BISYS GROUP INC
S-3, 1999-05-07
COMPUTER PROCESSING & DATA PREPARATION
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<PAGE>   1
       As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 1999
                                                           Registration No. 333-
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM S-3
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                -----------------
                              THE BISYS GROUP, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            DELAWARE                                 13-3532663
(State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                       Identification No.)

                 150 CLOVE ROAD, LITTLE FALLS, NEW JERSEY 07424
                                 (973) 812-8600
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
        including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
                               KEVIN J. DELL, ESQ.
              SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
                              THE BISYS GROUP, INC.
                                 150 CLOVE ROAD
                         LITTLE FALLS, NEW JERSEY 07424
                                 (973) 812-8600
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)

                                   Copies to:

                             STEWART E. LAVEY, ESQ.
                             SHANLEY & FISHER, P.C.
                               131 MADISON AVENUE
                          MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY 07962
                                 (973) 285-1000
                                -----------------

    Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

    If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box./_/

    If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box.: /X/

    If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. /_/

    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. /_/

    If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box.  /_/

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


                                                    COVER CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
<PAGE>   2
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE OF                                        PROPOSED               PROPOSED
EACH CLASS                                      MAXIMUM                MAXIMUM
OF SECURITIES          AMOUNT                   OFFERING               AGGREGATE           AMOUNT OF
TO BE                  TO BE                    PRICE PER              OFFERING            REGISTRA-
REGISTERED             REGISTERED(1)            SHARE(2)               PRICE(2)            TION FEE
- ----------             -------------            --------               --------            --------
<S>                    <C>                      <C>                    <C>                 <C>
Common                 156,985                  $51.3125               $8,055,293          $2,240.00
Stock, $0.02           shares
par value,
(including
Common Stock
purchase
rights)(3)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of Common
Stock that become issuable in connection with the shares registered hereby by
reasons of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar
transaction effected without the receipt of consideration that results in an
increase in the number of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2) Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) solely for the purpose of
calculating the registration fee based upon a price of $51.3125 per share, which
was the average of the high and low sale prices of Common Stock reported on the
Nasdaq National Market on May 4, 1999.

(3) Prior to the occurrence of certain events, purchase rights for Common Stock
will not be evidenced separately from the Common Stock.

     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a).
MAY DETERMINE.
<PAGE>   3
PROSPECTUS

                              THE BISYS GROUP, INC.

                         156,985 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK



      This Prospectus relates to the offer and sale of up to 156,985 shares of
our common stock by the selling stockholders set forth herein. The selling
stockholders acquired the shares in connection with our acquisition of EXAMCO,
Inc. by merger.


      YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RISKS OF AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMON
STOCK. RISK FACTORS BEGIN ON PAGE 5.

      NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

      The selling stockholders may sell the shares from time to time in public
transactions or in privately negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing
at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. The timing and amount of any sale
are within the sole discretion of the selling stockholders. We will not receive
any of the proceeds from the sale of shares.

      BISYS common stock is listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "BSYS". The last per share sale price of BISYS common stock as reported
on the Nasdaq National Market on May 4, 1999 was $50.




             The date of this Prospectus is               , 1999.
<PAGE>   4
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Page
                                                                  ----
<S>                                                               <C>
Where You Can Find More Information............................    3

The Company....................................................    4

Risk Factors...................................................    5

Use of Proceeds................................................    9

Selling Stockholders...........................................    10

Plan of Distribution...........................................    11

Legal Matters..................................................    13

Experts........................................................    14
</TABLE>


                                       2
<PAGE>   5
                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION


      We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy any materials we file with the
SEC at the SEC's public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the public reference room by calling
the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our SEC filings are also available through the SEC's
internet site located at http://www.sec.gov.

      The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" into this Prospectus the
information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important
information to you by referring you to those documents. The information
incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this Prospectus, and
information that we later file with the SEC will automatically update and
supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed
below and any future documents filed with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

         - Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30,
1998;

         - Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended
September 30, 1998 and December 31, 1998;

         - Our Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 16, 1998; and

         - The description of our common stock and purchase rights for shares of
our common stock attached to our common stock described in our registration
statements on Form 8-A filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
updating those descriptions.

      You may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference at no
cost, by writing or telephoning us at:

                  The BISYS Group, Inc.
                  150 Clove Road
                  Little Falls, New Jersey 07424
                  Attention:  Secretary
                  Telephone:  973-812-8600

      We will not include the exhibits to those documents you request, except
for exhibits specifically incorporated by reference.


                                       3
<PAGE>   6
      You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus, any
supplement to this Prospectus or information incorporated by reference. We have
not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not
assume that the information in this Prospectus, or any supplement, is accurate
as of any date other than the date on the front of the document. These
securities are not being offered in any state where the offer is not permitted.

                                   THE COMPANY

      BISYS, together with our wholly-owned subsidiaries, support more than
9,000 financial institutions and corporate clients through our integrated
business units.

      Our services include:

      -     bank information solutions, check imaging applications and brokerage
            services to financial institutions;

      -     distribution and administration of mutual funds;

      -     retirement plan recordkeeping;

      -     insurance distribution solutions;

      -     internet-based professional certification training and continuing
            education for the insurance and financial services industries;

      -     internet and telephone marketing;

      -     enterprise wide networking; and

      -     loan/deposit product pricing research.

      We were organized in August 1989 to acquire the banking and thrift data
processing operations of Automatic Data Processing, Inc. ("ADP"). BISYS'
traditional business was established in 1966 by United Data Processing, Inc.,
the predecessor of the banking and thrift data processing operations of ADP.
Together with our predecessors, we have provided outsourcing solutions to the
financial services industry for more than 30 years.

      We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Our principal
executive offices are located at 150 Clove Road, Little Falls, New Jersey 07424
(telephone (973) 812-8600).


                                       4
<PAGE>   7
                                  RISK FACTORS

      You should carefully consider the following risk factors, together with
the other information in this Prospectus, before you make a decision on whether
to purchase any shares of common stock offered by this Prospectus.

      This Prospectus contains forward-looking statements. These statements are
identified by words like "expect", "should", "could" and "anticipate". Our
actual results could differ materially from these statements due to risks and
uncertainties, including the ones described below.

CHANGES IN THE GLASS-STEAGALL ACT COULD ADVERSELY IMPACT OUR BUSINESS.

      The Glass-Steagall Act prohibits banks from selling securities. However,
banks are permitted to purchase and sell securities, as agents, upon the order
and for the account of their customers. Banks are also allowed to provide a wide
variety of services to mutual funds, including investment advisory and
administrative services. If current restrictions under the Glass-Steagall Act
were further relaxed and banks were authorized to organize, sponsor and
distribute shares of mutual funds, our bank clients could decide to perform
themselves some or all of the services we currently provide to them. If that
were to happen, it could have a material adverse impact on our business and
results of operations.

DIRECT AND INDIRECT GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT OUR
BUSINESS.

      Our business is affected by federal and state regulations. Our
noncompliance with these regulations could result in the suspension or
revocation of our licenses or registrations, including broker/dealer licenses
and registrations and insurance producer licenses and registrations. Regulatory
authorities could also impose on us civil fines and criminal penalties for
noncompliance.

      Some of our subsidiaries are registered with the SEC as broker-dealers.
Much of the federal regulation of broker-dealers has been delegated to
self-regulatory organizations, principally the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. and the national securities exchanges. Broker-dealers
are subject to regulations which cover all aspects of their securities business,
including, for example:

      -     sales methods;


                                       5
<PAGE>   8
      -     trading practices;

      -     use and safekeeping of customers' funds and securities;

      -     capital structure;

      -     recordkeeping; and

      -     the conduct of directors, officers and employees.

The operations of our broker-dealers and their profitability could be affected
by:

      -     federal and state legislation;

      -     changes in rules and regulations of the SEC, banking and other
            regulatory agencies, and self-regulatory agencies; and

      -     changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws, rules
            and regulations.

      Banks and other depository institutions with whom we do business are also
subject to extensive regulation at the federal and state levels under laws and
regulations applicable to regulated financial institutions. They are also
subject to extensive examination and oversight by federal and state regulatory
agencies. Changes in the laws, rules and regulations affecting our client banks
and financial institutions and the examination of their activities by applicable
regulatory agencies could adversely affect our results of operations.

      Some of our subsidiaries, and officers and employees of these
subsidiaries, are required to be licensed as insurance producers in various
jurisdictions in which we conduct our insurance services business. They are
subject to regulation under the insurance laws and regulations of these
jurisdictions. Changes in the laws, rules and regulations affecting licensed
insurance producers could adversely affect our operations.

OUR REVENUES AND EARNINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGES IN THE STOCK MARKET.

      A significant portion of our earnings are derived from fees based on the
average daily market value of the assets we administer for our clients. A sharp
rise in interest rates or a sudden decline in the stock market could influence
an investor's decision whether to invest or maintain an investment in a mutual
fund. As a result, fluctuations could occur in the amount of assets which we
administer. If investors were to seek alternatives to mutual fund investments,
it could have a negative impact on our revenues by reducing the amount of assets
we administer. Also, from time to time, we and our bank clients waive, for
competitive reasons, some fees normally charged to mutual funds.


                                       6
<PAGE>   9
      We have various programs in place to attempt to insulate ourselves from
disadvantageous interest rate and stock market movements, but we cannot make any
assurances that these efforts would be successful.

CONSOLIDATION IN THE BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY COULD ADVERSELY
IMPACT OUR BUSINESS.

      There has been and continues to be merger, acquisition and consolidation
activity in the banking and financial services industry. Mergers or
consolidations of banks and financial institutions in the future could reduce
the number of our clients or potential clients. A smaller market for our
services could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of
operations. Also, it is possible that the larger banks or financial institutions
which result from mergers or consolidations could decide to perform themselves
some or all of the services which we currently provide or could provide. If that
were to occur, it could have a material adverse impact on our business and
results of operations.

OUR ACQUISITION STRATEGY SUBJECTS US TO RISKS.

      In the past several years, we have acquired a number of other companies.
We may make additional acquisitions. We cannot predict if or when any additional
acquisitions will occur or whether they will be successful.

      Acquiring a business involves many risks, including:

      -     incurrence of debt;

      -     incurrence of unforeseen obligations or liabilities;

      -     difficulty in integrating the acquired operations and personnel;

      -     difficulty in maintaining uniform controls, procedures and policies;

      -     possible impairment of relationships with employees and customers as
            a result of the integration of new personnel;

      -     risk of entering markets in which we have minimal prior experience;

      -     decrease in earnings as a result of non-cash charges; and

      -     dilution to existing stockholders from the issuance of our common
            stock to make or finance acquisitions.

WE DO NOT INTEND TO PAY DIVIDENDS

      We have never paid cash dividends to stockholders and do not anticipate
paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future.


                                       7
<PAGE>   10
OUR STOCK PRICE IS VOLATILE.

      The market price of our common stock has been volatile. From January 1,
1998 to March 31, 1999, the market price of our common stock ranged from a low
of $32.50 per share to a high of $58.50 per share.

      The market price of our common stock is subject to many factors,
including:

      -     general stock market conditions;

      -     general United States and worldwide economic conditions;

      -     conditions in our industries such as competition, demand for
            services and technological advances;

      -     changes in our revenues and earnings;

      -     changes in analyst recommendations and projections, and

      -     changes in contracts with clients.

WE FACE SIGNIFICANT COMPETITION FROM OTHER COMPANIES.

      We face significant competition from other companies. Many of our
competitors are well-established companies, and some of them have greater
financial, technical and operating resources than we do. Competition in our
business is based primarily upon pricing, quality of products and services,
breadth of products and services, new product development and the ability to
provide technological solutions.

WE DEPEND ON KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL.

      Our success depends upon the continued services of our key senior
management personnel, some of whom do not have employment agreements with us.
The loss or unavailability of these individuals could have a material adverse
effect on our business prospects. Our success also depends on our ability to
attract and retain highly skilled personnel in all areas of our business,
including our information processing, fund management and insurance services
businesses. We cannot assure that we will be able to attract and retain
personnel on acceptable terms in the future.

THE YEAR 2000 ISSUE COULD HARM OUR OPERATIONS.

      We are conducting a review of our computer systems and software
applications to identify any systems and applications that could be affected by
the inability of any existing computer systems to process time sensitive data
accurately beyond the year 1999 (referred to as the "Year 2000" issue). We
intend to remediate all significant systems for compliance with the Year 2000
and are also reviewing the adequacy of the process and progress of third party


                                       8
<PAGE>   11
vendors of systems that may be affected by the Year 2000 issue. We use third
party provided software and computer systems for such tasks as account and
information statement processing, fund accounting, and 401(k) plan
record-keeping. Because of the complexity of the Year 2000 issue and the
interdependence of organizations using various computer systems, we cannot
predict whether our efforts, or those of clients, vendors or other third parties
with whom interact, will be satisfactorily completed in a timely manner. Our
failure to satisfactorily address the Year 2000 issue could have a material
adverse effect on our prospects, business, financial condition and results of
operations. The costs of our Year 2000 efforts are not expected to have a
material adverse effect. However, we cannot assure that we will not experience
costs overruns or delays in connection with our plan for replacing or modifying
systems, which could have a material adverse effect on our prospects, business,
financial condition and results of operations.

ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS COULD DISCOURAGE, DELAY OR PREVENT A CHANGE IN CONTROL.

      We have a shareholder rights plan. Each right entitles the holder of a
share of our common stock to buy one share of our common stock at an exercise
price of $175. If a person or group were to acquire, or to announce the
intention to acquire, 15% or more of our outstanding stock, and in some cases
10%, each right would entitle the holder, other than the acquiring person or
group, to purchase shares of our common stock at the exercise price of the right
with a value of twice the exercise price. This plan could have the effect of
discouraging, delaying or preventing persons from attempting to acquire us.

      In addition, the Delaware General Corporation Law, to which we are
subject, prohibits, except under circumstances specified in the statute, a
corporation from engaging in any mergers, significant sales of stock or assets
or business combinations with any stockholder or group of stockholders who own
at least 15% of our common stock.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

      We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares
offered in this Prospectus. All of the proceeds from the sale of the shares will
be paid directly to the selling stockholders.


                                       9
<PAGE>   12
                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

            All of the shares offered by this Prospectus are to be sold for the
accounts of the selling stockholders shown below.

            All of the selling stockholders are former stockholders of EXAMCO,
Inc. In connection with the our acquisition of EXAMCO, Inc. each of the selling
stockholders represented to us that he or it was acquiring shares of our common
stock without any present intention of effecting a distribution in those shares
and agreed that he or it would not sell or otherwise dispose of the shares other
than pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act.

            We granted registration rights to the selling stockholders under a
registration rights agreement among those stockholders and us, because they wish
to be able to sell some or all of their shares when they deem it appropriate.

            We agreed to file at our expense a registration statement with the
SEC covering the shares held by the selling stockholders and to use our best
efforts to keep the registration statement effective until the earlier to occur
of the sale of all shares covered by the registration statement or April 1,
2000, which is the first anniversary of the effective date of our acquisition of
EXAMCO, Inc. We will prepare and file at our expense any amendments and/or
supplements to the registration statement as may be necessary until all of the
shares have been sold pursuant to the registration statement or until our
registration obligations have ended.

      The following table sets forth information, as of the date of this
Prospectus, with respect to the selling stockholders:


                                       10
<PAGE>   13
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              Common Stock        Maximum            Common Stock Beneficially
                                           Beneficially Owned      Amount             Owned After Offering(1)
                                               Prior to           Offered            -------------------------
          Selling Stockholder                  Offering           Hereby(2)            Amount        Percent
          -------------------                  --------           ---------            ------        -------
<S>                                       <C>                     <C>                  <C>           <C>
T. Brantley Houston, Jr.(3)                  118,246(4)            118,246(4)             0              0
Andrew G. Hovancik III(5)                      8,613                 8,613                0              0
W. Robert Slate(6)                             5,167                 5,167                0              0
Charles H. Sonnenberg(7)                       5,167(8)              5,167(8)             0
Charles H. Sonnenberg, as                      5,374(9)              5,374(9)             0              0
  trustee for Nicole E.
  Houston Trust
Charles H. Sonnenberg, as                      5,374(9)              5,374(9)             0              0
  trustee for Jonathan B.
  Houston Trust
Charles H. Sonnenberg, as                      5,374(9)              5,374(9)             0              0
  trustee for Matthew R.
  Houston Trust
Gregory D. Szczurek                            2,063                 2,063                0              0
Regions Bank                                   1,607(10)             1,607(10)            0              0
</TABLE>

- --------------------------
1  Assumes all of the shares offered hereby are sold.

2  This Prospectus also covers any additional shares of common stock that may
   become issuable in connection with the shares of common stock offered hereby
   by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other
   similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration that
   results in an increase in the number of our outstanding shares of common
   stock.

3  Prior to our acquisition of EXAMCO, Mr. Houston was President, Treasurer, and
   Chairman of the Board of Directors of EXAMCO. Mr. Houston presently serves as
   President of EXAMCO, our new subsidiary.

4  Includes 1,607 shares pledged to Regions Bank and 2,334 shares held in escrow
   to secure Mr. Houston's indemnification obligations to us under the merger
   agreement with EXAMCO. Does not include any shares held by the Nicole E.
   Houston Trust, the Jonathan B. Houston Trust and the Matthew R.
   Houston Trust.

5  Prior to our acquisition of EXAMCO, Mr. Hovancik was Vice President and a
   director of EXAMCO. Mr. Hovancik presently serves as Executive Vice President
   of EXAMCO, our new subsidiary.

6  Prior to our acquisition of EXAMCO, Mr. Slate was a Vice President and a
   director of EXAMCO. Mr. Slate presently serves as Senior Vice President of
   EXAMCO, our new subsidiary.

7  Prior to our acquisition of EXAMCO, Mr. Sonnenberg was a Vice President and a
   director of EXAMCO. Mr. Sonnenberg presently serves as Senior Vice President
   of EXAMCO, our new subsidiary.

8  Does not include any shares that may be beneficially owned by Mr. Sonnenberg,
   in his capacity as trustee for the Nicole E. Houston Trust, Jonathan B.
   Houston Trust, and Matthew R. Houston Trust.

9  Includes 106 shares held in escrow to secure the stockholder's
   indemnification obligations to us under the EXAMCO merger agreement.

10 Includes 1,607 shares held as pledgee of Mr. T. Brantley Houston, Jr., which
   shares are beneficially owned by Mr. Houston but which may be sold from time
   to time by Regions Bank as pledgee.


                                       11
<PAGE>   14
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

      We are registering the shares for the selling stockholders. As used
herein, "selling stockholders" includes donees and pledgees selling shares
received from a named selling stockholder after the date of this Prospectus. We
will bear all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of
the shares offered hereby. The selling stockholders will be responsible to pay
brokerage commissions and similar selling expenses, if any, attributable to the
sale of shares.

      The selling stockholders may offer and sell their shares at various times
in one or more of the following transactions:

      -     on the Nasdaq National Market;

      -     in the over-the-counter market;

      -     in negotiated transactions;

      -     through short sales of shares;

      -     through put or call transactions; or

      -     in a combination of any of the above transactions.

      The selling stockholders may sell their shares at market prices prevailing
at the time of sale or at negotiated prices.

      The selling stockholders may effect transactions by selling shares
directly to purchasers or to or through broker-dealers, which may act as agents
or principals. Those broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of
discounts, concessions, or commissions from the selling stockholders and/or the
purchasers of shares for whom those broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom
they sell as principal, or both. The compensation could, as to a particular
broker-dealer, be in excess of customary commissions.

      The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that act in
connection with the sale of shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act. Any discounts or commissions
received by broker-dealers and any profit on the resale of the shares sold by
them while acting as principals might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or
commissions under the Securities Act

      We have agreed to indemnify each selling stockholder against certain
liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. The selling
stockholders may agree to indemnify any agent, dealer, or broker-dealer that
participates in transactions involving sales of the shares against certain
liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. The selling
stockholders have agreed to indemnify us against


                                       12
<PAGE>   15
certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

      Because the selling stockholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" within
the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act, the selling stockholders
will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
The selling stockholders are also subject to the anti-manipulative provisions of
Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act as it may apply to their sales in
the market. These provisions may limit the timing of purchases and sales.

      The selling stockholders also may resell all or a portion of their shares
in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
provided they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that Rule.

      If we are notified by a selling stockholder that any material arrangement
has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of shares through a
block trade, special offering, distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer,
a supplement to this prospectus will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule
424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing:

      -     the name of each selling stockholder and of the participating
            broker-dealer(s);

      -     the number of shares involved;

      -     the price at which shares were sold;

      -     the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to
            broker-dealer(s), where applicable;

      -     that the broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to
            verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this
            Prospectus; and

      -     other facts material to the transaction.

      In addition, if we are notified by a selling stockholder that a donee or
pledgee intends to sell more than 500 shares, a supplement to this prospectus
will be filed.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

      The validity of the shares offered hereby will be passed upon for us by
Shanley & Fisher, P.C., Morristown, New Jersey.


                                       13
<PAGE>   16
                                     EXPERTS

      PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, audited our financial
statements and schedules incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. These
documents have been incorporated herein in reliance on the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, given on the authority of that firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.


                                       14
<PAGE>   17
                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION


<TABLE>
<S>                                                   <C>
Registration Fee-Securities and
 Exchange Commission                                  $ 2,240
Accounting Fees and Expenses                            2,500
Legal Fees and Expenses                                10,000
Miscellaneous Expenses                                  2,000
                                                      -------
           TOTAL                                      $16,740
                                                      =======
</TABLE>

All of the foregoing estimated expenses are being borne by The BISYS Group,
Inc. (the "Registrant").

ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

      The Registrant is organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a Delaware
corporation to indemnify any person who is a party (or is threatened to be made
a party) to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action
by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is
or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation or enterprise. A corporation may similarly
indemnify such person in the case of actions or suits brought by or in the right
of the corporation, except (unless otherwise ordered by the court) that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation.

      A corporation may indemnify such person against expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect
to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful. Any indemnification shall be made by the corporation only
as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification is
proper in the circumstances because the person has met the aforesaid standard of
conduct. Such determination shall be made (1) by a majority vote of the
directors who were not parties to the action, suit, or proceeding, whether or


                                      II-1
<PAGE>   18
not a quorum, or (2) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so
direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the
stockholders. To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of a
corporation has been successful on the merits, or otherwise, in defense of any
action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or
matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. The
statute also provides that it is not exclusive of any other rights to which
those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaws, agreement, vote
of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Registrants'
By-Laws provide for the indemnification of its directors and officers to the
fullest extent permitted by law.

      Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law allows a
Delaware corporation to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors
to the corporation and its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a director. However, this provision excludes any limitation on
liability (1) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the
corporation or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or
which involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) for
intentional or negligent payment of unlawful dividends or stock purchases or
redemptions or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an
improper benefit. Moreover, while this provision provides directors with
protection against awards for monetary damages for breaches of their duty of
care, it does not eliminate such duty. Accordingly, this provision will have no
effect on the availability of equitable remedies such as an injunction or
rescission based on a director's breach of his or her duty of care. Finally,
this provision applies to an officer of a corporation only if he or she is a
director of such corporation and is acting in his or her capacity as director,
and does not apply to officers of the corporation who are not directors.

      The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides for the limitation
on liability permitted by Section 102(b)(7). The Registrant maintains directors
and officers' liability insurance.


                                      II-2
<PAGE>   19
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS

(a) Exhibits

      The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:

2.1*        Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 25, 1999 among the
            Registrant, BI-Exam Acquisition Corp., Examco, Inc. and the
            stockholders of Examco, Inc. named therein (excluding schedules and
            exhibits thereto, which the Registrant will provide supplementally
            to the Commission upon request).

4.1         Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant
            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant's
            Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-02932).

4.2         Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant (incorporated by
            reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form
            10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, Commission File 
            No. 0-19922).

4.3         Specimen of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to
            Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement No.
            33-45417).

4.4*        Registration Rights Agreement dated April 1, 1999 among the
            Registrant and the persons named on the signature page thereof
            (excluding the schedule, which the Registrant will provide
            suplementally to the Commission upon request).

5.1*        Opinion of Shanley & Fisher, P.C.

23.1*       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

23.2*       Consent of Shanley & Fisher, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1*       Powers of Attorney




* Filed herewith


                                      II-3
<PAGE>   20
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS

      (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

            (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

            (i)      To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3)
                     of the Securities Act of 1933;

            (ii)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
                     after the effective date of the registration statement
                     (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof)
                     which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
                     fundamental change in the information set forth in the
                     registration statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
                     any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered
                     (if the total dollar value of securities offered would
                     not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation
                     from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
                     offering range may be reflected in the form of
                     prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
                     424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
                     price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the
                     maximum aggregate price set forth in the "Calculation of
                     Registration Fee" table in the effective registration
                     statement;

            (iii)    To include any material information with respect to the
                     plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
                     registration statement or any material change to such
                     information in the registration statement.

      Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply
if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement.

            (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the


                                      II-4
<PAGE>   21
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

            (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

      (b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

      (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                      II-5
<PAGE>   22
                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3, and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the Township of Little Falls, State of New Jersey, on May 6,
1999.

                            THE BISYS GROUP, INC.


                            By:  Lynn J. Mangum
                                -----------------------------------
                                Lynn J. Mangum
                                Chairman of the Board and
                                Chief Executive Officer


      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    SIGNATURE                     TITLE                           DATE
<S>                          <C>                            <C>
  Lynn J. Mangum             Director, Chairman of          May 6, 1999
- -------------------------    the Board and Chief
Lynn J. Mangum               Executive Officer
                             (principal executive
                             officer)



  Dennis R. Sheehan          Executive Vice President       May 6, 1999
- -------------------------     and Chief Financial Officer
Dennis R. Sheehan            (principal accounting and
                              principal financial officer)



       *                     Director                       May 6, 1999
- -------------------------
Robert J. Casale


       *                     Director                       May 6, 1999
- -------------------------
Thomas A. Cooper


       *                     Director                       May 6, 1999
- ------------------------
Jay W. DeDapper
</TABLE>


                                      II-6
<PAGE>   23
<TABLE>
<S>                          <C>                            <C>
       *                     Director                       May 6, 1999
- -------------------------
John J. Lyons


       *                     Director                       May 6, 1999
- -------------------------
Thomas E. McInerney
</TABLE>


*Lynn J. Mangum hereby signs this Registration Statement on Form S-3 on behalf
of each of the indicated persons for whom he is attorney-in-fact on May 6, 1999
pursuant to a power of attorney filed herewith.


By: Lynn J. Mangum
    --------------------------
    Lynn J. Mangum
    Attorney-in-fact


                                      II-7
<PAGE>   24
                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT NO.       DESCRIPTION

     2.1          Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 25, 1999 among
                  the Registrant, BI-EXAM Acquisition Corp., EXAMCO, Inc. and
                  the stockholders of EXAMCO, Inc. named therein (excluding
                  schedules and exhibits thereto, which the Registrant will
                  provide supplementally to the Commission upon request).

     4.4          Registration Rights Agreements dated April 1, 1999 among the
                  Registrant and the persons named on the signature page thereof
                  (excluding the schedule, which the Registrant will provide
                  supplementally to the Commission upon request).

     5.1          Opinion of Shanley & Fisher, P.C.

     23.1         Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

     23.2         Consent of Shanley & Fisher, P.C.
                  (included in Exhibit 5.1)

     24.1         Powers of Attorney


                                      II-8

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 2.1




================================================================================






                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                      AMONG

                             THE BISYS GROUP, INC.,

                           BI-EXAM ACQUISITION CORP.,

                                  EXAMCO, INC.,

                            T. BRANTLEY HOUSTON, JR.,

                                       AND

               CHARLES H. SONNENBERG OR HIS SUCCESSOR, AS TRUSTEE
                FOR THE NICOLE E. HOUSTON TRUST, THE JONATHAN B.
                 HOUSTON TRUST AND THE MATTHEW R. HOUSTON TRUST



                           DATED AS OF MARCH 25, 1999






================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     PAGE
                                                                                     ----
<S>                                                                                  <C>
ARTICLE I THE MERGER ............................................................      2

SECTION 1.01  The Merger ........................................................      2
SECTION 1.02  Effect Of the Merger ..............................................      2
SECTION 1.03  Consummation of the Merger ........................................      2
SECTION 1.04  Charter; By-Laws; Directors and Officers ..........................      2
SECTION 1.05  Further Assurances ................................................      3

ARTICLE II CONVERSION OF SECURITIES .............................................      4

SECTION 2.01  Conversion of Securities of the Company ...........................      4
SECTION 2.02  Ascribed Value ....................................................      6
SECTION 2.03  Escrow ............................................................      7
SECTION 2.04  Acquisition Common Stock ..........................................      7
SECTION 2.05  Exchange of Certificates; Surrender of Warrant and SAR Agreements .      7
SECTION 2.06  Adjustment of Merger Consideration ................................      9


ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND SHAREHOLDERS ......     11


SECTION 3.01  Authority Relative to Agreement ...................................     11
SECTION 3.02  Shareholders' Title to Stock ......................................     11
SECTION 3.03  Organization, Standing and Qualification ..........................     11
SECTION 3.04  Stock of the Company ..............................................     12
SECTION 3.05  Subsidiaries ......................................................     12
SECTION 3.06  Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws .............................     12
SECTION 3.07  Execution and Performance of Agreement; Validity and Binding Nature     12
SECTION 3.08  Financial Statements ..............................................     13
SECTION 3.09  Intellectual Rights ...............................................     13
SECTION 3.10  Software ..........................................................     14
SECTION 3.11  Contract Parties, Suppliers and Consultants .......................     15
SECTION 3.12  Employment, Deferred Compensation or Similar Agreements; Collective
                 Bargaining Agreements; Employee Benefit Plans ..................     16
SECTION 3.13  Inventory .........................................................     17
SECTION 3.14  Real Estate .......................................................     18
SECTION 3.15  Title to and Condition of Personal Property .......................     18
SECTION 3.16  Accounts Receivable ...............................................     18
SECTION 3.17  Consignment and Return Items ......................................     18
SECTION 3.18  Taxes .............................................................     19
SECTION 3.19  Litigation ........................................................     19
</TABLE>


                                       i
<PAGE>   3
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (Continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     PAGE
                                                                                     ----
<S>                                                                                  <C>
SECTION 3.20  Other Material Contracts and Commitments ..........................     19
SECTION 3.21  Labor Relations ...................................................     20
SECTION 3.22  Insurance .........................................................     20
SECTION 3.23  Conduct of Business and Absence of Changes ........................     21
SECTION 3.24  Compliance with Laws; Governmental Authorizations .................     21
SECTION 3.25  Officers, Directors and Depositories ..............................     21
SECTION 3.26  Environmental Matters .............................................     21
SECTION 3.27  Third Party and Governmental Consents .............................     22
SECTION 3.28  Licenses and Permits ..............................................     22
SECTION 3.29  Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities ................................     23
SECTION 3.30  Marketable Securities and Other Investments .......................     23
SECTION 3.31  Loans to or from Officers, Directors, Shareholders or Employees ...     23
SECTION 3.32  Service Warranties; Contract Losses ...............................     23
SECTION 3.33  Backlog ...........................................................     24
SECTION 3.34  Year 2000 Compliance ..............................................     24
SECTION 3.35  Representations and Warranties True; No Misleading Statements .....     25

ARTICLE IV ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
           THE SHAREHOLDERS .....................................................     25

SECTION 4.01  Authority and Capacity Relative to Agreement ......................     25
SECTION 4.02  Execution and Performance of Agreement; Validity and Binding Nature     25
SECTION 4.03  Stock of the Company ..............................................     26
SECTION 4.04  Additional Representations and Covenants of Shareholders ..........     27
SECTION 4.05  Representations and Warranties True; No Misleading Statements .....     29

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT ..............................     30

SECTION 5.01  Organization and Qualification ....................................     30
SECTION 5.02  Subsidiaries ......................................................     30
SECTION 5.03  Capitalization ....................................................     30
SECTION 5.04  Authority Relative to Agreement ...................................     31
SECTION 5.05  Non-Contravention .................................................     31
SECTION 5.06  Parent Public Information .........................................     31
SECTION 5.07  Parent Financial Statements .......................................     32
SECTION 5.08  Absence of Certain Changes or Events ..............................     32
SECTION 5.09  Third Party and Governmental Consents .............................     32
SECTION 5.10  Compliance with Law ...............................................     33
SECTION 5.11  Tax Representations ...............................................     33
SECTION 5.12  Reliance ..........................................................     34
</TABLE>


                                       ii
<PAGE>   4
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (Continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
SECTION 5.13  Representations and Warranties True; No Misleading 
                 Statements ...........................................     34


ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUISITION ..............     34

SECTION 6.01  Organization and Qualification ..........................     35
SECTION 6.02  Capitalization ..........................................     35
SECTION 6.03  Authority Relative to Agreement .........................     35
SECTION 6.04  Non-Contravention .......................................     35
SECTION 6.05  Third Party and Governmental Consents ...................     36
SECTION 6.06  Other Matters ...........................................     36
SECTION 6.07  Representations and Warranties True; No Misleading
                 Statements ...........................................     37

ARTICLE VII COVENANTS .................................................     37

SECTION 7.01  Conduct of the Company's Business .......................     37
SECTION 7.02  Certain Covenants of Parent .............................     39
SECTION 7.03  Access to Information ...................................     40
SECTION 7.04  Further Assurances ......................................     41
SECTION 7.05  Inquiries and Negotiations ..............................     41
SECTION 7.06  Employment and Non-Competition Agreements ...............     42
SECTION 7.07  Notification of Certain Matters .........................     42
SECTION 7.08  Indemnification .........................................     43
SECTION 7.09  Confidentiality .........................................     45
SECTION 7.10  Covenants of Shareholders ...............................     46
SECTION 7.11  Transfer Restrictions After the Effective Time ..........     46
SECTION 7.12  Registration Rights Agreements ..........................     46
SECTION 7.13  Repayment of Related Party Loans ........................     47
SECTION 7.14  Year 2000 ...............................................     47
SECTION 7.15  HREI Lease ..............................................     47

ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER .................................     47

SECTION 8.01  Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the
                 Merger ...............................................     47
SECTION 8.02  Conditions to the Obligation of the Company and the
                 Shareholders to Effect the Merger ....................     48
SECTION 8.03  Conditions to the Obligation of Parent and Acquisition 
                 to Effect the Merger .................................     48

ARTICLE IX TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT ................................     50

SECTION 9.01  Termination and Abandonment .............................     50
SECTION 9.02  Effect of Termination ...................................     51
</TABLE>


                                       iii
<PAGE>   5
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (Continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS .................................................    51

SECTION 10.01  Survival of Representations and Warranties ...............    51
SECTION 10.02  Expenses, Etc ............................................    51
SECTION 10.03  Publicity ................................................    52
SECTION 10.04  Execution in Counterparts ................................    52
SECTION 10.05  Notices ..................................................    52
SECTION 10.06  Waivers ..................................................    53
SECTION 10.07  Entire Agreement .........................................    54
SECTION 10.08  Applicable Law ...........................................    54
SECTION 10.09  Binding Effect, Benefits .................................    54
SECTION 10.10  Assignability ............................................    54
SECTION 10.11  Amendments ...............................................    54
SECTION 10.12  Interpretation ...........................................    54
</TABLE>


                                       iv
<PAGE>   6
                         INDEX TO SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

        Schedule                              Description
        --------                              -----------

         2.01(d)               SAR Holders' Equity Interests
         2.06(a)               Reference Products Business
         3.02                  Shareholders Agreements
         3.03                  States and Jurisdictions in which
                               the Company does Business
         3.04                  Stock of the Company
         3.05                  Subsidiaries
         3.06                  Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the
                               Company
         3.09                  Intellectual Rights
         3.10(a)               Software
         3.11(a)               Contract Parties
         3.11(b)               Major Suppliers
         3.12(a)               Employment Contracts and Deferred Compensation
                               Agreements
         3.12(b)               Employee Benefit Plans
         3.12(c)               Multi-Employer Plans
         3.14(a)               Owned Real Estate
         3.14(b)               Real Estate Leases
         3.15                  Liens
         3.17                  Consignment and Return Items
         3.18                  Tax Audits
         3.19                  Litigation
         3.20                  Material Contracts/Affiliates
         3.22                  Insurance
         3.23                  Changes Since February 28, 1999
         3.25                  Officers, Directors and Depositories
         3.27                  Consents
         3.28                  Licenses
         3.30                  Marketable Securities and Other
                               Investments
         3.31                  Related Party Loans
         3.33                  Backlog of Services
         4.04(l)               Shareholder Interests

Exhibit             Section Ref.                     Description
- -------             ------------                     -----------

  A                 2.03                      Escrow Agreement

  B                 4.04(e)                   Form of Accredited Investor
                                              Certificate

  C                 7.12                      Form of Registration Rights
                                              Agreement


                                       v
<PAGE>   7

  D                 8.02(e)                   Form of Opinion of Parent's
                                              Counsel to the Company and the
                                              Shareholders

  E                 8.03(h)                   Form of Opinion of Company's
                                              Counsel to Parent and
                                              Acquisition


                                       vi
<PAGE>   8
                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                  AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement"), dated as of
March 25, 1999, among THE BISYS GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation, with an
address at 150 Clove Road, Little Falls, New Jersey 07424 ("Parent"), BI-EXAM
ACQUISITION CORP., a Louisiana corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Parent, with an address at 150 Clove Road, Little Falls, New Jersey 07424
("Acquisition"), EXAMCO, INC., a Louisiana corporation, with an address at 5728
Jefferson Highway, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123 (the "Company"), T. BRANTLEY
HOUSTON, JR., with an address at 4345B Loire Drive, Kenner, Louisiana 70065
("Houston"), CHARLES H. SONNENBERG OR HIS SUCCESSOR, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE NICOLE
E. HOUSTON TRUST (the "N.E. Trust"), THE JONATHAN B. HOUSTON TRUST (the "J.B.
Trust") AND THE MATTHEW R. HOUSTON TRUST, with an address at 5728 Jefferson
Highway, New Orleans 70123-5113 (the "M.R. Trust", and collectively, the
"Trusts") (the Trusts, together with Houston, herein referred to from time to
time collectively as the "Shareholders" and individually each as a
"Shareholder"). The Company and Acquisition are hereinafter sometimes referred
to as the "Constituent Corporations" and the Company as the "Surviving
Corporation."

                  WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in the business of providing
technology-driven professional certification training (including initial
qualification and licensing, advanced certification, continuing professional
education and workplace certification) to the financial services, marine
transportation and healthcare industries;

                  WHEREAS, Parent, Acquisition and the Company desire that
Acquisition merge with and into the Company in accordance with Section
368(a)(2)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Merger"),
upon the terms and conditions set forth herein and in accordance with the
Louisiana Business Corporation Law (the "Louisiana BCL"), with the result that
the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation and the separate
existence of Acquisition (except as it may be continued by operation of law)
shall cease;

                  WHEREAS, Parent, Acquisition and the Company desire that upon
the Merger, at the Effective Time (as hereinafter defined), all outstanding
shares of the capital stock of the Company be converted into the right to
receive fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock, $.02 par value, of
Parent ("Parent Common Stock") and the outstanding shares of Acquisition be
converted into the right to receive fully paid and nonassessable shares of
Common Stock, no par value, of the Surviving Corporation, as hereinafter
provided;
<PAGE>   9
                  WHEREAS, Parent, Acquisition and the Company desire that,
immediately after the Effective Time and solely as a result of the Merger,
Parent will own all the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of
the Surviving Corporation; and

                  WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of the Company,
Parent and Acquisition have approved the Merger;

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and conditions contained
herein, and in order to set forth the terms and conditions of the Merger and the
mode of carrying the same into effect, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   THE MERGER

                  SECTION 1.01 The Merger. Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, in accordance with this Agreement and
the Louisiana BCL, Acquisition shall be merged with and into the Company, the
separate existence of Acquisition (except as it may be continued by operation of
law) shall cease, and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation
under the name EXAMCO Inc. unless and until the Articles of Incorporation
(hereinafter defined) shall be further amended to change the name of the
Surviving Corporation.

                  SECTION 1.02 Effect Of the Merger. Upon the effectiveness of
the Merger, the Surviving Corporation shall succeed to and assume all the rights
and obligations of Acquisition and the Company in accordance with the Louisiana
BCL, and the Merger shall otherwise have the effects set forth in Section 115 of
the Louisiana BCL.

                  SECTION 1.03 Consummation of the Merger. As soon as
practicable after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the
obligations of the parties to effect the Merger set forth herein, provided that
this Agreement has not been terminated previously, the parties hereto will cause
the Merger to be consummated by filing with the Secretary of State of the State
of Louisiana a properly executed Certificate of Merger in accordance with the
Louisiana BCL. The Merger shall be effective when effective under Louisiana law
(the time of such effectiveness being the "Effective Time").

                  SECTION 1.04 Charter; By-Laws; Directors and Officers.
Immediately after the Effective Time, the Articles of Incorporation of the
Company shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation
until thereafter amended in accordance with the provisions thereof and as
provided by the Louisiana BCL. As of


                                       2
<PAGE>   10
the Effective Time, the By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation shall be the
By-Laws of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time,
until thereafter amended in accordance with the provisions thereof and the
Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and as provided by the
Louisiana BCL. The initial directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation
shall be the directors and officers set forth below, in each case until their
respective successors are duly elected and qualified.

                  Directors

                  Lynn J. Mangum
                  Dennis R. Sheehan

                  Officers

                  Anthony Pascotti            Chief Executive Officer

                  T. Brantley Houston, Jr.    President

                  Dennis R. Sheehan           Executive Vice President,
                                              Chief Financial Officer
                                              and Treasurer

                  Andrew G. Hovancik          Executive Vice President

                  Mark J. Rybarcyzk           Executive Vice President,
                                              Human Resources

                  Charles H. Sonnenberg       Senior Vice President

                  W. Robert Slate             Senior Vice President

                  Kevin J. Dell               Senior Vice President, General
                                              Counsel and Secretary

                  Edward S. Forman            Assistant Secretary

                  SECTION 1.05 Further Assurances. If at any time after the
Effective Time the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised that any
deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances or any other acts or things are
necessary, desirable or proper (i) to vest, perfect or confirm, of record or
otherwise, in the Surviving Corporation, its right, title or interest in, to or
under any of the rights, privileges, powers, franchises, properties or assets of
either of the Constituent Corporations, or (ii) otherwise to carry out the
purposes of this Agreement, the Surviving Corporation and its proper officers
and directors or their designees shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in
the name and on behalf of either of the Constituent Corporations, all such
deeds, bills of sale, assignments and assurances and do, in the name and on
behalf of such Constituent Corporation, all such other acts and things
necessary, desirable or proper to vest, perfect or confirm its right, title or
interest in, to or under any of the rights, privileges, powers, franchises,
properties or assets of such Constituent Corporation and otherwise to carry out
the purposes of this Agreement.


                                       3
<PAGE>   11
                                   ARTICLE II

                            CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

                  SECTION 2.01 Conversion of Securities of the Company. By
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holders of the
common stock, no par value, of the Company ("Company Common Stock"), at the
Effective Time all outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock (subject to
the terms of Section 2.05(c) below) shall be converted into the right to receive
fully paid and nonassessable shares of Parent Common Stock on the following
basis:

                  (a) Net Merger Price. Subject to the terms of Section 2.06
below, the aggregate consideration to be paid in connection with the Merger
shall be paid in the form of Parent Common Stock valued, as set forth below, at
Ten Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($10,200,000) (the "Gross Merger
Price") less the Ascribed Value (as set forth in Section 2.02 below) of the
Petra Rights (hereinafter defined) and the SARs (hereinafter defined), which
Petra Rights and SARs shall be converted to rights to purchase or otherwise
acquire Parent Common Stock and/or cash pursuant to the terms hereof as of the
Effective Time (the "Net Merger Price"). The Net Merger Price shall be divided
by the average of the closing price per share of Parent Common Stock (the
"Average Price") as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers
Inc. Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") for the trading days in the period
from the date of execution of this Agreement until the day immediately prior to
the date on which the Effective Time shall occur provided that if there shall be
fewer than ten (10) trading days in such period, then the Average Price shall be
the average of the closing price per share as quoted on the NASDAQ for each of
the last ten (10) trading days prior to the Effective Time, which Average Price
shall be used to determine the number of shares of Parent Common Stock into
which the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock shall be converted in the
Merger (the "Aggregate Parent Common Stock Consideration").

                  (b) Exchange Value. Each share of Company Common Stock issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding any rights to
receive shares of Company Common Stock which are deemed to result from the
conversion of the Warrant (hereinafter defined) or the SARs (hereinafter
defined) pursuant to Sections 2.01(c) and (d) below and excluding any such
shares held in the treasury of the Company, which shall be cancelled as provided
in paragraph (e) below) (all such shares collectively referred to herein as the
"Exchange Shares") shall be converted into the right to receive the number of
shares of Parent Common Stock (the "Exchange Value"), determined by dividing the
Aggregate Parent Common Stock Consideration by the aggregate number of Exchange
Shares, subject to the terms of Section 2.06 below. If, prior to the Effective
Time, Parent


                                       4
<PAGE>   12
should split or combine the outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock, or pay a
stock dividend or other stock distribution in Parent Common Stock, then the
determination of the Exchange Value shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect
such split, combination, dividend or other distribution.

                  (c) In connection with the closing of the transactions
contemplated by that certain Loan and Security Agreement by and between the
Company and Petra Capital, L.L.C., a Georgia limited liability company
("Petra"), dated as of August 12, 1998, the Company issued to Petra that certain
Stock Purchase Warrant dated August 12, 1998 (the "Warrant") pursuant to which
it granted to Petra the right to purchase shares of Company Common Stock, at a
price per share of one cent, and upon the other terms and conditions set forth
therein. Pursuant to Section 5(f) of the Warrant, in the event of a Capital
Reorganization (as defined therein), Petra's right to purchase Company Common
Stock is converted to the right to purchase, upon exercise of the Warrant and
payment of the exercise price therefor, the kind and amount of shares of stock
and other property which Petra would have owned or been entitled to receive
pursuant to such Capital Reorganization if the Warrant had been exercised
immediately prior to such Capital Reorganization, subject to the terms therein
set forth. Upon exercise of the Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time,
Petra would have been entitled to purchase 604 shares of Company Common Stock
(the "Petra Rights"). Pursuant to an agreement bearing even date herewith (the
"Petra Agreement"), Petra has agreed to accept at the Effective Time, in
consideration of the cancellation of the Warrant immediately prior to the
Effective Time, the right to receive an amount in cash (the "Modified Petra
Rights") determined by multiplying (x) 453 by (y) the Exchange Value and then
multiplying said product by (z) the Average Price, subject to the terms of
Section 2.06 below. At the Effective Time, pursuant to the terms of the Warrant,
the Petra Rights shall be deemed to be converted into the right to receive an
amount in cash equal to the Modified Petra Rights, which amount shall be paid by
Parent in accordance with the terms hereof.

                  (d) Pursuant to certain Stock Appreciation Rights Agreements
between the Company and each of Andrew G. Hovancik, III ("Hovancik"), Charles H.
Sonnenberg ("Sonnenberg"), W. Robert Slate ("Slate") and Gregory D. Szczurek
("Szczurek") (collectively, the "SAR Holders and individually, each a "SAR
Holder"), as amended (the "SAR Agreements"), each SAR Holder is entitled to
receive a certain percentage interest in the appreciation of the equity value of
the Company (the "API") upon the terms and conditions set forth in the SAR
Agreement. Pursuant to Section 12 of the SAR Agreements, immediately prior to
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, each SAR Holder's
rights to the API shall be automatically converted, effective immediately prior
to the Effective Time, into an equity interest in the Company, as set forth on
Schedule 2.01(d) hereto.


                                       5
<PAGE>   13
The number of shares of Company Common Stock deemed to represent such equity
interests which the SAR Holders are entitled to receive under the SAR
Agreements, as set forth on Schedule 2.01(d) hereto, subject to the terms of
Section 2.06 below, are referred to herein, in the aggregate, or as to each SAR
Holder, as the "SARs". Pursuant to an agreement bearing even date herewith (the
"SAR Holder Agreement"), (i) each SAR Holder other than Hovancik has agreed to
accept sixty percent (60%) of such SAR Holder's rights to the API in Parent
Common Stock and, in consideration of such SAR Holder's obligations under a
"Noncompetition Agreement" (hereinafter defined), forty percent (40%) of such
SAR Holder's rights to the API in cash, and (ii) Hovancik has agreed to accept
fifty percent (50%) of his rights to the API in Parent Common stock and, in
consideration of his obligations under a "Non-Competition Agreement"
(hereinafter defined), fifty percent (50%) of his rights to the API in cash. At
the Effective Time, each SAR Holder's SARs, as set forth on Schedule 2.01(d),
other than Hovancik's SARs, shall be deemed to be converted into the (i) right
to receive a number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to sixty percent
(60%) of the number of SARs held by such SAR Holder multiplied by the Exchange
Value, and (ii) the right to receive an amount in cash determined by multiplying
(x) forty percent (40%) of the number of SARs held by such SAR Holder by (y) the
Exchange Value and then multiplying said product by (z) the Average Price. At
the Effective Time, Hovancik's SARs, as set forth on Schedule 2.01(d), shall be
deemed to be converted into the (i) right to receive a number of shares of
Parent Common Stock equal to fifty percent (50%) of the number of SARs held by
Hovancik multiplied by the Exchange Value and (ii) the right to receive an
amount in cash determined by multiplying (x) fifty percent (50%) of the number
of SAR's held by Hovancik by (y) the Exchange Value and then multiplying said
product by (z) the Average Price. All such amounts of cash payable to the SAR
Holders hereunder shall be paid by Parent in accordance with the terms hereof.

                  (e) Treasury Stock. Any shares of capital stock held in the
treasury of the Company as of the Effective Time shall be canceled and retired
as of the Effective Time and no capital stock of Parent, cash or other
consideration shall be paid or delivered in exchange therefor.

                  SECTION 2.02 Ascribed Value. Subject to the terms of Section
2.06 below, the ascribed value of the Petra Rights and the SARs (the "Ascribed
Value"), for the purposes of Section 2.01(a), shall be the product calculated by
multiplying (A) the Gross Merger Price by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which
is the sum of the number of Petra Rights and the SARs (collectively, the
"Convertible Rights") and the denominator of which is the sum of the number of
shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time plus the number of Convertible Rights.


                                       6
<PAGE>   14
                  SECTION 2.03 Escrow. As security for the indemnification
obligations of the Shareholders under Section 7.08 hereof, the Shareholders
agree that as of the Effective Time Parent shall withhold and deposit in escrow
on behalf of the Shareholders, pro rata according to their "Percentage Shares"
(hereinafter defined), pursuant to an escrow agreement substantially in the form
of Exhibit A hereto (the "Escrow Agreement"), a number of shares of Parent
Common Stock having a value of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00)
based on the Average Price. Parent acknowledges that the shares of Parent Common
Stock held in escrow pursuant to the Escrow Agreement shall be outstanding
shares of Parent Common Stock and shall be treated as outstanding shares of
Parent Common Stock for financial accounting purposes, and the Shareholders
shall be entitled to receive any dividends and distributions on said shares of
Parent Common Stock if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of Parent
and to vote said shares of Parent Common Stock on all matters submitted to a
vote of Parent's shareholders generally.

                  SECTION 2.04 Acquisition Common Stock. At the Effective Time,
each of the One Hundred (100) shares of the common stock, no par value, of
Acquisition issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
be converted into the right to receive one (1) share of the common stock, no par
value, of the Surviving Corporation, which shall constitute all of the issued
and outstanding shares of the Surviving Corporation after the Effective Time.

                  SECTION 2.05 Exchange of Certificates; Surrender of Warrant
and SAR Agreements. (a) Promptly after the Effective Time, each Shareholder
shall deliver to Parent the certificate or certificates representing their
shares of Company Common Stock (each, a "Certificate") in form sufficient for
transfer and cancellation pursuant thereto, the holder of the Warrant shall
surrender same to Parent and the SAR Holders shall terminate and surrender to
Parent their respective SAR Agreements, which shall thereupon be deemed
terminated and of no further force or effect. As a condition to the issuance of
Parent Common Stock and payment of cash consideration hereunder, as applicable,
each holder or deemed holder of an interest in shares of Company Common Stock
and/or cash consideration pursuant to this Agreement who is not a party hereto,
including, without limitation Petra and the SAR Holders, shall submit the
Certificate (or Certificates) for such shares, if applicable, (or, in the case
of Petra, the Warrant and in the case of the SAR Holders, the originally
executed SAR Agreements, each marked cancelled and terminated) to Parent
together with a letter of transmittal, in form and substance satisfactory to
Parent, containing such investment representations and warranties and covenants,
respectively, consistent with Section 4.04, as shall be required by Parent (the
"Transmittal Letter").


                                       7
<PAGE>   15
Upon surrender of a Certificate (or Certificates) for cancellation to Parent in
form sufficient for transfer and cancellation pursuant hereto and delivery to
Parent of such other documents as may reasonably be required by Parent, the
Shareholder surrendering such Certificate (or Certificates) (or, in the case of
Petra, the Warrant, and in the case of the SAR Holders, the originally executed
SAR Agreements, marked cancelled and terminated), in each case along with the
Transmittal Letter, if applicable, such Shareholder or Petra or the SAR Holder,
as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor (w) a
certificate evidencing that number of whole shares of Parent Common Stock which
such holder has the right to receive in respect of the shares of Company Common
Stock evidenced by such Certificate (or Certificates) or the SAR Agreement, as
applicable (after taking into account all shares of Company Common Stock then
held of record by such holder), (x) in the case of the Warrant Holder, an amount
in cash equal to the Modified Petra Rights, (y) in the case of each SAR Holder,
an amount of cash as provided in Section 2.01(d) hereof, and/or (z) a check
representing the amount of cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common
Stock, if any, and unpaid dividends or other distributions, if any, to which
such holder is entitled pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.05, after
giving effect to any applicable withholding tax, and the Certificate (or
Certificates) or Warrant or SAR Agreement, as applicable, so surrendered shall
forthwith be cancelled. No interest will be paid or accrued on the cash in lieu
of fractional shares and unpaid dividends and distributions, if any, payable to
the shareholders.

                  (b) No dividends or other distributions declared after the
Effective Time with respect to Parent Common Stock shall be paid with respect to
any shares of Company Common Stock represented by a Certificate until such
Certificate is surrendered for exchange as provided herein. After surrender of
any such Certificate, there shall be paid to the holder of the certificate
representing whole shares of Parent Common Stock issued in exchange therefor,
without interest, (i) at the time of such surrender, the amount of dividends or
other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore
declared with respect to such whole shares of Parent Common Stock and not paid,
less the amount of any applicable withholding taxes thereon, and (ii) at the
appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a
record date after the Effective Time but prior to the date of such surrender and
with a payment date subsequent to the date of such surrender payable with
respect to such whole shares of Parent Common Stock, less the amount of any
applicable withholding taxes thereon.

                  (c) No certificates or scrip representing fractional shares of
Parent Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange of
Certificates, the Warrant or the SAR Agreement, as applicable, and such
fractional share interests will not entitle


                                       8
<PAGE>   16
the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a shareholder of Parent. Each
holder of shares of Company Common Stock (or Petra or the SAR Holders, as the
case may be), who would otherwise have been entitled to receive in the Merger a
fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock (after taking into account all
certificates surrendered by such holder) shall be entitled to receive, in lieu
thereof, a check in an amount (without interest) equal to such fractional part
of a share of Parent Common Stock multiplied by the Average Price.

                  (d) From and after the date of this Agreement, the stock
transfer books of the Company shall be closed, and there shall be no further
registrations of transfers of shares of Company Common Stock on the records of
the Company.

                  (e) In the event that any Certificate shall have been lost,
stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person
claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by
the Surviving Corporation, the posting of a bond in such reasonable amount as
the Surviving Corporation may direct, Parent shall issue in exchange for such
Certificate the shares of Parent Common Stock and, if any, cash in lieu of
fractional shares and unpaid dividends and distributions on shares of Parent
Common Stock deliverable in respect thereof as provided herein.

                  (f) Promptly after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall issue to Parent a certificate representing One Hundred (100)
shares of the common stock of the Surviving Corporation, and Parent shall cause
the certificates representing the shares of the capital stock of Acquisition to
be canceled.

                  SECTION 2.06 Adjustment of Merger Consideration. (a) The
parties hereto acknowledge that the Company and the Shareholders desire to sell
and transfer for cash consideration, subject to the prior written consent of
Parent, the assets used or useable in the Company's Reference Products Business,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, as described in Schedule
2.06(a) hereto (the "Reference Products Business"). In the event that the sale
and transfer for cash consideration of all or any portion of the Reference
Products Business is completed by the Surviving Corporation on or before June
15, 1999, then, in such event, the following recalculations and adjustments
shall be made: (i) the Gross Merger Price shall be increased by an amount equal
to fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate of the cash consideration received by
the Surviving Corporation for (x) the Reference Products Business or any such
portion thereof which is sold as contemplated hereby and (y) the services to be
provided by the Surviving Corporation to the purchaser or purchasers thereof
(less the aggregate out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by the Surviving
Corporation in connection with any such sale), up to a maximum increase of


                                       9
<PAGE>   17
$500,000, and such increased amount, in addition to the Gross Merger Price,
shall be the "Adjusted Gross Merger Price"; (ii) the Ascribed Value under
Section 2.02 shall be recalculated and adjusted for purposes of Section 2.01(a)
hereof (the "Adjusted Ascribed Value") by using the Adjusted Gross Merger Price
in the calculation under Section 2.02 instead of the Gross Merger Price; (iii)
the Net Merger Price shall be recalculated and adjusted based on the Adjusted
Gross Merger Price and the Adjusted Ascribed Value (the "Adjusted Net Merger
Price"); (iv) the Aggregate Parent Common Stock Consideration shall be
recalculated and adjusted based on the Adjusted Net Merger Price and the Average
Price (the "Adjusted Aggregate Parent Common Stock Consideration"); (v) the
Exchange Value shall be recalculated and adjusted using the Adjusted Aggregate
Parent Common Stock Consideration (the "Adjusted Exchange Value"); (vi) the
Modified Petra Rights shall be recalculated and adjusted using the Adjusted
Exchange Value; and (vii) the SARs under Section 2.01(d) hereof shall be
recalculated and adjusted based on the Adjusted Exchange Value.

                  (b) If the sale of all of the Reference Products Business is
completed as provided in Section 2.06(a) hereof following the Effective Time and
on or prior to June 15, 1999, the number of shares of Parent Common Stock to be
delivered to the Shareholders in consideration of the Merger, the amount of cash
to be delivered to Petra in consideration of the Modified Petra Rights, and the
number of shares of Parent Common Stock and the amount of cash consideration to
be delivered to the SAR Holders pursuant to Section 2.01(d) hereof shall be
adjusted as provided in Section 2.06(a) hereof as of the date of the closing of
the sale of the last remaining assets constituting the Reference Products
Business. If any portion, but not all, of the Reference Products Business is
sold as of June 15, 1999, said amounts shall be adjusted as provided in Section
2.06(a) hereof as of June 15, 1999 based on fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate
of the cash consideration received by the Surviving Corporation for (i) such
portion of the Reference Products Business which is sold as of June 15, 1999 and
(ii) the services to be provided by the Surviving Corporation to the purchaser
or purchasers thereof (less the aggregate out-of-pocket expenses actually
incurred by the Surviving Corporation in connection with any such sale), up to a
maximum aggregate increase of $500,000. The date as of which the aforementioned
amounts shall be adjusted is herein referred to as the "Adjustment Date". Parent
shall deliver as promptly as practicable, but no later than thirty (30) days
following the Adjustment Date, to the Shareholders, the SAR Holders and Petra,
as applicable, the additional shares of Parent Common Stock and/or cash
consideration, as applicable, to which the Shareholders, the SAR Holders and
Petra are entitled as a result of the adjustments made pursuant to Section
2.06(a), together with a written statement showing in reasonable detail the
calculation thereof.


                                       10
<PAGE>   18
                                   ARTICLE III

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
                                AND SHAREHOLDERS

                  Each of the Company and each Shareholder, jointly and
severally, hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Acquisition, knowing and
intending that each of Parent and Acquisition is relying hereon in entering into
the transactions contemplated hereby, as follows:

                  SECTION 3.01 Authority Relative to Agreement. The Company has
all requisite power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations
hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company and the Shareholders,
and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to
authorize this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  SECTION 3.02 Shareholders' Title to Stock. The shares of
Company Common Stock identified on Schedule 3.04 represent, collectively, all of
the issued and/or outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests
in the Company, other than the Warrant and the rights set forth in the SAR
Agreements. Except as listed in Schedule 3.02, neither the Company nor the
Shareholders are parties to any shareholders agreement, buy-sell agreement or
similar agreement or arrangement.

                  SECTION 3.03 Organization, Standing and Qualification. The
Company is a corporation, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Louisiana and has the corporate power and lawful
authority to own and hold its properties and conduct its business as now owned,
held and conducted in its state of incorporation and the states in which it has
qualified to do business. The Company is qualified and in good standing in all
states (or other jurisdictions) in which such qualification is required by
reason of the nature or extent of business conducted by the Company therein,
except where the failure to be so qualified would not have Material Adverse
Effect (hereinafter defined). Such states (and jurisdictions) are specified in
Schedule 3.03 attached hereto. As used in this Agreement, the term "Material
Adverse Effect" shall mean, with respect to any party, a material adverse effect
on the assets, financial condition, operating results or business of such party
and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.


                                       11
<PAGE>   19
                  SECTION 3.04 Stock of the Company. The authorized capital
stock of the Company consists in its entirety of 1,000,000 shares of Company
Common Stock, without par value, of which 10,000 shares of Company Common Stock
are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable. The number of
shares of Company Common Stock owned of record by each holder thereof is set
forth in Schedule 3.04 hereof. Except for (i) the Warrant and (ii) the
obligations of the Company under the SAR Agreements, the Company does not have
any outstanding subscription, warrants, convertible securities, obligations,
options, or rights entitling others to acquire shares of capital stock of the
Company, or any outstanding securities, options, warrants, rights or other
instruments convertible into shares of capital stock of the Company.

                  SECTION 3.05 Subsidiaries. There is no corporation,
partnership, joint venture, or other entity in which the Company has, directly
or indirectly, any investment or to which the Company has made an advance of
cash, other than as listed on Schedule 3.05 attached hereto. The Company is not
under any obligation to acquire any securities from any person or entity.

                  SECTION 3.06 Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws. True and
complete copies of the Company's Articles of Incorporation (the "Articles of
Incorporation") and By-Laws (in each case together with any amendments thereto)
are attached hereto as Schedule 3.06.

                  SECTION 3.07 Execution and Performance of Agreement; Validity
and Binding Nature. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, and the
performance by the Company of the terms of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby, will not result in a breach of any of the terms of, or
constitute a violation of or default under, the Articles of Incorporation or
By-Laws of the Company or any statute, contract, indenture or other instrument
by which the Company or any of its properties are bound, except as the
consummation of the Merger may be prohibited by the certain Loan and Security
Agreement dated as of August 12, 1998 between the Company and Petra (the "Petra
Loan Agreement") and the certain Loan Agreements dated as of August 11, 1998
between Regions Bank, an Alabama banking corporation ("Regions Bank"), and the
Company (the "Regions Bank Loan Agreement"). Except as provided in Section 3.27
hereof, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or
governmental authority is required in connection with the execution and delivery
of this Agreement by the Company and the performance by the Company of the terms
of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by the Company. This Agreement is, and the
documents and agreements executed and delivered by the Company pursuant to the
terms hereof, when duly executed and delivered by all parties whose execution
and delivery thereof is required, will be, legal, valid, and binding obligations
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
respective


                                       12
<PAGE>   20
terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
receivership, moratorium, conservatorship, reorganization or other laws of
general application affecting the rights of creditors generally or by general
principles of equity.

                  SECTION 3.08 Financial Statements. The Company has delivered
to Parent the unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of February 28, 1999
(the "Balance Sheet") and the unaudited statement of income and retained
earnings for the nine months ended February 28, 1999. The Company also has
delivered to Parent the audited balance sheet of the Company as at May 31, 1998,
and the related statements of income and retained earnings and cash flows for
the year then ended and notes thereto, audited by Wegman-Daget & Co.,
independent certified public accountants, and the reviewed balance sheets of the
Company as at May 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, and the related statements of
income and retained earnings and cash flows and notes thereto for the fiscal
years then ended, in each case as reviewed by Wegman-Daget & Co. The Balance
Sheet and said financial statements and notes thereto as of said dates and for
said periods are hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Financial
Statements"). Each of the Financial Statements (a) is true and correct and has
been prepared from the books and records of the Company, (b) has been prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on
a consistent basis with prior periods covered thereby, subject, in the case of
the interim statements, to year end adjustments (which consist of normal
recurring accruals) and in the case of the interim and the reviewed statements,
the absence of certain footnote disclosures, and (c) presents fairly in all
material respects the financial position of the Company as at its respective
date and the results of the Company's operations, changes in stockholders'
equity (deficit) and cash flows for such period in all respects, subject, in the
case of unaudited statements, to year end adjustments (which consist of normal
recurring accruals) and in the case of the interim and the reviewed statements,
the absence of certain footnote disclosures. All prepaid expenses included
therein as assets represent payments or accruals theretofore made by the
Company, the benefit and advantage of which may be obtained and enjoyed by the
business of the Company. The books and records of the Company have been kept,
and will be kept to the Effective Time, in reasonable detail and in accordance
with the same accounting principles heretofore used consistently applied and
fairly and accurately reflect, and will fairly and accurately reflect to the
Effective Time, all of the transactions of the Company, and are and will be
complete and correct in all material respects.

                  SECTION 3.09 Intellectual Rights. Schedule 3.09 attached
hereto contains a complete and correct list and accurate description of all
trademarks, trademark and service mark applications, trade names, service marks,
logos and other identifying symbols, names or marks, copyrights, patents, patent


                                       13
<PAGE>   21
applications and, to the extent material to the Company's business, inventions,
processes, designs, formulas, trade secrets, and other intellectual and/or
proprietary rights or interests (collectively, "Intellectual Rights") (i) owned
by the Company, free and clear of all licenses, liens, charges or encumbrances,
except as specified in such Schedule, or (ii) licensed to the Company under
valid and enforceable agreements, in each case exclusive of the Software
(hereinafter defined) identified on Schedule 3.10 hereof. The Company owns, or
possesses adequate rights to use, all Intellectual Rights necessary for the
conduct of its business. The Company is the exclusive owner of the corporate
name "EXAMCO, Inc." in the State of Louisiana and the Company has used, prior to
the date hereof, the tradename "EXAMCO" in the ordinary and regular course of
business. Upon consummation of the Merger, the Surviving Corporation shall have
the absolute right to use and authorize others to use all of the Intellectual
Rights, free from any claims, security interests, or other liens whatsoever. To
the knowledge of the Company and the Shareholders, there are no infirmities
concerning the validity of any of the Intellectual Rights and there are no
infringements by any third parties upon any Intellectual Rights. There is no
conflict with or infringement by the Company of the rights of others with
respect to same.

                  SECTION 3.10 Software.

                  (a) Schedule 3.10(a) hereto contains a true, complete and
accurate list and summary description of (i) all computer software and related
programs owned by the Company, including all software, source codes and object
codes and (ii) all computer software and related programs licensed by the
Company for use in connection with the business of the Company, other than
off-the-shelf software licensed to the Company which is not material to the
operation of the Company's business or the services provided by the Company
(collectively, the "Software"). The Company owns and has a right to resell all
of the owned Software and has a valid license to use all of the licensed
Software, and upon consummation of the Merger, the Surviving Corporation shall
have the absolute right to use all of the Software and authorize others to use
all of the owned Software, free from any claim, security interest or other lien
or encumbrance whatsoever, except as set forth on Schedule 3.10(a). The Company
is the exclusive licensee of the Software indicated on Schedule 3.10(a) as being
exclusively licensed by the Company. The Software constitutes the only computer
software or programs necessary for the operation of the Company's business.

                  (b) The Company has provided to Parent true and complete
copies of all licenses, leases, contracts and other written instruments giving
the Company rights in any Software and/or source codes thereof which are not
owned by the Company (collectively, the "Software Contracts"), all of which
Software Contracts are legally valid and binding and enforceable in


                                       14
<PAGE>   22
accordance with their respective terms. Neither the Company, nor, to the
knowledge of the Company or the Shareholders, any other party thereto, is in
violation of any term or provision of any Software Contract. The use of the
owned Software by the Company does not, and upon consummation of the Merger the
use of the Software by the Surviving Corporation will not, in any manner,
infringe upon any rights of any third parties. The use of any source codes
related to Software which is not owned by the Company, and the exercise of the
rights of the Company in and to such source codes, as provided in any of the
Software Contracts, does not, and upon consummation of the Merger the use of any
such source codes and exercise of such rights by the Surviving Corporation
pursuant to the terms of the Software Contracts will not, in any manner,
infringe upon the rights of any third parties.

                  (c) All source codes relating to the Software which is owned
by the Company (the "Owned Source Codes") are in the possession of the Company
and constitute trade secret information of the Company. Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.10(a), no third party has any copy of any of the Owned Source Codes
or any right, title, interest or license, conditional or otherwise, with respect
to any of the Owned Source Codes under any circumstances whatsoever, and the
Company has not granted any such right, title, interest or license covering any
future period with respect to any of the Owned Source Codes under any
circumstances whatsoever. Upon consummation of the Merger, the Surviving
Corporation shall own and have possession of, and shall have the right to use,
the Owned Source Codes, free from any claim, security interest or other lien or
encumbrance whatsoever.

                  (d) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.10(a) with respect to
certain documentation relating to Software owned by the Company, the Company
owns in respect of all Software owned by the Company and has possession of, and
the Surviving Corporation will own in respect of all Software owned by the
Company and have possession of immediately after the Effective Time, complete
and adequate documentation in all material respects, including without
limitation, documentation of source codes, object codes and engineering change
notices, reflecting the current versions of all Software listed on Schedule
3.10(a) so as to enable the Surviving Corporation to conduct fully after the
Effective Time the business conducted by the Company prior to the Effective Time
in the same manner as theretofore conducted. The Company's present employees are
capable of producing such documentation as is not currently in possession of the
Company with respect to Software owned by the Company.

                  SECTION 3.11 Contract Parties, Suppliers and Consultants.


                                       15
<PAGE>   23
                  (a) Schedule 3.11(a) contains the names and business addresses
of the customers of the Company with respect to which the Company presently has
contracts or arrangements to provide goods or services (collectively, the
"Contract Parties"), all of which are material to the operation of the Company's
business. Schedule 3.20 identifies the respective contracts or arrangements the
Company has entered into with respect to the Contract Parties which will remain
to be performed, in whole or in part, after the Effective Time. True and
complete copies of those contracts or arrangements which are in writing have
been heretofore delivered to Parent, and written summary descriptions of those
contracts or arrangements which are oral have been heretofore delivered to
Parent. No Contract Party listed in Schedule 3.11(a) has expressed to the
Company or to any Shareholder its intention to cancel or otherwise terminate its
relationship with the Company, and, to the best knowledge of the Company and
each Shareholder, all of such contracts and arrangements will continue in full
force and effect after the Effective Time and a continuing relationship with
each such Contract Party is not in jeopardy.

                  (b) Schedule 3.11(b) contains the names and business addresses
of all of the suppliers and consultants from whom the Company purchased, during
the twelve (12) month period ending February 28, 1999, goods and/or services,
the aggregate cost of which exceeded Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) or
which suppliers or consultants are in any event material to the continued
operation of the Company's business in the ordinary course (collectively, the
"Major Suppliers"). Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.11(b), the Company has no
other suppliers or consultants which are material to the business of the Company
as presently conducted. No Major Supplier listed in Schedule 3.11(b) has
expressed to the Company or to any Shareholder its intention to cancel or
otherwise terminate its relationship with the Company, and, to the knowledge of
the Company and each Shareholder, a continuing relationship with each such
supplier is not in jeopardy.

                  SECTION 3.12 Employment, Deferred Compensation or Similar
Agreements; Collective Bargaining Agreements; Employee Benefit Plans.

                  (a) Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.12(a), the Company is
not a party to any agreement or employment contract or deferred compensation or
similar arrangement with any of its employees or former employees. There are no
collective bargaining agreements covering any employees of the Company. The
business of the Company is not affected by any present strike or other labor
disturbance involving the Company's employees nor, to the best knowledge of the
Company or any Shareholder, is any union attempting to represent, as collective
bargaining agent, any person employed by the Company.


                                       16
<PAGE>   24
                  (b) Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.12(b), the Company does
not sponsor or maintain and is not otherwise a party to or liable under any
plan, program, fund or arrangement (whether or not qualified for Federal income
tax purposes), whether benefiting a single individual or multiple individuals,
and whether funded or not, that is an "employee pension benefit plan," or an
"employee welfare benefit plan," as such terms are defined in the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), or any incentive
or other benefit arrangement for its employees, their dependents and
beneficiaries.

                  (c) Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.12(c) hereto, the
Company has not and does not contribute to any multi-employer plan (as defined
in Section 3(37) of ERISA), has not incurred any liability under Section 4201 of
ERISA for any complete or partial withdrawal from any multi-employer plan and
has not assumed any such liability by any prior owner of any of its assets or
properties.

                  (d) Each employee pension benefit plan maintained by the
Company and listed on Schedule 3.12(b) complies in all material respects with
the requirements of ERISA. No "reportable event" within the meaning of Section
403 of ERISA has occurred with respect to any such plan and Seller has not
engaged in any "prohibited transaction" within the meaning of Section 406(a) or
(b) of ERISA or of Section 4975(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Code"), with respect
to any such plan; and no such plan has been terminated in accordance with the
procedures set forth in Section 4041 or 4042 of ERISA.

                  (e) No liability has been incurred by the Company for any tax
imposed by Section 4975 of the Code with respect to any plan described in
Schedule 3.12(b). The Company has, and shall have, for all periods ending on or
prior to the Effective Time, administered each employee pension benefit plan and
each employee welfare benefit plan described in Schedule 3.12(b) in all material
respects in compliance with the reporting, disclosure and all other requirements
applicable thereto under ERISA, the Code or any other applicable law.

                  SECTION 3.13 Inventory. The value shown for inventory on the
Balance Sheet fairly presents the Company's inventory as of the date of the
Balance Sheet in accordance with GAAP at the lower of cost or market value
thereof based on the average cost basis method of inventory valuation, and all
inventory acquired since that date has been reflected on the Company's books
pursuant to such method, subject to adjustments in accordance with the Company's
practices with respect thereto (and in any event in accordance with GAAP)
consistently applied. The inventory of the Company is in good and merchantable
condition exclusive of reserves shown on the Balance Sheet for obsolete items as
determined in


                                       17
<PAGE>   25
accordance with GAAP. No write-downs of the Company's inventory have occurred
since February 28, 1999. The Company does not currently use, nor has it within
the past five (5) years used, the last in, first out method of inventory
valuation.

                  SECTION 3.14 Real Estate.

                  (a) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.14(a), the Company owns
no real estate and has no ownership interest, directly or indirectly, in any
real estate.

                  (b) Schedule 3.14(b) contains a true and correct list of all
leases, subleases or other agreements under which the Company is lessee or
subtenant or lessor or sublessor of real estate.

                  (c) All such leased real estate (and improvements thereon) is
in good operating condition and repair and, to the knowledge of the Company and
each Shareholder, conforms in all material respects with all applicable
building, zoning, planning, environmental and other regulations, ordinances or
laws, and the Company has the right to use all real estate necessary to the
conduct of its business as currently conducted.

                  SECTION 3.15 Title to and Condition of Personal Property. The
Company has merchantable title to all personal property reflected in the Balance
Sheet or acquired subsequent to the date of the Balance Sheet (other than
inventory disposed of since that date in the ordinary course of business), free
and clear of all liens or encumbrances except as described in Schedule 3.15
hereto (the "Liens"). All of the personal property owned by the Company is in
good operating condition and repair. The Company owns or has the right to use
all such personal property necessary to the conduct of its business as currently
conducted.

                  SECTION 3.16 Accounts Receivable. The accounts receivable of
the Company reflected in the Balance Sheet or acquired by the Company subsequent
to the date of the Balance Sheet (a) are true, bona fide accounts receivable of
the Company, created in the ordinary course of business; (b) have been collected
or are fully collectible in amounts not less than the aggregate amount thereof,
net of reserves established therefor on the books of the Company and reflected
in the Balance Sheet; (c) are not subject to any offsets, credits or
counterclaims; and (d) have not at any time been placed for collection with any
attorney, collection agency or similar individual or firm.

                  SECTION 3.17 Consignment and Return Items. Except as reflected
in the Balance Sheet or incurred since the date of the Balance Sheet in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices and disclosed in
Schedule 3.17, the Company has no obligation (other than warranty obligations)
to accept a return


                                       18
<PAGE>   26
for credit of any products shipped to customers or distributors or others prior
to the date hereof or to be shipped prior to the Effective Time.

                  SECTION 3.18 Taxes. The Company has properly completed and
filed all federal, state, county, municipal and other tax returns, reports and
declarations which are required to be filed by it and has paid or accrued on the
Financial Statements all taxes, penalties and interest which have become (or may
hereafter become) due pursuant thereto or which became (or may hereafter become)
due pursuant to assessments. The Company has not received any notice of
deficiency or assessment of additional taxes, and no tax audits are in process.
The last year for which the federal or state income taxes or other taxes of the
Company have been examined is set forth accurately and completely on Schedule
3.18 hereto. The Company has not granted any waiver of any statute of limitation
with respect to, or any extension of a period for the assessment of, any
federal, state, county, municipal or other tax. The accruals and reserves for
taxes reflected in the Balance Sheet are adequate to cover all taxes (including
interest and penalties, if any, thereon) due and payable or accrued in
accordance with GAAP as a result of the operations of the Company for all
periods prior to the date of the Balance Sheet. The Company has not filed an
election under Section 1362(a) of the Code to be taxed as an S Corporation.

                  SECTION 3.19 Litigation. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.19,
there is no litigation, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge
of the Company and each director and officer of the Company, threatened,
involving the Company or any of its properties. There are no outstanding orders,
writs, injunctions or decrees of any court, governmental agency or arbitration
tribunal materially affecting or materially limiting the conduct of the business
of the Company.

                  SECTION 3.20 Other Material Contracts and Commitments. Except
as disclosed in Schedule 3.20 or in another Schedule hereto, the Company is not
a party to, and none of its properties are bound by, any of the following types
of contracts or commitments, written or oral: (i) mortgages, indentures,
security agreements and other agreements and instruments relating to the
borrowing of money or extension of credit or imposition of an encumbrance on any
of the assets of the Company, (ii) agreements with any labor union or other
collective bargaining unit, (iii) bonus or compensation agreements (including
nonqualified deferred compensation) which have not been incurred in the ordinary
course of business of the Company consistent with past practices, (iv)
profit-sharing, stock option, pension, or retirement agreements, shareholder or
similar agreements or arrangements, trusts, or funds for the benefit of
employees, (v) sales agency, manufacturer's representative, distributorship or
supply agreements, (vi) other contracts and commitments which in any case
involve payments or receipts of more


                                       19
<PAGE>   27
than $25,000, (vii) any contract for the purchase, sale or lease of real or
personal property, either as lessor or lessee, which contracts have not been
fully performed as of the date hereof, or which in any case involve payment in
excess of $25,000; (viii) any contract with any officer, director or with any
employee of the Company (other than agreements relating to current wage or
salary payments terminable by the Company on notice of thirty (30) days or
less), (ix) any contract or promissory note or other instrument with any
Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of the Company, or (x) any guarantee or
obligation to provide funds or assume the debt of any person or entity. The
Company has delivered or otherwise made available to Parent complete and correct
copies of all written contracts and commitments, together with all amendments
thereto, and accurate descriptions of all oral agreements, described in Schedule
3.20 or any other Schedule hereto. The Company is not in default with respect to
any such contract, and, to the knowledge of the Company and each of the
Shareholders, no other party to any such contract is in default with respect
thereto. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.20, each such contract will continue
in full force and effect after the Effective Time without any right on the part
of any party thereto to terminate the same as a result of the occurrence of the
Merger. For purposes of this Agreement, "Affiliate" of the Company means (i) any
corporation, partnership, trust or other entity in control of, controlled by or
under common control with the Company; and (ii) any officer, director, trustee,
general partner of any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity in
control of, controlled by or under common control with the Company. Schedule
3.20 discloses all Affiliates of the Company other than persons unrelated to the
Company which may be deemed to be under common control with the Company solely
by reason of equity interests in such persons being held by shareholders of the
Company which are business entities currently in existence.

                  SECTION 3.21 Labor Relations. Except as disclosed in Schedule
3.19, the Company, in the conduct of its affairs, has substantially complied
with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, labor and tax laws),
and regulations relating to the hiring and employment of employees and
independent contractors, including, without limitation, those related to
discrimination, wages, hours, collective bargaining, employee pension and
welfare benefit plans, and the payment of (and withholding for) income, Social
Security and other taxes, and the Company is not liable for any penalties or
damages for failure to comply with any of the foregoing. There are no unfair
labor practice claims or charges pending or threatened involving the Company.

                  SECTION 3.22 Insurance. Schedule 3.22 hereto contains a list
and description (including the name of the insurer, coverage and expiration
date) of all insurance policies maintained by the Company. Schedule 3.22 further
lists all claims presently pending or threatened which are covered by such
policies. The Company has


                                       20
<PAGE>   28
not received notice of cancellation or non-renewal of any of such policies.

                  SECTION 3.23 Conduct of Business and Absence of Changes.
Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.23, since February 28, 1999 the Company has
conducted its business in the regular and ordinary course and has not (i)
undergone any material adverse change in its condition (financial or otherwise),
assets, liabilities, business, or operations, (ii) sold or otherwise disposed of
or encumbered any of its assets outside of the ordinary course of its business,
(iii) declared, set aside, made or paid any cash or stock dividend or
distribution or purchased, issued or sold any shares of its capital stock, (iv)
incurred any indebtedness for borrowed money or issued or sold any debt
securities, except for borrowings in the ordinary course of business consistent
with prior practice under the Company's line of credit disclosed in Schedule
3.23 hereto, (v) granted any increase in the salary or other compensation
payable or to become payable to any officers or employees (other than routine
salary increases for employees in the ordinary course of business consistent
with prior practice) or any changes in personnel policies or employee benefits,
or (vi) made any payment to any Shareholder except for payments described in a
Schedule hereto and regular salary and ordinary and necessary business expenses.

                  SECTION 3.24 Compliance with Laws; Governmental
Authorizations. The Company is in compliance, in all material respects, with all
statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, judgments, orders, decrees,
governmental permits and other governmental authorizations or approvals
applicable to it or any of its properties, and all governmental authorizations
or approvals necessary in any material respect for the conduct of the business
of the Company have been duly and lawfully obtained and are in full force and
effect, and there are no proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company
and each of the Shareholders, threatened which may result in the revocation,
cancellation or suspension, or any materially adverse modification, of any
thereof. The Company has not received notice of any alleged violation of any
applicable statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, decree,
governmental permit or other governmental authorization or approval necessary in
any material respect for the conduct of the business of the Company.

                  SECTION 3.25 Officers, Directors and Depositories. Schedule
3.25 hereto contains the names of all the officers and directors of the Company
and the names of all depositories of its funds and the names of the officers and
other persons empowered to sign instruments withdrawing funds from said
depositories.

                  SECTION 3.26 Environmental Matters.


                                       21
<PAGE>   29
                  (a) Since August 30, 1996, the business and operations of the
Company have been conducted in compliance with all Federal, state and local
laws, rules, regulations and directives pertaining to the environment. No
governmental agency has asserted any claim or threatened to assert any claim
against the Company in respect of its business, any assets owned or leased by
it, real properties leased by it, or the condition, use or operation thereof by
the Company, arising out of any Federal, state or local law, rule, regulation or
directive pertaining to the environment.

                  (b) To the knowledge of the Company and each Shareholder,
there are nowhere on any real property leased, used or otherwise under the
control of the Company any deposits, dumps, or tanks of toxic or other
poisonous, dangerous or noxious waste, fluids, solvents, chemicals or effluents,
all of which chemicals, fuels and fluids are properly and safely stored,
identified, labeled and maintained in accordance with applicable industrial
standards and all governmental or other laws or regulations relating thereto.
The Company does not unlawfully discharge and has not unlawfully discharged from
any real property leased, used or otherwise under its control, whether by
effluent, emission or other means, any noxious, toxic, hazardous or deleterious
matter or gases. All discharges of waste material and other substances from the
Company's operating facilities are in compliance with applicable law and covered
by valid permits and licenses, where required.

                  SECTION 3.27 Third Party and Governmental Consents. Except as
disclosed in Schedule 3.27 hereto, and except for the filing of a Certificate of
Merger with the Secretary of State of Louisiana in accordance with the Louisiana
BCL (collectively, the "Required Consents"), no consent, authorization,
approval, order, license, certificate or permit of or from, or registration,
declaration or filing with, any governmental authority or any court or other
tribunal or any other person, firm or entity, nor under any contract, indenture,
mortgage, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Company
is a party or by which the Company or any of its assets or properties is subject
or bound, is required by or with respect to the Company in connection with the
execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or of any other agreement,
document or instrument to be executed and delivered by the Company pursuant
hereto or in connection herewith or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.

                  SECTION 3.28 Licenses and Permits. The Company has obtained
all governmental consents, approvals, waivers and permits and all consents,
approvals or waivers of third parties required in connection with the ownership
of the assets of the Company and the operation of the Company's business as
presently and heretofore conducted (herein collectively referred to as the
"Licenses"). The


                                       22
<PAGE>   30
Licenses are listed on Schedule 3.28 attached hereto. No other licenses or
permits are required to conduct or operate the Company's business as presently
conducted.

                  SECTION 3.29 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as and
to the extent disclosed or accrued on the Financial Statements submitted to
Parent pursuant to the terms hereof, there exist no liabilities or obligations
of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, contingent or otherwise, matured or
unmatured, or known or unknown) in respect of the Company's business or assets
of the type customarily reflected in financial statements prepared in accordance
with GAAP, except for liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course
of business after the date of the Balance Sheet. Neither the Company nor any
Shareholder knows or has any reasonable grounds to know, after due inquiry, of
any basis for assertion against the Company of any claim or liability of any
nature in any amount not fully disclosed in the Financial Statements.

                  SECTION 3.30 Marketable Securities and Other Investments.
Schedule 3.30 lists all of the marketable securities and other investments
included in the Balance Sheet (the "Company Investments"), all of which are
owned by the Company free and clear of all liens, encumbrances or claims, except
as disclosed in Schedule 3.30. The value ascribed to each of the Company
Investments is in accordance with GAAP, and the Financial Statements are in
conformity with the requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board
Statement No. 115. All of the Company Investments are readily marketable except
as described in Schedule 3.30. Since the date of the Balance Sheet, there has
been no material decline in the aggregate market value of the Company
Investments.

                  SECTION 3.31 Loans to or from Officers, Directors,
Shareholders or Employees. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.31, the Company
does not have outstanding any loans, advances or other indebtedness incurred by
any director, officer, Shareholder or employee of the Company or any member of
their respective families, and there are no loans or advances made to the
Company by or indebtedness incurred by the Company to any, director, officer,
Shareholder or employee of the Company or any member of their respective
families (the "Related Party Loans"). True and complete copies of all promissory
notes or other agreements or documents evidencing the Related Party Loans have
been heretofore delivered to Parent.

                  SECTION 3.32 Service Warranties; Contract Losses. Adequate
provision in accordance with GAAP has been made in the Financial Statements for
claims under warranties provided for in all contracts with Contract Parties. The
Financial Statements adequately reflect the known and anticipated losses, if
any, for any outstanding and uncompleted contracts with Contract Parties,


                                       23
<PAGE>   31
and there are no such known or anticipated losses that are not so reflected in
the Financial Statements.

                  SECTION 3.33 Backlog. Schedule 3.33 discloses the backlog of
services to be provided by the Company pursuant to each contract with a Contract
Party, the reasonably anticipated value of such services and the date by which
performance by the Company of each such contract is anticipated to be completed.

                  SECTION 3.34 Year 2000 Compliance. (a) Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.10(a), all date-related output, calculations or results before,
during or after the calendar year 2000 that are produced or used by any
hardware, software (other than off-the-shelf software licensed to the Company
and that has not been customized for use in connection with the Company's
business), firmware or facilities systems (collectively, the "Computer Systems")
owned or used by the Company and material to the Company's business are Year
2000 Compliant. For purposes of this Section, "Year 2000 Compliant" means:

                        (i) all dates receivable by the Computer Systems, as
well as calculations, output and results will (1) include a consistent-length
century indicator of at least two base ten digits, and (2) have date elements in
interfaces and data storage that will permit specifying the century to eliminate
date ambiguity;

                        (ii) when any date data is represented without a
century, either in an interface or in data storage, the correct century will be
unambiguous for all manipulations involving that data;

                        (iii) data calculations involving either a single
century or multiple centuries will neither (1) cause an abnormal ending or
operation, nor (2) generate incorrect results or results inconsistent with
output or results from any other century;

                        (iv) when sorting by date, all records will be sorted in
accurate chronological sequence; and when the date is used as a key, records
will be read and written in accurate chronological sequence; and

                        (v) leap years will be determined by the following
standard: (i) if dividing the year by 4 yields an integer, it is a leap year,
except for years ending in 00, but (ii) a year ending in 00 is a leap year if
dividing it by 400 yields an integer.

                  (b) The Company has reviewed its operations with a view to
assessing whether its business, or the business of any of its Affiliates, will
be vulnerable to a Year 2000 Problem (hereinafter defined) and has a reasonable
basis to believe that no


                                       24
<PAGE>   32
Year 2000 Problem exists or is likely to be created. The Company shall take all
actions necessary and commit adequate resources to assure that its
computer-based and other systems (and those of all of its Affiliates) are able
to effectively process dates, including dates before, on or after January 1,
2000, without experiencing any Year 2000 Problem that could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, a
"Year 2000 Problem" shall mean any significant risk that computer hardware,
software or equipment containing embedded microchips essential to the business
or operations of the Company will not, in the case of dates or time periods
occurring after December 31, 1999, function at least as effectively and reliably
as in the case of time periods occurring before January 1, 2000, including
without limitation the making of accurate leap year calculations.

                  SECTION 3.35 Representations and Warranties True; No
Misleading Statements. All of the representations and warranties set forth in
this Article III shall be true and correct as of the Effective Time as if made
at that time. The representations and warranties made herein and in any
Schedule, list or other document specifically referred to herein and delivered
by the Company or the Shareholders pursuant hereto, and all information provided
by the Company for inclusion in the Merger Information (hereinafter defined),
taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue statements of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements herein
or therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                   ADDITIONAL
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                               OF THE SHAREHOLDERS

                  Each Shareholder hereby represents and warrants to Parent and
Acquisition, as to itself, severally and not jointly, as follows, knowing and
intending that each of Parent and Acquisition is relying hereon in entering into
the transactions contemplated hereby:

                  SECTION 4.01 Authority and Capacity Relative to Agreement.
Such Shareholder has all requisite power, authority and legal capacity to enter
into and perform each of its obligations hereunder.

                  SECTION 4.02 Execution and Performance of Agreement; Validity
and Binding Nature. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, and the
performance by such Shareholder of the terms of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, will not result in a material breach of any of
the terms of, or constitute a violation or default under, any statute or
contract, indenture or other instrument by which such Shareholder or any of


                                       25
<PAGE>   33
its respective properties are bound, and no consent, approval, authorization or
order of any court or governmental authority is required in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Shareholder and the performance
by such Shareholder of the terms of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such
Shareholder and, together with the other documents and agreements to be executed
by all parties whose execution and delivery thereof is required, constitutes the
legal, valid and binding obligations of such Shareholder, enforceable against
such Shareholder in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent
that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, receivership, moratorium,
conservatorship, reorganization or other laws of general application affecting
the rights of creditors generally or by general principles of equity, provided
that the Shareholders make no representation or warranty with respect to the
enforceability of any Non-Competition Agreement (hereinafter defined) or any
restrictive covenant agreement referenced in Section 7.06(c) executed in
connection with this Agreement by any person other than Houston. Such
Shareholder has the legal right and authority to vote the shares of Company
Common Stock held of record by it in favor of the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the Merger in accordance
with the provisions hereof.

                  SECTION 4.03 Stock of the Company. The number of shares of
Company Common Stock beneficially owned by such Shareholder is as identified on
Schedule 3.04 opposite the respective Shareholder's name. The shares of Company
Common Stock beneficially owned by such Shareholder are owned free and clear of
all liens, claims, options, encumbrances or restrictions whatsoever. Such
Shareholder has the full legal right and power and all authorizations and
approvals required by law or otherwise to sell, transfer and deliver such shares
as contemplated hereunder and to make the representations, warranties and
agreements set forth in this Agreement. Except with respect to the shares of the
Company Common Stock identified on Schedule 3.04 opposite the respective
Shareholder's name, such Shareholder has no outstanding claim against the
Company or any right whatsoever with respect to any shares of the capital stock
of the Company, including without limitation any other option, warrant or other
right to acquire shares of the capital stock of the Company or any securities,
options or other instruments convertible or exchangeable into shares of capital
stock of the Company. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.02, no Shareholder is a
party to any shareholders agreement, buy-sell agreement or similar agreement or
arrangement with respect to the Company Common Stock or other equity interest in
the Company.


                                       26
<PAGE>   34
                  SECTION 4.04 Additional Representations and Covenants of
Shareholders.

                  (a) Each Shareholder understands that the issuance of the
shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement is intended to be
exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act") by reason of Section 4(2) thereof based, in part, upon the
representations, warranties and agreements of such Shareholder contained in this
Agreement.

                  (b) Each Shareholder understands that neither the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") nor any state securities commission has
approved the Parent Common Stock or passed upon or endorsed the merits of an
investment therein or confirmed the accuracy or adequacy of any information
provided by Parent to the Shareholders or the accuracy or adequacy of any of the
representations, warranties and agreements of Parent contained herein.

                  (c) Except as contemplated pursuant to Section 7.12 hereof,
such Shareholder is acquiring Parent Common Stock solely for its own account for
investment and not with a view to resale or distribution thereof, in whole or in
part. Such Shareholder has no agreement or arrangement, formal or informal,
written or oral, with any person to sell or transfer or otherwise dispose of all
or any part of the Parent Common Stock, and has no present plans to enter into
any such agreement or arrangement.

                  (d) Such Shareholder did not become aware of the offer and
sale of Parent Common Stock through or as a result of any form of general
solicitation or general advertising including, without limitation, any article,
notice, advertisement or other communication published in any newspaper,
magazine or other media in connection with the offer and sale of Parent Common
Stock contemplated hereby and is not purchasing Parent Common Stock through or
as a result of any seminar or meeting to which such Shareholder was invited.

                  (e) Houston meets the requirements of at least one of the
categories of an "accredited investor", as defined in Rule 501(a) promulgated
under the Securities Act and as set forth in the form of Accredited Investor
Certification attached hereto as Exhibit B. In connection with the closing of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Houston shall certify to
Parent, in the form of the certification set forth in Exhibit B, as to which
category (or categories) of accredited investor is applicable to him.

                  (f) Such Shareholder, or such Shareholder together with its
purchaser representative, if any, has such knowledge and experience in
financial, tax, and business matters in general, and investments in securities
in particular, so as to enable such


                                       27
<PAGE>   35
Shareholder to evaluate the merits and risks of an investment in Parent Common
Stock and to make an informed investment decision with respect thereto.

                  (g) Such Shareholder recognizes that it must bear the
substantial economic risks of the investment in Parent Common Stock
indefinitely, because none of the Parent Common Stock may be sold, transferred,
hypothecated or otherwise disposed of unless such Parent Common Stock is
registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an
exemption from such registration is available. Legends shall be placed on the
certificates representing Parent Common Stock issuable stating that the shares
represented thereby have not been registered under the Securities Act or
applicable state securities laws, and appropriate notations thereof will be made
in Parent's stock books.

                  (h) Such Shareholder has adequate means of providing for its
current financial needs and foreseeable contingencies and has no need for
liquidity of its investment in Parent Common Stock for an indefinite period of
time.

                  (i) Such Shareholder is not relying on Parent or any of its
employees or agents with respect to the legal, tax, economic and related
considerations of an investment in Parent Common Stock, other than as expressly
contained in the representations and warranties of Parent contained in Article V
hereof. There has been delivered to each Shareholder copies of this Agreement,
Parent's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1998,
Parent's 1998 Annual Report to Stockholders, Parent Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q for the Quarters ended September 30, 1998 and December 31, 1998, Parent's
Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting held on November 16, 1998, Parent's
Financial Statements (hereinafter defined) and the "Risk Factors" section of
Parent's Prospectus dated October 9, 1998 (collectively, the "Parent Public
Information"). Each Shareholder has read and fully understands the Parent Public
Information.

                  (j) Such Shareholder, or such Shareholder together with its
purchaser representative, if any, (i) has had the opportunity to obtain all
information requested by it for the purpose of verifying the Parent Public
Information or for any other purpose related hereto and (ii) has had the
opportunity to meet with representatives of Parent and to have them answer any
questions and provide such additional information regarding the terms and
conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby, the information with respect
to Parent included in the Parent Public Information and the business and
prospects of Parent deemed relevant by such Shareholder, all of which questions
have been answered and all of which requested information has been provided to
the full satisfaction of such Shareholder. Such Shareholder is aware that an
investment in Parent Common Stock is speculative and involves


                                       28
<PAGE>   36
significant risks, including, among other things, the risk of the loss of such
Shareholder's entire investment in Parent Common Stock.

                  (k) In evaluating the suitability of an investment in Parent,
and in deciding to enter into this Agreement, such Shareholder has not relied
upon any representation or other information (whether oral or written) other
than as set forth in the representations and warranties of Parent contained in
Article V of this Agreement and in the Parent Public Information. No oral or
written representations have been made, or oral or written information
furnished, to such Shareholder or such Shareholder together with its purchaser
representative, if any, in connection with the offer and sale of Parent Common
Stock that are in any way inconsistent with the representations and warranties
of Parent contained herein or any of the information contained in the Parent
Public Information.

                  (l) Except as described in Schedule 4.04(l) hereto, such
Shareholder has no beneficial interest, directly or indirectly, in any person,
firm, corporation, partnership or other entity which is or within the past two
years has been a supplier of any goods or services to the Company, including,
without limitation, any Major Supplier, or from which the Company has received
fees, including, without limitation, any Contract Party, other than as the
beneficial owner of 1% or less of the voting securities of a publicly held
corporation. The nature and amount of any such beneficial interest is disclosed
in Schedule 4.04(l).

                  (m) Such Shareholder is familiar with the business, historical
financial performance and prospects of the Company, including the risks
associated therewith.

                  (n) Such Shareholder, if an individual person, is not required
to obtain any spousal consent in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby.

                  SECTION 4.05 Representations and Warranties True; No
Misleading Statements. All of the representations and warranties set forth in
this Article IV shall be true and correct as of the Effective Time as if made at
that time. The representations and warranties made in this Article IV or other
document specifically referred to in this Article IV and delivered by such
Shareholder pursuant hereto do not contain any untrue statements of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
herein or therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.


                                       29
<PAGE>   37
                                    ARTICLE V

                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

                  Parent represents and warrants to the Company and each
Shareholder as follows:

                  SECTION 5.01 Organization and Qualification. Parent is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and authority to
own or lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business
as it is now being conducted. Parent is duly qualified as a foreign corporation
to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction in which the
character of its properties owned or leased or the nature of its activities
makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

                  SECTION 5.02 Subsidiaries. Each subsidiary of Parent is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and
authority to own or lease and operate its properties and to carry on its
business as it is now being conducted. Each such subsidiary is duly qualified as
a foreign corporation to do business, and is in good standing, in each
jurisdiction in which the character of its properties owned or leased or the
nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except where the
failure to be so qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
All the outstanding shares of capital stock of Parent's subsidiaries are validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by Parent or by a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.

                  SECTION 5.03 Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of
Parent consists of 80,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock, and, as of January
25, 1999, 26,796,917 shares of Parent Common Stock were issued and outstanding,
all of which were validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. Except as
contemplated hereby and except for options and stock purchase rights outstanding
under Parent's employee stock purchase and stock option plans, and rights
outstanding under the Rights Agreement dated May 7, 1997 between Parent and Bank
of New York, as rights agent, no subscription, warrant, option, convertible
security, stock appreciation or other right (contingent or other) to purchase or
acquire any shares of any class of capital stock of Parent is authorized or
outstanding and there is not any agreement of Parent to issue any shares,
warrants, options or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any class
of its capital stock any evidences of indebtedness or assets. Parent does not
have any obligation (contingent or other) to purchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire any shares of its capital stock or any interest therein or


                                       30
<PAGE>   38
to pay any dividend or make any other distribution in respect thereof. At the
Effective Time, Parent will have sufficient authorized but unissued shares or
treasury shares of Parent Common Stock available for issuance in accordance with
Article II hereof. Such shares of Parent Common Stock, when issued in accordance
with Article II hereof, will be validly issued, fully-paid and nonassessable.

                  SECTION 5.04 Authority Relative to Agreement. Parent has all
requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to
perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
by Parent and the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby
have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of Parent, and no other
corporate proceedings on the part of Parent are necessary to authorize this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by Parent and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with its terms,
except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
receivership, moratorium, conservatorship, reorganization or other laws of
general application affecting the rights of creditors generally or by general
principles of equity.

                  SECTION 5.05 Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Parent and the consummation by Parent of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not (i) conflict with any provision of the Certificate
of Incorporation or By-Laws of Parent or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) result
(with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both) in any violation of or
default or loss of a benefit under, or permit the acceleration of any obligation
under, any mortgage, indenture, lease, agreement or other instrument, permit,
concession, grant, franchise, license, judgment, order, decree, statute, law,
ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Parent or any of its subsidiaries or
any of their respective properties, other than any such violation, default, loss
or acceleration that would not materially adversely affect the ability of Parent
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or to conduct the business of
the Company and its subsidiaries after the Effective Time.

                  SECTION 5.06 Parent Public Information. Parent has provided to
each Shareholder, or will provide each Shareholder prior to the shareholders'
meeting referred to in Section 7.01(j) hereof, a copy of the Parent Public
Information. The Parent Public Information does not, and will not, as of the
Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.


                                       31
<PAGE>   39
                  SECTION 5.07 Parent Financial Statements. The consolidated
financial statements of Parent included in the Parent Public Information (the
"Parent Financial Statements") (a) have been prepared from the books and records
of Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries and (b) have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied and consistent with prior periods,
subject, in the case of unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, to
year-end adjustments (which consist of normal recurring accruals) and the
absence of certain footnote disclosures. The consolidated financial statements
of Parent included in the Parent Public Information fairly present in all
material respects the financial position of Parent and its subsidiaries as of
their respective dates, and the related consolidated statements of operations,
shareholders' equity and cash flows included in the Parent Public Information
fairly present in all material respects the results of operations of Parent and
its subsidiaries for the respective periods then ended, subject, in the case of
unaudited interim financial statements, to year-end adjustments (which consist
of normal recurring accruals) and the absence of certain footnote disclosures.

                  SECTION 5.08 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as
contemplated hereby and except for the issuance of Parent Common Stock pursuant
to employee benefit plans of Parent described in Section 5.03 above, since
December 31, 1998 Parent has not (i) issued any Parent Common Stock or
securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for Parent Common
Stock, (ii) incurred any material liabilities (absolute or contingent), except
in the ordinary course of business or (iii) suffered any Material Adverse Effect
on Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  SECTION 5.09 Third Party and Governmental Consents. No
consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or
filing with, any Federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory
authority or other person is required to be made or obtained by Parent in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent or the
consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i)
filings pursuant to the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act") and the rules and regulations promulgated by the
SEC thereunder, if applicable, (ii) filings with state securities agencies under
state securities or blue sky laws, if applicable,(iii) the filing with Nasdaq of
an application for the listing on the Nasdaq National Market of shares of Parent
Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Merger, (iv) the filing of a
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of Louisiana in accordance
with the Louisiana BCL, (v) any licenses, permits, franchises or other
governmental authorizations pertaining to the business of the Company and its
subsidiaries that are required as a result of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and (vi) such consents, approvals, orders or


                                       32
<PAGE>   40
authorizations which if not obtained, or registrations, declarations or filings
which if not made, would not materially adversely affect the ability of Parent
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or to conduct the business of
the Company and its subsidiaries, if any, after the Effective Time.

                  SECTION 5.10 Compliance with Law. Neither Parent nor any of
its subsidiaries is in default under any order of any court, governmental
authority or arbitration board or tribunal. Neither Parent nor any such
subsidiary has received notice of any alleged violation of any applicable laws,
ordinances and governmental rules and regulations to which Parent or any such
subsidiary is subject, including, without limitation, federal securities and
banking laws. Neither Parent nor any subsidiary has failed to obtain any
licenses, permits, franchises or other governmental authorizations necessary to
the ownership of its properties or to the conduct of its business, except where
the failure to obtain such licenses, permits, franchises or other governmental
authorizations would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

                  SECTION 5.11 Tax Representations.

                  (a) Acquisition was formed solely for the purpose of merging
into the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

                  (b) Except for assets transferred by Parent to Acquisition
pursuant to this Agreement, prior to the Effective Time, Acquisition shall have
had no historical assets or liabilities, and, except for this Agreement and its
obligations hereunder, Acquisition shall have no contracts or obligations.
Accordingly, the Surviving Corporation shall assume no liabilities of
Acquisition and Acquisition shall not transfer to the Company any assets which
are subject to liabilities.

                  (c) Assets transferred for purposes of this Agreement by
Parent to Acquisition, or by Parent to the Surviving Corporation, as the case
may be, shall be transferred pursuant to this Agreement for the purpose set
forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-2(j)(3).

                  (d) All of the issued and outstanding shares of stock of
Acquisition are owned by Parent such that Acquisition is a 100% owned subsidiary
of Parent, and Parent has been and immediately prior to the Merger will be in
control of Acquisition within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code.

                  (e) Following the Merger of Acquisition into the Company
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Surviving Corporation will hold
substantially all of the properties of Acquisition and the Company, all within
the meaning of Section 368(a)(2)(E) of the Code.


                                       33
<PAGE>   41
                  (f) Parent Common Stock transferred pursuant to this Agreement
in exchange for the shares of Company Common Stock will be voting common stock
of Parent within the meaning of Section 368(a)(2)(E) of the Code.

                  (g) After the completion of the Merger, Parent will control
the Surviving Corporation within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code.

                  (h) Parent has no present plan or intention to liquidate the
Surviving Corporation, to merge the Surviving Corporation with or into another
corporation, to sell or otherwise dispose of the stock of the Surviving
Corporation except for transfers of stock to corporations controlled by Parent,
or to cause the Surviving Corporation to sell or otherwise dispose of any of its
assets or any of the assets acquired from Acquisition, except for the
disposition of immaterial assets as contemplated pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement, dispositions made in the ordinary course of business or transfers of
assets to a corporation controlled by the Surviving Corporation.

                  (i) Parent presently intends that, following the Merger, the
Surviving Corporation will continue the historic business of the Company.

                  SECTION 5.12 Reliance. Parent acknowledges, warrants,
represents and agrees that it has not relied, and will not rely, in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, upon any representation,
warranty, fact or statement (or failure to make any statement) of or by the
Company or any Shareholder except for the representations and warranties
expressly set forth in this Agreement.

                  SECTION 5.13 Representations and Warranties True; No
Misleading Statements. All of the representations and warranties set forth in
this Article V shall be true and correct as of the Effective Time as if made at
that time. The representations and warranties made herein and in any other
document specifically referred to herein and delivered by Parent pursuant hereto
do not contain any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements herein or therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUISITION

                  Acquisition and Parent, jointly and severally, represent and
warrant to the Company and each Shareholder as follows:


                                       34
<PAGE>   42
                  SECTION 6.01 Organization and Qualification. Acquisition is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Louisiana and has all requisite corporate power and authority to
own or lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business
as it is now being conducted. Acquisition is duly qualified as a foreign
corporation to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction in
which the character of its properties owned or leased or the nature of its
activities makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so
qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the financial condition,
operating results or business of Acquisition.

                  SECTION 6.02 Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of
Acquisition consists of 1,000 shares of common stock, no par value. As of the
date hereof, 100 shares of such common stock are validly issued and outstanding,
fully paid and nonassessable and are owned of record and beneficially by Parent,
and no shares of such common stock are held in the treasury of Acquisition.
Acquisition has no commitments to issue or sell any shares of such common stock
or any securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for, or giving
any person any right to subscribe for or acquire from Acquisition, any shares of
such common stock, and no securities or obligations evidencing any such rights
are outstanding.

                  SECTION 6.03 Authority Relative to Agreement. Acquisition has
all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to
perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
by Acquisition and the consummation by Acquisition of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of
Acquisition and by Parent as its sole stockholder, and no other corporate
proceedings on the part of Acquisition are necessary to authorize this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by Acquisition and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of Acquisition, enforceable against Acquisition in accordance with
its terms except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
receivership, moratorium, conservatorship, reorganization or other laws of
general application affecting the rights of creditors generally or by principals
of equity.

                  SECTION 6.04 Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Acquisition and the consummation by Acquisition of the
transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) conflict with any provision of the
Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of Acquisition or (ii) result (with the
giving of notice or the lapse of time or both) in any violation of or default or
loss of a benefit under, or permit the acceleration of any obligation under, any
mortgage, indenture, lease, agreement, license, judgment, order, decree,
statute, law, ordinance, rule or



                                    35
<PAGE>   43
regulation applicable to Acquisition or its properties, other than any such
violation, default, loss or acceleration that would not adversely affect the
ability of Acquisition to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  SECTION 6.05 Third Party and Governmental Consents. No
consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or
filing with, any Federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory
authority or other person is required to be made or obtained by Acquisition in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Acquisition or
the consummation by Acquisition of the transactions contemplated hereby, except
for (i) the filing of a Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the
State of Louisiana in accordance with the Louisiana BCL, (ii) any licenses,
permits, franchises or other governmental authorizations pertaining to the
business of Acquisition that are required as a result of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) such consents, approvals, orders or
authorizations which if not obtained, or registrations, declarations or filings
which if not made, would not adversely affect the ability of Acquisition to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  SECTION 6.06 Other Matters. Acquisition has been formed for
the sole purpose of effecting the Merger and, except as contemplated by this
Agreement, Acquisition has not conducted any business activities and does not
have any material liabilities or obligations. Prior to and at the Effective
Time, Acquisition will have no material assets or liabilities, and, except for
this Agreement and its obligations hereunder, no contracts or other obligations.

                  SECTION 6.07 Representations and Warranties True; No
Misleading Statements. All of the representations and warranties set forth in
this Article VI shall be true and correct as of the Effective Time as if made at
that time. The representations and warranties made herein and in any Schedule,
list or other document specifically referred to herein and delivered by
Acquisition pursuant hereto, and all information provided by Acquisition for
inclusion in the Merger Information, taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue
statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements herein or therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.


                                       36
<PAGE>   44
                                   ARTICLE VII

                                   COVENANTS

                  SECTION 7.01 Conduct of the Company's Business. The Company
and each Shareholder covenants and agrees that, prior to the Effective Time,
unless Parent shall otherwise consent in writing or as otherwise expressly
contemplated by this Agreement:

                  (a) the business of the Company shall be conducted only in,
         and the Company shall not take any action except in, the ordinary
         course of business and consistent with past practice; and

                  (b) The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, do any of
         the following:

         (i) sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber (or permit any of its
         subsidiaries to sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber) any assets of the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries, except inventory and immaterial
         assets in the ordinary course of business and the collection of
         accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business; (ii) amend or
         propose to amend its Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws; (iii) split,
         combine or reclassify any outstanding shares of its capital stock, or
         declare, set aside or pay any dividend payable in cash, stock, property
         or otherwise with respect to such shares; (iv) redeem, purchase,
         acquire or offer to acquire (or permit any of its subsidiaries to
         redeem, purchase, acquire or offer to acquire) any shares of its
         capital stock of any class; or (v) enter into any contract, agreement,
         commitment or arrangement with respect to any of the matters set forth
         in this paragraph (b);

                  (c) The Company shall not (i) issue, sell, pledge or dispose
         of, or agree to issue, sell, pledge or dispose of, any additional
         shares of, or securities convertible or exchangeable for, or any
         options, warrants or rights of any kind to acquire any shares of, its
         capital stock of any class or other property or assets, except in
         respect of the Warrant and the SAR Agreements in accordance with their
         respective terms; (ii) acquire (by merger, consolidation or acquisition
         of stock or assets) any corporation, partnership or other business
         organization or division thereof (except an existing wholly-owned
         subsidiary); (iii) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or issue
         any debt securities, except for borrowings in the ordinary course of
         business consistent with prior practice under the Company's line of
         credit disclosed in Schedule 3.23


                                       37
<PAGE>   45
         hereto; (iv) repay any outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money
         other than scheduled payments of interest in the ordinary course of
         business and payments required under the Company's line of credit
         disclosed in Schedule 3.23 hereto; (v) enter into or modify any
         contract, lease, agreement or commitment, except in the ordinary course
         of business and consistent with past practice; (vi) terminate, modify,
         assign, waive, release or relinquish any contract rights or amend any
         rights or claims not in the ordinary course of business; or (vii)
         settle or compromise any claim, action, suit or proceeding pending or
         threatened against the Company, or, if the Company may be liable or
         obligated to provide indemnification, against the Company's directors
         or officers, before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator;
         provided that nothing herein shall require any action that might impair
         or otherwise affect the obligation of any insurance carrier under any
         insurance policy maintained by the Company;

                  (d) The Company shall not institute any increase in the salary
         or other compensation payable or to become payable to any officers or
         employees (other than routine salary increases for employees in the
         ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice) or enter
         into any employment agreement or make any loan to or enter into any
         material transaction of any other nature with any officer or employee
         of the Company or any subsidiary;

                  (e) The Company shall not take any action to institute any new
         severance or termination pay practices with respect to any directors,
         officers or employees of the Company or its subsidiaries or to increase
         the benefits payable under its severance or termination pay practices;

                  (f) The Company shall not adopt or amend, in any respect,
         except as contemplated hereby or as may be required by applicable law
         or regulation, any collective bargaining, bonus, profit sharing,
         compensation, stock option, restricted stock, pension, retirement,
         deferred compensation, employment or other employee benefit plan,
         agreement, trust, fund, plan or arrangement for the benefit or welfare
         of any directors, officers or employees;

                  (g) The Company shall use its best efforts, to the extent not
         prohibited by the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.01, to
         maintain its relationships with the Contract Parties and the Major
         Suppliers, and, if and as requested by Parent or Acquisition, (i) the
         Company shall use reasonable good faith efforts to make reasonable
         arrangements for representatives of Parent or Acquisition to meet with
         the Contract Parties and Major Suppliers, as designated by Parent, in
         order to ensure that the Company's relationships with such customers
         and suppliers will remain in force under substantially the same terms
         following the Effective Time as are in effect on the date hereof, and
         (ii) the Company shall schedule, and the management of the Company
         shall participate

                                       38
<PAGE>   46
         in, meetings of representatives of Parent or Acquisition with employees
         of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;

                  (h) The Company and the other parties thereto shall terminate,
         effective as of the Effective Time, each of the agreements disclosed in
         Schedule 3.02 to which they are parties, except as otherwise set forth
         in such Schedule 3.02;

                  (i) The Company shall hold a shareholders' meeting for the
         purpose of authorizing and approving the consummation of the Merger in
         accordance with the provisions hereof no later than March 25, 1999;

                  (j) The Company shall use good faith efforts, dedicating all
         resources required, to complete the Merger so that the Effective Time
         shall occur no later than April 1, 1999;

                  (k) The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain all
         Required Consents; and

                  (l) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause Regions
         Bank to unconditionally release the Company as guarantor of the
         indebtedness of Houston Real Estate Investments, L.L.C. ("HREI") to
         Regions Bank.

                  SECTION 7.02      Certain Covenants of Parent.

                  (a) Parent covenants and agrees that, prior to the Effective
Time, unless the Company shall otherwise consent in writing or as otherwise
expressly contemplated by this Agreement, Parent shall not amend its Certificate
of Incorporation or By-Laws in a manner that could reasonably be expected to be
materially adverse to the Shareholders. Parent shall use good faith efforts,
dedicating all resources required, to complete the Merger so that the Effective
Time shall occur no later than April 1, 1999.

                  (b) Parent covenants and agrees to pay in full on or before
the Effective Time the Company's outstanding indebtedness to Petra under the
Petra Loan Agreement in the principal amount of $4,000,000, plus accrued
interest to the date of payment, and the Company's outstanding indebtedness to
Regions Bank (i) under the Regions Bank Loan Agreement in the principal amount
of $490,751.93, plus accrued interest to the date of payment and (ii) under the
Company's outstanding line of credit with Regions Bank, plus accrued interest to
the date of payment.

                  (c) Parent covenants and agrees that if, during the period
between the execution of this Agreement and the Effective Time, facts or
circumstances are brought to the actual knowledge and awareness of an officer of
Parent, which facts or circumstances such officer reasonably believes to
constitute a


                                       39
<PAGE>   47
breach of a representation, warranty or covenant made by the Company or any
Shareholder in this Agreement, Parent and/or Acquisition shall as promptly as
practicable give written notice thereof to the Company and the Shareholders. If,
after the giving of such notice by Parent and/or Acquisition, the Company and/or
the Shareholders do not cure such breach to the satisfaction of Parent, in its
discretion, prior to the Effective Time, Parent and Acquisition shall have the
right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the Effective Time, in
which event none of the parties hereto shall have any further liability
hereunder to any other party hereto as a result of such termination, provided
that nothing herein shall relieve any party from liability for any willful
breach hereof. If, after the giving of said notice by Parent and/or Acquisition,
Parent and Acquisition elect not to terminate this Agreement and proceed to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, Parent and Acquisition shall be
deemed to have waived the breach set forth in said notice, but such waiver shall
be effective only as to said breach. For purposes of this Section 7.02(c),
Parent, through its officers or otherwise, shall not be deemed to have actual
knowledge or awareness, after the date of execution of this Agreement, of any
facts or circumstances which constitute a breach of a representation, warranty
or covenant made by the Company or the Shareholders in this Agreement by reason
of any inspection by Parent and/or Acquisition (or their respective officers or
other representatives) prior to the date of this Agreement of any of the
businesses, operations, affairs, books, leases, contracts, commitments,
instruments, minutes, records, financial information, properties, personnel or
the like of the Company or any Shareholder, and, in the event of any dispute as
to the provisions of this Section 7.02(c), neither the Company nor any
Shareholder shall assert, for purposes of this Section 7.02(c), that any such
facts or circumstances were brought to the actual knowledge and awareness of
Parent or any officer of Parent on or after the date of execution of this
Agreement as a result of any such inspection prior to the date of execution of
this Agreement.

                  SECTION 7.03 Access to Information. (a) The Company shall, and
shall cause its officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents to,
afford, from the date hereof to the Effective Time, the officers, employees,
accountants, attorneys and other representatives and agents of Parent reasonable
and complete access, subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement
(hereinafter defined), upon reasonable notice, to its premises and its officers,
employees, agents, properties, books, records and workpapers, including
auditors' workpapers to the extent permitted by the Company's auditors, and
shall furnish Parent all financial, operating and other information and data as
Parent, through its officers, accountants, attorneys and other employees or
agents, may reasonably request. Provided Purchaser and its representatives are
given full access pursuant to the terms hereof, Parent shall use good faith
efforts to complete its due diligence review as promptly



                                       40
<PAGE>   48
as practicable and without unreasonably disrupting the ordinary course of
business of the Company.

                  (b) Parent shall, and shall cause its officers, directors,
employees, representatives and agents to, afford, from the date hereof to the
Effective Time, the officers, employees, representatives and agents of the
Company reasonable access during regular business hours to its officers,
employees, agents, properties, books, records and workpapers, and shall furnish
the Company all financial, operating and other information and data as the
Company, through its officers, employees or agents, may reasonably request.

                  (c) No investigation pursuant to this Section 7.03 shall
affect, add to or subtract from any representations or warranties of the parties
hereto or the conditions to the obligations of the parties hereto to effect the
Merger.

                  SECTION 7.04 Further Assurances. Subject to the terms and
conditions herein provided, each of the parties hereto agrees to use all
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or
cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and
make effective as promptly as practicable the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including, without limitation, using all reasonable efforts to obtain
all necessary waivers, consents and approvals and to effect all necessary
registrations and filings; provided that the foregoing shall not require Parent
or the Company to agree to make, or to permit Parent or the Company to make, any
divestiture of a significant asset in order to obtain any waiver, consent or
approval.

                  SECTION 7.05 Inquiries and Negotiations. (a) Neither the
Company nor any of its affiliates, shareholders, directors, officers, employees,
representatives or agents shall, from March 1, 1999 through the Effective Time
directly or indirectly, (i) solicit or initiate any discussions, submissions of
proposals or offers or negotiations with, or (ii) participate in any
negotiations or discussions with, or provide any information or data of any
nature whatsoever to, or otherwise cooperate in any other way with, or assist or
participate in, facilitate or encourage any effort or attempt by, any person,
other than Parent and its affiliates, representatives and agents, concerning any
merger, consolidation, sale of substantial assets, sale of shares of capital
stock or other securities, recapitalization, debt restructuring or similar
transaction involving the Company or any subsidiary, or any division of the
Company or any subsidiary. The Company shall immediately notify Parent if any
proposal, offer, inquiry or other contact is received by, any information is
requested from, or any discussions or negotiations are sought to be initiated or
continued with, the Company in respect of any such transaction, and shall, in
any such notice to Parent, indicate the identity of the offeror and


                                       41
<PAGE>   49
the terms and conditions of any proposals or offers or the nature of any
inquiries or contacts, and thereafter, without engaging in any conduct
prohibited hereby, shall keep Parent informed of the status and terms of any
such proposals or offers. The Company shall not release any third party from, or
waive any provision of, any confidentiality or standstill agreement to which the
Company is a party.

                  SECTION 7.06 Employment and Non-Competition Agreements. (a) At
or prior to the Effective Time, (i) the Company shall terminate, effective
immediately prior to the Effective Time, any and all existing employment
agreements between the Company and each of Houston, each SAR Holder and any
other officer of the Company; (ii) each of Houston, Hovancik, Sonnenberg and
Slate shall enter into, effective as of the Effective Time, an employment
agreement with Parent and/or the Surviving Corporation in Parent's standard form
(collectively, the "Employment Agreements"); and (iii) each of Houston,
Hovancik, Sonnenberg, Slate and Szczurek shall enter into, effective as of the
Effective Time, a non-competition and confidentiality agreement for the benefit
of Parent and the Surviving Corporation in Parent's standard form (collectively,
the "Non-Competition Agreements").

                           (b) The Company covenants and agrees to use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the termination, effective immediately prior to
the Effective Time, of any and all existing employment agreements identified on
Schedule 3.12(a) hereto, not including agreements with employees identified in
Section 7.06(a) above, which employment agreements shall be terminated pursuant
to the terms of Section 7.06(a) above.

                           (c) At the Effective Time, Parent shall grant to
Houston and to certain other key employees of the Surviving Corporation employee
stock options to purchase up to 40,000 shares of Parent Common Stock (16,000 of
which shall be for Houston, 12,000 of which shall be for Hovancik, 6,000 of
which shall be for Sonnenberg and 6,000 of which shall be for Slate), all in
accordance with the terms of Parent's stock option plans in effect at the
Effective Time and subject to the terms of the standard BISYS stock option
agreement and restrictive covenant agreement.

                  SECTION 7.07 Notification of Certain Matters. The Company
shall give prompt notice to Parent and Acquisition, and Parent and Acquisition
shall give prompt notice to the Company, of (i) the occurrence, or failure to
occur, of any event that such party believes would be likely to cause any of its
representations or warranties contained in this Agreement to be untrue or
inaccurate in any material respect at any time from the date hereof to the
Effective Time and (ii) any material failure of the Company, Parent or
Acquisition, as the case may be, or any officer, director, employee or agent
thereof, to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be
complied with or satisfied


                                       42
<PAGE>   50
by it hereunder; provided, however, that failure to give such notice shall not
constitute a waiver of any defense that may be validly asserted.

                  SECTION 7.08      Indemnification.

                  (a) Indemnifiable Breaches. Each Shareholder shall be jointly
and severally liable to and shall jointly and severally indemnify, protect,
defend and hold harmless Parent and its successors and the Surviving Corporation
and its successors, pursuant to the terms of this Section 7.08, against any and
all claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys'
fees) (collectively, "Damages") sustained by Parent or the Surviving
Corporation, in excess of insurance proceeds or other amounts actually received
by Parent or the Surviving Corporation, resulting from or in connection with the
breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement made by the
Company or any Shareholder in or pursuant to this Agreement or any other
agreement or instrument executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company
and/or such Shareholder pursuant hereto or in connection herewith (such breaches
or failures being hereinafter referred to individually as an "Indemnifiable
Breach" and collectively as "Indemnifiable Breaches"); provided, however, that
no Shareholder shall be required to pay Parent and/or the Surviving Corporation,
as the case may be, pursuant to this Section 7.08, (i) with respect to any one
or group of related Indemnifiable Breaches, an amount in excess of such
Shareholder's Percentage Share (as hereinafter defined) of Damages in connection
with such Indemnifiable Breach or group of related Indemnifiable Breaches; (ii)
with respect to all Indemnifiable Breaches, an amount in excess of such
Shareholder's Percentage Share of the aggregate amount of all Damages resulting
from all Indemnifiable Breaches; and (iii) in any event, in the aggregate, an
amount in excess of the dollar value equivalent of Parent Common Stock, valued
at the Average Price, received by such Shareholder upon consummation of the
Merger pursuant to the terms hereof (the "Cap"). For purposes of this Agreement,
each Shareholder's "Percentage Share" shall mean the percentage determined by
dividing (x) the number of shares of Parent Common Stock issuable to such
Shareholder in the Merger by (y) the total number of shares of Parent Common
Stock issuable to all Shareholders in the Merger. The indemnification
obligations of the Shareholders under this Section 7.08 shall apply to Damages
sustained by Parent and/or the Surviving Corporation in respect of Indemnifiable
Breaches if and when the aggregate amount of such Damages in respect of such
Indemnifiable Breaches, including insurance proceeds and other amounts actually
received by Parent or the Surviving Corporation in connection therewith, exceeds
One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) (the "Basket") and in the event the
aggregate amount of the Damages sustained by Parent and/or the Surviving
Corporation in respect of Indemnifiable Breaches, including insurance proceeds
and other amounts actually


                                       43
<PAGE>   51
received in connection therewith, exceeds the Basket, the indemnification
obligations of the Shareholders under this Section 7.08 shall apply to all
Damages actually sustained by Parent and/or the Surviving Corporation in respect
of Indemnifiable Breaches. For purposes of this Section 7.08, Indemnifiable
Breaches shall be deemed to be a group of related Indemnifiable Breaches if (i)
they pertain to obligations of the Company or any Shareholder to a single party
or group of affiliated parties or obligations of a single party or group of
affiliated parties to the Company or any Shareholder, (ii) they pertain to the
same or similar transactions or (iii) they involve the same or similar legal or
factual issues.

                  (b) Satisfaction of Claims. Subject to the terms of the second
sentence of Section 7.08(d) below and the terms of the Escrow Agreement, any
Shareholder shall be permitted to satisfy all or any portion of such
Shareholder's obligation(s) under this Section 7.08 by delivering to Parent or
the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, shares of Parent Common Stock in
an amount equal to such Shareholder's liability based on a per share value equal
to the Average Price, provided that the delivery by any Shareholder of shares of
Parent Common Stock in order to satisfy a portion of such Shareholder's
obligation(s) to Parent or the Surviving Corporation under this Section 7.08
shall not relieve such Shareholder of its obligation to satisfy in full its
obligations to Parent and the Surviving Corporation under this Section 7.08.

                  (c) Indemnification by Parent. Parent and Acquisition shall be
jointly and severally liable to, and shall jointly and severally indemnify,
protect, defend and hold harmless each Shareholder and its respective successors
against any and all claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including
reasonable attorneys' fees) sustained by any Shareholder, resulting from or in
connection with the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other
agreement made by Parent or Acquisition in or pursuant to this Agreement or any
other agreement or instrument executed and delivered by or on behalf of Parent
and/or Acquisition pursuant hereto or in connection herewith.

                  (d) Other Remedies. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, any party hereto shall be entitled to (i) seek specific enforcement of
the terms and provisions of this Agreement in the event of a breach thereof and
(ii) sue for damages in the event of a wrongful termination of this Agreement in
violation of Article IX hereof or the failure to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby through no fault of such party. In the event Parent and/or
the Surviving Corporation becomes entitled to any sums under the terms hereof,
Parent and/or the Surviving Corporation shall have the right but not the
obligation to set off such liabilities of the Shareholders against any existing
or future liabilities of Parent or the


                                       44
<PAGE>   52
Surviving Corporation to the Shareholders or any of them individually, other
than against amounts owed by the Surviving Corporation to any such Shareholders
as compensation for employment. The terms of this Section 7.08 are intended to
benefit the parties hereto and any and all claims for indemnification hereunder
must be made during the period commencing on the date hereof and continuing
until expiration of three (3) years after the Effective Time.

                  (e) Limitation on Remedies. The provisions of this Section
7.08 constitute the sole and exclusive remedies available to the parties under
this Agreement. Accordingly, any party hereto may enforce any rights it may have
against another party hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, including the right to collect Damages, only in accordance with
the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7.08.

                  SECTION 7.09 Confidentiality. Except as otherwise provided in
that certain Confidentiality Agreement dated January 21, 1999, as amended,
between the Company and the Parent with regard to information about the Company
(the "Confidentiality Agreement"), Parent and Acquisition, on the one hand, and
the Company and the Shareholders, on the other, shall hold, and shall use their
respective best efforts to cause their respective officers, directors,
employees, consultants, advisors and agents to hold, in confidence, unless
compelled to disclose by judicial or administrative process or by other
requirements of law, all confidential documents and information concerning the
other parties furnished to such party in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, except to the extent that such information can
be shown to have been (i) previously known on a nonconfidential basis by the
receiving party; (ii) in the public domain through no fault of the receiving
party; (iii) later lawfully acquired by such party from sources other than the
other parties; or (iv) independently developed by such party without the use of
such information; provided that each party may disclose such information to its
affiliates and its affiliates' officers, directors, employees, consultants,
advisors and agents, lenders and other investors in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement so long as such persons are informed
by such party of the confidential nature of such information and are directed by
such party to treat such information confidentially. If the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement are abandoned, such confidentiality shall be
maintained and each party shall, and shall use its best efforts to cause its
respective officers, directors, employees, consultants, advisors and agents to,
destroy or deliver to the other party(s), upon request, all documents and other
materials, and all copies thereof, obtained by such party or on its behalf from
the other party(s) in connection with this Agreement that are subject to such
confidentiality. The terms of this Section 7.09 shall survive indefinitely.


                                       45
<PAGE>   53
                  SECTION 7.10 Covenants of Shareholders. (a) Each Shareholder
hereby agrees not to:

                  (i) sell, transfer, pledge, encumber, assign or otherwise
         dispose of, or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or
         understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, pledge, encumbrance,
         assignment or other disposition of, any shares of Company Common Stock
         owned by such Shareholder, other than as provided herein;

                  (ii) grant any proxies or enter into a voting agreement or
         other arrangement with respect to any shares of Company Common Stock
         owned by such Shareholder, other than as provided herein; or

                  (iii) deposit any shares of Company Common Stock owned by such
         Shareholder into a voting trust.

                  (b) Each Shareholder hereby agrees not to take any action that
would make any representation or warranty herein of such Shareholder untrue or
incorrect in any material respect or that would have the effect of preventing or
disabling such Shareholder from performing its obligations under this Agreement.

                  (c) Each Shareholder hereby waives any and all dissenter's
rights with respect to Company Common Stock granted pursuant to Section 12:131
of the Louisiana BCL.

                  (d) Each Shareholder hereby agrees to surrender the
Certificates owned by such Shareholder in exchange for certificates representing
shares of Parent Common Stock and cash, if applicable, within five (5) business
days after the Effective Time.

                  (e) Each Shareholder agrees to vote the shares of Company
Common Stock held by such Shareholder in favor of the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the Merger in accordance
with the provisions hereof.

                  SECTION 7.11 Transfer Restrictions After the Effective Time.
Each Shareholder hereby agrees that, from and after the Effective Time such
Shareholder shall not offer, sell, or otherwise dispose of the shares of Parent
Common Stock received by such Shareholder in connection with the Merger other
than (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act, or (ii) otherwise pursuant to an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act.

         SECTION 7.12 Registration Rights Agreements. Parent, each Shareholder
and each SAR Holder shall be entitled to certain registration rights upon
receipt of Parent Common Stock in



                                       46
<PAGE>   54
connection with the Merger, as provided in the registration rights agreement in
the form of Exhibit C hereto (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), provided
such person or entity executes and delivers to Parent a Registration Rights
Agreement and delivers such further information as shall be required by Parent
in connection with any registration statement provided for therein.

         SECTION 7.13 Repayment of Related Party Loans. Each Related Party Loan
shall be repaid to the Company or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be,
on or before the first to occur of (a) the maturity date pursuant to the terms
of such loan or (b) the first sale or other disposition by the obligor of such
Related Party Loan of Parent Common Stock received in the Merger.

         SECTION 7.14 Year 2000. At the reasonable request of Parent or
Acquisition, the Company and the Shareholders shall provide Parent or
Acquisition, as the case may be, with assurances and substantiations (including,
without limitation, the results of internal or external audit reports),
reasonably acceptable to Parent and Acquisition, as to the capability of the
Company to conduct its business and operations before, on and after January 1,
2000 without experiencing any Year 2000 Problems.

         SECTION 7.15 HREI Lease. The Shareholders covenant and agree that
immediately prior to the Effective Time they will cause HREI and the Company to
enter into an amendment of the Lease dated September 24, 1996 between HREI and
the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to Parent and its counsel (the
"HREI Lease Amendment"), pursuant to which the Surviving Corporation shall have
the unconditional right to terminate said lease without penalty, upon six
months' prior written notice to HREI, which termination may be effective at any
time after the expiration of two (2) years after the Effective Time.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                            CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER

                  SECTION 8.01 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect
the Merger. The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger shall
be subject to the fulfillment at the Effective Time of the following condition:

                  (a) no preliminary or permanent injunction or other order,
         decree or ruling issued by any court of competent jurisdiction nor any
         statute, rule, regulation or order entered, promulgated or enacted by
         any governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or authority
         shall be in effect that would prevent the consummation of the Merger as
         contemplated hereby.


                                       47
<PAGE>   55
                  SECTION 8.02 Conditions to the Obligation of the Company and
the Shareholders to Effect the Merger. The obligation of the Company to effect
the Merger shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time
of the following additional conditions:

                  (a) Parent and Acquisition shall have performed and complied
         in all material respects with all obligations and agreements required
         to be performed and complied with by them under this Agreement at or
         prior to the Effective Time;

                  (b) the representations and warranties of Parent and
         Acquisition contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in
         all material respects at and as of the Effective Time as if made at and
         as of such date, except as otherwise contemplated or permitted by this
         Agreement;

                  (c) the Company shall have received a certificate signed by
         the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of Parent, dated
         as of the Effective Time, to the effect that the conditions set forth
         in paragraphs (a) and (b) above have been satisfied; and

                  (d) Parent shall have executed and delivered to each of
         Houston, Hovancik, Sonnenberg and Slate his respective Employment
         Agreement.

                  (e) the Company and the Shareholders shall have received the
         opinion of Shanley & Fisher, P.C., counsel to Parent and Acquisition,
         substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto.

                  (f) Parent shall have authorized and stand ready to complete
         the issuance of the stock options contemplated pursuant to Section
         7.06(c) hereof.

                  SECTION 8.03 Conditions to the Obligation of Parent and
Acquisition to Effect the Merger. The obligation of Parent and Acquisition to
effect the Merger shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the
Effective Time of the following additional conditions:

                  (a) The Company shall have performed and complied in all
         material respects with all obligations and agreements required to be
         performed and complied with by it under this Agreement at or prior to
         the Effective Time;

                  (b) The representations and warranties of the Company and the
         Shareholders contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in
         all material respects at and as of the


                                       48
<PAGE>   56
         Effective Time as if made at and as of such date, except as otherwise
         contemplated or permitted by this Agreement;

                  (c) Parent shall have received a certificate signed by the
         Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated as of the
         Effective Time, (i) to the effect that the conditions set forth in
         paragraphs (a) and (b) above have been satisfied and (ii) certifying
         with respect to the amount of Borrowings as of the Effective Time;

                  (d) Parent shall have received reasonable assurances that all
         relationships with Contract Parties and Major Suppliers shall remain in
         force after the Effective Time upon substantially the same terms in
         effect prior to the Merger, except where any failure to receive such
         assurance would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or
         the Surviving Corporation.

                  (e) Any and all existing employment agreements between the
         Company and each of Houston, each SAR Holder and any other officer of
         the Company shall have been terminated effective on or prior to the
         Effective Time, and each of Houston, Hovancik, Sonnenberg and Slate
         shall have executed and delivered to Parent his respective Employment
         Agreement, and each of Houston, Hovancik, Sonnenberg, Slate and
         Szczurek shall have executed and delivered to Parent his respective
         Noncompetition Agreement;

                  (f) Houston shall have executed and delivered an Accredited
         Investor Certification in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto;

                  (g) Parent shall have performed a complete inspection of all
         businesses, operations, affairs, books, leases, contracts, commitments,
         documents, instruments, minutes, records, financial information,
         properties, personnel and the like of the Company, including without
         limitation, inspection of customer agreements, vendor agreements,
         leases, software licenses, financials, asset and liability evaluations
         and analyses of personnel related issues, and shall be satisfied with
         the results thereof and the information obtained thereby.

                  (h) Parent and Acquisition shall have received the opinion of
         Montgomery, Barnett, Brown, Read, Hammond & Mintz, L.L.P., counsel to
         the Company and the Shareholders, substantially in the form of Exhibit
         E attached hereto;

                  (i) Parent shall have determined, in its good faith judgment,
         that the business of the Company shall have been operated, from
         February 28, 1999 through the Effective Time, in the normal and
         ordinary course including, without limitation that no distributions or
         dividends shall have been


                                       49
<PAGE>   57
         declared and/or issued by the Company and no stock options or bonuses
         granted, declared or issued for the officers or employees of the
         Company and that the Company, Houston and other management employees
         shall have used their reasonable good faith efforts to preserve the
         goodwill of the business of the Company and to maintain and keep the
         assets intact and that no additional liabilities have been incurred,
         other than in the normal course of business;

                  (j) The Merger shall have been approved by holders of shares
         representing, immediately prior the Effective Time, one hundred percent
         (100%) of the outstanding Company Common Stock;

                  (k) The Company shall have received all Required Consents and
         delivered same to Parent;

                  (l) Parent shall have received duly executed resignation
         letters from all of the officers and directors of the Company;

                  (m) Regions Bank shall have unconditionally released the
         Company's guarantee of the indebtedness of HREI by a writing in form
         and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent and its counsel;

                  (n) The Company and HREI shall have entered into the HREI
         Lease Amendment in form and substance satisfactory to Parent and its
         counsel; and

                  (o) The Shareholders shall have executed and delivered the
         Escrow Agreement to Parent and the escrow agent under the Escrow
         Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                          TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT

                  SECTION 9.01 Termination and Abandonment. (a) This Agreement
may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the
Effective Time:

                           (i) by mutual action of the Boards of Directors of
                  Parent and the Company;

                           (ii) by the Company and the Shareholders, if all of
                  the conditions set forth in Section 8.03 shall have been
                  complied with and performed and one or more of the conditions
                  set forth in Sections 8.01 and 8.02 shall not have been
                  complied with or performed in any material respect and such
                  noncompliance or nonperformance shall not have been cured or
                  eliminated (or by its nature


                                       50
<PAGE>   58
                  cannot be cured or eliminated) by Parent and Acquisition on or
                  before April 1, 1999 (the "Drop Dead Date");

                          (iii) by Parent or Acquisition, if all of the
                  conditions set forth in Section 8.02 shall have been complied
                  with and performed and one or more of the conditions set forth
                  in Sections 8.01 and 8.03 shall not have been complied with or
                  performed in any material respect and such noncompliance or
                  nonperformance shall not have been cured or eliminated (or by
                  its nature cannot be cured or eliminated) by the Company on or
                  before the Drop Dead Date; or

                           (iv) by the Company and the Shareholders, if Parent
                  shall not have fulfilled its obligations under Section 7.02(b)
                  hereof on or before the Drop Dead Date.

                 (b) The Drop Dead Date may be extended by mutual
agreement of the parties hereto.

                  SECTION 9.02 Effect of Termination. Except as provided in
Section 7.09 with respect to confidential information and except as provided in
Section 10.02 hereof with respect to expenses, in the event of the termination
of this Agreement and the abandonment of the Merger pursuant to Section 9.01,
this Agreement shall thereafter become void and have no effect, and no party
hereto shall have any liability to any other party hereto or its shareholders or
directors or officers in respect thereof, except that nothing herein shall
relieve any party from liability for any willful breach hereof.

                                    ARTICLE X

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

                  SECTION 10.01 Survival of Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties of Shareholders in this Agreement and in any
instrument delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the Effective Time until the
expiration of three (3) years after the Effective Time, provided that this
Section 10.01 shall not limit any other covenant or agreement of the parties
that by its terms contemplates performances beyond such period.

                  SECTION 10.02 Expenses, Etc. (a) Whether or not the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, neither the Company
and the Shareholders, on the one hand, and Parent and Acquisition, on the other
hand, shall have any obligation to pay any of the fees and expenses of the other
incident to the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement,
including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of counsel, accountants,
consultants, investment bankers and other experts (collectively, the
"Professional Fees"), provided, however,



                                       51
<PAGE>   59
that Professional Fees incurred by the Company and the Shareholders in
connection with the consummation of the Merger in excess of $50,000 in the
aggregate shall be the sole responsibility of the Shareholders and shall not be
paid out of Company funds either before or after the Effective Time, and
provided further, that consulting fees paid by the Company to Mr. William
Nanovsky on a weekly basis in excess of $1,000.00 per week during the period
from March 1, 1999 through the Effective Time may be included in the $50,000
limit for Professional Fees herein described. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
this Agreement shall have been terminated as a result of the willful and
material misrepresentations by a party or the willful and material breach by a
party of any of its covenants and agreements contained herein, such party shall
pay the costs and expenses incurred by the other parties in connection with this
Agreement.

                  (b) No person or entity is entitled to receive from the
Company or Parent any investment banking, brokerage or finder's fee or fees for
financial consulting or advisory services in connection with this Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby. The Shareholders, on the one hand, and
Parent and Acquisition, on the other hand, shall indemnify the other and hold it
harmless from and against any claims for finders' fees or brokerage commissions
in relation to or in connection with such transactions as a result of any
agreement or understanding between such indemnifying party and any third party.

                  SECTION 10.03 Publicity. The Company and Parent agree that
they will not issue any press release or make any other public announcement
concerning this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby without the
prior written consent of the other party, except that the Company, Parent or
Acquisition may make such public disclosure that it believes in good faith to be
required by law (in which event such party shall consult with the other prior to
making such disclosure).

                  SECTION 10.04 Execution in Counterparts. For the convenience
of the parties, this Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.

                  SECTION 10.05 Notices. All notices that are required or may be
given pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
sufficient if given in writing and delivered by hand or national overnight
courier service, transmitted by telecopy or mailed by registered or certified
mail, postage prepaid, as follows:



                                       52
<PAGE>   60
                  If to Parent and/or Acquisition, to:

                  The BISYS Group, Inc.
                  Overlook at Great Notch
                  150 Clove Road
                  Little Falls, New Jersey  07424
                  Attention:  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

                  with a copy to:

                  The BISYS Group, Inc.
                  Overlook at Great Notch
                  150 Clove Road
                  Little Falls, New Jersey  07424
                  Attention:  General Counsel

                  If to the Company or the Shareholders, to:

                  EXAMCO, INC.
                  5728 Jefferson Highway
                  New Orleans, Louisiana 70123
                  Attention:  Mr. T. Brantley Houston, Jr.

                  with a copy to:

                  Montgomery, Barnett, Brown, Read, Hammond & Mintz, L.L.P.
                  3200 Energy Centre
                  1100 Poydras Street
                  New Orleans, Louisiana  70163-3200
                  Attention: Brian Leftwich, Esq.

or such other address or addresses as any party hereto shall have designated by
notice in writing to the other parties hereto.

                  SECTION 10.06 Waivers. The Company, on the one hand, and
Parent and Acquisition, on the other hand, may, by written notice to the other,
(i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other
actions of the other under this Agreement; (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the
representations or warranties of the other contained in this Agreement or in any
document delivered pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) waive compliance with any
of the conditions of the other contained in this Agreement; or (iv) waive
performance of any of the obligations of the other under this Agreement. Except
as provided in the preceding sentence, no action taken pursuant to this
Agreement, including, without limitation, any investigation by or on behalf of
any party, shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by the party taking such
action of compliance with any representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements contained in this Agreement. The waiver by any party hereto of a
breach of any provision of this



                                       53
<PAGE>   61
Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent
breach.

                  SECTION 10.07 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, its Schedules,
the documents executed at the Effective Time in connection herewith, including
without limitation the documents included as Exhibits hereto, and the
Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior
agreements and understandings, oral and written, among the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof. No representation, warranty, promise,
inducement or statement of intention has been made by any party that is not
embodied in this Agreement or such other documents, and none of the parties
shall be bound by, or be liable for, any alleged representation, warranty,
promise, inducement or statement of intention not embodied herein or therein.

                  SECTION 10.08 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without
regard to principles of conflict of laws.

                  SECTION 10.09 Binding Effect, Benefits. This Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their
respective legal representatives and permitted successors and assigns.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in
this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on any person other
than the parties hereto or their respective permitted successors and assigns,
any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this
Agreement.

                  SECTION 10.10 Assignability. Neither this Agreement nor any of
the parties' rights hereunder shall be assignable by any party hereto without
the prior written consent of the other parties hereto.

                  SECTION 10.11 Amendments. This Agreement may be modified,
amended or supplemented at any time by action of the respective Boards of
Directors of the Company, Parent and Acquisition, and the Shareholders. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement may only be amended,
varied or supplemented by an instrument in writing, signed by all of the parties
hereto.

                  SECTION 10.12 Interpretation. All reference to the "knowledge
of Company" or to a matter which has been "expressed to the Company", or to
words of similar import shall be deemed to be references to the actual or
constructive knowledge of one or more of the directors or officers of the
Company.



                                       54
<PAGE>   62
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered
this Agreement and Plan of Merger as of the day and year first above written.

                                    THE BISYS GROUP, INC.

                                    By:/s/ Lynn J. Mangum
                                    -------------------------------
                                       Name:  Lynn J. Mangum
                                       Title: President & CEO

                                    BI-EXAM ACQUISITION CORP.

                                    By:/s/ Lynn J. Mangum
                                    -------------------------------
                                       Name:  Lynn J. Mangum
                                       Title: President

                                    EXAMCO, INC.

(SEAL)
                                    By:/s/ T. Brantley Houston, Jr.
                                    -------------------------------
                                       Name: T. Brantley Houston, Jr.
                                       Title: President

                                    SHAREHOLDERS

                                    /s/ T. Brantley Houston, Jr.
                                    -------------------------------
                                    T. Brantley Houston, Jr.

                                    /s/ Charles H. Sonnenberg
                                    -------------------------------
                                    Charles H. Sonnenberg or his
                                    Successor as Trustee for the
                                    Nicole E. Houston Trust

                                    /s/ Charles H. Sonnenberg
                                    -------------------------------
                                    Charles H. Sonnenberg or his
                                    Successor as Trustee for the
                                    Jonathan B. Houston Trust

                                    /s/ Charles H. Sonnenberg
                                    -------------------------------
                                    Charles H. Sonnenberg or his
                                    Successor as Trustee for the
                                    Matthew R. Houston Trust


                                       55
<PAGE>   63
                            CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY



         The undersigned Secretary [Assistant Secretary] of BI-Exam Acquisition
Corp., a Louisiana corporation, hereby certifies in such capacity that this
Agreement and Plan of Merger has been approved by the sole shareholder of such
corporation in the manner required by law.


Dated:  March 25, 1999                      /s/ Kevin J. Dell                   
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Kevin J. Dell,
                                            Secretary [Assistant
                                            Secretary] of BI-Exam
                                            Acquisition Corp., a
                                            Louisiana corporation


                          * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


                             SIGNATURE OF PRESIDENT



         Pursuant to Section 112 of the Louisiana Business Corporation Law, the
undersigned corporation has caused this Agreement and Plan of Merger to be
executed by its President [Vice President or President] as indicated below.


Dated: March 25, 1999                       /s/ Lynn J. Mangum 
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            Lynn J. Mangum,
                                            President [Vice President or
                                            President] of BI-Exam
                                            Acquisition Corp., a
                                            Louisiana corporation
<PAGE>   64
                            CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY



         The undersigned Secretary of EXAMCO, Inc., a Louisiana corporation,
hereby certifies in such capacity that this Agreement and Plan of Merger has
been approved by the shareholders of such corporation in the manner required by
law.


Dated:  3/25      , 1999                    /s/ Charles H. Sonnenberg
                                            -------------------------
                                            CHARLES H. SONNENBERG,
                                            Secretary of EXAMCO, Inc.,
                                            a Louisiana corporation


                          * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


                             SIGNATURE OF PRESIDENT



         Pursuant to Section 112 of the Louisiana Business Corporation Law, the
undersigned corporation has caused this Agreement and Plan of Merger to be
executed by its President as indicated below.


Dated: 3/25, 1999                           /s/ T. Brantley Houston, Jr.
                                            ----------------------------
                                            T. BRANTLEY HOUSTON, JR.
                                            President of EXAMCO, Inc.,
                                            a Louisiana corporation
<PAGE>   65
                                 ACKNOWLEDGMENT



STATE OF NEW JERSEY

COUNTY OF PASSAIC


         BE IT KNOWN that on this 25th day of March, 1999, before me, the
undersigned Notary, duly commissioned, qualified and sworn within and for the
State and County aforesaid, personally came and appeared:

                               /s/ Lynn J. Mangum
                               ------------------

appearing herein in his capacity as the President [Vice-President or President]
of BI-Exam Acquisition Corp., to me personally known to be the identical person
whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument as the said officer of the
said corporation, and declared and acknowledged to me, Notary, in the presence
of the undersigned competent witnesses, that he executed the same on behalf of
the said corporation with full authority of its Board of Directors, and that the
said instrument is the free act and deed of the said corporation and was
executed for the uses, purposes and benefits therein expressed.


WITNESSES:


/s/ Kevin J. Dell                           /s/ Lynn J. Mangum    
- -----------------                           ------------------     
                                            Lynn J. Mangum, President
                                            [Vice-President or President]


/s/ Kelli Strlekar                          /s/ Mary F. O'Donnell      
- ------------------                          ---------------------      
                                            NOTARY PUBLIC
<PAGE>   66
                                 ACKNOWLEDGMENT


STATE OF LOUISIANA

PARISH OF ORLEANS


         BE IT KNOWN that on this 25th day of March, 1999, before me, the
undersigned Notary, duly commissioned, qualified and sworn within and for the
State and Parish aforesaid, personally came and appeared:

                            T. BRANTLEY HOUSTON, JR.

appearing herein in his capacity as the President of EXAMCO, Inc., to me
personally known to be the identical person whose name is subscribed to the
foregoing instrument as the said officer of the said corporation, and declared
and acknowledged to me, Notary, in the presence of the undersigned competent
witnesses, that he executed the same on behalf of the said corporation with full
authority of its Board of Directors, and that the said instrument is the free
act and deed of the said corporation and was executed for the uses, purposes and
benefits therein expressed.


WITNESSES:


/s/ Charles H. Sonnenberg                   /s/ T. Brantley Houston, Jr.
- ------------------------                    ----------------------------
                                            T. BRANTLEY HOUSTON, JR.,
                                            President


/s/ William T. Nanovsky                     /s/ T. Robert Lacour       
- ----------------------                      --------------------       
                                            NOTARY PUBLIC
<PAGE>   67
                             INDEX TO DEFINED TERMS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Term                                                          Section Reference
- ----                                                          -----------------
<S>                                                           <C>
"Acquisition"                                                 Recitals
"Adjusted Aggregate Parent Common
  Stock Consideration"                                        2.06(a)
"Adjusted Ascribed Value"                                     2.06(a)
"Adjusted Exchange Value"                                     2.06(a)
"Adjusted Gross Merger Price"                                 2.06(a)
"Adjusted Net Merger Price"                                   2.06(a)
"Adjustment Date"                                             2.06(b)
"Ascribed Value"                                              2.02
"Affiliate"                                                   3.20
"Agreement"                                                   Recitals
"Aggregate Parent Common Stock                                2.01(a)
   Consideration"
"API"                                                         2.01(d)
"Articles of Incorporation"                                   3.06
"Average Price"                                               2.01(a)
"Balance Sheet"                                               3.08
"Basket"                                                      7.08(a)
"Cap"                                                         7.08(a)
"Certificate"                                                 2.03
"Code"                                                        3.12(d)
"Company"                                                     Recitals
"Company Common Stock"                                        2.01
"Company Investments"                                         3.30
"Computer Systems"                                            3.34(a)
"Confidentiality Agreement"                                   7.09
"Constituent Corporations"                                    Recitals
"Contract Parties"                                            3.11(a)
"Convertible Rights"                                          2.02
"Damages"                                                     7.08(a)
"Drop Dead Date"                                              9.01(b)
"Effective Time"                                              1.03
"Employment Agreements"                                       7.06(a)
"ERISA"                                                       3.12(b)
"Escrow Agreement"                                            2.03
"Exchange Act"                                                5.09
"Exchange Shares"                                             2.01(b)
"Exchange Value"                                              2.01(b)
"Financial Statements"                                        3.08
"GAAP"                                                        3.08
"Gross Merger Price"                                          2.01(a)
"Houston"                                                     Recitals
"Hovancik"                                                    2.01(d)
"HREI"                                                        7.01(m)
"HREI Lease Amendment"                                        7.15
"Indemnifiable Breach"                                        7.08(a)
"Intellectual Rights"                                         3.09
"J.B. Trust"                                                  Recitals
"Licenses"                                                    3.28
"Liens"                                                       3.15
"Louisiana BCL"                                               Recitals
"Major Suppliers"                                             3.11(b)
</TABLE>



                                       i
<PAGE>   68
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                           <C>
"Material Adverse Effect"                                     3.03
"Merger"                                                      Recitals
"M.R. Trust"                                                  Recitals
"Modified Petra Rights"                                       2.01(c)
"NASDAQ"                                                      2.01(a)
"Net Merger Price"                                            2.01(a)
"N.E. Trust"                                                  Recitals
"Non-Competition Agreements"                                  7.06(a)
"Owned Source Codes"                                          3.10(c)
"Parent"                                                      Recitals
"Parent Common Stock"                                         Recitals
"Parent Financial Statements"                                 5.07
"Parent Public Information"                                   4.04(i)
"Percentage Share"                                            7.08(a)
"Petra"                                                       2.01(c)
"Petra Loan Agreement"                                        3.07
"Petra Agreement"                                             2.01(c)
"Petra Rights"                                                2.01(c)
"Professional Fees"                                           10.02(a)
"Reference Products Business"                                 2.06(a)
"Regions Bank"                                                3.07
"Regions Bank Loan Agreement"                                 3.07
"Registration Rights Agreement"                               7.12
"Related Party Loans"                                         3.31
"Required Consents"                                           3.27
"SAR Agreements"                                              2.01(d)
"SAR Holders"                                                 2.01(d)
"SAR Holders Agreements"                                      2.01(d)
"SARs"                                                        2.01(d)
"SEC"                                                         4.04(b)
"Securities Act"                                              4.04(a)
"Shareholders"                                                Recitals
"Shareholder's Percentage Share"                              7.08(a)
"Slate"                                                       2.01(d)
"Software"                                                    3.10(a)
"Software Contracts"                                          3.10(b)
"Sonnenberg"                                                  2.01(d)
"Surviving Corporation"                                       Recitals
"Szczurek"                                                    2.01(d)
"Transmittal Letter"                                          2.04(a)
"Trusts"                                                      Recitals
"Warrant"                                                     2.01(c)
"Year 2000 Compliant"                                         3.34(a)
"Year 2000 Problem"                                           3.34(b)
</TABLE>


                                       ii


<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.4

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                                                                   April 1, 1999

To each of the persons
named on Schedule I hereto:

Dear Sirs:

                  This will confirm that in consideration of the consummation of
the merger of BI-Exam Acquisition Corp. ("BI-Exam"), a wholly owned subsidiary
of The BISYS Group, Inc. (the "Company"), with and into EXAMCO, Inc. ("Examco")
pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 25, 1999 among
the Company, BI-Exam, Examco and the other persons named therein, in which an
aggregate number of shares of common stock, $.02 par value, of the Company (the
"Shares") set forth on Schedule I hereto opposite your name will be issuable to
you upon conversion of shares of common stock of, or other equity interests in,
Examco, the Company hereby covenants and agrees with each of you, as follows:

                  1. Certain Definitions. As used herein, the following terms
shall have the following respective meanings:

                           "Commission" shall mean the United States Securities
                  and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency at the
                  time administering the Securities Act (hereinafter defined).

                           "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, $.02 par
                  value, of the Company.

                           "Distribution Period" shall mean the period
                  commencing on the effective date of the registration statement
                  referred to in Sections 2 and 3 hereof and ending on the
                  earlier to occur of (i) the sale of all of the Registerable
                  Stock (hereinafter defined) covered by such registration
                  statement or (ii) the first anniversary of the Effective Time.

                           "Effective Time" shall mean the Effective Time of the
                  Merger, as defined in the Merger Agreement (hereinafter
                  defined).

                           "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act
                  of 1934 or any similar federal statute, and the 
<PAGE>   2
                  rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the
                  same shall be in effect at the time.

                           "Merger" shall mean the merger of BI-Exam with and
                  into Examco pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

                           "Merger Agreement" shall mean the Agreement and Plan
                  of Merger dated as of March 25, 1999, among the Company,
                  BI-Exam, Examco and the other persons named therein.

                           "Registerable Stock" shall mean shares of Common
                  Stock issued to you in the Merger and not transferred or
                  otherwise disposed of by you except as contemplated hereunder.

                           "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of
                  1933, as amended, or any similar federal statute, and the
                  rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the
                  same shall be in effect at the time.

                   2. Registration of Registerable Stock. Promptly after the
Effective Time the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to register
under the Securities Act for public resale by the holders of shares of
Registerable Stock the shares of Registerable Stock held by them. The Company
shall not be obligated to effect registration of Registerable Stock pursuant to
this Section 2 on more than one occasion.

                  3. Registration Procedures. The Company will, as expeditiously
as is practicable after the Effective Time:

                           (a) prepare, submit to you and to one counsel for the
                  sellers of Registerable Stock, for a reasonable opportunity to
                  review, and thereafter file with the Commission as soon as
                  practicable, a registration statement with respect to such
                  Registerable Stock (which shall be on Form S-3 if the Company
                  is then eligible to use such form and otherwise on Form S-1 or
                  such other form of general applicability acceptable to the
                  Company), and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause
                  such registration statement to become and remain effective
                  during the Distribution Period.

                           (b) prepare and file with the Commission such
                  amendments and supplements to such registration statement and
                  the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be
                  necessary to keep such registration statement effective during
                  the Distribution Period.

                                       2
<PAGE>   3
                           (c) furnish to each seller of Registerable Stock such
                  number of copies of the registration statement and the
                  prospectus included therein and any amendment or supplement
                  thereto as such person may reasonably request in order to
                  facilitate the public sale of the Registerable Stock covered
                  by such registration statement;

                           (d) use its best efforts to register or qualify the
                  Registerable Stock covered by such registration statement
                  under the securities or blue sky laws of a reasonable number
                  of jurisdictions (provided that the Company will not be
                  required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any
                  jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to
                  qualify but for this paragraph (d), (ii) subject itself to
                  taxation in any such jurisdiction or (iii) consent to general
                  service of process in any jurisdiction);

                           (e) promptly notify each seller of Registerable Stock
                  (i) when such registration statement or any amendment or
                  supplement thereto or to the prospectus contained therein has
                  been filed, (ii) of any request by the Commission for
                  amendments or supplements to such registration statement or
                  prospectus or for additional information from such seller,
                  (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
                  suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or
                  the initiation of proceedings for that purpose, or (iv) of the
                  receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the
                  suspension of the qualification of the Registerable Stock for
                  sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of
                  any proceeding for that purpose;

                           (f) promptly notify each seller of Registerable Stock
                  at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to
                  be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any
                  event of which the Company is aware as a result of which the
                  prospectus contained in such registration statement, as then
                  in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
                  omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein
                  or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in
                  the light of the circumstances then existing, and as promptly
                  as practicable thereafter prepare and file with the Commission
                  a supplement or amendment to such prospectus, such
                  registration statement or any document incorporated therein by
                  reference, or make such other

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
                  filing, such that as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of
                  Registerable Stock the prospectus will not contain an untrue
                  statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact
                  necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and

                           (g) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the
                  withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such
                  registration statement.

                  In connection with each registration hereunder, each seller of
Registerable Stock shall furnish to the Company in writing such information with
respect to himself and the proposed distribution by him as shall be reasonably
necessary in order to assure compliance with federal and applicable state
securities laws, including, without limitation, such information as shall enable
the Company to prepare prospectus supplements as and when required.

                  4. Expenses. All expenses incurred by the Company in complying
with Sections 2 and 3 hereof, including, without limitation, all registration
and filing fees, printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel and
independent public accountants for the Company, fees of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc., transfer taxes and fees of transfer agents and
registrars, will be paid by the Company in connection with the registration
statement filed pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 hereof.

                  5. Indemnification. The Company will indemnify and hold
harmless each seller of Registerable Stock under the registration statement
filed pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 and each other person, if any, who controls
such seller within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such seller, partner,
officer, director or controlling 

                                       4
<PAGE>   5
person may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in the registration statement filed pursuant to Sections
2 and 3 hereof, any prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement
thereof, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, and (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rule or
regulation promulgated under any of the same in connection with the offering
covered by such registration statement, and the Company will reimburse each such
seller, partner, officer, director and each such controlling person for any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action;
provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case if and
to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is
based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission so made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished by such seller or any of its partners, officers, directors or such
controlling person in writing specifically for use in such registration
statement or prospectus.

                  Each seller of such Registerable Stock under the registration
statement filed pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 hereof, severally and not jointly,
will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, each officer of
the Company who signs the registration statement, each director of the Company,
and each person who controls any of the foregoing within the meaning of the
Securities Act, against all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which the Company or such officer or director or controlling person
may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in the registration statement filed pursuant to Sections
2 and 3 hereof, any prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement
thereof, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rule or
regulation promulgated under any of the same in connection with the offering
covered by such registration statement, and each such seller will reimburse the
Company and each such officer, director and controlling person for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that such seller will be liable hereunder in any such case if and only to the
extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Company by such seller specifically for use in such registration
statement or prospectus. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) no seller shall be
liable for payments of amounts paid in settlement of any loss, claim, damage,
liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of such
seller (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), and (ii) in no event
shall the liability of any seller of Registerable Stock under this Section 5 in
connection 

                                       5
<PAGE>   6
with any registration exceed the proceeds received by such seller from the sale
of shares of Registerable Stock in such registration.

                  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of
notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder,
notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof, but the omission so to notify
the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have
to any indemnified party other than under this Section 5. In case any such
action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be
entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and
undertake the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified
party, and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party
of its election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying
party, if it shall actually undertake the defense thereof, shall not be liable
to such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation and of liaison with counsel
so selected; provided, however, that, if the defendants in any such action
include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be reasonable
defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those
available to the indemnifying party, or if the interests of the indemnified
party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the
indemnifying party, the indemnified party shall have the right to select a
separate counsel and to assume such legal defenses and otherwise to participate
in the defense of such action, with the expenses and fees of such separate
counsel and other expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the
indemnifying party as incurred.

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any indemnified party shall
have the right to retain its own counsel in any such action, but the fees and
disbursements of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party
unless (i) the indemnifying party shall have failed to retain counsel for the
indemnified person as aforesaid or shall have failed to defend such action in
accordance with the preceding paragraph or (ii) the indemnifying party and such
indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel.
It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any
action or related actions in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and
disbursements of more than one separate firm qualified in such jurisdiction to
act as counsel for the indemnified party. The indemnifying party shall not be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its

                                       6
<PAGE>   7
written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final
judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the
indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement or judgment.

                  If the indemnification provided for in the first two
paragraphs of this Section 5 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party under such paragraphs in respect of any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities or actions in respect thereof referred to therein, then
each indemnifying party shall in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions in such proportion as
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and
the sellers of such Registerable Stock, on the other, in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or actions as well as any other relevant equitable considerations,
including the failure to give any notice under the third paragraph of this
Section 5. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the sellers
of such Registerable Stock, on the other, and to the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The Company and each of you agree that it would not be
just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph were determined
by pro rata allocation (even if all of the sellers of such Registerable Stock
were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
allocation which did not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to above in this paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party
as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or action in respect
thereof, referred to above in this paragraph, shall be deemed to include any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, the sellers of such
Registerable Stock shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of
the amount, if any, by which the total price at which the Common Stock sold by
each of them was offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which
they would have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentations (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act),
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who is not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.

                  6. Current Public Information. The Company agrees with you as
follows:

                                       7
<PAGE>   8
                           (a) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts
                  to make and keep public information available, as those terms
                  are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities
                  Act, at all times from and after the date hereof.

                           (b) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts
                  to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and
                  other documents as the Commission may prescribe under Section
                  13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

                           (c) The Company shall furnish to each seller of
                  Registerable Stock upon request (i) a copy of the most recent
                  annual or quarterly report of the Company, and (ii) such other
                  reports and documents so filed as a holder may reasonably
                  request to avail itself of any rule or regulation of the
                  Commission allowing a holder of Registerable Stock to sell any
                  such securities without registration.

                  7. Effectiveness of this Agreement. This Agreement shall
become effective at the Effective Time. If the Effective Time shall not occur,
this Agreement shall be of no force and effect.

                  8. Miscellaneous.

                           (a) All covenants and agreements contained in this
Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to
the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto
whether so expressed or not, provided, however, that the obligations of the
Company hereunder shall inure only to the benefit of (i) you, (ii) a person who
shall become a holder of Registerable Stock by gift or by will or the laws of
descent and distribution and (iii) an institutional lender to whom shares of
Registerable Stock are bona fide pledged as collateral security for a loan, and
the term "Registerable Stock" as used herein shall be limited to Registerable
Stock held by you or any such person.

                           (b) All notices, requests, consents and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed by first class
registered mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

                           if to the Company, to it at Overlook at Great Notch,
                  150 Clove Road, Little Falls, New Jersey 07424, Attention:
                  Senior Vice President and General Counsel;

                                       8
<PAGE>   9
                  if to any holder of Registerable Stock, at its address as set
                  forth in Annex I hereto;

                           if to any subsequent holder of Registerable Stock
                  pursuant to Section 10(a) hereof to it at such address as may
                  have been furnished to the Company in writing by such holder;

                  or, in any case, at such other address or addresses as shall
                  have been furnished in writing to the Company (in the case of
                  a seller of Registerable Stock) or to the sellers of
                  Registerable Stock (in the case of the Company).

                           (c) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

                           (d) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and may not be modified
or amended except in writing signed by the Company and by the holders of not
less than a majority of the Registerable Stock.

                           (e) This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                                       9
<PAGE>   10
                  Please indicate your acceptance of the foregoing by signing
and returning the enclosed counterpart of this letter, whereupon this letter
(herein sometimes called "this Agreement") shall be a binding agreement between
the Company and you.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       THE BISYS GROUP, INC.

                                       By: /s/ Lynn J. Mangum
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Lynn J. Mangum
                                           President & CEO

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED
as of the date first
above written:

                                           /s/ T. Brantley Houston, Jr.
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           T. Brantley Houston, Jr.

                                           Nicole E. Houston Trust

                                       By: /s/ Charles H. Sonnenberg
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Charles H. Sonnenberg, Trustee

                                           Jonathan B. Houston Trust

                                       By: /s/ Charles H. Sonnenberg
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Charles H. Sonnenberg, Trustee

                                           Matthew R. Houston Trust

                                       By: /s/ Charles H. Sonnenberg
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Charles H. Sonnenberg, Trustee

                                       10
<PAGE>   11
                                       /s/ Andrew G. Hovancik
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Andrew G. Hovancik

                                       /s/ Charles H. Sonnenberg
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Charles H. Sonnenberg

                                       /s/ W. Robert Slate
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       W. Robert Slate

                                       /s/ Greg Szczurek
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Gregory D. Szczurek

                                       11

<PAGE>   1
                                                                 EXHIBIT NO. 5.1

                             SHANLEY & FISHER, P.C.

                               131 Madison Avenue

                        Morristown, New Jersey 07962-1979
                                 (973) 285-1000

                                   May 5, 1999

The BISYS Group, Inc.
150 Clove Road
Little Falls, New Jersey  07424

         Re:      The BISYS Group, Inc.
                  Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as special counsel to The BISYS Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") of a registration
statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") relating to the offer and
sale of up to 155,378 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.02 per
share, presently issued and outstanding (the "Shares"). The Shares are to be
offered and sold for the accounts of the selling stockholders named in the
prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement.

         This opinion is delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item
601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act").

         For purposes of this opinion, we have examined originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Registration
Statement together with exhibits filed as a part thereof and all such other
documents, records, certificates, including certificates of public officials,
and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
Shares have been duly authorized, validly issued
<PAGE>   2
The BISYS Group, Inc.
May 5, 1999
Page 2


and are fully paid and non-assessable, and will, when sold, be validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name therein and in the prospectus
constituting a part thereof under the caption "Legal Matters". By giving the
foregoing consent, we do not admit that we are persons whose consent is required
under Section 7 of the Act.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       SHANLEY & FISHER, P.C.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement of
The BISYS Group, Inc. on Form S-3 of our report dated August 7, 1998 (except as
to certain information presented in Note 12, for which the date is August 21,
1998), on our audits of the consolidated financial statements and financial
statement schedules of The BISYS Group, Inc. as of June 30, 1998 and 1997, and
for the years ended June 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996 which report is included in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K.



PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP



Columbus, Ohio
May 5, 1999


<PAGE>   1

                                                                EXHIBIT NO. 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints Lynn J. Mangum, Dennis R. Sheehan and Kevin J. Dell, and each of
them, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all
instruments and documents which said attorney-in-fact and agent may deem
necessary or desirable to enable The BISYS Group, Inc. (the "Company") to comply
with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and any rules,
regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") thereunder, in connection with the registration under the Act of
shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.02 ("Common Stock"), to be
offered and sold by selling stockholders of the Company, in connection with
certain transactions approved by the Board of Directors of the Company,
including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned to a registration
statement under the Act on an appropriate form covering said shares of Common
Stock, and any amendments to such registration statement, to be filed with the
Commission, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in
connection with such registration statement or any amendments thereto; and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorney and agent shall
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney
this 5th day of May, 1999.

                                       /s/ Thomas E. McInerney
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Name:   Thomas E. McInerney
                                       Title:  Director
<PAGE>   2
                                                                EXHIBIT NO. 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints Lynn J. Mangum, Dennis R. Sheehan and Kevin J. Dell, and each of
them, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all
instruments and documents which said attorney-in-fact and agent may deem
necessary or desirable to enable The BISYS Group, Inc. (the "Company") to comply
with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and any rules,
regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") thereunder, in connection with the registration under the Act of
shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.02 ("Common Stock"), to be
offered and sold by selling stockholders of the Company, in connection with
certain transactions approved by the Board of Directors of the Company,
including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned to a registration
statement under the Act on an appropriate form covering said shares of Common
Stock, and any amendments to such registration statement, to be filed with the
Commission, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in
connection with such registration statement or any amendments thereto; and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorney and agent shall
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney
this 5th day of May, 1999.

                                       /s/ John J. Lyons
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Name:   John J. Lyons
                                       Title:  Director
<PAGE>   3
                                                                EXHIBIT NO. 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints Lynn J. Mangum, Dennis R. Sheehan and Kevin J. Dell, and each of
them, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all
instruments and documents which said attorney-in-fact and agent may deem
necessary or desirable to enable The BISYS Group, Inc. (the "Company") to comply
with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and any rules,
regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") thereunder, in connection with the registration under the Act of
shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.02 ("Common Stock"), to be
offered and sold by selling stockholders of the Company, in connection with
certain transactions approved by the Board of Directors of the Company,
including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned to a registration
statement under the Act on an appropriate form covering said shares of Common
Stock, and any amendments to such registration statement, to be filed with the
Commission, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in
connection with such registration statement or any amendments thereto; and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorney and agent shall
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney
this 5th day of May, 1999.

                                       /s/ Jay DeDapper
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Name:   Jay DeDapper
                                       Title:  Director
<PAGE>   4
                                                                EXHIBIT NO. 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints Dennis R. Sheehan and Kevin J. Dell, and each of them, as his true
and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, for him
and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to do any and all
acts and things and to execute any and all instruments and documents which said
attorney-in-fact and agent may deem necessary or desirable to enable The BISYS
Group, Inc. (the "Company") to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"), and any rules, regulations and requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder, in connection
with the registration under the Act of shares of common stock of the Company,
par value $.02 ("Common Stock"), to be offered and sold by selling stockholders
of the Company, in connection with certain transactions approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company, including specifically, but without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign the name of the
undersigned to a registration statement under the Act on an appropriate form
covering said shares of Common Stock, and any amendments to such registration
statement, to be filed with the Commission, and to any and all instruments or
documents filed as part of or in connection with such registration statement or
any amendments thereto; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all
that said attorney and agent shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney
this 5th day of May, 1999.

                                       /s/ Lynn J. Mangum
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Name:   Lynn J. Mangum
                                       Title:  Chairman of the Board,
                                               Chief Executive Officer
                                               and Director
<PAGE>   5
                                                                EXHIBIT NO. 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints Lynn J. Mangum and Kevin J. Dell, and each of them, as his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to do any and all acts
and things and to execute any and all instruments and documents which said
attorney-in-fact and agent may deem necessary or desirable to enable The BISYS
Group, Inc. (the "Company") to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"), and any rules, regulations and requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder, in connection
with the registration under the Act of shares of common stock of the Company,
par value $.02 ("Common Stock"), to be offered and sold by selling stockholders
of the Company, in connection with certain transactions approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company, including specifically, but without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign the name of the
undersigned to a registration statement under the Act on an appropriate form
covering said shares of Common Stock, and any amendments to such registration
statement, to be filed with the Commission, and to any and all instruments or
documents filed as part of or in connection with such registration statement or
any amendments thereto; and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all
that said attorney and agent shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney
this 5th day of May, 1999.

                                       /s/ Dennis R. Sheehan
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Name:   Dennis R. Sheehan
                                       Title:  Executive Vice President
                                               and Chief Financial Officer
<PAGE>   6
                                                                EXHIBIT NO. 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints Lynn J. Mangum, Dennis R. Sheehan and Kevin J. Dell, and each of
them, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all
instruments and documents which said attorney-in-fact and agent may deem
necessary or desirable to enable The BISYS Group, Inc. (the "Company") to comply
with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and any rules,
regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") thereunder, in connection with the registration under the Act of
shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.02 ("Common Stock"), to be
offered and sold by selling stockholders of the Company, in connection with
certain transactions approved by the Board of Directors of the Company,
including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned to a registration
statement under the Act on an appropriate form covering said shares of Common
Stock, and any amendments to such registration statement, to be filed with the
Commission, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in
connection with such registration statement or any amendments thereto; and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorney and agent shall
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney
this 5th day of May, 1999.

                                       /s/ Thomas A. Cooper
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Name:   Thomas A. Cooper
                                       Title:  Director
<PAGE>   7
                                                                EXHIBIT NO. 24.1

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints Lynn J. Mangum, Dennis R. Sheehan and Kevin J. Dell, and each of
them, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all
instruments and documents which said attorney-in-fact and agent may deem
necessary or desirable to enable The BISYS Group, Inc. (the "Company") to comply
with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and any rules,
regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") thereunder, in connection with the registration under the Act of
shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.02 ("Common Stock"), to be
offered and sold by selling stockholders of the Company, in connection with
certain transactions approved by the Board of Directors of the Company,
including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned to a registration
statement under the Act on an appropriate form covering said shares of Common
Stock, and any amendments to such registration statement, to be filed with the
Commission, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in
connection with such registration statement or any amendments thereto; and the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorney and agent shall
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney
this 5th day of May, 1999.

                                       /s/ Robert J. Casale
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Name:   Robert J. Casale
                                       Title:  Director


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