THERMOTREX CORP
8-K, 1999-12-17
X-RAY APPARATUS & TUBES & RELATED IRRADIATION APPARATUS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

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



                                 Date of Report
                       (Date of earliest event reported):

                                December 14, 1999

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


                             THERMOTREX CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware                        1-10791                          52-1711436
(State or other              (Commission                    (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of              File Number)                Identification Number)
incorporation or
organization)


81 Wyman Street
Waltham, Massachusetts                                                02454
(Address of principal executive offices)                           (Zip Code)


                                (781) 622-1000
                         (Registrant's telephone number
                              including area code)



<PAGE>




This Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks
and  uncertainties.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set forth
under the  heading  "Forward-looking  Statements"  in Exhibit  13 to  ThermoTrex
Corporation's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year  ended  October 3, 1998.
These  include  risks and  uncertainties  relating  to:  the need for  continued
product development and commercialization of products under development;  market
acceptance;   difficulty  in  retaining  qualified   management  and  personnel;
dependence  on capital  spending  policies;  risks  associated  with  government
contracts; risk of decreases in military weapons spending; government regulation
and need for regulatory approvals;  healthcare reform and uncertainty of patient
reimbursement; intense competition; intellectual property rights, uncertainties,
and litigation;  operating  losses at ThermoLase;  potential for customer claims
and  product  liability;   dependence  upon  significant  relationships;   risks
associated with acquisition strategy;  and the potential impact of the year 2000
on processing date-sensitive information.

Item 5.     Other Events

      On December 17, 1999, the Registrant  issued a press release  stating that
it has entered  into a definitive  agreement  and plan of merger with its parent
corporation, Thermo Electron Corporation ("Thermo Electron"), under which Thermo
Electron would acquire all of the outstanding  common stock,  $.01 par value per
share (the "Common  Stock"),  held by the  stockholders of the Registrant  other
than Thermo Electron and its  affiliates.  The  Registrant's  board of directors
approved  the  merger  agreement  based  on  a  recommendation  of  its  special
committee, which was charged with representing the interests of the Registrant's
public shareholders.

      Under  the  agreement,   each  share  of  Common  Stock  owned  by  public
shareholders  would be  automatically  converted into the right to receive .5503
shares of Thermo  Electron's  common stock,  $1.00 par value per share (the "TMO
Common Stock").

      Any shares of TMO Common  Stock  issued  pursuant to the merger  agreement
would be offered only by means of a prospectus.

       The Registrant expects that the necessary filings with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission (the "SEC") will be made shortly,  and that proxy materials
for a special meeting will be mailed to stockholders of the Registrant  promptly
after completion of SEC review. The completion of this transaction is subject to
certain customary  conditions,  including completion of review by the SEC of the
registration statement regarding the proposed transaction.  A copy of the merger
agreement  is  filed  as  an  exhibit  hereto.   Thermo  Electron,   which  owns
approximately  80% of the  Common  Stock,  intends  to vote all of its shares of
Common  Stock in favor of  approval  of the  merger  agreement  and,  therefore,
stockholder approval is assured. The transaction is expected to close during the
second  calendar  quarter of 2000.  Following  the merger,  the shares of Common
Stock would cease to be publicly traded.

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

      (a)    Financial Statements of Business Acquired: not applicable.
<PAGE>

      (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information: not applicable.

      (c)   Exhibits:

                   2.1  Agreement  and Plan of Merger  dated as of December  14,
            1999  by  and  among   Thermo   Electron   Corporation,   ThermoTrex
            Acquisition Corporation and ThermoTrex Corporation.




<PAGE>



                                    SIGNATURE



      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on this 17th day of December, 1999.



                                        THERMOTREX CORPORATION


                                        By:  /s/ Theo Melas-Kyriazi
                                             ----------------------------
                                             Theo Melas-Kyriazi
                                             Chief Financial Officer







                                                                     Exhibit 2.1













                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                  BY AND AMONG

                           THERMO ELECTRON CORPORATION

                       THERMOTREX ACQUISITION CORPORATION

                                       AND

                             THERMOTREX CORPORATION



                          DATED AS OF DECEMBER 14, 1999



<PAGE>



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


      This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (the  "Agreement")  dated as of December
14, 1999 is by and among Thermo  Electron  Corporation,  a Delaware  corporation
("Thermo Electron"),  ThermoTrex Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation
and a wholly-owned  subsidiary of Thermo Electron ("Merger Sub"), and ThermoTrex
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

                                    RECITALS

      A. Thermo Electron owns approximately  80.14% of the outstanding shares of
common  stock,  par value $.01 per share,  of the Company (the  "Company  Common
Stock"), and Thermo Electron desires to acquire all of the remaining outstanding
shares of Company Common Stock.

      B.  Thermo  Electron  has formed the Merger Sub as a  subsidiary  with the
intent of causing it to merge with the Company, as described in this Agreement.

      C. Upon the terms and subject to the  conditions of this  Agreement and in
accordance  with the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law (the  "DGCL"),  Thermo
Electron  and the  Company  will enter into a business  combination  transaction
pursuant  to which  Merger  Sub will  merge  with  and  into  the  Company  (the
"Merger").

      D. The Board of Directors of Thermo  Electron (i) has determined  that the
Merger is consistent with and in furtherance of the long-term  business strategy
of Thermo  Electron  and is in the best  interests  of Thermo  Electron  and its
stockholders,  and (ii) has approved  this  Agreement,  the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

      E. The Board of  Directors  of the  Company,  on the  recommendation  of a
special  committee  of  the  Board  of  Directors  (the  "Special   Committee"),
consisting  of two directors of the Company who are not officers or directors of
Thermo  Electron  or  officers  of the  Company,  (i) has  determined  that this
Agreement, including the Exchange Ratio (as defined below), and the transactions
contemplated by this  Agreement,  are fair to, and in the best interests of, the
stockholders of the Company (other than Thermo  Electron and its  subsidiaries),
(ii) has approved and declared the  advisability of this  Agreement,  the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (iii) has resolved
to recommend the approval and adoption of this Agreement by the  stockholders of
the Company.

      F. Covington Associates LLC (the "Financial Advisor") has delivered to the
Special Committee,  for its consideration,  and for delivery to the stockholders
of the Company, its written opinion that, subject to the various assumptions and
limitations set forth therein,  as of the date of such opinion the consideration
to be received by the  stockholders  of the Company (other than Thermo  Electron
and its  subsidiaries)  is fair to such  stockholders  from a financial point of
view.

      G. Thermo  Electron,  the  Company  and Merger Sub desire to make  certain
representations  and  warranties  and other  agreements in  connection  with the
Merger.

                                       1
<PAGE>

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

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   THE MERGER

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

      1.2. Effective Time; Closing. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
the parties shall cause the Merger to be  consummated by filing a Certificate of
Merger (the "Certificate of Merger") with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware in  accordance  with the relevant  provisions  of the DGCL (the time of
such  filing,  or such later time as may be agreed in writing by the parties and
specified in the Certificate of Merger,  being the "Effective Time" and the date
on which  the  Effective  Time  occurs  being the  "Effective  Date") as soon as
practicable  on the  Closing  Date  (as  herein  defined).  Unless  the  context
otherwise  requires,  the term "Agreement" as used herein refers collectively to
this  Agreement and the  Certificate  of Merger.  The closing of the Merger (the
"Closing")  shall take place at the  executive  offices of Thermo  Electron at a
time  and  date  to be  specified  by the  parties,  which  shall  be as soon as
practicable  after the  satisfaction  or waiver of the  conditions  set forth in
Article VI, or at such other time, date and location as the parties hereto agree
in writing (the "Closing Date").  At the Closing,  (i) the Company shall deliver
to Thermo  Electron the various  certificates  and  instruments  required  under
Article VI, (ii) Thermo Electron and Merger Sub shall deliver to the Company the
various  certificates and instruments required under Article VI and (iii) Merger
Sub and the Company  shall execute and file the  Certificate  of Merger with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,  in accordance  with the applicable
provisions of the DGCL.

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

      1.4.  Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws.

            (a)  Subject to the  requirements  of Section  5.10  hereof,  at the
Effective  Time, the  Certificate of  Incorporation  of Merger Sub, as in effect
immediately   prior  to  the  Effective  Time,   shall  be  the  Certificate  of
Incorporation of the Surviving  Corporation until thereafter amended as provided
by law and such Certificate of Incorporation.

                                       2
<PAGE>

            (b) Subject to the  requirements of Section 5.10 hereof,  the Bylaws
of Merger Sub, as in effect  immediately  prior to the Effective Time, shall be,
at the Effective Time, the Bylaws of the Surviving  Corporation until thereafter
amended.

      1.5.  Directors  and Officers.  The  directors of the Company  immediately
prior to the  Effective  Time shall be the initial  directors  of the  Surviving
Corporation,  to serve until their  respective  successors  are duly  elected or
appointed and qualified.  The officers of the Company  immediately  prior to the
Effective  Time shall be the  officers of the  Surviving  Corporation,  to serve
until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.

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

            (a) Exchange of the Company Common Stock.  Subject to the balance of
this  Section 1.6 and Section 1.11  hereof,  each share of Company  Common Stock
issued  and  outstanding  immediately  prior  to  the  Effective  Time  will  be
automatically  converted  into the right to receive  0.5503  share  (subject  to
adjustment  pursuant to Section  1.6(f)  hereof,  the  "Exchange  Ratio") of the
common stock,  $1.00 par value,  of Thermo Electron (the "Thermo Common Stock").
As of the Effective  Time, all shares of Company Common Stock shall no longer be
outstanding and shall be  automatically  canceled and retired and shall cease to
exist, and each holder of a certificate  representing any such shares of Company
Common  Stock shall cease to have any rights with  respect  thereto,  except the
right to receive the Merger  Consideration  (as defined in Section  1.7(b)) upon
surrender of the certificate  representing such share of Company Common Stock in
the  manner  provided  in  Section  1.7 (or in the  case of a  lost,  stolen  or
destroyed  certificate,  upon delivery of an affidavit  (and bond, if reasonably
required) in the manner provided in Section 1.9).

            (b) Stock  Options.  The Company and Thermo  Electron each shall use
its  reasonable  best  efforts to cause all options to purchase  Company  Common
Stock  outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective  Time under stock option
plans maintained or assumed by the Company and stock option  agreements  between
the  Company  and  certain of its  employees  existing  on the date  hereof (the
"Company Stock Option  Plans"),  to be converted into options to purchase Thermo
Common Stock in accordance with Section 5.8 hereof.

            (c) Convertible Debentures.  All Company convertible debentures (the
"Convertible  Debentures")  issued  pursuant to an Indenture dated as of October
28, 1997, by and among the Company,  Thermo Electron, and Bankers Trust Company,
as Trustee (as  supplemented  by the First  Supplemental  Indenture  dated as of
February 6, 1998) outstanding at the Effective Time shall remain the Convertible
Debentures  of the Company,  provided  however,  that in lieu of Company  Common
Stock being issuable upon conversion of such Convertible  Debentures,  after the
Effective  Time,  Thermo Common Stock shall be issuable upon  conversion of such
Convertible  Debentures  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of the  Indenture  as
supplemented.  At the Effective Time, the price at which Convertible  Debentures
then  outstanding will be convertible into Thermo Common Stock shall be adjusted
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, as supplemented.

                                       3
<PAGE>

            (d) Capital  Stock of Merger Sub.  Each share of common  stock,  par
value $.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding  immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one validly issued,  fully
paid and non-assessable  share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Surviving Corporation.

            (e) Treasury Stock;  Stock Held By Thermo Electron.  Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, each share of Company Common Stock issued
and outstanding and owned by Thermo Electron or any  wholly-owned  subsidiary of
Thermo  Electron,  together  with  all  shares  owned  by  the  Company  or  any
wholly-owned  subsidiary of the Company  immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall cease to be outstanding,  and shall automatically be cancelled and retired
without payment of any consideration therefor,  cash or otherwise,  and cease to
exist.

            (f)  Adjustments  to Exchange  Ratio.  The  Exchange  Ratio shall be
adjusted to reflect  fully the effect of any stock split,  reverse  stock split,
stock dividend (including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible
into, or exercisable or exchangeable  for, Company Common Stock or Thermo Common
Stock,  as the case may be),  recapitalization  or  other  like  change  without
receipt of consideration  with respect to either the Company Common Stock or the
Thermo  Common  Stock  occurring  on or after the date  hereof  and prior to the
Effective Time.

      1.7.  Surrender of Certificates.

            (a) Exchange  Agent.  Prior to the Effective  Time,  Thermo Electron
shall  authorize  Boston  Equiserve to act as the exchange  agent (the "Exchange
Agent") in the Merger.  At or prior to the Effective Time, Thermo Electron shall
deposit  with the  Exchange  Agent,  for the benefit of the holders of shares of
Company  Common Stock,  for exchange in accordance  with the  provisions of this
Article I, certificates  representing the shares of Thermo Common Stock and cash
in lieu of fractional shares issuable pursuant to this Agreement in exchange for
outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock.  The Thermo Common Stock into which
Company  Common Stock shall be converted  pursuant to the Merger shall be deemed
to have been issued at the Effective Time.

            (b) Exchange Procedures.  As soon as practicable after the Effective
Time,  Thermo  Electron shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of
record (as of the  Effective  Time) of a  certificate  (a  "Certificate"  or the
"Certificates")  representing  Company  Common Stock (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 delivery of the  Certificates to the
Exchange  Agent  and  shall  otherwise  be in such  form  and  have  such  other
provisions  as Thermo  Electron  may  reasonably  specify and as are  reasonably
acceptable to the Company) and (ii)  instructions  for effecting the exchange of
the Certificates for certificates representing shares of Thermo Common Stock, as
provided  herein.  Upon  surrender  of a  Certificate  for  cancellation  to the
Exchange  Agent,  together with such letter of  transmittal  duly  completed and
validly  executed in accordance with the  instructions  thereto,  the holders of
Company  Common  Stock  shall be  entitled  to  receive  in  exchange  for their


                                       4
<PAGE>

Certificates (x) a certificate  representing shares of Thermo Common Stock equal
to the Exchange Ratio multiplied by the number of shares of Company Common Stock
represented by such Certificate  (rounded down to the nearest whole share),  (y)
any dividends or other  distributions to which such holder is entitled  pursuant
to Section 1.10 hereof,  and (z) a check issued  pursuant to Section 1.11 hereof
for any  fractional  share  of  Thermo  Common  Stock,  and the  Certificate  so
surrendered  shall  forthwith  be  cancelled.  (The  consideration  specified in
clauses  (x),  (y) and (z) above are  referred to herein,  collectively,  as the
"Merger  Consideration").  In the event of a transfer of  ownership of shares of
Company  Common Stock which is not  registered  in the  transfer  records of the
Company as of the Effective Time, the Merger  Consideration,  shall be delivered
in accordance with this Article I to a transferee if the Certificate  evidencing
such shares is presented to the Exchange  Agent,  accompanied  by all  documents
required by law to evidence and effect such  transfer  pursuant to this Section.
Until so surrendered, each outstanding Certificate will be deemed from and after
the Effective  Time, for all corporate  purposes,  to evidence only the right to
receive shares of Thermo Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio for each share
of Company Common Stock  represented on such  Certificate,  and the other Merger
Consideration.

            (c) Transfers of Ownership.  If payment of the Exchange  Ratio is to
be made to any  person  other  than the  person  in whose  name the  Certificate
surrendered in exchange  therefor is registered,  it will be a condition of such
payment  that the  Certificate  so  surrendered  will be properly  endorsed  and
otherwise  in proper  form for  transfer  and that the  person  requesting  such
payment  will have paid to Thermo  Electron  or any agent  designated  by it any
transfer or other taxes required by reason of payment to a person other than the
registered  holder  of  the  Certificate  surrendered,  or  established  to  the
reasonable  satisfaction of Thermo  Electron or any agent  designated by it that
such tax has been paid or is not payable.

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

            (e)  Responsibility;  Term.  During the term of its engagement,  the
Exchange Agent shall be responsible  for  delivering  certificates  representing
Thermo  Common  Stock and the  other  Merger  Consideration  to the  holders  of
properly endorsed Certificates that are returned to the Exchange Agent. Promptly
following  the date that is six months after the  Effective  Date,  the Exchange
Agent shall,  upon request by Thermo  Electron,  deliver to Thermo  Electron all
cash, Certificates,  certificates representing shares of Thermo Common Stock and
other documents in its possession relating to the transactions described in this
Agreement,  and the Exchange  Agent's duties shall terminate.  Thereafter,  each
holder of a Certificate formerly representing shares of Company Common Stock may
surrender  such  Certificate  to Thermo  Electron  and  (subject  to  applicable
abandoned property, escheat and similar laws) shall receive in exchange therefor
the Merger Consideration  represented by such Certificate,  without any interest
thereon.

      1.8.  No Further  Ownership  Rights in Company  Common  Stock.  The Thermo
Common Stock and cash, if any,  delivered to the holders of Company Common Stock
upon the  surrender  of shares of Company  Common Stock in  accordance  with the
terms hereof shall be deemed to have been delivered in full  satisfaction of all
rights pertaining to such shares of Company Common Stock.

                                       5
<PAGE>

      1.9. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event any Certificates
shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed,  the Exchange Agent shall deliver the
certificates representing Thermo Common Stock and the other Merger Consideration
in respect of such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates, upon the making of an
affidavit of that fact by the holder  thereof;  provided,  however,  that,  as a
condition  precedent to the payment thereof,  the owner of such lost,  stolen or
destroyed  Certificates  shall deliver a bond in such sum as Thermo  Electron or
the Exchange Agent may reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that may
be made  against  Thermo  Electron  or the  Exchange  Agent with  respect to the
Certificates  alleged  to have been lost,  stolen or  destroyed,  unless  Thermo
Electron waives such requirement in writing.

      1.10. Dividends. No dividends or other distributions that are payable to a
holder of record of Thermo  Common Stock as of a date on or after the  Effective
Time shall be paid to the holder of Company  Common Stock  entitled by reason of
the Merger to receive  Thermo  Common  Stock  until such holder  surrenders  its
Certificates  in  accordance  with Section  1.7(b) or provide an  affidavit  and
indemnity in  accordance  with Section 1.9.  Upon such  surrender,  the Exchange
Agent or  Thermo  Electron  (in the event  that the  Exchange  Agent's  term has
expired),  shall pay or  deliver to the  persons in whose name the  certificates
representing  such  Thermo  Common  Stock  are  issued  any  dividends  or other
distributions  that are payable to the holders of record of Thermo  Common Stock
as of a date on or after the  Effective  Time and which  were paid or  delivered
between the Effective Time and the time of such surrender; provided that no such
person  shall be  entitled to receive any  interest on such  dividends  or other
distributions.

      1.11. Fractional Shares. No certificates or scrip representing  fractional
shares of Thermo Common Stock shall be issued to holders of Company Common Stock
upon the surrender for exchange of  Certificates,  and such holders shall not be
entitled to any voting rights,  rights to receive any dividends or distributions
or other  rights  as a  stockholder  of  Thermo  Electron  with  respect  to any
fractional  shares of Thermo Common Stock that would otherwise be issued to such
holders.  In lieu of any  fractional  shares of Thermo  Common  Stock that would
otherwise  be issued,  each holder of Company  Common Stock that would have been
entitled to receive a fractional share of Thermo Common Stock shall, upon proper
surrender of such person's Certificates,  receive a cash payment (rounded to the
nearest  cent) equal to the closing  price per share of Thermo  Common  Stock as
reported in the  consolidated  transaction  reporting  system on the trading day
immediately  preceding the Closing  Date,  multiplied by the fraction of a share
that such holder would otherwise be entitled to receive  (rounded to the nearest
hundredth of a share).

      1.12. Closing of Transfer Books. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer
books of the Company  shall be closed and no transfer  of Company  Common  Stock
shall  thereafter  be made.  If,  after the  Effective  Time,  Certificates  are
presented  to Thermo  Electron,  they shall be canceled  and  exchanged  for the
Merger Consideration in accordance with Article I.

      1.13.  Taking of Necessary Action;  Further Action.  If, at any time after
the Effective  Time,  any further  action is necessary or desirable to carry out
the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving  Corporation  with full
right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges,  powers
and  franchises of the Company and Merger Sub, the officers and directors of the
Surviving Corporation are fully authorized in the name of the Company and Merger
Sub or otherwise to take, and will take,  all such lawful and necessary  action,
so long as such action is consistent with this Agreement.

                                       6
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE II
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

      The Company  represents and warrants to Thermo  Electron and Merger Sub as
follows:

      2.1. Organization of the Company. The Company and each of its subsidiaries
is a corporation or other legal entity duly organized,  validly  existing and in
good  standing  under  the  laws of the  jurisdiction  of its  incorporation  or
organization,  has the corporate or similar power to own,  lease and operate its
property and to carry on its business as now being  conducted and as proposed by
the Company to be  conducted,  and is duly  qualified to do business and in good
standing as a foreign  corporation or other legal entity in each jurisdiction in
which the failure to be so qualified would have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company. In this Agreement, the term "Material Adverse Effect" used in reference
to the  Company  means any  event,  change or effect,  that is or is  reasonably
likely to be,  individually  or in the aggregate  with other events,  changes or
effects, materially adverse to the financial condition, results of operations or
business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

      2.2.  Company  Capital  Structure.  The  authorized  capital  stock of the
Company consists of 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share,
of which there were  22,369,097  shares issued and  outstanding as of October 2,
1999, and 933,421 shares in treasury.  All outstanding  shares of Company Common
Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are
not  subject  to  preemptive  rights  created by  statute,  the  Certificate  of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any agreement or document to which the
Company is a party or by which it is bound.  As of October 2, 1999, an aggregate
of 1,731,685 shares of Company Common Stock, net of exercises, were reserved for
issuance  to  employees,  consultants  and  non-employee  directors  pursuant to
Company  Stock  Option  Plans,  under  which  options  were  outstanding  for an
aggregate  of  1,020,960  shares as of such  date;  3,294,369  shares of Company
Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon the  conversion of the  Convertible
Debentures,  46,081 shares of Company Stock were reserved for issuance under the
Company  Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and 22,500 shares of Company Common Stock
were reserved for issuance  under the Company  Directors  Deferred  Compensation
Plan.  As of  November  8, 1999,  764,178  shares of Company  Common  Stock were
reserved for issuance  under stock  option  plans  maintained  or assumed by the
Company  relating  to the  issuance  of  common  stock  of  Trex  Communications
Corporation  which have been  converted  to options  to acquire  Company  Common
Stock. All shares of Company Common Stock subject to issuance as aforesaid, upon
issuance on the terms and conditions  specified in the  instruments  pursuant to
which they are issuable,  would be duly authorized,  validly issued,  fully paid
and non-assessable.

      2.3.  Authority.

            (a) The Company has all requisite  corporate  power and authority to
enter  into this  Agreement  and to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly  authorized  by all  necessary
corporate  action on the part of the  Company,  subject  only to the adoption of
this  Agreement by the Company's  stockholders  by the  affirmative  vote of the
holders of a majority of the  outstanding  shares of Company  Common  Stock (the
"Company  Vote") and the filing of the  Certificate  of Merger  pursuant  to the
DGCL.  Under the DGCL,  the Company's  stockholders  may adopt this Agreement by
vote of the holders of a majority of the  outstanding  shares of Company  Common
Stock.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company,  and
assuming the due  authorization,  execution and delivery by Thermo  Electron and
Merger  Sub,  constitutes  the  valid and  binding  obligation  of the  Company,
enforceable  in  accordance  with  its  terms  (except  as  may  be  limited  by
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting the
rights of creditors generally and the availability of equitable  remedies).  The
execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  by the  Company  do  not,  and the
performance  of this  Agreement by the Company  will not,  (i) conflict  with or
violate  the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of the  Company  or (ii)
subject to obtaining the Company Vote and compliance with the  requirements  set
forth  in  Section  2.3(b)  below,  conflict  with or  violate  any  law,  rule,
regulation,  order,  judgment or decree  applicable to the Company or any of its
material  subsidiaries or by which its or their respective  properties is bound,
except,  with  respect  to  clause  (ii),  for any such  conflicts,  violations,
defaults or other  occurrences  that would not have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company or the Surviving Corporation.

            (b)  No   consent,   approval,   order  or   authorization   of,  or
registration,  declaration  or filing with any court,  administrative  agency or
commission  or  other   governmental   or   regulatory   body  or  authority  or
instrumentality  ("Governmental  Entity") is required by or with  respect to the
Company in connection  with the execution and delivery of this  Agreement or the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby, except for (i) the filing
of the  Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of Delaware,  (ii) the
filing  by the  Company  and  Thermo  Electron  of the Proxy  Statement  and the


                                       7
<PAGE>

Registration Statement (as defined in Section 5.1), respectively,  with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in accordance with the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act") and the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and the effectiveness of such Registration
Statement,  and (iii) such other consents,  approvals,  orders,  authorizations,
registrations,  declarations  and  filings as may be required  under  applicable
federal and state securities laws.

      2.4.  Board  Approval.  The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company,  upon
recommendation  of the Special  Committee  that this  Agreement,  including  the
Exchange  Ratio,  is fair to, and in the best interests of, the  stockholders of
the Company (other than Thermo  Electron and its  subsidiaries),  has, as of the
date of this  Agreement,  unanimously  (i) adopted a resolution  approving  this
Agreement and declaring its  advisability,  (ii)  determined  that the Merger is
fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its  stockholders  (other
than Thermo Electron and its  subsidiaries),  and (iii)  determined to recommend
that the stockholders of the Company vote to adopt this Agreement.

      2.5. Fairness Opinion.  The Special Committee has received an opinion from
the  Financial  Advisor  dated  December  14,  1999 that,  as of such date,  the
consideration  to be received  by the  Company's  stockholders  in the Merger is
fair, from a financial point of view, to the Company's  stockholders  other than
Thermo Electron and its subsidiaries.

                                       8
<PAGE>

      2.6 Registration Statement, Proxy Statement/Prospectus. The information to
be supplied by or on behalf of the Company  for  inclusion  in the  Registration
Statement   (including  any   information   incorporated  by  reference  in  the
Registration  Statement  from other  filings  made by the Company  with the SEC)
shall not at the time the  Registration  Statement  becomes  effective under the
Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any  material  fact  necessary  in  order  to make the  statements  therein  not
misleading in light of the circumstances  under which they were made. Other than
with respect to the  information  supplied by or on behalf of Thermo Electron or
the Merger Sub, the Proxy Statement shall not on the date the Proxy Statement is
first mailed to stockholders or at the time of the Company Stockholders' Meeting
(as defined in Section 5.1(b)),  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 statement therein,  in light of the circumstances  under which
they are made, not false or misleading.  The Proxy  Statement will comply (other
than with respect to information  relating to Thermo Electron and/or Merger Sub)
as to form in all material  respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations thereunder.

                                   ARTICLE III
       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THERMO ELECTRON AND MERGER SUB

      Thermo  Electron  and Merger Sub,  jointly and  severally,  represent  and
warrant to the Company as follows:

      3.1.  Organization.  Thermo  Electron  is a  corporation  duly  organized,
validly  existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the State of Delaware
and Merger Sub is a corporation  duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,  and each material  subsidiary
of Thermo  Electron is duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good  standing
under the law of the state its  organization,  each has the  corporate  power to
own,  lease and operate its  property  and to carry on its business as now being
conducted and as proposed to be conducted,  and is duly qualified to do business
and in good standing as a foreign  corporation in each jurisdiction in which the
failure  to be so  qualified  would  have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on Thermo
Electron.  In  this  Agreement,  the  term  "Material  Adverse  Effect"  used in
reference to Thermo  Electron means any event,  change or effect,  that is or is
reasonably  likely to be,  individually  or in the aggregate  with other events,
changes or effects,  materially adverse to the financial  condition,  results of
operations  or  business of Thermo  Electron  and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a
whole.

      3.2.  Authority.

            (a)  Each of  Thermo  Electron  and  Merger  Sub  has all  requisite
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions  contemplated  hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly
authorized by all necessary  corporate action on the part of Thermo Electron and
Merger Sub,  subject only to the filing of the Certificate of Merger pursuant to
the DGCL.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of Thermo
Electron  and Merger Sub and,  assuming  the due  authorization,  execution  and
delivery of this Agreement by the Company,  this Agreement constitutes the valid
and binding obligation of each of Thermo Electron and Merger Sub, enforceable in
accordance  with its terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency,


                                       9
<PAGE>

moratorium,  reorganization  or similar laws  affecting  the rights of creditors
generally  and the  availability  of  equitable  remedies).  The  execution  and
delivery of this Agreement by each of Thermo Electron and Merger Sub do not, and
the performance of this Agreement by each of Thermo Electron and Merger Sub will
not, (i) conflict with or violate the Certificate of  Incorporation or Bylaws of
Thermo Electron or the Certificate of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of Merger Sub or
of any material  subsidiary,  direct or indirect,  of Thermo Electron (including
Merger Sub, but excluding the Company and its  subsidiaries)  (each, a "Material
Thermo Subsidiary"),  (ii) subject to compliance with the requirements set forth
in Section  3.2(c) below,  conflict with or violate any law,  rule,  regulation,
order,  judgment or decree  applicable to Thermo Electron or any Material Thermo
Subsidiaries or by which its or any of their  respective  properties is bound or
affected,  or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event
that with  notice or lapse of time or both  would  become a default)  under,  or
impair Thermo  Electron's rights or alter the rights or obligations of any third
party  under,  or  give  to  others  any  rights  of   termination,   amendment,
acceleration  or  cancellation  of,  or  result  in the  creation  of a lien  or
encumbrance  on any of the  properties  or  assets  of  Thermo  Electron  or any
Material Thermo Subsidiaries  pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage,  indenture,
contract,  agreement,  lease, license,  permit, franchise or other instrument or
obligation to which Thermo  Electron or any Material  Thermo  Subsidiaries  is a
party or by which Thermo Electron or any Material Thermo  Subsidiaries or its or
any of their respective  properties are bound or affected,  except, with respect
to clauses (ii) and (iii), for any such conflicts, violations, defaults or other
occurrences that would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Thermo Electron.

      (b) All shares of Thermo  Common Stock  issuable in  accordance  with this
Agreement,  and shares of Thermo  Common Stock which will be subject to issuance
pursuant to Company Stock Option Plans or the Convertible  Debentures will, upon
issuance,  be duly authorized,  validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and
not  subject  to  preemptive  rights  created by  statute,  the  Certificate  of
Incorporation or Bylaws of Thermo Electron or any other agreement or document to
which Thermo Electron is a party or by which it is bound.

      (c) No consent,  approval,  order or  authorization  of, or  registration,
declaration  or  filing  with any  Governmental  Entity is  required  by or with
respect to Thermo  Electron or Merger Sub in  connection  with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions  contemplated
hereby,  except  for (i) the  filing  of the  Certificate  of  Merger  with  the
Secretary of State of Delaware,  (ii) the filing of the Proxy  Statement and the
Registration  Statement  (as defined in Section 5.1) with the SEC in  accordance
with the  Securities  Act and the Exchange  Act, and the  effectiveness  of such
Registration  Statement,  and (iii)  such  other  consents,  approvals,  orders,
authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under
applicable federal and state securities laws.

3.3.  Capitalization

      (a)  The  authorized   capital  stock  of  Thermo  Electron   consists  of
350,000,000  shares of Thermo Common Stock,  par value $1.00 per share, of which
there were 158,236,781  shares issued and outstanding as of October 2, 1999, and
9,011,451  shares in  treasury  as of  October 2,  1999,  and  50,000  shares of
preferred  stock,  $100 par value per share,  of which  40,000  shares have been
designated  Series B Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock,  none of which are
issued and outstanding. All of the outstanding shares of Thermo Common Stock are


                                       10
<PAGE>

duly  authorized,  validly  issued,  fully paid and  non-assessable  and are not
subject  to  preemptive   rights   created  by  statute,   the   Certificate  of
Incorporation or Bylaws of Thermo Electron or any agreement or document to which
Thermo  Electron is a party or by which it is bound.  As of October 2, 1999,  an
aggregate of 15,653,373  shares of Thermo Common Stock,  net of exercises,  were
reserved for  issuance to  employees,  consultants  and  non-employee  directors
pursuant  to stock  option  plans  maintained  by Thermo  Electron,  under which
options are outstanding for an aggregate of 11,912,116  shares. As of October 2,
1999, an aggregate of 15,476,191 shares of Thermo Common Stock were reserved for
issuance  upon  the  conversion  of  convertible  debentures  issued  by  Thermo
Electron.  All shares of Thermo  Common Stock  subject to issuance as aforesaid,
upon issuance on the terms and conditions  specified in the instruments pursuant
to which they are issuable, will be duly authorized,  validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable.  There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness
of Thermo  Electron  issued and  outstanding  which  have  rights to vote in the
election of  directors  of Thermo  Electron.  Except as  described in the Thermo
Reports (as defined in Section  3.4) filed prior to the date of this  Agreement,
there are no other material  outstanding options,  warrants,  equity securities,
subscriptions,  calls,  rights,  commitments  or  agreements of any character to
which Thermo  Electron or any of its  subsidiaries  is a party or by which it is
bound,  obligating  Thermo  Electron to issue,  deliver or sell,  or cause to be
issued,  delivered or sold,  additional  shares of capital stock or other equity
securities of Thermo  Electron or obligating  Thermo  Electron to grant or enter
into any such option,  warrant,  equity  security,  call,  right,  commitment or
agreement.

      (b) Since  October  2,  1999,  there have been no  material  issuances  of
options, warrants, equity securities,  subscriptions, calls, rights, commitments
or  agreements  of  any  character  to  which  Thermo  Electron  or  any  of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound,  obligating  Thermo Electron to
issue,  deliver or sell,  or cause to be issued,  delivered or sold,  additional
shares  of  capital  stock or other  equity  securities  of Thermo  Electron  or
obligating  Thermo  Electron  to grant or enter into any such  option,  warrant,
equity security, call, right, commitment or agreement.

      (c) As of the date of this Agreement,  no Stock  Acquisition Date or other
event that would result in the  occurrence of a  Distribution  Date has occurred
(as such terms are defined in the Rights  Agreement  dated  January 19, 1996, as
amended,  by and between  Thermo  Electron  and  BankBoston,  N.A.  (the "Rights
Agreement")),  with respect to the rights to purchase a unit  consisting  of one
ten-thousandth  of a share of Thermo  Electron's  Series B Junior  Participating
Preferred Stock pursuant to the Rights Agreement.

      3.4 Reports and Financial  Statements.  Thermo Electron has made available
to the Company complete and accurate copies, as amended or supplemented,  of (a)
its  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal  year  ended  January 3, 1998 as
filed with the SEC, and (b) all other reports filed by Thermo  Electron with the
SEC under  Sections  13 or 14 of the  Exchange  Act since  January 3, 1998 (such
reports are  collectively  referred to herein as the  "Thermo  Reports").  Since
October 2, 1999, there has been no change in the business,  financial  condition
or results of operations  of Thermo  Electron that has resulted or is reasonably
likely to result in a Material  Adverse Effect on Thermo  Electron.  As of their
respective  dates, the Thermo Reports (i) complied in all material respects with
the  requirements  of the  Exchange  Act and  the  applicable  rules  of the SEC
thereunder  and (ii) 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


                                       11
<PAGE>

the  statements  therein,  in light of the  circumstances  under which they were
made, not misleading.  The audited  financial  statements and unaudited  interim
financial  statements of Thermo Electron included in the Thermo Reports (in each
case including the notes thereto) (i) comply as to form in all material respects
with applicable accounting  requirements and the published rules and regulations
of the SEC with respect  thereto,  (ii) have been  prepared in  accordance  with
generally  accepted   accounting   principles  applied  on  a  consistent  basis
throughout the periods covered thereby (except as may be indicated therein or in
the  notes  thereto,  and in the  case of  quarterly  financial  statements,  as
permitted by Form 10-Q under the Exchange  Act),  (iii) fairly  present,  in all
material respects,  the consolidated  financial condition,  results of operation
and cash flows of Thermo Electron as of the respective dates thereof and for the
periods referred to therein,  and (iv) are consistent with the books and records
of Thermo  Electron.  There are no liabilities of Thermo  Electron which are not
disclosed  in the Thermo  Reports  which  would be  reasonably  likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Thermo Electron.

      3.5 Merger Sub.  Since the date of its  incorporation,  Merger Sub has not
engaged in any activities  other than in connection  with or as  contemplated by
this Agreement.

      3.6 Registration Statement;  Proxy  Statement/Prospectus.  Other than with
respect  to  the  information  supplied  or on  behalf  of by the  Company,  the
Registration Statement shall not, at the time the Registration Statement becomes
effective under the Securities Act,  contain any untrue  statement of a material
fact  or omit to  state  any  material  fact  necessary  in  order  to make  the
statements  included therein not misleading.  The information  supplied by or on
behalf of Thermo  Electron for inclusion in the Proxy  Statement  (including any
information  incorporated by reference in the Proxy Statement from other filings
made by Thermo Electron with the SEC) shall not, on the date the Proxy Statement
is first  mailed to  stockholders  or at the time of the  Company  Stockholders'
Meeting,  contain any untrue  statement of a material  fact or omit to state any
material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
false  or  misleading.   The  Proxy  Statement  will  comply  (with  respect  to
information  relating to Thermo  Electron) as to form in all  material  respects
with  the  provisions  of  the  Exchange  Act  and  the  rules  and  regulations
thereunder.

      3.7 Compliance with Law. Except as described in the Thermo Reports,  there
is no suit,  claim,  action,  proceeding,  arbitration,  review or investigation
pending or  threatened in writing  against  Thermo  Electron,  Merger Sub or any
subsidiary  of Thermo  Electron  (other than the  Company and its  subsidiaries)
before any  governmental  entity  that,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  is
reasonably  likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on Thermo Electron.  Except
as described in the Thermo Reports,  none of Thermo Electron,  Merger Sub or any
subsidiary of Thermo Electron (other than the Company and its  subsidiaries)  is
in conflict with, or in default or violation of, (i) any law applicable to it or
by which  any of its  properties  or  assets  is bound or  affected  or (ii) any
franchise, grant, authorization, license, permit, easement, variance, exception,
consent, certificate, approval or order of any governmental entity necessary for
Thermo Electron, Merger Sub or any subsidiary of Thermo Electron (other than the
Company and its  subsidiaries)  to own,  lease and operate its  properties or to
carry  on its  business  as it is now  being  conducted,  except  for  any  such
conflicts,  defaults or violations that would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material  Adverse Effect on Thermo Electron or to prevent or materially  delay
the performance of this Agreement by Thermo Electron and Merger Sub.


                                       12
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IV
                       CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME

      4.1.  Conduct of Business by the Company.  During the period from the date
of this  Agreement and continuing  until the earlier of the  termination of this
Agreement pursuant to its terms or the Effective Time, the Company shall, except
for  such  actions  which  are  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or  reasonably
appropriate in connection with the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
and except as  consented  to by Thermo  Electron,  carry on its  business in the
usual,  regular  and  ordinary  course,  in  substantially  the same  manner  as
heretofore  conducted,  pay its debts and taxes  when due  subject to good faith
disputes  over such debts or taxes,  pay or perform other  material  obligations
when due,  and use its  commercially  reasonable  efforts  consistent  with past
practices  and policies to preserve  intact its present  business  organization,
keep  available the services of its present  officers and employees and preserve
its relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees,
and others with which it has business dealings.

                                    ARTICLE V
                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

      5.1.  Registration Statement; Other Filings.

            (a)  As  promptly  as  practicable   after  the  execution  of  this
Agreement,  the Company and Thermo  Electron will jointly  prepare and file with
the  SEC  a  preliminary   proxy  statement  (with   appropriate   requests  for
confidential  treatment)  relating to the Merger and this Agreement  (such proxy
statement,  as  amended or  supplemented,  the  "Proxy  Statement"),  and Thermo
Electron will prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4
(as amended or supplemented,  the "Registration Statement"),  in which the Proxy
Statement  shall  be  included  as  a  prospectus.   Thermo  Electron  will  use
commercially  reasonable  efforts  to cause  the  Registration  Statement  to be
declared  effective  under the Securities Act as soon as practicable  after such
filing,  and will take all actions  required under  applicable  federal or state
securities  laws in  connection  with the issuance of Thermo Common Stock in the
Merger.  Each  party  will  notify the other  promptly  upon the  receipt of any
comments from the SEC or its staff and of any request by the SEC or its staff or
any other  government  officials  for  amendments  or  supplements  to the Proxy
Statement,  the  Registration  Statement or any other  filing or for  additional
information  and will supply the other  party with copies of all  correspondence
between such party or any of its representatives,  on the one hand, and the SEC,
or its staff or any other government officials,  on the other hand, with respect
to the Registration  Statement,  the Proxy Statement or the Merger. Whenever any
event occurs that is required to be set forth in an amendment or  supplement  to
the  Registration  Statement or the Proxy  Statement,  the  relevant  party will
promptly  inform the other party of such occurrence and cooperate in filing with
the SEC or its  staff or any  other  government  officials,  and/or  mailing  to
stockholders of the Company, such amendment or supplement.

            (b) The  information  supplied by the Company for  inclusion  in the
Registration  Statement (including any information  incorporated by reference in
the Registration  Statement from other filings made by the Company with the SEC)
will not, at the time the  Registration  Statement  (including any amendments or
supplements  thereto)  is  declared  effective  by the SEC,  contain  any untrue


                                       13
<PAGE>

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 were made, not misleading.  The information
supplied by the Company for  inclusion in the Proxy  Statement to be sent to the
stockholders  of the Company in  connection  with the  meeting of the  Company's
stockholders  to consider  the  adoption of this  Agreement  and approval of the
Merger  (the  "Company   Stockholders'   Meeting")  (including  any  information
incorporated  by reference in the Proxy Statement from other filings made by the
Company  with the  SEC)  will  not,  on the date  the  Proxy  Statement  (or any
amendment  thereof  or  supplement  thereto)  is  first  mailed  to the  Company
stockholders and at the time of the Company Stockholders'  Meeting,  contain any
statement which, at such time and in light of the  circumstances  under which it
shall be made,  is false or  misleading  with respect to any material  fact,  or
shall omit to state any material fact  necessary in order to make the statements
made therein not false or misleading in light of the  circumstances  under which
they were made,  or omit to state any  material  fact  necessary  to correct any
statement  in any earlier  communication  with  respect to the  solicitation  of
proxies  for the  Company  Stockholders'  Meeting  which  has  become  false  or
misleading.

            (c) The  information  supplied by Thermo Electron and Merger Sub for
inclusion in the Registration Statement (including any information  incorporated
by reference in the  Registration  Statement  from other  filings made by Thermo
Electron  with the  SEC)  will  not,  at the  time  the  Registration  Statement
(including any amendments or supplements  thereto) is declared  effective by the
SEC,  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 were made,
not misleading.  The information  supplied by Thermo Electron and Merger Sub for
inclusion in the Proxy  Statement to be sent to the  stockholders of the Company
in connection with the Company  Stockholders' Meeting (including any information
incorporated  by reference  in the Proxy  Statement  from other  filings made by
Thermo  Electron with the SEC) will not, on the date the Proxy Statement (or any
amendment  thereof  or  supplement  thereto)  is  first  mailed  to the  Company
stockholders and at the time of the Company Stockholders'  Meeting,  contain any
statement which, at such time and in light of the  circumstances  under which it
shall be made,  is false or  misleading  with respect to any material  fact,  or
shall omit to state any material fact  necessary in order to make the statements
made therein not false or misleading in light of the  circumstances  under which
they were made,  or omit to state any  material  fact  necessary  to correct any
statement  in any earlier  communication  with  respect to the  solicitation  of
proxies  for the  Company  Stockholders'  Meeting  which  has  become  false  or
misleading.

            (d) The Proxy  Statement  will  include  the  recommendation  of the
Special  Committee  in favor of  approval  of this  Agreement  (except  that the
Special   Committee   may   withdraw,   modify  or  refrain   from  making  such
recommendation  to the  extent  that  the  Special  Committee  determines  after
consultation  with outside legal counsel that failure to do so would violate the
Special Committee's fiduciary duties under applicable law).

            (e) The Proxy Statement will include the recommendation of the Board
of Directors of the Company in favor of approval of this Agreement  (except that
the Board of  Directors  of the Company  may  withdraw,  modify or refrain  from
making  such  recommendation  to the  extent  that the  Board  determines  after
consultation  with outside legal counsel that failure to do so would violate the
Board's fiduciary duties under applicable law).

                                       14
<PAGE>

            (f) To the extent that the Special Committee or the Board withdraws,
modifies or refrains from making their  respective  recommendations  pursuant to
Sections 5.1(d) or (e) hereof, the Proxy Statement will reflect such action.

      5.2. Meeting of the Company Stockholders.  Promptly after the date hereof,
the  Company  will,  in  accordance   with  the  DGCL  and  its  Certificate  of
Incorporation and Bylaws, use its reasonable best efforts to convene the Company
Stockholders'  Meeting to be held as promptly as practicable  for the purpose of
voting  upon this  Agreement.  Unless the  Special  Committee  determines  after
consultation with outside legal counsel that to do so would be inconsistent with
the Board's or the Special  Committee's  fiduciary  duties under applicable law,
the  Company  will  use  its  reasonable   best  efforts  to  solicit  from  its
stockholders  proxies in favor of the approval of this  Agreement and the Merger
and to take all other  reasonable  action  necessary  or advisable to secure the
vote  or  consent  of its  stockholders  required  by the  DGCL to  obtain  such
approvals.  Thermo Electron shall vote, or cause to be voted, all of the Company
Common  Stock  then  owned  by it and any of its  subsidiaries  in  favor of the
approval of this Agreement and the Merger.

      5.3. Access to Information.  Subject to applicable legal restrictions, the
Company  will afford  Thermo  Electron  and its  accountants,  counsel and other
representatives   reasonable   access  during  normal   business  hours  to  its
properties,  books,  records  and  personnel  during  the  period  prior  to the
Effective Time to obtain all information  concerning its  businesses,  including
the status of its product development efforts, properties, results of operations
and personnel, as Thermo Electron may reasonably request. Thermo Electron hereto
agrees that it will, and will cause its  representatives and agents to, keep all
such information  confidential and will not, and will cause its  representatives
or agents not to, use any information  obtained pursuant to this Section 5.3 for
any purpose  unrelated to the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by
this  Agreement.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  Thermo  Electron shall not be
required to keep  confidential any information (i) which is or becomes generally
available to the public,  other than by wrongful  disclosure  by the  disclosing
party in violation  of this  Agreement  or (ii) which  becomes  available to the
disclosing  party  on a  nonconfidential  basis  from a  source  other  than the
nondisclosing party or any officer or director of such party.

      5.4. Public Disclosure.  Thermo Electron and the Company will consult with
each other  before  issuing  any press  release or  otherwise  making any public
statement  with respect to the Merger or this  Agreement  and will not issue any
such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation,
except  as may be  required  by law or any  listing  agreement  with a  national
securities  exchange.  Promptly  upon the  execution  hereof,  the parties shall
jointly make a press release with respect to the  transactions  contemplated  by
this Agreement, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Special Committee.

      5.5.  Legal  Requirements.  Each of Thermo  Electron,  Merger  Sub and the
Company  will use its  reasonable  best efforts to take all  reasonable  actions
necessary or desirable to comply promptly with all legal  requirements  that may
be  imposed  on  them  with  respect  to the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (including furnishing all information required in
connection  with  approvals  of or filings  with any  Governmental  Entity,  and
including  using its reasonable  best efforts to defend any litigation  prompted
hereby) and will promptly  cooperate  with and furnish  information to any party
hereto  necessary in connection with any such  requirements  imposed upon any of
them or their respective subsidiaries in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                                       15
<PAGE>

      5.6.  Notification  of  Certain  Matters.  Subject  to the  terms  of this
Agreement,  Thermo  Electron  and  Merger  Sub will  give  prompt  notice to the
Company,  and the Company  will give prompt  notice to Thermo  Electron,  of the
occurrence,  or failure to occur, of any event,  which  occurrence or failure to
occur would be  reasonably  likely to cause (a) any  representation  or warranty
contained in this  Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material  respect
at any time from the date of this  Agreement to the  Effective  Time, or (b) any
material  failure of Thermo Electron and Merger Sub or the Company,  as the case
may be, or of any officer,  director,  employee or agent thereof, to comply with
or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied
by it under this  Agreement.  Notwithstanding  the above,  the  delivery  of any
notice pursuant to this section will not limit or otherwise  affect the remedies
available hereunder to the party receiving such notice or the conditions to such
party's obligation to consummate the Merger.

      5.7. Best Efforts and Further Assurances. Subject to the respective rights
and obligations of Thermo Electron and the Company under this Agreement, each of
the parties to this Agreement will use its reasonable best efforts to effectuate
the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby and to fulfill  and
cause to be fulfilled the conditions to closing under this  Agreement,  it being
understood  that such  efforts  shall not include any  obligation  to settle any
litigation  prompted hereby.  Subject to the terms hereof, each party hereto, at
the  reasonable  request of another party hereto,  will execute and deliver such
other  instruments  and do and  perform  such  other  acts and  things as may be
reasonably  necessary or desirable for effecting  completely the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby.

      5.8.  Stock Option Plans; Reservation of Shares.

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

                                       16
<PAGE>

      (b) Thermo Electron will reserve  sufficient shares of Thermo Common Stock
for  issuance  under  this  Section  5.8  and  pursuant  to  conversion  of  the
Convertible Debentures.

      5.9.   Thermo  Electron  Form  S-8.  Thermo  Electron  agrees  to  file  a
registration  statement  on Form S-8 or, if  possible,  an  amendment  to Thermo
Electron's then effective  registration statement on Form S-8, for the shares of
Thermo Common Stock  issuable with respect to the assumed  Company Stock Options
and shall use its best efforts to keep such registration statement effective for
so long as any such options remain outstanding.

      5.10. Indemnification; Insurance.

            (a) The  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation  will contain the  provisions  with respect to  indemnification  and
elimination  of liability for monetary  damages set forth in the  Certificate of
Incorporation  and Bylaws of the Company,  which provisions will not be amended,
repealed or otherwise  modified for a period of six (6) years from the Effective
Time in any  manner  that  would  adversely  affect  the  rights  thereunder  of
individuals  who,  as of the date hereof and at any time from the date hereof to
the  Effective  Time,  were  directors or officers of the  Company,  unless such
modification  is required by law. The Surviving  Corporation  shall,  and Thermo
Electron  will cause the  Surviving  Corporation  to,  fulfill  and honor in all
respects  the  indemnification  obligations  of  the  Company  pursuant  to  the
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation  and the Bylaws of the Company as
in effect on the date of this Agreement.

            (b) For a period of six (6) years after the Effective  Time,  Thermo
Electron shall cause the Surviving  Corporation  to, either  directly or through
participation  in  Thermo  Electron's  umbrella  policy,  maintain  in  effect a
directors'  and officers'  liability  insurance  policy  covering  those Company
directors  and  officers  currently  covered  by  Thermo  Electron's   liability
insurance  policy  with  coverage  no less  favorable  in amount  and scope than
existing coverage for such Company directors and officers (which coverage may be
an  endorsement  extending  the  period in which  claims  may be made under such
existing  policy);  provided,  however,  that in no event  shall  the  Surviving
Corporation  be required to expend to  maintain  or procure  insurance  coverage
pursuant  to this  Section  5.10,  directly or through  participation  in Thermo
Electron's  policy,  an amount per annum in excess of 175% of the current annual
premiums,  as adjusted for  inflation  each year,  allocable  and payable by the
Company (the "Maximum Premium") with respect to such insurance; provided that if
the cost of such insurance  exceeds the Maximum Premium,  Thermo Electron shall,
and shall cause the Surviving  Company to, obtain the maximum amount of coverage
that can be purchased or maintained for the Maximum Premium.

            (c) This Section 5.10 shall survive the Effective  Time for a period
of six  (6)  years  and is  intended  to  benefit  the  Company,  the  Surviving
Corporation and those  individuals who, at the Effective Time, were directors or
officers of the Company and his or her heirs and  representatives  (each of whom
shall be entitled to enforce this Section  5.10 against  Thermo  Electron or the
Surviving  Corporation)  and shall be binding on all  successors  and assigns of
Thermo Electron and the Surviving Corporation.

                                       17
<PAGE>

      5.11.  Deferred  Compensation  Plan.  At the Effective  Time,  the Company
Directors  Deferred  Compensation  Plan will  terminate,  and the  Company  will
distribute  to each  participant  Thermo  Common Stock in amounts  determined by
multiplying  the Exchange  Ratio by the balance of stock units  credited to such
participant's deferred compensation account under the Company Directors Deferred
Compensation Plan as of the Effective Time.

      5.12  Compliance by Merger Sub.  Thermo Electron shall cause Merger Sub to
timely perform and comply with all of its  obligations  under or related to this
Agreement.

      5.13 NYSE Listing. Thermo Electron shall use its best efforts to cause all
shares of Thermo Common Stock issuable (i) to stockholders of the Company in the
Merger, (ii) upon conversion of the Convertible  Debentures,  and (iii) pursuant
to Company  Stock  Option Plans as assumed by Thermo  Electron  pursuant to this
Agreement,  to be authorized for listing on the New York Stock Exchange prior to
the Effective Time.

      5.14  Exemption  from  Liability  Under Section  16(b).  Assuming that the
Company  delivers  to Thermo  Electron  the Section 16  Information  (as defined
below) in a timely  fashion prior to the Effective  Time, the Board of Directors
of Thermo Electron,  or a committee of Non-Employee  Directors  thereof (as such
term is defined for purposes of Rule  16b-3(d)  under the Exchange  Act),  shall
reasonably  promptly  thereafter  and in any event prior to the  Effective  Time
adopt a  resolution  providing  that the  receipt by the  Company  Insiders  (as
defined  below) of Thermo Common Stock in exchange for shares of Company  Common
Stock,  and of options to purchase shares of Thermo Common Stock upon conversion
of options to purchase  shares of Company Common Stock, in each case pursuant to
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and to the extent  such  securities  are
listed in the Section 16 Information, are approved by such Board of Directors or
by such committee thereof, and are intended to be exempt from liability pursuant
to Section  16(b) under the Exchange Act, such that any such receipt shall be so
exempt.  As used  herein,  "Company  Insiders"  shall  mean those  officers  and
directors of the Company subject to the reporting  requirements of Section 16(a)
of the  Exchange  Act and who are  listed in the  Section  16  Information,  and
"Section 16  Information"  shall mean  accurate  information  regarding  Company
Insiders,  the  number of shares of Company  Common  Stock held or to be held by
each such Company  Insider  expected to be exchanged  for Thermo Common Stock in
the Merger,  and the number and description of the options to purchase shares of
Company  Common  Stock held by each such  Company  Insider  and  expected  to be
converted  into options to purchase  shares of Thermo Common Stock in connection
with the Merger.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                            CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER

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

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

                                       18
<PAGE>

            (b) Registration  Statements.  The Registration Statement shall have
been  declared   effective  by  the  SEC  and  no  stop  order   suspending  the
effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement  shall  have been  issued  and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC.

            (c) NYSE Listing. The Thermo Common Stock issuable (i) to holders of
Company Common Stock,  (ii) upon conversion of the Convertible  Debentures,  and
(iii)  pursuant  to Company  Stock  Option  Plans as assumed by Thermo  Electron
pursuant to this  Agreement,  shall have been  authorized for listing on the New
York Stock Exchange.

            (d) Rights Agreement.  No Stock Acquisition Date or other event that
would result in the  occurrence of a  Distribution  Date shall have occurred (as
such terms are defined in the Rights  Agreement),  with respect to the rights to
purchase a unit consisting of one ten-thousandth of a share of Thermo Electron's
Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock pursuant to the Rights Agreement.

      6.2. Additional  Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligations
of the  Company to  consummate  and  effect  the Merger  shall be subject to the
satisfaction  at or  prior  to the  Effective  Time  of  each  of the  following
conditions,  any of which may be waived, in writing,  exclusively by the Company
(provided that the Special Committee shall have consented in writing to any such
waiver):

            (a)   Representations   and  Warranties.   The  representations  and
warranties of Thermo  Electron and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement  shall
be true and correct in all material respects (other than those already qualified
by a materiality  standard,  which shall be true and correct in all respects) on
and as of the Effective Time, except for changes expressly  contemplated by this
Agreement  and except for those  representations  and  warranties  that  address
matters only as of a particular  date (which shall remain true and correct as of
such  particular  date),  with the same force and effect as if made on and as of
the Effective  Time;  and the Company shall have received a certificate  to such
effect signed on behalf of Thermo  Electron by the  President,  Chief  Executive
Officer or Vice President of Thermo Electron.

            (b) Agreements and Covenants.  Thermo  Electron and Merger Sub shall
have  performed or complied in all material  respects  with all  agreements  and
covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by them on
or  prior  to the  Effective  Time,  and  the  Company  shall  have  received  a
certificate to such effect signed on behalf of Thermo Electron by the President,
Chief Executive Officer or Vice President of Thermo Electron.

            (c)  Stockholder  Approval.  This Agreement shall have been approved
and  adopted by the  requisite  vote under the DGCL by the  stockholders  of the
Company.

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

                                       19
<PAGE>

            (a)   Representations   and  Warranties.   The  representations  and
warranties of the Company  contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct
on and as of the  Effective  Time,  except  for  changes  contemplated  by  this
Agreement  and except for those  representations  and  warranties  that  address
matters only as of a particular  date (which shall remain true and correct as of
such  particular  date),  with the same force and effect as if made on and as of
the Effective Time,  except, in all such cases,  where the failure to be so true
and correct would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company;  and Thermo
Electron and Merger Sub shall have received a certificate  to such effect signed
on behalf of the  Company  by the  President,  Chief  Executive  Officer or Vice
President of the Company.

            (b) Agreements  and  Covenants.  The Company shall have performed or
complied in all material respects with all agreements and covenants  required by
this  Agreement  to be  performed  or  complied  with by it on or  prior  to the
Effective  Time,  and Thermo  Electron shall have received a certificate to such
effect signed on behalf of the Company by the President, Chief Executive Officer
or Vice President of the Company.

            (c) No Withdrawal of Special Committee  Recommendation.  The Special
Committee shall not have withdrawn its  recommendation to the Board of Directors
to approve this Agreement.

            (d)  Certificate   Regarding  No  Material  Adverse  Change.  Thermo
Electron and Merger Sub shall have  received a  certificate  signed on behalf of
the Company by the President,  Chief Executive  Officer or Vice President of the
Company  stating  that  there  has  been no  change  since  July 3,  1999 in the
business,  financial condition, or results of operations of the Company that has
resulted in or is reasonably  likely to result in a Material  Adverse  Effect on
the Company.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                        TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

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

            (a) by mutual  written  consent  duly  authorized  by the  Boards of
Directors  of Merger Sub and the Company  (with the  concurrence  of the Special
Committee);

            (b) by either  the  Company  (with the  concurrence  of the  Special
Committee)  or Merger Sub if the Merger shall not have been  consummated  by May
31, 2000;  provided,  however,  that the right to terminate this Agreement under
this Section  7.1(b) shall not be available to any party whose action or failure
to act has been a principal cause of or resulted in the failure of the Merger to
occur on or before  such date if such  action or  failure to act  constitutes  a
breach of this Agreement;

            (c) by either  the  Company  (with the  concurrence  of the  Special
Committee) or Merger Sub if a court of competent  jurisdiction or  governmental,
regulatory or  administrative  agency or commission  shall have issued an order,
decree or ruling or taken any other action (an "Order"),  in any case having the
effect of  permanently  restraining,  enjoining  or  otherwise  prohibiting  the
Merger, which order, decree or ruling is final and nonappealable;

                                       20
<PAGE>

            (d) by the Company (with the  concurrence of the Special  Committee)
if the required approval of the stockholders of the Company contemplated by this
Agreement  shall not have been  obtained  by reason of the failure to obtain the
required  vote upon a vote  taken at a meeting  of  stockholders  duly  convened
therefor or at any  adjournment  thereof  (provided  that the right to terminate
this  Agreement  under this Section 7.1(d) shall not be available to the Company
where the failure to obtain stockholder  approval of the Company shall have been
caused  by the  action  or  failure  to act of the  Company  in  breach  of this
Agreement);

            (e) by the Company (with the concurrence of the Special  Committee),
upon a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part
of Thermo Electron or Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement, if (i) as a result
of such  breach the  conditions  set forth in Section  6.2(a) or Section  6.2(b)
would not be  satisfied as of the time of such breach and (ii) such breach shall
not have been cured by Thermo Electron or Merger Sub within thirty (30) business
days following  receipt by Thermo Electron of written notice of such breach from
the Company;

            (f) by Merger Sub,  upon a breach of any  representation,  warranty,
covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement, if
(i) as a result of such  breach the  conditions  set forth in Section  6.3(a) or
Section  6.3(b)  would not be  satisfied  as of the time of such breach and (ii)
such breach shall not have been cured by the Company within thirty (30) business
days  following  receipt by the  Company of written  notice of such  breach from
Merger Sub;

            (g) by  Merger  Sub upon the  Company's  inability  to  provide  the
certificate  required by Section 6.3(e) hereof and its  continuing  inability to
provide such certificate  within forty-five (45) business days following receipt
by the Company of written notice from Merger Sub; or

      7.2. Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination. Any termination of this
Agreement  under  Section  7.1  above  will be  effective  immediately  upon the
delivery of written notice by the terminating  party to the other parties hereto
(or, in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 7.1(e), 7.1(f), or 7.1(g),
the  expiration  of the  periods  referred  to  therein).  In the  event  of the
termination of this  Agreement as provided in Section 7.1, this Agreement  shall
be  of  no  further  force  or  effect,  except  that  (i)  the  confidentiality
obligations of each party hereto contained in Section 5.3, and the provisions of
Sections  7.2, 7.3 and 8.1 shall survive any such  termination  and (ii) nothing
herein shall relieve any party from  liability  for any material  breach of this
Agreement.

      7.3. Fees and Expenses.  All fees and expenses incurred in connection with
this  Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby shall be paid by the
party incurring such expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated.

      7.4.  Amendment.  Subject to applicable law, this Agreement may be amended
by the  parties  hereto at any time by  execution  of an  instrument  in writing
signed on behalf of each of the  parties  hereto;  provided,  however,  that the
Company  may not amend this  Agreement  without the  concurrence  of the Special
Committee.

                                       21
<PAGE>

      7.5. Extension;  Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time any party
hereto  may,  to the  extent  legally  allowed,  (i)  extend  the  time  for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto,
(ii) waive any inaccuracies in the  representations  and warranties made to such
party contained  herein or in any document  delivered  pursuant hereto and (iii)
waive  compliance  with any of the  agreements or conditions  for the benefit of
such party contained herein;  provided,  however,  that the Company may not take
any such actions without the concurrence of the Special Committee. Any agreement
on the part of a party  hereto to any such  extension  or waiver  shall be valid
only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

      8.1.  Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties.  The representations
and warranties of the Company,  Thermo Electron and Merger Sub contained in this
Agreement  shall terminate at the Effective Time, and only the covenants that by
their  terms,  or as the  context  requires,  survive the  Effective  Time shall
survive the Effective Time.

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

      (a)   if to Thermo Electron or Merger Sub, to:

            Thermo Electron Corporation
            81 Wyman Street
            Waltham, MA 02454
            Attention:  President
            Telephone: (781) 622-1000
            Facsimile: (781) 622-1283

            with a copy to:

            Thermo Electron Corporation
            81 Wyman Street
            Waltham, MA  02454
            Attention:  General Counsel
            Telephone: (781) 622-1000
            Facsimile: (781) 622-1283

      (b)   if to the Company, to

            ThermoTrex Corporation
            81 Wyman Street
            Waltham, MA  02454
            Attention:  President
            Telephone:  (781) 622-1000
            Facsimile:  (781) 622-1283

                                       22
<PAGE>

            with a copy to:

            Edward D. Herlihy, Esq.
            Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
            51 West 52nd Street
            New York, NY  10019
            Telephone: (212) 403-1000
            Facsimile: (212) 403-2000

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

      8.4.  Entire  Agreement.  This Agreement and the documents and instruments
and other  agreements among the parties hereto as contemplated by or referred to
herein (a) constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the
subject  matter hereof and supersede all prior  agreements  and  understandings,
both  written and oral,  among the parties  with  respect to the subject  matter
hereof;  and (b) are not  intended to confer upon any other person any rights or
remedies hereunder, except as set forth herein.

      8.5.  Severability.  In the event that any provision of this  Agreement or
the  application  thereof,  becomes  or is  declared  by a  court  of  competent
jurisdiction  to be  illegal,  void  or  unenforceable,  the  remainder  of this
Agreement  will  continue in full force and effect and the  application  of such
provision to other persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably
to effect  the intent of the  parties  hereto so long as the  economic  or legal
substance of the transactions  contemplated hereby are not materially  adversely
affected.  The parties  further agree to negotiate in good faith to replace such
void or  unenforceable  provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable
provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic,  business and
other purposes of such void or unenforceable provision.

      8.6. Other Remedies;  Specific  Performance.  Except as otherwise provided
herein,  any and all remedies  herein  expressly  conferred upon a party will be
deemed  cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred  hereby,
or by law or equity  upon such  party,  and the  exercise  by a party of any one
remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other  remedy.  The parties  hereto
agree  that  irreparable  damage  would  occur  in  the  event  that  any of the
provisions  of this  Agreement  were not  performed  in  accordance  with  their
specific terms or were  otherwise  breached.  It is accordingly  agreed that the
parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of
this Agreement and to enforce  specifically  the terms and provisions  hereof in
any court of the United States or any state having  jurisdiction,  this being in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

                                       23
<PAGE>

      8.7.  Governing Law. This Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, regardless of the
laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law
thereof, except to the extent that the DGCL applies.

      8.8.  Assignment.  No party may assign either this Agreement or any of its
rights,  interests,  or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval
of the other parties.

      8.9 Headings.  The headings  contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or  interpretation  of
this Agreement.


                 [remainder of page intentionally left blank]


                                       24
<PAGE>



      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Thermo  Electron,  Merger Sub and the  Company  have
caused  this  Agreement  to be signed by  themselves  or their  duly  authorized
respective officers, all as of the date first written above.

                                   THERMO ELECTRON CORPORATION


                                   By:  /s/  Theo Melas-Kyriazi
                                        -------------------------------------
                                   Name:     Theo Melas-Kyriazi
                                   Title:    Vice President and
                                             Chief Financial Officer


                                   THERMOTREX ACQUISITION
                                   CORPORATION


                                   By:  /s/   John T. Keiser
                                        -------------------------------------
                                   Name:     John T. Keiser
                                   Title:    President


                                   THERMOTREX CORPORATION


                                   By:  /s/  Kenneth J. Apicerno
                                        -------------------------------------
                                   Name:     Kenneth J. Apicerno
                                   Title:    Treasurer


                                       25
<PAGE>






                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page


ARTICLE I THE MERGER.........................................................2

1.1.  The Merger.............................................................2

1.2.  Effective Time; Closing................................................2

1.3.  Effect of the Merger...................................................2

1.4.  Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws...................................2

1.5.  Directors and Officers.................................................3

1.6.  Effect on Capital Stock................................................3

1.7.  Surrender of Certificates..............................................4

1.8.  No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock....................5

1.9.  Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.................................6

1.10. Dividends..............................................................6

1.11. Fractional Shares......................................................6

1.12. Closing of Transfer Books..............................................6

1.13. Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action.............................6

ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.....................7

2.1.  Organization of the Company............................................7

2.2.  Company Capital Structure..............................................7

2.3.  Authority..............................................................7

2.4.  Board Approval.........................................................8

2.5.  Fairness Opinion.......................................................8

2.6   Registration Statement; Proxy Statement/Prospectus.....................9

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THERMO ELECTRON AND
      MERGER SUB.............................................................9

3.1.  Organization...........................................................9

3.2.  Authority..............................................................9

3.3.  Capitalization........................................................10

Reports and Financial Statements............................................11

3.5   Merger Sub............................................................12

3.6   Registration Statement; Proxy Statement/Prospectus....................12


                                   -i-

<PAGE>



3.7   Compliance with Law...................................................12

ARTICLE IV CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME..............................13

4.1.  Conduct of Business by the Company....................................13

ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS.............................................13

5.1.  Registration Statement; Other Filings.................................13

5.2.  Meeting of the Company Stockholders...................................15

5.3.  Access to Information.................................................15

5.4.  Public Disclosure.....................................................15

5.5.  Legal Requirements....................................................16

5.6.  Notification of Certain Matters.......................................16

5.7.  Best Efforts and Further Assurances...................................16

5.8.  Stock Option Plans; Reservation of Shares.............................16

5.9.  Thermo Electron Form S-8..............................................17

5.10. Indemnification; Insurance............................................17

5.11. Deferred Compensation Plan............................................18

Compliance by Merger Sub....................................................18

5.14  NYSE Listing..........................................................18

5.14  Exemption from Liability Under Section 16(b)..........................18

ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER.........................................19

6.1.  Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger..........19

6.2.  Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company...................19

6.3.  Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Thermo Electron and
      Merger Sub............................................................20

ARTICLE VII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER...............................20

7.1.  Termination...........................................................20

7.2.  Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination..........................21

7.3.  Fees and Expenses.....................................................22

7.4.  Amendment.............................................................22

7.5.  Extension; Waiver.....................................................22

ARTICLE VIII GENERAL PROVISIONS.............................................22

8.1.  Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties........................22

8.2.  Notices...............................................................22

8.3.  Counterparts..........................................................23

                                      -ii-
<PAGE>

8.4.  Entire Agreement......................................................23

8.5.  Severability..........................................................23

8.6.  Other Remedies; Specific Performance..................................24

8.7.  Governing Law.........................................................24

8.8.  Assignment............................................................24

8.9   Headings..............................................................24




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