LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES INC
8-K, EX-2.1, 2000-10-03
SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES
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                                MERGER AGREEMENT

                                      among

                          LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,

                                  GELTECH, INC.

                                       and

                           LPI TWO MERGER CORPORATION


                              Dated August 9, 2000
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                                 TABLE CONTENTS

                                                                            Page

ARTICLE 1....................................................................  5
  1.1   The Merger...........................................................  5
  1.2   Effect of the Merger.................................................  5
  1.3   Consummation of the Merger...........................................  6
  1.4   Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws; Directors and Officers.........  6
  1.5   Conversion of Securities.............................................  6
  1.6   Closing of Company Transfer Books....................................  9
  1.7   Exchange of Certificates.............................................  9
  1.8   Dissenting Shares.................................................... 10
  1.9   Tax Consequences..................................................... 11
  1.10  Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action........................... 11
  1.11  Stock Options........................................................ 11
  1.12  Indemnification; Payment of Note..................................... 12

ARTICLE 2.................................................................... 13
  2.1   Organization and Qualification....................................... 13
  2.2   Authority Relative to This Agreement................................. 13
  2.3   Capital Structure.................................................... 14
  2.4   SEC Filings; Financial Statements.................................... 14
  2.5   Valid Issuance....................................................... 15
  2.6   Accuracy of Information.............................................. 15
  2.7   Title to Properties.................................................. 15
  2.8   Accounts Receivable.................................................. 16
  2.9   Employment Matters................................................... 16
  2.10  Affiliate Transactions............................................... 16
  2.11  Compliance with Laws; Permits; Certain Operations.................... 16
  2.12  Non-Contravention; Consents.......................................... 17
  2.13  Brokerage............................................................ 17
  2.14  No Material Adverse Changes.......................................... 17
  2.15  Legal Proceedings.................................................... 18

ARTICLE 3.................................................................... 18
  3.1   Organization and Qualification....................................... 18
  3.2   Authority Relative to this Agreement................................. 18
  3.3   Capitalization....................................................... 19
  3.4   Financial Statements................................................. 21
  3.5   No Subsidiaries...................................................... 21
  3.6   Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities................................... 21
  3.7   No Material Adverse Changes.......................................... 22
  3.8   Absence of Certain Developments...................................... 22
  3.9   Title to Properties.................................................. 24
  3.10  Accounts Receivable.................................................. 25
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  3.11  Inventories.......................................................... 25
  3.12  Tax Matters.......................................................... 25
  3.13  Contracts and Commitments............................................ 28
  3.14  Proprietary Rights................................................... 30
  3.15  Litigation........................................................... 31
  3.16  Brokerage............................................................ 31
  3.17  Employment Matters................................................... 31
  3.18  Employee Benefit Plans............................................... 32
  3.19  Insurance............................................................ 33
  3.20  Affiliate Transactions............................................... 34
  3.21  Suppliers............................................................ 34
  3.22  Officers and Directors; Bank Accounts................................ 34
  3.23  Compliance with Laws; Permits; Certain Operations.................... 34
  3.24  Disclosure........................................................... 35
  3.25  Non-Contravention; Consents.......................................... 35
  3.26  Stockholder Vote Required............................................ 36

ARTICLE 4.................................................................... 36
  4.1   Conduct of Business Pending the Merger............................... 36
  4.2   Notification; Updates to Disclosure Schedule......................... 39

ARTICLE 5.................................................................... 40
  5.1   Shareholders Meeting................................................. 40
  5.2   Expenses............................................................. 40
  5.3   Additional Agreements................................................ 40
  5.4   No Negotiations, etc................................................. 40
  5.5   Notification of Certain Matters...................................... 40
  5.6   Access to Information; Confidentiality............................... 41
  5.7   Shareholder Claims................................................... 41
  5.8   Consents............................................................. 41
  5.9   State Securities Law Compliance...................................... 41
  5.10  Notification; Updates to Parent Disclosure Letter.................... 42
  5.11  Commercially Reasonable Efforts...................................... 42
  5.12  Tax Matters.......................................................... 42
  5.13  Indemnification...................................................... 43
  5.14  Nasdaq National Market Listing....................................... 44
  5.15  Employees............................................................ 44
  5.16  Future Employment Incentives......................................... 44
  5.17  Funding Commitment................................................... 45

ARTICLE 6.................................................................... 45
  6.1   Conditions to Obligations of Each Party To Effect the Merger......... 45
  6.2   Additional Conditions to Obligation of the Company................... 47
  6.3   Additional Conditions to Obligations of Parent and the Merger Sub.... 49

ARTICLE 7.................................................................... 52
  7.1   Termination.......................................................... 52

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  7.2   Termination Procedures............................................... 53
  7.3   Effect of Termination................................................ 53

ARTICLE 8.................................................................... 54
  8.1   Amendment............................................................ 54
  8.2   Waiver............................................................... 54
  8.3   Public Statements.................................................... 54
  8.4   Notices.............................................................. 54
  8.5   Interpretation....................................................... 55
  8.6   Severability......................................................... 55
  8.7   Miscellaneous........................................................ 55
  8.8   Non-survival of Representations and Warranties....................... 56
  8.9   Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries; Rights of Ownership.. 56
  8.10  Fax Signatures....................................................... 56

SCHEDULES

  Schedule 1.4           Officers and Directors of Surviving Corporation

  Schedule 1.5(a)        Shareholder Ownership

COMPANY DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES

  Schedule 3.2           Authority Relative to this Agreement

  Schedule 3.3(b)        Company Options and Warrants

  Schedule 3.3(c)        Rights to Acquire Company Stock

  Schedule 3.3(e)        Repurchase of Stock

  Schedule 3.3(f)        Registration of Securities

  Schedule 3.5           Subsidiaries

  Schedule 3.6           Undisclosed Liabilities

  Schedule 3.7           Adverse Changes

  Schedule 3.8           Certain Developments

  Schedule 3.9(a)        Liens

  Schedule 3.9(b)        Real Estate

  Schedule 3.9(c)        Leases

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  Schedule 3.11          Inventory

  Schedule 3.12          Tax Matters

  Schedule 3.12(d)       Tax Returns

  Schedule 3.12(e)       Tax Elections

  Schedule 3.13(a)       Contracts

  Schedule 3.13(b)       Breach of Contract

  Schedule 3.14          Proprietary Rights

  Schedule 3.15          Litigation

  Schedule 3.16          Brokerage

  Schedule 3.18(a)       Pension Plans

  Schedule 3.18(b)       Welfare Plans

  Schedule 3.18(c)       Compensation Programs

  Schedule 3.18(j)       Extended Benefits

  Schedule 3.19          Insurance

  Schedule 3.20          Affiliate Transactions

  Schedule 3.21          Suppliers

  Schedule 3.22          Officers and Directors; Bank Accounts

  Schedule 3.23          Compliance with Laws; Permits; Certain Operations

  Schedule 3.25          Non-Contravention; Consents

  Schedule 5.16          Future Employment Incentives

  Schedule 5.17          Funding Commitment

EXHIBITS

  Exhibit A              Form of Employment Agreement

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                                MERGER AGREEMENT

     This MERGER  AGREEMENT is dated August 9, 2000 (this  "Agreement"),  by and
among LightPath Technologies,  Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"),  LPI Two
Merger Corporation,  a Delaware corporation wholly owned directly by Parent (the
"Merger Sub"), and Geltech, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

                                    RECITALS

     I. Parent and the Company are parties to a letter of intent  dated June 15,
2000 (the  "Letter of  Intent"),  which  contemplates  the merger  described  in
Article 1 (the "Merger").

     II. The  respective  boards of  directors of the Merger Sub and the Company
have  determined  that it is advisable to consummate the Merger,  as a result of
which all of the  outstanding  common  stock,  $.01 par value per share,  of the
Company  ("Company  Common  Stock") will be converted into shares of the Class A
Common  Stock,  $.01 par value per  share,  of  Parent  ("Parent  Class A Common
Stock")  and the Company  will be wholly  owned  directly by Parent;  all on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows: ARTICLE 1

                                   THE MERGER

     The  respective  boards of  directors  of  Parent,  the  Merger Sub and the
Company have, by resolutions duly adopted,  approved the following provisions of
this  Article  1 as the plan of  merger  required  by the  laws of the  State of
Delaware in connection with the Merger:

     1.1 THE  MERGER.  At the  Effective  Time (as defined in Section  1.3),  in
accordance  with this  Agreement  and  applicable  law,  the Merger Sub shall be
merged  with and into the  Company,  the  separate  existence  of the Merger Sub
(except as may be continued  by  operation of law) shall cease,  and the Company
shall continue as the surviving  corporation  under the name "Geltech,  Inc." as
provided in the Amended  Articles of  Incorporation  of the Company  pursuant to
Section 1.4 of this Agreement.  The Company,  in its capacity as the corporation
surviving  the  Merger,  sometimes  is  referred  to  herein  as the  "Surviving
Corporation."

     1.2 EFFECT OF THE MERGER.  The Surviving  Corporation shall possess all the
rights,  privileges,  immunities  and  franchises,  of a public  as well as of a
private  nature,  of each of the Merger Sub and the Company  (collectively,  the
"Constituent  Corporations");  and all property,  real, personal, and mixed, and
all debts due on whatever account,  including  subscriptions to shares,  and all
other choses in action,  and all and every other  interest of or belonging to or
due to each of the  Constituent  Corporations,  shall be taken and  deemed to be
transferred to and vested in the Surviving  Corporation  without  further act or

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deed;  and the Surviving  Corporation  shall be  responsible  and liable for all
liabilities and obligations of each of the Constituent Corporations.

     1.3  CONSUMMATION  OF THE  MERGER.  The  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the  "Closing")  shall take place at the offices
of Squire,  Sanders & Dempsey  L.L.P.,  40 North  Central  Avenue,  Suite  2700,
Phoenix,  Arizona  85004 at 10:00 a.m. on a date to be  mutually  agreed upon by
Parent and the Company, which date shall be no later than the third business day
following the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article 6 of
this Agreement (the  "Scheduled  Closing Time") and no later than the Final Date
(as defined in Section 7.1). The date on which the Closing  actually takes place
is referred to in this Agreement as the "Closing Date." On the Closing Date, the
parties  hereto  will  cause  articles  of merger  relating  to the Merger to be
delivered  to the  Secretary  of State of the State of  Delaware in such form as
required  by, and  executed in  accordance  with,  the  relevant  provisions  of
applicable  law. The Merger shall be effective at such time as such  articles of
merger are duly filed with and  accepted by the  Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware in accordance with applicable law (the "Effective Time").

     1.4 ARTICLES OF  INCORPORATION  AND BYLAWS;  DIRECTORS  AND  OFFICERS.  The
Articles of Incorporation  and Bylaws of the Company,  as in effect  immediately
prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Articles of  Incorporation  and Bylaws
of the Surviving  Corporation  immediately  after the  Effective  Time and shall
thereafter continue to be its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws until amended
as provided  therein and under the applicable law. The directors and officers of
the Surviving Corporation  immediately following the Effective Time shall be the
persons identified on SCHEDULE 1.4 attached hereto.

     1.5  CONVERSION  OF  SECURITIES;  CASH  CONSIDERATION.  Subject to Sections
1.7(b) and 1.8, at the  Effective  Time,  the  following  events  shall occur by
virtue of the Merger and without  any action on the part of the Merger Sub,  the
Company or the holder of any of the following securities:

          (a)  Each  share  of  Company  Common  Stock  issued  and  outstanding
     immediately  prior to the Effective  Time (other than shares to be canceled
     pursuant to Section  1.5(b))  shall,  without any action on the part of the
     holders  thereof,  automatically be canceled and extinguished and the total
     number of  outstanding  shares of Company  Common  Stock shall be converted
     into and become a right to receive an aggregate  number of shares of Parent
     Class A Common Stock determined as set forth in the following sentence (the
     "Share  Consideration"),  payable to the  shareholders  of the Company (the
     "Shareholders")  on a PRO RATA basis in the manner  reflected  on  SCHEDULE
     1.5(A) attached  hereto.  The actual  aggregate  number of shares of Parent
     Class A Common Stock constituting the Share Consideration issued by Parent,
     subject to subsequent  adjustment as  contemplated by Section 1.5(f) below,
     will be a number of shares equal to the quotient of $27,500,000  DIVIDED BY
     the average of the last  reported  sale price of the Parent  Class A Common
     Stock for the five (5)  consecutive  trading days ending on the trading day
     prior to the date of this  Agreement  (the  "Execution  Price"),  which the
     parties hereby  acknowledge and agree is $33.425 per share. For purposes of
     this Agreement,  "last reported sale price" shall be the last reported sale
     price as  reported  by the Nasdaq  National  Market or such  other  primary

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     securities  market or exchange on which the Parent  Class A Common Stock is
     listed or traded on the date of determination.

          (b)  Each  share  of  Company  Common  Stock  issued  and  outstanding
     immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time and held in the  treasury of the
     Company shall  automatically  be canceled and  extinguished  and no payment
     shall be made with respect thereto.

          (c) Each share of Merger Sub Common Stock,  par value $.001 per share,
     issued  and  outstanding  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time  shall
     automatically  be converted into and become one validly issued,  fully paid
     and nonassessable  share of common stock, par value $.001 per share, of the
     Surviving Corporation.

          (d) If any  shares of Company  Common  Stock  outstanding  immediately
     prior to the  Effective  Time are  unvested or are subject to a  repurchase
     option,  risk  of  forfeiture  or  other  condition  under  any  applicable
     restricted  stock purchase  agreement or other  agreement with the Company,
     then the shares of Parent  Class A Common Stock issued in exchange for such
     shares of Company  Common  Stock will also be  unvested  and subject to the
     same  repurchase  option,  risk of forfeiture or other  condition,  and the
     certificates  representing  such shares of Parent  Class A Common Stock may
     accordingly be marked with appropriate legends.

          (e) Parent will use its best efforts to cause the Share  Consideration
     issued pursuant to this Agreement to be registered under the Securities Act
     of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act"), on Form S-3 or if the Company
     is ineligible therefore, Form S-2 or S-1, or any successor form of any such
     registration  to such form,  promulgated  by the  Securities  and  Exchange
     Commission  (the  "SEC")  and to be  registered  or  qualified  (or to have
     established  that an exemption from such  registration or  qualification is
     available)  under the "blue  sky" laws of all states  which the  holders of
     such shares reasonably  request, as soon as practicable after the Effective
     Time,  subject to receipt by the Parent of any required  audited  financial
     statements  of the Company or other  information  pertaining to the Company
     and its  business,  and Parent  shall use its best  efforts to maintain the
     effectiveness of such registration statement or registration statements for
     so long as the Share Consideration remains outstanding.

          (f)  The  Share  Consideration  given  to the  Shareholders  shall  be
     adjusted, as set forth below, on the Closing Date:

               (i) Should the  average  of the last  reported  sale price of the
          Parent Class A Common Stock for the five (5) consecutive  trading days
          ending  on  the   trading   day  prior  to  the   Closing   Date  (the
          "Recalculation Price") have decreased by any amount less than or equal
          to ten percent  (10%) as compared to the Execution  Price,  the actual
          aggregate number of shares of Parent Class A Common Stock constituting
          the Share  Consideration  will be  increased  to the number of shares,
          rounded  to  the  nearest  whole  share,  equal  to  the  quotient  of

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          $27,500,000  divided by the Recalculation  Price;  provided,  however,
          that if, on the Closing Date, the  Recalculation  Price has dropped by
          an amount  greater than ten percent (10%) as compared to the Execution
          Price,  then the actual  aggregate  number of shares of Parent Class A
          Common Stock  constituting the Share  Consideration  will be increased
          only by 91,416  shares of Parent Class A Common  Stock (the  "Downside
          Collar");  and provided,  further, that should the Recalculation Price
          have  decreased by an amount  greater than or equal to thirty  percent
          (30%) as compared to the Execution Price,  Parent shall have the right
          to terminate this Agreement and the transactions  contemplated hereby,
          as set forth in Section 7.1(j) hereof.  For example,  if the Execution
          Price is $40 per  share,  the total  number  of  shares  issued to the
          Shareholders as of the Execution Date would be 687,500  ($27,500,000 /
          $40).  If on the Closing  Date the  Recalculation  Price is $36 (which
          would be 10% less than the $40  Execution  Price),  then Parent  would
          issue the  Shareholders an additional  76,389 shares so that the total
          number  of  shares  issued  to  the  Shareholders   would  be  763,889
          ($27,500,000 / $36). If on the Closing Date the Recalculation Price is
          $20 (which would be greater than 30% less than the  Execution  Price),
          then Parent, assuming Parent does not elect to terminate the Agreement
          and the transactions  contemplated  hereby pursuant to Section 7.1(j),
          as a result of the Downside Collar,  would only issue the Shareholders
          an additional  76,389 shares so that the total number of shares issued
          to the Shareholders would be 763,889 ($27,500,000 / $36).

               (ii) Should the  Recalculation  Price  remain  unchanged  or have
          increased by any amount less than or equal to sixty  percent  (60%) as
          compared to the Execution  Price,  then the actual aggregate number of
          shares  of  Parent  Class  A  Common  Stock   constituting  the  Share
          Consideration  will remain  unchanged,  with such number determined as
          set forth in Section 1.5(a) above.

               (iii) Should the Recalculation  Price have increased by more than
          sixty  percent  (60%) as compared  to the  Execution  Price,  then the
          actual  aggregate  number of shares  of  Parent  Class A Common  Stock
          constituting the Share  Consideration  will be decreased to the number
          of shares,  rounded to the nearest  whole  share,  that,  based on the
          Recalculation  Price,  create  value in  excess  of 60% more  than the
          Execution Price (the "Upside Collar");  provided  however,  that in no
          event shall the number of shares  constituting the Share Consideration
          be decreased by more than 50% of the number of shares constituting the
          Share Consideration as of the Closing Date pursuant to Section 1.5(a),
          prior to giving effect to any  adjustment  under this Section  1.5(f).
          For example, if the Execution Price is $40 per share, the total number
          of shares  issued to the  Shareholders  on the  Closing  Date would be
          687,500  ($27,500,000 / $40). If on the Closing Date the Recalculation
          Price  is  $64,  then  the  total  number  of  shares  issued  to  the
          Shareholders  would  remain  at  687,500  because  $64  would be a 60%
          increase of the $40 Execution Price. At a $64 Recalculation Price, the

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          maximum   aggregate  value  of  the  Share   Consideration   would  be
          $44,000,000  (687,500 x $64) (the "Maximum Upside  Value").  If on the
          Closing Date the Recalculation  Price is $70, then, as a result of the
          Upside Collar,  the total number of shares issued to the  Shareholders
          would be reduced  by the number of shares  that is equal to the amount
          by which the aggregate  value of the Share  Consideration  exceeds the
          Maximum  Upside  Value.  In this case such  aggregate  value  would be
          $48,125,000 (687,500 x $70) which would result in $4,125,000 of excess
          value above the Maximum  Upside  Value  ($48,125,000  -  $44,000,000).
          Therefore,  the total  number of shares of Parent Class A Common Stock
          issued  to  the  Shareholders   would  be  reduced  by  58,929  shares
          ($4,125,000  / $70),  thereby  reducing  the  Share  Consideration  to
          628,571  shares  (687,500 - 58,929) which would not exceed the Maximum
          Upside Value. If on the Closing Date the Recalculation  Price is $140,
          then, as a result of the Upside Collar and the  limitations  set forth
          above,  the total  number of  shares  of Parent  Class A Common  Stock
          issued to the  Shareholders  would be reduced by the lesser of (i) the
          number of shares  that is equal to the  amount by which the  aggregate
          value of the Share Consideration  exceeds the Maximum Upside Value, or
          (ii)  fifty  percent  (50%) of the number of shares  constituting  the
          Share  Consideration  as of the Closing  Date.  In this  example,  the
          amount  determined  pursuant  to clause (i) of the  previous  sentence
          would be 373,214  shares  (((687,500 x 140) - 44,000,000) / 140),  and
          the amount determined pursuant to clause (ii) of the previous sentence
          would be 343,750 shares (687,500 x 50%).  Therefore,  the total number
          of shares of Parent Class A Common  Stock  issued to the  Shareholders
          would be  reduced  by  343,750  shares,  thereby  reducing  the  Share
          Consideration to 343,750 shares (687,500 - 343,750).

     1.6  CLOSING  OF  COMPANY  TRANSFER  BOOKS.  At  the  Effective  Time,  the
Shareholders  shall  cease to have any  further  rights as  shareholders  of the
Company,  and the stock  transfer  books of the  Company  shall be closed and no
transfer of shares of Company  Common Stock issued and  outstanding  immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall thereafter be made.

     1.7 EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES.

          (a) At the Closing,  the Shareholders and the Company shall deliver to
     the Parent stock certificates evidencing all the Company Common Stock, each
     in form  suitable for transfer,  endorsed in blank or with  executed  blank
     stock transfer powers, along with stock book, stock transfer ledger, minute
     book and any corporate seal of the Company. Upon the surrender and exchange
     of a certificate  theretofore  representing shares of Company Common Stock,
     each Shareholder  shall be issued a certificate  representing the number of
     shares of Parent  Class A Common  Stock to which  such  person is  entitled
     pursuant to Section 1.5(a),  and the certificate  theretofore  representing
     shares of Company  Common  Stock  shall  forthwith  be  canceled.  Until so
     surrendered and exchanged, each certificate theretofore representing shares
     of Company  Common  Stock shall  represent  solely the right to receive the
     Parent  Class  A  Common  Stock  into  which  the  shares  it   theretofore

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     represented shall have been converted  pursuant to Section 1.5(a),  and the
     Surviving  Corporation shall not be required to pay the Shareholder thereof
     the Parent Class A Common Stock to which such  Shareholder  otherwise would
     be entitled;  provided that procedures allowing for payment against lost or
     destroyed   certificates  against  receipt  of  customary  and  appropriate
     certifications  and  indemnities  shall be provided.  All  certificates  of
     Parent Class A Common Stock issued pursuant  hereto,  issued prior to their
     registration  pursuant to Section  1.5(e)  above,  shall bear the following
     legend:

          "The securities evidenced by this certificate have not been registered
          under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and have been taken for
          investment  purposes  only  and not  with a view  to the  distribution
          thereof,  and, except as stated in an agreement  between the holder of
          this  certificate,  or its  predecessor  in  interest,  and the issuer
          corporation,  such  securities may not be sold or  transferred  unless
          there is an effective  registration  statement under said Act covering
          such   securities  or  such  sale  or  transfer  is  exempt  from  the
          registration and prospectus delivery requirements of said Act."

          (b) No  fractional  shares of  Parent  Class A Common  Stock  shall be
     issued in  connection  with the Merger,  including  but not limited to, any
     shares issued as a result of an  adjustment as provided in Section  1.5(f),
     and no certificates for any such fractional shares shall be issued. In lieu
     of such fractional  shares, any fractional share interest in Parent Class A
     Common  Stock which a holder of Company  Common  Stock would  otherwise  be
     entitled to receive in the Merger (after  aggregating all fractional shares
     of Parent  Class A Common  Stock that would  otherwise  be issuable to such
     holder)  shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share if such fraction is
     0.5 or greater and shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share if such
     fraction is less than 0.5.

     1.8 DISSENTING SHARES.

          (a)  Notwithstanding  anything  to  the  contrary  contained  in  this
     Agreement,  any shares of Company  Common Stock that,  as of the  Effective
     Time, are or may become  entitled to exercise  statutory  appraisal  rights
     under Section 262 of the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law (the "Delaware
     Law") (such shares being referred to herein as  "dissenting  shares") shall
     not be  converted  into or  represent  the right to receive  Parent Class A
     Common Stock in  accordance  with Section 1.5, and the holder or holders of
     such shares shall be entitled only to such rights as may be granted to such
     holder or holders under applicable Delaware Law; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if
     the  status  of  any  such  shares  as  "dissenting  shares"  shall  not be
     perfected,  or if any such shares  shall lose their  status as  "dissenting
     shares,"  then,  as of the later of the  Effective  Time or the time of the
     failure to perfect  such  status or the loss of such  status,  such  shares
     shall automatically be converted into and shall represent only the right to
     receive (upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates representing
     such shares) Parent Class A Common Stock in accordance with Section 1.5.

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          (b) The  Company  shall give  Parent (i) prompt  notice of any written
     demand  received by the Company prior to the Effective  Time to require the
     Company to  purchase  shares of capital  stock of the  Company  pursuant to
     Delaware Law and of any other demand, notice or instrument delivered to the
     Company prior to the Effective  Time pursuant to the Delaware Law, and (ii)
     the opportunity to participate in all  negotiations  and  proceedings  with
     respect to any such demand,  notice or  instrument.  The Company  shall not
     make any  payment or  settlement  offer  prior to the  Effective  Time with
     respect to any such demand unless Parent shall have consented in writing to
     such payment or settlement offer.

     1.9 TAX  CONSEQUENCES.  For  federal  income  tax  purposes,  the Merger is
intended to constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),  and the parties to this
Agreement agree to report the Merger and all related  transactions  consistently
therewith.  The  parties  also agree to take such  actions as may be  reasonably
required to cause the Merger to be treated as a qualifying reorganization and to
take no action  which would  disqualify  the Merger from  reorganization  status
under Section 368 of the Code. The parties to this  Agreement  hereby adopt this
Agreement  as  a  "plan  of  reorganization"  within  the  meaning  of  Sections
1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) of the United States Treasury Regulations.

     1.10 TAKING OF NECESSARY ACTION; FURTHER ACTION. Parent and the Merger Sub,
on the one hand,  and the Company,  on the other hand,  shall use all reasonable
efforts to take all such action (including,  without limitation, action to cause
the  satisfaction of the conditions of the other to effect the Merger) as may be
necessary  or  appropriate  in order to  effectuate  the Merger as  promptly  as
possible.  If, at any time  after the  Effective  Time,  any  further  action is
necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this  Agreement  and to vest
the  Surviving  Corporation  and Parent with full  possession of all the rights,
privileges,  immunities  and  franchises of the  Constituent  Corporations,  the
officers  and  directors  of the  Surviving  Corporation  and  Parent  are fully
authorized in the name of the Constituent Corporations or otherwise to take, and
shall take, all such action.

     1.11 STOCK OPTIONS.

          (a) At the Effective Time, each option,  whether vested or unvested (a
     "Company  Option"),  that is then  outstanding  under any of the  Company's
     Stock Option Plans (collectively, the "Stock Plan") shall automatically and
     without  further  action by the  holder of a Company  Option  become  fully
     vested and shall be assumed by Parent in  accordance  with the terms (as in
     effect  on the  date  hereof)  of the  Stock  Plan  and  the  stock  option
     agreement,  if any, by which such Company  Option is evidenced.  All rights
     with respect to Company  Common  Stock under  outstanding  Company  Options
     shall thereupon be converted, subject to the provisions hereof, into rights
     with respect to Parent Class A Common  Stock.  From and after the Effective
     Time, (i) each Company Option assumed by Parent (collectively, the "Assumed
     Options")  may be  exercised  solely  for  shares of Parent  Class A Common
     Stock,  (ii) the number of shares of Parent Class A Common Stock subject to
     each such  Assumed  Option shall be equal to the number of shares of Parent
     Class A Common  Stock which the holder of such  Assumed  Option  would have
     received  pursuant to Section 1.5,  without giving effect to any adjustment
     to the Share Consideration  pursuant to Section 1.5(f), in exchange for the

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<PAGE>
     shares of  Company  Common  Stock  subject to such  Assumed  Option if such
     Assumed Option had been exercised  immediately prior to the Effective Time,
     (iii) the per share  exercise  price for the  Parent  Class A Common  Stock
     issuable upon  exercise of each such Assumed  Option shall be determined by
     dividing the exercise  price per share of Company  Common Stock  subject to
     such Assumed Option, as in effect  immediately prior to the Effective Time,
     by a  fraction  the  numerator  of which is the  number of shares of Parent
     Class A Common Stock subject to such Assumed Option  immediately  after the
     Effective  Time,  and the  denominator  of which is the number of shares of
     Company  Common Stock subject to such Assumed Option  immediately  prior to
     the Effective  Time,  and rounding the resulting  exercise  price up to the
     nearest whole cent, and (iv) all  restrictions on the exercise of each such
     Assumed  Option  shall  continue  in full  force and  effect  and the term,
     exercisability,  status as an incentive or nonqualified  option,  and other
     provisions  of such  Company  Option,  except the vesting  schedule,  shall
     otherwise  remain  unchanged;  provided,  however,  that each such  Assumed
     Option  shall,  in  accordance  with  its  terms,  be  subject  to  further
     adjustment as appropriate to reflect any stock split,  reverse stock split,
     stock dividend,  recapitalization or other similar transaction  effected by
     Parent after the Effective Time but without giving effect to any adjustment
     to the Share Consideration pursuant to Section 1.5(f).  Notwithstanding the
     foregoing,  the parties  acknowledge  that it may be necessary to amend the
     Parent's  stock option plan to increase the number of shares  available for
     grant  thereunder  in order to permit  the  issuance  of stock  options  as
     contemplated by this Section 1.11, and the provisions hereof are subject to
     shareholder  approval of any such  amendment.  The Company and Parent shall
     take all action that may be necessary  (under the Stock Plan and otherwise)
     to effectuate the provisions of this Section 1.11.

          (b) As soon as practicable  after the Effective Time,  Parent will use
     its best  efforts to  register  the shares of Parent  Class A Common  Stock
     underlying  the  Assumed  Options  after  the  Effective  Time on Form  S-8
     promulgated  by the SEC,  and Parent shall use its best efforts to maintain
     the effectiveness of such registration statement or registration statements
     for so long as such Assumed Options remain outstanding. With respect to any
     Company  employee or director who  subsequent to the Merger will be subject
     to the  reporting  requirements  under  Section  16(a)  of  the  Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),  with respect to the
     securities  of  Parent  beneficially  owned by such  person,  Parent  shall
     administer  the  Assumed  Options  in  a  manner  that  complies  with  the
     disinterested  administration requirements of Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the
     SEC under the Exchange Act.

     1.12 WARRANTS.  At the Effective  Time,  each warrant to purchase shares of
Company Common Stock that is then outstanding (the "Company  Warrants") shall be
assumed by Parent in accordance with the terms (as in effect on the date hereof)
of the agreement or instrument by which such Company  Warrant is evidenced.  All
rights with respect to Company Common Stock under  outstanding  Company Warrants
shall thereupon be converted, subject to the provisions hereof, into rights with
respect to Parent Class A Common Stock.  From and after the Effective  Time, (i)
each Company Warrant assumed by Parent  (collectively,  the "Assumed  Warrants")
may be  exercised  solely for shares of Parent  Class A Common  Stock,  (ii) the

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<PAGE>
number of shares of Parent  Class A Common  Stock  subject to each such  Assumed
Warrant  shall be equal to the number of shares of Parent  Class A Common  Stock
which the holder of such Assumed Warrant would have received pursuant to Section
1.5, without giving effect to any adjustment to the Share Consideration pursuant
to Section 1.5(f), in exchange for the shares of Company Common Stock subject to
such Assumed  Warrant if such  Assumed  Warrant had been  exercised  immediately
prior to the Effective  Time,  (iii) the per share exercise price for the Parent
Class A Common Stock  issuable upon exercise of each such Assumed  Warrant shall
be determined by dividing the exercise  price per share of Company  Common Stock
subject to such Assumed Warrant, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time,  by a fraction  the  numerator  of which is the number of shares of Parent
Class A Common  Stock  subject to such  Assumed  Warrant  immediately  after the
Effective  Time, and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Company
Common Stock subject to such Assumed Warrant  immediately prior to the Effective
Time,  and rounding the resulting  exercise  price up to the nearest whole cent,
and (iv) all  restrictions  on the exercise of each such Assumed  Warrant  shall
continue in full force and effect and the term, exercisability, limitations, and
other  provisions of such Company  Warrant  shall  otherwise  remain  unchanged;
provided,  however, that each such Assumed Warrant shall, in accordance with its
terms,  be subject to further  adjustment  as  appropriate  to reflect any stock
split,  reverse stock split, stock dividend,  recapitalization  or other similar
transaction  effected by Parent  after the  Effective  Time but  without  giving
effect to any adjustment to the Share Consideration  pursuant to Section 1.5(f).
The Company and Parent  shall take all action that may be  necessary  (under the
agreements and  instruments  evidencing  the Assumed  Warrants and otherwise) to
effectuate the provisions of this Section 1.12.

                                    ARTICLE 2

           REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND THE MERGER SUB

     Parent and the Merger Sub hereby represent and warrant to the Company that,
except as  otherwise  disclosed in Parent's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal  year  ended  June 30,  1999 (the  "Parent's  Latest  10-K") or  Parent's
Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal  quarter ended March 31, 2000 (the
"Parent's Latest 10-Q"), each of the following:

     2.1 ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION.  Each of Parent and the Merger Sub is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its  jurisdiction of incorporation  and has the requisite  corporate power to
carry on its business as now conducted.

     2.2 AUTHORITY RELATIVE TO THIS AGREEMENT. Each of Parent and the Merger Sub
has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and
to carry out its  obligations  hereunder.  The  execution  and  delivery of this
Agreement  by Parent and the Merger Sub and the  consummation  by Parent and the
Merger Sub of the transactions  contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by
Parent and by the Board of Directors and sole shareholder of the Merger Sub, and
no other  corporate  proceedings  on the part of  Parent or the  Merger  Sub are
necessary to authorize this Agreement and such transactions.  This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by Parent and the Merger Sub and  constitutes a
valid and binding obligation of each,  enforceable in accordance with its terms.
Neither  Parent  nor the  Merger  Sub is subject  to, or  obligated  under,  any
provision of (a) their respective  Certificates of Incorporation or Bylaws,  (b)
any  agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding,  (c) any license,  franchise or
permit or (d) subject to  compliance  with the statutes  referred to in the next

                                       13
<PAGE>
sentence,  any law,  regulation,  order,  judgment  or  decree,  which  would be
breached,  or  violated,  or in  respect  of  which a right  of  termination  or
acceleration or any encumbrance on any of its or any of its subsidiaries' assets
would be created,  by its execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the consummation by it of the transactions  contemplated  hereby, other than
any  such  breaches  or  violations  which  will  not,  individually  or in  the
aggregate,  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  business,  operations  or
financial condition of Parent and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Other than
authorizations,  consents and approvals of or filings or registrations  with the
Delaware  Law,  the SEC and other  applicable  federal  and  state  governmental
authorities,  no  authorization,  consent or approval  of, or filing  with,  any
public body, court or authority is necessary on the part of Parent or the Merger
Sub for the  consummation  by  Parent  and the  Merger  Sub of the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement,  except  for  such  authorizations,  consents,
approvals  and  filings  as to which the  failure  to obtain or make  would not,
individually  or in  the  aggregate,  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on the
business,  operations  or financial  condition  of Parent and its  subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.

     2.3 CAPITAL  STRUCTURE.  The authorized capital stock of Parent consists of
(i) 40,000,000  shares of common stock,  $.01 par value per share,  of which (A)
34,500,000  shares  have been  designated  as Class A Common  Stock,  18,215,442
shares  of  which  were  issued  and  outstanding  as  of  July  31,  2000  (the
"Capitalization  Date"),  (B) 2,000,000 shares have been designated as Class E-1
Common Stock,  1,508,267  shares of which were issued and  outstanding as of the
Capitalization  Date,  (C)  2,000,000  shares have been  designated as Class E-2
Common Stock,  1,508,267  shares of which were issued and  outstanding as of the
Capitalization  Date, and (D) 1,500,000 shares have been designated as Class E-3
Common Stock,  1,005,503  shares of which were issued and  outstanding as of the
Capitalization Date and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value
per share,  of which (A) 250 shares have been  designated  as Series A Preferred
Stock, of which no shares were  outstanding as of the  Capitalization  Date, (B)
300 shares have been designated as Series B Preferred  Stock, of which no shares
were  outstanding  as of the  Capitalization  Date,  (C) 500  shares  have  been
designated as Series C Preferred  Stock, of which no shares were  outstanding as
of the Capitalization  Date, (D) 100,000 shares have been designated as Series D
Preferred  Stock, of which no shares were  outstanding as of the  Capitalization
Date, and (E) 500 shares have been  designated as Series F Preferred  Stock,  of
which 127 shares were issued and outstanding as of the Capitalization  Date. All
outstanding shares of capital stock of Parent are validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights contained in Parent's charter
documents  or in any  contract  or  agreement  to which  Parent is a party.  All
outstanding  shares of the capital  stock of each of Parent's  subsidiaries  are
validly issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable and are owned by Parent or one of
its  subsidiaries  free and clear of any  liens,  security  interests,  pledges,
agreements, claims, charges or encumbrances.

     2.4 SEC FILINGS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

          (a) Parent has delivered to the Company  accurate and complete  copies
     (excluding copies of exhibits) of each report, registration statement (on a
     form other than Form S-8) and definitive  proxy  statement  filed by Parent
     with the SEC  between  July 1,  1999 and the  date of this  Agreement  (the
     "Parent SEC  Documents").  As of the time it was filed with the SEC (or, if
     amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, then
     on the date of such filing):  (i) each of the Parent SEC Documents complied
     in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities

                                       14
<PAGE>
     Act or the  Exchange  Act  (as the  case  may  be);  and  (ii) as of  their
     respective dates, or as of the date of any amendment  thereto,  none of the
     Parent SEC Documents  contained any untrue  statement of a material fact or
     omitted 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.

          (b) The audited  financial  statements and unaudited interim financial
     statements of Parent included (or  incorporated by reference) in the Parent
     SEC  Documents  have been prepared in accordance  with  generally  accepted
     accounting  principles  applied on a  consistent  basis  during the periods
     involved  (except as may be indicated in the notes  thereto),  are accurate
     and complete in all material  respects and fairly present the  consolidated
     financial  position of Parent as of the dates thereof and the  consolidated
     results of Parent's  operations  and the  changes in Parent's  consolidated
     financial position for the periods then ended, in the case of the unaudited
     interim  financial  statements  subject to year-end audit adjustments which
     will not, individually or in the aggregate, be material in magnitude.  Such
     unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments necessary to
     present a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented.

     2.5 VALID ISSUANCE.  Subject to Section  1.5(d),  the Parent Class A Common
Stock to be issued in the Merger  will be, when  issued in  accordance  with the
provisions of this Agreement, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     2.6 ACCURACY OF INFORMATION. No representation or warranty by Parent or the
Merger Sub in this Agreement, and no exhibit, document,  statement,  certificate
or schedule  furnished or to be furnished to the Company pursuant hereto,  or in
connection with the transactions  contemplated hereby,  contains or will contain
any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact,  or omits or will  omit to state a
material  fact  necessary to make the  statements or facts  contained  herein or
therein  not  misleading  or  necessary  to provide the  Company  with  adequate
information as to Parent and the Merger Sub and their affairs.  There is no fact
which has not been disclosed to the Company that materially affects adversely or
could  reasonably  be  anticipated  to materially  affect  adversely the assets,
financial  condition  or  operating  results,  customer,  employee  or  supplier
relations,  business condition or prospects, or financing arrangements of Parent
or the Merger Sub.

     2.7 TITLE TO PROPERTIES.

          (a) Parent or one of Parent's  subsidiaries  owns good and  marketable
     title to each of the tangible  properties and tangible assets  reflected on
     the balance sheet  included in Parent's  Latest 10-Q or acquired  since the
     date thereof, free and clear of all material liens and encumbrances, except
     for (A)  liens for  current  taxes  not yet due and  payable,  (B) liens or
     mortgages  described in Parent's Latest 10-Q, (C) the properties subject to
     the  leases   described  in  Parent's   Latest  10-Q,  (D)  liens  securing
     indebtedness  described in Parent's  Latest 10-Q and (E) assets disposed of
     since the date of the balance sheet included in Parent's Latest 10-Q in the
     ordinary course of business.

                                       15
<PAGE>
          (b) All of the  buildings,  machinery,  equipment  and other  tangible
     assets  necessary  for  the  conduct  of  Parent's  and  its  subsidiaries'
     businesses are in good condition and repair (except where the failure to be
     in such  condition and repair,  either  individually  or in the  aggregate,
     would not have a material  adverse  effect on Parent or any  subsidiary  of
     Parent  and  except  for  ordinary  wear and  tear),  and are usable in the
     ordinary  course of  business.  Parent and its  subsidiaries  own, or lease
     under valid leases which afford peaceful and undisturbed  possession of the
     subject matter of the lease, all buildings,  machinery, equipment and other
     tangible assets necessary for the conduct of their businesses.

     2.8 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.  Parent's and its subsidiaries' notes and accounts
receivable  recorded on the balance sheet  included in Parent's  Latest 10-Q and
those  arising  since the date  thereof  are  valid  receivables  (subject  to a
reasonable allowance for doubtful accounts as set forth in Parent's Latest 10-Q)
arising  from bona fide  transactions  entered  into in the  ordinary  course of
business and are current and collectible in full in accordance with their terms,
subject to no valid counterclaims or setoffs.

     2.9 EMPLOYMENT  MATTERS.  To the knowledge of Parent,  (i) no key executive
employee of Parent or any subsidiary of Parent,  and no group of Parent's or any
subsidiary's employees,  has any plans to terminate his or its employment,  (ii)
Parent  and the  subsidiaries  have  complied  with  all  laws  relating  to the
employment of labor,  including  provisions  thereof  relating to wages,  hours,
equal opportunity,  collective bargaining and the payment of social security and
other  taxes,  and (iii)  Parent and its  subsidiaries  have no  material  labor
relations problems pending and their labor relations are satisfactory.

     2.10  AFFILIATE  TRANSACTIONS.  Except  as set  forth  or  incorporated  by
reference  in  Parent's  Latest  10-K or  Parent's  Latest  10-Q,  no officer or
director of Parent or any  subsidiary  of Parent or any member of the  immediate
family  of any such  officer  or  director,  or any  entity in which any of such
persons owns any beneficial  interest  (other than a  publicly-held  corporation
whose   stock  is  traded  on  a  national   securities   exchange   or  in  the
over-the-counter market and less than five percent (5%) of the stock of which is
beneficially owned by any of such persons)  (collectively  "Insiders"),  (a) has
any  material  agreement  with Parent or any  subsidiary  of Parent  (other than
normal employment  arrangements) or any material interest in any property, real,
personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, used in or pertaining to the business
of Parent or any  subsidiary  of Parent,  or (b) has been  indebted to Parent in
amounts  in excess of  $60,000  in the  aggregate  at any time  (other  than for
purchases subject to usual trade terms, for ordinary travel and expense payments
and for other transactions in the ordinary course of business).  For purposes of
the preceding  sentence,  the members of the  immediate  family of an officer or
director shall consist of the spouse, parents, children,  siblings, mothers- and
fathers-in-law, sons- and daughters-in-law,  and brothers- and sisters-in-law of
such officer or director.

     2.11 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS;  PERMITS;  CERTAIN  OPERATIONS.  Parent, each of
Parent's  subsidiaries  and their  respective  officers,  directors,  agents and
employees  have  complied  in  all  material  respects,  and  currently  are  in
compliance in all material respects, with all applicable laws and regulations of
foreign,  federal,  state and local  governments and all agencies  thereof which
affect  the  businesses  or any owned or  leased  properties  of Parent  and its
subsidiaries and to which Parent or any of its subsidiaries may be subject,  and

                                       16
<PAGE>
no claims have been filed against Parent or any of its  subsidiaries  alleging a
material  violation of any such law or regulation.  Parent and its  subsidiaries
hold all material permits,  licenses,  certificates and other  authorizations of
foreign, federal, state and local governmental agencies required for the conduct
of their businesses.  Parent has not received any notice or other  communication
from any governmental  authority  regarding any actual or possible violation of,
or failure to comply with, any legal requirement, except where failure to comply
with such legal  requirement has not had and could not reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect on Parent.

     2.12  NON-CONTRAVENTION;  CONSENTS.  Neither  the  execution,  delivery  or
performance of this Agreement or any of the other agreements referred to in this
Agreement,  nor the consummation of the Merger or any of the other  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement,  will directly or indirectly  (with or without
notice or lapse of time):

          (a)  contravene,  conflict with or result in a violation of (i) any of
     the provisions of Parent's or Merger Sub's  certificate of incorporation or
     bylaws,  or (ii)  any  resolution  adopted  by  Parent's  or  Merger  Sub's
     stockholders or board of directors or committee of such board of directors;

          (b) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of the terms or
     requirements  of, or give any  governmental  authority the right to revoke,
     withdraw,  suspend,  cancel, terminate or modify, any material governmental
     authorization  that is held  by  Parent  or  Merger  Sub or that  otherwise
     relates  to  Parent's  business  or to any of the  assets  owned or used by
     Parent;

          (c)  contravene,  conflict with or result in a violation or breach of,
     or result in a default  under,  any  provision of any material  contract of
     Parent or Merger Sub, or give any Person the right to (i) declare a default
     or exercise any remedy under any such material  contract,  (ii)  accelerate
     the maturity or performance of any such material contract, or (iii) cancel,
     terminate or modify any such material contract; or

          (d)  result  in the  imposition  or  creation  of any  lien  or  other
     encumbrance  upon or with  respect to any asset  owned or used by Parent or
     Merger Sub (except for minor liens and  encumbrances  that will not, in any
     case or in the aggregate,  materially  detract from the value of the assets
     subject  thereto or  materially  impair the  operations of Parent or Merger
     Sub).

     2.13 BROKERAGE.  There are no claims for investment banking fees, brokerage
commissions,  finders'  fees or  similar  compensation  in  connection  with the
transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement  based  on  any  arrangement  or
agreement made by or on behalf of Parent,  Merger Sub or any other subsidiary of
Parent for which the Shareholders will be responsible.

     2.14 NO MATERIAL  ADVERSE  CHANGES.  Since June 30, 1999, there has been no
material  adverse  change,  and no event has  occurred  that will or that  would
reasonably  be  expected  to  result  in  a  material  adverse  change,  in  the
consolidated assets, financial condition, operating results, customer, employee,
supplier or franchise relations,  business condition or prospects,  or financing
arrangements of Parent.

                                       17
<PAGE>
     2.15 LEGAL  PROCEEDINGS.  Except as  disclosed  in Parent's  Latest 10-K or
Parent's Latest 10-Q, there are no actions, suits, claims,  proceedings,  orders
or other investigations  pending or threatened against Parent that challenges or
may have the  effect  or  preventing,  delaying,  making  illegal  or  otherwise
interfering  with the  Merger or any  other  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement or that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
on the  business,  properties,  assets,  condition  (financial  or otherwise) or
business prospects of Parent.

                                    ARTICLE 3

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     The Company  hereby  represents  and  warrants to Parent and the Merger Sub
upon delivery of the Company's disclosure schedules by the Company to the Parent
and the  Merger Sub within ten (10)  calendar  days  following  the date of this
Agreement (the "Company Disclosure Schedules") that, as of the date such Company
Disclosure Schedules are delivered,  and again at the Effective Time (subject to
any changes permitted or contemplated hereby),  except as otherwise disclosed in
the Company  Disclosure  Schedules,  with all schedules updated as necessary and
redelivered on the Closing Date, each of the following:

     3.1  ORGANIZATION  AND  QUALIFICATION.  The Company is a  corporation  duly
organized,  validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of
Delaware,  and has  the  requisite  corporate  and  other  power  and  authority
(including  all  licenses,  permits and  authorizations)  to own and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and presently  proposed
to be conducted and to perform its obligations under all contracts, instruments,
notes or other  binding  commitments  to which it is or may become a party or by
which it or its  assets is or may  become  bound.  The  copies of the  Company's
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws which have been furnished by the Company to
Parent prior to the date of this Agreement  reflect all amendments  made thereto
through the date hereof and are correct and  complete.  The Company is qualified
to do  business  and is in good  standing  as a  foreign  corporation  in  every
jurisdiction  in which the nature of its  business or its  ownership of property
requires it to be qualified. The Company has not conducted any business under or
otherwise  used, for any purpose or in any  jurisdiction,  any fictitious  name,
assumed name, trade name or other name.

     3.2  AUTHORITY  RELATIVE TO THIS  AGREEMENT.  The Company has the requisite
corporate and other power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement
and to  carry  out its  obligations  hereunder  (it  being  understood  that the
Company's  obligations hereunder to effect the Merger is subject to the approval
of its shareholders as set forth in Section 3.26). 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, except for the approval of its shareholders as set
forth in Section 3.26, no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company
are necessary to authorize this Agreement and such transactions.  This Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and  constitutes a valid and
binding  obligation of the Company,  enforceable  in accordance  with its terms.
Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 3.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither

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<PAGE>
the  Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  (as  defined in  Section  3.5(b)) is
subject  to,  or  obligated   under,  any  provision  of  (a)  its  Articles  of
Incorporation or Bylaws,  (b) any agreement,  arrangement or understanding,  (c)
any license,  franchise or permit or (d) subject to  compliance  with any of the
statutes referred to in the next sentence, any law, regulation,  order, judgment
or decree,  which would be breached or violated,  or in respect of which a right
of termination or acceleration or any encumbrance on any of its assets or any of
its Subsidiaries' would be created,  by its execution,  delivery and performance
of this Agreement and the  consummation by it of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby,  and the Company has not taken any action  that is  inconsistent  in any
material respect with any resolution adopted by the Company's shareholders,  its
board of directors  or any  committee  of its board of  directors.  The books of
account,  stock  records,  minute  books and other  records of the  Company  are
accurate,  up-to-date  and  complete  in all  material  respects  and have  been
maintained  in  accordance  with  prudent  business  practices.  Other  than  in
connection  with or in  compliance  with  provisions of the Delaware Law and the
SEC, no authorization,  consent or approval of, or filing with, any public body,
court or authority is necessary on the part of the Company for the  consummation
by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     3.3 CAPITALIZATION.

          (a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 18,000,000
     shares of Company  Common Stock,  7,470,032  shares of which are issued and
     outstanding  as of the date hereof,  and  9,000,000  shares of  convertible
     preferred stock, 7,158,845 shares of which are issued and outstanding as of
     the date hereof.  All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock
     of the  Company  are  validly  issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable.  The
     Company's and each Subsidiary's  capital structure as of the date hereof is
     disclosed to Parent on Schedule 3.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

          (b) The Company has reserved  4,545,256 shares of Company Common Stock
     for issuance under the Stock Plan, of which vested and unvested  options to
     purchase 1,491,832 shares are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement.
     SCHEDULE  3.3(B) of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedules,  under the caption
     "Company  Options,"  accurately  sets forth,  with  respect to each Company
     Option that is outstanding as of the date of this  Agreement:  (i) the name
     of the holder of such  Company  Option;  (ii) the total number of shares of
     Company Common Stock that are subject to such Company Option and the number
     of shares of Company Common Stock with respect to which such Company Option
     is immediately exercisable; (iii) the date on which such Company Option was
     granted and the term of such Company Option;  (iv) the vesting schedule for
     such Company  Option;  (v) the exercise  price per share of Company  Common
     Stock purchasable under such Company Option;  and (vi) whether such Company
     Option  has been  designated  an  "incentive  stock  option"  as defined in
     Section  422  of the  Code.  SCHEDULE  3.3(B)  of  the  Company  Disclosure
     Schedules,  under the caption  "Company  Warrants,"  accurately sets forth,
     with respect to each Company  Warrant that is outstanding as of the date of
     this Agreement:  (i) the name of the holder of such Company  Warrant;  (ii)
     the total number of shares of Company Common Stock that are subject to such
     Company  Warrant;  (iii) the date on which such Company Warrant was granted

                                       19
<PAGE>
     and the expiration  date of such Company  Warrant;  (iv) the exercise price
     per share of Company Common Sock subject to such Company Warrant; and (v) a
     description  of any  registration  or other rights granted to the holder of
     such Company Warrant.

          (c) Except as  specifically  referred  to in  Sections  3.3(a) and (b)
     above,  or as  described  in  SCHEDULE  3.3(C)  of the  Company  Disclosure
     Schedules there is no: (i) outstanding subscription,  option, call, warrant
     or right  (whether or not currently  exercisable)  to acquire any shares of
     the capital  stock or other  securities  of the Company;  (ii)  outstanding
     security,  instrument or obligation that is or may become  convertible into
     or exchangeable  for any shares of the capital stock or other securities of
     the Company;  (iii) contract or agreement under which the Company is or may
     become obligated to sell or otherwise issue any shares or its capital stock
     or any other  securities;  or (iv) condition or circumstance  that may give
     rise to or  provide a basis for the  assertion  of a claim by any person or
     entity to the effect  that such  person or entity is entitled to acquire or
     receive any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company.

          (d) All  outstanding  shares of capital  stock of the  Company and all
     outstanding  Company  Options  and  Company  Warrants  have been issued and
     granted in compliance  with (i) all  applicable  securities  laws and other
     applicable laws and  regulations,  and (ii) all  requirements  set forth in
     applicable contracts and agreements.

          (e) Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE  3.3(E) of the Company  Disclosure
     Schedules,  the  Company  has  never  repurchased,  redeemed  or  otherwise
     reacquired shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company.  All
     securities  so  reacquired,  if any,  by the  Company  were  reacquired  in
     compliance with (i) the applicable provisions of Delaware Law and all other
     applicable laws and  regulations,  and (ii) all  requirements  set forth in
     applicable  restricted  stock  purchase  agreements  and  other  applicable
     contracts and agreements.

          (f) Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE  3.3(F) of the Company  Disclosure
     Schedules,  the Company is not under any  obligation to register  under the
     Securities  Act  any  of  its  presently  outstanding   securities  or  any
     securities that may be subsequently  issued,  and no person or entity holds
     any right to participate in new issuances of securities by the Company.

          (g) Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE  3.3(G) of the Company  Disclosure
     Schedules,  the Company is not a party to or obligated under any agreement,
     arrangement or  understanding,  contingent or otherwise,  (i) involving the
     repurchase  or  redemption  of any amount of  Company  Common  Stock,  (ii)
     requiring  the Company to issue any amount of Company  Common  Stock to any
     person at any time,  or (iii)  contemplating  the  issuance  at any time of
     shares of Company  Common Stock or other  consideration  to any person as a
     guarantee  by the  Company of a minimum  market  price for  Company  Common
     Stock.

                                       20
<PAGE>
     3.4 FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS.  The audited financial statements of the Company
and its  Subsidiaries  for fiscal years ended  December 31, 1999,  1998 and 1997
(the "Company's Financial  Statements"),  and the unaudited financial statements
of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  for the interim period ended June 30, 2000
(the "Company's  Interim Financial  Statements"),  have been delivered to Parent
and the Merger Sub,  have been prepared in accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved
(except as may be indicated in the notes thereto), and are accurate and complete
in all material  respects and present  fairly and  accurately  the  consolidated
financial  position of the Company and its  Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof
and the  consolidated  results  of their  operations  and the  changes  in their
consolidated  financial  position for the periods then ended, in the case of the
unaudited  interim  financial  statements  subject to year-end audit adjustments
which will not, individually or in the aggregate, be material in magnitude. Such
unaudited  interim  financial  statements  reflect all adjustments  necessary to
present a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented.

     3.5 NO SUBSIDIARIES.

          (a)  Except as set forth on  SCHEDULE  3.5 of the  Company  Disclosure
     Schedules,  the Company does not own, beneficially or otherwise,  any stock
     or other equity interest,  partnership interest, joint venture interest, or
     any other security issued by any other corporation, organization or entity,
     and the  Company  has not  agreed and is not  obligated  to make any future
     investment in or capital contribution to any such corporation, organization
     or entity.  The Company owns all of the  outstanding  capital stock of each
     Subsidiary,  free and clear of all liens,  charges  and  encumbrances,  and
     there are no subscription rights, warrants,  options,  conversion rights or
     agreements  of any kind  outstanding  to purchase or otherwise  acquire any
     shares of capital stock of any  Subsidiary or any securities or obligations
     of any kind convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares of capital
     stock.  Each Subsidiary is a corporation  duly organized,  validly existing
     and in good standing under the laws of its  jurisdiction of  incorporation,
     and has the requisite  corporate  and other power and authority  (including
     all authorizations,  licenses and permits) necessary to own and operate its
     properties  and to carry on its  business as now  conducted  and  presently
     proposed to be conducted. The copies of the charter documents and bylaws of
     each Subsidiary which have been furnished by the Company to Parent prior to
     the date of this Agreement  reflect all amendments made thereto through the
     date hereof and are correct and complete.  Each  Subsidiary is qualified to
     do  business  as a  foreign  corporation  and is in  good  standing  in all
     jurisdictions  in which the  nature of its  business  or its  ownership  of
     property requires it to be qualified.

          (b) For purposes of this Agreement,  the term  "Subsidiary"  means any
     corporation of which  securities  having a majority of the ordinary  voting
     power in electing directors are, at the time of determination, owned by the
     Company directly or through another Subsidiary.

     3.6  ABSENCE  OF  UNDISCLOSED  LIABILITIES.  Neither  the  Company  nor any
Subsidiary of the Company has any obligations or liabilities  (whether  accrued,
absolute,  contingent,  unliquidated or otherwise,  whether due or to become due
and regardless of when asserted) arising out of transactions  heretofore entered

                                       21
<PAGE>
into, or any action or inaction, or any state of facts existing, including taxes
with  respect  to or based upon  transactions  or events  heretofore  occurring,
except (a) obligations under contracts or commitments  described in SCHEDULE 3.6
of the Company  Disclosure  Schedules,  or under contracts and commitments which
are not required to be disclosed  thereunder  (but not  liabilities for breaches
thereof),  (b)  liabilities  reflected  on the  balance  sheet  included  in the
Company's Interim Financial Statements,  (c) liabilities which have arisen after
the date of the  balance  sheet  included  in the  Company's  Interim  Financial
Statements  in the  ordinary  course of  business  (none of which is a  material
uninsured  liability  for  breach  of  contract,   breach  of  warranty,   tort,
infringement,  claim or lawsuit), and (d) liabilities otherwise disclosed in the
Company Disclosure Schedules.

     3.7 NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGES. Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 3.7 of the
Company Disclosure Schedules,  there has been no material adverse change, and no
event has occurred that will or that would reasonably be expected to result in a
material  adverse  change,  in the  consolidated  assets,  financial  condition,
operating results, customer, employee, supplier or franchise relations, business
condition  or  prospects,  or  financing  arrangements  of the  Company  and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     3.8 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN DEVELOPMENTS. Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.8 of
the Company Disclosure  Schedules,  since December 31, 1999, the Company has not
and since the date of acquisition by the Company, each Subsidiary has not:

          (a) redeemed or purchased,  directly or indirectly,  any shares of its
     capital  stock,  or declared,  accrued,  set aside or paid any dividends or
     distributions with respect to any shares of its capital stock;

          (b) other than upon the exercise of  outstanding  warrants or options,
     issued or sold any of its equity securities, securities convertible into or
     exchangeable for its equity securities,  warrants,  options or other rights
     to acquire its equity securities, or its bonds or other securities;

          (c) borrowed any amount or incurred,  guaranteed or become  subject to
     any material liability, except current liabilities incurred in the ordinary
     course of business;

          (d)  discharged or satisfied any material lien or  encumbrance or paid
     any material liability, other than current liabilities paid in the ordinary
     course of business;

          (e)  mortgaged,  pledged or subjected  to, or  otherwise  permitted to
     become subject to, any lien, charge or other encumbrance, any of the assets
     of the Company with a fair market value in excess of $10,000,  except liens
     for current property taxes not yet due and payable;

          (f)  sold,  assigned  or  transferred  (including  without  limitation
     transfers to any  employees,  shareholders  or affiliates of the Company or
     any Subsidiary) any tangible assets,  except for fair value in the ordinary
     course of business, or canceled any debts or claims;

                                       22
<PAGE>
          (g)  sold,  assigned  or  transferred  (including  without  limitation
     transfers to any  employees,  shareholders  or affiliates of the Company or
     any Subsidiary) any patents,  trademarks,  trade names,  copyrights,  trade
     secrets or other intangible  assets,  except for fair value in the ordinary
     course of business, or disclosed any proprietary  confidential  information
     to any person other than Parent or the Merger Sub;

          (h) suffered any  extraordinary  loss or waived any rights of material
     value, whether or not in the ordinary course of business or consistent with
     past practice;

          (i) taken any other action or entered into any other transaction other
     than in the ordinary  course of business and in accordance with past custom
     and practice,  or entered into any transaction with any Insider (as defined
     in Section 3.20);

          (j) suffered any material theft, damage, destruction or loss of or to,
     or any  material  interruption  in the use of, any  property or  properties
     owned or used by it, whether or not covered by insurance;

          (k) made or  granted  any  bonus or any wage,  salary or  compensation
     increase,  or made or granted any increase in any employee  benefit plan or
     arrangement, or amended or terminated any existing employee benefit plan or
     arrangement or adopted any new employee  benefit plan or arrangement,  with
     respect to any director, officer or consultant of the Company or, except in
     the  ordinary  course of the  Company's  business and  consistent  with the
     Company's historical compensation practices, any other employee or group of
     employees;

          (l)  amended or waived  any of its  rights  under,  or  permitted  the
     acceleration of vesting under,  (i) any provision of its Stock Plan or (ii)
     any provision of any agreement evidencing any outstanding Company Option or
     Company Warrant;

          (m) made any capital  expenditures or commitments therefor (other than
     any  such  expenditures  or  commitments  made in the  ordinary  course  of
     business for leasehold  improvements at, or the furnishing or equipping of,
     the  facilities  operated by the Company as of the date of this  Agreement)
     that aggregate in excess of $10,000;

          (n) made any loans or advances to, or  guarantees  for the benefit of,
     any persons that aggregate in excess of $10,000;

          (o)  effected  or  been  a  party  to  any  acquisition   transaction,
     recapitalization,  reclassification of shares,  stock split,  reverse stock
     split or similar transaction;

          (p) formed any  subsidiary  or acquired  any equity  interest or other
     interest in any other entity;

                                       23
<PAGE>
          (q) written off as  uncollectible,  or  established  any reserve  with
     respect to, any account  receivable  or other  indebtedness  in excess of a
     total of $10,000;

          (r) changed any of its methods of accounting  or accounting  practices
     in any material respect;

          (s) made any tax election;

          (t) commenced or settled any legal proceeding;

          (u) waived or agreed to waive any applicable statute of limitations or
     any similar  statutory or judicial  doctrine  benefiting the Company or any
     Subsidiary;

          (v) entered into any material  transaction or taken any other material
     action  outside the ordinary  course of business or  inconsistent  with its
     past practices; or

          (w) made  charitable  contributions  or pledges which in the aggregate
     exceed $10,000.

     3.9 TITLE TO PROPERTIES.

          (a) The Company or one of its  Subsidiaries  owns good and  marketable
     title to each the tangible  properties and tangible assets reflected on the
     balance sheet  included in the Company's  Interim  Financial  Statements or
     acquired  since  the  date  thereof,  free  and  clear  of  all  liens  and
     encumbrances,  except  for (A)  liens  for  current  taxes  not yet due and
     payable,  (B) liens disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.9(A) of the Company  Disclosure
     Schedules,  (C) the properties  subject to the leases disclosed in SCHEDULE
     3.9(C) of the Company Disclosure Schedules and (D) assets disposed of since
     the date of the balance sheet included in the Company's  Interim  Financial
     Statements  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business  consistent  with  past
     practices.

          (b) (i) the real estate  described  in SCHEDULE  3.9(B) of the Company
     Disclosure Schedules and the demised leases described in SCHEDULE 3.9(C) of
     the Company Disclosure Schedules constitutes all of the real estate used or
     occupied by the Company  (the "Real  Estate")  and (ii) the Real Estate has
     access,  sufficient  for the conduct of the Company's and the  Subsidiaries
     businesses  as now conducted or as presently  proposed to be conducted,  to
     public  roads and to all  utilities,  including  electricity,  sanitary and
     storm sewer,  potable water,  natural gas and other utilities,  used in the
     operations of the Company ad the Subsidiaries.

          (c) The leases described in SCHEDULE 3.9(C) of the Company  Disclosure
     Schedules  are in full  force and  effect,  and the  Company  or one of the
     Subsidiaries,  as the  case  may be,  has a valid  and  existing  leasehold
     interest under each such lease for the term set forth therein.  The Company
     has delivered to Parent  complete and accurate copies of each of the leases

                                       24
<PAGE>
     described  under such caption and none of such leases has been  modified in
     any respect,  except to the extent that such modifications are disclosed by
     the copies  delivered to Parent.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is
     in default,  and no circumstances exist which could result in such default,
     under any of such leases;  nor, to the best knowledge of the Company or any
     Subsidiary, is any other party to any of such leases in default.

          (d) All of the  buildings,  machinery,  equipment  and other  tangible
     assets  necessary  for the conduct of the  Company's  or the  Subsidiaries'
     businesses are in good condition and repair (except where the failure to be
     in such  condition and repair,  either  individually  or in the  aggregate,
     would not have a material  adverse  effect on the Company or any Subsidiary
     and except for  ordinary  wear and  tear),  and are usable in the  ordinary
     course of business.  The Company and the  Subsidiaries  own, or lease under
     valid leases  which  afford  peaceful  and  undisturbed  possession  of the
     subject matter of the lease, all buildings,  machinery, equipment and other
     tangible assets necessary for the conduct of their businesses.

          (e) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of
     any  applicable  zoning  ordinance or other law,  regulation or requirement
     relating to the  operation of any  properties  used in the operation of its
     business,  including without limitation applicable environmental protection
     and occupational  health and safety laws and  regulations,  and neither the
     Company nor any Subsidiary  has received any notice of any such  violation,
     or of the  existence  of any  condemnation  proceeding  with respect to any
     properties owned or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary.

     3.10 ACCOUNTS  RECEIVABLE.  The Company's and the  Subsidiaries'  notes and
accounts  receivable  recorded on the balance  sheet  included in the  Company's
Interim Financial  Statements and those arising since the date thereof are valid
receivables  (subject to a reasonable  allowance  for  doubtful  accounts as set
forth in the  Company's  Interim  Financial  Statements)  arising from bona fide
transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business and are current and
collectible  in full  in  accordance  with  their  terms,  subject  to no  valid
counterclaims or setoffs.

     3.11  INVENTORIES.  Except as  disclosed  in  SCHEDULE  3.11 of the Company
Disclosure  Schedules,  the  inventories  of the  Company  and the  Subsidiaries
recorded  on the  balance  sheet  included in the  Company's  Interim  Financial
Statements,  and the  inventory  created or  purchased  since the date  thereof,
consists of a quantity and quality usable and salable in the ordinary  course of
business,  is not  slow-moving as determined in accordance  with past practices,
obsolete or damaged,  is merchantable and fit for its particular use, and is not
defective.

     3.12 TAX  MATTERS.  Except as  disclosed  on  SCHEDULE  3.12 of the Company
Disclosure Schedules:

          (a) The  Company and its  Subsidiaries  have (i) filed all Tax Returns
     required to be filed by any  jurisdiction  to which any of them is subject,
     (ii) paid in full on a timely  basis all Taxes due and claimed to be due by
     each such  jurisdiction,  (iii) duly  collected or withheld and timely paid
     all Taxes  required to be  collected  from others or deducted  and withheld

                                       25
<PAGE>
     from any amounts paid to employees or others,  and (iv) properly  completed
     and filed all sales tax exemption  certificates for sales where Tax was not
     charged.  Such Tax Returns accurately and completely set forth all relevant
     items and accurately  reflect the Tax Liabilities for such periods.  No Tax
     deficiency  or  penalty  has  been  asserted  or  threatened  by  any  such
     jurisdiction  against  the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries.  "Tax" or
     "Taxes" means any federal, state, local, or foreign income, gross receipts,
     license,  payroll,   employment,   excise,  severance,  stamp,  occupation,
     premium,  windfall  profits,  environmental  (including  taxes  under  Code
     Section  59A),   customs  duties,   capital  stock,   franchise,   profits,
     withholding, social security (or similar),  unemployment,  disability, real
     property,  personal  property,  sales, use, transfer,  registration,  value
     added,  alternative or add-on minimum,  estimated, or other tax of any kind
     whatsoever,  including any interest,  penalty, or addition thereto, whether
     disputed  or  not.  "Tax  Return"  or  "Tax  Returns"   means  any  return,
     declaration,  report,  claim for refund, or information return or statement
     relating to Taxes,  including  any  schedule  or  attachment  thereto,  and
     including any amendment thereof.

          (b) There is no audit of any Tax  Return of the  Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries in progress.  There is no threatened action, suit, proceeding,
     investigation,  audit,  or claim for or  relating  to  Taxes,  there are no
     matters under discussion with any governmental  authorities with respect to
     Taxes  that  could  result  in  an  additional  amount  of  Taxes,  and  no
     governmental  authority  has  indicated  that it  intends  to audit any Tax
     Return of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

          (c) Neither the  Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  have (i) waived
     any statute of limitations with respect to Tax obligations or agreed to any
     extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency,  (ii) has
     been a party to any Tax allocation or sharing  agreement,  (iii) has been a
     member of an affiliated group (other than the affiliated group of which the
     Company is the common  parent)  filing a  consolidated  federal  income tax
     return, nor taken any other action that could result in Liability for Taxes
     of an  affiliated  group  (other  than the  affiliated  group of which  the
     Company is the common parent) under Treas.  Reg.  Section  1.1502-6 (or any
     similar  provision  of  state,  local,  or  foreign  law),  including  as a
     transferee or successor,  by contract,  or otherwise,  or (iv) is currently
     the  beneficiary  of any  extensions  of time within  which to file any Tax
     Return.  "Liability" means any liability (whether known or unknown, whether
     asserted or unasserted,  whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued or
     unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to become
     due),  including any liability for Taxes. No claim has ever been made by an
     authority in a  jurisdiction  where the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries
     does not file Tax Returns  that it is or may be subject to taxation by that
     jurisdiction, nor is there any material factual or legal basis for any such
     claim.

          (d) SCHEDULE  3.12(D) of the Company  Disclosure  Schedules  lists all
     federal, state, local, and foreign income Tax Returns filed with respect to
     the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  for all taxable  periods for which
     the statute of limitations  is still open,  and indicates  those income Tax
     Returns that have been audited and those that are  currently the subject of

                                       26
<PAGE>
     an audit.  The Company has delivered to the Purchaser  correct and complete
     copies of all state,  federal,  and foreign income tax returns with respect
     to all taxable  periods for which the statute of limitations is still open,
     and copies of all examination  reports and statements of deficiencies  that
     have  been  assessed  against  or agreed  to by the  Company  or any of its
     Subsidiaries  and that may have a material  effect on the tax  liability of
     the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  for any present or future  taxable
     period or for any past taxable  period for which the statute of limitations
     is still open.

          (e) All material Tax  elections  that have been made by the Company or
     its Subsidiaries  are shown on SCHEDULE  3.12(E) of the Company  Disclosure
     Schedules.  Neither  the Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has any net
     operating  losses or other tax  attributes  that are subject to  limitation
     under Code Sections 382,  383, or 384, or the federal  consolidated  return
     regulations.

          (f) Neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries has been a United
     States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Code Section
     897(c)(2)   during  the  applicable   period   specified  in  Code  Section
     897(c)(1)(A)(ii).

          (g) Neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries (i) has agreed or
     consented  at any  time  under  Section  341(f)  of the  Code to  have  the
     provisions of Section 341(f)(2) of the Code apply to any disposition of any
     assets,  (ii) has agreed,  or is  required,  to make any  adjustment  under
     Section  481(a) of the Code by reason of a change in  accounting  method or
     otherwise  that will affect the  liability of the Company for Taxes,  (iii)
     has made an election,  nor is it  required,  to treat any asset as owned by
     another person  pursuant to the provisions of Section 168(f) of the Code or
     as tax-exempt bond financed  property or tax-exempt use property within the
     meaning  of  Section  168 of the Code,  (iv) has made any of the  foregoing
     elections  or is  required  to apply any of the  foregoing  rules under any
     comparable  state or local tax provision,  or (v) owns any material  assets
     that were  financed  directly  or  indirectly  with,  or that  directly  or
     indirectly  secure,  debt the interest on which is tax-exempt under Section
     103(a) of the Code.

          (h) The Company is not a party to any "Gain Recognition Agreements" as
     such term is used in the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 367
     of the Code.

          (i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has made or become
     obligated to make, nor will the Parent,  Merger Sub, the Company, or any of
     its  Subsidiaries,  as a result of any event connected with any transaction
     contemplated  herein and/or any  termination of employment  related to such
     transaction,  make or  become  obligated  to make,  any  "excess  parachute
     payment,"  as  defined  in  Section  280G of the Code  (without  regard  to
     subsection (b)(4) thereof).

                                       27
<PAGE>
          (j) There are no liens for Taxes  (other than for  current  Taxes that
     are not yet due and payable or are being  contested in good faith) upon the
     assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.

          (k)  There  are no joint  ventures,  partnerships,  limited  liability
     companies,  or other  arrangements  or  contracts to which the Company is a
     party and that could be treated as a  partnership  for  federal  income tax
     purposes.

          (l) The Company has no excess  loss  account,  as such term is used in
     Section  1.1502 of the Treasury  Regulations,  with respect to the stock of
     any Subsidiary.

          (m) Neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has  outstanding
     any "deferred gain" resulting from any "deferred intercompany transaction,"
     as  both  such  terms  were  used  in  Section  1.1502-13  of the  Treasury
     Regulations as such was in effect for taxable years  beginning  before July
     12, 1995.

          (n)  Neither  the  Company  nor any  Subsidiary  has  outstanding  any
     "intercompany  items" or any  "corresponding  items" from any "intercompany
     transactions,"  as such terms are used in Section 1.1503-13 of the Treasury
     Regulations  as such is in effect for taxable  years  beginning on or after
     July 12, 1995,  that have not previously  been taken into account under the
     terms of such regulation.

          (o) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has or has had a "permanent
     establishment"  in any  foreign  country,  as such term is  defined  in any
     applicable  Tax treaty or  convention  between  the United  States and such
     foreign  country or has otherwise  taken steps that have  exposed,  or will
     expose, it to the taxing jurisdiction of a foreign country.

          (p) The unpaid Taxes of the Company and its  Subsidiaries (A) did not,
     as of the most recent fiscal month end prior to the date hereof, exceed the
     reserve for Tax Liability  (not  including  any reserve for deferred  Taxes
     established to reflect timing differences  between book and Tax income) set
     forth on the face of the most recent balance sheet (other than in any notes
     thereto) that has been made available to the Purchaser and (B) will not, as
     of the Closing Date, exceed such reserve in the Closing Balance Sheet.

     3.13 CONTRACTS AND COMMITMENTS.

          (a) Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.13(A) of the Company  Disclosure
     Schedules,  neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary  is a party or bound to
     any (collectively, the "Material Contracts"):

              (i)    collective  bargaining agreement or contract with any labor
                     union;

                                       28
<PAGE>
              (ii)   bonus, pension, profit sharing,  retirement,  or other form
                     of deferred compensation plan;

              (iii)  hospitalization  insurance  or  similar  plan or  practice,
                     whether formal or informal;

              (iv)   contract  for the  employment  of any  officer,  individual
                     employee,  or other  person on a  full-time  or  consulting
                     basis or relative to severance pay for any such person;

              (v)    agreement or indenture  relating to the  borrowing of money
                     in  excess  of  $10,000  or  to  mortgaging,   pledging  or
                     otherwise  placing  a lien  on any  of  the  assets  of the
                     Company;

              (vi)   guaranty of any obligation for borrowed money or otherwise,
                     other than endorsements made for collection;

              (vii)  lease or agreement  under which it is lessor of, or permits
                     any third party to hold or operate,  any property,  real or
                     personal, for an annual rental in excess of $10,000;

              (viii) contract or group of related contracts  with the same party
                     for the purchase of products or  services,  under which the
                     undelivered  balance of such  products  and  services has a
                     purchase price in excess of $10,000;

              (ix)   contract or group of related  contracts with the same party
                     for the  sale of  products  or  services  under  which  the
                     undelivered  balance of such  products  or  services  has a
                     sales price in excess of $10,000;

              (x)    other contract or group of related  contracts with the same
                     party continuing over a period of more than six months from
                     the date or dates  thereof,  either not terminable by it on
                     30 days' or less notice  without  penalty or involving more
                     than $10,000;

              (xi)   contract which prohibits the Company or any Subsidiary from
                     freely engaging in business anywhere in the world;

              (xii)  contract  relating to the  distribution of the Company's or
                     any Subsidiary's products;

              (xiii) franchise agreement;

                                       29
<PAGE>
              (xiv)  contract,  agreement or understanding  with any shareholder
                     who  beneficially  owns  five  percent  (5%) or more of the
                     Company  Common  Stock or with  any  officer,  director  or
                     employee (other than for employment on customary terms);

              (xv)   license agreement or agreement providing for the payment or
                     receipt of royalties or other  compensation  by the Company
                     or any Subsidiary in connection with the proprietary rights
                     as  disclosed  on SCHEDULE  3.14 of the Company  Disclosure
                     Schedules; or

              (xvi)  other   agreement   material  to  the   Company's   or  any
                     Subsidiary's  business or not entered  into in the ordinary
                     course of business.

          (b)  Except as  specifically  disclosed  on  SCHEDULE  3.13(B)  of the
     Company Disclosure Schedules,  (i) no contract or commitment required to be
     disclosed  under such  caption  has been  breached or canceled by the other
     party;  (ii) since the date of the balance sheet  included in the Company's
     Interim Financial Statements, no customer or supplier has indicated that it
     will stop or  decrease  the rate of  business  done with the Company or any
     Subsidiary,  except for changes in the ordinary course of the Company's and
     the Subsidiaries'  businesses;  (iii) the Company and the Subsidiaries have
     performed  all  obligations  required to be performed by them in connection
     with the  contracts  or  commitments  required to be  disclosed  under such
     caption and are not in receipt of any claim of default  under any  contract
     or commitment required to be disclosed under such caption; (iv) neither the
     Company nor any Subsidiary has any present  expectation or intention of not
     fully  performing any obligation  pursuant to any contract or commitment or
     commitment  set forth under such  caption;  and (v) neither the Company nor
     any Subsidiary has any knowledge of any breach or anticipated breach by any
     other party to any contract or commitment set forth under such caption.

          (c) Prior to the date of this Agreement, Parent has been supplied with
     a true and  correct  copy of each  written  contract or  commitment,  and a
     written  description  of each oral  contract or  commitment,  disclosed  on
     SCHEDULE  3.13 of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedules,  together  with  all
     amendments, waivers or other changes thereto.

     3.14  PROPRIETARY  RIGHTS.  Except as  disclosed  on  SCHEDULE  3.14 of the
Company  Disclosure  Schedules,  there  are  no  patents,  patent  applications,
trademarks,  service marks,  trade names,  corporate  names,  copyrights,  trade
secrets or other  proprietary  rights owned by the Company or any  Subsidiary or
necessary to the conduct of the  Company's or any  Subsidiary's  business as now
conducted. The Company or a Subsidiary owns and possesses all rights, titles and
interest,  or a valid license,  in and to the proprietary rights set forth under
such caption.  The Company Disclosure Schedules describes under such caption all
proprietary rights which have been licensed to third parties and all proprietary
rights which are licensed from third  parties by the Company or any  Subsidiary.

                                       30
<PAGE>
The Company and the  Subsidiaries  have taken all necessary  action necessary to
protect the proprietary rights set forth under such caption. Neither the Company
nor any  Subsidiary  has  received  any  notice of, nor is it aware of any facts
which indicate a likelihood of, any infringement,  misappropriation, or conflict
from any third party with  respect to the  proprietary  rights  which are listed
under such caption;  neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary  has not infringed,
misappropriated or otherwise conflicted with any proprietary rights of any third
parties, nor is it aware of any infringement, misappropriation or conflict which
will occur in the continued  operation of the Company or any Subsidiary;  and no
claim by any third  party  contesting  the  validity of any  proprietary  rights
listed under such caption has been made,  is  currently  outstanding,  or to the
best knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary is threatened.

     3.15  LITIGATION.  Except as  disclosed  on  SCHEDULE  3.15 of the  Company
Disclosure Schedules, there are no actions, suits, claims,  proceedings,  orders
or investigations pending or threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary or
otherwise  affecting  any of their  respective  properties  or  assets,  or that
challenges or may have the effect of  preventing,  delaying,  making  illegal or
otherwise interfering with the Merger or any other transactions  contemplated by
this  Agreement,  at law or in  equity,  or  before  or by any  federal,  state,
municipal or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or
instrumentality,  domestic or foreign (collectively,  "Governmental Authority"),
or that could  reasonably be expected to have a material  adverse  effect on the
business,  properties,  assets,  condition  (financial or otherwise) or business
prospects  of the  Company  and there is no basis  known to the  Company  or any
Subsidiary  for any of the  foregoing.  There  is no  order,  writ,  injunction,
judgment or decree:

          (a) to which the Company or any  Subsidiary or any of the assets owned
     or used by the Company or any Subsidiary is subject, or

          (b) to which any officer or employee of the Company or any  Subsidiary
     is subject  that  prohibits  such officer or employee  from  engaging in or
     continuing any conduct,  activity or practice  relating to the Company's or
     any Subsidiary's business.  Except as set forth under such caption, neither
     the Company nor any  Subsidiary has received any opinion or legal advice to
     the effect  that the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  is exposed  from a legal
     standpoint to any liability or disadvantage  which may be material to it or
     its prospects.

     3.16  BROKERAGE.  Except  as  disclosed  on  SCHEDULE  3.16 of the  Company
Disclosure Schedules, there are no claims for investment banking fees, brokerage
commissions,  finders'  fees or  similar  compensation  in  connection  with the
transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement  based  on  any  arrangement  or
agreement  made by or on behalf of the Company for which any other party will be
responsible.

     3.17  EMPLOYMENT  MATTERS.  To the best  knowledge  of the  Company and the
Subsidiaries,  (i) no key executive  employee of the Company or any  Subsidiary,
and no group of the Company's or any  Subsidiary's  employees,  has any plans to
terminate  his or its  employment,  (ii) the Company and the  Subsidiaries  have
complied with all laws relating to the employment of labor, including provisions
thereof relating to wages, hours, equal opportunity,  collective  bargaining and
the payment of social  security and other  taxes,  and (iii) the Company and the

                                       31
<PAGE>
Subsidiaries  have no material labor relations  problems pending and their labor
relations are satisfactory.

     3.18 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.

     With  respect to the  employee  benefits  provided  to  current  and former
employees, officers and directors of the Company and the Subsidiaries:

          (a) The  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  currently  maintain  only the
     employee  pension benefit plans, as defined in Section 3(2) of the Employee
     Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), as are listed
     on  SCHEDULE  3.18(A) of the Company  Disclosure  Schedules  (the  "Pension
     Plans").

          (b) The  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  currently  maintain  only the
     employee  welfare  benefit  plans,  as  defined  in  Section  3(1) of ERISA
     (including but not limited to, life  insurance,  medical,  hospitalization,
     holiday,  vacation,  disability  dental and vision  plans) as are listed on
     SCHEDULE 3.18(B) of the Company Disclosure Schedules (the "Welfare Plans").

          (c) The  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  currently  maintain,  or have
     entered   into,   only  the   compensation   programs   and/or   employment
     arrangements, (including but not limited to, incentive compensation, bonus,
     stock option,  stock purchase,  severance,  sick pay, salary  continuation,
     deferred  compensation,  supplemental  executive  compensation  plans,  and
     employment and consulting  agreements) as are listed on SCHEDULE 3.18(C) of
     the Company Disclosure Schedules (the "Compensation Programs").

          (d) The  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  do not  contribute,  have not
     contributed  within  the last ten  years,  to any  multiemployer  plan,  as
     defined in  Sections  3(37) and 4001 of ERISA,  and have not  incurred  any
     withdrawal liability within the meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA.

          (e) Each Pension Plan and Welfare  Plan is in  compliance  with ERISA;
     each Pension Plan which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of
     the Code has been  determined  by the  Internal  Revenue  Service  to be so
     qualified  or a request for such  determination  has been timely filed with
     the Internal  Revenue Service (and to Company's best knowledge  nothing has
     occurred  between the date of the last such  determination  and the Closing
     Date to cause the Internal Revenue Service to revoke such determination).

          (f) Any  Pension  Plan or any  Welfare  Plan  designed  to satisfy the
     requirements  of Section 125,  Section 401,  Section  401(k),  Section 409,
     Section 501(c)(9),  Section  4975(e)(7),  and/or Section 4980B of the Code,
     complies with the  requirements of such section and applicable  regulations
     thereunder.

                                       32
<PAGE>
          (g) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor any other employer that
     is,  or at any  relevant  time  was,  together  with  the  Company  nor any
     Subsidiary,  treated as a "single  employer" under Section 414 of the Code,
     has at any time on or after January 1, 1998  maintained or contributed to a
     defined  benefit plan as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA,  that is or was
     subject to Title IV of ERISA;  and no accumulated  funding  deficiency,  as
     defined in Section 302(a)(2) of ERISA,  exists (whether or not waived) with
     respect to any Pension Plan as of the date hereof.

          (h) All amounts  required to be paid by the Company or any  Subsidiary
     with respect to each Pension Plan, Welfare Plan and Compensation Program on
     or before the Closing Date have been paid.

          (i) None of the Pension  Plans or the Company or any party in interest
     or   disqualified   person  has  engaged  in  any  non-exempt   "prohibited
     transactions"  as defined in  Section  406 of ERISA or Section  4975 of the
     Code.

          (j) Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 3.18(J) of the Company  Disclosure
     Schedules,  no Pension Plan or Welfare Plan  provides  benefits,  including
     without limitation death or medical benefits (whether or not insured), with
     respect to current or former  employees  beyond their  retirement  or other
     termination of service other than (i) coverage  mandated by applicable law,
     (ii) retirement benefits under a Pension Plan, (iii) death benefits under a
     Welfare  Plan,  (iv)  deferred  compensation  accrued  on the  books of the
     Company or any Subsidiary,  or (v) benefits the full cost of which is borne
     by the current or former employee (or his or her beneficiary).

          (k) No "leased employee," as that term is defined in Section 414(n) of
     the  Code,  performs  or has  performed  services  for the  Company  or any
     Subsidiary.

          (l) No  liability  has been,  or is  expected  by the  Company  or any
     Subsidiary  to be,  incurred by the Company or a Subsidiary  under Title IV
     (including,  without limitation, Section 4062) of ERISA with respect to any
     Pension Plan.

          (m) No  reportable  event  within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA has
     occurred with respect to any Pension Plan.

          (n) The Company has furnished  Parent with correct and complete copies
     of each Pension Plan, Welfare Plan, and Compensation Program, together with
     any trust agreements,  summary plan  descriptions,  employee  informational
     material, financial statements relating thereto and participant listings.

     3.19 INSURANCE. SCHEDULE 3.19 of the Company Disclosure Schedules lists and
briefly  describes  (including name of insurer,  agent,  coverage and expiration
date) each insurance policy  maintained by, at the expense of or for the benefit
of the Company or any of the  Subsidiaries  with respect to its  properties  and
assets and describes any material claims made thereunder.  All of such insurance
policies are in full force and effect and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary
is in  default  with  respect  to its  obligations  under any of such  insurance
policies.  Except  as  disclosed  on  SCHEDULE  3.19 of the  Company  Disclosure

                                       33
<PAGE>
Schedules,  the  Company  is the  sole  beneficiary  of each  such  policy.  The
insurance  coverage  of the  Company  and  the  subsidiaries  is  customary  for
corporations of similar size engaged in similar lines of businesses. The Company
has not  received  any  notice or other  communication  regarding  any actual or
possible (a) cancellation or invalidation of any insurance  policy,  (b) refusal
of any  coverage or  rejection  of any claim under any  insurance  policy or (c)
material  adjustment  in the  amount of  premiums  payable  with  respect to any
insurance policy.

     3.20  AFFILIATE  TRANSACTIONS.  Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 3.20 of the
Company  Disclosure  Schedules,  no officer or  director  of the  Company or any
Subsidiary  or any  member  of the  immediate  family  of any  such  officer  or
director,  or any  entity  in which  any of such  persons  owns  any  beneficial
interest  (other  than a  publicly-held  corporation  whose stock is traded on a
national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter  market and less than 5%
of  the  stock  of  which  is  beneficially   owned  by  any  of  such  persons)
(collectively  "Insiders"),  (a) has  any  agreement  with  the  Company  or any
Subsidiary  (other than normal  employment  arrangements) or any interest in any
property, real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, used in or pertaining
to the business of the Company or any  Subsidiary,  (b) has been indebted to the
Company or any  Subsidiary  in amounts in excess of $10,000 in the  aggregate at
any time, (c) has at any time competed, directly or indirectly, with the Company
or any  Subsidiary,  or (d) has any claim or right  against  the  Company or any
Subsidiary  (other  than  rights  under  Company  Options  and rights to receive
compensation for services performed as an employee of the Company). For purposes
of the preceding sentence,  the members of the immediate family of an officer or
director shall consist of the spouse, parents, children,  siblings, mothers- and
fathers-in-law, sons- and daughters-in-law,  and brothers- and sisters-in-law of
such officer or director.

     3.21 SUPPLIERS. SCHEDULE 3.21 of the Company Disclosure Schedules lists the
ten  (10)  largest   suppliers  of  the  Company  and  the  Subsidiaries  (on  a
consolidated basis) for the fiscal year (transaction  period) ended December 31,
1999, and sets forth opposite the name of each such supplier the total amount of
purchases  from such  supplier by the Company and the  Subsidiaries  during such
period.

     3.22 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS;  BANK  ACCOUNTS.  SCHEDULE 3.22 of the Company
Disclosure  Schedules  lists all officers  and  directors of the Company and the
Subsidiaries,  and all of the Company's and the Subsidiaries'  accounts and safe
deposit  boxes at any  bank or other  financial  institution  (designating  each
authorized signer).

     3.23 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS; PERMITS;  CERTAIN OPERATIONS.  The Company, each
of the  Subsidiaries  and  their  respective  officers,  directors,  agents  and
employees have complied in all respects,  and currently are in compliance in all
respects,  with all applicable laws and regulations of foreign,  federal,  state
and local  governments  and all agencies  thereof which affect the businesses or
any owned or leased  properties of the Company and the Subsidiaries and to which
the Company or any of the Subsidiaries  may be subject,  and no claims have been
filed against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries alleging a violation of any
such law or  regulation,  except as  disclosed  on SCHEDULE  3.23 of the Company
Disclosure Schedules. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has given or agreed
to give any money,  gift or similar  benefit  (other  than  incidental  gifts of
articles of nominal  value,  gifts and prizes  awarded  pursuant to  promotional
programs   approved   by  the   Company's   management   and   non-extraordinary

                                       34
<PAGE>
entertainment  expenditures)  to any  actual or  potential  customer,  supplier,
foreign or domestic  governmental  employee or any other person in a position to
assist or hinder the Company or any of the  Subsidiaries  in connection with any
actual or proposed transaction. The Company and the Subsidiaries hold all of the
permits,  licenses,  certificates and other authorizations of foreign,  federal,
state  and  local  governmental  agencies  required  for the  conduct  of  their
businesses.  Without  limiting  the  generality  of the  foregoing,  neither the
Company  nor any  Subsidiary  has  violated,  or  received  a notice  or  charge
asserting any violation  of, the  Occupational  Safety and Health Act of 1970 or
any  other  state or  federal  acts or laws  (including  rules  and  regulations
thereunder)  regulating or otherwise affecting employee health and safety or the
environment.

     3.24 DISCLOSURE.

          (a) Neither  this  Agreement  nor any other  agreement  or  instrument
     executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby nor any of
     the  attachments or exhibits  hereto nor the Company  Disclosure  Schedules
     contains any untrue  statement of a material  fact or omits a material fact
     necessary to make the statements  contained herein or therein,  in light of
     the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading,  and there is no
     fact which has not been disclosed in writing to Parent of which any officer
     or  director  of the Company or any  Subsidiary  is aware which  materially
     affects  adversely or could reasonably be anticipated to materially  affect
     adversely the  business,  including  operating  results,  assets,  customer
     relations,  employee relations and business  prospects,  of the Company and
     the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     3.25 NON-CONTRAVENTION;  CONSENTS.  Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 3.25 of
the  Company  Disclosure  Schedules,  neither  (1) the  execution,  delivery  or
performance of this Agreement or any of the other agreements referred to in this
Agreement,  nor  (2)  the  consummation  of the  Merger  or  any  of  the  other
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  will directly or indirectly (with
or without notice or lapse of time):

          (a)  contravene,  conflict with or result in a violation of (i) any of
     the   provisions  of  the  Company's  or  any   Subsidiary's   Articles  of
     Incorporation or Bylaws, or (ii) any resolution adopted by the Company's or
     any  Subsidiary's  shareholders,  the  Company's  board of directors or any
     committee of such board of directors;

          (b) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of, or give any
     governmental authority or other person or entity the right to challenge any
     of the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or to exercise  any
     remedy or obtain  any relief  under,  any legal  requirement  or any order,
     writ,  injunction,   judgment  or  decree  to  which  the  Company  or  any
     Subsidiary,  or any of the  assets  owned  or  used by the  Company  or any
     Subsidiary, is subject;

          (c)  contravene,  conflict with or result in a violation of any of the
     terms or requirements of, or give any  governmental  authority the right to
     revoke,  withdraw,  suspend,  cancel, terminate or modify, any governmental
     permit or authorization  that is held by the Company or any Subsidiary that

                                       35
<PAGE>
     otherwise  relates to the Company's  business or to any of the assets owned
     or used by the Company or any Subsidiary;

          (d)  contravene,  conflict with or result in a violation or breach of,
     require consent under,  or result in a default under,  any provision of any
     contract or agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party, or
     give any  person or entity the right to (i)  declare a default or  exercise
     any remedy  under any such  contract  or  agreement,  (ii)  accelerate  the
     maturity or performance of any such contract or agreement, or (iii) cancel,
     terminate or modify any such contract or agreement; or

          (e)  result  in the  imposition  or  creation  of any  lien  or  other
     encumbrance  upon or with respect to any asset owned or used by the Company
     or any Subsidiary  (except for minor liens that will not, in any case or in
     the  aggregate,  materially  detract  from the value of the assets  subject
     thereto or materially impair the operations of the Company).

     Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 3.25 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedules,
the  Company is not and will not be required to make any filing with or give any
notice to, or to obtain any  consent  from,  any person or entity in  connection
with (x) the execution,  delivery or performance of this Agreement or any of the
other agreements  referred to in this Agreement,  or (y) the consummation of the
Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     3.26 STOCKHOLDER  VOTE REQUIRED.  The affirmative vote of a majority of the
votes entitled to be cast by holders of the outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock  (voting  as a class)  are the only  votes of the  holders of any class or
series of the Company's  capital stock  necessary to approve this  Agreement and
the Merger under Delaware Law.

                                    ARTICLE 4

                     CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER

     4.1 CONDUCT OF  BUSINESS  PENDING THE  MERGER.  The Company  covenants  and
agrees that, prior to the Effective Time,  unless Parent shall otherwise consent
in writing  (which consent shall not be  unreasonably  withheld) or as otherwise
expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement:

          (a) The  businesses  of the  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  shall  be
     conducted only in, and the Company shall not take any action except in, the
     ordinary course, on an arm's-length basis and in accordance in all material
     respects with all applicable  laws,  rules and  regulations and past custom
     and practice;  and the Company and the  Subsidiaries  shall  maintain their
     facilities  in  good  condition  and  repair  and in  accordance  with  the
     Company's  policies and procedures  relating  thereto as in effect prior to
     the execution of this Agreement;

          (b) The Company  shall not,  directly or  indirectly,  do or permit to
     occur any of the following: (i) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber
     (or permit any of the Subsidiaries to issue,  sell,  pledge,  dispose of or
     encumber)  (A)  any  additional  shares  of,  or  any  options,   warrants,

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     conversion  privileges  or rights of any kind to acquire any shares of, any
     of its capital stock,  except for issuances upon the exercise of options or
     warrants  outstanding on the date hereof, or (B) any of its assets,  except
     for fair value in the ordinary course of business; (ii) amend or propose to
     amend its Articles of  Incorporation  or Bylaws;  (iii)  split,  combine or
     reclassify  any  outstanding  shares  of  Company  Common  Stock  or  other
     securities  of the  Company,  or declare,  set aside or pay any dividend or
     other  distribution  payable in cash,  stock,  property or  otherwise  with
     respect  to shares  of  Company  Common  Stock or other  securities  of the
     Company; (iv) redeem, purchase or acquire or offer to acquire any shares of
     Company  Common Stock or other  securities of the Company;  (v) acquire (by
     merger,  exchange,  consolidation,   acquisition  of  stock  or  assets  or
     otherwise) any  corporation,  partnership,  joint venture or other business
     organization  or  division  or  material  assets  thereof;  (vi)  incur  or
     guarantee any  indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any debt securities
     except the borrowing of working  capital in the ordinary course of business
     and  consistent  with past practice or (vii) enter into or propose to enter
     into,  or modify or  propose  to  modify,  any  agreement,  arrangement  or
     understanding  with respect to any of the matters set forth in this Section
     4.1(b);

          (c) The Company  shall not (and shall not permit any  Subsidiary  to),
     directly or  indirectly,  (i) enter into or modify any  Material  Contract,
     agreement or understanding to which the Company is a party; (ii) enter into
     or modify any employment,  severance or similar  agreements or arrangements
     with, or grant any bonuses, salary increases,  severance or termination pay
     to, any  officers  or  directors  or  consultants;  (iii) make any  capital
     expenditures,  including any capitalizable  lease  obligations,  other than
     expenditures necessary to maintain existing assets in good repair and other
     capital expenditures in amounts not exceeding $10,000 in the aggregate;  or
     (iv)  in the  case  of  employees  who are not  officers  or  directors  or
     consultants,  grant or take any action with  respect to the granting of any
     salary  increases,  severance  or  termination  pay or  increases  in other
     benefits,  other than grants or such actions as are in the ordinary  course
     of the Company's  business and are consistent  with the Company's  historic
     compensation  practices,  or grant or take any actions  with respect to the
     granting of any bonuses;

          (d) The  Company  shall not (and shall not permit any  Subsidiary  to)
     adopt or amend any  bonus,  profit  sharing,  compensation,  stock  option,
     pension,  retirement,  deferred compensation,  employment or other employee
     benefit plan,  trust,  fund or group arrangement for the benefit or welfare
     of any employees or any bonus, profit sharing, compensation,  stock option,
     pension,  retirement,  deferred compensation,  employment or other employee
     benefit plan,  agreement,  trust,  fund or arrangements  for the benefit or
     welfare of any director;

          (e) The  Company  shall  use its best  efforts  to  cause  its and the
     Subsidiaries'  current  insurance  (or  reinsurance)  policies  not  to  be
     canceled or terminated or reduced in coverage amount or any of the coverage
     thereunder  to  lapse,   unless   simultaneously   with  such  termination,
     cancellation,  reduction in coverage amount or lapse,  replacement policies
     providing  coverage  equal  to or  greater  than  the  coverage  under  the

                                       37
<PAGE>
     canceled,  terminated, reduced or lapsed policies for substantially similar
     premiums are in full force and effect;

          (f) The Company and each  Subsidiary (i) shall use its best efforts to
     preserve intact its business organization and good will, keep available the
     services of its officers and employees as a group and maintain satisfactory
     relationships  with  suppliers,  distributors,  customers and others having
     business  relationships with it; (ii) shall not take any action which would
     render, or which reasonably may be expected to render,  any  representation
     or  warranty  made by it in this  Agreement  or in any other  agreement  or
     instrument executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
     untrue at, or at any time prior to, the Effective Time;  (iii) shall notify
     Parent  of any  emergency  or other  change  in the  normal  course  of its
     business or in the operation of its properties and of any  governmental  or
     third  party  complaints,  investigations  or hearings  (or  communications
     indicating that the same may be  contemplated)  if such emergency,  change,
     complaint,  investigation or hearing would be material,  individually or in
     the aggregate,  to the business,  operations or financial  condition of the
     Company and the  Subsidiaries  or to the Company's,  Parent's or the Merger
     Sub's  ability  to  consummate  the   transactions   contemplated  by  this
     Agreement;  and (iv) shall notify Parent if the Company shall discover that
     any  representation or warranty made by it in this Agreement was when made,
     or has subsequently become, untrue;

          (g) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall not change any of its
     methods of accounting or accounting practices in any material respect;

          (h)  Neither the  Company  nor any  Subsidiary  will waive or agree to
     waive any applicable  statute of  limitations  or any similar  statutory or
     judicial doctrine benefiting the Company;

          (i) Neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary  shall  commence or settle
     any material  legal action or  proceeding,  PROVIDED,  that the Company may
     settle any legal actions or  proceedings  which were pending as of the date
     of the Company's Interim Financial  Statements so long as the consideration
     paid  or  agreed  to be  paid  by  the  Company  in  connection  with  such
     settlements  does not exceed $10,000 in any  individual  case or $10,000 in
     the aggregate for all such settlements (in the case of cash settlements) or
     cause the number of shares of Company Common Stock issued and  outstanding,
     after taking into account any shares issued or canceled in connection  with
     such  settlement,  to exceed the number of shares of Company  Common  Stock
     issued and outstanding on the date of this Agreement;

          (j) The Company shall cause its officers to report at Parent's request
     (but in no event less  frequently  than  weekly) to Parent  concerning  the
     status of the Company's business; and

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<PAGE>
          (k) Subject to the fiduciary  obligations  of its directors as advised
     by counsel,  the  Company  shall not,  except as required by law,  call any
     meeting of its shareholders other than the meeting  contemplated in Section
     5.1.

          (1) Neither the  Company  nor any  Subsidiary  shall make or amend any
     federal, state, or local Tax election, agree to waive or extend any statute
     of  limitations,  or resolve or agree to  resolve  any audit or  proceeding
     relating to Taxes.

     4.2 NOTIFICATION; UPDATES TO DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE.

          (a) During the period  subsequent to the  execution of this  Agreement
     and prior to the Effective  Time (the  "Pre-Closing  Period"),  the Company
     shall promptly notify Parent in writing of:

                  (i)   the  discovery  by the Company of any event,  condition,
                        fact or  circumstance  that  occurred  or  existed on or
                        prior to the date of this  Agreement  and that caused or
                        constitutes   an   inaccuracy   in  or   breach  of  any
                        representation  or warranty  made by the Company in this
                        Agreement;

                  (ii)  any event, condition,  fact or circumstance that occurs,
                        arises or exists  after the date of this  Agreement  and
                        that  would  cause or  constitute  an  inaccuracy  in or
                        breach of any  representation  or  warranty  made by the
                        Company in this Agreement if (A) such  representation or
                        warranty had been made as of the time of the occurrence,
                        existence or discovery of such event, condition, fact or
                        circumstance,  or (B)  such  event,  condition,  fact or
                        circumstance had occurred, arisen or existed on or prior
                        to the date of this Agreement;

                  (iii) any breach of any covenant or obligation of the Company;
                        and

                  (iv)  any event,  condition,  fact or circumstance  that would
                        make the timely  satisfaction  of any of the  conditions
                        set forth in  Sections  6.1,  6.2 or 6.3  impossible  or
                        unlikely.

          (b) If any event, condition,  fact or circumstance that is required to
     be disclosed  pursuant to Section 4.2(a) requires any change in the Company
     Disclosure Schedules, or if any such event, condition, fact or circumstance
     would require such a change assuming the Company Disclosure  Schedules were
     dated as of the date of the  occurrence,  existence  or  discovery  of such
     event,  condition,  fact or  circumstance,  then the Company shall promptly
     deliver to Parent an update to the Company Disclosure  Schedules specifying
     such  change.  No such update  shall be deemed to  supplement  or amend the
     Company  Disclosure  Schedules  for  the  purpose  of (i)  determining  the
     accuracy of any of the  representations  and warranties made by the Company

                                       39
<PAGE>
     in this Agreement,  or (ii)  determining  whether any of the conditions set
     forth in Sections 6.1, 6.2 or 6.3 has been satisfied.

                                    ARTICLE 5

                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

     5.1 SHAREHOLDERS  MEETING. The Company shall call and hold a meeting of its
Shareholders (the "Company Shareholders' Meeting) to submit this Agreement,  the
Merger and related matters for the  consideration  and approval of the Company's
Shareholders or, in the alternative, obtain the unanimous written consent of its
Shareholders.  In the  case of a  Company  Shareholders'  Meeting,  the  Company
Shareholders'  Meeting will be called, held and conducted,  and any proxies will
be solicited, in compliance with applicable law.

     5.2 EXPENSES.  Each party to this Agreement  shall bear their own costs and
expenses  incurred  in  connection  with  this  Agreement  and the  transactions
contemplated hereby.

     5.3  ADDITIONAL  AGREEMENTS.  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  action  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 using reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary waivers, consents and
approvals and to effect all necessary registrations and filings,  including, but
not  limited  to, any  submissions  of  information  requested  by  governmental
authorities.

     5.4 NO NEGOTIATIONS, ETC. The Company shall not (nor shall it permit any of
its Subsidiaries  to),  directly or indirectly,  through any officer,  director,
agent or otherwise,  solicit,  initiate or encourage  submission of any inquiry,
proposal  or offer  from any  person  or entity  (including  any of its or their
officers  or  employees)   other  than  Parent  relating  to  any   liquidation,
dissolution,  recapitalization, merger, consolidation or acquisition or purchase
of all or any portion of the assets of, or any equity  interest  in, the Company
or any Subsidiary or other similar transaction or business combination involving
the Company or any  Subsidiary,  or,  unless the  Company's  Board of  Directors
receives a written  opinion from the Company's  outside  counsel  (which opinion
shall also be  addressed  to Parent)  stating that there would be a material and
substantial  risk of liability on the part of the members of the Company's Board
of Directors to the Company's  shareholders for failure to do so, participate in
any  discussions or negotiations  regarding,  or furnish to any other person any
information  with respect to, or otherwise  cooperate in any way with, or assist
or  participate  in,  facilitate  or  encourage,  any effort or  attempt  by, or
consider,  entertain or accept any  proposal or offer from,  any other person or
entity to do or seek any of the  foregoing.  The Company shall  promptly  notify
Parent and the Merger Sub if any such proposal or offer,  or any inquiry from or
contact with any person with respect thereto, is made and shall promptly provide
Parent with such information regarding such proposal,  offer, inquiry or contact
as Parent may request.

     5.5 NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS. Each party shall give prompt notice to
each  other  party of (a) the  occurrence  or  failure  to  occur of any  event,
conditions,  fact or circumstance which occurrence or failure would be likely to
cause any  representation or warranty on its part contained in this Agreement to

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<PAGE>
be untrue or inaccurate at, or at any time prior to, the Effective Time, and (b)
any  material  failure of such party,  or any  officer,  director,  shareholder,
employee or agent thereof, to comply with or satisfy any covenant,  condition or
agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it hereunder.

     5.6  ACCESS TO  INFORMATION;  CONFIDENTIALITY.  Parent  and its  attorneys,
accountants,  consultants and  representatives  shall continue to have access to
the books and records of the Company and such other  information  pertaining  to
the business and assets of the Company as Parent shall reasonably  request,  and
the Company and its  attorneys,  accountants,  consultants  and  representatives
shall  continue to have access to the books and records of Parent and such other
information pertaining to the business and assets of Parent as the Company shall
reasonably  request,  and each of Parent and the Company shall provide the other
with reasonable access to its officers and other personnel,  as provided in Part
5, paragraph (b) of the Letter of Intent.  The terms of Part 5, paragraph (b) of
the  Letter  of  Intent  shall  apply,  in the  event of a  termination  of this
Agreement, to information obtained as a result of such access and assistance.

     5.7  SHAREHOLDER  CLAIMS.  The Company shall not settle or  compromise  any
claim  brought  by any  present,  former  or  purported  holder  or owner of any
securities  of the  Company  in  connection  with the Merger  without  the prior
written consent of Parent.

     5.8  CONSENTS.  As  promptly as  practicable  after the  execution  of this
Agreement,  each party to this Agreement (a) shall make all filings (if any) and
give  all  notices  (if any)  required  to be made  and  given by such  party in
connection  with the  Merger  and the other  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement,  and (b) shall use all commercially  reasonable efforts to obtain all
consents  (if any)  required to be obtained  (pursuant  to any  applicable  law,
regulation,  contract or  agreement,  or  otherwise) by such party in connection
with the  Merger  and the other  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement.
Parent shall (upon request)  promptly deliver to the Company a copy of each such
filing made, each such notice given and each such consent  obtained by Parent or
Merger  Sub during the  period  subsequent  to the date  hereof and prior to the
Effective Time; and the Company shall (upon request)  promptly deliver to Parent
a copy of each such filing  made,  each such notice  given and each such consent
obtained  by the  Company  during the period  subsequent  to the date hereof and
prior to the Effective Time.

     5.9  STATE  SECURITIES  LAW  COMPLIANCE.   Parent  shall  use  commercially
reasonable efforts to (a) qualify, as soon as practicable after the Closing Date
(or as earlier  required under  applicable law), the Parent Class A Common Stock
to be  issued  pursuant  to the  Merger  under  state  "blue  sky" laws of every
jurisdiction of the United States in which (i) any registered shareholder of the
Company  has an  address on the  records  of the  Company as of the date of this
agreement, and (ii) an exemption from the qualification  requirements under such
laws is unavailable  with respect to the issuance of Parent Class A Common Stock
in the Merger,  and (b) qualify,  as soon as practicable  after the Closing Date
(or as earlier  required under  applicable law), the Assumed Options and Assumed
Warrants  under the state  "blue sky" laws of every  jurisdiction  of the United
States  in  which  (i)  the  records  of the  Company,  as of the  date  of this
Agreement,  indicate that a holder of such Assumed Options and Assumed  Warrants
resides,  and (ii) an exemption from the qualification  requirements  under such
laws is unavailable.

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<PAGE>
     5.10 NOTIFICATION. (a) During the Pre-Closing Period, Parent shall promptly
notify the Company in writing of:

                  (i)   the discovery by Parent of any event, condition, fact or
                        circumstance that occurred or existed on or prior to the
                        date of this Agreement and that caused or constituted an
                        inaccuracy  in  or  breach  of  any   representation  or
                        warranty made by Parent in this Agreement;

                  (ii)  any event, condition,  fact or circumstance that occurs,
                        arises or exists  after the date of this  Agreement  and
                        that  would  cause or  constitute  an  inaccuracy  in or
                        breach of any  representation or warranty made by Parent
                        in this Agreement if (A) such representation or warranty
                        had  been  made  as  of  the  time  of  the  occurrence,
                        existence or discovery of such event, condition, fact or
                        circumstance,  or (B)  such  event,  condition,  fact or
                        circumstance had occurred, arisen or existed on or prior
                        to the date of this Agreement;

                  (iii) any breach of any covenant or obligation of Parent; and

                  (iv)  any event,  condition,  fact or circumstance  that would
                        make the timely  satisfaction  of any of the  conditions
                        set forth in  Sections  6.1,  6.2 or 6.3  impossible  or
                        unlikely.

     5.11 COMMERCIALLY  REASONABLE  EFFORTS.  During the Pre-Closing Period, (a)
the  Company  shall  use  all  commercially  reasonable  efforts  to  cause  the
conditions  set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.3 to be satisfied on a timely basis,
and (b) Parent and Merger Sub shall each use all commercially reasonable efforts
to cause the  conditions  set forth in Sections 6.1 and 6.2 to be satisfied on a
timely basis.

     5.12 TAX MATTERS. Prior to the Closing:

          (a)  The   Company   shall  give  the   Parent   and  its   authorized
     representatives  full  access to all  properties,  books,  records  and Tax
     Returns of or relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries,  whether in the
     possession of the Company, its Subsidiaries, or third-party representatives
     in  order  that  the  Parent  may  have  full   opportunity  to  make  such
     investigations as it shall desire to make of the affairs of the Company and
     its  Subsidiaries.  The Company and its Subsidiaries  shall ensure that all
     third-party representatives of the Company and its Subsidiaries,  including
     without  limitation  accountants  and  attorneys,  fully  cooperate  and be
     available to the Parent in connection with such investigation.

          (b)  The  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries   shall  terminate  all  tax
     allocation  agreements  and tax  sharing  agreements  with  respect  to the
     Company and its  Subsidiaries  and shall ensure that such agreements are of
     no further  force or effect as to the Company and its  Subsidiaries  on and

                                       42
<PAGE>
     after the Closing and there shall be no further liability of the Company or
     its Subsidiaries under any such agreements.

     5.13 INDEMNIFICATION.

          (a) From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall
     indemnify,  defend and hold  harmless  the  present  and  former  officers,
     directors  and  employees of the Company  (collectively,  the  "Indemnified
     Parties") against all losses,  expenses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities or
     amounts  that are paid in  settlement  of (with  approval of Parent and the
     Surviving Corporation), or otherwise in connection with, any claim, action,
     suit, proceeding or investigation (a "Claim"), based in whole or in part on
     the fact that such  person is or was such a  director,  officer or employee
     and  arising  out of  actions  or  omissions  occurring  at or prior to the
     Effective  Time,  in each case to the fullest  extent  permitted  under the
     General  Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL"),  (and shall
     pay  expenses  in advance of the final  disposition  of any such  action or
     proceeding to each Indemnified  Party to the fullest extent permitted under
     the DGCL,  upon receipt  from the  Indemnified  Party to whom  expenses are
     advanced of the undertaking to repay such advances  contemplated by Section
     145(e) of the DGCL).

          (b) Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim  indemnification under this
     Section 5.13, upon learning of any such Claim,  shall notify Parent and the
     Surviving  Corporation  (although  the failure so to notify  Parent and the
     Surviving  Corporation shall not relieve the Surviving Corporation from any
     liability  that it may have under this Section  5.13,  except to the extent
     such failure  materially  prejudices such party),  and shall deliver to the
     Surviving Corporation the undertaking contemplated by Section 145(e) of the
     DGCL.  Parent and the Surviving  Corporation shall have the right to assume
     the  defense   thereof  and  the  Surviving   Corporation,   including  its
     affiliates,  shall not be liable to such Indemnified  Parties for any legal
     expenses of other counsel or any other  expenses  subsequently  incurred by
     such  Indemnified  Parties in connection with the defense  thereof,  except
     that if Parent  and the  Surviving  Corporation  elect  not to assume  such
     defense or there is a conflict of interest between,  or different  defenses
     exist for Parent and the Surviving Corporation and the Indemnified Parties,
     the  Indemnified  Parties  may  retain  counsel  satisfactory  to them (and
     reasonably  satisfactory to Parent) and the Surviving Corporation shall pay
     all  reasonable  fees and  expenses  of such  counsel  for the  Indemnified
     Parties promptly as statements  therefor are received;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
     that (i) the Surviving Corporation, including its affiliates, shall not, in
     connection  with  any  one  such  action  or  proceeding  or  separate  but
     substantially  similar  actions  or  proceedings  arising  out of the  same
     general  allegations,  be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one
     separate firm of attorneys at any time for all  Indemnified  Parties except
     to the extent that local  counsel,  in addition  to such  parties'  regular
     counsel,  is necessary or desirable in order to effectively  defend against
     such action or proceeding,  (ii) Parent, the Surviving  Corporation and the
     Indemnified  Parties will cooperate in the defense of any such matter,  and
     (iii) the Surviving  Corporation,  including its  affiliates,  shall not be
     liable for any settlement  effected without Parent's prior written consent,
     which consent will not be unreasonably  withheld or delayed,  and PROVIDED,

                                       43
<PAGE>
     FURTHER, however, that the Surviving Corporation, including its affiliates,
     shall not have any obligation  hereunder to any Indemnified  Party when and
     if a court of competent  jurisdiction shall ultimately determine,  and such
     determination  shall have become  final and not subject to further  appeal,
     that  the   indemnification   of  such  Indemnified  Party  in  the  manner
     contemplated  hereby is prohibited by applicable law. No Indemnified  Party
     shall consent to entry of judgment or enter into any  settlement  that does
     not include as an unconditional  term thereof the giving by the claimant or
     plaintiff to such  Indemnified  Party of a release,  in form and  substance
     reasonably  satisfactory to such Indemnified  Party,  from all liability in
     respect of such claim or litigation for which such Indemnified  Party would
     be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

          (c) This  Section 5.13 is intended to be for the benefit of, and shall
     be enforceable by, the Indemnified Parties referred to herein,  their heirs
     and personal  representatives and shall be binding on Parent and Merger Sub
     and the Surviving Corporation and their respective successors and assigns.

     5.14  NASDAQ  NATIONAL  MARKET  LISTING.  Parent  shall use all  reasonable
efforts to cause the shares of Parent  Class A Common  Stock to be issued in the
Merger and the shares of Parent Class A Common Stock to be reserved for issuance
under the Assumed Options and Assumed Warrants to be approved for listing on the
Nasdaq  National  Market,  subject to official  notice of  issuance,  as soon as
practicable after the Closing Date.

     5.15 EMPLOYEES; EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS.

          (a) Following  the Effective  Time,  the Surviving  Corporation  shall
     honor in accordance  with their terms all employee  benefit plans disclosed
     by the Company under the caption  "Employee  Benefit  Plans" in the Company
     Disclosure  Schedules,  and all accrued benefits vested thereunder.  Parent
     agrees  to  provide,  after the  Effective  Time,  or cause  the  Surviving
     Corporation to provide,  employees of the Company, not otherwise covered by
     collective bargaining  agreements,  with employee benefits in the aggregate
     substantially  no less favorable  than those benefits  provided to Parent's
     similarly  situated  employees for a period ending on the first anniversary
     of the Effective Time.

          (b) Parent shall enter into an employment  agreement (the  "Employment
     Agreement"),  the form of which is attached  hereto as EXHIBIT A, with each
     of Dr. Jean-Luc Nogues and Todd Childress.

     5.16 FUTURE  EMPLOYMENT  INCENTIVES.  In addition to the  treatment  of the
Company's  Stock Plan under Section  1.11(a) above,  at the Closing the officers
and  employees of the  Surviving  Corporation  (or, in the event of a subsequent
merger, consolidation or other restructuring,  the officers and employees of the
business formerly  conducted by the Company prior to the Effective Time) will be
allocated  stock  options  for not less than  200,000  shares of Parent  Class A
Common Stock representing approximately eleven percent (11%) of the total number
of shares  reserved  under the  Amended  LightPath  Technologies,  Inc.  Omnibus
Incentive  Plan dated  November  12, 1997 (the  "Omnibus  Plan") as disclosed on
SCHEDULE  5.16;  provided  that such number of available  option shares shall be
increased,  as necessary,  from time to time following the Merger to provide for
an allocation of eleven percent (11%) of any increase in option shares under the

                                       44
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Omnibus Plan or any  successor  thereto.  All such stock options will be granted
and managed in accordance with existing policies of Parent and the Omnibus Plan.
The  parties  acknowledge  and agree  that if and to the extent  that  Parent is
required to obtain any  shareholder  approval of an  amendment  to its  existing
stock  option plans in order to implement  the  provisions  of this Section 5.16
(including,  without limitation,  any amendment  increasing the number of shares
available for grant thereunder),  the stock options  contemplated  hereby may be
granted subject to and contingent upon receipt of such shareholder approval.

     5.17 FUNDING COMMITMENT;  FACILITY.  Following the Closing Date, the Parent
shall fund  $5,000,000  to the  Surviving  Corporation  to provide for  facility
expansion,  equipment acquisitions,  recruitment and retention of key personnel,
product  development  and strategic  supply  arrangements in accordance with the
budget  set forth on  SCHEDULE  5.17,  which  budget  has been  approved  by the
Parent's  board of directors and which budget shall be implemented in accordance
with Parent's existing policies and procedures.  Following the Closing Date, the
Parent currently intends to continue operations of the Surviving  Corporation at
the Company's  current facility located in Orlando,  Florida for the foreseeable
future.

                                    ARTICLE 6

                                   CONDITIONS

     6.1  CONDITIONS  TO  OBLIGATIONS  OF EACH PARTY TO EFFECT THE  MERGER.  The
respective  obligations  of each party to effect the Merger  shall be subject to
the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

          (a) this Agreement  (including  without  limitation the plan of merger
     contained  herein) and the Merger  shall have been  approved and adopted by
     the requisite vote or unanimous  written consent of the Shareholders as may
     be  required  by law  and by any  applicable  provisions  of the  Company's
     Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws;

          (b)  the   materials   distributed   with   respect  to  the   Company
     Shareholders' Meeting, if held, shall not contain any untrue statement of a
     material  fact and shall not omit any  statement  required to be  contained
     therein or necessary to make any statement  contained therein, in the light
     in which made, not misleading;

          (c)  there  shall  have  been no  law,  statute,  rule or  regulation,
     domestic or foreign,  enacted or promulgated  which would make consummation
     of the Merger illegal;

                                       45
<PAGE>
          (d) no  injunction or other order entered by a United States (state or
     federal) court of competent  jurisdiction shall have been issued and remain
     in effect which would prohibit consummation of the Merger;

          (e) there shall not be threatened, instituted or pending any action or
     proceeding,  before any court or governmental authority or agency, domestic
     or foreign,  (i)  challenging  or seeking to make  illegal,  or to delay or
     otherwise directly or indirectly to restrain or prohibit,  the consummation
     of the Merger, or seeking to obtain material damages in connection with the
     Merger,  (ii) seeking to prohibit direct or indirect ownership or operation
     by Parent of all or a  material  portion of the  business  or assets of the
     Company  and the  Subsidiaries  or of Parent  and its  subsidiaries,  or to
     compel  Parent  or any of its  subsidiaries  or the  Company  or any of the
     Subsidiaries to dispose of or to hold separately all or a material  portion
     of the business or assets of Parent and its  subsidiaries or of the Company
     and the Subsidiaries, as a result of the Merger, (iii) seeking to impose or
     confirm  limitations  on the  ability  of Parent  effectively  to  exercise
     directly or  indirectly  full rights of  ownership of any shares of Company
     Common  Stock  on  all  matters   properly   presented  to  the   Company's
     shareholders,  (iv) seeking to require  direct or indirect  divestiture  by
     Parent of any shares of Company Common Stock or any shares of the Surviving
     Corporation to be issued in the Merger, (v) seeking or causing any material
     diminution  in the direct or  indirect  benefits  expected to be derived by
     Parent a result of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  (vi)
     invalidating  or rendering  unenforceable  any  material  provision of this
     Agreement  (including without limitation any of the exhibits or attachments
     hereto) or the Letter of Intent,  (vii) which  otherwise  might  materially
     adversely  affect  the  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  or  Parent  and its
     subsidiaries,  or (viii) otherwise  relating to the Letter of Intent or the
     Merger;

          (f) there shall not be any action taken, or any injunction  issued, or
     any order,  statute,  rule or regulation  proposed,  enacted,  promulgated,
     issued or deemed applicable to the Merger by any federal,  state or foreign
     court,  government or governmental authority or agency, which may, directly
     or indirectly, result in any of the consequences referred to in (e) above;

          (g) there shall not have  occurred (i) any general  suspension  of, or
     limitation  on prices for,  trading in  securities  on the Nasdaq  National
     Market,  (ii) a declaration  of a banking  moratorium or any  suspension of
     payments  in  respect of banks in the United  States or any  limitation  by
     United   States   authorities   on  the  extension  of  credit  by  lending
     institutions,  (iii) a  commencement  of war,  armed  hostilities  or other
     international  or national  calamity  directly or indirectly  involving the
     United States, (iv) any limitation by any governmental authority on, or any
     other  event  which,  in the sole  judgment  of  Parent,  might  affect the
     extension of credit by banks or other  lending  institutions  in the United
     States,  or (v) in the case of any of the  foregoing  existing  at the date
     hereof, a material acceleration or worsening thereof;

                                       46
<PAGE>
          (h) the Company and its Subsidiaries  shall have obtained each consent
     and  approval  necessary  in order  that the  Merger  and the  transactions
     contemplated herein not constitute a breach or violation of, or result in a
     right of  termination  or  acceleration  or any  encumbrance  on any of the
     Company's or the  Subsidiaries'  assets  pursuant to the provisions of, any
     agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding  or any  license,  franchise  or
     permit;

          (i) there shall have been no damage,  destruction or loss of or to any
     property  or  properties  owned  or  used  by  the  Company  or  any of the
     Subsidiaries,  whether or not covered by insurance,  which in the aggregate
     has a material adverse effect on the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as
     a whole;

          (j) the  principal  terms of this  Agreement and the Merger shall have
     been approved and adopted by the Company's  shareholders in accordance with
     all  applicable  laws  and  regulations  and  the  Company's   Articles  of
     Incorporation and Bylaws;

          (k) no party hereto shall have  terminated this Agreement as permitted
     herein;

          (l)  Parent  shall  have  completed  its due  diligence  review of the
     Company  and its  business,  including  but not limited to, the matters set
     forth on the Company  Disclosure  Schedules,  and shall in all  respects be
     satisfied  (in its sole and  absolute  discretion)  with the  findings  and
     results thereof; and

          (m) The Board of  Directors  of each of the Company  and Parent  shall
     have approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

     6.2 ADDITIONAL  CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY.  The obligation of
the Company to effect the Merger is also subject to the following conditions:

          (a) the  representations  and  warranties of Parent and the Merger Sub
     set forth in Article 2 shall be true and correct in all  material  respects
     as of the Effective  Time as if made at and as of the Effective  Time,  and
     each of Parent  and the  Merger  Sub shall in all  material  respects  have
     performed each  obligation and agreement and complied with each covenant to
     be performed and complied with by it hereunder at or prior to the Effective
     Time.  A  representation  or  warranty  that  is  expressly  subject  to  a
     materiality  limitation  shall  not be  subject  to a  further  materiality
     limitation as a result of the use of the phrase "in all material  respects"
     in the preceding sentence;

          (b) Parent shall have  furnished to the Company a certificate in which
     Parent  shall  certify  that  Parent  has no  reason  to  believe  that the
     conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a) have not been fulfilled;

          (c) Parent shall have  furnished to the Company (i) a copy of the text
     of the resolutions by which the corporate  action on the part of Parent and
     the Merger Sub  necessary  to approve  this  Agreement  and the Merger were
     taken, (iii)  certificates  executed on behalf of Parent and the Merger Sub

                                       47
<PAGE>
     by  their  respective  corporate  secretaries  or one of  their  respective
     assistant  corporate  secretaries  certifying to the Company, in each case,
     that such copy is a true, correct and complete copy of such resolutions and
     that  such  resolutions  were duly  adopted  and have not been  amended  or
     rescinded, and (iii) an incumbency certificate executed on behalf of Parent
     and the  Merger Sub by their  respective  corporate  secretaries  or one of
     their respective assistant corporate secretaries certifying,  in each case,
     the signature and office of each officer  executing  this  Agreement or any
     other agreement, certificate or other instrument executed pursuant hereto;

          (d) the Company shall have received a letter  addressed to the Company
     from  Squire,  Sanders & Dempsey  L.L.P.  based on  customary  reliance and
     subject to customary qualifications, to the effect that:

                  (i)   Each of  Parent  and  the  Merger  Sub is a  corporation
                        validly  existing and in good standing under the laws of
                        the State of Delaware.

                  (ii)  Parent  has  the  corporate   power  to  consummate  the
                        transactions on its part contemplated by this Agreement.
                        Parent has duly taken all requisite  corporate action to
                        authorize  this  Agreement;  and this Agreement has been
                        duly  executed and  delivered by Parent and  constitutes
                        the valid and binding obligation of Parent.

                  (iii) The Merger Sub has the corporate power to consummate the
                        transactions on its part contemplated by this Agreement.
                        The Merger Sub has duly  taken all  requisite  corporate
                        action to authorize  this  Agreement and the articles of
                        merger  contemplated  in Section 1.3; and this Agreement
                        and such  articles of merger have been duly executed and
                        delivered  by the  Merger Sub and  constitute  valid and
                        binding obligations of the Merger Sub.

            (e) the Company shall not have  discovered any fact or  circumstance
      existing  as of the date of this  Agreement  which  has not been  publicly
      disclosed  by  Parent  as of the  date of  this  Agreement  regarding  the
      business, assets, properties,  condition (financial or otherwise), results
      of  operations  or  prospects  of Parent  and its  subsidiaries  which is,
      individually or in the aggregate with other such facts and  circumstances,
      materially  adverse to Parent and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or to
      the value of the shares of Parent Class A Common Stock.

            (f) The holders of all of the shares of convertible  preferred stock
      of the Company shall have agreed to convert such stock into Company Common
      Stock  and to waive  any  unpaid  dividends  effective  at or prior to the
      Effective Time.

                                       48
<PAGE>
            (g) Nations  Bank,  the  provider of the  Company's  line of credit,
      shall have consented to the Merger.

     6.3 ADDITIONAL  CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT AND THE MERGER SUB. The
obligations  of Parent and the Merger Sub to effect the Merger are also  subject
to the following conditions:

            (a) the  representations  and warranties of the Company set forth in
      Article 3 of this  Agreement  shall be true and  correct  in all  material
      respects as of the  Effective  Time as if made at and as of the  Effective
      Time,  and the Company shall in all material  respects have performed each
      obligation  and  agreement and complied with each covenant to be performed
      and complied  with by it hereunder  at or prior to the  Effective  Time. A
      representation  or warranty  that is  expressly  subject to a  materiality
      limitation shall not be subject to a further  materiality  limitation as a
      result  of  the  use of the  phrase  "in  all  material  respects"  in the
      preceding sentence;

            (b) the  Company  shall  have  furnished  to  Parent a  certificate,
      executed  by an  appropriate  executive  officer,  certifying  that (A) an
      appropriate  inquiry has been made of the executive officers and employees
      of the Company and the Subsidiaries, and after completion of such inquiry,
      neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries nor any of the individuals
      executing such  certificate  has any reason to believe that the conditions
      set  forth  in  Section  6.3(a)  have  not  been  fulfilled,  and  (B) the
      representations  and warranties  made by the Company in this Agreement are
      true and  correct  as of the  Effective  Time and  that  the  Company  has
      complied  with  all of the  covenants  of the  Company  set  forth in this
      Agreement;

            (c) the  Company  shall have  furnished  to Parent (i) a copy of the
      text of the  resolutions by which the board of Directors and  shareholders
      of the Company approved this Agreement (including, without limitation, the
      plan of  merger  contained  herein)  and the  Merger;  (ii) a  certificate
      executed on behalf of the Company by its corporate secretary certifying to
      Parent  that  such  copy  is a true,  correct  and  complete  copy of such
      resolutions and that such  resolutions were duly adopted and have not been
      amended or  rescinded;  and (iii) an  incumbency  certificate  executed on
      behalf of the Company by its corporate secretary  certifying the signature
      and  office  of  each  officer  executing  this  Agreement  or  any  other
      agreement, certificate or other instrument executed pursuant hereto;

            (d) Parent shall have received a letter addressed to Parent from the
      law firm of Gray, Harris and Robinson,  Professional Association, based on
      customary reliance and subject to customary qualifications,  to the effect
      that:

                  (i)   The Company is a corporation  validly  existing with the
                        corporate authority to own, pledge, mortgage and operate
                        its  properties,  to lease any  properties  it  operates
                        under lease,  to conduct its business as it is presently
                        conducted and is in good standing  under the laws of the
                        State of Delaware.

                                       49
<PAGE>
                  (ii)  The authorized capital of the Company consists of shares
                        of capital stock,  designated  "Common  Stock," having a
                        par  value of $.01 per  share,  of which  the  number of
                        shares indicated in such letter are outstanding,  all of
                        which were duly authorized,  validly issued,  fully paid
                        and non-assessable, with no personal liability attaching
                        to the  ownership  thereof,  and have not been issued in
                        violation of any preemptive rights under Delaware Law or
                        any Material Contract.

                  (iii) Each  of  the  Subsidiaries  is  a  corporation  validly
                        existing  and in good  standing  under  the  laws of its
                        jurisdiction if incorporation.

                  (iv)  The Company owns all of the outstanding capital stock of
                        each of the  Subsidiaries,  free and  clear of any lien,
                        claim or encumbrance.

                  (v)   The Company has the corporate  power to  consummate  the
                        transactions on its part contemplated by this Agreement;
                        the  Company  has duly  taken  all  requisite  corporate
                        action to authorize  this  Agreement  and each  document
                        constitutes the legal,  valid and binding  obligation of
                        the   Company,   enforceable   against  the  Company  in
                        accordance  with its terms,  and the  articles of merger
                        contemplated in Section 1.3; and this Agreement and such
                        articles of merger have been duly executed and delivered
                        by  the  Company  and   constitute   valid  and  binding
                        obligations of the Company.

                  (vi)  No actions are required to be taken in order to make the
                        Merger  effective  which have not been taken on or prior
                        to the  delivery of such letter  except the  delivery of
                        the  articles of merger  contemplated  in Section 1.3 to
                        the  Secretary  of State of the  State  of  Delaware  in
                        accordance with Delaware Law.

                  (vii) Neither  the  execution  and  delivery by the Company of
                        this Agreement,  nor the  consummation by the Company of
                        the  transactions  contemplated  hereby (a)  violates or
                        contravenes   any   of  the   Company's   organizational
                        documents;  (b) violates or  contravenes  any applicable
                        law;  (c)  violates  or  contravenes  any  order,  writ,
                        injunction  or  decree  of  any  court  or  governmental
                        instrumentality;  (d)  results  in  the  breach  of,  or
                        constitutes  a default  under,  or requires  any consent
                        under,  any  Material  Contract;   (e)  results  in  the
                        creation or imposition of any lien,  mortgage,  security
                        interest,  charge  or  encumbrance  under  any  Material
                        Contract;  or (f) except to the extent already obtained,

                                       50
<PAGE>
                        requires  the consent or  approval  of, or any filing or
                        registration  with, the Shareholders or any Governmental
                        Authority.

                 (viii) There are no judgments,  orders,  injunctions,  or other
                        restraints  issued or filed against the Company,  nor is
                        there any pending or threatened litigation,  arbitration
                        proceeding or governmental or administrative proceedings
                        against or involving the Company.

                  (ix)  The Company is not an "investment company" registered or
                        required to be registered  under the Investment  Company
                        Act of 1940,  as  amended  (the  "1940  ACT") nor is the
                        Company  "controlled"  by  such a  company,  within  the
                        meaning of the 1940 Act.

                  (x)   The Company is not a "holding  company" or a "subsidiary
                        company" of a "holding  company" or an  "affiliate" of a
                        "holding  company"  within  the  meaning  of The  Public
                        Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended;

          (e) Parent shall not have discovered any fact or circumstance existing
     as of the date of this Agreement which has not been disclosed in writing to
     Parent  by the  Company  as of the  date of this  Agreement  regarding  the
     business, assets, properties,  condition (financial or otherwise),  results
     of  operations or prospects of the Company and the  Subsidiaries  which is,
     individually  or in the aggregate with other such facts and  circumstances,
     materially adverse to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or
     to the value of the shares of Company Common Stock;

          (f) Parent shall have entered into an Employment  Agreement  with each
     of Dr. Jean-Luc Nogues and Todd Childress;

          (g) the Company  shall not have  received  written  objections  to the
     Merger  pursuant to  applicable  Delaware Law covering  more than 5% of the
     shares  of  Company  Common  Stock  outstanding  immediately  prior  to the
     Effective Time; and

          (h) on the Closing  Date,  the Board of Directors of Parent shall have
     received from Carmichael & Company LLC a written  update,  dated as of such
     date, confirming that, from a financial point of view, the consideration to
     be offered to the  Shareholders  of the Company in the Merger  contemplated
     hereby is fair to Parent.

                                       51
<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE 7

                        TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

     7.1 TERMINATION.  Subject to the provisions  hereof,  this Agreement may be
terminated prior to the Effective Time:

          (a) by Parent,  if there has been a material  breach by the Company or
     any of the  Designated  Persons of any covenant or agreement of the Company
     or any of the  Designated  Persons  set forth in this  Agreement  or in any
     other  agreement or  instrument  delivered to Parent,  which breach has not
     been  cured  within  30 days of the date on which  written  notice  of such
     breach  was first  given to the  Company  or which is not  capable of being
     cured by the Scheduled Closing Time;

          (b) by the Company,  if there has been a material  breach by Parent of
     any covenant or agreement of Parent in this Agreement, which breach has not
     been  cured  within  30 days of the date on which  written  notice  of such
     breach was first  given to Parent or which is not capable of being cured by
     the Scheduled Closing Time;

          (c) by  Parent,  if  Parent  reasonably  determines  that  the  timely
     satisfaction  of any  condition  set  forth  in  Section  6.1 or 6.3 by the
     Scheduled Closing Time has become impossible (other than as a result of any
     failure on the part of Parent or Merger Sub to comply  with or perform  any
     covenant  or  obligation  of  Parent  or  Merger  Sub  set  forth  in  this
     Agreement);

          (d) by the  Company,  if the Company  reasonably  determines  that the
     timely satisfaction of any condition set forth in Section 6.1 or 6.2 by the
     Scheduled Closing Time has become impossible (other than as a result of any
     failure  on the part of the  Company  or any of the  Designated  Persons to
     comply  with or  perform  any  covenant  or  obligation  set  forth in this
     Agreement or in any other agreement or instrument delivered to Parent);

          (e)  by  Parent,  at or  after  the  Scheduled  Closing  Time,  if any
     condition  set forth in Section  6.1 or 6.3 has not been  satisfied  by the
     Scheduled  Closing  Time (other than as a result of any failure on the part
     of  Parent  or  Merger  Sub to  comply  with or  perform  any  covenant  or
     obligation of Parent or Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement);

          (f) by the Company,  at or after the  Scheduled  Closing  Time, if any
     condition  set forth in Section  6.1 or 6.2 has not been  satisfied  by the
     Scheduled  Closing  Time (other than as a result of any failure on the part
     of the Company or any of the  Designated  Persons to comply with or perform
     any  covenant or  obligation  set forth in this  Agreement  or in any other
     agreement or instrument delivered to Parent);

          (g) by Parent,  if the  Closing  has not taken  place on or before the
     Final Date  (other than as a result of any failure on the part of Parent to
     comply with or perform any  covenant or  obligation  of Parent set forth in
     this Agreement);

                                       52
<PAGE>
          (h) by the  Company,  if the  Closing has not taken place on or before
     the Final Date  (other  than as a failure on the part of the Company or any
     of the  Designated  Persons  to comply  with or  perform  any  covenant  or
     obligation  set  forth  in this  Agreement  or in any  other  agreement  or
     instrument delivered to Parent); or

          (i) by the mutual consent of Parent and the Company.

          (j) by Parent, if the  Recalculation  Price shall have decreased by an
     amount  greater  than thirty  percent  (30%) as  compared to the  Execution
     Price; or

          (k) by  Parent,  if the Board of  Directors  of Parent or the  Company
     shall have failed to approve  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or if
     Parent  shall  have  made  the  determination  (in its  sole  and  absolute
     discretion)   that  the   findings   and  results  of  its  due   diligence
     investigation are unsatisfactory.

     As used herein,  the Final Date shall be September 30, 2000, except that if
a temporary,  preliminary or permanent  injunction or other order by any Federal
or state court that would  prohibit or otherwise  restrain  consummation  of the
Merger shall have been issued and shall remain in effect on September  30, 2000,
and such injunction shall not have become final and nonappealable, either party,
by giving the other  written  notice  thereof on or prior to September 30, 2000,
may  extend the time for  consummation  of the  Merger up to and  including  the
earlier of the date such  injunction  shall  become final and  nonappealable  or
October 31, 2000, so long as such party shall, at its own expense,  use its best
efforts to have such injunction dissolved.

     7.2  TERMINATION  PROCEDURES.  If Parent wishes to terminate this Agreement
pursuant to Section 7.1(a),  Section  7.1(c),  Section 7.1(e) or Section 7.1(g),
Parent  shall  deliver to the Company a written  notice  stating  that Parent is
terminating this Agreement and setting forth a brief description of the basis on
which Parent is terminating  this Agreement.  If the Company wishes to terminate
this Agreement  pursuant to Section 7.1(b),  Section  7.1(d),  Section 7.1(f) or
Section  7.1(h),  the Company shall deliver to Parent a written  notice  stating
that the  Company  is  terminating  this  Agreement  and  setting  forth a brief
description of the basis on which the Company is terminating this Agreement.

     7.3 EFFECT OF  TERMINATION.  If this  Agreement is  terminated  pursuant to
Section 7.1, all further  obligations of the parties under this Agreement  shall
terminate.  If this Agreement is terminated  pursuant to Section 7.1 as a result
of the inaccuracy of any  representation or warranty of Parent or the Merger Sub
set forth in Article 2 or the  inaccuracy of any  representation  or warranty of
the  Company  set  forth  in  Article  3,  the  party  making  such   inaccurate
representation  or warranty shall be subject to liability for the termination of
this  Agreement  as a  result  thereof  only  if  and  to the  extent  that  any
Responsible  Officer (as defined  below) of such party had actual  knowledge  of
such inaccuracy.  For purposes hereof,  "Responsible Officer" of any party shall
mean the chairman of the board of directors,  the chief executive  officer,  the
chief  operating  officer,  the chief  financial  officer,  any  executive  vice
president, the treasurer or the secretary of such party.

                                       53
<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE 8

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

     8.1 AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in
writing  approved by the parties to this  Agreement and signed on behalf of each
of the parties hereto; provided,  however, that, after approval of the Merger by
the  shareholders  of the Company,  no amendment  may be made which  changes the
amount into which each share of Company  Common  Stock will be  converted in the
Merger or effects any change which would  materially  and  adversely  affect the
shareholders of the Company without the further  approval of the shareholders of
the Company.

     8.2 WAIVER.  At any time prior to the Effective  Time, any party hereto may
(a) extend the time for the  performance of any of the obligations or other acts
of any other party hereto or (b) waive  compliance  with any of the agreement of
any other party or with any conditions to its own obligations, in each case only
to the extent such  obligations,  agreements and conditions are intended for its
benefit.  No  failure  on the part of any party  hereto to  exercise  any power,
right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, and no delay on the part of any
party  hereto in  exercising  any power,  right,  privilege or remedy under this
agreement,  shall operate as a waiver of such power, right, privilege or remedy,
and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right,  privilege or remedy
shall  preclude  any other or future  exercise  thereof  or of any other  power,
right,  privilege or remedy.  No party hereto shall be deemed to have waived any
claim arising out of this Agreement,  or any power,  right,  privilege or remedy
under this Agreement,  unless the waiver of such claim, power, right,  privilege
or remedy is  expressly  set forth in a written  instrument  duly  executed  and
delivered on behalf of such party,  and any such waiver shall not be  applicable
or have any effect except in the specific instance in which it was given.

     8.3 PUBLIC STATEMENTS. Except as required by applicable law, no party shall
make any public  announcement  or  statement  with  respect to the Merger,  this
Agreement or any related  transaction without the approval of the other parties,
which approval will not be unreasonably withheld. Moreover, each party agrees to
consult with the other parties prior to issuing any such public  announcement or
statement.

     8.4 NOTICES.  All notices and other  communications  hereunder  shall be in
writing and shall be sufficiently  given if made by hand delivery,  by telex, by
telecopier,  or by  registered  or certified  mail  (postage  prepaid and return
receipt  requested) to the parties at the following  addresses (or at such other
address for a party as shall be specified by it by like notice):

     If to Parent or
       the Merger Sub:       LightPath Technologies, Inc.
                             6820 Academy Parkway East, N.E.
                             Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109
                             Telecopy: (505) 342-1115
                             Attn.: Chief Executive Officer

     With a copy to:         Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.
                             40 N. Central Avenue
                             Phoenix, Arizona  85004
                             Telecopy: (602) 253-8129
                             Attn.: Joseph M. Crabb, Esq.

                                       54
<PAGE>
     If to the Company:      Geltech, Inc.
                             3267 Progress Drive
                             Orlando, Florida 32826
                             Telecopy: (407) 382-4007
                             Attn.: Chief Executive Officer

     With a copy to:         Gray, Harris and Robinson, Professional Association
                             201 East Pine Street, Suite 1200
                             Orlando, Florida  32802
                             Telecopy: (407) 244-5690
                             Attn: William A. Grimm

     All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to have been duly
given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days after
being  deposited  in the mail,  postage  prepaid,  if  delivered  by mail;  when
answered back, if telexed; and when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied.

     8.5  INTERPRETATION.  When  a  reference  is  made  in  this  Agreement  to
subsidiaries  of  Parent,  the  word  "subsidiary"  means  any   "majority-owned
subsidiary"  (as  defined  in Rule  12b-2  under the  Exchange  Act) of  Parent;
provided,  however,  that  the  Company  shall  in no  event  and at no  time be
considered a subsidiary of Parent for purposes of this  Agreement.  The headings
contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect
in any way the  meaning  or  interpretation  of this  Agreement.  References  to
Sections and Articles  refer to sections and articles of this  Agreement  unless
otherwise stated.  Words such as "herein,"  "hereinafter,"  "hereof,"  "hereto,"
"hereby" and "hereunder," and words of like import,  unless the context requires
otherwise,  refer to this  Agreement  (including  the exhibits  and  attachments
hereto). As used in this Agreement,  the masculine,  feminine and neuter genders
shall be deemed to include the others if the context requires.

     8.6  SEVERABILITY.  If term,  provision,  covenant or  restriction  of this
Agreement is held by a court of competent  jurisdiction  to be invalid,  void or
unenforceable,   the  remainder  of  the  terms,   provisions,   covenants,  and
restrictions  of this Agreement  shall remain in full force and effect and shall
in no way be affected,  impaired or invalidated  and the parties shall negotiate
in good faith to modify this  Agreement  to preserve  each  party's  anticipated
benefits under this Agreement.

     8.7  MISCELLANEOUS.  This Agreement  (together with all other documents and
instruments  referred to herein):  (a)  constitutes  the entire  agreement,  and
supersedes all other prior agreements and  undertakings,  both written and oral,
among the  parties,  with  respect  to the  subject  matter  hereof;  (b) is not
intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies  hereunder;  (c)
shall not be assigned by operation of law or  otherwise,  except that Parent and
the  Merger  Sub may  assign  all or any  portion  of their  rights  under  this
Agreement to any wholly owned  subsidiary,  but no such assignment shall relieve
Parent and the Merger Sub of their obligations  hereunder,  and except that this
Agreement  may be assigned by operation of law to any  corporation  with or into
which Parent may be merged; and (d) shall be governed in all respects, including
validity,  interpretation  and  effect,  by the  internal  laws of the  State of
Delaware,  without giving effect to any principles of conflict of laws or choice
of law; provided,  however, that the Letter of Intent shall remain in full force

                                       55
<PAGE>
and effect  notwithstanding  the  execution  and delivery of this  Agreement and
nothing in this Agreement shall supersede any of the provisions of the Letter of
Intent.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in two or  more  counterparts  which
together shall constitute a single agreement.

     8.8 NON-SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and
warranties  of the parties set forth herein shall  terminate as of the Effective
Time. Notwithstanding this provision, nothing in this Section 8.8 shall prohibit
the  Company  or any  shareholder  of the  Company  from  obtaining  a remedy if
applicable  securities  laws have been violated by the Parent in the issuance of
the  Share  Consideration  to  the  Company's   shareholders  pursuant  to  this
Agreement.

     8.9 ENTIRE AGREEMENT;  NO THIRD PARTY  BENEFICIARIES;  RIGHTS OF OWNERSHIP.
This Agreement  (including the documents and the instruments referred to herein)
(a) constitutes the entire  agreement among the parties and supercedes all prior
agreements  and  understandings,  both written and oral,  among the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof,  other than the confidentiality  provision
of the Letter of Intent, which should survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement  and (b) except as provided in Sections 5.13 and 5.15, is not intended
to confer upon any person  other than the parties  hereto any rights or remedies
hereunder. The parties acknowledge that no party shall have the right to acquire
or shall be deemed to have  acquired  shares of common  stock of the other party
pursuant to the Merger until consummation thereof.

     8.10 FAX  SIGNATURES  This  Agreement and any other  document or instrument
relating hereto may be executed by a party's signature  transmitted by facsimile
("fax"),  and  copies of this  Agreement  and any such  document  or  instrument
executed and  delivered by means of faxed  signatures  shall have the same force
and effect as copies hereof executed and delivered with original signatures. All
parties  hereto  may rely  upon  faxed  signatures  as if such  signatures  were
originals.  Any party  executing  and  delivering  this  Agreement  and any such
document or instrument by fax shall  promptly  thereafter  deliver a counterpart
signature page of this Agreement and the fully executed  original or counterpart
original of any such document or  instrument  containing  said party's  original
signature.  All parties  hereto agree that a faxed  signature  may be introduced
into evidence in any  proceeding  arising out of or related to this Agreement or
any such document or instrument as if it were an original signature.

               [REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       56
<PAGE>
                                MERGER AGREEMENT


                                 SIGNATURE PAGE


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, the Merger Sub and the Company have caused this
Agreement  to be executed on the date first  written  above by their  respective
officers thereunder duly authorized.

                                        LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


                                        By: /s/ Donald E. Lawson
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name: Donald E. Lawson
                                        Title: President and Chief Executive
                                               Officer


                                        LPI TWO MERGER CORPORATION


                                        By: /s/ Donald E. Lawson
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name: Donald E. Lawson
                                        Title: President


                                        GELTECH, INC.


                                        By: /s/ D. Todd Childress
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name: D. Todd Childress
                                        Title: Chief Financial Officer and
                                               Secretary

                                        By: /s/ Jean-Luc Nogues
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name: Jean-Luc Nogues
                                        Title: Chief Operating Officer

                                       57


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