated 
thereby. The Company is not subject to or obligated under (i) any charter or 
by-law provision or (ii) except as set forth in Schedule 5.4 of the Company 
Disclosure Schedule, any indenture or other loan document, contract, license, 
franchise, permit, order, decree, concession, lease, instrument, judgment, 
statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any 
of its subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets which would be 
breached or violated, or under which there would be a default (with or 
without notice or lapse of time, or both), or under which there would arise a 
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or the 
loss of a material benefit, by its executing and carrying out this Merger 
Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement, other than, in the case of clause 
(ii) only, (A) any breaches, violations, defaults, terminations, cancellations,
accelerations or losses which, either individually or in the aggregate, will 
not have a Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent the consummation of the 
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby and (B) the laws and regulations 
referred to in the next sentence. Except as referred to herein or, with 
respect to the Merger or the transactions contemplated thereby, in connection,
or in compliance, with the provisions of the HSR Act, the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act, the Foreign Laws and the environmental, corporation, securities
or blue sky laws or regulations of the various states, no filing or 
registration with, or authorization, consent or approval of, any public body
or authority is necessary for the consummation by the Company of the Merger or


                                    -15-

<PAGE>

the other transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement or by the Stock 
Option Agreement, other than filings, registrations, authorizations, consents 
or approvals the failure of which to make or obtain would not have a Company 
Material Ad verse Effect or prevent the consummation of the transactions 
contemplated hereby or thereby.

     Section 5.5  REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  The Company has 
previously furnished Parent with true and complete copies of (i) its Annual 
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 1996, as filed with the 
Commission, (ii) its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 
March 30, 1997, as filed with the Commission, (iii) its proxy statements 
related to all meetings of its stockholders (whether annual or special) since 
December 31, 1995, and (iv) all other reports or registration statements 
filed by the Company with the Commission since December 31, 1995, except 
registration statements on Form S-8 relating to employee benefit plans, which 
are all the documents (other than preliminary material) that the Company was 
required to file with the Commission since that date (the documents listed in 
clauses (i) through (iv) being referred to herein collectively as the 
"COMPANY SEC REPORTS"). As of their respective dates, the Company SEC Reports 
complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act 
or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the 
Commission thereunder applicable to such Company SEC Reports. As of their 
respective dates, the Company SEC Reports did not contain any untrue 
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be 
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the 
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The audited 
consolidated financial statements and unaudited interim financial statements 
of the Company included in the Company SEC Reports comply as to form in all 
material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the 
published rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto, and 
the financial statements included in the Company SEC Reports have been 
prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis (except as may 
be indicated therein or in the notes thereto) and fairly present the 
financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as at the dates 
thereof and the results of their operations and changes in financial position 
for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of the unaudited interim 
financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments and any other 
adjustments described therein.

     Section 5.6  ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS.  Except as disclosed 
in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof or in Schedule 5.6 
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 1996, there has not 
been (i) any 


                                    -16-

<PAGE>

transaction, commitment, dispute or other event or condition (financial or 
oth erwise) of any character (whether or not in the ordinary course of 
business), individually or in the aggregate, having a Company Material 
Adverse Effect; (ii) any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered 
by insurance, which, insofar as reasonably can be foreseen, in the future 
would be likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (iii) any 
declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution 
(whether in cash, stock or property) with respect to the capital stock of the 
Company; (iv) any material increase in the benefits under, or the 
establishment or amendment of, any bonus, insurance, severance, deferred  
compensation, pension, retirement, profit sharing, performance awards 
(including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights or 
restricted stock awards), stock purchase or other employee benefit plan, or 
any increase in the compensation payable or to become payable to any of the 
directors or officers of the Company or the employees of the Company or its 
subsidiaries as a group, except for (A) increases in salaries or wages 
payable or to become payable in the ordinary course of business and 
consistent with past practice or (B) the granting of stock options in the 
ordinary course of business to employees of the Company or its subsidiaries 
who are not directors or executive officers of the Company; (v) any change by 
the Company or its subsidiaries in their significant accounting policies; or 
(vi) any entry into any commitment or transaction material to the Company and 
its subsidiaries taken as a whole (including, without limitation, any 
borrowing or sale of assets) except in the ordinary course of business 
consistent with past practice.

     Section 5.7  LITIGATION.  Except as disclosed in the Company's SEC 
Reports filed prior to the date hereof or in Schedule 5.7 of the Company 
Disclosure Schedule, there is no suit, action or proceeding pending or, to 
the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or 
any of its subsidiaries which, either alone or in the aggregate, is likely to 
have a Company Material Adverse Effect, nor is there any judgment, decree, 
injunction, rule or order of any court, governmental department, commission, 
agency, instrumentality or arbitrator outstanding against the Company or any 
of its subsidiaries having, or which, in the future is likely to have, 
either alone or in the aggregate, any Company Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 5.8  INFORMATION IN DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS.  None of the 
information supplied or to be supplied by the Company or its subsidiaries 
for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement or the 
Registration Statement will, in the case of the Proxy Statement or any 
amendments or 


                                    -17-

<PAGE>

supplements thereto, at the time of the mailing of the Proxy Statement and 
any amendments or supplements thereto, and at the time of the Company Meeting 
to be held in connection with the Merger, or, in the case of the Registration 
Statement, at the time it becomes effective and at the Effective Date, 
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material 
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the 
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, 
not misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material 
respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and 
regulations thereunder.

     Section 5.9  LABOR MATTERS.  No labor organization or group of employees 
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has made a pending demand for 
recognition or certification, and there are no representation or 
certification proceedings or petitions seeking a representation proceeding 
presently pending or threatened to be brought or filed, with the National 
Labor Relations Board or any other labor relations tribunal or authority.  
There are no organizing  activities, strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns, 
lockouts, material arbitrations or material grievances, or other material 
labor disputes pending or threatened against  or involving the Company or any 
of its subsidiaries  which, individually or in the aggregate, have had or 
would have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 5.10  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS; ERISA.  (a) Schedule 5.10 of the 
Company Disclosure Schedule lists all employee benefit plans, programs, 
policies, practices, and other arrangements providing benefits to any 
employee or former employee, or director or former director (or beneficiary 
or dependent thereof) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its 
subsidiaries to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries contributes or 
is obligated to contribute ("COMPANY PLANS"). Without limiting the generality 
of the foregoing, the term "Company Plans" includes all employee welfare 
benefit plans within the meaning of Section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement 
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and all employee pension 
benefit plans within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA.

     (b)  With respect to each Company Plan, the Company has delivered to 
Parent a true, correct and complete copy of: (i) each writing constituting a 
part of such Company Plan, including without limitation all plan documents, 
benefit schedules, trust agreements, and insurance contracts and other 
funding vehicles; (ii) the most recent Annual Report (Form 5500 Series) and 
accompanying schedule, if any; (iii) the current summary plan description, if 
any; (iv) the most recent annual

                                    -18-

<PAGE>

financial report, if any; (v) the most recent actuarial report, if any; and 
(vi) the most recent determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service 
("IRS"), if any. Except as specifically provided in the foregoing documents 
delivered to Parent, there are no amendments to any Company Plan that have 
been adopted or approved nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries 
undertaken to make any such amendments.

     (c)  The IRS has issued a favorable determination letter with respect to 
each Company Plan that is intended to be a "qualified plan" within the 
meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code (a "QUALIFIED COMPANY PLAN") that has 
not been revoked, and there are no existing circumstances nor any events that 
have occurred that could adversely affect the qualified status of any 
Qualified Company Plan or the related trust.  No Company Plan is intended to 
meet the requirements of Code Section 501(c)(9).

     (d)  All contributions required to be made to any Company Plan by 
applicable law or regulation or by any plan document or other contractual 
undertaking, and all premiums due or payable with respect to insurance 
policies funding any Company Plan, for any period through the date hereof 
have been timely made or paid in full or, to the extent not required to be 
made or paid on or before the date hereof, have been fully reflected on the 
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 1996, as 
filed with the Commission.

     (e)  The Company and each of its subsidiaries has complied, and is now 
in compliance, in all material respects with all provisions of ERISA, the 
Code and all laws and regulations applicable to the Company Plans, other than 
any noncompliance which does not have, or which in the future would not be 
likely to have, either alone or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse 
Effect. There is not now, nor do any circumstances exist that could give rise 
to, any requirement for the posting of security with respect to a Company 
Plan or the imposition of any lien on the assets of the Company or any of its 
subsidiaries under ERISA or the Code. No prohibited transaction has occurred 
with respect to any Company Plan.

     (f)  No Company Plan is subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or 
Section 412 or 4971 of the Code.

     (g)  No Company Plan is a "multiemployer plan" within the meaning of 
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA (a "MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN") or a plan that has two 
or more contributing sponsors at least two of whom are not under common 
control, within the meaning of Section 4063 of ERISA (a "MULTIPLE EMPLOYER 
PLAN"), nor has the Company or any Company ERISA Affiliate (as defined 


                                    -19-

<PAGE>

below), at any time since September 2, 1974, contributed to or been obligated 
to contribute to any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan.

     (h)  There does not now exist, nor do any circumstances exist that could 
result in, any Controlled Group Liability (as defined below) that would be a 
liability of Parent or any of its subsidiaries following the Effective Date, 
having, or which in the future would be likely to have, either alone or in 
the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     (i)  Neither the Company nor any  of  its subsidiaries has any liability 
for life, health, medical or other welfare  benefits to former employees or 
beneficiaries  or dependents thereof, except for health continuation coverage 
as required by Section 4980B of the Code or Part 6 of Title I of ERISA.

     (j)  Neither the execution and delivery of this Merger Agreement nor the 
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (either alone or 
in conjunction with any other event) result in, cause the accelerated vesting 
or delivery of, or increase the amount or value of, any payment or benefit to 
any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Without limiting the 
generality of the foregoing, no amount paid or payable by the Company or any 
of its subsidiaries in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby 
(either solely as a result thereof or as a result of such transactions in 
conjunction with any other event) will be an "excess parachute payment" 
within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code.

     (k)  There are no pending or threatened claims (other than claims for 
benefits in the ordinary course), lawsuits or arbitrations which have been 
asserted or instituted against the Company Plans, any fiduciaries thereof 
with respect to their duties to the Company Plans or the assets of any of the 
trusts under any of the Company Plans which could reasonably be expected to 
result in any liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, to the 
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the Department of Treasury, the 
Department of Labor or any Multiemployer Plan, having, or which in the 
future would be likely to have, either alone or in the aggregate, a Company 
Material Adverse Effect.

     (l)  For purposes of this Section 5.10, the following terms shall have 
the following meanings: "CONTROLLED GROUP LIABILITY" means any and all 
liabilities under (i) Title IV of ERISA, (ii) Section 302 of ERISA, (iii) 
Sections 412 and 4971 of the Code, (iv) the continuation coverage requirements
of Section 601 et seq. of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code, and


                                    -20-

<PAGE>

(v) corresponding or similar provisions of foreign laws or regulations, 
other than such liabilities that arise solely out of, or relate solely to, 
the Company Plans; "COMPANY ERISA AFFILIATE" means any entity, trade or 
business that is a member of a group described in Section 414(b), (c), (m) or 
(o) of the Code or Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA that includes the Company or 
any of its subsidiaries or that is a member of the same "controlled group" as 
the Company or any of its subsidiaries, pursuant to Section 4001(a)(14) of 
ERISA; and "EMPLOYEE" means any employee or officer of the Company or any of 
its subsidiaries, and any individual providing services as an independent 
contractor to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

     Section 5.11  TAKEOVER PROVISIONS INAPPLICABLE.  As of the date hereof 
and at all times on or prior to the Effective Date, Section 203 of the DGCL 
is and shall be inapplicable to the Merger and the transactions contemplated 
by this Merger Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement.

     Section 5.12  COMPANY ACTION.  The Board of Directors of the Company (at 
a meeting duly called and held) has by the requisite vote of directors (i) 
determined that the Merger is advisable and fair and in the best interests 
of the Company and its shareholders, (ii) approved the Merger in accordance 
with the provisions of Section 251 of the DGCL, (iii) recommended the 
approval of this Merger Agreement and the Merger by the holders of the 
Company Common Stock and directed that the Merger be submitted for 
consideration by the Company's shareholders entitled to vote thereon at the 
Company Meeting and (iv) adopted any necessary resolution having the effect 
of causing the Company not to be subject, to the extent permitted by 
applicable law, to any state takeover law that may purport to be applicable 
to the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement and 
the Stock Option Agreement.

     Section 5.13  FAIRNESS OPINION.  The Company has received the opinion of 
Goldman, Sachs & Co., financial advisors to the Company, dated the date 
hereof, to the effect that the consideration to be received by the Company's 
shareholders in the Merger is fair to the shareholders of the Company.

     Section 5.14  FINANCIAL ADVISOR.  Except for Goldman, Sachs & Co., no 
broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or 
other fee or commission in connection with the Merger or the transactions 
contemplated by this Merger Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on 
behalf of the Company, and the fees and commissions payable to Goldman, Sachs 
& Co. as contemplated by this Section 5.14 will be the amount set forth in 
that certain letter, dated September 


                                    -21-

<PAGE>

13, 1996, from Goldman, Sachs & Co. to the Company, a copy of which has been 
delivered to Parent.

     Section 5.15  COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.  The Company and its 
subsidiaries hold all permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, orders and 
approvals of all Governmental Entities, except for such permits, licenses, 
variances, exemptions, orders and approvals the failure of which, 
individually or in the aggregate, to hold would not have a Company Material 
Adverse Effect (the "COMPANY PERMITS"). The Company and its subsidiaries are 
in compliance with the terms of the Company Permits, except for such failures 
to comply which, singly or in the aggregate, would not have a Company 
Material Adverse Effect.  Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports 
filed prior to the date of this Merger Agreement, the businesses of the 
Company and its subsidiaries are not being, and have not been, conducted in 
violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of any Governmental Entity, 
except for possible violations which, individually or in the aggregate, do 
not and would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. No investigation or 
review by any Governmental Entity with respect to the Company or any of its 
subsidiaries is pending or threatened, nor has any Governmental Entity 
indicated an intention to conduct the same, other than those the outcome of 
which would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 5.16  LIABILITIES.  As of June 29, 1997, neither the Company nor 
any of its subsidiaries had any liability or obligation (absolute, accrued, 
contingent or otherwise, in contract, tort or otherwise and whether or not 
required by GAAP to be reflected in such Person's balance sheet or other 
books and records) (a "LIABILITY"), except as and to the extent disclosed or 
provided for in the most recent Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date 
of this Merger Agreement or as set forth in Schedule 5.6 of the Company 
Disclosure Schedule, other than such Liabilities which, individually or in 
the aggregate, would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. From and 
after June 29, 1997, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has in 
curred, suffered, permitted to exist or otherwise become subject to any 
Liability, other than Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business 
in accordance with past practice which, individually or in the aggregate, 
would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 5.17  TAXES.  Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has filed 
all material tax returns, declarations and reports required to be filed by 
any of them (taking into account all valid extensions of filing dates) and 
has paid (or the Company has paid on its behalf), or has set up an adequate 
liability reserve in accordance with GAAP for the payment of, 


                                    -22-

<PAGE>


all material taxes required to be paid in respect of the periods covered by 
such returns, declarations and reports.  The information contained in such 
tax returns, declarations and reports is true, complete and accurate in all 
material respects.  Neither the Company nor any subsidiary of the Company is 
delinquent in the payment of any tax, assessment or governmental charge, 
except where such delinquency has not had or would not reasonably be expected 
to have, a Company Material Adverse Effect. No material deficiencies for any 
taxes have been proposed, asserted or assessed against the Company or any of 
its subsidiaries that have not been finally settled or paid in full and no 
requests for waivers of the time to assess any such tax are pending.  No 
material tax return, declaration or report is currently under audit by any 
taxing authority, and as of the date hereof no written notice of any such 
audit has been received.  For the purposes of this Merger Agreement, the term 
"tax" shall include all federal, state, local and foreign income, profits, 
franchise, gross receipts, payroll, sales, employment, use, property, 
withholding, excise and other taxes, duties and assessments of any nature 
whatsoever together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed with 
respect to such amounts.

      Section 5.18  CERTAIN AGREEMENTS.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.18 
of the Company Disclosure Schedule or in the Company SEC Reports filed prior 
to the date of this Merger Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its 
subsidiaries is a party or subject to any oral or written (i) agreement, 
contract, indenture or other instrument relating to Indebtedness (as defined 
below) in an amount exceeding $1,000,000; (ii) joint venture agreement or 
arrangement or any other agreement which has involved or is expected to 
involve a sharing of revenues of $1,000,000 per annum or more with other 
persons; (iii) lease for real or personal property in which the amounts of 
payments which the Company or any subsidiary is required to make on an annual 
basis exceeds $250,000; (iv) agreement, contract,  policy, license, 
document, instrument, arrangement or commitment that limits in any material 
respect the freedom of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company to 
compete in any line of business or with any person or in any geographical 
area or which would so limit the freedom of the Company or any subsidiary of 
the Company after the Effective Date; (v) agreement, contract, policy, 
license, document, instrument, arrangement or commitment which, after giving 
effect to the transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement, purports to 
restrict or bind Parent or any of its subsidiaries other than the Surviving 
Corporation and its subsidiaries in any respect; (vi) employment, 
consulting, severance, termination, or indemnification agreement,  
contract or arrangement providing for future payments with any current or 
former officer, consultant, director 


                                     -23-

<PAGE>

or employee which (A) ex ceeds $100,000 per annum or (B) requires aggregate 
annual payments or total payments over the life of such agreement, contract 
or arrangement to such current or former officer, consultant, director or 
employee in excess of $100,000 or $250,000, respectively, and is not 
terminable before and after the Merger by it or its subsidiary on 30 days' 
notice or less without penalty or obligation to make payments related to such 
termination; or (vii) other agreement, contract, policy, license, document, 
instrument, arrangement or commitment not made in the ordinary course of 
business which is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a 
whole.  "INDEBTEDNESS" means any liability in respect of (A) borrowed money, 
(B) capitalized lease obligations, (C) the deferred purchase price of 
property or services (other than trade payables in the ordinary course of 
business) and (D) guarantees of any of the foregoing.  Neither the Company 
nor any of its subsidiaries is in default (or would be in default with notice 
or lapse of time, or both) under any indenture, note, credit agreement, loan 
document, lease, contract, policy, license, document, instrument, 
arrangement or commitment (a "CONTRACT"), including, but not limited to, any 
Company Plan, whether or not such default has been waived, which default, 
alone or in the aggregate with other such defaults, would have a Company 
Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is 
a party to or bound by any Contract which upon execution of this Merger 
Agreement or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will 
(either alone or upon the occurrence of additional acts or events) result in 
the loss of any material benefit, the termination thereof or any payment 
becoming accelerated or due from the Company or Parent or any of their 
subsidiaries which loss, termination or acceleration would have a Company 
Material Adverse Effect.

      Section 5.19  INVENTORY.  The inventories of the Company and its 
subsidiaries as reflected in the most recent financial statements contained 
in the Company SEC Reports, and the inventories reflected on the books of 
the Company and its subsidiaries as of the date hereof, except for normal 
year-end adjustments made in accordance with GAAP applied consistently with 
prior periods, (i) are carried as provided in the Company SEC Reports not in 
excess of the lower of cost or net realizable value and (ii) do not include 
any inventory which, as of the date of such financial statements, is 
obsolete, surplus or not usable or saleable in the lawful and ordinary course 
of business of the Company and its subsidiaries as heretofore conducted, in 
each case net of reserves provided therefor, except for such discrepancies 
which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Company Material 
Adverse Effect.


                                     -24-

<PAGE>

     Section 5.20  PATENTS, TRADEMARKS, ETC.  (a) The Company and its 
subsidiaries exclusively own, or are licensed or otherwise have the right to 
use, all patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, copyrights and any 
applications therefor, maskworks, net lists, schematics, inventories, 
technology, trade secrets, source codes, know-how, computer software programs 
or applications and tangible or intangible proprietary information or 
material that in any material respect are used or proposed by the Company to 
be used in the business of the Company and any of its subsidiaries as 
currently conducted or proposed by the Company to be conducted (the "COMPANY 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS"), the lack of which, individually or in the 
aggregate, would have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 5.20 of the 
Company Disclosure Schedule lists, as of the date hereof, all material: (A) 
patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, registered and unregistered 
copyrights included in the Company Intellectual Property Rights, the 
Company's currently marketed software products and a list of which, if any, 
of such products have been registered for copyright protection with the 
United States Copyright Office and any foreign offices; and (B) licenses and 
other agreements to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party 
and pursuant to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is authorized to 
use any Company Intellectual Property Right. Neither the Company nor any of 
its subsidiaries is, or as a result of the execution, delivery or performance 
of the Company's obligations hereunder will be, in violation of, or lose any 
rights pursuant to, any material license or agreement described in Schedule 
5.20 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, except for such violations or losses 
which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Company Material 
Adverse Effect. The Company has previously provided Parent with a list of any 
applications for patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks and 
registered and unregistered copyrights.

     (b)  As of the date hereof, except as set forth in Schedule 5.20(b) of 
the Company Disclosure Schedule, no claims with respect to the Company 
Intellectual Property Rights have been asserted or, to the knowledge of the 
Company, are threatened by any person, nor does the Company or any subsidiary 
of the Company know of any valid grounds for any bona fide claims against the 
use by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company of any Company 
Intellectual Property Rights which, insofar as reasonably can be foreseen, 
could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse 
Effect. All granted and issued patents and all registered trademarks and 
service marks listed in Schedule 5.20 of the Company Disclosure Schedule and 
all copyrights held by the Company or any of its subsidiaries are valid, 
enforceable and subsisting, other than 


                                     -25-

<PAGE>

those the invalidity of which, individually or in the aggregate, would not 
have a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Company's knowledge, as of the 
date hereof, there has not been and there is not any material unauthorized 
use, infringement or misappropriation of any of the Company Intellectual 
Property Rights by any third party, employee or former employee which, 
individually or in the aggregate, would result in a Company Material Adverse 
Effect.

     (c)  No Company Intellectual Property Right is subject to any 
outstanding order, judgment, decree, stipulation or agreement restricting in 
any manner the licensing thereof by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, 
except for such orders, judgments, decrees, stipulations or agreements which, 
individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Company Material Adverse 
Effect. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.20(c) of the Company Disclosure 
Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into 
any agreement to indemnify any other person against any charge of 
infringement of any Company Intellectual Property Right, except infringement 
indemnities agreed to in the ordinary course included as part of the 
Company's license agreements or terms of sale. Neither the Company nor any of 
its subsidiaries has entered into any agreement granting any third party the 
right to bring infringement actions with respect to, or otherwise to enforce 
rights with respect to, any Company Intellectual Property Rights owned by the 
Company. The Company and its subsidiaries have the exclusive right to file, 
prosecute and maintain all applications and registrations with respect to the 
Company Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company.

      Section 5.21  PRODUCT LIABILITY.  The Company is not aware of any 
claim, or the basis of any claim, against the Company or any of its 
subsidiaries for injury to person or property of employees or any third 
parties suffered as a result of the sale of any product or performance of any 
service by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including claims arising 
out of the defective or unsafe nature of its products or services, which 
could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse 
Effect.  The Company and its subsidiaries have, and on the Effective Date 
will have, full and adequate insurance coverage for potential product 
liability claims against it.

     Section 5.22  ENVIRONMENT.  (a) As used herein, the term "ENVIRONMENTAL 
LAWS" means all federal, state, local or Foreign Laws relating to pollution 
or protection of human health or the environment (including, without 
limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or 
subsurface


                                     -26-

<PAGE>

strata), including, without limitation, laws relating to emissions, 
discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, 
contaminants, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the 
environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, 
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of 
chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or industrial, toxic or hazardous 
substances or wastes, as well as all authorizations, codes, decrees, demands 
or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice 
letters, orders, permits, plans or regulations issued, entered, promulgated 
or approved thereunder.

      (b)  To the knowledge of the Company, there are, except as disclosed in 
the Company SEC Reports, with respect to the Company or any of its 
subsidiaries, no past or present violations of Environmental Laws, releases 
of any material into the environment, actions, activities, circumstances,  
conditions, events, incidents, or contractual obligations which may give rise 
to any common law liability or any liability under the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA") or 
similar state or local laws, which liabilities, either individually or in the 
aggregate, would have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 5.23  TAX AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS.  Neither the Company nor, to 
its best knowledge, any of its affiliates, has through the date hereof, taken 
or agreed to take any action, nor are they aware of any circumstances 
relating to the Company or its affiliates which currently exist, that would 
(i) prevent Parent from accounting for the business combination to be 
effected by the Merger as a "pooling of interests" or (ii) prevent the Merger 
from constituting a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of 
the Code.

      Section 5.24  AUTHORIZED STOCK.  The Company has taken all necessary 
corporate and other action to authorize and reserve and to permit it to 
issue, and, at all times from the date hereof until the obligation to deliver 
Company Common Stock upon the exercise of the Option terminates, will have 
reserved for issuance, upon exercise of the Option, shares of Company Common 
Stock necessary for Parent to exercise in full the Option, and the Company 
will take all necessary corporate action to authorize and reserve for 
issuance all additional shares of Company Common Stock or other securities 
which may be issued pursuant to the Stock Option Agreement upon exercise of 
the Option. The shares of Company Common Stock to be issued upon due exercise 
of the Option, including all additional shares of Company Common Stock or 
other securities which may be issuable pursuant to the Stock Option 
Agreement, upon issuance 


                                     -27-

<PAGE>

pursuant thereto, shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and 
nonassessable, and shall be delivered free and clear of all liens, claims, 
charges and encumbrances of any kind or nature whatsoever, including any 
preemptive rights of any stockholder of the Company.


                                 ARTICLE VI

                   CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER

      Section 6.1  CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE COMPANY PENDING THE MERGER.  
Prior to the Effective Date, unless Parent shall otherwise agree in writing:

          (i)  the Company shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, carry 
     on their respective businesses in the usual, regular and ordinary course 
     in substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted, and shall, and 
     shall cause its subsidiaries to, use their diligent efforts to preserve 
     intact their present business organizations, keep available the services 
     of their present officers and employees and preserve their relationships 
     with customers, suppliers and others having business dealings with them 
     to the end that their goodwill and ongoing businesses shall be 
     unimpaired at the Effective Date. The Company shall, and shall cause its 
     subsidiaries to, (A) maintain insurance coverages and its books, 
     accounts and records in the usual manner consistent with prior 
     practices; (B) comply in all material respects with all laws, ordinances 
     and regulations of Governmental Entities applicable to the Company and 
     its subsidiaries; (C) maintain and keep its properties and equipment in 
     good repair, working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear 
     excepted; and (D) perform in all material respects its obligations under 
     all contracts and commitments to which it is a party or by which it is 
     bound, in each case other than where the failure to so maintain, comply 
     or perform, either individually or in the aggregate, would not result in 
     a Company Material Adverse Effect;

          (ii)  except as required by this Merger Agreement, the Company 
     shall not and shall not propose to (A) sell or pledge or agree to sell 
     or pledge any capital stock owned by it in any of its subsidiaries; (B) 
     amend its Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws; (C) split, 
     combine or reclassify its outstanding capital stock or issue or 
     authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in respect of, 
     in lieu of or in substitution for shares of capital stock of the 
     Company, or declare, set aside or pay


                                     -28-

<PAGE>

     any dividend or other distribution payable in cash, stock or property; 
     or (D) directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or 
     agree to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of Company 
     capital stock;

          (iii)  the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its 
     subsidiaries to, (A) except as contemplated by this Merger Agreement, 
     issue, deliver or sell or agree to issue, deliver or sell any additional 
     shares of, or rights of any kind to acquire any shares of, its capital 
     stock of any class, any Indebtedness or any options, rights or warrants 
     to acquire, or securities convertible into, shares of capital stock 
     other than issuances of Company Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of 
     Company Stock Options or the conversion of Company Notes outstanding on 
     the date hereof (other than as set forth in Schedule 6.1 of the Company 
     Disclosure Schedule); (B) acquire, lease or dispose of, or agree to 
     acquire, lease or dispose of, any capital assets or any other assets 
     other than in the ordinary course of business; (C) incur additional 
     Indebtedness or encumber or grant a security interest in any asset or 
     enter into any other material transaction other than in each case in the 
     ordinary course of business (other than as set forth in Schedule 6.1 of 
     the Company Disclosure Schedule); (D) acquire or agree to acquire by 
     merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial equity 
     interest in, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, 
     partnership, association or other business organization or division 
     thereof, in each case in this clause (D) which are material, 
     individually or in the aggregate, to the Company and its subsidiaries 
     taken as a whole; or (E) enter into any contract, agreement, commitment 
     or arrangement with respect to any of the foregoing;

          (iv)  the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its 
     subsidiaries to, except as required to comply with applicable law and 
     except as provided in Section 7.5 and Section 7.11, (A) adopt, enter 
     into, terminate or amend any bonus, profit sharing, compensation, 
     severance, termination, stock option, pension, retirement, deferred 
     compensation, employment or other Company Plan, agreement, trust, fund 
     or other arrangement for the benefit or welfare of any current or  
     former director, officer, employee or independent contractor; (B) 
     increase in any manner the compensation or fringe benefit of any 
     director, officer, employee or independent contractor (other than in 
     the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice but in no 
     event in excess of 3%); (C) other than as set forth in Schedule 6.1 of 
     the Company Disclosure Schedule, pay any benefit not provided under any 
     existing plan or 


                                     -29-

<PAGE>

     arrangement; (D) other than as set forth in Schedule 6.1 of the Company 
     Disclosure Schedule, grant any awards under any bonus, incentive, 
     performance or other compensation plan or arrangement or Company Plan 
     (including, without limitation, the grant of stock options, stock 
     appreciation rights, stock based or stock related awards, performance 
     units or restricted stock, or the removal of existing restrictions or 
     the acceleration of exercisability in any Company Plan or agreements or 
     awards made thereunder) (other than payments of bonuses in the ordinary 
     course of business pursuant to the Company's Management-By-Objective 
     (MBO) bonus plan or arrangement); (E) take any action to fund or in any 
     other way secure the payment of compensation or benefits under any 
     employee plan, agreement, contract or arrangement or Company Plan; or 
     (F) adopt, enter into, amend or terminate any contract, agreement, 
     commitment or arrangement to do any of the foregoing;

          (v)  the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its 
     subsidiaries to, make any investments in non-investment grade 
     securities, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company will be permitted to 
     create new wholly owned subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

          (vi)  the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its 
     subsidiaries to, take or cause to be taken any action, whether before or 
     after the Effective Date, which would disqualify the Merger as a 
     "pooling of interests" for accounting purposes or as a "reorganization" 
     within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code; and

          (vii)  the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its 
     subsidiaries to, except as required by law or GAAP, change any of its 
     significant accounting policies or make or rescind any express or deemed 
     election relating to taxes, settle or compromise any claim, action, 
     suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or 
     controversy relating to taxes, or change any of its methods of reporting 
     income or deductions for federal income tax purposes from those employed 
     in the preparation of the federal income tax returns for the last 
     taxable year.

     Section 6.2  CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY PARENT AND SUB PENDING THE MERGER. 
(a) PARENT. Prior to the Effective Date, unless the Company shall otherwise 
agree in writing or except as otherwise required by this Merger Agreement: 
(i) Parent shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, carry on their 
respective businesses in the usual, regular and ordinary course in 
substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted, and shall, and shall 
cause its Significant Subsidiaries to, use


                                     -30-

<PAGE>

their diligent efforts to preserve intact their present business 
organizations, keep available the services of their present officers and 
employees and preserve their relationships with customers, suppliers and 
others having business dealings with them to the end that their goodwill and 
ongoing businesses shall be unimpaired at the Effective Date, PROVIDED, 
HOWEVER, that nothing contained herein shall prevent Parent from creating new 
wholly owned subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business as long as the 
creation of such subsidiaries (either alone or in the aggregate) will not 
have a Parent Material Adverse Effect; and (ii) the Parent shall not, nor 
shall it permit any of its subsidiaries to, take or cause to be taken any 
action, whether before or after the Effective Date, which would disqualify 
the Merger as a "pooling of interests" for accounting purposes or as a 
"reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

      (b) SUB. During the period from the date of this Merger Agreement to 
the Effective Date, Sub shall not engage in any activities of any nature 
except as provided in or contemplated by this Merger Agreement.

     Section 6.3  NOTICE OF BREACH.  Each party shall promptly give written 
notice to the other party upon becoming aware of the occurrence or, to its 
knowledge, impending or threatened occurrence, of any event which would 
cause or constitute a breach of any of its representations, warranties or 
covenants contained or referenced in this Merger Agreement and will use its 
best efforts to prevent or promptly remedy the same.  Any such notification 
shall not be deemed an amendment of the Company Disclosure Schedule.


                                 ARTICLE VII

                            ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

      Section 7.1  ACCESS AND INFORMATION.  Subject to the limitations 
imposed by third party confidentiality agreements, each of the Company and 
Parent and their respective subsidiaries shall afford to the other and to the 
other's accountants, counsel and other representatives full access during 
normal business hours (and at such other times as the parties may mutually 
agree) throughout the period prior to the Effective Date to all of its 
properties, books, contracts, commitments, records and personnel and, during 
such period, each shall furnish promptly to the other (i) a copy of each 
report, schedule and other document filed or received by it pursuant to the 
requirements of federal or state securities laws, and (ii) all 


                                     -31-

<PAGE>

other information concerning its business, properties and personnel as the 
other may reasonably request.  Each of the Company and Parent shall hold, and 
shall cause their respective employees and agents to hold, in confidence 
all such information in accordance with the terms of the Confidentiality 
Agreement, dated April 29, 1997, between Parent and the Company (the 
"CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT").

      Section 7.2  REGISTRATION STATEMENT/PROXY STATEMENT. (a) As promptly as 
practicable after the execution of this Merger Agreement, the Company and 
Parent shall prepare and the Company shall file with the Commission 
preliminary proxy materials which shall constitute the preliminary Proxy  
Statement and a preliminary prospectus with respect to the Parent Common 
Stock to be issued in connection with the Merger.  As promptly as practicable 
after comments are received from the Commission with respect to the 
preliminary proxy materials and after the furnishing by the Company and 
Parent of all information required to be contained therein, the Company shall 
file with the Commission the definitive Proxy Statement and Parent shall file 
with the Commission the Registration Statement and Parent and the Company 
shall use all reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to 
become effective as soon thereafter as practicable.

      (b)  Parent and the Company shall make all necessary filings with 
respect to the Merger under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the 
rules and regulations thereunder and under applicable blue sky or similar 
securities laws and shall use all reasonable efforts to obtain required 
approvals and clearances with respect thereto.

      Section 7.3  AFFILIATES; PUBLICATION OF COMBINED FINANCIAL RESULTS.  
(a) Prior to the Effective Date the Company shall cause to be delivered to 
Parent an opinion (satisfactory to counsel for Parent) of the general counsel 
of the Company or such law firm as may be reasonably satisfactory to Parent, 
identifying all persons who were, in his or its opinion, at the time of the 
Company Meeting convened in accordance with Section 3.5, "affiliates" of 
the Company as that term is used in paragraphs (c) and (d) of Rule 145 under 
the Securities Act (the "AFFILIATES").

      (b)  The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain a written 
agreement in the form set forth as Exhibit C to this Merger Agreement from 
each person who is identified as a possible Affiliate in the opinion 
referred to in clause (a) above, providing that such Affiliate will not (i) 
offer to sell, sell 


                                     -32-

<PAGE>

or otherwise dispose of any of the capital stock of Parent issued to such 
Affiliate pursuant to the Merger, except in compliance with Rule 145 or 
another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act 
and (ii) except to the extent and under the conditions permitted therein, 
during the period commencing 30 days prior to the Merger and ending at the 
time of publication of financial results (including combined sales and net 
income) covering at least 30 days of post-merger operations, sell or in any 
other way reduce such Affiliate's risk relative to any Parent Common Stock 
received in the Merger (within the meaning of the Commission's Financial 
Reporting Release No. 1, "CODIFICATION OF FINANCING REPORTING POLICIES," 
Section 201.01 (47 F.R. 21030) (April 15, 1982)). The Company shall deliver 
such written agreements to Parent on or prior to the earlier of (i) the 
mailing of the Proxy Statement or (ii) the thirtieth day prior to the 
Effective Date.

      (c)  If the Effective Date is less than 30 days prior to the end of 
Parent's fiscal quarter, Parent shall use reasonable efforts to prepare and 
publicly release as soon as practicable following the end of the first month 
ending at least 30 days after the Effective Date, a report filed with the 
Commission on Form 8-K or any other public filing, statement or announcement 
which includes the combined financial results (including combined sales and 
net income) of Parent and the Company for a period of at least 30 days of 
combined operations of Parent and the Company following the Effective Date; 
PROVIDED that Parent need not prepare and release such results if, in its 
good faith judgment, it determines that such release would not be in the best 
interests of Parent.

      Section 7.4  STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING. Parent shall use its best efforts 
to list on the NYSE, upon official notice of issuance, the shares of Parent 
Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger.

      Section 7.5  EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS.  (a) After the Effective Date, 
Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, honor in 
accordance with their terms, all employment, severance, consulting and other 
compensation contracts between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any 
current or former director, officer or employee thereof, and all provisions 
for vested benefits or other vested amounts earned or accrued through the 
Effective Date under any Company Plan, each as of the date hereof except for 
changes thereto which are permitted by this Merger Agreement or otherwise 
agreed to by the parties thereto.


                                     -33-

<PAGE>

      (b) For a period of 12 months after the Effective Date, Parent shall 
provide, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to provide, generally to 
the officers and employees of the Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries 
employee benefits, including, without limitation, pension benefits, health 
and welfare benefits, and severance arrangements, on terms and conditions in 
the aggregate that are no less favorable than those provided under the 
Company Plans as of the date hereof.  Parent shall, or shall cause the 
Surviving Corporation to, credit officers and employees of the Company and 
its subsidiaries, with their service with the Company and its subsidiaries 
for purposes of eligibility to participate and vesting with respect to 
employee benefit plans of Parent and the Surviving Corporation. Individual 
eligibility for participation in the medical plans of Parent or the Surviving 
Corporation shall not be subject to any exclusions for preexisting conditions 
other than any such exclusions provided in the medical plans of the Company 
or its subsidiaries.  Amounts paid before the Effective Date by directors, 
officers and employees under medical plans of the Company and its 
subsidiaries shall be taken into account after the Effective Date in applying 
deductible and out-of-pocket limits applicable under the medical plans of 
Parent and the Surviving Corporation to the same extent as if such amounts 
had been paid under the medical plans of Parent and the Surviving Corporation.

      (c)  It is the intent of Parent, after the Effective Date, to permit 
employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to participate in the incentive 
and compensation plans of Parent on a basis equivalent to similarly situated 
employees of Parent.

      Section 7.6  INDEMNIFICATION. (a) From and after the Effective Date, 
Parent shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the officers, directors and 
employees of the Company (the "INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") against all losses, 
expenses, claims, damages or liabilities arising out of the transactions 
contemplated by this Merger Agreement to the fullest extent permitted or 
required under applicable law. Parent agrees that all rights to indemnification
existing in favor of the current or former directors, officers or employees 
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries as provided in the Company's 
Restated Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, as in effect as of the date 
hereof, with respect to matters occurring through the Effective Date, shall 
survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect for a period 
of not less than six years from the Effective Date. Parent agrees to maintain 
or cause the Surviving Corporation to maintain in effect for not less than 
six years after the Effective Date policies of directors' 


                             -34-
<PAGE>

and officers' liability insurance equivalent to those maintained by the 
Company with respect to matters occurring on or prior to the Effective Date; 
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Surviving Corporation shall not be required to 
pay an aggregate premium for such insurance in excess of $1.2 million, but in 
such case shall purchase as much coverage as possible for such amount.

     (b) In the event that any action, suit, proceeding or investigation 
relating hereto or to the transactions contem plated by this Merger Agreement 
is commenced, whether before or after the Effective Date, the parties hereto 
agree to cooperate and use their respective reasonable efforts to vigorously 
defend against and respond thereto.

     (c) The provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of 
the Surviving Corporation pertaining to indemnification of current and former 
directors, officers and employees shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise 
modified for a period of six years after the Effective Date (or, in the case 
of matters which are pending but which have not been resolved prior to the 
sixth anniversary of the Effective Date, until such matters are finally 
resolved), in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of 
individuals who at any time on or prior to the Effective Date were directors, 
officers or employees of the Company in respect of actions or omissions 
occurring on or prior to the Effective Date (including, without limitation, 
the transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement).

     (d)  The provisions of this Section 7.6 are intended for the benefit of, 
and shall be enforceable by, the respective Indemnified Parties.

      Section 7.7  HSR ACT. The Company and Parent shall use their best 
efforts to file as soon as practicable notifications under the HSR Act in 
connection with the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby, 
including, but not limited to, the Stock Option Agreement and the 
transactions contemplated thereby, and to respond as promptly as practicable 
to any inquiries received from the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") and 
the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the "ANTITRUST 
DIVISION") for additional information or documentation and to respond as 
promptly as practicable to all inquiries and requests received from any State 
Attorney General or other governmental authority in connection with antitrust 
matters.

      Section 7.8  ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS. (a) Subject to the terms and 
conditions herein provided, each of the parties 


                             -35-
<PAGE>

hereto agrees to use all reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, 
all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or 
advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make 
effective the transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement, including 
using all reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary waivers, consents and 
approvals, to effect all necessary registrations and filings (including, but 
not limited to, filings with all applicable Governmental Entities) and to 
lift any injunction or other legal bar to the Merger or the Stock Option 
Agreement, subject to the appropriate vote of the shareholders of the 
Company.  Not withstanding the foregoing, neither Parent nor any of its 
subsidiaries shall be required to take any action, and without Parent's prior 
written consent neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall agree 
to take any action, that would in any way restrict or limit the conduct of 
business from and after the Effective Date by Parent, the Company or any 
subsidiary of either (including, without limitation, any divestiture of any 
business, product line or asset).

      (b) In case at any time after the Effective Date any further action is 
necessary or desirable to carry out the pur poses of this Merger Agreement, 
the proper officers and/or directors of Parent, the Company and the 
Surviving Corporation shall take all such necessary action.

      (c) Following the Effective Date, Parent shall use its best efforts to 
conduct the business, and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to use its 
best efforts to conduct its business, except as otherwise contemplated by 
this Merger Agreement, in a manner which would not jeopardize the 
characterization of the Merger as a reorganization within the meaning of 
Section 368(a) of the Code.

      Section 7.9  NO SOLICITATION. (a) As used herein, the term "ACQUISITION 
PROPOSAL" means any proposed (i) merger, consolidation or similar transaction 
involving the Company, (ii) sale, lease or other disposition directly or 
indirectly by merger, consolidation, share exchange or otherwise of assets of 
the Company or its subsidiaries representing 30% or more of the consolidated 
assets of the Company and its subsidiaries in one transaction or a series of 
transactions, (iii) issue, sale, or other acquisition or disposition of 
(including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange or any similar 
transaction) securities (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or 
securities convertible into, such securities) representing 20% or more of the 
voting power of the Company or (iv) transaction in which any person shall or 
would acquire beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act), or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, or any "group"


                             -36-
<PAGE>

(as such term is defined under the Exchange Act) shall have been formed which 
beneficially owns or would own or has or would have the right to acquire 
beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding Company Common Stock, 
other than transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement or the Stock 
Option Agreement.

      (b)  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall, nor shall 
the Company authorize or permit its subsidiaries, officers, directors, 
employees, representatives, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants or 
other agents or affiliates to, take any action to (i) solicit, initiate or 
encourage (including by way of furnishing information) the submission of any 
Acquisition Proposal or (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations 
with, or furnish any information to, any person in connection with, or take 
any other action to facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal 
that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition 
Proposal; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if, at any time prior to the obtaining of 
Company stockholder approval of the Merger, the Board of Directors of the 
Company determines in good faith by a majority vote, based on the advice of 
outside counsel, that it is necessary to do so to avoid a breach of its 
fiduciary duties to stockholders under applicable law, the Company may, in 
response to a written Acquisition Proposal which the Board of Directors of 
the Company determines in good faith by a majority vote, based on the opinion 
of a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation, to be more 
favorable from a financial point of view to the Company's stockholders than 
this Merger Agreement, the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby, 
and which proposal was not solicited by the Company or otherwise result from 
a breach of this Section 7.9(b), and subject to the Company's compliance with 
Section 7.9(d), (A) furnish information with respect to it and its subsidiaries
to any person pursuant to a customary confidentiality agreement containing 
terms at least as favorable to the Company as those contained in the 
confidentiality agreements in place between the Company and Parent and (B) 
participate in discussions or negotiations with respect to such Acquisition 
Proposal.

      (c) Except as expressly permitted by this Section 7.9, neither the 
Board of Directors of the Company, nor any committee thereof, shall (i) 
withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify, in a manner 
adverse to Parent, the approval or recommendation by such Board of Directors 
or such committee of the adoption and approval of the matters to be 
considered at the Company Meeting, (ii) approve or recommend, or propose 
publicly to approve or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal, or (iii) cause 
the Company to enter into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, 
acquisition agreement 


                             -37-
<PAGE>

or other similar agreement or understanding (written or otherwise) related to 
any Acquisition Proposal (each, an "ACQUISITION AGREEMENT"). Notwithstanding 
the foregoing, in the event that prior to the obtaining of Company 
stockholder approval of the Merger, there exists a Superior Proposal (as 
defined herein), the Board of Directors of the Company may, if it determines 
in good faith by a majority vote, based on the advice of outside counsel, 
that it is necessary to do so to avoid a breach of its fiduciary duties to 
stockholders under applicable law, approve or recommend such Superior 
Proposal and terminate this Merger Agreement, PROVIDED (i) the Company shall 
have given Parent written notice (a "SUPERIOR PROPOSAL NOTICE") at least five 
business days prior to such termination advising Parent that the Board of 
Directors of the Company has received a Superior Proposal which the Board of 
Directors has authorized and intends to effect, specifying the material terms 
and conditions of such Superior Proposal and identifying the person making 
such Superior Proposal, (ii) the Company shall otherwise be in compliance 
with its obligations under this Merger Agreement and the Stock Option 
Agreement and (iii) the Company pays, or causes to be paid, to Parent the 
amounts contemplated by Section 9.2(b) prior to terminating this Merger 
Agreement. For purposes of this Merger Agreement, a "SUPERIOR PROPOSAL" means 
any written proposal made by a third party to acquire, directly or 
indirectly, more than 50% of the equity securities of the Company entitled to 
vote generally in the election of directors or all or substantially all of 
the assets of the Company, and otherwise on terms which the Board of 
Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment, based on the 
opinion of a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation, to be 
more favorable from a financial point of view to the Company's stockholders 
than this Merger Agreement, the Merger and the transactions contemplated 
hereby and for which financing, to the extent required, is then committed.

      (d)  In addition to the obligations set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) 
of this Section 7.9, the Company will promptly communicate to Parent in 
writing any solicitation received, directly or indirectly, by the Company and 
will furnish to Parent a copy of any such solicitation or proposal, if it is 
in writing, or a written summary of the terms of such proposal or inquiry if 
it is not in writing, including the identity of the person and its affiliates 
making the same, that it may receive in respect of any such transaction, or 
of any such information requested from it or of any such negotiations or 
discussions being sought to be initiated with it. The Company shall promptly 
advise Parent of any development relating to such proposal, including the 
results of any discussions or negotiations with respect thereto.


                             -38-
<PAGE>

      (e)  Nothing contained in this Section 7.9 shall prohibit the Company 
from taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated by 
Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or from making any 
disclosure to its stock holders if, in the good faith judgment of its Board 
of Directors, based on the advice of outside counsel, failure so to disclose 
would result in a violation of applicable law; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that 
neither the Company nor its Board of Directors nor any committee thereof 
shall withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify, its 
position with respect to the matters to be considered at the Company Meeting 
or approve or recommend, or propose publicly to approve or recommend, an 
Acquisition Proposal, except as provided in Section 7.9(c).

      Section 7.10  EMPLOYEE AGREEMENTS. The Company shall use all reasonable 
efforts to cause the individuals listed on Annex A hereto (and such additional
persons as Parent and the Company shall agree upon) to execute, at or prior 
to the Effective Date, the agreements set forth next to their respective 
names on such Annex A.

      Section 7.11  COMPANY STOCK PLANS. If the Effective Date occurs 
subsequent to December 31, 1997, the Company shall terminate the Company 
Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("COMPANY PURCHASE PLAN") by having its Board of 
Directors amend the Company Purchase Plan to terminate at the earlier of (i) 
the end of the current stock offering period under the Company Purchase Plan 
or (ii) immediately prior to the Effective Date.  If the Effective Date 
occurs on or prior to December 31, 1997, the current stock offering period 
shall continue through December 31, 1997, and any options issued under the 
Company Purchase Plan which are outstanding and unexercised immediately prior 
to the Effective Date shall be converted into options to purchase a number of 
shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.1(e).

     Section 7.12  INDEPENDENT AUDITORS. The Company shall provide to Parent a 
letter from Ernst & Young LLP, the Company's independent auditors, dated a 
date within two business days before the date on which the Registration 
Statement shall become effective and addressed to Parent, in form and 
substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent and customary in scope and 
substance for letters delivered by independent public accountants in 
connection with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement.


                             -39-
<PAGE>

                            ARTICLE VIII

                       CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

      Section 8.1  CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE 
MERGER. The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger shall 
be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Date of the 
following conditions:

      (a) This Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby 
shall have been approved and adopted by the requisite vote of the holders of 
the Company Common Stock.

      (b) The Parent Common Stock issuable in the Merger shall have been 
authorized for listing on the NYSE upon official notice of issuance.

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

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

      (e) No temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction 
or other order by any court or other judicial or administrative body of 
competent jurisdiction (each, an "INJUNCTION") which prohibits or prevents 
the consummation of the Merger shall have been issued and remain in effect 
(each party agreeing to use its best efforts to have any such Injunction 
lifted), and there shall not be any action taken, or any statute, rule, 
regulation or order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) enacted, 
entered or enforced which makes the consummation of the Merger illegal or 
prevents or prohibits the Merger.

      (f) The Company shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP, independent 
auditors for the Company, a letter addressed to the Company dated within two 
days prior to the Effective Date, in substance reasonably satisfactory to 
Parent and the Company, to the effect that Ernst & Young LLP concurs with 
Company management conclusions that no conditions exist related to the 
Company that would preclude Parent from accounting for the Merger as a 
pooling of interests and Parent shall have received from KPMG Peat Marwick 
LLP, independent auditors for Parent, a letter addressed to Parent dated 
within two days 


                             -40-

<PAGE>

prior to the Effective Date, in substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent 
and the Company, to the effect that KPMG Peat Marwick LLP concurs with Parent 
management conclusions that no conditions exist that would preclude Parent 
from accounting for the Merger as a pooling of interests.

     Section 8.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY TO EFFECT THE 
MERGER. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger shall be subject 
to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Date of the additional 
following conditions, unless waived by the Company:

      (a)  Parent and Sub shall have performed in all material respects their 
agreements contained in this Merger Agreement required to be performed on or 
prior to the Effective Date and the representations and warranties of Parent 
and Sub contained in this Merger Agreement shall be true in all material 
respects (except for any such representations or warranties which are 
qualified as to Parent Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and 
correct in all respects) when made and on and as of the Effective Date as if 
made on and as of such date, except for representations and warranties which 
are by their  express provisions made as of a specific date or dates, which 
were or will be true in all material respects (except for any such 
representations or warranties which are qualified as to Parent Material 
Adverse Effect, which were or will be true and correct in all respects) at 
such time or times as stated therein, and the Company shall have received a 
certificate of the President or Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President 
of Parent to that effect.

      (b)  The Company shall have received a favorable opinion of Vinson & 
Elkins L.L.P., based upon certain factual representations of the Company, 
Parent and Sub reasonably requested by such counsel, dated the Effective 
Date, to the effect that the Merger will constitute a "reorganization" for 
federal income tax purposes within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

      Section 8.3  CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT AND SUB TO EFFECT THE 
MERGER. The obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger shall be 
subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Date of the 
additional following conditions, unless waived by Parent:

      (a)  The Company shall have performed in all material respects its 
agreements contained in this  Merger Agreement required to be performed on or 
prior to the Effective Date and the representations and warranties of the 
Company contained in this Merger Agreement shall be true in all material 
respects 

                                      -41-

<PAGE>

(except for any such representations or warranties which are qualified as to 
Company Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and correct in all 
respects) when made and on and as of the Effective Date as if made on and as 
of such date, except for representations and warranties which are by their 
express provisions made as of a specific date or dates which were or will be 
true in all material respects (except for any such rep resentations or 
warranties which are qualified as to Company Material Adverse Effect, which 
were or will be true and correct in all respects) at such date or dates, and 
Parent and Sub shall have received a certificate of the President or Chief 
Executive Officer or a Vice President of the Company to that effect.

     (b) Parent shall have received a favorable opinion of Wachtell, Lipton, 
Rosen & Katz, based upon certain factual representations of the Company, 
Parent and Sub reasonably requested by such counsel, to the effect that the 
Merger will be treated for federal income tax purposes as a "reorganization" 
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

      (c) The Company shall have obtained all consents, appeals, releases or 
authorizations from, and shall have made all filings and registrations to or 
with, any person, including but not limited to any Governmental Entity, 
necessary to be obtained or made in order to consummate the transactions 
contemplated by this Merger Agreement.
                                       
                                  ARTICLE IX

                      TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

      Section 9.1  TERMINATION.  This Merger Agreement may be terminated at 
any time prior to the Effective Date, whether before or after approval by the 
shareholders of the Company:

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

     (b) by either Parent or the Company, if the Merger shall not have been 
consummated on or before April 30, 1998; provided that the right to terminate 
this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(b) shall not be available to any 
party whose failure to perform in any material respect any covenant under 
this Merger Agreement has been the cause of or resulted in whole or in part 
in the failure of the Merger to be consummated before such date;

                                     -42-
<PAGE>

      (c)  by either Parent or the Company, if there shall be any Order which 
is final and nonappealable preventing the consummation of the Merger;

      (d)  by either Parent or the Company, if this Merger Agreement and the 
transactions contemplated hereby shall fail to receive the requisite vote for 
approval and adoption by the stockholders of the Company at the Company 
Meeting, or by Parent if this Merger Agreement and the transactions 
contemplated hereby shall not have received the requisite vote for approval 
and adoption by the stockholders of the Company at the Company Meeting prior 
to February 28, 1998;

      (e) by Parent, if the Board of Directors of the Company withdraws, 
modifies in a manner adverse to Parent, or refrains from making its 
recommendation concerning the Merger referred to in Section 3.5, or, other 
than in connection with the Company's delivery of a Superior Proposal Notice, 
discloses its intention to change such recommendation, or the Board  of 
Directors of the Company shall have recommended to the stockholders of the 
Company any Acquisition Proposal or the Company shall have entered into an 
Acquisition Agreement, or, other than in connection with the Company's 
delivery of a Superior Proposal Notice, the Board of Directors of the Company 
shall have resolved to do any of the foregoing; or

      (f)  by the Company, if, pursuant to Section 7.9(c), (A) the Board of 
Directors of the Company has delivered to Parent a Superior Proposal Notice, 
(B) the Company has paid the Termination Fee and Expenses (as defined in 
Section 9.2), (C) the Company shall otherwise be in compliance with its 
obligations under this Merger Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement and 
(D) five business days have passed since Parent received the Superior 
Proposal Notice.

      Section 9.2  EFFECT OF TERMINATION; FEES.  (a)  In the event of 
termination of this Merger Agreement by either Parent or the Company, as 
provided above, this Merger Agreement shall forthwith become void and (except 
for the willful breach of this Merger Agreement by any party hereto) there 
shall be no liability on the part of either the Company, Parent or Sub or 
their respective officers or directors; provided that Article V insofar as 
such representations and warranties relate to the Stock Option Agreement, the 
last sentence of Section 7.1, Section 7.7 (with respect to the Stock Option 
Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby) and Section 7.8 (with 
respect to the Stock Option Agreement and the transactions contemplated 
thereby) and Sections 9.2, 10.3 and 10.7 shall survive the termination.

                                     -43-
<PAGE>

     (b) The Company shall pay to Parent (by wire transfer to an account 
designated by Parent) a Termination Fee (as defined below) and, 
notwithstanding Section 10.3, the out-of-pocket expenses (including, without 
limitation, all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, printing and 
mailing, investment bankers, experts and consultants) incurred in connection 
with this Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby 
("EXPENSES") of Parent and Sub up to $2 million, if: (i) Parent terminates 
this Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(e); (ii) the Company terminates 
this Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(f); or (iii) (A) the Company or 
Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(d), and (B) within 
twelve months after such termination (1) the Company enters into an 
Acquisition  Agreement or (2) any Acquisition Proposal is consummated with 
respect to the Company.

      (c) The Termination Fee shall be equal to $25 million, less the 
Aggregate Spread (as defined in the Stock Option Agreement) (if greater than 
zero) on the date of issuance of shares of Company Common Stock theretofore 
issued to Parent pursuant to the Stock Option Agreement; provided, however, 
that the Termination Fee shall not be reduced by the Aggregate Spread if 
Parent has theretofore exercised its right under Section 7(a) of the Stock 
Option Agreement to put all of the Company Shares (as defined in the Stock 
Option Agreement) to the Company in exchange for a payment equal only to the 
aggregate Exercise Price (as defined in the Stock Option Agreement). The 
Termination Fee shall be paid as promptly as practicable and in no event 
later than (A) in the event of termination by the Company as described in 
clause (ii) of Section 9.2(b), immediately prior to such termination (and no 
such termination shall be effective until such payment is made); (B) in the 
event of termination by Parent as described in clause (i) of Section 9.2(b), 
two business days after such termination; or (C) in the event of the 
circumstances described in clause (iii) of Section 9.2(b), immediately prior 
to the earlier of the entry into an Acquisition Agreement or the consummation 
of any Acquisition Proposal. In the event that Expenses are payable pursuant 
to this Section 9.2, such Expenses shall be reimbursed within two business 
days following receipt by the Company from Parent of a statement of the 
amount thereof.

      Section 9.3 AMENDMENT. This Merger Agreement may be amended by the 
parties hereto, by or pursuant to action taken by their respective Boards of 
Directors, at any time before or after approval hereof by the shareholders of 
the Company, but, after such approval, no amendment shall be made which 
changes the ratio at which Company Common Stock is converted into Parent 
Common Stock as provided in Section 3.1 or which in any way materially 
adversely affects the rights of such stockholders, 

                                      -44-
<PAGE>

without the further approval of such stockholders. This Merger Agreement may 
not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of 
the parties hereto.

     Section 9.4  WAIVER.  At any time prior to the Effective Date, the parties 
hereto, by or pursuant to action taken by their respective Boards of 
Directors, may (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the 
obligations or other acts of the other parties  hereto,  (ii)  waive  any  
inaccuracies  in  the representations and warranties contained herein or in  
any documents delivered pursuant hereto, and (iii) waive compliance with any 
of the agreements or conditions contained herein; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no 
such waiver shall materially adversely affect the rights of stockholders of 
the Company and Parent. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any 
such extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in an instrument in 
writing signed on behalf of such party.
                                       
                                  ARTICLE X

                             GENERAL PROVISIONS

      Section 10.1  NON-SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND 
AGREEMENTS. No representations, warranties or agreements in this Merger 
Agreement shall survive the Merger, except for the agreements contained in 
Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.6 and the agreements referred to in 
Sections 7.3(b), 7.3(c), 7.5, 7.6, 7.8, 10.1, 10.3 and 10.7.

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

                  If to the Company:

                  Cyrix Corporation
                  2703 North Central Expressway
                  Richardson, Texas 75080
                  Attention: James W. Swent, III
                  Telecopy No.: (972) 234-4443

                                      -45-
<PAGE>

                  With a copy to:

                  Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
                  2001 Ross Avenue
                  Dallas, Texas 75201
                  Attention: Derek R. McClain, Esq.
                  Telecopy No.: (214) 220-7716


                  If to Parent or Sub:

                  National Semiconductor Corporation
                  2900 Semiconductor Drive
                  P.O. Box 58090
                  Santa Clara, California 95052
                  Attention: John M. Clark III, Esq.
                  Telecopy No.: (408) 733-0293

                  With a copy to:

                  Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
                  51 West 52nd Street
                  New York, New York 10019
                  Attention: Barry A. Bryer, Esq.
                  Telecopy No.: (212) 403-2000

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other parties 
in writing in accordance with this Section 10.2.

      Section 10.3  EXPENSES.  Except as provided in Section 9.2(b) and (c), 
all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Merger  Agreement and 
the transactions contemplated  hereby (regardless of whether the Merger is 
consummated) shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses, except that 
the Parent and Company agree to each pay 50% of all printing expenses 
incurred by the parties hereto.

      Section 10.4  PUBLICITY.  So long as this Merger Agreement is in effect, 
Parent, Sub and the Company agree to consult with each other in issuing any 
press release or otherwise making any public statement with respect to the 
transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement, and none of them shall 
issue any press release or make any public statement prior to such 
consultation, except as may be required by law or by obligations pursuant to 
any listing agreement with any national securities exchange.  The 
commencement of litigation relating to this Merger Agreement or the 
transactions contemplated hereby or any proceedings in connection therewith 
shall not be deemed a violation of this Section 10.4.

                                     -46-
<PAGE>

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

     Section 10.6 INTERPRETATION. When a reference is made in this Merger 
Agreement to subsidiaries of Parent or the Company, the word "subsidiaries" 
means corporations more than 50% of whose outstanding voting securities are 
directly or indirectly owned by Parent or the Company, as the case may be.  
The headings contained in this Merger Agreement are for reference purposes 
only  and  shall not affect in any way the  meaning  or interpretation of 
this Merger Agreement.

      Section 10.7  MISCELLANEOUS. This Merger Agreement and the Stock Option 
Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein and 
therein) (a) constitute the entire agreement  and  supersede all other prior  
agreements  and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties, or 
any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof (other than as 
provided in the Confidentiality Agreement, as the same may be amended, 
PROVIDED, that the provisions set forth in the ninth paragraph of the 
Confidentiality Agreement shall have no further force and effect); (b) except 
as provided in Section 7.6 of this Merger Agreement, are not intended to 
confer upon any other person any rights or remedies hereunder; (c) shall not 
be as signed by operation of law or otherwise, except that Sub shall have the 
right to assign to Parent or any direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent any 
and all rights and obligations of Sub under this Merger Agreement; and (d) 
shall be governed in all respects, including validity, interpretation and 
effect, by the laws of the State of Delaware (without giving effect to the 
provisions thereof relating to conflicts of law).  This Merger Agreement may 
be executed in two or more counterparts which together shall constitute a 
single agreement.

                                     -47-
<PAGE>

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

                         NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION


                            By /s/ Brian L. Halla
                               --------------------------------------
                               Name:  Brian L. Halla
                               Title:  Chairman, President, CEO


                         NOVA ACQUISITION CORP.


                            By /s/ Donald Macleod
                               --------------------------------------
                               Name:  Donald Macleod
                               Title: CFO/VP


                         CYRIX CORPORATION


                            By /s/ James W. Swent III
                               --------------------------------------
                               Name:  James W. Swent III
                               Title: Sr. V.P.

                                     -48-

<PAGE>

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


          THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this "STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT"), dated 
as of July 28, 1997, by and between National Semiconductor Corporation, a 
Delaware corporation ("PARENT"), and Cyrix Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the "COMPANY").

          WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Stock 
Option Agreement, Parent, the Company, and Nova Acquisition Corp. ("SUB") are 
entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof 
(the "MERGER AGREEMENT"), which provides, among other things, upon the terms 
and subject to the conditions thereof, for the merger of Sub into the Company 
(the "MERGER"); and

          WHEREAS, as a condition to Parent's willingness to enter into the 
Merger Agreement, Parent has requested that the Company agree, and the 
Company has so agreed, to grant to Parent an option with respect to certain 
shares of the Company's common stock, on the terms and subject to the 
conditions set forth herein;

          NOW, THEREFORE, to induce Parent to enter into the Merger 
Agreement, and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set 
forth herein and in the Merger Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:

          1.  GRANT OF OPTION.  The Company hereby grants Parent an 
irrevocable option (the "OPTION") to purchase from the Company upon original 
issue up to a number of shares of common stock, $.004 par value, of the 
Company ("COMPANY COMMON STOCK") equal to 19.9% of the number of shares of 
Company Common Stock outstanding on the date of this Stock Option Agreement, 
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 (such shares being referred 
to herein as the "COMPANY SHARES"), in the manner set forth below at an 
exercise price of $27.59 in cash or 0.825 shares of common stock, $.50 par 
value, of Parent ("PARENT COMMON STOCK") per Company Share, subject to 
adjustment as provided in Section 2(b) (the "EXERCISE PRICE"), payable in 
cash or Parent Common Stock at Parent's option in accordance with Section 4 
hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the number of 
shares for which the Option is exercisable exceed 19.9% of the number of 
issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock.  Capitalized terms 
used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the 
Merger Agreement.

          2.  EXERCISE OF OPTION.  (a) The Option may be exercised by Parent, 
in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time after the earliest of:  
(i) the Merger Agreement becoming terminable by Parent under Section 9.1(e) 
of the Merger Agreement, (ii) an Acquisition Proposal becoming publicly 
announced or disclosed prior to the approval of the Merger by the  

<PAGE>

stockholders of the Company at the Company Meeting or (iii) the receipt by 
Parent of a Superior Proposal Notice pursuant to Section 7.9(c) of the Merger 
Agreement, any such event(s) being referred to herein as a "TRIGGER EVENT."  
The Company shall notify Parent promptly in writing of the occurrence of any 
Trigger Event, it being understood that the giving of such notice by the 
Company shall not be a condition to the right of Parent to exercise the 
Option.  If Parent wishes to exercise the Option, in whole or in part, Parent 
shall deliver to the Company a written notice (an "EXERCISE NOTICE") 
specifying the total number of Company Shares it wishes to purchase (the 
"DESIGNATED NUMBER"), the Exercise Price per Company Share (subject to 
Section 2(b) and whether the consideration payable by Parent will be in cash 
or shares of Parent Common Stock.  Each closing of a purchase of Company 
Shares (a "CLOSING") shall occur at a place, on a date and at a time 
designated by Parent in an Exercise Notice delivered at least two business 
days prior to the date of closing.  The Option shall terminate, unless Parent 
has theretofore delivered an Exercise Notice, upon the earlier of (i) the 
Effective Date or (ii) termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with 
its terms.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Option may not be exercised if 
Parent is in material breach of any of its material representations or 
warranties, or in material breach of any of its material covenants or 
agreements, contained in this Stock Option Agreement or in the Merger Agreement.
Upon the giving by Parent to the Company of the Exercise Notice and the tender 
of the applicable aggregate Exercise Price in either cash or Parent Common 
Stock, Parent shall be deemed to be the holder of record of the Company Shares
issuable upon such exercise, notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of 
the Company shall then be closed or that certificates representing such Company
Shares shall not then be actually delivered to Parent.

          (b)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Stock Option 
Agreement, the Aggregate Spread (as defined below) shall not exceed $27 
million less any amount theretofore paid to Parent with respect to the 
Termination Fee and Expenses in accordance with Section 9.2 of the Merger 
Agreement (the "MAXIMUM VALUE").  The sum of (i) the Aggregate Spread 
relating to Company Shares issued to Parent with respect to which Parent has 
not theretofore exercised its put right under Section 7(a) and (ii) any 
Termination Fee and Expenses paid to Parent pursuant to Section 9.2 of the 
Merger Agreement shall not exceed an aggregate of $27 million.  If any 
exercise of the Option would result in an Aggregate Spread (including the 
Aggregate Spread in connection with any prior exercises of the Option) in 
excess of the Maximum Value, the Exercise Price shall be increased such that 
the Aggregate Spread (including the Aggregate Spread in connection with any 
prior exercises of the Option) shall equal the Maximum Value.  As used in 
this Stock Option Agreement, the "FAIR MARKET VALUE" of any share shall be 
the daily closing sales price for such share on the NYSE Composite Tape 


                                     -2-

<PAGE>

or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation 
System ("NASDAQ"), as the case may be, on the trading day immediately prior 
to the date of such price is to be determined (unless the Exercise Notice is 
delivered on the date an Acquisition Proposal is first publicly announced, 
in which event the closing sales price on the date such Exercise Notice is 
delivered shall be used to determine "Fair Market Value") and (ii) the 
"AGGREGATE SPREAD" is defined as the product of (i) the difference between 
(A) the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Common Stock on the date 
Parent delivers the Exercise Notice and (B) $27.59 (or if the Exercise Price 
is increased pursuant to this Section 2(b), such Exercise Price) 
multiplied by (ii) the Designated Number with respect to such exercise.

          3.  CONDITIONS TO CLOSING; BEST EFFORTS.  (a) The obligation of 
the Company to issue the Company Shares to Parent hereunder is subject to the 
following conditions: (i) all waiting periods, if any, under the HSR Act, 
applicable to the issuance of the Company Shares hereunder shall have expired 
or been terminated; and (ii) no preliminary or permanent injunction or other 
order by any court of competent jurisdiction prohibiting or otherwise 
restraining such issuance shall be in effect.

          (b)  Each of Parent and the Company shall use its best efforts:  
(i) to make all filings and registrations with, and to obtain all consents, 
approvals, orders or authorizations of, any Governmental Entity, if any, 
required in connection with the issuance of the Company Shares hereunder, and 
(ii) to make application to list the Company Shares on the National Market of 
NASDAQ upon official notice of issuance.

          4.  CLOSING.  At any Closing, (i) the Company will deliver to 
Parent or its designee a single certificate in definitive form representing 
the Designated Number of Company Shares, such certificate to be registered in 
the name of Parent and to bear the legend set forth in Section 12(a), and 
(ii) Parent will deliver to the Company the aggregate price for the Company 
Shares so designated and being purchased by, at Parent's option, either (x) 
wire transfer of immediately available funds or certified check or bank check 
in an amount equal to the Exercise Price multiplied by the Designated Number 
or (y) a certificate registered in the name of the Company and bearing the 
legend set forth in Section 12(b) representing the number of whole shares of 
Parent Common Stock equal to the product of (A) a fraction equal to the 
Exercise Price divided by $27.59 (which fraction shall equal 1 unless the 
Exercise Price is increased pursuant to Section 2(b)), multiplied by (B) the 
Designated Number multiplied by (C) the Exchange Ratio, and rounded to the 
nearest whole number of shares.  The Company shall pay all expenses and any 
and all United States federal, state and local taxes and other charges that 
may be payable in connection with the preparation, issue and delivery of stock


                                     -3-

<PAGE>

certificates in the name of Parent or its designee under this Section 4.  
Parent shall pay all expenses and any and all United States federal, state 
and local taxes and other charges that may be payable in connection with the 
preparation, issue and delivery of stock certificates in the name of the 
Company or its designee under this Section 4.

          5.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.  The Company 
represents and warrants to Parent as follows:

          (a)  The Company has taken all necessary corporate action to 
authorize and reserve for issuance and to permit it to issue, upon exercise 
of the Option, and at all times from the date hereof through the expiration 
of the Option will have reserved, a number of authorized and unissued Company 
Shares equal to 19.9% of the number of Company Shares issued and outstanding 
on the date hereof, such amount being subject to adjustment as provided in 
Section 11, all of which, upon their issuance and delivery in accordance with 
the terms of this Stock Option Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid 
and nonassessable.

          (b)  Upon delivery of the Company Shares to Parent upon the 
exercise of the Option, Parent will acquire the Company Shares free and clear 
of all claims, liens, charges, encumbrances and security interests of any 
nature whatsoever.

          (c)  Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates or anyone 
acting on its or their behalf, has issued, sold or offered any security of 
the Company to any person under circumstances, or taken any other action, 
that would cause the issuance and sale of the Company Shares, as contemplated 
by this Stock Option Agreement, to be subject to the registration 
requirements of the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof and, 
assuming the representations of Parent contained in Section 6 are true and 
correct, the issuance, sale and delivery of the Company Shares hereunder upon 
exercise of the Option will be exempt from the registration and prospectus 
delivery requirements of the Securities Act, as in effect on the date hereof.

          (d)  Upon delivery by the Company of any shares of Parent Common 
Stock to Parent in connection with the exercise of Parent's rights under 
Section 7(a), and assuming the representations of Parent contained in Section 
6 are true and correct, the Company will represent that it owns the shares of 
Parent Common Stock and Parent will acquire the shares of Parent Common Stock 
free and clear of all claims, liens, charges, encumbrances and security 
interests of any nature whatsoever.

          (e)  Any shares of Parent Common Stock acquired by the Company upon 
Parent's exercise of the Option will be acquired for the Company's own 
account, and will not be acquired  


                                     -4-

<PAGE>

by the Company with a view to the distribution thereof in violation of any 
applicable provision of the Securities Act.  The Company has received copies 
of all reports filed by Parent pursuant to Section 12, 13 or 14 of the 
Exchange Act in the preceding twelve months and had an opportunity to ask 
questions concerning the shares of Parent Common Stock that may be acquired 
by the Company upon Parent's exercise of the Option and concerning the 
business and financial affairs of Parent, and to receive answers concerning 
the same, from representatives of Parent.  The Company has such knowledge and 
experience in business and financial matters as to be capable of utilizing 
the information which is available to it to evaluate the merits and risks of 
an investment by the Company in the shares of Parent Common Stock and the 
Company is able to bear the economic risks of any investment in the shares of 
Parent Common Stock which the Company may acquire upon Parent's exercise of 
the Option.

          6.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT.  Parent represents 
and warrants to the Company as follows:

          (a)  All shares of Parent Common Stock issued to the Company in 
connection with the exercise by Parent of the Option, if any, upon their 
issuance and delivery in accordance with the terms of this Stock Option 
Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

          (b)  Upon delivery of any shares of Parent Common Stock to the 
Company upon Parent's exercise of the Option, the Company will acquire the 
shares of Parent Common Stock free and clear of all claims, liens, charges, 
encumbrances and security interests of any nature whatsoever.

          (c)  Neither Parent, nor any of its affiliates or anyone acting on 
its or their behalf, has issued, sold or offered any security of Parent to 
any person under circumstances, or taken any other action, that would cause 
the issuance and sale of the shares of Parent Common Stock in connection with 
Parent's exercise of the Option, as contemplated by this Stock Option 
Agreement, to be subject to the registration requirements of the Securities 
Act as in effect on the date hereof and, assuming the representations of the 
Company contained in Section 5 are true and correct, the issuance, sale and 
delivery of the shares of Parent Common Stock hereunder upon Parent's 
exercise of the Option will be exempt from the registration and prospectus 
delivery requirements of the Securities Act, as in effect on the date hereof.

          (d)  Upon delivery by Parent of the Company Shares to the Company 
in connection with the exercise of Parent's rights under Section 7(a), and 
assuming the representations of the Company contained in Section 5 are true 
and correct, Parent shall represent that it owns the Company Shares and the 
Company will acquire the Company Shares free and clear of all claims,  


                                     -5-

<PAGE>

liens, charges, encumbrances and security interests of any nature whatsoever.

          (e)  Parent represents and warrants to the Company that any Company 
Shares acquired upon exercise of the Option will be acquired for Parent's own 
account, and will not be, and the Option is not being, acquired by Parent 
with a view to the distribution thereof in violation of any applicable 
provision of the Securities Act.  Parent has received copies of all reports 
filed by the Company pursuant to Section 12, 13 or 14 of the Exchange Act in 
the preceding twelve months and had an opportunity to ask questions 
concerning the Company Shares acquired upon exercise of the Option and 
concerning the business and financial affairs of the Company, and to receive 
answers concerning the same, from representatives of the Company.  Parent has 
such knowledge and experience in business and financial matters as to be 
capable of utilizing the information which is available to it to evaluate the 
merits and risks of an investment by Parent in the Company Shares and Parent 
is able to bear the economic risks of any investment in the Company Shares 
which Parent may acquire upon exercise of the Option.

          7.  CERTAIN REPURCHASES.

          (a)  PARENT PUT.  At the request of Parent by written notice to the 
Company (the "REPURCHASE NOTICE") at any time after the exercise of the 
Option and prior to the one-year anniversary of the first Closing of the 
Option (the "REPURCHASE PERIOD"), the Company (or any successor entity 
thereof) shall repurchase from Parent all or any portion of the Company 
Shares purchased by Parent pursuant to the Option, at the price equal to the 
sum of (A) the aggregate Exercise Price paid by Parent for all Company Shares 
acquired pursuant to the Option (payable by delivery of the kind (i.e. cash 
or shares of Parent Common Stock) and amount of consideration paid by Parent 
to exercise the Option) plus, if any of the events described in clauses 
9.2(b)(i), (ii), or (iii) of the Merger Agreement shall have occurred, (B) 
the Aggregate Spread at the time of the exercises of the Option. 

          (b)  PAYMENT AND REDELIVERY OF SHARES.  If Parent exercises its 
rights under this Section 7, the Company shall, within three business days 
thereafter, pay the required amount to Parent in immediately available funds 
(and/or deliver the shares of Parent Common Stock, as the case may be) and 
Parent shall surrender to the Company the certificates evidencing the Company 
Shares purchased by Parent pursuant thereto. 

          (c)  PROHIBITION OF REPURCHASE.  After delivery by Parent of a 
Repurchase Notice, to the extent that the Company is prohibited under any 
applicable law or regulation from repurchasing the Company Shares in full in 
accordance with this Section 7, the Company shall immediately so notify 
Parent and, thereafter, shall deliver to Parent from time to time, promptly  


                                     -6-

<PAGE>

and in any event within five business days following the lapse of any such 
prohibition, the repurchase price for that portion of the Company Shares 
determined pursuant to Section 7(a), with respect to which Parent has 
delivered such Repurchase Notice (the "REPURCHASE PRICE") that it is no 
longer prohibited from delivering; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Company at 
any time after delivery by Parent of a Repurchase Notice pursuant to Section 
7(a) is prohibited under applicable law or regulation from delivering to 
Parent the Repurchase Price in full (and the Company hereby undertakes to use 
all reasonable efforts to obtain all required regulatory and legal approvals 
and to file any required notices as promptly as practicable in order to 
accomplish such repurchase), then Parent may to that extent revoke its 
Repurchase Notice, whereupon the Company, in addition to paying such portion 
of the Repurchase Price as it is permitted to pay, shall promptly deliver to 
Parent, to the extent theretofore surrendered by Parent pursuant to Section 
7(b), a certificate for the Company Shares that the Company is then so 
prohibited from repurchasing.

          8.  VOTING OF SHARES.  Following the date hereof and prior to the 
fifth anniversary of the date hereof (the "EXPIRATION DATE"), Parent shall 
vote any shares of capital stock of the Company acquired by Parent pursuant 
to this Stock Option Agreement ("RESTRICTED SHARES") or otherwise 
beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the 
Exchange Act) by Parent on each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders of 
the Company for and against such matter in the same proportion as the votes 
of all other stockholders of the Company are voted (whether by proxy or 
otherwise) for and against such matter; PROVIDED, that Parent may vote in its 
sole discretion any shares of capital stock of the Company with respect to 
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or any matters described in 
Item 14 of Schedule 14A adopted by the Commission under the Exchange Act.

          9.  TRANSFER.

          (a)  RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.  Prior to the Expiration Date, 
Parent shall not, directly or indirectly, by operation of law or otherwise, 
sell, assign, pledge or otherwise dispose of or transfer any Restricted 
Shares beneficially owned by Parent, other than pursuant to Section 7, 
Section 9(b) or Section 10(a).  Prior to the expiration of the Repurchase 
Period, the Company shall not, directly or indirectly, by operation of law or 
otherwise, sell, assign, pledge or otherwise dispose of or transfer any 
shares of Parent Common Stock received by the Company upon exercise of the 
Option other than pursuant to Section 7, Section 9 or Section 10(b).

          (b)  PERMITTED SALES.  Following the termination of the Merger 
Agreement, Parent shall be permitted to sell any Restricted Shares 
beneficially owned by it if such sale is made pursuant to a tender or 
exchange offer that has been approved 


                                     -7-

<PAGE>

or recommended, or otherwise determined to be fair to and in the best 
interests of the stockholders of the Company, by a majority of the members of 
the Board of Directors of the Company, which majority shall include a 
majority of directors who were directors prior to the announcement of such 
tender or exchange offer, or in any merger, consolidation or other business 
combination involving the Company.  Following the termination of the Merger 
Agreement, the Company shall be permitted to sell any shares of Parent Common 
Stock beneficially owned by it if such sale is made pursuant to a tender or 
exchange offer that has been approved or recommended, or otherwise determined 
to be fair to and in the best interests of the stockholders of Parent, by a 
majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Parent, which majority 
shall include a majority of directors who were directors prior to the 
announcement of such tender or exchange offer, or in any merger, 
consolidation or other business combination involving Parent.

          10.  REGISTRATION RIGHTS.  

          (a)  PARENT.  Following the termination of the Merger Agreement, 
Parent may by written notice (the "REGISTRATION NOTICE") to the Company 
request the Company to register under the Securities Act all or any part of 
the Restricted Shares beneficially owned by Parent (the "REGISTRABLE 
SECURITIES") pursuant to a bona fide firm commitment underwritten public 
offering in which Parent and the underwriters shall effect as wide a 
distribution of such Registrable Securities as is reasonably practicable and 
shall use all reasonable efforts to prevent any person (including any group) 
and its affiliates from purchasing through such offering Restricted Shares 
representing more than 1% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the 
Company on a fully diluted basis (a "PERMITTED OFFERING").  The Registration 
Notice shall include a certificate executed by Parent and its proposed 
managing underwriter, which underwriter shall be an investment banking firm 
of nationally recognized standing (the "MANAGER"), stating that (i) they have 
a good faith intention to commence promptly a Permitted Offering and (ii) the 
Manager in good faith believes that, based on the then prevailing market 
conditions, it will be able to sell the Registrable Securities at a per share 
price equal to at least 80% of the then Fair Market Value of such shares.  The 
Company (and/or any person designated by the Company) shall thereupon have the 
option, exercisable by written notice delivered to Parent within ten business 
days after the receipt of the Registration Notice, irrevocably to agree to 
purchase all or any part of the Registrable Securities for cash at a price 
(the "OPTION PRICE") equal to the product of (i) the number of Registrable 
Securities and (ii) the then Fair Market Value of such shares.  Any such 
purchase of Registrable Securities by the Company (or its designee) hereunder 
shall take place at a closing to be held at the principal executive offices of 
the Company or at the offices of its counsel at any reasonable date and time 
designated by the Company and/or such designee in such notice within 20

                                     -8-

<PAGE>

business days after delivery of such notice.  Any payment for the shares to 
be purchased shall be made by delivery at the time of such closing of the 
Option Price in immediately available funds.

          If the Company does not elect to exercise its option pursuant to 
this Section 10(a) with respect to all Registrable Securities, it shall use 
all reasonable efforts to effect, as promptly as practicable, the 
registration under the Securities Act of the unpurchased Registrable 
Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) Parent shall be entitled to no more 
than an aggregate of two effective registration statements hereunder and (ii) 
the Company will not be required to file any such registration statement 
during any period of time (not to exceed 90 days after such request) when (A) 
the Company is in possession of material non-public information which it 
reasonably believes would be detrimental to be disclosed at such time, and, 
in the opinion of counsel to the Company, such information would have to be 
disclosed if a registration statement were filed at that time; (B) the 
Company is required under the Securities Act to include audited financial 
statements for any period in which such registration statement is to be filed 
and such financial statements are not yet available for inclusion in such 
registration statement; or (C) the Company determines, in its reasonable 
judgment, that such registration would interfere with any financing, 
acquisition or other material transaction involving the Company or any of its 
affiliates.  The Company shall use reasonable efforts to cause any 
Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Section 10(a) to be 
qualified for sale under the securities or Blue Sky law of such jurisdictions 
as Parent may reasonably request and shall continue such registration or 
qualification in effect in such jurisdiction; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the 
Company shall not be required to qualify to do business in, or consent to 
general service of process in, any jurisdiction by reason of this provision.

          The registration rights set forth in this Section 10(a) are subject 
to the condition that Parent shall provide the Company with such information 
with respect to such holder's Registrable Securities, the plans for the 
distribution thereof, and such other information with respect to such holder 
as, in the reasonable judgment of counsel for the Company, is necessary to 
enable the Company to include in such registration statement all material 
facts required to be disclosed with respect to a registration thereunder.

          A registration effected under this Section 10(a) shall be effected 
at the Company's expense, except for underwriting discounts and commissions 
and the fees and the expenses of counsel to Parent, and the Company shall 
provide to the underwriters such documentation (including certificates, 
opinions of counsel and "comfort" letters from auditors) as are customary in 
connection with underwritten public offerings as such underwriters may 
reasonably require.  In connection with any


                                     -9-

<PAGE>

such registration, the parties agree (i) to indemnify each other and the 
underwriters in the customary manner, (ii) to enter into an underwriting 
agreement in form and substance customary for transactions of such type with 
the Manager and the other underwriters participating in such offering, and 
(iii) to take all further actions which shall be reasonably necessary to 
effect such registration and sale (including, if the Manager deems it 
necessary, participating in road-show presentations).

      The Company shall be entitled to include (at its expense) additional 
shares of its common stock in a registration effected pursuant to this 
Section 10(a) only if and to the extent the Manager determines that such 
inclusion will not adversely affect the prospects for success of such 
offering.

      (b) COMPANY.  At any time after the earlier of the Repurchase Period 
or such time following the first Closing as Parent owns less than 50% of the 
Restricted Shares paid for with shares of Parent Common Stock (PROVIDED that 
the Company shall retain during the entire Repurchase Period a sufficient 
number of shares of Parent Common Stock to satisfy any exercise of Parent's 
rights under Section 7(a)), unless all of the shares of Parent Common Stock 
could be freely sold without registration under the Securities Act, the 
Company may by written notice (the "COMPANY REGISTRATION NOTICE") to Parent 
request Parent to register under the Securities Act all or any part of the 
shares of Parent Common Stock issued to the Company upon Parent's exercise of 
the Option and beneficially owned by the Company (the "REGISTRABLE PARENT 
SECURITIES") pursuant to a bona fide firm commitment underwritten public 
offering in which the Company and the underwriters shall effect as wide a 
distribution of such Registrable Parent Securities as is reasonably 
practicable and shall use all reasonable efforts to prevent any person 
(including any group) and its affiliates from purchasing through such 
offering Registrable Parent Securities representing more than 1% of the 
outstanding shares of common stock of Parent on a fully diluted basis (a 
"PERMITTED PARENT OFFERING"). The Company Registration notice shall include a 
certificate executed by the Company and its proposed managing underwriter, 
which underwriter shall be an investment banking firm of nationally 
recognized standing (the "COMPANY MANAGER"), stating that (i) they have a 
good faith intention to commence promptly a Permitted Parent Offering and 
(ii) the Company Manager in good faith believes that, based on the then 
prevailing market conditions, it will be able to sell the Registrable Parent 
Securities at a per share price equal to at least 80% of the then Fair Market 
Value of such shares. Parent (and/or any person designated by Parent) shall 
thereupon have the option, exercisable by written notice delivered to the 
Company within ten business days after the receipt of the Company 
Registration Notice, irrevocably to agree to purchase all or any part of the 
Registrable Parent Securities for cash at a price (the "PARENT OPTION PRICE") 
equal to the product of (i) the number of Registrable Parent Securities and 
(ii) the then Fair Market Value of 

                                     -10-
<PAGE>

such shares. Any such purchase of Registrable Parent Securities by Parent (or 
its designee) hereunder shall take place at a closing to be held at the 
principal executive offices of Parent or at the offices of its counsel at any 
reasonable date and time designated by Parent and/or such designee in such 
notice within 20 business days after delivery of such notice. Any payment for 
the shares to be purchased shall be made by delivery at the time of such 
closing of the Parent Option Price in immediately available funds.

      If Parent does not elect to exercise its option pursuant to this 
Section 10(b) with respect to all Registrable Parent Securities, it shall use 
all reasonable efforts to effect, as promptly as practicable, the 
registration under the Securities Act of the unpurchased Registrable Parent 
Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) the Company shall be entitled to no 
more than an aggregate of two effective registration statements hereunder and 
(ii) Parent will not be required to file any such registration statement 
during any period of time (not to exceed 90 days after such request) when (A) 
Parent is in possession of material non-public information which it 
reasonably believes would be detrimental to be disclosed at such time, and, 
in the opinion of counsel to Parent, such information would have to be 
disclosed if a registration statement were filed at that time; (B) Parent is 
required under the Securities Act to include audited financial statements for 
any period in which such registration statement is to be filed and such 
financial statements are not yet available for inclusion in such registration 
statement; or (C) Parent determines, in its reasonable judgement, that such 
registration would interfere with any financing, acquisition or other 
material transaction involving Parent or any of its affiliates. Parent shall 
use reasonable efforts to cause any Registrable Parent Securities registered 
pursuant to this Section 10(b) to be qualified for sale under the securities 
or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Company may reasonably request 
and shall continue such registration or qualification in effect in such 
jurisdiction; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Parent shall not be required to qualify 
to do business in, or consent to general service of process in, any 
jurisdiction by reason of this provision.

      The registration rights set forth in this Section 10(b) are subject to 
the condition that the Company shall provide Parent with such information 
with respect to such holder's Registrable Parent Securities, the plans for 
the distribution thereof, and such other information with respect to such 
holder as, in the reasonable judgment of counsel for Parent, is necessary to 
enable Parent to include in such registration statement all material facts 
required to be disclosed with respect to a registration thereunder.

A registration effected under this Section 10(b) shall be effected at 
Parent's expense, except for underwriting discounts and commissions and the 
fees and the expenses of  

                                     -11-
<PAGE>

counsel to the Company, and Parent shall provide to the underwriters such 
documentation (including certificates, opinions of counsel and "comfort" 
letters from auditors) as are customary in connection with underwritten 
public offerings as such underwriters may reasonably require.  In connection 
with any such registration, the parties agree (i) to indemnify each other and 
the underwriters in the customary manner, (ii) to enter into an underwriting 
agreement in form and substance customary for transactions of such type with 
the Company Manager and the other underwriters participating in such 
offering, and (iii) to take all further actions which shall be reasonably 
necessary to effect such registration and sale (including, if the Company 
Manager deems it necessary, participating in road-show presentations).

      Parent shall be entitled to include (at its expense) additional shares 
of its common stock in a registration effected pursuant to this Section 10(b) 
only if and to the extent the Company Manager determines that such inclusion 
will not adversely affect the prospects for success of such offering.

      11. ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.  Without limiting any 
restriction on the Company contained in this Stock Option Agreement or in the 
Merger Agreement, in the event of any change in Company Common Stock by 
reason of stock dividends, split-ups, mergers (other than the Merger), 
recapitalizations, combinations, exchanges of shares or the like, the type 
and number of shares or securities subject to the Option, and the purchase 
price per share provided in Section 1, shall be adjusted appropriately to 
restore to Parent its rights hereunder, including the right to purchase from 
the Company (or its successors) shares of Company Common Stock representing 
19.9% of the outstanding Company Common Stock for the aggregate Exercise 
Price calculated as of the date of this Stock Option Agreement as provided in 
Section 1, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(b).

      12. RESTRICTIVE LEGENDS.  (a) Each certificate representing shares of 
Company Common Stock issued to Parent hereunder shall include a legend in 
substantially the following form:

            THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN 
      REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY BE 
      REOFFERED OR SOLD ONLY IF SO REGISTERED OR IF AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH 
      REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE.  SUCH SECURITIES ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO 
      ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE STOCK OPTION 
      AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JULY 28, 1997, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED 
      FROM THE ISSUER UPON REQUEST.

      (b) Each certificate representing shares of Parent Common Stock issued 
to the Company hereunder shall include a legend in substantially the 
following form:

                                     -12-
<PAGE>

            THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN 
      REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY BE 
      REOFFERED OR SOLD ONLY IF SO REGISTERED OR IF AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH 
      REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE.  SUCH SECURITIES ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO 
      ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE STOCK OPTION 
      AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JULY 28, 1997, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED 
      FROM THE ISSUER UPON REQUEST.

      (c) It is understood and agreed that: (i) the references to the resale 
restrictions of the Securities Act in the above legends shall be removed by 
delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference if the holder 
shall have delivered to the issuer a copy of a letter from the staff of the 
Securities and Exchange Commission, or an opinion of counsel, in form and 
substance satisfactory to the issuer, to the effect that such legend is not 
required for purposes of the Securities Act; (ii) the reference to the 
provisions to this Stock Option Agreement in the above legends shall be 
removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference if 
the shares have been sold or transferred in compliance with the provisions of 
this Stock Option Agreement and under circumstances that do not require the 
retention of such reference; and (iii) the legend shall be removed in its 
entirety if the conditions in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) are both 
satisfied.  In addition, such certificates shall bear any other legend as may 
be required by law.  Certificates representing shares sold in a registered 
public offering pursuant to Section 10 shall not be required to bear the 
legends set forth in this Section 12.

      13. BINDING EFFECT; NO ASSIGNMENT; NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES.  This 
Stock Option Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the 
parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.  Except 
as expressly provided for in this Stock Option Agreement, neither this Stock 
Option Agreement nor the rights or the obligations of either party hereto are 
assignable, except by operation of law, or with the written consent of the 
other party.  Nothing contained in this Stock Option Agreement, express or 
implied, is intended to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto 
and their respective permitted assigns any rights or remedies of any nature 
whatsoever by reason of this Stock Option Agreement.  Any Restricted Shares 
or shares of Parent Common Stock sold by a party in compliance with the 
provisions of Section 10 shall, upon consummation of such sale, be free of 
the restrictions imposed with respect to such shares by this Stock Option 
Agreement, unless and until such party shall repurchase or otherwise become 
the beneficial owner of such shares, and any transferee of such shares shall 
not be entitled to the registration rights of such party.

      14. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.  The parties hereby acknowledge and agree 
that the failure of the Company to perform  

                                     -13-
<PAGE>

its agreement and covenants hereunder will cause irreparable injury to Parent 
for which damages, even if available, will not be an adequate remedy.  
Accordingly, the Company hereby consents to the issuance of injunctive relief 
by any court of competent jurisdiction to compel performance of the Company's 
obligations and to the granting by any such court of the remedy of specific 
performance of its obligations hereunder.

      15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Stock Option Agreement and the Merger 
Agreement (including the exhibits and schedules thereto) constitute the 
entire agreement of the parties and supersede all prior agreements and 
undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the 
subject matter hereof.

      16. FURTHER ASSURANCES.  Each party will execute and deliver all such 
further documents and instruments and take all such further action as may be 
necessary in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

      17. VALIDITY.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of 
this Stock Option Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability 
of the other provisions of this Stock Option Agreement or the provisions of 
the Merger Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.  If any 
court or other Governmental Entity holds any provisions of this Stock Option 
Agreement to be null, void or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall 
negotiate in good faith the execution and delivery of an amendment to this 
Stock Option Agreement in order, as nearly as possible, to effectuate, to the 
extent permitted by law, the intent of the parties hereto with respect to 
such provision and the economic effects thereof.  If for any reason any such 
court or other Governmental Entity determines that Parent is not permitted to 
acquire, or the Company is not permitted to repurchase pursuant to Section 7, 
the full number of shares of Company Common Stock provided in Section 1 
hereof (as the same may be adjusted), it is the express intention of the 
company to allow Parent to acquire or to require the Company to repurchase 
such lesser number of shares as may be permissible, without any amendment or 
modification hereof.  Each party agrees that, should any court or other 
Governmental Entity hold any provision of this Stock Option Agreement or part 
hereof to be null, void or unenforceable, or order any party to take any 
action inconsistent herewith, or not take any action required herein, the 
other party shall not be entitled to specific performance of such provision 
or part hereof or to any other remedy, including, without limitation, money 
damages, for breach hereof or of any other provision of this Stock Option 
Agreement or part hereof as the result of such holding or order.

      18. NOTICES.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be 
in writing and shall be deemed given in the manner provided in the Merger 
Agreement.

                                     -14-
<PAGE>

      19. GOVERNING LAW.  This Stock Option Agreement shall be governed by, 
and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without 
giving effect to the provisions thereof relating to conflicts of law).

      20. HEADINGS.  The headings contained in this Stock Option Agreement 
are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning 
or interpretation of this Stock Option Agreement.

      21. COUNTERPARTS.  This Stock Option Agreement may be executed in 
multiple counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate 
counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original 
but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

      22. EXPENSES.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the 
Merger Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the 
transactions contemplated by this Stock Option Agreement shall be paid by the 
party incurring such expenses.

      23. AMENDMENTS; WAIVER.  This Stock Option Agreement may be amended by 
the parties hereto, and the terms and conditions hereof may be waived, only 
by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto 
or, in the case of a waiver, by an instrument signed on behalf of the party 
waiving compliance.

      24. EXTENSION OF TIME PERIODS.  The time periods for exercise of 
certain rights under Sections 2, 7 and 10 shall be extended (i) to the extent 
necessary to obtain all regulatory approvals for the exercise of such rights 
and for the expiration of all statutory waiting periods and (ii) to the 
extent necessary to avoid any liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange 
Act by reason of such exercise.

      25. REPLACEMENT OF OPTION.  Upon receipt by the Company of evidence 
reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation 
of this Stock Option Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft or 
destruction) of reasonably satisfactory indemnification, and upon surrender 
and cancellation of this Stock Option Agreement, if mutilated, the Company 
will execute and deliver a new agreement of like tenor and date.

                                     -15-
<PAGE>

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


                                       NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

                                       By /s/ Donald Macleod
                                          --------------------------------
                                          Name   Donald Macleod
                                          Title  CFO


                                       CYRIX CORPORATION

                                       By /s/ James W. Swent III     
                                          --------------------------------
                                          Name   James W. Swent III
                                          Title  Sr. V.P.




                                     -16-

<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT 20.1


                            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contacts:

National Semiconductor                      Cyrix 
Alan Bernheimer - Press                     Linda Ashmore - Press
408 721-8665                                972 968-8302
[email protected]                     [email protected]

Jim Foltz - Investor Relations              Mark Lipscomb - Investor Relations
408 721-5693                                972 968-8285
[email protected]                              [email protected]


NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR AND CYRIX ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO MERGE

Combined Company Will Integrate Technologies 
to Develop System on a Chip for Sub-$500 PC


Richardson, TX, July 28, 1997 - National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE:NSM) 
and Cyrix Corporation (NASDAQ:CYRX) today announced a definitive merger 
agreement in order to develop system-on-a-chip technology for the rapidly 
growing entry-level PC, Net-PC and information-appliance markets. 

     Under the terms of the agreement, each share of Cyrix common stock will 
be exchanged for .825 of a share of National common stock. Based on the 
closing price of National's shares on July 25, the aggregate value of the 
transaction to Cyrix stockholders would be approximately $550 million.

     "The unique combination of technologies resulting from the merger gives 
us all of the building blocks to provide complete system-on-a-chip solutions 
for sub-$500 PCs and a broad range of low-cost information appliances," said 
National CEO Brian Halla. "Cyrix's family of high-performance and 
high-integration x86 processors will enable National to drive dramatic market 
growth for products such as network PCs, hand-held PCs, net browsers and 
other information appliances that are becoming extremely affordable."

     Jay Swent, acting CEO of Cyrix, said, "Cyrix led the way in enabling the 
sub-$1,000 personal computer with the launch of the MediaGX, a processor that 
incorporates graphics, audio and system logic functions on a single chip. By 
combining National's complementary technologies and high-volume manufacturing 
with both the integrated MediaGX and high-performance 6x86MX processors, we 
enable growth and creation of new markets. The technologies and capabilities 
of both companies fit like a glove."

      The merger, approved by the boards of directors of both companies 
today, requires the approval of Cyrix's stockholders and is subject to 
regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. It is expected that the 
transaction will be completed in November, 1997. The transaction is intended 
to be accounted for as a pooling of interests and to qualify as a tax-free 
reorganization. National expects to recognize a one-time charge related to 
certain acquisition and related expenses in its November quarter, when the 
deal is expected to close.

     In connection with the merger agreement, Cyrix has granted an option to 
National to acquire up to 19.9 percent of the outstanding Cyrix common stock, 
exercisable in certain circumstances. In addition, certain Cyrix officers and 
directors 

<PAGE>

have entered into an agreement with National, pursuant to which they have 
agreed to vote the Cyrix shares owned or controlled by them in favor of the 
merger.
                                       ##

     Cyrix Corporation (www.cyrix.com), headquartered in Richardson, Texas, 
is a leading supplier of high-performance processors to the personal computer 
industry. Founded in 1988, the company designs, manufactures and markets 
innovative Windows-compatible processors. Cyrix customers include Acer, 
Compaq, CTX, Cybermax, Fujitsu, IBM, NEC, Samsung and Vobis. The Cyrix 6x86 
processor has been recognized for its performance with awards from a number 
of publications, including Byte Magazine's Best Technology at CeBIT'96, 
Computer Reseller News' Editor's Choice Award, PC Week's Corporate IT 
Excellence Award and Computer Shopper's Direct Channel Excellence Award.

     National Semiconductor Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, produces 
system-on-a-chip silicon solutions for the information highway, based on its 
leadership in analog and mixed signal technologies. National is headquartered 
in Santa Clara, California, and focuses on the communications, personal 
systems and consumer markets. National has annual sales of approximately $2 
billion and 12,500 employees worldwide. Additional company and product 
information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com.

Cyrix is a registered trademark and 6x86MX and Media GX 6x86 are trademarks 
of Cyrix Corporation. All other brands or product names are trademarks or 
registered trademarks of their respective holders.



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