AES CORPORATION
8-K, 1998-11-30
COGENERATION SERVICES & SMALL POWER PRODUCERS
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<PAGE>





                UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

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

       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) NOVEMBER 16, 1998

                               THE AES CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                                    DELAWARE
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

                                     0-19281
                            (Commission File Number)

                                   54-1163725
                        (IRS Employer Identification No.)

                             1001 NORTH 19TH STREET
                               ARLINGTON, VA 22209
          (Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)

                                 (703) 522-1315
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (Former Name or Former Address, if changed since last report)


<PAGE>



ITEM 5. Other Events

         On November 18, 1998,  the Company won a bid in Panama to acquire a 49%
controlling interest in Empresa de Generacion Chiriqui S.A. ("EGE Chiriqui") and
Empresa de Generacion  Bayano ("EGE  Bayano") for $91 million from  Instituto de
Recursos  Hidraulicos y Electrificacion  ("IRHE"),  a government-owned  utility.
IRHE will retain 49% of the companies  and sell 2% to  employees.  EGE Bayano is
comprised of a 150 MW hydro facility and 42 MW of thermal capacity, located near
Panama  City.  EGE Chiriqui is  comprised  of two  existing  run-of-river  hydro
facilities  for a total of 90 MW, in  western  Panama.  Part of the  acquisition
includes adding 133 MW of hydroelectric  generating capacity in a project called
Esti. With the Esti  expansion,  AES will provide close to 40% of the generating
capacity of Panama's 1067 MW. Both businesses will deliver power under the terms
of 5-year power purchase  agreements  and,  thereafter,  will sell into the spot
market  or  enter  into new  contracts  with the  current  distribution  company
purchasers.

         On November 19, 1998, the Company was selected by the Government of Sri
Lanka as the preferred bidder to develop a 160 MW combined-cycle  power plant to
be located at  Kelanitissa at a cost of about $100 million.  In accordance  with
the selection, the Government of Sri Lanka will issue a letter of intent for the
greenfield  project to a new project  company  formed by a consortium led by AES
and Hayley's  Engineering Ltd. AES will build, own, operate and transfer a power
plant  under the terms of a 20-year  concession.  Power  from the plant is to be
sold into Sri Lanka's  national  electricity  transmission  grid. It is expected
that the  open-cycle  mode of the plant will reach 100 MW of  capacity  by 2000,
with commencement of combined-cycle  operations increasing capacity to 160 MW by
2001.

         On November 23, 1998, the Company and CILCORP Inc. ("CILCORP") executed
a definitive  agreement under which AES will acquire all of CILCORP's 13,610,680
common  shares  at a price of $65 per  share,  or  approximately  $885  million.
CILCORP,  formed in 1985 and  headquartered  in Peoria,  Illinois,  is an energy
services company whose largest subsidiary, Central Illinois Light Company, is an
85  year-old  gas and  electric  utility  serving  approximately  a quarter of a
million retail customers in central Illinois.  In 1997, CILCORP had consolidated
revenues  of $976  million  and net  assets  of $1.3  billion.  CILCORP  and its
subsidiaries  employ  approximately  1,800 people. The transaction,  under which
CILCORP will become a wholly-owned  subsidiary of AES,  requires the approval of
CILCORP  shareholders  and is subject to  regulatory  approvals  by the  Federal
Energy  Regulatory   Commission,   the  Illinois  Commerce  Commission  and  the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

         Although  the  Company  does  not  have  committed  financing  for  the
foregoing acquisitions and development projects, as well as previously announced
but not yet consummated  projects,  it plans to obtain financing  through one or
any combination of the following:  (i) the issuance of project financing debt by
subsidiaries of the Company; (ii) the issuance of debt by the Company; (iii) the
issuance of equity by the Company; (iv) borrowings under the Company's revolving
credit facility;  and (v) cash on hand.  Although the Company believes that such
financings will be available on acceptable terms, there can be no assurance that
the Company will be successful in obtaining  such  financings  and the Company's
obligations to consummate such  acquisitions  and  development  projects are not
subject to the Company's ability to obtain financing therefor.


<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                        THE AES CORPORATION


                                        By: /s/ Barry J. Sharp
                                           ----------------------------
                                            Barry J. Sharp
                                            Senior Vice President
                                            and Chief Financial Officer

Date:  November 30, 1998


<PAGE>




EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NO.         DESCRIPTION


  10.1              Agreement  and Plan of  Merger  among  The AES  Corporation,
                    Cilcorp,  Inc.,  and  Midwest  Energy,  Inc.,  dated  as  of
                    November 22, 1998.                                          
                    






                                                           EX. 10.1
                                                           STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL





                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                      among

                              THE AES CORPORATION,

                                  CILCORP INC.,

                                       and

                              MIDWEST ENERGY, INC.






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

                          Dated as of November 22, 1998

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





<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                       Page
                                                                                                       ----
<S>                        <C>                                                                          <C>
ARTICLE I.                 THE MERGER....................................................................2
         Section 1.1       The Merger....................................................................2
         Section 1.2       Effective Time................................................................3
         Section 1.3       Effect of the Merger..........................................................3
         Section 1.4       Subsequent Actions............................................................3
         Section 1.5       Articles of Incorporation; By-Laws; Directors; Officers. .....................3

ARTICLE II.                TREATMENT OF SHARES...........................................................4
         Section 2.1       Conversion of Securities......................................................4
         Section 2.2       Per Share Amount Adjustments..................................................5
         Section 2.3       Dissenting Shares.............................................................5
         Section 2.4       Surrender of Shares; Stock Transfer Books.....................................6
         Section 2.5       CILCORP Options...............................................................8

ARTICLE III.               THE CLOSING...................................................................8
         Section 3.1       Closing.......................................................................8

ARTICLE IV.                REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CILCORP.....................................8
         Section 4.1       Organization and Qualification................................................8
         Section 4.2       Subsidiaries..................................................................9
         Section 4.3       Capitalization...............................................................10
         Section 4.4       Authority; Non-Contravention; Statutory Approvals;
                           Compliance...................................................................12
         Section 4.5       Reports and Financial Statements.............................................14
         Section 4.6       Absence of Certain Changes or Events; Absence of
                           Undisclosed Liabilities......................................................15
         Section 4.7       Litigation...................................................................16
         Section 4.8       Proxy Statement..............................................................16
         Section 4.9       Tax Matters..................................................................16
         Section 4.10      Employee Matters; ERISA......................................................20
         Section 4.11      Environmental Protection.....................................................25
         Section 4.12      Regulation as a Utility......................................................28
         Section 4.13      Vote Required................................................................29
         Section 4.14      Insurance....................................................................29
         Section 4.15      Opinion of Financial Advisor.................................................29
</TABLE>


                                       i

<PAGE>

<TABLE>

<S>                        <C>                                                                         <C>
         Section 4.16      Brokers......................................................................29
         Section 4.17      Non-Applicability of Certain Provisions of Illinois Act......................29
         Section 4.18      CILCORP Rights Agreement.....................................................30
         Section 4.19      Year 2000 Compliance.........................................................30
         Section 4.20      Title to Real Property.......................................................30
         Section 4.21      Assets Other than Real Property Interests....................................31
         Section 4.22      Intellectual Property........................................................31
         Section 4.23      Transactions with Affiliates.................................................32
         Section 4.24      Discontinued Business........................................................32
         Section 4.25      Captive Insurance Business...................................................33
         Section 4.26      Contractual Obligations......................................................33
         Section 4.27      Disclosure...................................................................33

ARTICLE V.                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF AES AND
                           MERGER SUB...................................................................34
         Section 5.1       Organization and Qualification...............................................34
         Section 5.2       Authority; Non-Contravention; Statutory Approvals............................34
         Section 5.3       Compliance...................................................................35
         Section 5.4       Reports and Financial Statements.............................................36
         Section 5.5       Proxy Statement Information..................................................37
         Section 5.6       Financing....................................................................37
         Section 5.7       Regulatory Status............................................................37
         Section 5.8       Regulatory Approval..........................................................37

ARTICLE VI.                CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER;
                           COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES.....................................................38
         Section 6.1       Conduct of Business by CILCORP Pending the Merger............................38
         Section 6.2       Covenants of AES ............................................................46

ARTICLE VII.               ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS........................................................48
         Section 7.1       Access to Information........................................................48
         Section 7.2       Proxy Statement..............................................................49
         Section 7.3       Regulatory Approvals and Other Matters.......................................50
         Section 7.4       Approval of CILCORP Stockholders.............................................51
         Section 7.5       Directors' and Officers' Indemnification.....................................51
         Section 7.6       Disclosure Schedules.........................................................53
         Section 7.7       Public Announcements.........................................................53
         Section 7.8       No Solicitations.............................................................53
         Section 7.9       Expenses.....................................................................56
         Section 7.10      Board of Directors...........................................................56

</TABLE>

                                       ii

<PAGE>

<TABLE>

<S>                        <C>                                                                         <C>
         Section 7.11      Illinois Responsible Property Transfer Act...................................56
         Section 7.12      Signature Authority..........................................................56
         Section 7.13      Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements...............................56
         Section 7.14      Deferred Compensation Plans..................................................56

ARTICLE VIII.              CONDITIONS...................................................................57
         Section 8.1       Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger...................57
         Section 8.2       Conditions to Obligation of CILCORP to Effect the Merger.....................58
         Section 8.3       Conditions to Obligation of AES and Merger Sub to
                           Effect the Merger............................................................58

ARTICLE IX.                TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER............................................60
         Section 9.1       Termination..................................................................60
         Section 9.2       Effect of Termination........................................................64
         Section 9.3       Termination Fees; Expenses...................................................64
         Section 9.4       Amendment....................................................................64
         Section 9.5       Waiver.......................................................................64

ARTICLE X.                 GENERAL PROVISIONS...........................................................65
         Section 10.1      Non-Survival; Effect of Representations and Warranties.......................65
         Section 10.2      Notices......................................................................65
         Section 10.3      Miscellaneous................................................................66
         Section 10.4      Interpretation...............................................................66
         Section 10.5      Counterparts; Effect.........................................................66
         Section 10.6      Enforcement..................................................................67
         Section 10.7      Parties in Interest..........................................................67
         Section 10.8      Further Assurances...........................................................67
         Section 10.9      Waiver Of Jury Trial.........................................................67
         Section 10.10     Certain Definitions..........................................................67

</TABLE>

                                      iii



<PAGE>


                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

     AGREEMENT  AND  PLAN  OF  MERGER,  dated  as of  November  22,  1998  (this
"Agreement"), among The AES Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("AES"), CILCORP
Inc., an Illinois corporation ("CILCORP"), and Midwest Energy, Inc., an Illinois
corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of AES ("Merger Sub").

                              W I T N E S S E T H :

     WHEREAS,  the  respective  Boards of Directors of AES and CILCORP each have
determined  that the  acquisition  of CILCORP by AES is in the best interests of
their respective stockholders; and

     WHEREAS, in furtherance thereof, the respective Boards of Directors of AES,
CILCORP  and  Merger  Sub have  approved  the merger of Merger Sub with and into
CILCORP,  pursuant to the terms and subject to the  conditions set forth in this
Agreement (the "Merger"); and

     WHEREAS,  the  Board  of  Directors  of AES has  determined  that it may be
desirable for AES to merge CILCORP with and into AES following but substantially
contemporaneously  with the Merger (the "Second  Merger" which,  for purposes of
this Agreement,  if it occurs,  shall be deemed to occur  immediately  after the
Merger).

     NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and the representations,
warranties,  covenants and  agreements  contained  herein,  the parties  hereto,
intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I

                                   THE MERGER

     Section 1.1 The Merger.  At the  Effective  Time (as defined in Section 1.2
hereof) and upon the terms and subject to the  conditions of this  Agreement and
the Illinois Business  Corporation Act (the "Illinois Act"), Merger Sub shall be
merged with and into  CILCORP,  the separate  corporate  existence of Merger Sub
shall cease, and CILCORP shall continue as the surviving corporation  (sometimes
hereinafter referred to as the "Surviving Corporation").

                                       2

<PAGE>




     Section 1.2 Effective  Time. On the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3.1
hereof),  Articles of Merger complying with the requirements of the Illinois Act
shall be  executed  and filed by CILCORP  and Merger Sub with the  Secretary  of
State of the State of Illinois. The Merger shall become effective on the date on
which the Certificate of Merger is issued by the Secretary of State of the State
of Illinois (the "Effective Time").

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

     Section 1.4 Subsequent  Actions.  If, at any time after the Effective Time,
the Surviving  Corporation shall consider or be advised that any deeds, bills of
sale,  assignments,  assurances  or any other actions or things are necessary or
desirable to vest,  perfect or confirm of record or  otherwise in the  Surviving
Corporation  its right,  title or  interest  in, to or under any of the  rights,
properties  or assets  of either of  CILCORP  or Merger  Sub  acquired  or to be
acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the
Merger or otherwise to carry out this  Agreement,  the officers and directors of
the Surviving  Corporation  shall be  authorized to execute and deliver,  in the
name and on behalf of either  CILCORP or Merger Sub,  all such  deeds,  bills of
sale,  assignments  and assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf
of each of such corporations or otherwise,  all such other actions and things as
may be necessary  or  desirable  to vest,  perfect or confirm any and all right,
title and  interest in, to and under such  rights,  properties  or assets in the
Surviving Corporation or otherwise to carry out this Agreement.

     Section 1.5 Articles of Incorporation; By-Laws; Directors; Officers. Unless
otherwise determined by AES prior to the Effective Time, at the Effective Time:

          (a) The  Articles  of  Merger  shall  provide  that  the  Articles  of
Incorporation  of Merger Sub, as in effect  immediately  prior to the  Effective
Time, shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving  Corporation until
thereafter amended as provided by law and such Articles of Incorporation.

          (b) The By-Laws of Merger Sub, as in effect  immediately  prior to the
Effective  Time,  shall  be the  By-Laws  of  the  Surviving  Corporation  until
thereafter

                                       3


<PAGE>

amended as  provided by law,  the  Articles of  Incorporation  of the  Surviving
Corporation and such By-Laws.

          (c) The members of the Board of  Directors  of Merger Sub  immediately
prior to the  Effective  Time shall be the members of the Board of  Directors of
the Surviving  Corporation,  to hold office from the Effective  Time until their
respective  successors are duly elected or appointed and shall have qualified in
the  manner  provided  in the  Articles  of  Incorporation  and  By-Laws  of the
Surviving Corporation or as other wise provided by law.

          (d) The  officers  of  CILCORP  in  office  immediately  prior  to the
Effective  Time shall be the  officers  of the  Surviving  Corporation,  to hold
office  from the  Effective  Time until  their  respective  successors  are duly
elected  or  appointed  and shall be  qualified  in the manner  provided  in the
Articles  of  Incorporation  and  By-Laws  of the  Surviving  Corporation  or as
otherwise provided by law.


                                   ARTICLE II

                               TREATMENT OF SHARES

     Section 2.1 Conversion of Securities.  At the Effective  Time, by virtue of
the Merger and  without  any  action on the part of Merger  Sub,  CILCORP or the
holder of any of the following securities:

          (a) Each share of common stock,  no par value, of CILCORP (a "Share"),
together  with the  associated  purchase  rights  ("CILCORP  Rights")  under the
CILCORP  Rights  Agreement  (as  defined in  Section  4.18  hereof),  issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any Shares to be
canceled pursuant to Section 2.1(b) hereof and any Dissenting Shares (as defined
in Section  2.3(a) hereof) shall be canceled and  extinguished  and be converted
into the right to receive  $65.00,  subject to  adjustment  in  accordance  with
Section  2.2 hereof  (the "Per  Share  Amount"),  in cash  payable to the holder
thereof,  without interest, upon surrender of the certificate  representing such
Share in accordance with Section 2.4 hereof. Throughout this Agreement, the term
"Shares"  refers to the Shares  together with the associated  CILCORP Rights and
the term  "Aggregate  Consideration  Amount"  shall mean an amount  equal to the
product of (x) the Per Share Amount as adjusted in  accordance  with Section 2.2
hereof and (y) the number of Shares outstanding on the Closing Date.

                                       4

<PAGE>

          (b) Each Share held in the treasury of CILCORP and each Share owned by
AES or any direct or indirect  Subsidiary  (as defined in Section 4.1 hereof) of
AES or of CILCORP  immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and
extinguished, and no consideration shall be paid with respect thereto.

          (c) Each share of common stock, no par value, of Merger Sub issued and
outstanding  immediately  prior  to  the  Effective  Time  shall  thereafter  be
converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share
of common stock, no par value, of the Surviving Corporation.

     Section  2.2  Per  Share  Amount  Adjustments.  Subject  to AES'  right  of
termination  set  forth in  Section  9.1(c)(ii)  hereof,  in the  event  the SEC
Exemption  Order  (as  defined  in  Section  8.3(e)  hereof)  is  issued  by the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the  "SEC")  after the date which is the
nine-month  anniversary of the date hereof, and provided that CILCORP shall have
delivered to AES the CILCORP Certificate pursuant to Section 6.2(d) hereof, then
the Per Share  Amount  shall be increased to $66.00 on the later to occur of (i)
the day following the nine-month anniversary of the date hereof and (ii) the day
after  the  date on  which  CILCORP  delivers  to AES the  CILCORP  Certificate.
Throughout this  Agreement,  the date on which the Per Share Amount is increased
to $66.00  pursuant to this Section 2.2 is referred to as the "First  Adjustment
Period."  If  the  CILCORP   Certificate  is  delivered   after  the  nine-month
anniversary but prior to the SEC Exemption Order being issued,  then,  following
the First Adjustment Period, the Per Share Amount shall be increased from $66.00
by $0.00546448  per day for each day until the SEC Exemption  Order is issued up
to a maximum Per Share Amount of $68.00.  Notwithstanding the above, in no event
shall the Per Share  Amount be  increased  for any  period  after  which AES has
irrevocably waived the condition set forth in Section 9.1(c)(ii) hereof.

     Section 2.3 Dissenting Shares.

          (a)  Notwithstanding  anything  to  the  contrary  contained  in  this
Agreement,  to the extent appraisal rights are available to CILCORP stockholders
pursuant  to the  Illinois  Act,  any Shares held by a person who objects to the
Merger, whose Shares either were not entitled to vote or were not voted in favor
of the Merger and who complies  with all of the  provisions  of the Illinois Act
concerning  the rights of such person to dissent  from the Merger and to require
appraisal of such person's  Shares and who has not withdrawn  such  objection or
waived such rights  prior to the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3.1 hereof)
("Dissenting  Shares")  shall  not be  converted  into or  represent  a right to
receive cash pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, but shall become the right

                                       5

<PAGE>

to receive such  consideration  as may be  determined to be due to the holder of
such Dissenting Shares pursuant to the Illinois Act.

          (b)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section,
each  Dissenting  Share held by a person at the Effective Time who shall,  after
the  Effective  Time,  withdraw  the demand for  appraisal  or lose the right of
appraisal,  in either case pursuant to the Illinois  Act,  shall be deemed to be
converted,  as of the Effective Time, into the right to receive cash as provided
in Section  2.1(a)  hereof,  without  interest  thereon,  upon  surrender of the
certificate or certificates  representing such Shares in accordance with Section
2.4 hereof.

          (c) CILCORP  shall give AES (i) prompt  notice of any written  demands
for  appraisal or payment of the fair value of any Shares,  withdrawals  of such
demands,  and any other instruments served pursuant to the Illinois Act received
by CILCORP in respect of demands for  appraisal  or payment of the fair value of
any Shares and (ii) the opportunity to direct all  negotiations  and proceedings
with respect to demands for appraisal under the Illinois Act.  CILCORP shall not
voluntarily make any payment with respect to any demands for appraisal and shall
not, except with the prior written consent of AES, settle or offer to settle any
such demands.

     Section 2.4 Surrender of Shares; Stock Transfer Books.

          (a) Prior to the Effective  Time,  CILCORP  shall  designate a bank or
trust company to act as paying agent (the "Paying Agent") for purposes of paying
the amounts contemplated by Section 2.1 hereof. At the Effective Time, AES shall
deposit,  or cause to be  deposited,  with the Paying  Agent for the  benefit of
holders of Shares,  the aggregate  consideration  to which such holders shall be
entitled when and as required pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.

          (b) As soon as practicable  after the Effective  Time, AES shall cause
the Paying Agent to mail to each holder of record as of the Effective  Time of a
certificate or  certificates  that have been  converted  pursuant to Section 2.1
hereof:  (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be
effected,  and risk of loss and title to the certificates  shall pass, only upon
actual delivery of the  certificates to the Paying Agent) and (ii)  instructions
for  effecting  the  surrender of the  certificates  and receiving the aggregate
consideration  to which such  holder  shall be  entitled  therefor  pursuant  to
Section 2.1 hereof.  Upon  surrender  of a  certificate  to the Paying Agent for
cancellation, together with a duly executed letter of transmittal and such other
documents  as the  Paying  Agent  may  reasonably  require,  the  holder of such
certificate  shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor cash in an amount
equal to the Per Share Amount

                                       6
<PAGE>


multiplied by the number of Shares  represented  by such  certificate.  Until so
surrendered,   each  such  certificate  (other  than  certificates  representing
Dissenting  Shares and  certificates  representing  Shares canceled  pursuant to
Section  2.1(b)  hereof) shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to
represent  solely the right to receive upon such  surrender  the  aggregate  Per
Share Amount relating  thereto.  No interest shall accrue or be paid on any cash
payable upon the surrender of a certificate or  certificates  which  immediately
prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding Shares.

          (c) If payment of cash in respect of canceled  Shares is to be made to
a person  other  than the  person in whose  name a  surrendered  certificate  or
instrument  is  registered  in the  transfer  records of CILCORP,  it shall be a
condition to such payment that the  certificate  or  instrument  so  surrendered
shall be properly endorsed or shall be otherwise in proper form for transfer and
shall be  accompanied  by  evidence  satisfactory  to the Paying  Agent that any
transfer or other Taxes (as defined in Section 4.9 hereof) required by reason of
such  payment  in a name  other  than  that  of  the  registered  holder  of the
certificate or instrument either has been paid or is not payable.

          (d) At the Effective  Time,  the stock transfer books of CILCORP shall
be closed and there  shall not be any  further  registration  of transfer of any
shares of capital  stock  thereafter  on the records of CILCORP.  If,  after the
Effective  Time,   certificates  for  Shares  are  presented  to  the  Surviving
Corporation or AES, they shall be canceled and exchanged for cash as provided in
Section 2.1(a) hereof and in this Section 2.4.

          (e)  Promptly  following  the  date  which  is six  months  after  the
Effective  Time,  the Paying Agent shall deliver to AES all cash  (including any
interest received with respect thereto), certificates and other documents in its
possession  relating to the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and the Paying
Agent's  duties  shall  terminate.  Thereafter,  each  holder  of a  certificate
representing Shares (other than certificates  representing Dissenting Shares and
certificates  representing  Shares  canceled  pursuant to Section 2.1(b) hereof)
shall be entitled to look to the  Surviving  Corporation  (subject to applicable
abandoned property,  escheat and similar laws) only as general creditors thereof
with respect to the  aggregate  Per Share Amount  payable upon due  surrender of
their certificates,  without any interest or dividends thereon.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing, neither AES, the Surviving Corporation nor the Paying Agent shall
be liable to any holder of a certificate  representing  Shares for the Per Share
Amount  delivered  to a public  official  pursuant to any  applicable  abandoned
property, escheat or similar law.

          (f) The Per Share Amount paid in the Merger shall be net to the holder
of Shares in cash, subject to reduction only for (i) such amounts as AES or the


                                       7
<PAGE>


Paying  Agent are  required to withhold or deduct  under the Code (as defined in
Section  4.9(e) of this  Agreement) or any provision of state,  local or foreign
Tax law with  respect  to the making of such  payment,  and (ii) as set forth in
Section  2.4(c)  hereof,  any stock transfer or other Taxes payable by reason of
such payment  being made in a name other than that of the  registered  holder of
the certificate or instrument.

     Section 2.5 CILCORP  Options.  Two business days prior to the Closing Date,
the CILCORP Shareholder Return Incentive  Compensation Plan (the "CILCORP Option
Plan")  shall be amended  (which  such  amendment  shall be  conditioned  on the
Closing  occurring) to provide (i) as to all  performance  shares that have been
granted under the CILCORP Option Plan and that have not been exercised  prior to
the date of such amendment (the  "Performance  Shares"),  that such  Performance
Shares shall be cancelled as of the Closing Date and (ii) at the Closing CILCORP
shall  pay to each  holder of  Performance  Shares a cash  payment  equal to the
number of Performance Shares held immediately prior to such amendment multiplied
by the  excess  of the Per  Share  Amount  over  $36.00  less the  amount of all
applicable  federal,  state and local  withholding Taxes in connection with such
payment.  CILCORP  shall take all actions  necessary to ensure that such payment
extinguishes  all rights of such  participants  under the CILCORP Option Plan to
receive either Shares or shares of common stock of AES at or after the Effective
Time.


                                   ARTICLE III

                                   THE CLOSING

     Section 3.1 Closing.  The closing of the Merger (the "Closing")  shall take
place at the  offices of Skadden,  Arps,  Slate,  Meagher & Flom LLP,  919 Third
Avenue,  New York,  New York  10022-3897  at 10:00 A.M.,  New York time,  on the
second  business  day  immediately  following  the date on which the last of the
conditions  set forth in Article VIII hereof is fulfilled or waived,  or at such
other time, date and place as AES and CILCORP shall mutually agree (the "Closing
Date").


                                   ARTICLE IV

                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CILCORP

     CILCORP hereby represents and warrants to AES and Merger Sub as follows:

                                       8
<PAGE>


     Section 4.1 Organization and Qualification. CILCORP and each of the CILCORP
Subsidiaries  (as defined  below) and, to the knowledge of CILCORP,  each of the
CILCORP Joint  Ventures (as defined below) is a corporation or other entity duly
organized,  validly  existing  and  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of its
jurisdiction  of  incorporation  or  organization,  has all requisite  power and
authority and has been duly authorized by all necessary  approvals and orders to
own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as
it is now being  conducted  and is duly  qualified  and in good  standing  to do
business  in each  jurisdiction  in which  the  nature  of its  business  or the
ownership  or  leasing of its assets  and  properties  makes such  qualification
necessary,  other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify and
be in good standing, when taken together with all other such failures, would not
have a material adverse effect on the business, operations,  properties, assets,
condition  (financial  or other),  prospects  or the  results of  operations  of
CILCORP and the CILCORP  Subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the consummation of
the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement and the Second Merger (any such
material  adverse  effect,  a  "CILCORP  Material  Adverse  Effect").  The  term
"Subsidiary" of a person shall mean any  corporation or other entity  (including
partnerships  and other business  associations and joint ventures) in which such
person  directly  or  indirectly  owns at least a majority  of the voting  power
represented  by the  outstanding  capital  stock or other voting  securities  or
interests  having voting power under ordinary  circumstances to elect a majority
of the  directors  or similar  members of the  governing  body,  or otherwise to
direct the management and policies,  of such  corporation or entity and the term
"CILCORP  Subsidiary"  shall  mean a  Subsidiary  of  CILCORP.  The term  "Joint
Venture"  of a person  shall mean any  corporation  or other  entity  (including
partnerships  and other business  associations and joint ventures) in which such
person  directly  or  indirectly  owns an  equity  interest  that is less than a
majority of any class of the outstanding voting securities or equity of any such
entity,  other than equity interests held for passive investment  purposes which
are less than 5% of any class of the outstanding  voting securities or equity of
any such entity, and the term "CILCORP Joint Venture" shall mean a Joint Venture
of CILCORP.

     Section 4.2 Subsidiaries.  Section 4.2 of the disclosure schedule delivered
by CILCORP to AES concurrent  with the execution of this Agreement (the "CILCORP
Disclosure  Schedule") sets forth a list of all the CILCORP Subsidiaries and the
CILCORP  Joint  Ventures,  including  the  name of  each  such  entity,  a brief
description  of the principal  line or lines of business  conducted by each such
entity and the interest of CILCORP and the CILCORP Subsidiaries therein. CILCORP
is a "public-utility  holding company" (as defined in the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, as amended  ("PUHCA"))  exempt from all  provisions  (other
than Section  9(a)(2)) of PUHCA,  pursuant to Section 3(a)(1) in accordance with
Rule  2  of  PUHCA,   and  Central   Illinois  Light  Company   ("CILCO")  is  a
"public-utility  company" within the meaning of Section


                                       9
<PAGE>

2(a)(5) of PUHCA. With the exception of CILCO, no CILCORP  Subsidiary or CILCORP
Joint Venture is a "holding  company" or a  "public-utility  company" within the
meaning of Sections 2(a)(7) and 2(a)(5) of PUHCA, respectively, nor, except with
respect  to  their  relationship  with  CILCORP,  are  any of such  entities  an
"affiliate" or a "subsidiary company" of a holding company within the meaning of
Sections  2(a)(11)  and 2(a)(8) of PUHCA,  respectively.  Except as set forth in
Section  4.2 of the  CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule,  (i) all of the  issued  and
outstanding  shares of capital  stock of each  CILCORP  Subsidiary  are  validly
issued,  fully  paid,  nonassessable  and free of  preemptive  rights and to the
extent owned,  directly or indirectly,  by CILCORP,  are owned free and clear of
any liens, claims, encumbrances,  security interests, charges and options of any
nature whatsoever  ("Liens"),  and (ii) there are no outstanding  subscriptions,
options,  calls,  contracts,  voting trusts, proxies or other pledges,  security
interests, claims, equities, charges, encumbrances, commitments, understandings,
restrictions,   arrangements,   rights  or  warrants,  including  any  right  of
conversion  or exchange  under any  outstanding  security,  instrument  or other
agreement,  obligating  CILCORP or any CILCORP  Subsidiary to issue,  deliver or
sell,  pledge,  grant a security  interest or  encumber,  or cause to be issued,
delivered or sold,  pledged or encumbered  or a security  interest to be granted
on, shares of capital stock of any CILCORP  Subsidiary or obligating  CILCORP or
any CILCORP  Subsidiary  to grant,  extend or enter into any such  agreement  or
commitment.

     Section 4.3 Capitalization.

          (a)  CILCORP.  The  authorized  capital  stock of CILCORP  consists of
50,000,000  shares of common stock,  no par value ( the "CILCORP Common Stock"),
and 4,000,000 shares of preferred  stock, no par value,  none of which preferred
stock is  outstanding.  As of the close of business on November  20,  1998,  (i)
13,610,680  shares of CILCORP  Common  Stock were issued and  outstanding  (such
number of shares is hereinafter referred to as the "Outstanding  Shares"),  (ii)
125,000  shares of CILCORP  Common Stock were reserved for issuance  pursuant to
the CILCORP  Option Plan,  and (iii) no shares of CILCORP Common Stock were held
by  CILCORP  in its  treasury  or by its wholly  owned  Subsidiaries.  No bonds,
debentures, notes or other indebtedness having the right to vote (or convertible
into securities  having the right to vote) on any matters on which  stockholders
may vote  ("Voting  Debt")  are  issued or  outstanding.  All of the  issued and
outstanding  shares of CILCORP  Common  Stock are  validly  issued,  fully paid,
nonassessable and free of preemptive  rights.  Since December 17, 1996,  CILCORP
has not issued any  shares of capital  stock of any class of CILCORP  other than
issuances of shares of CILCORP Common Stock pursuant to awards under the CILCORP
Option Plan.  As of the date of this  Agreement,  except as set forth in Section
4.3(a)  of  the  CILCORP   Disclosure   Schedule,   there  are  no   outstanding
subscriptions,  options,  calls,  contracts,  voting  trusts,  proxies  or other
pledges, security interests, encumbrances,


                                       10
<PAGE>


commitments,  understandings,  restrictions,  arrangements,  rights or warrants,
including any right of conversion or exchange  under any  outstanding  security,
instrument or other agreement,  obligating  CILCORP or any CILCORP Subsidiary to
issue, deliver or sell, pledge, grant a security interest or encumber,  or cause
to be issued, delivered or sold, pledged or encumbered or a security interest to
be  granted  on,  shares of  capital  stock or any  Voting  Debt of  CILCORP  or
obligating CILCORP or any CILCORP Subsidiary to grant,  extend or enter into any
such  agreement  or  commitment.  Except as set forth in  Section  4.3(a) of the
CILCORP Disclosure Schedule,  there is no outstanding  contractual commitment or
obligation of CILCORP or any CILCORP  Subsidiary to make any  investment (in the
form of a loan, capital  contribution or otherwise) in any CILCORP Subsidiary or
in any other person.

          (b)  CILCO.  The  authorized   capital  stock  of  CILCO  consists  of
20,000,000  shares of common stock, no par value;  1,500,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $100 per share ("CILCO Preferred Stock"), consisting of 111,264
shares of 4.50 percent Series CILCO Preferred Stock ("4.50% Series  Preferred"),
79,940  shares of 4.64  percent  Series CILCO  Preferred  Stock  ("4.64%  Series
Preferred"),  and 1,308,796 shares of Undesignated  Series CILCO Preferred Stock
("Undesignated Series Preferred");  3,500,000 shares of Class A preferred stock,
no par value ("CILCO Class A Preferred Stock"),  consisting of 220,000 shares of
5.85  percent  Series  CILCO  Class A Preferred  Stock  ("5.85%  Series  Class A
Preferred"),  250,000  shares of  Flexible  Auction  Rate  Series  CILCO Class A
Preferred  Stock  ("Flexible  Auction  Rate  Series  Class  A  Preferred");  and
3,030,000   shares  of  Undesignated   Series  CILCO  Class  A  Preferred  Stock
("Undesignated Series Class A Preferred");  and 2,000,000 shares of Undesignated
Series CILCO Preference  Stock, no par value ("CILCO  Preference  Stock").  With
respect to the capital  stock of CILCO,  (i)  13,563,871  shares of CILCO Common
Stock are issued and out  standing,  all of which are owned by CILCORP  free and
clear of any Liens and (ii)  111,264  shares of 4.50% Series  Preferred,  79,940
shares of 4.64% Series  Preferred,  no shares of Undesignated  Series Preferred,
220,000  shares of 5.85% Class A Series  Preferred,  250,000  shares of Flexible
Auction Rate Series Class A Preferred,  250,000  shares of  Undesignated  Series
Class A  Preferred  and no  shares of CILCO  Preference  Stock  are  issued  and
outstanding.  No Voting  Debt is issued or  outstanding.  All of the  issued and
outstanding  shares of CILCO  capital  stock are  validly  issued,  fully  paid,
nonassessable and free of preemptive  rights.  Since the date hereof,  CILCO has
not issued any shares of capital stock of any class of CILCO.  As of the date of
this Agreement,  except as set forth in Section 4.3(b) of the CILCORP Disclosure
Schedule,  there are no outstanding  subscriptions,  options,  calls, contracts,
voting  trusts,  proxies or other  pledges,  security  interests,  encumbrances,
commitments,  understandings,  restrictions,  arrangements,  rights or warrants,
including any right of conversion or exchange  under any  outstanding  security,
instrument or other agreement, obligating CILCORP or any

                                       11
<PAGE>


CILCORP Subsidiary to issue,  deliver or sell, pledge, grant a security interest
or encumber, or cause to be issued,  delivered or sold, pledged or encumbered or
a security interest to be granted on, shares of capital stock or any Voting Debt
of CILCO or obligating  CILCORP or any CILCORP  Subsidiary  to grant,  extend or
enter into any such agreement or commitment.

          (c) Indebtedness. Section 4.3(c)(i) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule
sets forth a true and complete  statement of the borrowing  limit under all loan
agreements  (including  indentures) of CILCORP and its Subsidiaries  existing on
the date hereof and Section 4.3(c)(ii) of the CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule sets
forth a true and complete statement of the total indebtedness of CILCORP and its
Subsidiaries outstanding on the date hereof under such agreements.

     Section 4.4 Authority; Non-Contravention; Statutory Approvals; Compliance.

          (a) Authority.  CILCORP has all requisite power and authority to enter
into this  Agreement  and,  subject to the receipt of the CILCORP  Stockholders'
Approval (as defined in Section 4.13 hereof) and the CILCORP Required  Statutory
Approvals (as defined in Section 4.4(c) hereof),  to consummate the transactions
contemplated  hereby  and,  subject to receipt  of the Second  Merger  Statutory
Approvals (as defined in Section 4.4(c) hereof), to consummate the Second Merger
if such were to be consummated. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the  consummation by CILCORP of the transactions  contemplated  hereby have been
duly  authorized  by all  necessary  corporate  action  on the part of  CILCORP,
subject to obtaining the CILCORP Stockholders' Approval. This Agreement has been
duly and validly  executed  and  delivered  by CILCORP,  and,  assuming  the due
authorization,  execution and delivery hereof by the other  signatories  hereto,
this  Agreement   constitutes  the  valid  and  binding  obligation  of  CILCORP
enforceable  against it in accordance with its terms,  except as  enforceability
may be limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium or other
similar laws  affecting the  enforcement of creditors'  rights  generally and by
general  equitable  principles  (regardless  of whether such  enforceability  is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

          (b) Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
CILCORP do not, and the  consummation  of the Merger and the other  transactions
contemplated  hereby and if such were consummated,  the Second Merger, will not,
in any respect,  violate,  conflict  with or result in a breach of any provision
of, or  constitute a default  (with or without  notice or lapse of time or both)
under,  or result in the  termination  or  modification  of, or  accelerate  the
performance required by, or result in a

                                       12
<PAGE>


right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or the loss
of a benefit under,  or result in the creation of any lien,  security  interest,
charge or encumbrance  upon any of the properties or assets of CILCORP or any of
the  CILCORP  Subsidiaries  or the  imposition  or  administration  of any other
penalty  or fee  (any  such  violation,  conflict,  breach,  default,  right  of
termination,  modification,  cancellation  or  acceleration,  loss,  creation or
imposition,  is referred to herein as a "Violation" with respect to CILCORP, the
CILCORP Subsidiaries and the CILCORP Joint Ventures,  and such term when used in
Article V shall have a correlative  meaning with respect to AES) pursuant to any
provisions of (i) the Articles of  Incorporation,  By-Laws or similar  governing
documents  of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  or the CILCORP  Joint
Ventures, (ii) subject to obtaining the CILCORP Required Statutory Approvals (as
defined in Section 4.4(c)  hereof),  the Second Merger  Statutory  Approvals (as
defined in Section 4.4(c)  hereof) and the receipt of the CILCORP  Stockholders'
Approval,  any statute,  law, ordinance,  rule,  regulation,  judgment,  decree,
order,  injunction,  writ, permit or license of any court, federal, state, local
or foreign  governmental or regulatory body (including a stock exchange or other
self-regulatory body) or authority (each, a "Governmental Authority") applicable
to CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  or the CILCORP Joint Ventures or
any of their  respective  properties or assets or (iii) subject to obtaining the
third-party  consents set forth in Section  4.4(b)(i) of the CILCORP  Disclosure
Schedule for the Second Merger (the "CILCORP Second Merger Required  Consents"),
and set forth in Section 4.4(b)(ii) of the CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule for the
Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby (the "CILCORP  Required
Consents"),  any  note,  bond,  mortgage,  indenture,  deed of  trust,  license,
franchise, permit, concession,  contract, lease or other instrument,  obligation
or agreement of any kind to which CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries or
the CILCORP Joint Ventures is a party or by which it or any of its properties or
assets may be bound or affected,  excluding from the foregoing  clauses (ii) and
(iii) such Violations which would not, in the aggregate, have a CILCORP Material
Adverse Effect.

          (c) Statutory Approvals. No declaration,  filing or registration with,
or  notice  to or  authorization,  consent  or  approval  of,  any  Governmental
Authority  is necessary  for the  execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement by
CILCORP or the consummation by CILCORP of the Merger and the other  transactions
contemplated  hereby,  except as described  in Section  4.4(c)(i) of the CILCORP
Disclosure Schedule,  (the "CILCORP Required Statutory Approvals") and except as
described in Section 4.4(c)(ii) of the CILCORP Disclosure  Schedule with respect
to the  Second  Merger  (the  "Second  Merger  Statutory  Approvals"),  it being
understood  that  references  in this  Agreement  to  "obtaining"  such  CILCORP
Required  Statutory  Approvals and Second Merger Statutory  Approvals shall mean
making such declarations, filings or registrations;

                                       13
<PAGE>


giving such notices;  obtaining such authorizations,  consents or approvals; and
having such waiting periods expire as are necessary to avoid a violation of law.

          (d)  Compliance.  Except as set forth in Section 4.4(d) of the CILCORP
Disclosure  Schedule or in Section 4.11  hereof,  or as disclosed in the CILCORP
SEC Reports (as defined in Section 4.5 hereof)  filed on or prior to the date of
this Agreement,  neither CILCORP nor any of the CILCORP Subsidiaries nor, to the
knowledge of CILCORP,  any CILCORP  Joint Venture is in violation of, is, to the
knowledge of CILCORP,  under  investigation with respect to any violation of, or
has been  given  notice  of or been  charged  with any  violation  of,  any law,
statute,  order,  rule,  regulation,  ordinance  or judgment,  permit,  license,
concession  or  franchise   (including,   without  limitation,   any  applicable
environmental  law,  ordinance or  regulation)  of any  Governmental  Authority,
except for violations or failures to comply with  Environmental  Laws (which are
the subject of Section 4.11 hereof) and except for violations which individually
or in the aggregate do not, and insofar as reasonably  can be foreseen will not,
have a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Section 4.4(d) or
4.11 of the CILCORP Disclosure  Schedule,  CILCORP and the CILCORP  Subsidiaries
and, to the knowledge of CILCORP,  the CILCORP Joint  Ventures have all permits,
licenses, franchises and other governmental authorizations,  consents, approvals
and  exemptions  necessary to conduct their  businesses  as presently  conducted
which are material to the operation of the businesses of CILCORP and the CILCORP
Subsidiaries.  Except as set forth in Section  4.4(d) of the CILCORP  Disclosure
Schedule and Section 4.11 hereof,  CILCORP and each of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries
and, to the knowledge of CILCORP,  each of the CILCORP Joint  Ventures is not in
breach or violation of or in default in the  performance  or  observance  of any
term or  provision  of, and no event has occurred  which,  with lapse of time or
action by a third  party,  could  result in a default by CILCORP or any  CILCORP
Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of CILCORP,  any CILCORP Joint Venture under (i)
its Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws or other organizational documents or (ii)
any contract, commitment,  agreement, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note,
lease, bond, license,  approval or other instrument to which it is a party or by
which CILCORP or any CILCORP Subsidiary or any CILCORP Joint Venture is bound or
to which any of its  property  is  subject,  except  in the case of clause  (ii)
above,  for  violations,  breaches  or  defaults  which  individually  or in the
aggregate do not, and insofar as  reasonably  can be foreseen  will not,  have a
CILCORP Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 4.5 Reports and Financial  Statements.  The filings  required to be
made by CILCORP and the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the  "Securities  Act"),  the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), PUHCA, the Federal Power Act (the "Power Act") and
applicable  state,  municipal,  local and other laws,  including  franchise  and
public utility laws and


                                       14
<PAGE>

regulations,  including  all forms,  statements,  reports,  agreements  (oral or
written) and all documents,  exhibits,  amendments and supplements  appertaining
thereto,  have been filed with the SEC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(the  "FERC") and the  appropriate  Illinois or other  appropriate  Governmental
Authorities,  as the case may be, and complied, as of their respective dates, in
all  material  respects  with all  applicable  requirements  of the  appropriate
statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder. CILCORP has made available to
AES a true and complete copy of each report,  schedule,  registration  statement
and definitive proxy statement and all amendments  thereto filed with the SEC by
CILCORP  or any  CILCORP  Subsidiary  (or their  predecessors)  pursuant  to the
requirements  of the  Securities  Act or Exchange Act since  January 1, 1996 (as
such  documents  have since the time of their filing been amended,  the "CILCORP
SEC Reports").  As of their  respective  dates,  the CILCORP 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  CILCORP   and  CILCO   included  in  the  CILCORP  SEC  Reports
(collectively,  the  "CILCORP  Financial  Statements")  have  been  prepared  in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis ("GAAP") (except as may be indicated  therein or in the notes thereto) and
fairly present the financial  position of CILCORP and CILCO, as the case may be,
as of the dates thereof and the results of their  operations  and cash flows for
the periods then ended,  subject, in the case of the unaudited interim financial
statements, to normal, recurring audit adjustments.  True, accurate and complete
copies of the Articles of Incorporation  and By-Laws of CILCORP and CILCO, as in
effect  on the  date  of  this  Agreement,  are  included  (or  incorporated  by
reference) in the CILCORP SEC Reports.

     Section 4.6 Absence of Certain  Changes or Events;  Absence of  Undisclosed
Liabilities.

          (a)  Absence  of Certain  Changes  or  Events.  Except as set forth in
Section 4.6(a) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule or as disclosed in the CILCORP
SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement,  since December 31, 1997,
CILCORP and each of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  and, to the knowledge of CILCORP,
each of the CILCORP Joint  Ventures,  have conducted  their business only in the
ordinary  course of business  consistent  with past  practice  and there has not
been, and no fact or condition exists which would have or, insofar as reasonably
can be foreseen, could have, a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect.

          (b) Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth in Section
4.6(b) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule or as disclosed in the CILCORP

                                       15
<PAGE>


SEC  Reports  filed  prior  to the  date  of  this  Agreement,  and  except  for
liabilities,  obligations or contingencies which are accrued or reserved against
in the  consolidated  financial  statements of CILCORP and CILCO or reflected in
the notes  thereto for the year ended  December 31, 1997, or which were incurred
after December 31, 1997 in the ordinary course of business and would not, in the
aggregate,  have a CILCORP  Material  Adverse  Effect,  neither  CILCORP nor any
CILCORP Subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of CILCORP, any CILCORP Joint Venture,
has any liabilities or obligations  (whether  absolute,  accrued,  contingent or
otherwise and including, without limitation, margin loans) which are material to
CILCORP and the CILCORP Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

     Section 4.7  Litigation.  Except as set forth in Section 4.7 of the CILCORP
Disclosure  Schedule or as disclosed  in the CILCORP SEC Reports  filed prior to
the  date  of this  Agreement,  (a)  there  are no  claims,  suits,  actions  or
proceedings pending before any court,  Governmental  Authority or any arbitrator
or, to the knowledge of CILCORP,  threatened, nor are there, to the knowledge of
CILCORP, any investigations or reviews by any court,  Governmental  Authority or
any arbitrator pending or threatened  against,  relating to or affecting CILCORP
or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of CILCORP, the CILCORP
Joint  Ventures,  (b) there  have not been any  significant  developments  since
December  31,  1997 with  respect  to such  disclosed  claims,  suits,  actions,
proceedings,  investigations or reviews and (c) there are no judgments, decrees,
injunctions,  rules or orders of any  Governmental  Authority or any  arbitrator
applicable to CILCORP or any of the CILCORP Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of
CILCORP,  applicable to any of the CILCORP  Joint  Ventures,  which,  when taken
together  with any other  nondisclosures  described  in clauses (a), (b) or (c),
could, if determined adversely to CILCORP, any CILCORP Subsidiary or any CILCORP
Joint Venture, have a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 4.8 Proxy Statement. At the dates mailed to stockholders of CILCORP
and at the time of the  meeting of such  stockholders  to be held in  connection
with the  Merger  and the  other  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  the Proxy
Statement (as defined in Section 7.2(a) hereof), (i) will not 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 and (ii) will comply
as to form in all material  respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and
the  rules and  regulations  thereunder,  provided,  however,  CILCORP  makes no
representation  or warranty as to any  information  provided by AES  pursuant to
Section 5.5 hereof.

                                       16
<PAGE>

     Section  4.9 Tax  Matters.  For  purposes  of this  Agreement:  (i) "Taxes"
(including,  with correlative meaning, the word "Tax") shall include any and all
federal, state, county, local, foreign or other taxes, charges,  imposts, rates,
fees,  levies  or other  assessments,  including,  without  limitation,  all net
income,  gross  income,  sales and use, ad valorem,  transfer,  gains,  profits,
excise,  franchise,  real and personal property,  gross receipt,  capital stock,
production, business and occupation,  disability,  employment, payroll, license,
estimated,  stamp, custom duties,  severance,  withholding or other taxes, fees,
assessments  or charges of any kind  whatsoever,  together with any interest and
penalties (civil or criminal) on or additions to any such taxes and any expenses
incurred in connection with the  determination,  settlement or litigation of any
tax liability,  (ii) "Taxing Authority" means any Governmental  Authority or any
subdivision,  agency, court, commission,  instrumentality or official thereof or
any  quasi-governmental or private body having jurisdiction over the assessment,
determination,  collection,  imposition or  administration of any Tax (including
the Internal  Revenue  Service  (the  "IRS")) and (iii) "Tax  Return"  means any
return, report,  information return, schedule,  certificate,  statement or other
document (including any related or supporting  information) required to be filed
with or supplied  to, or, where none is required to be filed with or supplied to
a  Taxing  Authority,  the  statement  or  other  document  issued  by, a Taxing
Authority  in  connection  with  any Tax  (including,  without  limitation,  any
combined,  consolidated  or  unitary  returns  for any  group of  entities  that
includes CILCORP or any CILCORP Subsidiary).  Except as specifically  identified
in the relevant section of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule:

          (a)  Filing of Timely Tax  Returns.  CILCORP  and each of the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries  have timely filed (or there has been timely filed on their behalf)
all Tax  Returns  required  to be filed by or on  behalf  of each of them  under
applicable law. All such Tax Returns were and are in all material respects true,
complete and correct.

          (b) Payment of Taxes.  CILCORP  and each of the  CILCORP  Subsidiaries
have,  within the time and in the manner  prescribed by law, paid all Taxes that
are due and payable from them.

          (c) Tax  Reserves.  The accrual  for Taxes on the most recent  CILCORP
Financial  Statements  is in an amount at least equal to the sum of CILCORP' and
the CILCORP Subsidiaries'  liability for Taxes (other than Taxes previously paid
over to the  appropriate  Taxing  Authority)  for all Tax periods (and  portions
thereof)  ending on or before the date of such financial  statements  plus their
deferred Tax liability.

          (d) Tax Liens.  There are no Tax liens upon the assets,  properties or
business of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  except  liens for Taxes
not

                                       17
<PAGE>


yet due or being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings and for
which  adequate   reserves  have  been  established  in  the  CILCORP  Financial
Statements.

          (e) Withholding  Taxes.  CILCORP and each of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries
have  complied in all  material  respects  with the  provisions  of the Internal
Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended (the  "Code") and all other  applicable  laws
relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes, including, without limitation,
the  withholding  and  reporting  requirements  under Code Sections 1441 through
1464,  3401 through 3406 and 6041 through  6049,  as well as similar  provisions
under any other laws, and have,  within the time and in the manner prescribed by
law, withheld from employee wages and paid over to the proper Taxing Authorities
all amounts required.

          (f) Extensions of Time for Filing Tax Returns. Neither CILCORP nor any
of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries has requested any extension of time within which to
file any Tax Return, which Tax Return has not since been timely filed.

          (g) Waivers of Statute of Limitations.  Neither CILCORP nor any of the
CILCORP Subsidiaries has executed any outstanding waivers or comparable consents
regarding  the  application  of the statute of  limitations  with respect to any
Taxes or Tax Returns.

          (h) Expiration of Statute of Limitations.  The statutes of limitations
for the  assessment  of all Taxes with respect to all Tax Returns of CILCORP and
the CILCORP Subsidiaries for all Tax periods have expired.  Prior to the date of
this Agreement,  CILCORP has provided AES with written  schedules of (i) the Tax
years of CILCORP and each CILCORP Subsidiary for which any statute of limitation
with respect to any Tax has not expired and (ii) with  respect to any  franchise
Tax and any Tax based on net income, gross receipts or gross income, for all Tax
years of  CILCORP  and  each  CILCORP  Subsidiary  for  which  the  statutes  of
limitations have not yet expired,  those years for which  examinations have been
completed, those years for which examinations are presently being conducted, and
those years for which  examinations  have not yet been initiated.  No deficiency
for any Taxes has been proposed,  asserted or assessed against CILCORP or any of
the CILCORP Subsidiaries that has not been resolved and paid in full.

          (i) Audit,  Administrative and Court  Proceedings.  No audits or other
proceedings by any Taxing Authority are presently pending,  or, to the knowledge
of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries,  threatened,  with regard to any
Taxes or Tax Returns of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP Subsidiaries.

                                       18

<PAGE>

          (j) Powers of  Attorney.  No power of attorney  currently in force has
been granted by CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  concerning  any Tax
matter.

          (k) Tax Rulings.  Neither CILCORP nor any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries
has received or requested a Tax Ruling or entered into a Closing  Agreement with
any taxing  authority  that would have a  continuing  adverse  effect  after the
Closing Date.  "Tax Ruling," as used in this  Agreement,  shall mean any written
ruling of (or other written guidance from) a Taxing Authority relating to Taxes.
"Closing Agreement," as used in this Agreement, shall mean a written and legally
binding agreement with a Taxing Authority relating to Taxes.

          (l)  Availability  of Tax Returns.  CILCORP has made  available to AES
complete  and  accurate  copies of (i) all Tax Returns  for open years,  and any
amendments  thereto,  filed by or on behalf  of  CILCORP  or any of the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries,  (ii) all audit reports or written proposed  adjustments  (whether
formal or  informal)  received  from any Taxing  Authority  relating  to any Tax
Return filed by or on behalf of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  and
(iii) any Tax Ruling or request for a Tax Ruling applicable to CILCORP or any of
the CILCORP  Subsidiaries and Closing  Agreements entered into by CILCORP or any
of the CILCORP Subsidiaries.

          (m) Tax Sharing Agreements. Neither CILCORP nor any CILCORP Subsidiary
is a party to, is bound by, or has any obligation under, any agreement  relating
to the  allocation or sharing of Taxes or has any liability for the Taxes of any
person  other than  CILCORP or the CILCORP  Subsidiaries,  as a  transferee,  or
successor or otherwise  (including,  without  limitation,  any  liability  under
Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any similar provision of state, local or
foreign law).

          (n)  Code  Section  341(f).  Neither  CILCORP  nor any of the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries has filed (or will file prior to the Closing) a consent pursuant to
Code Section  341(f) or has agreed to have Code Section  341(f)(2)  apply to any
disposition  of a subsection  (f) asset (as that term is defined in Code Section
341(f)(4)) owned by CILCORP or any of the CILCORP Subsidiaries.

          (o) Code  Section  168.  No  property of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP
Subsidiaries is property that CILCORP or any CILCORP  Subsidiary or any party to
this  transaction  is or will be  required  to treat as being  owned by  another
person pursuant to the provisions of Code Section  168(f)(8) (as in effect prior
to its amendment by the Tax Reform Act of 1986) or is "tax-exempt  use property"
within the meaning of Code Section 168(h).

                                       19

<PAGE>

          (p) Code  Section  481  Adjustments.  Neither  CILCORP  nor any of the
CILCORP  Subsidiaries is required to include in income for any Tax period ending
after the date hereof any  adjustment  pursuant to Code Section 481(a) by reason
of a  voluntary  change in  accounting  method of CILCORP or any of the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries,  nor has  the IRS  proposed  any  such  adjustment  or  change  in
accounting method.

          (q) Acquisition Indebtedness. No indebtedness of CILCORP or any of the
CILCORP Subsidiaries is "corporate acquisition  indebtedness" within the meaning
of Code Section 279(b) or an "applicable high yield discount  obligation" within
the meaning of Code Section 163(i).

          (r) Consolidated  Tax Returns.  Neither CILCORP nor any of the CILCORP
Subsidiaries  has ever  been a member  of an  affiliated  group of  corporations
(within the meaning of Code Section  1504(a)) filing  consolidated  Tax Returns,
other than the affiliated group of which CILCORP is the common parent.

          (s) 5% Foreign Stockholders. Based on any Schedule 13D and 13G filings
with the SEC with respect to CILCORP and any other relevant  information  within
CILCORP's  knowledge,  no foreign person has owned 5% or more of the outstanding
shares of CILCORP Common Stock at any time during the five year period ending on
the Closing Date.

     Section 4.10 Employee Matters; ERISA.

          (a) Benefit Plans.  Section 4.10(a) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule
contains a true and  complete  list of each  employee  benefit  plan,  practice,
program or  arrangement  currently  sponsored,  maintained or  contributed to by
CILCORP or any of the CILCORP Subsidiaries for the benefit of employees,  former
employees or directors and their  beneficiaries in respect of services  provided
to any such entity,  including,  but not limited to, any employee  benefit plans
within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security
Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"),  any employee pension benefit plan,  program,
arrangement  or  agreement,  any  health,  medical,  welfare,  disability,  life
insurance,  bonus,  option,  stock  appreciation  plan,  performance stock plan,
restricted  stock plan,  deferred  compensation  plan,  retiree  benefits  plan,
severance  pay and  other  employee  benefit  or  fringe  benefit  plan  and any
employment,  consulting,  non-compete,  severance or change in control agreement
(collectively,  the "CILCORP  Benefit  Plans"),  together  with, for any option,
stock appreciation plan, performance stock plan, restricted stock plan, deferred
compensation

                                       20

<PAGE>


plan and supple mental  retirement plan, the current amounts or benefits granted
or  payable  under  each and  reasonable  details  (including  exercise  prices)
regarding the  outstanding  options to purchase  shares of CILCORP  Common Stock
(the  "CILCORP   Options")  or  other   securities  which  represent  the  right
(contingent  or other) to purchase or receive shares of CILCORP Common Stock or,
following  the  Merger,  of the common  stock,  no par value,  of the  Surviving
Corporation  or of the common  stock,  par value  $.01 per  share,  of AES ("AES
Common Stock").  For the purposes of this Section 4.10, the term "CILCORP" shall
be deemed to include predecessors thereof.

          (b)  Contributions.  Except as set  forth in  Section  4.10(a)  of the
CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule,  all material  contributions  and other  payments
required to be made by CILCORP or any of the CILCORP Subsidiaries to any CILCORP
Benefit Plan (or to any person  pursuant to the terms  thereof) have been timely
made or the amount of such payment or contribution obligation has been reflected
in the CILCORP Financial  Statements.  Except as set forth in Section 4.10(a) of
the CILCORP Disclosure  Schedule,  (i) the current value of all accrued benefits
under any CILCORP  Benefit Plan does not exceed the current  value of the assets
of such plan and (ii)  neither  CILCORP nor any entity which is or ever has been
considered  as a single  employer  together  with  CILCORP or CILCO  pursuant to
Section 414 of the Code  contributes or has  contributed,  during the eight-year
period immediately prior to the date of this Agreement,  to a multiemployer plan
(as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), or has any liability under ERISA Section
4203 or Section 4205 in respect of any such plan.

          (c) Qualification;  Compliance. Except as set forth in Section 4.10(c)
of the CILCORP Disclosure  Schedule,  each of the CILCORP Benefit Plans intended
to be  "qualified"  within the  meaning  of Section  401(a) of the Code has been
determined by the IRS to be so qualified,  and no  circumstances  exist that are
reasonably  expected  by  CILCORP  to  result  in the  revocation  of  any  such
determination. CILCORP and each of the CILCORP Subsidiaries are in compliance in
all  material  respects  with,  and each  CILCORP  Benefit  Plan is and has been
operated in all material  respects in compliance  with the terms thereof and all
applicable laws, rules and regulations governing such plan,  including,  without
limitation,  ERISA and the Code.  Each CILCORP  Benefit Plan intended to provide
for the deferral of income,  the reduction of salary or other compensation or to
afford  other income Tax benefits  complies in all  material  respects  with the
requirements of the applicable  provisions of the Code or other laws,  rules and
regulations required to provide such income Tax benefits.

          (d)   Liabilities.   With  respect  to  the  CILCORP   Benefit   Plans
individually and in the aggregate,  there are no actions,  suits,  claims (other
than claims for benefits in the ordinary course) pending or, to the knowledge of
CILCORP, threatened

                                       21

<PAGE>

and  no  event  has  occurred,   and,  there  exists  no  condition  or  set  of
circumstances  that could subject CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries to
any  liability  arising  under  the  Code,  ERISA or any  other  applicable  law
including,  without  limitation,  any liability of any kind whatsoever,  whether
direct or indirect,  contingent,  inchoate or otherwise, to any such plan or the
Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation  (the  "PBGC"),  or under any  indemnity
agreement to which  CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  is a party,  in
each  such  case,  which  liability,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  could
reasonably be expected to have a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect.

          (e)  Welfare  Plans.  Except as set forth in  Section  4.10(e)  of the
CILCORP Disclosure Schedule, none of the CILCORP Benefit Plans that are "welfare
plans",  within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA,  provides for any benefits
payable  to or on  behalf of any  employee  or  director  after  termination  of
employment  or  service,  or after  retirement,  as the case may be,  other than
elective  continuation required pursuant to Code Section 4980B or coverage which
expires at the end of the calendar month  following  such event.  Each such plan
that is a "group  health  plan" (as defined in Code Section  4980B(g))  has been
operated in compliance  with Code Section 4980B in all material  respects at all
times.

          (f) Documents Made Available. CILCORP has made available to AES a true
and correct copy of each collective bargaining agreement to which CILCORP or any
of the  CILCORP  Subsidiaries  is a party or under  which  CILCORP or any of the
CILCORP  Subsidiaries has obligations,  and with respect to each CILCORP Benefit
Plan,  to the extent  applicable,  (i) such plan and  summary  plan  description
(including  all amendments to each such  document),  (ii) the most recent annual
report  filed  with the IRS,  (iii)  each  related  trust  agreement,  insurance
contract,  service provider or investment  management  agreement  (including all
amendments to each such document), (iv) the most recent determination of the IRS
with respect to the qualified status of such plan, (v) the most recent actuarial
report or valuation and (vi) all material employee communications.

          (g)  Payments  Resulting  from  Merger and Other  Severance  Payments.
Except as set forth in Section 4.10(g) of the CILCORP Disclosure  Schedule or as
specifically   provided  for  in  this  Agreement,   (i)  the   announcement  or
consummation  of the  Merger  or any  other  transaction  contemplated  by  this
Agreement or the Second Merger will not (either alone or upon the  occurrence of
any  additional  or  further  acts or  events,  including,  without  limitation,
termination of employment)  result in any (A) payment  (whether of severance pay
or otherwise)  becoming due from CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  to
any officer,  employee,  former  employee or director  thereof or to the trustee
under any "rabbi trust" or similar  arrangement or (B) benefit being established
or becoming accelerated, vested or payable under any CILCORP Benefit Plan

                                       22

<PAGE>


and (ii) neither  CILCORP nor any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries is a party to (A)
any management,  employment,  deferred  compensation,  severance  (including any
payment,  right or benefit  resulting from a change in control),  bonus or other
contract for personal services with any officer,  director or employee,  (B) any
consulting contract with any person who prior to entering into such contract was
a director or officer of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  or (C) any
material plan, agreement, arrangement or understanding similar to the foregoing.

          (h) Labor  Agreements.  As of the date hereof,  except as set forth in
Section 4.10(h) of the CILCORP Disclosure  Schedule,  neither CILCORP nor any of
the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  is a party to or bound by any  collective  bargaining
agreement or other labor agreement with any union or labor organization, or work
rules or practices agreed to with any labor organization or employee association
applicable  to employees of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries.  To the
knowledge  of  CILCORP,  as of  the  date  hereof,  there  is no  current  union
representation  question  involving  employees  of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP
Subsidiaries,  nor does CILCORP know of any activity or  proceeding of any labor
organization (or representative  thereof) or employee group to organize any such
employees.  There  are  no  written  personnel  policies,  rules  or  procedures
applicable  to  employees of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries,  other
than those set forth in Section 4.10(h) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule, true
and correct copies of which have heretofore been delivered to AES. Except as set
forth in Section  4.10(h) of the CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule,  (i) there is no
grievance arising out of any collective  bargaining agreement or other grievance
procedure,   unfair  labor   practice,   employment   discrimination   or  other
investigation,  charge  or  complaint  against  CILCORP  or any  of the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of CILCORP,  threatened,  which has or
could  reasonably be expected to have a CILCORP  Material  Adverse Effect,  (ii)
there is no strike, dispute,  slowdown, work stoppage or lockout pending, or, to
the knowledge of CILCORP, threatened, against or involving CILCORP or any of the
CILCORP  Subsidiaries  which has or could  reasonably  be  expected  to have,  a
CILCORP  Material  Adverse  Effect and during the past five years  there has not
been any such  action,  (iii) there is no  proceeding,  claim,  suit,  action or
governmental investigation pending or, to the knowledge of CILCORP,  threatened,
in respect of which any director,  officer,  employee or agent of CILCORP or any
of the CILCORP Subsidiaries is or may be entitled to claim  indemnification from
CILCORP pursuant to their respective  Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws or as
provided  in the  Indemnification  Agreements  listed in Section  4.10(h) of the
CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule.  Except as set forth in  Section  4.10(h)  of the
CILCORP Disclosure Schedule,  CILCORP and the CILCORP Subsidiaries have complied
in all material  respects  with all laws  relating to the  employment  of labor,
including without  limitation any provisions  thereof relating to wages,  hours,
collective bargaining and the payment of social security

                                       23

<PAGE>

and similar Taxes, and no person has, to the knowledge of CILCORP, asserted that
CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries is liable in any material amount for
any arrears of wages or any Taxes or penalties for failure to comply with any of
the  foregoing.  Since the  enactment of the Worker  Adjustment  and  Retraining
Notification  Act (the  "WARN  Act"),  neither  CILCORP  nor any of the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries has effectuated, without complying with the applicable requirements
of the WARN Act, (a) a "plant  closing"  (as defined in the WARN Act)  affecting
any site of employment or one or more  facilities or operating  units within any
site of employment or facility of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP Subsidiaries; or
(b) a  "mass  layoff"  (as  defined  in the  WARN  Act)  affecting  any  site of
employment  or facility of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries;  nor has
CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  been affected by any transaction or
engaged in layoffs or  employment  terminations  sufficient in number to trigger
application  of any similar  state,  local or foreign law or regulation  without
complying with the applicable requirements of such law or regulation.

          (i) Parachute  Payments.  Section 4.10(i)(a) of the CILCORP Disclosure
Schedule  sets forth (i) the name of each  employee,  former  employee  or other
person  who  is or was  providing  services  to  CILCORP  or any of the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries  and who, in  connection  with the Merger,  the other  transactions
contemplated  by this Agreement or the Second Merger,  will receive,  or will or
may  become  entitled  to  receive  in the  future or upon  termination  of such
person's employment,  any payments (including,  without limitation,  accelerated
vesting of CILCORP Options or other equity-based  awards) which could reasonably
be expected to  constitute  "excess  parachute  payments"  with  respect to such
person  within  the  meaning  of  Section  280G of the Code  ("Excess  Parachute
Payments")  and (ii) a description of the  arrangements  that could give rise to
such Excess Parachute  Payments.  Section  4.10(i)(b) of the CILCORP  Disclosure
Schedule sets forth the maximum sum of the aggregate  change in control payments
and entitlements (including, without limitation,  accelerated vesting of CILCORP
Options or other equity-based  awards) which any employee,  former employee,  or
other person who is or was  providing  services to CILCORP or any of the CILCORP
Subsidiaries  may be entitled to receive  now or in the future  (including  upon
termination  of such person's  employment)  in connection  with the Merger,  the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Second Merger. Section
4.10(i)(c) of the CILCORP Disclosure  Schedule sets forth the maximum sum of (i)
the Tax cost  associated  with the loss of  deductions  under  Section 280G with
respect  to such  Excess  Parachute  Payments  and (ii) the amount of any excise
taxes that may be imposed with respect to such Excess Parachute Payments and any
gross-ups on such amounts.

          (j)  Section  162(m).  Except as set forth in  Section  4.10(j) of the
CILCORP Disclosure Schedule, no payments to any executive officer of CILCORP or

                                       24
<PAGE>


any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  will fail to be deductible  for federal income
Tax purposes by reason of the deduction  limit  imposed under Section  162(m) of
the Code. Section 4.10(j) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule sets forth the name
of each executive officer who will receive  compensation  which may not be fully
deductible  by reason of the  application  of Section  162(m),  and a reasonable
estimate of the amount of such potentially nondeductible compensation.

     Section 4.11 Environmental Protection.

          (a) Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

               (i)   "Environmental   Claim"   means   any   and   all   written
administrative,  regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters,
directives,   claims,   liens,   investigations,   proceedings   or  notices  of
noncompliance  or violation by any person or entity  (including any Governmental
Authority)   alleging  potential  liability   (including,   without  limitation,
potential responsibility for or liability for enforcement,  investigatory costs,
cleanup  costs,  spent  fuel or waste  disposal  costs,  decommissioning  costs,
governmental response costs, removal costs, remediation costs, natural resources
damages,  property damages,  personal  injuries or civil or criminal  penalties)
arising  out of,  based  on or  resulting  from  (A) the  presence,  Release  or
threatened  Release  into the  environment  of any  Hazardous  Materials  at any
location  or (B)  circumstances  forming the basis of any  violation  or alleged
violation of any  Environmental Law or (C) any and all claims by any third party
seeking damages, contribution,  indemnification,  cost recovery, compensation or
injunctive  relief  resulting  from the  presence  or Release  of any  Hazardous
Materials.

               (ii) "Environmental Laws" means all applicable federal, state and
local laws, rules, regulations,  ordinances,  orders, directives and any binding
judicial or administrative  interpretation thereof, and common law and equitable
doctrines relating to pollution, the environment (including, without limitation,
indoor or ambient air,  surface water,  groundwater,  land surface or subsurface
strata) or protection of human health or safety as it relates to the environment
including, without limitation, those relating to Releases or threatened Releases
of Hazardous  Materials,  or otherwise relating to the manufacture,  generation,
processing,  distribution,  use,  treatment,  storage,  disposal,  transport  or
handling of Hazardous Materials.

               (iii) "Hazardous  Materials" means (A) any petroleum or petroleum
products,  radioactive  materials,  asbestos in any form that is or could become
friable,  urea  formaldehyde foam insulation and transformers or other equipment
that contain  dielectric fluid  containing  polychlorinated  biphenyls;  (B) any
chemicals,

                                       25
<PAGE>


materials or substances  which are now defined as or included in the  definition
of "hazardous substances," "hazardous wastes," "hazardous materials," "extremely
hazardous wastes,"  "restricted  hazardous wastes," "toxic  substances,"  "toxic
pollutants" or words of similar import under any Environmental  Law; and (C) any
other  chemical,  material,  substance  or  waste,  exposure  to  which  is  now
prohibited or regulated under any Environmental Law.

               (iv)  "Release"  means any  release,  spill,  emission,  leaking,
injection, deposit, disposal,  discharge,  dispersal, leaching or migration into
the atmosphere, soil, sediments, surface water, groundwater or property.

          (b)  Compliance.  Except as set  forth in  Section  4.11(b)(i)  of the
CILCORP Disclosure  Schedule,  CILCORP and each of the CILCORP Subsidiaries and,
to the knowledge of CILCORP, the CILCORP Joint Ventures,  are in compliance with
all  applicable  Environmental  Laws except where the failure to so comply would
not have a CILCORP Material  Adverse Effect,  and neither CILCORP nor any of the
CILCORP  Subsidiaries has received any written  communication from any person or
Governmental  Authority  that  alleges  that  CILCORP  or  any  of  the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of CILCORP,  the CILCORP Joint Ventures is not
in such compliance with applicable  Environmental  Laws.  Except as set forth in
Section  4.11(b)(ii)  of the CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule,  to the knowledge of
CILCORP,  compliance  with all  applicable  Environmental  Laws will not require
CILCORP or any CILCORP  Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of CILCORP,  any CILCORP
Joint Venture to incur material  expenditures  beyond that currently budgeted in
the five CILCORP  fiscal years  beginning  with January 1, 1998 (as disclosed to
AES prior to the date of this Agreement), including but not limited to the costs
of CILCORP and CILCORP  Subsidiary and CILCORP Joint Venture  pollution  control
equipment required or reasonably contemplated to be required in the future.

          (c) Environmental  Permits.  Except as set forth in Section 4.11(c) of
the CILCORP Disclosure  Schedule,  CILCORP and each of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries
and, to the knowledge of CILCORP,  the CILCORP Joint Ventures,  have obtained or
have  applied for all  permits,  licenses,  registrations,  consents,  and other
governmental authorizations required under any Environmental Law ("Environmental
Permits") necessary for the construction of its facilities or the conduct of its
operations  except  where  the  failure  to so  obtain  would not have a CILCORP
Material Adverse Effect, and all such Environmental Permits are in good standing
or, where applicable, a renewal application has been timely filed and is pending
agency approval,  and CILCORP and the CILCORP Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge
of CILCORP,  the CILCORP  Joint  Ventures are in  compliance  with all terms and
conditions of all Environmental Permits

                                       26

<PAGE>

necessary  for  the  construction  of  its  facilities  or  the  conduct  of its
operations,  except where the failure to so comply, in the aggregate,  would not
have a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect.





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                                       27
<PAGE>



          (d)  Environmental  Claims.  Except as set forth in Section 4.11(d) of
the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule, there is no Environmental Claim pending (or, to
the knowledge of CILCORP,  threatened) (A) against CILCORP or any of the CILCORP
Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of CILCORP, any of the CILCORP Joint Ventures,
(B) to the  knowledge of CILCORP,  against any person or entity whose  liability
for any Environmental Claim CILCORP,  any of the CILCORP Subsidiaries or CILCORP
Joint  Ventures has or may have retained or assumed either  contractually  or by
operation  of law, or (C) against  any real or personal  property or  operations
which  CILCORP  or any of the  CILCORP  Subsidiaries  or,  to the  knowledge  of
CILCORP,  any of the CILCORP Joint Ventures owns, leases or manages, in whole or
in part,  which,  if adversely  determined,  would have,  individually or in the
aggregate, a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect.

          (e)  Releases.  Except as set forth in Section  4.11(e) of the CILCORP
Disclosure  Schedule,  CILCORP has no knowledge of any Releases of any Hazardous
Material that would be reasonably  likely to form the basis of any Environmental
Claim against  CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  or the CILCORP Joint
Ventures,  or against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental
Claim CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  or the CILCORP Joint Ventures
has or may have retained or assumed either  contractually or by operation of law
except for any Environmental Claim which would not have,  individually or in the
aggregate, a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect.

          (f)  Predecessors.  Except  as set  forth in  Section  4.11(f)  of the
CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule,  CILCORP has no  knowledge,  with  respect to any
predecessor of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  or the CILCORP Joint
Ventures, of any Environmental Claim pending or threatened, or of any Release of
Hazardous  Materials  that would be  reasonably  likely to form the basis of any
Environmental  Claim,  which,  if  determined  adversely,  could  reasonably  be
expected to require  payments of $500,000 or more or which could  reasonably  be
expected to have a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect.

          (g)  Disclosure.  CILCORP has disclosed in writing to AES all material
facts which CILCORP  reasonably  believes could have a CILCORP  Material Adverse
Effect  arising  from  (i)  the  cost of  CILCORP  pollution  control  equipment
(including,  without  limitation,  upgrades and other  modifications to existing
equipment)  currently required or reasonably  contemplated to be required in the
future, (ii) current remediation costs or costs to CILCORP or any of the CILCORP
Subsidiaries  for  remediation  reasonably  contemplated  to be  required in the
future or (iii) any other  environmental  matter affecting CILCORP or any of the
CILCORP Subsidiaries.

                                       28


<PAGE>




          (h) Cost Estimates.  To CILCORP's  knowledge,  no environmental matter
set forth in the CILCORP SEC Reports or the CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule  could
reasonably be expected to exceed the cost estimates  provided in the CILCORP SEC
Reports by an amount that  individually or in the aggregate could  reasonably be
expected to have a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect.

          (i)  Orders;  Environmental  Indemnification.  Except  as set forth in
Section 4.11(i) of the CILCORP Disclosure  Schedule,  neither CILCORP nor any of
the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  nor, to the  knowledge of CILCORP,  any CILCORP Joint
Ventures,  are or have been  subject to any  administrative  or judicial  orders
relating  to  Environmental  Laws or  Hazardous  Materials,  including,  but not
limited to,  Hazardous  Materials  that have been Released at locations that are
not  currently  owned or operated by CILCORP,  the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  or any
CILCORP  Joint  Ventures,  except for such orders  where  CILCORP or any CILCORP
Subsidiary or any CILCORP Joint Ventures  completed all  obligations  under said
orders (and where there are no  outstanding  potential  obligations or penalties
that could  arise from said  orders)  more than five years  prior to the date of
this Agreement. Except as set forth in Section 4.11(i) of the CILCORP Disclosure
Schedule,  neither  CILCORP  nor any of the  CILCORP  Subsidiaries  nor,  to the
knowledge  of  CILCORP,  any  CILCORP  Joint  Ventures,  have  entered  into any
agreements with any  non-governmental  persons  requiring  CILCORP,  any CILCORP
Subsidiary  or, to the  knowledge  of  CILCORP,  any  CILCORP  Joint  Venture to
indemnify, reimburse or provide contribution to such other person for any matter
related to Environmental Laws, Hazardous Materials,  or the environment,  except
for such matters that have been fully  resolved and where  CILCORP,  any CILCORP
Subsidiary or any CILCORP Joint Venture has no further  monetary or non-monetary
obligation.

          (j) NOx Emissions.  Section 4.11(j) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule
is a true and correct  description  of (i) CILCORP  current  plan to comply with
current  or  reasonably  anticipated  requirements  relating  to the  control of
atmospheric  emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx),  including,  but not limited
to,  costs and  expenses  related to  compliance  with a rule issued by the EPA,
published in the Federal  Register on October 27, 1998,  that requires 22 States
and the District of Columbia to submit State  implementation  plan  revisions to
prohibit  specified  amounts of NOx ("NOx SIP Call"),  and compliance with state
statutes,  regulations  and policies  promulgated or issued to implement the NOx
SIP Call,  and (ii) CILCORP best judgment as to the estimated  capital costs and
operating costs associated with such plan.

     Section  4.12  Regulation  as a  Utility.  CILCO is  regulated  as a public
utility by the FERC and in the State of Illinois and in no other  state.  Except
as set forth in the preceding sentence or Section 4.12 of the CILCORP Disclosure
Schedule,  neither

                                       29
<PAGE>

CILCORP  nor any  "subsidiary  company"  or  "affiliate"  (as each  such term is
defined in PUHCA) of CILCORP  (other than CILCO) is subject to  regulation  as a
public utility or public service company (or similar designation) by the FERC or
any municipality, locality, state in the United States or any foreign country.

     Section 4.13 Vote Required.  The approval of the Merger by the  affirmative
vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of CILCORP Common
Stock (the "CILCORP Stockholders'  Approval") is the only vote of the holders of
any  class or series  of the  capital  stock of  CILCORP  or any of the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries  required  to  approve  this  Agreement,   the  Merger,  the  other
transactions contemplated hereby and the Second Merger.

     Section 4.14 Insurance.  Except as set forth in Section 4.14 of the CILCORP
Disclosure  Schedule,  CILCORP and each of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries is, and has
been continuously  since January 1, 1996,  insured with financially  responsible
insurers in such amounts and against such risks and losses as are  customary for
companies  conducting  the  business  as  conducted  by CILCORP  and the CILCORP
Subsidiaries  during such time  period.  Neither  CILCORP nor any of the CILCORP
Subsidiaries  is in default under or has received any notice of  cancellation or
termination  with respect to any material  insurance policy of CILCORP or any of
the  CILCORP  Subsidiaries.  The  insurance  policies of CILCORP and each of the
CILCORP  Subsidiaries  are valid and  enforceable  policies  and will  remain in
effect following the Merger and the Second Merger.

     Section  4.15  Opinion of  Financial  Advisor.  The Board of  Directors  of
CILCORP has received the opinion of Salomon Smith Barney ("Salomon"),  dated the
date of this  Agreement,  to the effect that,  as of the date  thereof,  the Per
Share Amount to be received by the holders of CILCORP Common Stock in the Merger
is fair from a financial point of view to the holders of CILCORP Common Stock.

     Section 4.16 Brokers.  No broker,  finder or investment  banker (other than
Salomon) is entitled to any  brokerage,  finder's or other fee or  commission in
connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of CILCORP or any CILCORP Subsidiary.  CILCORP
has  heretofore  furnished to AES a complete and correct copy of all  agreements
between  CILCORP and  Salomon,  pursuant to which such firm would be entitled to
any payment relating to the Merger.

     Section 4.17  Non-Applicability of Certain Provisions of Illinois Act. None
of the business combination  provisions of Section 5/7.85 and Section 5/11.75 of
the

                                       30

<PAGE>

Illinois  Act or any similar  provisions  of the  Illinois  Act, the Articles of
Incorporation   or  By-Laws  of  CILCORP  are  applicable  to  the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement  because such  provisions do not apply by their
terms or because any  required  approvals  of the Board of  Directors of CILCORP
have been obtained.

     Section 4.18 CILCORP Rights Agreement. Prior to the date of this Agreement,
CILCORP has  delivered  to AES and its counsel a true and  complete  copy of the
Rights  Agreement,  dated as of October  29,  1996,  between  Continental  Stock
Transfer and Trust  Company and CILCORP (the  "CILCORP  Rights  Agreement"),  in
effect as of the date hereof.  As promptly as  practicable  on or after the date
hereof,  but in no  event  later  than  the  date  of  delivery  of the  CILCORP
Certificate,  CILCORP will amend the CILCORP Rights Agreement, as necessary (the
"Rights  Amendment"),   (i)  to  prevent  the  Merger,  the  other  transactions
contemplated  hereby and the Second Merger from resulting in the distribution of
separate  rights  certificates  or the  occurrence  of a  Distribution  Date (as
defined in the CILCORP Rights  Agreement) or being deemed a Triggering Event (as
defined in the CILCORP  Rights  Agreement)  and (ii) to provide that neither AES
nor any AES Subsidiary  shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person (as defined in
the CILCORP Rights  Agreement) by reason of the Merger,  the other  transactions
contemplated  by this Agreement and the Second Merger.  CILCORP  represents that
the Rights  Amendment will be sufficient to render the Preferred  Stock Purchase
Rights (the "Rights")  inoperative  with respect to any acquisition of Shares by
AES, any AES Subsidiary or any of their  affiliates  pursuant to this Agreement.
CILCORP represents that as a result of the Rights Amendment, the Rights will not
be  exercisable  upon or at any time after the  Merger or the  Second  Merger by
reason of the transactions contemplated hereby.

     Section  4.19 Year 2000  Compliance.  The  computer  software  operated  by
CILCORP and its  Subsidiaries  which is used in the conduct of their business is
capable  of  providing  or being  adapted to  provide  uninterrupted  millennium
functionality to record, store, process and present calendar dates falling on or
after  January  1,  2000 in  substantially  the  same  manner  and with the same
functionality  as such  software  records,  stores,  processes and presents such
calendar  dates  falling on or before  December  31,  1999.  CILCORP  reasonably
believes as of the date hereof that the remaining cost of adaptions  referred to
in the foregoing sentence will not exceed $22.0 million, and all such costs have
been included in CILCORP's budget for capital  expenditures set forth in Section
6.1(k) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule.

     Section 4.20 Title to Real Property. Except as set forth in Section 4.20 of
the CILCORP Disclosure  Schedule or except as is not reasonably likely to result
in a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect,  CILCORP and each CILCORP Subsidiary:  (i)
owns and has good, valid and marketable title in fee simple to the real property
owned by such

                                       31
<PAGE>

party,  free and clear of Liens,  except for (A) minor  imperfections  of title,
easements and rights of way, none of which,  individually  or in the  aggregate,
materially  detracts  from  the  value  of or  impairs  the use of the  affected
property or impairs the operations of CILCORP or any CILCORP  Subsidiary and (B)
Liens for current  Taxes not yet due and payable  ((A) and (B) are  collectively
referred to as "Permitted  CILCORP Liens");  (ii) is in peaceful and undisturbed
possession  of the space  and/or  estate  under each lease  under  which it is a
tenant, and there are no material defaults by it as tenant thereunder; and (iii)
has good  and  valid  rights  of  ingress  and  egress  to and from all the real
property owned or leased by such party from and to the public street systems for
all usual street,  road and utility purposes.  The failure to hold any easements
or rights of way will not have a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect.

     Section  4.21  Assets  Other  than Real  Property  Interests.  CILCORP or a
CILCORP  Subsidiary has good and valid title to all material assets reflected on
the most recent  balance sheet included in the CILCORP SEC Reports (the "Balance
Sheet") or thereafter  acquired,  except those sold or otherwise disposed of for
fair  value  since  the date of the  Balance  Sheet in the  ordinary  course  of
business  consistent  with past practice and not in violation of this Agreement,
in each case free and  clear of all  mortgages,  liens,  security  interests  or
encumbrances   of  any  kind  except  (i)  mechanics',   carriers',   workmen's,
repairmen's  or other like liens  arising or incurred in the ordinary  course of
business,   liens  arising  under  original  purchase  price  conditional  sales
contracts and equipment  leases with third parties  entered into in the ordinary
course  of  business  and that may  thereafter  be paid  without  penalty,  (ii)
mortgages,  liens, security interests and encumbrances which secure debt that is
reflected  as a liability  on the Balance  Sheet and the  existence  of which is
indicated  in the  notes  thereto  and  (iii)  other  imperfections  of title or
encumbrances, if any, which do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially
impair the continued use and operation of the assets to which they relate in the
business of CILCORP and each of the CILCORP Subsidiaries as presently conducted.
All  the  material  tangible  personal  property  of  CILCORP  and  the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries has been maintained in all material respects in accordance with the
past practice of CILCORP and the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  and  generally  accepted
industry  practice.  Each item of material tangible personal property of CILCORP
and the CILCORP  Subsidiaries is in all material  respects in good working order
and is adequate and sufficient for CILCORP' intended purposes, ordinary wear and
tear excepted.  All leased personal  property of CILCORP and its subsidiaries is
in all material respects in the condition required of such property by the terms
of the  lease  applicable  thereto  during  the term of the  lease  and upon the
expiration thereof.

     Section  4.22  Intellectual  Property.  CILCORP  and  each  of the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries own, or possess licenses or other valid rights to use, all patents,
patent rights,  trademarks,  trademark rights,  trade names,  trade name rights,
copyrights,  service marks,

                                       32
<PAGE>


service mark rights, trade secrets,  applications to register, and registrations
for, the foregoing  trademarks,  service marks,  know-how and other  proprietary
rights and  information  (collectively,  "Intellectual  Property")  necessary in
connection  with  the  business  of  CILCORP  and the  CILCORP  Subsidiaries  as
currently conducted, except where the failure to possess such rights or licenses
or valid rights to use would not have a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect, and (i)
the conduct of the business of CILCORP and each of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  as
currently  conducted  does not infringe  upon any  Intellectual  Property of any
third  party  except  where  such  infringement  would  not  result in a CILCORP
Material  Adverse Effect and (ii) no person is infringing upon any  Intellectual
Property of CILCORP or any CILCORP  Subsidiary  except  where such  infringement
would  not  result in a CILCORP  Material  Adverse  Effect.  The  execution  and
delivery  of this  Agreement  and the  consummation  of the  Merger,  the  other
transactions  contemplated  hereby and the Second  Merger will not result in the
loss of, or any encumbrance on, the rights of CILCORP or any CILCORP  Subsidiary
with respect to the  Intellectual  Property owned or used by them,  except where
such loss or encumbrance would not have a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 4.23 Transactions  with Affiliates.  Except as set forth in Section
4.23 of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule or in the CILCORP SEC Reports,  there is
no  agreement,  contract or other  arrangement  between  CILCORP and any CILCORP
Subsidiary,  on the one hand, and any affiliate (other than CILCORP or a CILCORP
Subsidiary),  on the other hand, that will continue in effect  subsequent to the
Closing  Date.  After the Closing  Date no  affiliate  of CILCORP or any CILCORP
Subsidiary (other than CILCORP or any CILCORP Subsidiary) will have any material
interest in any property (real or personal,  tangible or intangible) or contract
used in or pertaining to the business of CILCORP or any CILCORP  Subsidiary.  No
affiliate  of CILCORP  or any  CILCORP  Subsidiary  (other  than  CILCORP or any
CILCORP  Subsidiary) has any direct or indirect ownership interest in any person
(other  than the  ownership  of 5% or less of the stock of any person  held as a
passive investment) in which CILCORP or any CILCORP Subsidiary has any direct or
indirect  ownership  interest or with which  CILCORP or any  CILCORP  Subsidiary
competes or has a business relationship.

     Section  4.24  Discontinued  Business.   Section  4.24(i)  of  the  CILCORP
Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of each CILCORP Subsidiary
which has ceased  operations or  discontinued  any business  (the  "Discontinued
Business")  since  January  1,  1997.  Except  for  liabilities,  contingent  or
otherwise,  disclosed in Section  4.24(ii) of the CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule,
neither  CILCORP nor any CILCORP  Subsidiary has any liabilities or obligations,
contingent or otherwise, with respect to a Discontinued Business and no creditor
of any  Discontinued  Business has any recourse  against  CILCORP or any CILCORP
Subsidiary.

                                       33
<PAGE>

     Section 4.25 Captive Insurance  Business.  National  Professional  Casualty
Company is licensed as a pure captive  insurance  company  within the meaning of
Section 6001 of the Vermont  Insurance  Laws,  and has all  insurance  licenses,
permits  and  authorizations  required  to operate  its  business  as  currently
conducted.  At no time has National  Professional  Casualty  Company insured any
risks other than those of QST Environmental Inc. and its Subsidiaries.  The loss
and loss adjustment expense reserves reflected on National Professional Casualty
Company's most recently filed statutory statement were established in accordance
with  generally  accepted  actuarial  standards  consistently  applied  and  are
adequate  to meet all  liabilities  on  insurance  policies  issued by  National
Professional Casualty Company.  CILCORP has previously delivered to AES the most
recent market conduct and financial examinations report of National Professional
Casualty Company issued by any insurance regulatory authority,  and all material
deficiencies   or   violations  in  such  reports  have  been  resolved  to  the
satisfaction  of the insurance  regulatory  authorities.  Except as set forth in
Section 4.25 of the CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule,  there are no pending  market
conduct  examinations  or inquiries by any insurance  regulatory  authority with
respect to National Professional Casualty Company.

     Section  4.26  Contractual   Obligations.   Section  4.26  of  the  CILCORP
Disclosure  Schedule  sets  forth a true and  complete  list of all  contractual
commitments  or  other  contractual  obligations  of  CILCORP  and  the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries  to make  investments  or  purchase  an equity  interest  in,  make
contributions to, or otherwise fund the operations,  expenses or capital of, any
person.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement by CILCORP do not, and the
consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and if
such were consummated,  the Second Merger,  will not result in any obligation on
the part of CILCORP or any CILCORP  Subsidiaries to pay money to,  guarantee the
performance  or  obligations  of, or cause AES to guarantee the  performance  or
obligations  of, any person,  including in connection with obtaining the CILCORP
Required  Consents and the CILCORP Second Merger  Required  Consents,  under any
note, bond, mortgage, indenture or deed of trust or any material contract, lease
or  other  agreement  of any  kind  to  which  CILCORP  or  any  of the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries or the CILCORP Joint Ventures is a party or by which any of them or
any of their respective properties or assets may be bound.

     Section  4.27  Disclosure.  CILCORP  has not failed to  disclose to AES any
facts known to CILCORP or which  CILCORP  could  reasonably  be expected to know
pertaining to CILCORP, any CILCORP Subsidiary, any CILCORP Joint Venture, or its
or their business or operations  that may  materially  and adversely  affect the
business, assets,

                                       34
<PAGE>

operations, or prospects of CILCORP, any CILCORP Subsidiary or any CILCORP Joint
Venture taken as a whole.


                                    ARTICLE V

              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF AES AND MERGER SUB

     AES and Merger Sub hereby represent and warrant to CILCORP as follows:

     Section 5.1 Organization and Qualification. Each of AES and Merger Sub is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its jurisdiction of  incorporation  or organization,  has all requisite power
and authority and has been duly authorized by all necessary approvals and orders
to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business
as it is now being  conducted  and is duly  qualified and in good standing to do
business  in each  jurisdiction  in which  the  nature  of its  business  or the
ownership  or  leasing of its assets  and  properties  makes such  qualification
necessary,  other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify and
be in good standing, when taken together with all other such failures, would not
have a material adverse effect on the business, operations,  properties, assets,
condition  (financial  or other),  prospects or the results of operations of AES
and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the consummation of the transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement  (any such  material  adverse  effect,  an "AES
Material Adverse Effect").

     Section 5.2 Authority; Non-Contravention; Statutory Approvals.

          (a)  Authority.  AES and  Merger  Sub have  all  requisite  power  and
authority to enter into this  Agreement  and,  subject to the receipt of the AES
Required  Statutory   Approvals  (as  defined  in  Section  5.2(c)  hereof),  to
consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the  consummation by AES and Merger Sub of the Merger and the
other  transactions  contemplated  hereby  have  been  duly  authorized  by  all
necessary corporate action on the part of AES and Merger Sub. This Agreement has
been duly and  validly  executed  and  delivered  by AES and  Merger  Sub,  and,
assuming the due authorization,  execution and delivery hereof by CILCORP,  this
Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each of AES and Merger
Sub,  enforceable  against each of them in accordance with its terms,  except as
enforceability  may  be  limited  by  bankruptcy,  insolvency,   reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'  rights
generally  and by general  equitable  principles  (regardless  of  whether  such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                                       35
<PAGE>

          (b) Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
AES and  Merger  Sub do not,  and the  consummation  of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby will not, result in a Violation pursuant to any
provisions  of (i) the  Certificate  or  Articles of  Incorporation,  By-Laws or
similar governing  documents of AES or Merger Sub, (ii) subject to obtaining the
AES  Required  Statutory  Approvals  (as  defined  below),  any  statute,   law,
ordinance, rule, regulation,  judgment, decree, order, injunction,  writ, permit
or license of any  Governmental  Authority (as defined in Section 4.4(b) hereof)
applicable to AES or Merger Sub or any of their respective  properties or assets
or (iii)  subject to  obtaining  the  third-party  consents  (the "AES  Required
Consents") set forth in Section 5.2(b) of the disclosure  schedule  delivered by
AES to  CILCORP  concurrent  with the  execution  of this  Agreement  (the  "AES
Disclosure  Schedule"),  any material note, bond, mortgage,  indenture,  deed of
trust,  license,  franchise,  permit,  concession,   contract,  lease  or  other
instrument,  obligation or agreement of any kind to which AES or Merger Sub is a
party  or by  which  it or any of its  properties  or  assets  may be  bound  or
affected,  excluding from the foregoing  clauses (ii) and (iii) such  Violations
which would not, in the aggregate, have an AES Material Adverse Effect.

          (c) Statutory Approvals.  Except as described in Section 5.2(c) of the
AES Disclosure Schedule, no declaration,  filing or registration with, or notice
to or  authorization,  consent or approval  of, any  Governmental  Authority  is
necessary for the execution and delivery of this Agreement by AES and Merger Sub
or  the  consummation  by  AES  and  Merger  Sub of the  Merger  and  the  other
transactions contemplated hereby (the "AES Required Statutory Approvals"), other
than such AES Required  Statutory  Approvals the failure of which to be obtained
or made would not  prevent the  consummation  by AES of the Merger and the other
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  it being understood that references in this
Agreement to "obtaining" such AES Required Statutory Approvals shall mean making
such declarations, filings or registrations; giving such notices; obtaining such
authorizations, consents or approvals; and having such waiting periods expire as
are necessary to avoid a violation of law.

     Section  5.3  Compliance.  Except  as set forth in  Section  5.3 of the AES
Disclosure  Schedule  or as  disclosed  in any  report,  schedule,  registration
statement and definitive  proxy statement and all amendments  thereto filed with
the  SEC  by  AES  or  Merger  Sub  (or  their  predecessors)  pursuant  to  the
requirements  of the  Securities  Act or Exchange Act since  January 1, 1996 and
prior to the date hereof (as such  documents have since the time of their filing
been amended,  the "AES SEC  Reports"),  true and complete  copies of which have
been  provided  to CILCORP  concurrent  with the  execution  of this  Agreement,
neither  AES nor Merger Sub is in  violation  of, is, to the  knowledge  of AES,

                                       36
<PAGE>


under  investigation  with respect to any violation of, or has been given notice
or  been  charged  with  any  violation  of,  any  law,  statute,  order,  rule,
regulation, ordinance or judgment (including, without limitation, any applicable
environmental  law,  ordinance or  regulation)  of any  Governmental  Authority,
except for violations which individually or in the aggregate do not, and insofar
as reasonably  can be foreseen will not,  have an AES Material  Adverse  Effect.
Except as set  forth in  Section  5.3 of the AES  Disclosure  Schedule,  AES and
Merger  Sub have all  permits,  licenses,  franchises  and other  govern  mental
authorizations,  consents,  approvals and exemptions  necessary to conduct their
businesses  as presently  conducted  which are material to the  operation of the
businesses of AES and Merger Sub, except for such permits, licenses,  franchises
and other governmental  authorizations,  consents,  approvals and exemptions the
failure  of which to have would not result in an AES  Material  Adverse  Effect.
Except as set forth in Section 5.3 of the AES Disclosure  Schedule,  each of AES
and Merger Sub is not in breach or violation of or in default in the performance
or observance of any term or provision of, and no event has occurred which, with
lapse of time or action by a third  party,  could  result in a default by AES or
Merger  Sub  under  (i)  its  Articles  of   Incorporation,   By-Laws  or  other
organizational  document or (ii) any material contract,  commitment,  agreement,
indenture,  mortgage,  loan agreement,  note, lease, bond, license,  approval or
other  instrument  to which it is a party or by which AES or Merger Sub is bound
or to which any of its  property is  subject,  except in the case of clause (ii)
above,  for  violations,  breaches  or  defaults  which  individually  or in the
aggregate do not, and insofar as  reasonably  can be foreseen  will not, have an
AES Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 5.4 Reports and Financial  Statements.  The filings  required to be
made by AES and Merger Sub under the  Securities  Act,  the  Exchange  Act,  the
Public Utility Regulatory  Policies Act of 1978 ("PURPA"),  PUHCA and applicable
state,  municipal,  local and  other  laws,  including  all  forms,  statements,
reports,  agreements (oral or written) and all documents,  exhibits,  amendments
and supplements  appertaining thereto, have been filed with the SEC or the FERC,
or other appropriate Governmental Authorities, as the case may be, and complied,
as of their  respective  dates,  in all material  respects  with all  applicable
requirements  of  the  appropriate   statutes  and  the  rules  and  regulations
thereunder.  As of their  respective  dates, the AES 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 AES  included  in the AES SEC  Reports  (collectively,  the  "AES
Financial Statements") have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as may
be indicated  therein or in the notes  thereto) and fairly present the financial
position of AES, as of the dates thereof and the results of their operations and
cash flows for the periods  then ended,  subject,  in the case of the  unaudited
interim

                                       37
<PAGE>

financial statements, to normal, recurring audit adjustments. True, accurate and
complete  copies of the  Articles  of  Incorporation  and  By-Laws of AES, as in
effect  on the  date  of  this  Agreement,  are  included  (or  incorporated  by
reference) in the AES SEC Reports.

     Section 5.5 Proxy Statement  Information.  None of the information supplied
in writing by AES,  Merger Sub or any AES  Subsidiary for inclusion in the Proxy
Statement  (as  defined  in  Section  7.2(a)  hereof),  at the  dates  mailed to
stockholders  of CILCORP and at the time of the meeting of such  stockholders to
be held in connection  with the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated
hereby,  will contain any untrue  statement of a material  fact or omit to state
any material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made,
not misleading.

     Section 5.6  Financing.  As of the date of this Agreement and assuming that
CILCORP  delivers the CILCORP  Certificate,  AES believes in its reasonable good
faith  judgment that it will be able to obtain the funds,  through  financing or
otherwise,  in an amount  sufficient to pay the Aggregate  Consideration  Amount
upon consummation of the Merger.

     Section 5.7 Regulatory Status.

          (a) Except as set forth in Section 5.7 of the AES Disclosure Schedule,
as of the date of this Agreement,  neither AES nor any  "subsidiary  company" or
"affiliate" (as such terms are defined in PUHCA) of AES is subject to regulation
as a public utility or public service  company (or similar  designation)  by the
FERC or any municipality, locality or state in the United States.

          (b) As soon as reasonably  practicable after the date hereof, AES will
not be a "holding  company"  (as such term is defined in PUHCA) nor will it be a
"subsidiary  company" of a "holding  company" or an  "affiliate"  of any "public
utility  company"  (as such terms are defined in PUHCA),  and  therefore,  prior
approval of the SEC  pursuant  to Section  9(a)(2) of PUHCA will not be required
for consummation of the Merger and the other transactions consummated hereby.

     Section 5.8  Regulatory  Approval.  As of the date of this  Agreement,  AES
believes in its  reasonable  good faith  judgment that it will be able to obtain
the SEC Exemption Order.

                                       38
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VI

            CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER; COVENANTS OF THE
                                     PARTIES

     Section  6.1 Conduct of  Business  by CILCORP  Pending the Merger.  CILCORP
covenants and agrees,  as to itself and each of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries,  that
after the date of this  Agreement  and prior to the  Effective  Time or  earlier
termination of this Agreement,  except as expressly contemplated or permitted in
this Agreement,  or to the extent AES shall have otherwise consented in writing,
which decision regarding consent shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable
and which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld:

          (a) Ordinary  Course of Business.  CILCORP shall,  and shall cause the
CILCORP  Subsidiaries  to, carry on their  respective  businesses  in the usual,
regular and  ordinary  course in  substantially  the same  manner as  heretofore
conducted and use all commercially  reasonable  efforts to preserve intact their
present  business   organizations  and  goodwill,   preserve  the  goodwill  and
relationships with customers, suppliers and others having business dealings with
them,  including  regulators,  and,  subject to prudent  management of workforce
needs and ongoing or planned programs relating to downsizing, re-engineering and
similar  matters,  keep  available  the services of their  present  officers and
employees  to the end that their  goodwill and ongoing  businesses  shall not be
impaired in any material respect at the Effective Time.

          (b) Dividends.  CILCORP shall not, nor shall CILCORP permit any of the
CILCORP  Subsidiaries  to,  (i)  declare or pay any  dividends  on or make other
distributions in respect of any of their capital stock other than (A) to CILCORP
or its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, (B) dividends required to be paid on any CILCO
Preferred  Stock,  CILCO Class A Preferred  Stock or CILCO  Preference  Stock in
accordance with the terms thereof,  (C) regular quarterly  dividends of $.615 on
CILCORP  Common  Stock with respect to the fiscal  quarters  ending prior to the
Effective Date, with usual record and payment dates not in excess of the average
quarterly  dividend  for  the  four  quarterly  dividend  payments   immediately
preceding the date hereof with respect  thereto,  and (D) a special  dividend on
CILCORP  Common  Stock with respect to the quarter in which the  Effective  Time
occurs  with a record  date on or prior to the  Effective  Time,  which does not
exceed an amount equal to $.615 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the  number of days in such  quarter  prior to the  Effective  Time,  and the
denominator  of which is the total number of days in such fiscal  quarter;  (ii)
split, combine or reclassify any of their 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 their capital stock; or

                                       39
<PAGE>

(iii) redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any shares of their capital stock,
other than  redemptions,  purchases or  acquisitions  required by the respective
terms of any series of CILCO Preferred  Stock,  CILCO Class A Preferred Stock or
CILCO Preference Stock.

          (c) Issuance of  Securities.  Except as described in Section 6.1(c) of
the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule, CILCORP shall not, nor shall CILCORP permit any
of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries to, issue,  agree to issue,  deliver,  sell, award,
pledge,  dispose of or otherwise  encumber or authorize or propose the issuance,
delivery,  sale, award, pledge, grant of a security interest,  disposal or other
encumbrance of, any shares of their capital stock of any class or any securities
convertible  into or  exchangeable  for, or any  rights,  warrants or options to
acquire, any such shares or convertible or exchangeable  securities,  other than
(i) issuances by a wholly owned Subsidiary of its capital stock to its direct or
indirect  parent and (ii)  issuances of shares of CILCORP Common Stock after the
date of this  Agreement  pursuant  to CILCORP  Options  existing  as of the date
hereof, as identified in Section 4.10(a) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule.

          (d) Charter Documents. CILCORP shall not, nor shall CILCORP permit any
CILCORP  Subsidiary to, amend or propose to amend the Articles of  Incorporation
or By-Laws of CILCORP or such comparable organizational documents of any CILCORP
Subsidiary.

          (e) No  Acquisitions.  Except as provided in Section  6.1(aa)  hereof,
CILCORP  shall not,  nor shall  CILCORP  permit any CILCORP  Subsidiary  to: (i)
acquire,  or  publicly  propose to acquire,  or agree to  acquire,  by merger or
consolidation  with,  or by purchase or  otherwise,  an equity  interest in or a
substantial portion of the assets of, any business or corporation,  partnership,
association or other business  organization or division thereof,  (ii) otherwise
acquire or agree to acquire a  material  amount of assets,  other than fuel used
for the  production of electricity  and limestone used for its SO2 scrubber,  or
natural gas for send-out or storage or (iii) alter (through merger, liquidation,
reorganization,  restructuring or in any other fashion) the corporate structures
or owner  ship of  CILCORP or any of the  CILCORP  Subsidiaries,  other than the
transfer  of  ownership  of QST  Environmental  Inc.  from an  indirect  CILCORP
Subsidiary to CILCORP.

          (f) No Dispositions.  Except as disclosed in Section  6.1(f)(i) of the
CILCORP  Disclosure   Schedule  or  with  respect  to  CILCORP  or  the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries  making  dispositions in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice at fair market value of less than $2 million per  transaction
(not to exceed $10 million in the  aggregate)  in sales  price and  indebtedness
assumed by the acquiring party and its affiliates, or making dispositions not in
the ordinary course of business at fair

                                       40

<PAGE>


market value of less than $50,000 per  transaction  (not to exceed $1 million in
the  aggregate) in sales price,  CILCORP shall not, nor shall CILCORP permit any
of the  CILCORP  Subsidiaries  to,  sell or dispose  of any of their  respective
assets, provided,  however, that no consent shall be required of AES for CILCORP
or any Pacer  Subsidiary  to sell or  dispose  of (i) the stock or assets of QST
Environmental  Inc. and/or its Subsidiaries (or enter into any agreement for the
sale or disposition of QST  Environmental  Inc. and/or its  Subsidiaries)  for a
cash purchase price of at least $25 million,  net of fees and expenses,  if such
sale or  agreement  includes as a term  thereof,  the release of CILCORP and the
CILCORP   Subsidiaries  of  all  liabilities  and  obligations,   contingent  or
otherwise,  arising out of the  operations  of QST  Environmental  Inc.  and its
Subsidiaries prior to the date the sale is to be consummated, and whether or not
known prior to the date of sale, and does not impose any liability on AES or any
of the AES  Subsidiaries  with  respect to such  operations,  or (ii) the assets
listed in Section 6.1(f)(ii) of the CILCORP Disclosure  Schedule if the purchase
price for any such  asset is less than  $2,000,000  individually  (not to exceed
$5,000,000  in the  aggregate)  and if the price to be  received  for such asset
after  taking  into  account  fees and  expenses  and  on-going  indemnification
obligations and other  post-closing  liabilities is more than book value of such
asset.

          (g) Cooperation,  Notification.  CILCORP shall (i) confer on a regular
and frequent basis with one or more  representatives of AES to discuss,  subject
to  applicable  law,  material  operational  matters and the  general  status of
CILCORP's  ongoing  operations,  (ii)  promptly  notify  AES of any  significant
changes in its business,  properties,  assets,  condition  (financial or other),
results of operations or prospects,  (iii)  promptly  notify AES of any sales of
assets by CILCORP or any  CILCORP  Subsidiary  in excess of $1 million and shall
discuss  with AES use of  proceeds  from  such  sales to the  extent  that  such
proceeds exceed $1 million,  (iv) promptly advise AES of (A) any  representation
or warranty  made by it  contained  in this  Agreement  that is  qualified as to
materiality  becoming untrue or inaccurate as so qualified in any respect or any
such  representation  or warranty  that is not so qualified  becoming  untrue or
inaccurate  in any  material  respect,  (B) the  failure  by it to comply in any
material respect with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition
or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement and (C)
any change or event which,  individually  or in the aggregate,  has had or would
have a  CILCORP  Material  Adverse  Effect  (provided,  however,  that  no  such
notification  shall  affect  the  representations,   warranties,   covenants  or
agreements of the parties (or remedies with respect  thereto) or the  conditions
to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement) and (v) promptly provide
AES with copies of all filings  made by CILCORP or any CILCORP  Subsidiary  with
any  state  or  federal  court,   administrative  agency,  commission  or  other
Governmental  Authority in connection  with this Agreement and the  transactions
contemplated hereby. AES shall designate one or more of its

                                       41
<PAGE>


Representatives  (as defined in Section 7.1  hereof),  by name,  for purposes of
this subsection (g), who will make themselves reasonably available by telephone,
electronic mail and in person.

          (h) Third-Party  Consents.  CILCORP shall, and shall cause the CILCORP
Subsidiaries  to, use all reasonable best efforts to obtain all CILCORP Required
Consents.  CILCORP  shall  promptly  notify AES of any  failure  or  prospective
failure to obtain any such  consents  and shall  provide  copies of all  CILCORP
Required Consents obtained by CILCORP to AES.

          (i) No Breach,  Etc.  CILCORP  shall not, and CILCORP shall not permit
any CILCORP Subsidiary to, take any action that would or is reasonably likely to
result in a material  breach of any provision of this Agreement or in any of its
representations  and warranties set forth in this Agreement  being untrue on and
as of the Closing Date.

          (j) Tax  Matters.  CILCORP  shall not, nor shall it permit any CILCORP
Subsidiary  to,  (i) make or rescind  any  material  express or deemed  election
relating to Taxes, (ii) except as set forth in Section 6.1(j)(ii) of the CILCORP
Disclosure  Schedule,  settle or compromise any material  claim,  action,  suit,
litigation,  proceeding,   arbitration,   investigation,  audit  or  controversy
relating  to Taxes,  (iii)  except as set forth in  Section  6.1(j)(iii)  of the
CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule or as required by  applicable  law,  change in any
material  respect  any of its  methods of  reporting  income or  deductions  for
federal  income Tax  purposes  from those  employed  in the  preparation  of its
federal income Tax return for the taxable year ending  December 31, 1997 or (iv)
except as set forth in Section  6.1(j)(iv) of the CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule,
make any change in its method of accounting for Taxes as reflected on or used in
preparing its Form 10-Q,  dated as of November 10, 1998 (including any change in
the amount of its reserve for contingent Tax liabilities).

          (k) Capital Expenditures.  CILCORP shall, and CILCORP shall permit the
CILCORP  Subsidiaries to, make capital  expenditures during any six-month fiscal
period  only up to and not in excess  of 110% of the  amount  budgeted  for such
six-month fiscal period by CILCORP for capital expenditures and then only as set
forth in Section 6.1(k) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule, except for unplanned
capital  expenditures due to emergency  conditions,  unanticipated  catastrophic
events, extreme weather, and unscheduled unit outages.

          (l) Indebtedness.  CILCORP shall not, and CILCORP shall not permit any
CILCORP Subsidiary to, incur or guarantee any indebtedness (including any

                                       42
<PAGE>


debt borrowed or guaranteed or otherwise assumed including,  without limitation,
the issuance of debt  securities or warrants or rights to acquire debt) or enter
into any "keep well" or other  agreement  to maintain  any  financial  statement
condition of another person or entity or enter into any  arrangement  having the
economic effect of any of the foregoing  other than  short-term  indebtedness in
the  ordinary  course of business  consistent  with past  practice  (such as the
issuance of commercial  paper, the use of credit  facilities  existing as of the
date hereof or hedging  activities  undertaken in order to hedge a balance sheet
asset or liability and not for  speculative  purposes);  provided  however in no
event  shall  CILCORP  and  the  CILCORP  Subsidiaries,   taken  together,  have
outstanding  at any  time,  $428  million  in  the  aggregate  of  indebtedness,
guarantees and keep-well obligations.

          (m) Compensation,  Benefits.  Except as set forth in Section 6.1(m) of
the CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule,  as may be required by  applicable  law or as
contemplated by this Agreement,  CILCORP shall not, nor shall CILCORP permit any
of the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  to, (i) enter into, adopt or amend or increase the
amount or  accelerate  the payment or vesting of any  benefit or amount  payable
under,  any employee  benefit  plan or other  contract,  agreement,  commitment,
arrangement,  plan,  trust,  fund or policy  maintained  by,  contributed  to or
entered into by CILCORP or any of the CILCORP Subsidiaries  (including,  without
limitation,  the  CILCORP  Benefit  Plans set forth in  Section  4.10(a)  of the
CILCORP Disclosure Schedule) or increase, or enter into any contract, agreement,
commitment or arrangement to increase in any manner,  the compensation or fringe
benefits, or otherwise to extend, expand or enhance the engagement,  employment,
compensation or any related rights,  of any director,  officer or other employee
of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP Subsidiaries,  except pursuant to binding legal
commitments  existing on the date of this Agreement and specifically  identified
in Section 4.10(a) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule.

          (n) PUHCA.  CILCORP  shall not,  nor shall  CILCORP  permit any of the
CILCORP  Subsidiaries  to, except as required or contemplated by this Agreement,
engage in any  activities  which would cause a change in its status,  or that of
the  CILCORP  Subsidiaries,  under  PUHCA,  or that would  impair the ability of
CILCORP or AES or any AES Subsidiary to claim any exemption  under PUHCA or that
would subject AES or any AES  Subsidiary  to regulation  under PUHCA (other than
under Section 9(a)(2) or as an exempt holding company under PUHCA) following the
Merger.

          (o)  Accounting.  CILCORP  shall not, and CILCORP shall not permit any
CILCORP Subsidiary to, make any changes in their accounting  methods,  except as
required by law, rule, regulation or GAAP.

                                       43

<PAGE>


          (p)  Affiliate  Transactions.  Subject to the other  restrictions  set
forth in this Section 6.1,  CILCORP  shall not, and CILCORP shall not permit any
CILCORP Subsidiary to, enter into any agreement or arrangement with any of their
respective affiliates other than such agreements and arrangements as are entered
into in the usual,  ordinary and regular  course of business and which have been
negotiated  on an  arms-length  basis and are no less  favorable to CILCORP or a
CILCORP  Subsidiary than CILCORP or such CILCORP  Subsidiary would have obtained
from an unaffiliated  third party, and provided that CILCORP shall have notified
AES in writing prior to entering into any such affiliate transaction.

          (q)  Rate  Matters.   CILCORP  shall,  and  shall  cause  the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries to, discuss with AES any changes and proposed changes in its or the
CILCORP  Subsidiaries'  rates or charges  (including  those with respect to fuel
adjustment  charges and  purchased  gas  adjustments),  standards  of service or
accounting from those in effect on the date hereof and consult with AES prior to
making  any filing (or any  amendment  thereto),  or  effecting  any  agreement,
commitment, arrangement or consent, whether written or oral, formal or informal,
with respect  thereto,  and except as provided in Section  6.1(q) of the CILCORP
Disclosure Schedule, CILCORP shall not, and shall cause the CILCORP Subsidiaries
not to,  make any  filing  to  change  its  rates  on file  with the FERC or any
applicable  state  utility  commission,  except as may be required by applicable
law, that would have a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect.

          (r)  Contracts.  CILCORP  shall not, and CILCORP  shall not permit any
CILCORP Subsidiary to, (i) except in the ordinary course of business  consistent
with past practice, enter into new contracts, modify, amend, terminate, renew or
fail to use  reasonable  business  efforts to renew any contract or agreement to
which CILCORP or any CILCORP Subsidiary is a party, which is material to CILCORP
and the CILCORP  Subsidiaries taken as a whole and provided that the term of any
new contract or any contract modification,  amendment or renewal does not exceed
twelve  months,  or waive,  release  or  assign  any  material  rights or claims
therein,  or (ii) enter into, modify,  amend, or renew any contract or agreement
outside the ordinary  course of business or on a basis not consistent  with past
practice  if the dollar  value of such new  contract or  agreement,  or existing
contract or agreement  as so amended,  modified,  or renewed,  is or would be in
excess of $2,000,000  (not to exceed  $20,000,000  in the  aggregate) or have an
initial term (or a renewal or extension term) greater than twelve months.

          (s) Insurance.  Section 6.1(s) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule is a
true and correct  list of the specific  types of losses as to which  CILCORP and
the CILCORP Subsidiaries self-insure and the dollar amounts of each such type of
coverage.  CILCORP shall,  and shall cause each CILCORP  Subsidiary to, maintain
with

                                       44
<PAGE>


financially  responsible  insurance  companies  insurance  in such  amounts  and
against  such risks and losses as are  customary  for  companies  engaged in the
electric and gas utility  industry  and  employing  such  methods of  generating
electric power and fuel sources  similar to the methods  employed and fuels used
by CILCORP or the  CILCORP  Subsidiaries,  except that  CILCORP may  continue to
self-insure  for the type of losses and in the dollar  amounts  as  provided  in
Section 6.1(s) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule.

          (t) Permits.  CILCORP shall,  and shall cause each CILCORP  Subsidiary
to, use reasonable best efforts to maintain in effect all existing  governmental
permits  which are material to the  operations  of CILCORP or any of the CILCORP
Subsidiaries.

          (u) Discharge of Liabilities. CILCORP shall not, and CILCORP shall not
permit any CILCORP Subsidiary to, pay, discharge,  settle, compromise or satisfy
any  claims,   liabilities  or  obligations  (absolute,   accrued,  asserted  or
unasserted,  contingent  or  otherwise)  material  to  CILCORP  and the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, other than the payment, discharge,  settlement,
compromise or satisfaction,  in the ordinary course of business  consistent with
past practice (which includes the payment of final and  unappealable  judgments)
or in accordance with their terms, of liabilities  reflected or reserved against
in, or contemplated by, the most recent  consolidated  financial  statements (or
the notes thereto of the CILCORP SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof), or
incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

          (v)  Staffing.  Except as set forth in Sections  6.1(v) and 6.1(aa) of
the CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule,  CILCORP  shall not, and shall not permit any
CILCORP Subsidiary to, make any increase in staffing levels over those in effect
on the date hereof.

          (w) Tax-Exempt Status. CILCORP shall not, nor shall CILCORP permit any
CILCORP  Subsidiary  to,  take any  action  that  would  likely  jeopardize  the
qualification  of CILCORP's  outstanding  revenue  bonds which qualify as of the
date hereof under Section  142(a) of the Code as "exempt  facility  bonds" or as
tax-exempt industrial  development bonds under Section 103(b)(4) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, prior to the Tax Reform Act of 1986.

          (x)  CILCORP  Certificate.   As  promptly  as  practicable  after  all
conditions  to Closing set forth in Section 8.1 hereof have been  satisfied  and
the conditions set forth in Section 8.3(a), (b), (c) and (d) have been satisfied
or waived,  CILCORP shall deliver to AES the CILCORP  Certificate (as defined in
Section 6.2(d) hereof).

                                       45

<PAGE>

          (y) QST Environmental Inc.. CILCORP shall, and shall cause the CILCORP
Subsidiaries to, use commercially  reasonable  efforts to pursue the sale of QST
Environmental  Inc. prior to the Closing on the most favorable  commercial terms
available.

          (z) WARN Act. CILCORP shall (i) notify AES of all employees of CILCORP
and the CILCORP  Subsidiaries who suffer an "employment loss" (as defined in the
WARN Act) during the 90 day period prior to the Closing  Date and (ii)  provide,
or cause the CILCORP  Subsidiaries to provide,  all written notices  required by
the WARN Act to all employees which AES designates.

          (aa) New Lines of  Business.  CILCORP  shall  not,  nor shall  CILCORP
permit any CILCORP  Subsidiary to, enter into a new line of business or make any
change  in the  line of  business  in which  it  engages  as of the date of this
Agreement,  except that CILCORP may establish a new  wholly-owned  subsidiary to
take over the  operation  and  maintenance  of a steam  plant,  as  disclosed on
Section 6.1(aa) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule,  but shall not in connection
therewith  hire any  personnel,  except as disclosed  in Section  6.1(aa) of the
CILCORP Disclosure Schedule.

          (bb)  Rights  Agreement.  Except for the  amendments  contemplated  by
Section  4.18  hereof  or  amendments  approved  in  writing  by AES or any  AES
Subsidiary,  CILCORP  will not,  following  the date  hereof,  amend the CILCORP
Rights Agreement in any manner.  In addition,  CILCORP covenants and agrees that
it will not redeem the Rights unless such  redemption is consented to in writing
by AES prior to such redemption.

          (cc) Illinois Commerce Commission Certification. CILCORP shall use its
commercially  reasonable efforts to obtain from the Illinois Commerce Commission
the certification  addressed to the SEC pursuant to Section 33(a)(2) of PUHCA in
the form of Exhibit A hereto or in a form otherwise  reasonably  satisfactory to
AES (the "Illinois Certification").

          (dd)  Hedging.  CILCORP  shall not,  and shall not permit any  CILCORP
Subsidiary  to, buy or sell any energy  futures or forward  contracts  or energy
transportation futures or forward contracts, or options on any of the foregoing,
other than for purposes of hedging  contracts to buy or sell physical  energy or
energy  transportation.  In addition,  in  transacting  business  outside of the
native load service territory of CILCO,  CILCORP shall not, and shall not permit
any CILCORP Subsidiary to, enter into any

                                       46
<PAGE>


energy-related  sales or  purchase  contracts  that  would  create  an  unhedged
position of more than  $100,000  for any single  contract,  or  $1,000,000  on a
cumulative basis.

     Section 6.2 Covenants of AES. AES  covenants  and agrees,  as to itself and
each of the AES Subsidiaries, that after the date of this Agreement and prior to
the Effective Time or earlier termination of this Agreement, except as expressly
contemplated or permitted in this Agreement, or to the extent CILCORP shall have
otherwise  consented in writing,  which decision regarding consent shall be made
as soon as reason ably  practicable  and which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld:

          (a) Cooperation,  Notification.  AES shall (i) promptly advise CILCORP
of (A) any  representation  or warranty  made by it contained in this  Agreement
that is qualified as to materiality becoming untrue or inaccurate in any respect
or any such  representation or warranty that is not so qualified becoming untrue
or inaccurate in any material respect and (B) the failure by it to comply in any
material respect with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition
or  agreement  to be  complied  with or  satisfied  by it under  this  Agreement
(provided,  however, that no such notification shall affect the representations,
warranties,  covenants or  agreements  of the parties (or remedies  with respect
thereto)  or  the  conditions  to the  obligations  of the  parties  under  this
Agreement) and (ii) promptly  provide CILCORP with copies of all filings made by
AES or any AES  Subsidiary  with any  state  or  federal  court,  administrative
agency,  commission  or other  Governmental  Authority in  connection  with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

          (b) No Breach,  Etc.  AES shall not,  and AES shall not permit any AES
Subsidiary to, take any action that would or is reasonably likely to result in a
material   breach  of  any  provision  of  this  Agreement  or  in  any  of  its
representations  and warranties set forth in this Agreement  being untrue on and
as of the Closing Date.

          (c) PUHCA  Application.  Subject to AES'  determination not to seek an
exemption under PUHCA Section 3(a)(5), as promptly as practicable  following the
date  hereof,   AES  shall  file  with  the  SEC  an  application   (the  "PUHCA
Application")  pursuant to PUHCA for an exemption from the  requirement  that it
register as a holding  company under PUHCA Section  3(a)(5).  AES shall promptly
notify  CILCORP upon issuance of the SEC Exemption  Order (as defined in Section
8.3(e) hereof).

          (d)  Financing.  AES  shall  diligently  pursue  and use  commercially
reasonable  efforts to arrange  financing or obtain funds  sufficient to pay the
Aggregate  Consideration  Amount in the Merger (the "Financing").  The Financing
may consist of (i) non-recourse  borrowings and (ii) general  corporate  funding
from the capital reserves,

                                       47

<PAGE>


working  capital and other sources of AES, in each case, in such  proportions to
the  Aggregate   Consideration  Amount  as  AES  shall  determine  in  its  sole
discretion.  AES  covenants  and agrees  that if the  proceeds  from the sources
specified  in  clauses  (i) and (ii) of this  Section  6.2(d)  are less than the
Aggregate Consideration Amount, AES shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
sell a number of shares of AES Common  Stock (the "AES  Common  Stock  Sale") so
that the aggregate proceeds from clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 6.2(d) and
the  AES  Common  Stock  Sale  shall  be  an  amount  equal  to  the   Aggregate
Consideration  Amount.   Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,   AES  shall  have  no
obligation  to undertake any action to arrange  financing,  obtain funds or sell
AES Common Stock in the AES Common Stock Sale until CILCORP shall have delivered
to AES a  certificate  signed by an  executive  officer of CILCORP to the effect
that, to the best of such officer's  knowledge as of the date of the delivery of
such  certificate,  the  conditions  set forth in Section  8.1 hereof  have been
satisfied by CILCORP and the conditions set forth in Sections  8.3(a) (as of the
date of such  certificate),  8.3(b) (as of the date hereof and as of the date of
such  certificate),  8.3(c),  8.3(d) and 8.3(k)  hereof have been  satisfied  by
CILCORP or waived by AES, which  certificate must be delivered by CILCORP within
five business days of all such conditions being satisfied or waived, as the case
may be (the "CILCORP  Certificate")  and AES shall have  satisfied or waived the
condition set forth in Section 8.3(e) hereof,  and provided further,  that in no
event  shall AES be  required  to arrange  financing,  obtain  funds or sell AES
Common Stock in the AES Common Stock Sale if there shall have  occurred  (or, in
the case of clauses (i) through  (iv) below,  been  threatened)  (i) any general
suspension  of  trading  in, or  limitation  on prices  for,  securities  on any
national  securities  exchange or in the  over-the-counter  market in the United
States, (ii) a declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments
in respect of banks in the United States,  (iii) any limitation  (whether or not
mandatory)  by  any  government,   domestic,   foreign  or   supranational,   or
governmental  entity  on the  extension  of  credit  by banks  or other  lending
institutions  in the  United  States,  (iv)  a  commencement  of a war or  armed
hostilities or other  national or  international  calamity  involving the United
States, (v) any significant  disruption or material adverse change in the market
for new  issues  of  senior  debt  securities,  credit  facilities  or common or
preferred equity  securities (or  equity-linked  securities) by a company having
financial  characteristics  similar  to  those  of  AES,  (vi)  any  significant
disruption or material  adverse  change in the  financial or capital  markets in
general   which  make  it   impracticable   for  a  company   having   financial
characteristics similar to those of AES to finance a transaction of the size and
nature as that contemplated hereunder on commercially reasonable financing terms
or  (vii)  in the  case  of any of the  foregoing  existing  at the  time of the
proposed AES Common Stock Sale, a material  acceleration  or worsening  thereof;
and provided, further, that in no event shall AES be required to sell AES Common
Stock in the AES Common Stock Sale if during any five trading days following the
date of delivery of the CILCORP Certificate, there shall have occurred a

                                       48
<PAGE>


decline of twenty  percent or more in the  average  closing  price of AES Common
Stock from the average  closing  price over the five trading days  preceding the
date  hereof.  The sole remedy for failure to obtain the  Financing  shall be as
provided in Section  9.1(b)(iv)  hereof,  except in the case of intentional  and
willful  breach by AES of its  obligations  (as  qualified  herein)  under  this
Section 6.2(d).


                                   ARTICLE VII

                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

     Section 7.1 Access to Information.  Upon reasonable notice,  CILCORP shall,
and shall cause the CILCORP Subsidiaries to, afford to the officers,  directors,
employees,  accountants,  counsel,  investment  bankers,  financial advisors and
other  representatives  (collectively,   "Representatives")  of  AES  reasonable
access,  during  normal  business  hours  throughout  the  period  prior  to the
Effective  Time,  to all  of  their  respective  properties,  books,  contracts,
commitments,  records, budgets,  forecasts and other information (including, but
not limited to, Tax Returns) and, during such period,  CILCORP shall,  and shall
cause the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  to, furnish  promptly to AES (i) access to each
report,  schedule  and  other  document  filed or  received  by it or any of the
CILCORP Subsidiaries pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities
laws or filed with or sent to the SEC, the FERC, the public  utility  commission
of any state,  the  Department  of Labor,  the  Immigration  and  Naturalization
Service,  the Environmental  Protection Agency (state,  local and federal),  the
IRS, the  Department  of Justice,  the Federal  Trade  Commission,  or any other
federal  or  state  regulatory  agency  or  commission  or  other   Governmental
Authority,  (ii)  access to all  information  concerning  CILCORP,  the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries,  directors, officers and stockholders,  properties,  facilities or
operations  owned,  operated or otherwise  controlled  by CILCORP,  or if not so
owned, operated or controlled,  which properties,  facilities or operations that
CILCORP may  nonetheless  obtain  access to through the  exercise of  reasonable
diligence,  and such other  matters  as may be  reasonably  requested  by AES in
connection with any filings,  applications or approvals required or contemplated
by  this  Agreement  or  for  any  other  reason  related  to  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;  (iii) such additional  information  relating to
Taxes as AES shall from time to time reasonably  request (or, where  applicable,
to cooperate with AES in collecting  such  information),  including  information
relating to (a) Tax basis of the stock of the CILCORP Subsidiaries, (b) earnings
and profits,  (c) material Tax elections,  (d) net operating loss carryovers and
Tax credit carryovers, (e) intercompany transactions, (f) reconciliation of book
and Tax items,  (g) the rollout of any deferred Tax items and (h) ongoing audits
(including  copies of any Internal  Revenue  Service Forms 4564 or other similar
information document requests)

                                       49

<PAGE>


and (iv) office space and equipment at CILCORP's  headquarters  for the purposes
of designing a transition  plan in conjunction  with CILCORP's  Representatives.
Subject to the following sentence, such information provided to AES may be shown
to AES' investment bankers and financial  advisors.  Each party shall, and shall
cause its Subsidiaries  and  Representatives  to, hold in strict  confidence all
documents and  information  concerning  the other  furnished to it in connection
with the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement in accordance  with the
Confidentiality  Agreement,  dated as of July 8, 1998,  between  AES and CILCORP
(the "Confidentiality Agreement"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein
shall require CILCORP to disclose system  information  that it is precluded from
sharing  with others  pursuant to FERC Orders 888 and 889 (as  amended)  without
simultaneous disclosure to all parties on its electronic bulletin board.

     Section 7.2 Proxy Statement.

          (a)  As  soon  as  reasonably  practicable  after  the  date  of  this
Agreement,  CILCORP shall prepare and file with the SEC, and AES shall cooperate
with CILCORP in such  preparation and filing,  a preliminary  proxy statement or
information   statement   relating  to  this  Agreement  and  the   transactions
contemplated  hereby and use its commercially  reasonable efforts to furnish the
information  required  to be  included  by the SEC in the  Proxy  Statement  (as
hereinafter  defined)  and,  after  consultation  with and  approval  of AES, to
respond promptly to any comments made by the SEC with respect to the preliminary
proxy  statement  and,  promptly  after  the  completion  of any SEC  review  or
notification  from the SEC  that the  preliminary  proxy  materials  will not be
subject to comment,  cause a definitive proxy statement or information statement
(the  "Proxy  Statement")  to be  mailed  to its  stockholders.  Subject  to the
fiduciary  obligations of the Board of Directors under  applicable law,  CILCORP
shall  include  in the  Proxy  Statement  the  recommendation  of the  Board  of
Directors of CILCORP  that the  stockholders  of CILCORP  approve and adopt this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

          (b) AES agrees that (i) it will provide  CILCORP with all  information
concerning AES necessary or  appropriate  to be included in the Proxy  Statement
and (ii) at the meeting of CILCORP  stockholders  to be held in connection  with
the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  it will vote,  or
cause to be voted,  all of the Shares  then  owned by, or with  respect to which
proxies are held by it or any of the AES  Subsidiaries,  if any, in favor of the
approval and adoption of this Agreement.

          (c)  CILCORP  and  AES  shall   cooperate  with  one  another  in  the
preparation  and filing of the Proxy  Statement  and shall use their  reasonable
best efforts to

                                       50
<PAGE>


promptly obtain and furnish the information required to be included in the Proxy
Statement  and to respond  promptly to any comments or requests  made by the SEC
with respect to the Proxy Statement. Each party hereto shall promptly notify the
other  parties of the receipt of comments  of, or any  requests by, the SEC with
respect to the Proxy Statement, and shall promptly supply the other parties with
copies of all correspondence between such party (or its Representatives) and the
SEC (or its staff) relating  thereto.  CILCORP and AES each agree to correct any
information  provided  by it for use in the Proxy  Statement  which  shall  have
become, or is, false or misleading.

     Section 7.3 Regulatory Approvals and Other Matters.

          (a) HSR  Filings.  Each party  hereto  shall file or cause to be filed
with  the  Federal  Trade   Commission   and  the   Department  of  Justice  any
notifications  required  to  be  filed  under  the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust
Improvements  Act of 1976,  as  amended  (the  "HSR  Act"),  and the  rules  and
regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the transactions contemplated
hereby. Such parties will use all commercially  reasonable efforts to coordinate
such filings and any  responses  thereto,  to make such filings  promptly and to
respond  promptly to any requests for additional  information  made by either of
such agencies.

          (b) Other Approvals. Each party hereto shall cooperate with the others
and use its  commercially  reasonable  efforts to promptly  prepare and file all
necessary  documentation,   to  effect  all  necessary  applications,   notices,
petitions,  filings and other  documents,  and to use reasonable best efforts to
obtain all necessary  permits,  consents,  approvals and  authorizations  of all
Governmental  Authorities  and all  other  persons  necessary  or  advisable  to
consummate  (i)  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,   including,   without
limitation,  the SEC Exemption Order (as defined in Section 8.3(e) hereof),  the
AES Required Statutory Approvals,  the CILCORP Required Statutory Approvals, the
AES Required  Consents and the CILCORP Required  Consents (and any concurrent or
related rate filings,  if any),  and (ii) if AES  determines to proceed with the
Second Merger and so notifies CILCORP, the Second Merger Statutory Approvals and
the CILCORP  Second Merger  Required  Consents.  AES and CILCORP agree that they
will consult with each other with respect to the obtaining of all such necessary
or advisable  permits,  consents,  approvals and  authorizations of Governmental
Authorities;  provided,  however,  that it is agreed  that  CILCORP  shall  have
primary  responsibility  for the preparation and filing of any applications with
or notifications to applicable state regulatory  authorities for approval of the
Merger.  Each of AES and  CILCORP  shall have the right to review and approve in
advance drafts of all such necessary applications,  notices, petitions,  filings
and other documents made or prepared in connection with the

                                       51
<PAGE>


transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement,  which  approval  shall  not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed.

     Section 7.4 Approval of CILCORP  Stockholders.  CILCORP  shall,  as soon as
reasonably  practicable  after  the date of this  Agreement,  (i) take all steps
necessary  to duly  call,  give  notice  of,  convene  and hold a meeting of its
stockholders  (the  "CILCORP  Meeting")  for the purpose of securing the CILCORP
Stockholders'  Approval, (ii) distribute to its stockholders the Proxy Statement
in  accordance  with  applicable  federal and state law and with its Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws, (iii) subject to the fiduciary duties of its Board of
Directors,  recommend  to its  stockholders  the  approval of the  Merger,  this
Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and (iv)  cooperate  and
consult with AES with respect to each of the foregoing matters. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, CILCORP agrees that its obligations pursuant to
the  first   sentence  of  this  Section  7.4  shall  not  be  affected  by  the
commencement,  public proposal, public disclosure or communication to CILCORP of
any Acquisition Proposal (as defined in Section 7.8(b) hereof).

     Section 7.5 Directors' and Officers' Indemnification.

          (a) Indemnification.  From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify,
defend and hold  harmless  each person who is now, or has been at any time prior
to the date  hereof,  an officer or  director  of CILCORP or any of the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries  (each an "Indemnified  Party" and  collectively,  the "Indemnified
Parties") against all losses, expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees and
expenses), claims, damages or liabilities or, subject to the proviso of the next
succeeding  sentence,  amounts  paid in  settlement,  arising  out of actions or
omissions  occurring at or prior to the Effective  Time that are, in whole or in
part,  (x) based on or  arising  out of the fact  that  such  person is or was a
director or officer of CILCORP or any CILCORP  Subsidiary  or (y) arising out of
or  pertaining  to  the   transactions   contemplated  by  this  Agreement  (the
"Indemnified  Liabilities").  In the  event of any such  loss,  expense,  claim,
damage or liability  (whether or not arising prior to the Effective  Time),  (i)
the Surviving  Corporation shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
for the Indemnified Parties selected by the Surviving Corporation, which counsel
may also serve as counsel to the Surviving  Corporation  and which counsel shall
be reasonably  satisfactory to the Indemnified  Parties (whose consent shall not
be unreasonably  withheld),  promptly after statements therefor are received and
otherwise  advance to such  Indemnified  Party  upon  request  reimbursement  of
documented  expenses  reasonably  incurred,  in either  case to the  extent  not
prohibited  by the  Illinois Act subject to the  provision  by such  Indemnified
Party of an  undertaking  to reimburse the amounts so advanced in the event of a
final determination

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<PAGE>

by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Indemnified Party is not entitled
thereto,  (ii) the Surviving  Corporation  will  cooperate in the defense of any
such  matter and (iii) any  determination  required  to be made with  respect to
whether an  Indemnified  Party's  conduct  complies with the standards set forth
under the Illinois Act and the Articles of  Incorporation  or By-Laws of CILCORP
shall  be made by  independent  counsel  mutually  acceptable  to the  Surviving
Corporation and the Indemnified  Party (the  "Independent  Counsel");  provided,
however,  that the Surviving  Corporation shall not be liable for any settlement
effected  without its written  consent (which consent shall not be  unreasonably
withheld).  The Indemnified Parties as a group may retain only one law firm with
respect to each  related  matter  except to the extent  there is, in the written
opinion of the Independent  Counsel,  under applicable standards of professional
conduct,  a  conflict  on  any  significant  issue  between  positions  of  such
Indemnified Party and any other Indemnified Party or Indemnified Parties.

          (b) Insurance. For a period of six years after the Effective Time, the
Surviving  Corporation  shall cause to be maintained in effect existing policies
of directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by CILCORP; provided,
that the Surviving Corporation may substitute therefor policies of substantially
similar coverage and amounts containing terms that are no less advantageous with
respect to matters  occurring  prior to the  Effective  Time to the extent  such
liability insurance can be maintained annually at a commercially reasonable cost
to the  Surviving  Corporation  for  annual  premiums  for such  directors'  and
officers'  liability  insurance,  which existing  premium costs are disclosed on
Section 7.5(b) of the CILCORP Disclosure Schedule;  provided,  further,  that if
such  insurance  cannot be so maintained or obtained at such cost, the Surviving
Corporation  shall  maintain or obtain as much of such  insurance for CILCORP as
can be so maintained or obtained at a  commercially  reasonable  cost for annual
premiums for directors' and officers' liability insurance.

          (c) Successors.  In the event the Surviving  Corporation or any of its
successors or assigns (i)  consolidates  with or merges into any other person or
entity and shall not be the  continuing  or surviving  corporation  or entity of
such  consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially  all of its
properties  and assets to any person or  entity,  then and in either  such case,
proper  provisions  shall  be made so that the  successors  and  assigns  of the
Surviving  Corporation  shall assume the  obligations  set forth in this Section
7.5.

          (d) Survival of  Indemnification.  To the fullest extent  permitted by
applicable law, from and after the Effective Time, all rights to indemnification
existing as of the date hereof in favor of any Indemnified Party, as provided in
their  respective  Articles of  Incorporation  and By-Laws in effect on the date
thereof, shall survive the

                                       53
<PAGE>


Merger  and shall  continue  in full  force and effect for a period of six years
from the Effective Time.

     Section 7.6 Disclosure Schedules. On or before the date hereof, (i) AES has
delivered to CILCORP the AES Disclosure  Schedule,  accompanied by a certificate
signed by an executive  officer of AES stating the AES  Disclosure  Schedule has
been  delivered  pursuant to this Section 7.6 and (ii) CILCORP has  delivered to
AES the CILCORP Disclosure  Schedule,  accompanied by a certificate signed by an
executive  officer of CILCORP stating the CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule has been
delivered  pursuant to this  Section 7.6.  The AES  Disclosure  Schedule and the
CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule  are  collectively   referred  to  herein  as  the
"Disclosure  Schedules." The Disclosure  Schedules shall be deemed to constitute
an integral part of this Agreement and to modify the respective representations,
warranties,  covenants or agreements of the parties hereto  contained  herein to
the  extent  that such  representations,  warranties,  covenants  or  agreements
expressly refer to the Disclosure Schedules.  Anything to the contrary contained
herein or in the Disclosure Schedules  notwithstanding,  any and all statements,
representations, warranties or disclosures set forth in the Disclosure Schedules
delivered  on or before the date hereof shall be deemed to have been made on and
as of the date hereof. From time to time prior to the Closing, the parties shall
promptly  supplement  or amend the  Disclosure  Schedules  with  respect  to any
matter,  condition  or  occurrence  hereafter  arising  which,  if  existing  or
occurring  at the date of this  Agreement,  would have been  required  to be set
forth or described in the Disclosure Schedules. No supplement or amendment shall
be deemed to cure any  breach of any  representation  or  warranty  made in this
Agreement or have any effect for the purpose of determining  satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in Section 8.2(b) hereof or Section 8.3(b) hereof.

     Section  7.7  Public  Announcements.  Subject  to each  party's  disclosure
obligations imposed by applicable law, court process or by obligations  pursuant
to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange,  AES and CILCORP
will cooperate with each other in the development  and  distribution of all news
releases and other public information disclosures with respect to this Agreement
or any of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and shall not issue any public
announcement  or statement with respect hereto or thereto without the consent of
the other party  (which  consent  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld and which
decision regarding consent shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable).

     Section 7.8 No Solicitations.

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<PAGE>

          (a) From and after the date hereof, (i) CILCORP will not, and will not
authorize  or permit any of its  Representatives  to,  directly  or  indirectly,
solicit,  initiate or encourage (including by way of furnishing  information) or
take any other action to facilitate knowingly any inquiries or the making of any
proposal  which  constitutes  or  may  reasonably  be  expected  to  lead  to an
Acquisition  Proposal (as defined in Section 7.8(b) hereof) from any person,  or
engage in any discussion or negotiations  relating  thereto and (ii) neither the
Board of Directors of CILCORP nor any  committee  thereof  shall (A) withdraw or
modify,  or propose publicly to withdraw or modify,  in a manner adverse to AES,
the approval or  recommendation  by such Board of Directors or such committee of
the Merger or this Agreement,  (B) approve or recommend,  or propose publicly to
approve or  recommend,  any  Acquisition  Proposal,  or (C) cause CILCORP or any
CILCORP  Subsidiary to enter into any letter of intent,  agreement in principle,
acquisition   agreement  or  other  similar  agreement  (each,  an  "Acquisition
Agreement") related to any Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that CILCORP
may,  at any time  prior to  receipt  of  CILCORP  Stockholders'  Approval  (the
"CILCORP Applicable  Period"),  (i) in response to an Acquisition Proposal which
was not  solicited  by it or its  Representatives  and which  did not  otherwise
result from a breach of this  Section  7.8, if the Board of Directors of CILCORP
(x) reasonably  believes in good faith,  after  consultation  with its financial
advisors, that an Acquisition Proposal may be a Superior Proposal (as defined in
Section 7.8(b) hereof) and (y) determines in good faith, after consultation with
its  financial  advisors and outside  counsel,  that failing to take such action
could reasonably be expected to be a breach of its fiduciary duties to CILCORP's
stockholders  under  applicable  law,  and subject to  providing  AES with prior
written  notice of its decision to take such action (the  "CILCORP  Notice") and
compliance with Section 7.8(c) hereof,  (1) furnish  information with respect to
CILCORP and the CILCORP  Subsidiaries  to any person making a Superior  Proposal
pursuant  to a  customary  confidentiality  agreement  and  (2)  participate  in
discussions or negotiations  regarding such Superior Proposal,  (ii) comply with
Rule  14e-2  promulgated  under  the  Exchange  Act with  regard  to a tender or
exchange offer (provided  that,  except in connection with a termination of this
Agreement  pursuant to clause  (iii) of this  proviso,  neither  CILCORP 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 this
Agreement or the Merger or approve or recommend,  or propose publicly to approve
or recommend,  an Acquisition  Proposal),  and/or (iii) in the event that during
the  CILCORP  Applicable  Period the Board of  Directors  of CILCORP  reasonably
believes in good faith,  after  consultation  with its  financial  advisors  and
outside  counsel,  (x)  that  it  has  received  an  Acquisition  Proposal  that
constitutes a Superior Proposal and (y) that failure to terminate this Agreement
and accept such Superior Proposal could reasonably be expected to be a breach of
its fiduciary duties to CILCORP's  stockholders  under applicable law, by action
of the Board of  Directors  of CILCORP  (subject  to this  sentence  and Section
9.1(d)(ii) hereof), terminate

                                       55
<PAGE>

this Agreement (and, following the exercise of such termination right,  withdraw
or modify in any adverse manner its approval or recommendation of this Agreement
or the Merger,  and approve or  recommend  any merger,  consolidation,  business
combination,  recapitalization,  liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction
involving  CILCORP or any such CILCORP  Subsidiary,  other than the transactions
contemplated by this  Agreement),  but only at a time that is during the CILCORP
Applicable  Period and is after the third business day following AES' receipt of
written  notice  advising AES that the Board of Directors of CILCORP is prepared
to accept a Superior  Proposal,  specifying the material terms and conditions of
such Superior Proposal and identifying the person making such Superior Proposal.
CILCORP  shall  immediately  cease  and  terminate  any  existing  solicitation,
initiation, encouragement,  activity, discussion or negotiation with any persons
conducted  heretofore by CILCORP or its  Representatives  with respect to any of
the foregoing.

          (b) As used herein, (i) "Acquisition Proposal" shall mean any inquiry,
proposal or offer from any person relating to any direct or indirect acquisition
or purchase of a business (a "Material  Business") that  constitutes 15% or more
of the net revenues,  net income or the assets (including equity  securities) of
CILCORP and the CILCORP  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  or 15% or more of any
class  of  voting  securities  of  CILCORP  or any  CILCORP  Subsidiary  owning,
operating or controlling a Material Business, any tender offer or exchange offer
that it consummated would result in any person beneficially owing 15% or more of
any class of voting securities of CILCORP or any such CILCORP Subsidiary, or any
merger,  consolidation,  business  combination,  recapitalization,  liquidation,
dissolution  or  similar  transaction  involving  CILCORP  or any  such  CILCORP
Subsidiary,   other  than  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement;
provided,  however,  that no  transaction  permitted  pursuant to Section 6.1(f)
hereof  shall be deemed  an  Acquisition  Proposal  for any  purpose  and (ii) a
"Superior  Proposal"  shall mean any proposal  made by a third party to acquire,
directly or indirectly,  including  pursuant to a tender offer,  exchange offer,
merger,  consolidation,  business  combination,  recapitalization,  liquidation,
dissolution or similar transaction,  for consideration consisting of cash and/or
securities,  more than 50% of the combined voting power of the shares of CILCORP
Common Stock then outstanding or all or substantially  all the assets of CILCORP
which the Board of Directors of CILCORP  determines in its good faith  judgment,
after consultation with its financial  advisors and outside counsel,  to be more
favorable  to  CILCORP's  Stockholders  (taking  into account any changes to the
financial  terms of this Agreement  proposed by AES in response to such proposal
and all  financial  and  strategic  considerations,  including  relevant  legal,
financial,  regulatory  and other  aspects of the  proposal  and the third party
making such proposal and the conditions and the prospects for completion of such
proposal, the strategic direction and benefits sought

                                       56

<PAGE>

by CILCORP and any changes to this Agreement proposed by AES in response to such
proposal)  than the  Merger  and the  other  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement.

          (c)  CILCORP  shall  promptly  advise AES orally and in writing of the
receipt of any Acquisition  Proposal or Superior  Proposal and of the receipt of
any inquiry with respect to or which CILCORP  reasonably  believes could lead to
any Acquisition Proposal or Superior Proposal. CILCORP shall promptly advise AES
orally and in writing of the identity of the person making any such  Acquisition
Proposal or Superior  Proposal or inquiry and of the material  terms of any such
Acquisition Proposal or Superior Proposal and of any material changes thereto.

     Section 7.9 Expenses.  All costs and expenses  incurred in connection  with
this  Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby shall be paid by the
party incurring such expenses.

     Section 7.10 Board of Directors. At or prior to the Effective Time, CILCORP
shall  obtain the  resignation  as of the  Effective  Time of each  director  of
CILCORP  and, if so  requested by AES, of any director or officer of any CILCORP
Subsidiary or officer of CILCORP.

     Section 7.11 Illinois Responsible Property Transfer Act. If, as a result of
the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or as a result  of any debt
financing  undertaken by AES or an affiliate of AES or a AES Subsidiary in order
to complete the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the requirements of
the Illinois Responsible Property Transfer Act (the "Property Transfer Act") are
triggered with respect to any of the real property owned or operated by CILCORP,
any  CILCORP  Subsidiary  or  any  CILCORP  Joint  Venture,   CILCORP  shall  be
responsible,  at its own  cost  and  expense,  for  compliance  with  all of the
obligations of the Property Transfer Act,  including,  without  limitation,  the
preparation  of any  disclosure  document  required to be provided to AES or any
lender.

     Section 7.12  Signature  Authority.  Effective  as of the  Closing,  at the
request of AES,  CILCORP  shall prepare and deliver to AES a list of all persons
with  signature  authority  on the bank  accounts  of  CILCORP  and the  CILCORP
Subsidiaries  and all persons  with  authority  to bind  CILCORP and any CILCORP
Subsidiary to an agreement with an amount in excess of $100,000 or a term longer
than one year.  CILCORP shall revoke such authority of any person  designated by
AES, effective as of the morning of the Closing Date.

                                       57
<PAGE>

     Section 7.13 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements.  CILCORP shall
take or cause to be taken all  actions  necessary  such that  after the  Closing
Date,  neither CILCORP nor any CILCORP  Subsidiary shall have any further rights
or liabilities under any agreement  existing on or before the Closing Date which
relates to the allocation or sharing of Taxes.

     Section 7.14 Deferred  Compensation  Plans.  Prior to the  Effective  Time,
CILCORP will take all actions  necessary or appropriate to establish a so-called
"rabbi trust" (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to AES) which shall
be used to fund the CILCO Executive  Deferral Plan (the "EDP I Plan").  Upon the
establishment  of the rabbi  trust for the EDP I Plan,  CILCORP  shall  transfer
ownership of the CILCORP life insurance  policies that currently are intended to
fund the EDP I Plan to such trust.  After the  Effective  Time,  AES shall cause
CILCO to remain the  primary  obligor of and to honor,  in  accordance  with its
terms, the EDP I Plan and the related rabbi trust.  Nothing in this Section 7.14
shall  require  AES or  CILCO  to  allow  participants  in such  plan  to  defer
compensation  income  that will be earned  by the  participants  on or after the
Effective Time.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   CONDITIONS

     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  satisfaction  or waiver on or prior to the  Closing  Date of the  following
conditions:

          (a) Stockholder  Approvals.  The CILCORP Stockholders'  Approval shall
have been obtained.

          (b) No Injunctions or Restraints.  No judgment,  decree, statute, law,
ordinance,  rule,  regulation,   temporary  restraining  order,  preliminary  or
permanent injunction or other order enacted, entered,  promulgated,  enforced or
issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Authority or
other legal restraint or prohibition (collectively, "Restraints") preventing the
consummation of the Merger shall be in effect;  provided,  however, that each of
the parties shall have used all  reasonable  efforts to prevent the entry of any
such  Restraints and to appeal as promptly as possible any such  Restraints that
may be entered.

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<PAGE>

          (c) Statutory Approvals.  The AES Required Statutory Approvals and the
CILCORP Required  Statutory  Approvals shall have been obtained,  such approvals
shall have become  Final  Orders (as defined  below) and such Final Orders shall
not impose terms or conditions  which, in the aggregate,  would have, or insofar
as reasonably  can be foreseen,  could have, a AES Material  Adverse Effect or a
CILCORP  Material  Adverse  Effect,  or  which  would be  inconsistent  with the
agreements of the parties  contained  herein.  The term "Final Order" shall mean
action by the relevant regulatory authority which has not been reversed, stayed,
enjoined,  set aside,  annulled or suspended,  with respect to which any waiting
period  prescribed  by law before the  transactions  contemplated  hereby may be
consummated has expired,  and as to which all conditions to the  consummation of
such transactions prescribed by law, regulation or order have been satisfied.

          (d) HSR Act. All  applicable  waiting  periods under the HSR Act shall
have expired or been terminated.

     Section 8.2  Conditions to Obligation of CILCORP to Effect the Merger.  The
obligation  of  CILCORP to effect  the  Merger  shall be further  subject to the
satisfaction  or  waiver,  on or prior to the  Closing  Date,  of the  following
conditions:

          (a)  Performance  of Obligations of AES. AES and Merger Sub each shall
have  performed  in  all  material  respects  their  respective  agreements  and
covenants contained in or contemplated by this Agreement,  which are required to
be performed by it at or prior to the Closing Date.

          (b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties
of AES set forth in this  Agreement  shall be true and  correct in all  material
respects  (or where any  statement  in a  representation  or warranty  expressly
includes a standard of materiality,  such statement shall be true and correct in
all respects as so qualified)  as of the date hereof  (except to the extent such
representations  and warranties  speak as of an earlier or later date) and as of
the Closing Date as if made on and as of the Closing  Date,  except as otherwise
contemplated by this Agreement.

          (c) Closing  Certificates.  CILCORP  shall have received a certificate
signed by an executive  officer of AES,  dated the Closing  Date,  to the effect
that,  to the best of such  officer's  knowledge,  the  conditions  set forth in
Section 8.2(a) hereof and Section 8.2(b) hereof have been satisfied.

     Section 8.3  Conditions  to  Obligation of AES and Merger Sub to Effect the
Merger.  The  obligation  of AES and Merger  Sub to effect  the Merger  shall be
further

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<PAGE>


subject to the  satisfaction or waiver,  on or prior to the Closing Date, of the
following conditions:

          (a) Performance of Obligations of CILCORP. CILCORP (and/or appropriate
CILCORP  Subsidiaries)  shall  have  performed  in  all  material  respects  its
agreements and covenants  contained in or  contemplated  by this Agreement which
are required to be performed by it at or prior to the Closing Date.

          (b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties
of CILCORP set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material
respects  (or where any  statement  in a  representation  or warranty  expressly
includes a standard of materiality,  such statement shall be true and correct in
all respects as so qualified)  as of the date hereof  (except to the extent such
representations  and warranties  speak as of an earlier or later date) and as of
the Closing Date as if made on and as of the Closing  Date,  except as otherwise
contemplated by this Agreement.

          (c) CILCORP Material Adverse Effect.  Subject to Section 8.3(c) of the
CILCORP  Disclosure  Schedule,  no CILCORP  Material  Adverse  Effect shall have
occurred and there shall exist no fact or circumstance that would or, insofar as
reasonably can be foreseen, could have a CILCORP Material Adverse Effect.

          (d) CILCORP Required  Consents.  The CILCORP  Required  Consents shall
have been obtained.

          (e) PUHCA  Exemption.  The SEC shall have  issued an order in form and
substance  reasonably  satisfactory to AES (the "SEC Exemption  Order") granting
AES an exemption from  registration as a holding company under PUHCA pursuant to
PUHCA Section  3(a)(5),  and the SEC Exemption  Order shall be in full force and
effect on the Closing Date.

          (f) Financing.  AES shall have the proceeds  available pursuant to the
Financing sufficient to pay the Aggregate Consideration Amount.

          (g) Closing Certificates. AES shall have received a certificate signed
by an executive officer of CILCORP,  dated the Closing Date, to the effect that,
to the best of such  officer's  knowledge,  the conditions set forth in Sections
8.3(a), (b), (c), (d) and (k) hereof have been satisfied.

          (h) AES Required  Consents.  The AES Required Consents shall have been
obtained.

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<PAGE>


          (i) No Injunctions  or Restraints as to Second  Merger.  No Restraints
preventing the  consummation of the Second Merger shall be in effect;  provided,
however,  that each of the  parties  shall have used all  reasonable  efforts to
prevent the entry of any such  Restraints  and to appeal as promptly as possible
any such Restraints that may be entered.

          (j) Trigger of CILCORP  Rights.  No event has  occurred or could occur
pursuant to this  Agreement or otherwise  that would result in the triggering of
any right or  entitlement  of  CILCORP  stockholders  under the  CILCORP  Rights
Agreement,  including a  "flip-in"  or  "flip-over"  or similar  event  commonly
described in such rights plans which,  in the reasonable  judgment of AES, would
have or be reasonably  likely to result in a CILCORP  Material Adverse Effect or
materially change the number of outstanding  equity  securities of CILCORP,  and
the CILCORP Rights shall not have become  nonredeemable  by the CILCORP Board of
Directors.

          (k) Illinois Commerce Commission. (i) The Illinois Commerce Commission
shall  have  issued the  Illinois  Certification  and (ii) AES shall  reasonably
believe that any order of,  approval by or result of any filing,  proceeding  or
notice with the Illinois Commerce  Commission required under the Illinois Public
Utilities  Act in  connection  with the Merger  could not be expected to have an
adverse effect on AES' ability to obtain the Financing or on AES, CILCORP or any
of the CILCORP Subsidiaries after the Effective Time (the "AES Reasonable Belief
Standard").


                                   ARTICLE IX

                        TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

     Section 9.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior
to the Closing Date:

          (a) without  payment of a termination fee by mutual written consent of
CILCORP and AES.

          (b) by AES or CILCORP under any of the following circumstances:

               (i) without payment of a termination fee, if any state or federal
law, order, rule or regulation is adopted or issued, which has the effect, as

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<PAGE>


supported  by the  written  opinion  of  outside  counsel  for  such  party,  of
prohibiting  the  Merger,  or by any  party  hereto  if any  court of  competent
jurisdiction  in the  United  States or any state  shall  have  issued an order,
judgment or decree permanently  restraining,  enjoining or otherwise prohibiting
the Merger,  and such  order,  judgment  or decree  shall have become  final and
nonappealable.

               (ii)  after the  eighteen-month  anniversary  of the date of this
Agreement  without payment of a termination  fee, by written notice to the other
party,  if  the  Merger  shall  not  have  been  consummated  on or  before  the
eighteen-month  anniversary of the date of this  Agreement;  provided,  however,
that the right to terminate the Agreement  under this Section  9.1(b)(ii)  shall
not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this
Agreement  has been the cause of, or  resulted  in, the failure of the Merger to
have been  consummated,  and provided  further,  that if after the fifteen-month
anniversary  of the date  hereof  and prior to the  eighteen-month  anniversary,
CILCORP  shall have  delivered  to AES the  CILCORP  Certificate  as provided in
Section  6.2(d),  then  neither AES nor CILCORP  shall be entitled to  terminate
under this Section  9.1(b)(ii) until a period of 90 days shall have elapsed from
the receipt of the CILCORP Certificate.

               (iii) by  written  notice  to the  other  party,  if the  CILCORP
Shareholders'  Approval  shall not have been  obtained at the  CILCORP  Meeting,
including any  adjournments  thereof.  In the event this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to this Section  9.1(b)(iii) and at or within twelve months of the date
of the CILCORP  Meeting,  CILCORP  enters into any agreement  with respect to an
Alternative  Transaction (as defined below), then within ten business days after
the execution of such agreement, CILCORP shall immediately pay in cash to AES by
wire transfer of same day funds a termination  fee in an amount equal to 3.0% of
the Aggregate Consideration Amount (the "Acquisition  Termination Fee"). As used
herein,  "Alternative  Transaction"  means any of (i) a transaction or series of
transactions  pursuant to which any person (or group of persons)  other than AES
or the AES Subsidiaries  and other than CILCORP and the CILCORP  Subsidiaries (a
"Third  Party")  acquires or would acquire,  directly or indirectly,  beneficial
ownership  (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of
the  outstanding  Shares of CILCORP or CILCO,  as the case may be,  whether from
CILCORP or CILCO or pursuant to a tender offer or exchange  offer or  otherwise,
(ii) any acquisition or proposed  acquisition of CILCORP or CILCO by a merger or
other  business  combination  (including  any  so-called  "merger of equals" and
whether  or not  CILCORP  or CILCO is the entity  surviving  any such  merger or
business combination) or (iii) any other transaction pursuant to which any Third
Party acquires or would acquire,  directly or indirectly,  all or  substantially
all of the assets (including for this purpose the outstanding

                                       62
<PAGE>


equity  securities of CILCORP or CILCO,  and any entity  surviving any merger or
combination including any of them) of CILCORP or CILCO.

               (iv) by written notice to the other party after the Financing Due
Date (as defined below), if the financing  condition set forth in Section 8.3(f)
has not been  satisfied but all  conditions to Closing have been satisfied on or
prior to such date.  The  "Financing Due Date" shall mean that date which is the
90th day after all  conditions  to Closing  set forth in Article  VIII have been
satisfied other than Section 8.3(f),  it being agreed that the 90 days shall not
begin to run until all such  conditions have been satisfied and AES has received
a  certificate  signed by an  executive  officer  of  CILCORP  attesting  to the
satisfaction by CILCORP of the conditions in Sections 8.1 and 8.3(a),  (b), (c),
(d) and (k), which  certificate shall be dated no earlier than the date on which
the last of the conditions set forth in Article VIII has been satisfied.  In the
event that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 9.1(b)(iv), AES
shall pay CILCORP in cash by wire transfer of same day funds within ten business
days of such  termination  notice a  termination  fee in an amount  equal to the
product of (x) the Out standing Shares and (y) $5.00 (the "Financing Termination
Fee").

          (c) by AES under any of the following circumstances:

               (i) by written  notice to  CILCORP,  if (x) there shall have been
any material breach of any representation or warranty, or any material breach of
any covenant or agreement, of CILCORP hereunder,  and such breach shall not have
been  remedied  within thirty days after receipt by CILCORP of notice in writing
from  AES,  specifying  the  nature of such  breach  and  requesting  that it be
remedied;  provided,  however that CILCORP  shall not be entitled to expend more
than $10 million to cure any and all such  breaches  without  the prior  written
approval of AES; or (y) the Board of Directors of CILCORP (A) shall  withdraw or
modify in any  manner  adverse to AES its  approval  of this  Agreement  and the
transactions  contemplated  hereby  or its  recommendation  to its  stockholders
regarding  the  approval  of this  Agreement,  (B) shall fail to  reaffirm  such
approval  or  recommendation  upon the  request  of AES,  (C) shall  approve  or
recommend  any  Acquisition  Proposal  or (D) shall  resolve  to take any of the
actions  specified in clause (A), (B) or (C);  provided,  however,  that AES and
CILCORP  acknowledge  and affirm that  notwithstanding  anything in this Section
9.1(c)(i) to the contrary,  the parties  hereto  intend this  Agreement to be an
exclusive agreement and,  accordingly,  nothing in this Agreement is intended to
constitute a solicitation of an Acquisition  Proposal, it being acknowledged and
agreed  that any such  offer or  proposal  would  interfere  with the  strategic
advantages and benefits  which the parties expect to derive from the Merger.  In
the event this  Agreement  is  terminated  pursuant to this  Section  9.1(c)(i),
CILCORP shall pay AES in cash by wire transfer of same day funds

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<PAGE>



within ten business  days of such  termination  notice a  termination  fee in an
amount equal to 3.0% of the Aggregate  Consideration Amount (the "CILCORP Breach
Termination Fee").

               (ii)  by  written   notice  to  CILCORP   after  the   nine-month
anniversary  of the date hereof if the SEC  Exemption  Order shall not have been
issued or irrevocably  waived by AES prior to the time such notice is given.  In
the event this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 9.1(c)(ii), then
AES shall pay  CILCORP  in cash by wire  transfer  of same day funds  within ten
business days of such termination notice a termination fee in an amount equal to
the  product of (x) the Out  standing  Shares and (y)  $1.00,  together  with an
additional  $0.00546448  per day for each day  beginning on the later of (A) the
day after the  nine-month  anniversary of the date hereof or (B) five days after
the date of any order,  approval or result, as the case may be,  contemplated by
clause (ii) of Section  8.3(k)  hereof,  unless AES shall have notified  CILCORP
within such five-day  period that the condition in clause (ii) of Section 8.3(k)
hereof has not been satisfied, until the date of termination (up to a maximum of
$3.00 under this  clause  (y)) (the  "Regulatory  Termination  Fee");  provided,
however, that the Regulatory  Termination Fee shall not be payable to CILCORP if
the failure to obtain the SEC Exemption  Order by the nine-month  anniversary of
the date hereof has been caused by breach of this Agreement by CILCORP or by any
action  or  omission  by  CILCORP  after  the date  hereof  unless  taken at the
direction of AES.

               (iii) without  payment of a termination  fee by AES or CILCORP by
written  notice to CILCORP after the one-year  anniversary of the date hereof if
any  approvals or other  actions of the Illinois  Commerce  Commission  required
under the  Illinois  Public  Utilities  Act have either not been  issued,  or if
issued or taken,  such order,  approval or other  actions shall not meet the AES
Reasonable  Belief  Standard set forth in clause (ii) of Section  8.3(k) hereof,
provided  however that AES may terminate  this Agreement  (without  payment of a
termination  fee by AES or  CILCORP)  by  written  notice to  CILCORP  after the
eighth-month  anniversary of the date hereof if AES does not reasonably  believe
that  within the  above-referenced  one-year  period the AES  Reasonable  Belief
Standard  set  forth  in the  clause  (ii) of  Section  8.3 (k)  hereof  will be
satisfied with respect to such approvals or other actions.

          (d) by CILCORP under any of the following circumstances:

               (i) by  written  notice  to AES,  if there  shall  have  been any
material breach of any representation or warranty contained in Sections 5.1, 5.2
and 5.5 hereof,  or any  material  breach of any  covenant or  agreement  of AES
hereunder, and such breach shall not have been remedied within thirty days after
receipt by AES of

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<PAGE>

notice in  writing  from  CILCORP,  specifying  the  nature of such  breach  and
requesting  that it be  remedied.  In the event  this  Agreement  is  terminated
pursuant  to this  Section  9.1(d)(i),  AES  shall pay  CILCORP  in cash by wire
transfer of same day funds within ten business days of such termination notice a
termination fee in an amount equal to 3.0% of the Aggregate Consideration Amount
(the "AES Breach Termination Fee").

               (ii) in accordance  with clause (iii) of the proviso to the first
sentence of Section 7.8(a) hereof,  by written notice to AES;  provided that, in
order for the termination of this Agreement  pursuant to this  subparagraph (ii)
to be deemed  effective,  CILCORP  shall have  complied  with all  provisions of
Section 7.8 hereof.  In the event this Agreement is terminated  pursuant to this
Section  9.1(d)(ii),  CILCORP  shall  pay AES  within  ten  days in cash by wire
transfer  of  same  day  funds  a  termination  fee in an  amount  equal  to the
Acquisition Termination Fee.

               (iii) by written notice to AES after the 18-month  anniversary of
the date hereof,  if all conditions to Closing have been  satisfied,  other than
the  issuance  of  the  SEC  Exemption  Order  and  CILCORP  delivers  to  AES a
certificate  signed  by  an  executive  officer  of  CILCORP  attesting  to  the
satisfaction by CILCORP of the conditions in Sections 8.1 and 8.3(a),  (b), (c),
(d) and (k) (the "Section 9.1(d)  Certificate")  then within 10 business days of
the receipt of the Section 9.1(d) Certificate,  AES shall pay to CILCORP in cash
by wire transfer of same day funds within ten business days of such  termination
notice a termination fee in an amount equal to the Regulatory Termination Fee.

               (iv) without payment of a termination fee by AES or CILCORP, upon
two business days' written notice to AES after the six-month  anniversary of the
date hereof if the Illinois  Certification  shall not have been issued or waived
by AES prior to or within two business days after the time such notice is given.

     Section  9.2 Effect of  Termination.  In the event of  termination  of this
Agreement by either  CILCORP or AES  pursuant to Section 9.1,  there shall be no
liability on the part of either CILCORP or AES or their  respective  officers or
directors  hereunder,  except that  Section 7.8,  Section  9.1,  Section 9.2 and
Section 9.3, the agreement  contained in the last sentence of Section 7.1 and in
Section 10.6 shall survive the termination.

     Section 9.3 Termination Fees; Expenses.

          (a) Expenses. The parties agree that the termination fees contained in
Article  IX are an  integral  part  of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement and constitute liquidated damages and not a penalty. Notwithstanding

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anything to the  contrary  contained  in this  Agreement,  if one party fails to
promptly  pay to the other any fee or expense due under  Article IX, in addition
to any amounts paid or payable pursuant to such Section, the party shall pay the
costs and expenses  (including  legal fees and expenses) in connection  with any
action,  including  the filing of any  lawsuit or other legal  action,  taken to
collect  payment,  together with interest on the amount of any unpaid fee at the
publicly  announced  prime  rate of  Citibank,  N.A.  from the date such fee was
required to be paid.

          (b)  Limitation  Of  Fees.  Notwithstanding  anything  herein  to  the
contrary,  AES shall in no event be liable or  required  to pay to CILCORP  more
than one of (A) the Regulatory  Termination  Fee, (B) the Financing  Termination
Fee or (C) the AES Breach Termination Fee.

     Section  9.4  Amendment.  This  Agreement  may be  amended by the Boards of
Directors of the parties hereto,  at any time before or after approval hereof by
the  stockholders  of CILCORP and prior to the  Effective  Time,  but after such
approval, no such amendment shall (a) alter or change the Per Share Amount under
Article  II or (b) alter or  change  any of the  terms  and  conditions  of this
Agreement if any of the alterations or changes, alone or in the aggregate, would
materially  adversely  affect the rights of  holders  of CILCORP  Common  Stock,
except for  alterations or changes that could  otherwise be adopted by the Board
of  Directors  of  CILCORP  or AES,  without  the  further  approval  of CILCORP
stockholders.  This  Agreement  may not be amended  except by an  instrument  in
writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

     Section 9.5 Waiver.  At any time prior to the Effective  Time,  the parties
hereto may (a) extend the time for the  performance of any of the obligations or
other  acts of the other  parties  hereto,  (b) waive  any  inaccuracies  in the
representations  and warranties  contained  herein or in any document  delivered
pursuant  hereto  and  (c)  waive  compliance  with  any  of the  agreements  or
conditions  contained  herein,  to the extent  permitted by applicable  law. 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.

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<PAGE>


                                    ARTICLE X

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

     Section 10.1  Non-Survival;  Effect of Representations  and Warranties.  No
representations  or  warranties  in this  Agreement  shall survive the Effective
Time, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement.

     Section 10.2 Notices. All notices and other communications  hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed given (a) when delivered personally,  (b) when
sent by reputable  overnight  courier service or (c) when  telecopied  (which is
confirmed by copy sent within one business day by a reputable  overnight courier
service) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for
a party as shall be specified by like notice):

                           (i)      If to AES or Merger Sub, to:

                                    The AES Corporation
                                    1001 North 19th Street, 20th Floor
                                    Arlington, Virginia 22209
                                    Attention:       General Counsel
                                    Telephone:       703-522-1315
                                    Facsimile:       703-528-4510

                                    with a copy to:

                                    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
                                    1440 New York Avenue, N.W.
                                    Washington, DC  20005
                                    Attention:       Michael P. Rogan, Esq.
                                                     Marcia R. Nirenstein, Esq.
                                    Telephone: 202-371-7000
                                    Facsimile: 202-393-5760

                                    and


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<PAGE>

                           (ii)     if to CILCORP, to:

                                    CILCORP Inc.
                                    300 Hamilton Boulevard, Suite 300
                                    Peoria, Illinois  61602
                                    Attention:       John G. Sahn, Esq.
                                    Telephone:       309-675-8822
                                    Facsimile:       309-675-8888

                                    with a copy to:

                                    Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts
                                    One Battery Park Plaza
                                    New York, New York  10004
                                    Attention:       Stephen R. Rusmisel, Esq.
                                    Telephone:       212-858-1000
                                    Facsimile:       212-858-1500

     Section 10.3  Miscellaneous.  This  Agreement  (a)  constitutes  the entire
agreement and supersedes all other prior  agreements  and  understandings,  both
written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject
matter  hereof  (other  than the  Confidentiality  Agreement),  (b) shall not be
assigned  by  operation  of law or  otherwise  and (c) shall be  governed by and
construed in  accordance  with the laws of the State of New York  applicable  to
contracts  executed in and to be fully  performed in such State,  without giving
effect to its conflicts of law rules or principles  and except to the extent the
provisions of this Agreement (including the documents or instruments referred to
herein) are expressly  governed by or derive their  authority  from the Illinois
Act.

     Section 10.4 Interpretation.  When a reference is made in this Agreement to
Sections or Exhibits,  such  reference  shall be to a Section or Exhibit of this
Agreement,  respectively,  unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and
headings  contained in this Agreement are for reference  purposes only and shall
not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  Whenever
the words "include," "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement,  they
shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation."

     Section 10.5 Counterparts; Effect. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original,  but all of
which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

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<PAGE>

     Section 10.6 Enforcement.  The parties agree that irreparable  damage would
occur  in the  event  that  any of the  provisions  of this  Agreement  were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It
is  accordingly  agreed that the parties  shall be entitled to an  injunction or
injunctions to prevent  breaches of this  Agreement and to enforce  specifically
the terms and  provisions  of this  Agreement in any court of the United  States
located  in the State of New York or any New York  state  court in the County of
New York,  this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled
at law or in equity.  In  addition,  each of the parties  hereto (a) consents to
submit itself to the personal  jurisdiction  of any federal court located in the
State of New York or any New York  state  court in the County of New York in the
event  any  dispute  arises  out of this  Agreement  or any of the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny such
personal  jurisdiction  by motion or other request for leave from any such court
and (c) agrees that it will not bring any action  relating to this  Agreement or
any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than a
federal court sitting in the State of New York or a New York state court sitting
in the County of New York.

     Section 10.7 Parties in Interest.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure  solely to the  benefit of each party  hereto,  and,  except for rights of
Indemnified  Parties as set forth in  Section  7.5,  nothing in this  Agreement,
express or implied,  is  intended to confer upon any other  person any rights or
remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

     Section  10.8  Further  Assurances.  Each party will  execute  such further
documents and  instruments  and take such further  actions as may  reasonably be
requested  by any other party in order to  consummate  the Merger in  accordance
with the terms hereof.

     Section 10.9 Waiver Of Jury Trial.  Each party to this Agreement waives, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial
by jury in respect of any action,  suit or proceeding arising out of or relating
to this Agreement.

     Section  10.10  Certain  Definitions.  The term  "affiliate,"  except where
otherwise defined herein,  shall mean, as to any person,  any other person which
directly  or  indirectly  controls,  or is  under  common  control  with,  or is
controlled by, such person. The term "control" (including,  with its correlative
meanings,   "controlled   by"  and  "under  common  control  with")  shall  mean
possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of
management or policies  (whether through  ownership of securities or partnership
or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise).

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  AES, CILCORP and Merger Sub have caused this Agreement
as of the date first  written  above to be signed by their  respective  officers
thereunto duly authorized.

                                                 THE AES CORPORATION


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



                                                 CILCORP INC.


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



                                                  MIDWEST ENERGY, INC.


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


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