TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR INC
8-K, EX-2, 2000-10-30
SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES
Previous: TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR INC, 8-K, 2000-10-30
Next: TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR INC, 8-K, EX-2, 2000-10-30





                                                                     Exhibit 2.1

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY






                      AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

                                  BY AND AMONG

                       MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED,



                           MATCHBOX ACQUISITION CORP.

                                       AND

                           TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                                                                   Page
                                                                                                                   ----
<S>      <C>               <C>                                                                                       <C>
ARTICLE I THE MERGER..................................................................................................2

         Section 1.01      The Merger.................................................................................2
         ------------      ----------
         Section 1.02      Effective Time; Closing....................................................................2
         ------------      -----------------------
         Section 1.03      Effect of the Merger.......................................................................2
         ------------      --------------------
         Section 1.04      Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws.......................................................3
         ------------      ------------------------------------
         Section 1.05      Directors and Officers.....................................................................3
         ------------      ----------------------
         Section 1.06      Effect on Capital Stock....................................................................3
         ------------      -----------------------
         Section 1.07      Surrender of Certificates..................................................................4
         ------------      -------------------------
         Section 1.08      No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock........................................6
         ------------      ---------------------------------------------------
         Section 1.09      Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.....................................................6
         ------------      --------------------------------------
         Section 1.10      Tax and Accounting Consequences............................................................6
         ------------      -------------------------------
         Section 1.11      Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action.................................................7
         ------------      ------------------------------------------

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

         Section 2.01      Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries...............................................7
         ------------      --------------------------------------------
         Section 2.02      Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws....................................................8
         ------------      ---------------------------------------
         Section 2.03      Capitalization.............................................................................8
         ------------      --------------
         Section 2.04      Authority Relative to this Agreement......................................................10
         ------------      ------------------------------------
         Section 2.05      No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents................................................10
         ------------      ------------------------------------------
         Section 2.06      Legal Compliance; Permits.................................................................11
         ------------      -------------------------
         Section 2.07      SEC Filings; Financial Statements.........................................................11
         ------------      ---------------------------------
         Section 2.08      No Undisclosed Liabilities................................................................12
         ------------      --------------------------
         Section 2.09      Absence of Certain Changes or Events......................................................12
         ------------      ------------------------------------
         Section 2.10      Absence of Litigation.....................................................................13
         ------------      ---------------------
         Section 2.11      Employee Benefit Plans....................................................................13
         ------------      ----------------------
         Section 2.12      Registration Statement; Proxy Statement...................................................16
         ------------      ---------------------------------------
         Section 2.13      Restrictions on Business Activities.......................................................16
         ------------      -----------------------------------
         Section 2.14      Title to Property.........................................................................16
         ------------      -----------------
         Section 2.15      Taxes.....................................................................................17
         ------------      -----
         Section 2.16      Brokers...................................................................................19
         ------------      -------
         Section 2.17      Intellectual Property.....................................................................19
         ------------      ---------------------
         Section 2.18      Agreements, Contracts and Commitments.....................................................22
         ------------      -------------------------------------
         Section 2.19      Opinion of Financial Advisor..............................................................23
         ------------      ----------------------------
         Section 2.20      Board Approval............................................................................23
         ------------      --------------
         Section 2.21      Vote Required.............................................................................24
         ------------      -------------
         Section 2.22      Company Rights Agreement..................................................................24
         ------------      ------------------------
         Section 2.23      Pooling of Interests......................................................................24
         ------------      --------------------
         Section 2.24      Labor Matters.............................................................................24
         ------------      -------------
         Section 2.25      Environmental Matters.....................................................................24
         ------------      ---------------------
                                                                           -i-

<PAGE>

                                                       TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                          (continued)
                                                                                                                   Page
                                                                                                                   ----


         Section 2.26      Insurance.................................................................................25
         ------------      ---------
         Section 2.27      State Takeover Statutes...................................................................25
         ------------      -----------------------

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB..................................................25

         Section 3.01      Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries..............................................26
         ------------      --------------------------------------------
         Section 3.02      Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws...................................................26
         ------------      ---------------------------------------
         Section 3.03      Capitalization............................................................................26
         ------------      --------------
         Section 3.04      Authority Relative to this Agreement......................................................27
         ------------      ------------------------------------
         Section 3.05      No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents................................................27
         ------------      ------------------------------------------
         Section 3.06      Legal Compliance..........................................................................28
         ------------      ----------------
         Section 3.07      SEC Filings; Financial Statements.........................................................28
         ------------      ---------------------------------
         Section 3.08      No Undisclosed Liabilities................................................................29
         ------------      --------------------------
         Section 3.09      Absence of Certain Changes or Events......................................................29
         ------------      ------------------------------------
         Section 3.10      Absence of Litigation.....................................................................29
         ------------      ---------------------
         Section 3.11      Registration Statement; Proxy Statement...................................................30
         ------------      ---------------------------------------
         Section 3.12      Taxes.....................................................................................30
         ------------      -----
         Section 3.13      Brokers...................................................................................31
         ------------      -------
         Section 3.14      Intellectual Property.....................................................................31
         ------------      ---------------------
         Section 3.15      Opinion of Financial Advisor..............................................................31
         ------------      ----------------------------
         Section 3.16      Board Approval............................................................................31
         ------------      --------------
         Section 3.17      Pooling of Interests......................................................................31
         ------------      --------------------
         Section 3.18      State Takeover Statutes...................................................................32
         ------------      -----------------------

ARTICLE IV CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME.......................................................................32

         Section 4.01      Conduct of Business by Company............................................................32
         ------------      ------------------------------
         Section 4.02      Conduct of Business by Parent.............................................................35
         ------------      -----------------------------

ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS......................................................................................36

         Section 5.01      Proxy  Statement/Prospectus;  Registration  Statement;  Other  Filings;  Board
         ------------      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Recommendations....................................................................................36
                  ---------------
         Section 5.02      Stockholder Meeting.......................................................................37
         ------------      -------------------
         Section 5.03      Confidentiality; Access to Information....................................................39
         ------------      --------------------------------------
         Section 5.04      No Solicitation...........................................................................39
         ------------      ---------------
         Section 5.05      Public Disclosure.........................................................................41
         ------------      -----------------
         Section 5.06      Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Notification.............................................41
         ------------      ---------------------------------------------
         Section 5.07      Third Party Consents......................................................................42
         ------------      --------------------
         Section 5.08      Stock Options; ESPP and Employee Benefits.................................................42
         ------------      -----------------------------------------
         Section 5.09      Form S-8..................................................................................44
         ------------      --------
         Section 5.10      Indemnification...........................................................................44
         ------------      ---------------

                                                                           -ii-

<PAGE>

                                                       TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                          (continued)
                                                                                                                   Page
                                                                                                                   ----



         Section 5.11      Affiliate Agreements; Pooling Actions.....................................................45
         ------------      -------------------------------------
         Section 5.12      Regulatory Filings; Reasonable Efforts....................................................45
         ------------      --------------------------------------
         Section 5.13      Action by Board of Directors..............................................................46
         ------------      ----------------------------
         Section 5.14      Nasdaq Listing............................................................................46
         ------------      --------------

ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER..................................................................................46

         Section 6.01      Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger..............................46
         ------------      ------------------------------------------------------------
         Section 6.02      Additional Conditions to Obligations of Company...........................................47
         ------------      -----------------------------------------------
         Section 6.03      Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub.........................47
         ------------      ----------------------------------------------------------------

ARTICLE VII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER........................................................................49

         Section 7.01      Termination...............................................................................49
         ------------      -----------
         Section 7.02      Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination..............................................50
         ------------      --------------------------------------------
         Section 7.03      Fees and Expenses.........................................................................51
         ------------      -----------------
         Section 7.04      Amendment.................................................................................52
         ------------      ---------
         Section 7.05      Extension; Waiver.........................................................................52
         ------------      -----------------

ARTICLE VIII GENERAL PROVISIONS......................................................................................52

         Section 8.01      Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties............................................52
         ------------      ----------------------------------------------
         Section 8.02      Notices...................................................................................52
         ------------      -------
         Section 8.03      Interpretation............................................................................53
         ------------      --------------
         Section 8.04      Counterparts..............................................................................54
         ------------      ------------
         Section 8.05      Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries...............................................54
         ------------      -------------------------------------------
         Section 8.06      Severability..............................................................................54
         ------------      ------------
         Section 8.07      Other Remedies; Specific Performance......................................................55
         ------------      ------------------------------------
         Section 8.08      Governing Law.............................................................................55
         ------------      -------------
         Section 8.09      Rules of Construction.....................................................................55
         ------------      ---------------------
         Section 8.10      Assignment................................................................................55
         ------------      ----------
         Section 8.11      Waiver of Jury Trial......................................................................55
         ------------      --------------------
</TABLE>

                                                                           -iii-


<PAGE>






                                INDEX OF EXHIBITS
                                -----------------

Exhibit A                  Form of Company Voting Agreement

Exhibit B                  Form of Stock Option Agreement

Exhibit C-1                Form of Company Affiliate Agreement

Exhibit C-2                Form of Parent Affiliate Agreement


                                      -iv-

<PAGE>



                      AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

         This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF  REORGANIZATION  (this  "Agreement") is made
and  entered  into  as  of  October  26,  2000,   among   Microchip   Technology
Incorporated,  a Delaware corporation ("Parent"),  Matchbox Acquisition Corp., a
Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), and
Telcom Semiconductor, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Company").

                                    RECITALS

     A. Upon the terms and subject to the  conditions  of this  Agreement and in
accordance with the Delaware General  Corporation Law ("Delaware Law"),  Parent,
Merger Sub and Company intend to enter into a business combination transaction.

     B. The Board of Directors of Company (i) has determined that the Merger (as
defined in Section 1.01) is consistent  with and in furtherance of the long-term
business  strategy of Company and fair to, and in the best interests of, Company
and its stockholders, (ii) has approved this Agreement, the Merger and the other
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  (iii) has adopted a  resolution
declaring the Merger advisable and (iv) has determined  unanimously to recommend
that the stockholders of Company adopt this Agreement.

     C. The Board of Directors of Parent (i) has  determined  that the Merger is
consistent with and in furtherance of the long-term  business strategy of Parent
and fair to, and in the best interests of, Parent and its stockholders, (ii) has
approved this Agreement,  the Merger and the other transactions  contemplated by
this  Agreement,  and  (iii) has  adopted  a  resolution  declaring  the  Merger
advisable.

     D. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement and as a condition and
inducement to Parent's  willingness  to enter into this  Agreement:  (1) certain
stockholders of Company are entering into Voting Agreements in substantially the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Company Voting Agreements"), (2) Company
is  executing  and  delivering  a Stock  Option  Agreement in favor of Parent in
substantially  the  form  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  B  (the  "Stock  Option
Agreement"),  and (3) certain  Company  Affiliates  are  entering  into  Company
Affiliate  Agreements in  substantially  the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-1
(the "Company Affiliate Agreements").

     E. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement and as a condition and
inducement to Parent's  willingness to enter into this Agreement  certain Parent
Affiliates are entering into Parent Affiliate  Agreements in  substantially  the
form attached hereto as Exhibit C-2 (the "Parent Affiliate Agreements").

     F. The parties  intend,  by executing  this  Agreement,  to adopt a plan of
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

<PAGE>


     G. It is also intended by the parties  hereto that the Merger shall qualify
for accounting treatment as a "pooling of interests."

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

                                   ARTICLE I
                                  THE MERGER

     Section 1.01 The Merger. At the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.02)
and  subject  to and upon the terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement  and the
applicable  provisions of Delaware Law, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into
Company (the  "Merger"),  the separate  corporate  existence of Merger Sub shall
cease and Company shall  continue as the surviving  corporation.  Company as the
surviving  corporation after the Merger is hereinafter  sometimes referred to as
the "Surviving  Corporation."

     Section 1.02 Effective  Time;  Closing.  As soon as practicable on or after
the  Closing  Date (as  defined  in this  Section  1.2),  and upon the terms and
subject to the conditions of this Agreement,  the parties hereto shall cause the
Merger to be consummated by filing a Certificate of Merger (the  "Certificate of
Merger") with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with
the  applicable  provisions  of  Delaware  Law (the time of such filing (or such
later time as may be agreed upon in writing by Parent and Company and  specified
in the Certificate of Merger) being referred to herein as the "Effective Time").
The closing of the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby (the
"Closing")  shall take place at the offices of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,
Professional  Corporation,  located at One Market,  Spear Tower, Suite 3300, San
Francisco,  California  94105,  at a date and time to be specified by Parent and
Company,  which shall be no later than the second  business  day  following  the
satisfaction  or, if permitted  pursuant  hereto,  waiver of the  conditions set
forth in Article VI hereof,  or at such other location,  date and time as Parent
and Company  shall  mutually  agree in writing.  The date upon which the Closing
actually  occurs shall be referred to herein as the "Closing Date."

     Section 1.03 Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the
Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement and the  applicable  provisions of
Delaware Law.  Without  limiting the  generality of the  foregoing,  and subject
thereto, at the Effective Time all the property, rights, privileges,  powers and
franchises  of Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the  Surviving  Corporation,
and all debts, liabilities and duties of Company and Merger Sub shall become the
debts,  liabilities  and  duties  of the  Surviving  Corporation.


                                      -2-

<PAGE>

     Section 1.04  Certificate of  Incorporation;  Bylaws.

          (a) At the Effective Time,  subject to the provisions of Section 5.10,
     the Certificate of  Incorporation  of Company shall be amended and restated
     to be identical to the  Certificate of  Incorporation  in effect for Merger
     Sub at the Effective Time.

          (b) Subject to the  provisions of Section 5.10,  the Bylaws of Company
     shall be amended  and  restated to be those in effect for Merger Sub at the
     Effective Time.

     Section 1.05 Directors and Officers. The initial directors of the Surviving
Corporation  shall be the  directors  of  Merger  Sub  immediately  prior to the
Effective  Time  until  their  successors  shall  have  been  duly  elected  and
qualified.  The  initial  officers  of the  Surviving  Corporation  shall be the
officers  of Merger Sub  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time until  their
successors  shall have been duly elected and  qualified.

     Section 1.06 Effect on Capital  Stock.  Subject to the terms and conditions
of this  Agreement,  at the Effective  Time, by virtue of the Merger and without
any action on the part of Parent,  Merger Sub,  Company or the holders of any of
the following securities, the following shall occur:

          (a)  Conversion of Company  Common Stock.  Each share of common stock,
     par value $0.001 per share,  of Company (the "Company Common Stock") issued
     and  outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective  Time (other than any
     share of Company Common Stock to be canceled and  extinguished  pursuant to
     Section  1.06(b))  will be  automatically  converted  (subject  to Sections
     1.06(e)  and (f)) into a  fraction  of a share of Parent  Common  Stock (as
     defined  below) (the  "Exchange  Ratio") equal to (x) $15.00 divided by (y)
     the average closing sale price of one share of common stock of Parent,  par
     value $0.001 per share  ("Parent  Common  Stock"),  on the Nasdaq  National
     Market  during  the  ten  (10)  trading  days  ending  on the  trading  day
     immediately prior to the Effective Time (the "ACP");  provided, that if the
     ACP is greater than $32.61,  the Exchange Ratio shall be .46, and provided,
     further  that if the ACP is less than $28.30,  the Exchange  Ratio shall be
     .53. 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 Company,  then,  except to the
     extent  otherwise  provided in such agreement,  the shares of Parent 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
     Common Stock may accordingly be marked with appropriate legends.

          (b) Cancellation of Company-Owned  Stock. Each share of Company Common
     Stock held by Company or any direct or indirect wholly-owned  subsidiary of
     Company  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time shall be  canceled  and
     extinguished without any conversion thereof.

          (c) Stock Options;  Employee Stock  Purchase  Plans.  At the Effective
     Time, all options to purchase Company Common Stock then  outstanding  under
     Company's  1994 Stock Option Plan, the Company's 1996 Director Stock Option
     Plan and the Company's 2000  Non-Statutory  Stock Option Plan (the "Company

                                      -3-
<PAGE>


     Option Plans"),  and the Company Option Plans themselves,  shall, except as
     otherwise set forth herein, be assumed by Parent in accordance with Section
     5.08. At the Effective  Time, all purchase  rights then  outstanding  under
     Company's  1995 Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan (the "ESPP"),  and the ESPP
     itself, shall be assumed by Parent in accordance with Section 5.08.

          (d) Capital Stock of Merger Sub.  Each share of Common  Stock,  $0.001
     par value per share,  of Merger Sub (the "Merger Sub Common  Stock") issued
     and outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted
     into one  validly  issued,  fully  paid and  nonassessable  share of Common
     Stock,  $0.001  par value per share,  of the  Surviving  Corporation.  Each
     certificate evidencing ownership of shares of Merger Sub Common Stock shall
     evidence  ownership  of such  shares  of  capital  stock  of the  Surviving
     Corporation.

          (e)  Adjustments  to  Exchange  Ratio.  The  Exchange  Ratio  shall be
     adjusted to reflect  appropriately  the effect of any stock split,  reverse
     stock split,  stock  dividend  (including any dividend or  distribution  of
     securities  convertible  into or  exercisable  or  exchangeable  for Parent
     Common  Stock  or  Company  Common  Stock),  extraordinary  cash  dividend,
     reorganization,  recapitalization,  reclassification, combination, exchange
     of shares or other  like  change  with  respect to Parent  Common  Stock or
     Company Common Stock occurring or having a record date on or after the date
     hereof and prior to the Effective Time.

          (f) Fractional  Shares.  No fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock
     will be issued by virtue of the Merger,  but in lieu thereof each holder of
     shares of Company Common Stock who would otherwise be entitled to receive a
     fraction  of  a  share  of  Parent  Common  Stock  (after  aggregating  all
     fractional  shares of Parent Common Stock that otherwise  would be received
     by such holder) shall, upon surrender of such holder's  Certificates(s) (as
     defined in Section 1.07(c)), receive from Parent an amount of cash (rounded
     to the nearest whole cent),  without interest,  equal to the product of (i)
     such fraction, multiplied by (ii) the average closing price of one share of
     Parent  Common  Stock for the five (5) most recent days that Parent  Common
     Stock  has  traded  ending  on the  trading  day  immediately  prior to the
     Effective Time, as reported on the Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq").

     Section 1.07 Surrender of Certificates.

          (a) Exchange Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall select a
     bank or  trust  company  reasonably  acceptable  to  Company  to act as the
     exchange agent (the "Exchange Agent") in the Merger.

          (b) Parent to Provide Common Stock. Promptly after the Effective Time,
     Parent  shall  make  available  to the  Exchange  Agent,  for  exchange  in
     accordance  with this Article I, the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable
     pursuant to Section 1.06(a) in exchange for  outstanding  shares of Company
     Common  Stock,  and cash in an amount  sufficient  for  payment  in lieu of
     fractional  shares  pursuant  to  Section  1.06(f)  and  any  dividends  or
     distributions  to which  holders of shares of Company  Common  Stock may be
     entitled pursuant to Section 1.07(d).

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

          (c) Exchange  Procedures.  Promptly after the Effective  Time,  Parent
     shall cause the Exchange  Agent to mail to each holder of record (as of the
     Effective Time) of a certificate or certificates,  which  immediately prior
     to the Effective  Time  represented  outstanding  shares of Company  Common
     Stock (the  "Certificates")  (i) a letter of  transmittal in customary form
     (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected,  and risk of loss and
     title  to  the   Certificates   shall  pass,  only  upon  delivery  of  the
     Certificates  to the  Exchange  Agent)  and  (ii)  instructions  for use in
     effecting the surrender of the  Certificates  in exchange for  certificates
     representing  shares of Parent  Common Stock  pursuant to Section  1.06(a),
     cash in lieu of any fractional  shares  pursuant to Section 1.06(f) and any
     dividends  or  other  distributions   pursuant  to  Section  1.07(d).  Upon
     surrender of Certificates for cancellation to the Exchange Agent or to such
     other agent or agents as may be  appointed  by Parent,  together  with such
     letter of  transmittal,  duly completed and validly  executed in accordance
     with the instructions  thereto,  the holders of such Certificates  shall be
     entitled  to receive in exchange  therefor  certificates  representing  the
     number of whole  shares of Parent  Common  Stock into which their shares of
     Company Common Stock were converted pursuant to Section 1.06(a), payment in
     lieu of  fractional  shares  which such  holders  have the right to receive
     pursuant  to  Section  1.06(f)  and any  dividends  or other  distributions
     payable  pursuant to Section  1.07(d),  and the Certificates so surrendered
     shall forthwith be canceled. Until so surrendered, outstanding Certificates
     will be deemed,  from and after the  Effective  Time,  to evidence only the
     ownership of the number of whole  shares of Parent  Common Stock into which
     such shares of Company Common Stock shall have been so converted (including
     any voting,  notice or other rights  associated  with the ownership of such
     shares of Parent Common Stock under the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  or
     Bylaws of Parent or under  Delaware Law) and the right to receive an amount
     in cash in lieu of the issuance of any fractional shares in accordance with
     Section 1.06(f) and any dividends or other  distributions  payable pursuant
     to Section 1.07(d).

          (d)  Distributions  With Respect to Unexchanged  Shares.  Dividends or
     other distributions  declared or made after the date of this Agreement with
     respect to Parent Common Stock with a record date after the Effective  Time
     will be paid to the holders of any unsurrendered  Certificates with respect
     to the shares of Parent Common Stock  represented  thereby when the holders
     of record of such Certificates surrender such Certificates.

          (e) Transfers of Ownership.  If  certificates  representing  shares of
     Parent Common Stock are to be issued in a name other than that in which the
     Certificates surrendered in exchange therefor are registered,  it will be a
     condition of the issuance thereof that the Certificates so surrendered will
     be properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the
     persons  requesting such exchange will have (i) paid to Parent or any agent
     designated  by it any  transfer  or other  taxes  required by reason of the
     issuance of certificates  representing shares of Parent Common Stock in any
     name  other  than  that  of  the  registered  holder  of  the  Certificates
     surrendered, or (ii) established to the satisfaction of Parent or any agent
     designated by it that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

          (f) Required  Withholding.  Each of the Exchange Agent, Parent and the
     Surviving  Corporation  shall be entitled to deduct and  withhold  from any
     consideration  payable or otherwise  deliverable pursuant to this Agreement
     to any holder or former  holder of Company  Common  Stock or Company  Stock


                                      -5-

<PAGE>

     Options  such  amounts  as may  be  required  to be  deducted  or  withheld
     therefrom under the Code or state, local or foreign law. To the extent such
     amounts are so deducted or withheld,  such amounts shall be treated for all
     purposes  under this  Agreement  as having  been paid to the person to whom
     such amounts would otherwise have been paid.

          (g) No  Liability.  Notwithstanding  anything to the  contrary in this
     Section 1.07, neither the Exchange Agent, Parent, the Surviving Corporation
     nor any party hereto shall be liable to a holder of shares of Parent Common
     Stock or  Company  Common  Stock for any amount  properly  paid to a public
     official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property,  escheat or similar
     law.

     Section  1.08 No Further  Ownership  Rights in Company  Common  Stock.  All
shares  of  Parent  Common  Stock  issued in  accordance  with the terms  hereof
(including  any cash paid in respect  thereof  pursuant to Sections  1.06(f) and
1.07(d)) shall be deemed to have been issued in full  satisfaction of all rights
pertaining  to such shares of Company  Common  Stock.  There shall be no further
registration of transfers on the records of the Surviving  Corporation of shares
of  Company  Common  Stock  which  were  outstanding  immediately  prior  to the
Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time,  Certificates are presented to the
Surviving  Corporation  for any reason,  they shall be canceled and exchanged as
provided in this Article I.

     Section 1.09 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.  In the event that any
Certificates shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Exchange Agent shall
issue and pay in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates,  upon
the  making of an  affidavit  of that fact by the holder  thereof,  certificates
representing  the shares of Parent Common Stock into which the shares of Company
Common Stock represented by such Certificates were converted pursuant to Section
1.06(a),  cash for  fractional  shares,  if any, as may be required  pursuant to
Section 1.06(f) and any dividends or  distributions  payable pursuant to Section
1.07(d); provided,  however, that the Exchange Agent, may, in its discretion and
as a  condition  precedent  to the  issuance of such  certificates  representing
shares of Parent  Common Stock and the payment of cash and other  distributions,
require the owner of such lost,  stolen or destroyed  Certificates  to deliver a
bond in such sum as it may reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that
may be made against Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent with
respect to the Certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

     Section 1.10 Tax and Accounting Consequences.

          (a) It is  intended  by the  parties  hereto  that  the  Merger  shall
     constitute  a  reorganization  within the meaning of Section  368(a) of the
     Code. The parties hereto 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.

          (b) It is intended by the parties hereto that the Merger shall qualify
     as a "pooling of interests" for accounting purposes.


                                      -6-

<PAGE>

     Section 1.11 Taking of Necessary  Action;  Further Action.  If, at any time
after the Effective  Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry
out the purposes of this  Agreement and to vest the Surviving  Corporation  with
full right, title and possession to all assets,  property,  rights,  privileges,
powers and  franchises  of Company and Merger Sub, the officers and directors of
Parent and the Surviving  Corporation  shall be fully authorized (in the name of
Merger Sub, Company,  the Surviving  Corporation and otherwise) to take all such
necessary action.

                                   ARTICLE II
                  REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     Company  represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub,  subject to such
exceptions  as are  disclosed in writing in the  disclosure  letter  supplied by
Company to Parent dated as of the date hereof (the  "Company  Schedule"),  which
disclosure   shall   provide  an   exception   to  or   otherwise   qualify  the
representations  or  warranties  of  Company  contained  in the  section of this
Agreement   corresponding   by   number  to  such   disclosure   and  the  other
representations  and  warranties  herein to the  extent  such  disclosure  shall
reasonably appear to be applicable to such other  representations or warranties,
as follows:

     Section 2.01 Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.

          (a)  Each  of  Company  and its  subsidiaries  is a  corporation  duly
     organized,  validly  existing  and in good  standing  under the laws of the
     jurisdiction of its incorporation and has the requisite corporate power and
     authority to own,  lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry
     on its business as it is now being conducted.

          (b)  Section  2.01(b)  of the  Company  Schedule  sets  forth (i) each
     subsidiary of Company,  (ii) the ownership  interest therein of Company and
     (iii) if not wholly-owned by Company,  the identity and ownership  interest
     of each other  owner of such  subsidiary.  Neither  Company  nor any of its
     subsidiaries  has agreed to make nor is  obligated  to make nor is bound by
     any  written  or  oral  agreement,  contract,   understanding,   negotiable
     instrument,  commitment or undertaking  of any nature,  in effect as of the
     date hereof or as may hereafter be in effect (a "Contract"), under which it
     may  become  obligated  to  make,  any  future  investment  in  or  capital
     contribution  to  any  other  entity.   Neither  Company  nor  any  of  its
     subsidiaries  directly or indirectly owns any equity or similar interest in
     or any interest convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for, any equity or
     similar interest in, any corporation,  partnership,  joint venture or other
     business,  association  or entity  other than the  entities  identified  in
     Section 2.01(b) of the Company Schedule.

          (c) Company and each of its  subsidiaries  is qualified or licensed to
     do business as a foreign corporation, and is in good standing (with respect
     to  jurisdictions  which  recognize  such  concept),  under the laws of all
     jurisdictions  where  the  character  of the  properties  owned,  leased or

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

     operated  by  them  or  the  nature  of  their  activities   requires  such
     qualification  or  licensing,  except  where the failure to be so qualified
     could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material  Adverse Effect on
     Company.

     Section  2.02  Certificate  of  Incorporation   and  Bylaws.   Company  has
previously furnished to Parent a complete and correct copy of its Certificate of
Incorporation  and  Bylaws  as  amended  and in  effect  as of the  date of this
Agreement  (together,  the "Company  Charter  Documents").  Such Company Charter
Documents and equivalent  organizational  documents of each of its  subsidiaries
are in  full  force  and  effect.  Company  is not  in  violation  of any of the
provisions of the Company Charter Documents,  and no subsidiary of Company is in
violation of its equivalent  organizational documents except where the violation
of any such equivalent organizational documents of a subsidiary of Company could
not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Company.

     Section 2.03 Capitalization.

          (a) The  authorized  capital  stock of Company  consists of 30,000,000
     shares of Company Common Stock,  $0.001 par value per share,  and 5,000,000
     shares of preferred stock,  $0.001 par value per share, 30,000 of which are
     designated  Series A  Participating  Preferred  Stock  ("Company  Preferred
     Stock").  As of the close of business on September 30, 2000, (i) 18,290,106
     shares of Company  Common Stock were issued and  outstanding,  all of which
     were validly issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable  and were not issued in
     violation of any preemptive rights,  right of first refusal, or any similar
     rights;   (ii)  no  shares  of  Company  Preferred  Stock  were  issued  or
     outstanding; (iii) no shares of Company Common Stock were held in Company's
     treasury;  (iv) no shares of Company Common Stock were held by subsidiaries
     of Company;  (v) 347,750  shares of Company  Common Stock were reserved for
     future issuance pursuant to the ESPP; (vi) 288,330 shares of Company Common
     Stock were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of  outstanding  options
     to purchase  Company  Common Stock under  Company's 1994 Stock Option Plan;
     (vii)  126,800  shares of Company  Common Stock were  reserved for issuance
     upon the exercise of outstanding  options to purchase  Company Common Stock
     under  Company's  2000  Nonstatutory  Stock Option Plan;  and (viii) 39,000
     shares of Company Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon the exercise
     of outstanding  options to purchase  Company  Common Stock under  Company's
     1996 Director Stock Option Plan.

          (b) Section  2.03(b) of the Company  Schedule sets forth the following
     information  with respect to outstanding  Company Stock Options (as defined
     in Section  5.08) as of  September  30, 2000 the total  number of shares of
     Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Options (which number is
     not  exceeded by the number of shares of Company  Common  Stock  subject to
     Company Stock Options outstanding on the date of this Agreement).

          (c) Company has made available to Parent  accurate and complete copies
     of all stock  option  plans  pursuant to which  Company  has  granted  such
     Company Stock Options that are outstanding as of September 30, 2000 and the
     form of all stock option agreements  evidencing such Company Stock Options.
     Section 2.03(c) of the Company Schedule has attached to it Company's option
     schedule,  which  schedule  shall set forth,  with  respect to each Company

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

     Stock Option, the name of the holder thereof,  the number of shares subject
     thereto,  and the grant date,  exercise price,  expiration date and vesting
     schedule thereof.

          (d) There are no  commitments  or agreements of any character to which
     Company  is bound  obligating  Company  to  accelerate  the  vesting of any
     Company Stock Option as a result of the Merger.  All outstanding  shares of
     Company  Common  Stock,  all  outstanding  Company Stock  Options,  and all
     outstanding shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of Company have been
     issued and granted in compliance  with (i) all applicable  securities  laws
     and other applicable Legal  Requirements (as defined below) in effect as of
     the time of grant  and  issuance  and (ii) all  requirements  set  forth in
     applicable  Contracts by which Company is bound and which were in effect as
     of the time of grant and issuance.  "Legal Requirements" means any federal,
     state,  local,  municipal,  foreign  or other law,  statute,  constitution,
     principle of common law, resolution,  ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule,
     regulation,  ruling or requirement issued, enacted,  adopted,  promulgated,
     implemented  or otherwise  put into effect by or under the authority of any
     court,  administrative  agency,  commission,   governmental  or  regulatory
     authority, domestic or foreign (a "Governmental Entity").

          (e) There are no equity securities,  partnership  interests or similar
     ownership  interests of any class of equity  security of any  subsidiary of
     Company,  or any security  exchangeable or convertible  into or exercisable
     for such equity  securities,  partnership  interests  or similar  ownership
     interests,  issued,  reserved  for  issuance  or  outstanding,  except  for
     securities   Company   owns   free  and  clear  of  all   liens,   pledges,
     hypothecations,   charges,  mortgages,  security  interests,  encumbrances,
     claims,  options,  rights of first refusal,  preemptive  rights,  community
     property interests or similar restriction (including any restriction on the
     voting of any security,  any restriction on the transfer of any security or
     other asset, any restriction on the possession, exercise or transfer of any
     other  attribute of ownership  of any asset)  ("Encumbrances")  directly or
     indirectly through one or more subsidiaries.

          (f) Except as set forth in Sections  2.03(a)  and  2.03(d)  hereof and
     except for the Stock Option Agreement,  as of the date hereof, there are no
     subscriptions,  options, warrants, equity securities, partnership interests
     or  similar  ownership  interests,  calls,  rights  (including  preemptive,
     purchase or conversion rights),  commitments or agreements of any character
     to which  Company or any of its  subsidiaries  is a party or by which it is
     bound obligating  Company or any of its  subsidiaries to issue,  deliver or
     sell, or cause to be issued,  delivered or sold, or  repurchase,  redeem or
     otherwise acquire,  or cause the repurchase,  redemption or acquisition of,
     any shares of capital  stock,  partnership  interests or similar  ownership
     interests of Company or any of its  subsidiaries  or obligating  Company or
     any of its  subsidiaries  to grant,  extend,  accelerate  the vesting of or
     enter into any such subscription,  option, warrant, equity security,  call,
     right, commitment or agreement.

          (g) As of the date of this  Agreement,  except as contemplated by this
     Agreement,  there are no  registration  rights and there is, except for the
     Company  Voting  Agreements  and the  Company  Rights  Plan (as  defined in
     Section 2.22), no voting trust,  proxy,  rights plan,  antitakeover plan or
     other  agreement  currently  in  effect  to  which  Company  or  any of its


                                      -9-

<PAGE>

     subsidiaries  is a party or by which  they are bound  with  respect  to any
     equity  security  of any class of  Company  or with  respect  to any equity
     security,  partnership  interest or similar ownership interest of any class
     of any of its subsidiaries. Stockholders of Company will not be entitled to
     dissenters'  rights  under  applicable  state  law in  connection  with the
     Merger.

     Section  2.04  Authority  Relative  to  this  Agreement.  Company  has  all
necessary  corporate  power and authority to execute and deliver this  Agreement
and to execute and deliver the Stock Option  Agreement and the other  agreements
contemplated  hereby (the  "Company  Ancillary  Agreements")  and to perform its
obligations  hereunder and thereunder and, subject to adoption of this Agreement
by the  stockholders  of Company in accordance with Delaware Law and the Company
Charter  Documents,  to consummate the  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Company Ancillary Agreements by
Company and the consummation by Company of the transactions  contemplated hereby
have been duly and validly  authorized by all necessary  corporate action on the
part of Company and no other  corporate  proceedings  on the part of Company are
necessary to authorize this Agreement,  the Company  Ancillary  Agreements or to
consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby  (other than the
adoption of this  Agreement by the  stockholders  of Company in accordance  with
Delaware Law and the Company Charter Documents).  This Agreement and the Company
Ancillary  Agreements  have been duly and  validly  executed  and  delivered  by
Company and,  assuming the due  authorization,  execution and delivery by Parent
and  Merger  Sub,  constitute  the  legal and  binding  obligation  of  Company,
enforceable against Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency,  reorganization,   moratorium  or  other  similar  laws  of  general
application  affecting the enforcement of creditors'  rights and the exercise by
courts of  equitable  powers.

     Section 2.05 No Conflict;  Required Filings and Consents.

          (a) The  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  and the Company
     Ancillary  Agreements  by  Company  do  not,  and the  performance  of this
     Agreement  and the Company  Ancillary  Agreements  by Company will not, (i)
     conflict with or violate the Company  Charter  Documents or the  equivalent
     organizational documents of any of Company's subsidiaries,  (ii) subject to
     obtaining  the vote of Company's  stockholders  in favor of the adoption of
     this Agreement and to compliance with the requirements set forth in Section
     2.05(b) below, conflict with or violate any law, rule,  regulation,  order,
     judgment or decree  applicable to Company or any of its  subsidiaries or by
     which its or any of their  respective  properties is bound or affected,  or
     (iii)  result in any breach of or  constitute  a default  (or an event that
     with  notice or lapse of time or both  would  become a default)  under,  or
     alter the rights or  obligations  of any third party  against or to Company
     under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration
     or  cancellation  of, or result in the creation of an Encumbrance on any of
     the properties or assets of Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to,
     any material mortgage,  Contract,  permit, franchise or other obligation to
     which Company or any of its  subsidiaries is a party or by which Company or
     any of its  subsidiaries or its or any of their  respective  properties are
     bound or  affected  (a  "Company  Obligation"),  except to the extent  such
     conflict,  violation, breach, default, impairment or other effect could not
     in the case of  clauses  (ii) or (iii)  individually  or in the  aggregate,
     reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Company.


                                      -10-

<PAGE>


          (b) The  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  and the Company
     Ancillary  Agreements  by  Company  do  not,  and the  performance  of this
     Agreement  and the  Company  Ancillary  Agreements  by  Company  shall not,
     require  Company to obtain or make, at or prior to the Effective  Time, any
     consent,   approval,   authorization  or  permit  of,  or  filing  with  or
     notification  to,  any  Governmental  Entity  or third  party,  except  (i)
     pursuant to applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act of 1933,
     as amended (the "Securities Act"), the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
     amended (the "Exchange Act"),  state securities laws ("Blue Sky Laws"), the
     pre-merger  notification  requirements of the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust
     Improvements  Act of 1976,  as  amended  (the  "HSR  Act")  and of  foreign
     Governmental Entities and the rules and regulations  thereunder,  the rules
     and  regulations  of the  Nasdaq,  and the  filing and  recordation  of the
     Certificate  of Merger  as  required  by  Delaware  Law and (ii)  where the
     failure to obtain such consents,  approvals,  authorizations or permits, or
     to make such filings or  notifications,  (A) could not,  individually or in
     the aggregate,  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
     Company or,  after the  Effective  Time,  Parent,  or (B) would not prevent
     consummation  of the Merger or  otherwise  prevent the parties  hereto from
     performing their obligations under this Agreement.

     Section 2.06 Legal Compliance; Permits.

          (a) Neither  Company nor any of its  subsidiaries is in conflict with,
     or in default or violation of, any Legal Requirement or Company Obligation,
     except for any conflicts,  defaults or violations that  (individually or in
     the  aggregate)  would not cause  Company to lose any  material  benefit or
     incur any material liability. No charge, complaint,  claim, demand, notice,
     inquiry, investigation,  action, suit, proceeding, hearing or review by any
     Governmental  Entity is pending  or, to the  knowledge  of  Company,  being
     threatened   against  Company  or  its  subsidiaries,   nor,  to  Company's
     knowledge,  has any Governmental  Entity indicated to Company in writing an
     intention  to conduct the same,  other than,  in each such case,  those the
     outcome of which could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
     expected to have the effect of  prohibiting or materially  restricting  any
     business practice of Company or any of its subsidiaries, any acquisition of
     material  property by Company or any of its  subsidiaries or the conduct of
     business by Company or any of its subsidiaries.

          (b)  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  hold  all  franchises,   grants,
     authorizations,   permits,  licenses,  variances,  exemptions,   easements,
     consents,  certifications,  orders and approvals from Governmental Entities
     which are  necessary  to the  operation  of the business of Company and its
     subsidiaries taken as a whole  (collectively,  the "Company Permits");  and
     Company  and its  subsidiaries  are in  compliance  with  the  terms of the
     Company Permits,  except where the failure to hold or be in compliance with
     the terms of such Company  Permits would not reasonably be expected to have
     a Material Adverse Effect on Company.

     Section 2.07 SEC Filings; Financial Statements.

          (a)  Company  has made  available  to  Parent  (through  reference  to
     documents  filed by EDGAR or otherwise) a correct and complete copy of each
     report,  schedule,  registration  statement and definitive  proxy statement
     filed by Company with the Securities and Exchange  Commission ("SEC") since


                                      -11-

<PAGE>

     December  31, 1997 (the  "Company SEC  Reports"),  which are all the forms,
     reports and  documents  required to be filed by Company  with the SEC since
     such date. As of their  respective  dates, the Company SEC Reports (A) were
     prepared in accordance  with the  requirements of the Securities Act or the
     Exchange  Act,  as the case may be,  and (B) did not at the time  they were
     filed (or if amended or  superseded  by a filing  prior to the date of this
     Agreement, then on the date of such filing) contain any untrue statement of
     a material  fact or omit to state a  material  fact  required  to be stated
     therein or necessary in order to make the statements  therein,  in light of
     the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  Company does
     not have any  subsidiaries  that are  required to file any reports or other
     documents with the SEC.

          (b) Each set of financial  statements  (including,  in each case,  any
     related notes thereto) contained in the Company SEC Reports was prepared in
     accordance with generally accepted  accounting  principles ("GAAP") applied
     on a consistent  basis  throughout the periods  involved  (except as may be
     indicated in the notes thereto and except that unaudited  statements do not
     contain footnotes in substance or form required by GAAP, as is permitted by
     Form 10-Q of the  Exchange  Act) and each fairly  presents in all  material
     respects the financial  position of Company at the respective dates thereof
     and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods indicated,
     except that the unaudited interim financial  statements were or are subject
     to normal year-end adjustments.

          (c) Company has previously  furnished to Parent a complete and correct
     copy of any amendments or modifications, which have not yet been filed with
     the SEC but which  are  required  to be filed  after  the date  hereof,  to
     agreements,  documents or other instruments which previously had been filed
     by Company with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

     Section 2.08 No  Undisclosed  Liabilities.  Neither  Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has any liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) of
a nature  required to be disclosed on a balance sheet or in the related notes to
the  financial   statements   prepared  in  accordance   with  GAAP  which  are,
individually  or  in  the  aggregate,  material  to  the  business,  results  of
operations,  assets or financial condition of Company and its subsidiaries taken
as a whole,  except (i)  liabilities  disclosed  or  provided  for in  Company's
unaudited balance sheet as of June 30, 2000 set forth in the Company SEC Reports
or in the related notes, (ii) liabilities incurred since June 30, 2000 and on or
prior to the date  hereof in the  ordinary  course of  business  which  have not
resulted,  in the aggregate,  in any material increase in Company's  liabilities
from those disclosed or provided for in Company's  unaudited balance sheet as of
June 30, 2000 set forth in the Company SEC Reports or in the related  notes,  or
(iii)  liabilities  incurred  after the date  hereof in the  ordinary  course of
business.

     Section  2.09  Absence of Certain  Changes or Events.  Since June 30, 2000,
there  has not been:  (i) any  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  Company,  (ii) any
declaration,  setting aside or payment of any dividend on, or other distribution
(whether in cash,  stock or  property) in respect of, any of Company's or any of
its  subsidiaries'   capital  stock,  or  any  purchase,   redemption  or  other
acquisition by Company of any of Company's capital stock or any other securities
of Company or its  subsidiaries  or any  options,  warrants,  calls or rights to


                                      -12-

<PAGE>

acquire  any such  shares  or  other  securities  except  for  repurchases  from
employees   following  their   termination   pursuant  to  the  terms  of  their
pre-existing stock option or purchase agreements,  (iii) any split,  combination
or  reclassification  of any of  Company's or any of its  subsidiaries'  capital
stock,  (iv) any granting by Company or any of its  subsidiaries of any material
increase in compensation or fringe benefits,  except for normal increases in the
ordinary  course of business  consistent  with past practice,  or any payment by
Company or any of its subsidiaries of any bonus,  except for bonuses made in the
ordinary course of business  consistent  with past practice,  or any granting by
Company or any of its  subsidiaries  of any increase in severance or termination
pay or any  entry by  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  into  any  currently
effective employment, severance, termination or indemnification agreement or any
agreement  the benefits of which would be contingent or the terms of which would
be materially  altered upon the  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby,  (v) entry by Company or any of its  subsidiaries  into any licensing or
other   agreement  with  regard  to  the   acquisition  or  disposition  of  any
Intellectual Property (as defined in Section 2.17) other than licenses disclosed
in Section 2.17(g) of the Company  Schedule,  (vi) any amendment or consent with
respect to any licensing agreement filed or required to be filed by Company with
the SEC,  (vii)  any  material  change by  Company  in its  accounting  methods,
principles  or  practices,  except as  required by  concurrent  changes in GAAP,
(viii) any  material  revaluation  by Company of any of its  assets,  including,
without limitation,  writing down the value of capitalized  inventory or writing
off notes or accounts  receivable or any sale of assets of Company other than in
the ordinary  course of business,  or (x) any material Tax  elections  made or a
change of tax accounting method.

     Section 2.10 Absence of Litigation. Except as specifically disclosed in the
Company  SEC  Reports,  as of the date  hereof,  there are no  material  claims,
actions,  suits  or  proceedings  pending  or,  to  the  knowledge  of  Company,
threatened  (or, to the  knowledge of Company,  any  governmental  or regulatory
investigation  pending or threatened) against Company or any of its subsidiaries
or any  properties or rights of Company or any of its  subsidiaries,  before any
Governmental Entity.

     Section 2.11 Employee Benefit Plans.

          (a) All material employee compensation,  incentive,  fringe or benefit
     plans,  programs,  policies,  commitments  or  other  similar  arrangements
     (whether  or not set forth in a written  document  and  including,  without
     limitation, all "employee benefit plans" within the meaning of Section 3(3)
     of the  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act  of  1974,  as  amended
     ("ERISA"))  covering  any active  employee,  former  employee,  director or
     consultant of Company,  any  subsidiary of Company or any trade or business
     (whether or not  incorporated)  which is a member of a controlled  group or
     which is under common  control  with Company  within the meaning of Section
     414 of the  Code (an  "ERISA  Affiliate")  or (ii)  with  respect  to which
     Company has  material  liability  as of the date  hereof,  and covering any
     active, former employee,  director or consultant of Company, any subsidiary
     of Company  or any ERISA  Affiliate  are  listed in Section  2.11(a) of the
     Company  Schedule  (the  "Plans").  Except  with  respect to  International
     Employee Plans (as defined in Section 2.11(h) below) that provide  benefits
     primarily  to comply with  applicable  local laws,  Company has provided or
     made available to Parent:  (i) correct and complete copies of all documents
     embodying each Plan including (without  limitation) all amendments thereto,
     and all related  trust  documents;  (ii) the three (3) most  recent  annual


                                      -13

<PAGE>


     reports  (Form  Series  5500 and all  schedules  and  financial  statements
     attached  thereto),  if any, required under ERISA or the Code in connection
     with  each  Plan;  (iii)  the most  recent  summary  plan  description,  as
     applicable,  together  with  the  summary(ies)  of  material  modifications
     thereto,  if any,  required under ERISA with respect to each Plan; (iv) the
     most recent IRS determination,  opinion, notification and advisory letters;
     (v) all material correspondence to or from any governmental agency relating
     to an  actual or  potential  liability  under  any Plan;  (vi) all forms of
     notice and election  documents  related to the Consolidated  Omnibus Budget
     Reconciliation Plan of 1985, as amended ("COBRA"); (vii) all discrimination
     tests  performed  with  respect to each Plan for the most recent  three (3)
     plan years;  (viii) the most recent annual  actuarial  valuations,  if any,
     prepared for each Plan; (xi) if the Plan is funded,  the most recent annual
     and periodic  accounting  of Plan assets;  (x) all material  administrative
     service agreements,  group annuity contracts, group insurance contracts and
     similar  written  agreements and contracts  relating to each Plan; (xi) all
     material  communications  to employees or former employees  relating to any
     amendments,  terminations,   establishments,   increases  or  decreases  in
     benefits,  acceleration of payments or vesting schedules which would result
     in a material  liability  under any Plan or  proposed  Plan;  and (xii) all
     currently effective registration statements,  annual reports (Form 11-K and
     all attachments  thereto) and prospectuses  prepared in connection with any
     Plan that includes securities registered under the Securities Act.

          (b) Each Plan has been  maintained  and  administered  in all material
     respects in compliance with its terms and with the requirements  prescribed
     by any and all statutes,  orders, rules and regulations,  including but not
     limited to ERISA and the Code, which are applicable to such Plans. No suit,
     action or other litigation  (excluding  claims for benefits incurred in the
     ordinary  course of Plan  activities) has been brought or, to the knowledge
     of Company, is threatened,  against or with respect to any such Plan. There
     are no audits,  inquiries or  proceedings  pending or, to the  knowledge of
     Company,  threatened  by  the  Internal  Revenue  Service  (the  "IRS")  or
     Department   of  Labor  (the  "DOL")  with   respect  to  any  Plans.   All
     contributions,  reserves or premium payments required to be made or accrued
     as of the date hereof to the Plans have been  timely  made or accrued.  Any
     Plan  intended to be qualified  under  Section  401(a) of the Code and each
     related trust  intended to qualify under Section 501(a) of the Code (i) has
     either obtained a favorable  determination,  notification,  advisory and/or
     opinion letter,  as applicable,  as to its qualified status from the IRS or
     still has a remaining period of time under applicable Treasury  Regulations
     or IRS  pronouncements  in which to apply for such  letter  and to make any
     amendments  necessary  to  obtain  a  favorable  determination,   and  (ii)
     incorporates or has been amended to incorporate all provisions  required to
     comply with the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and  subsequent  legislation  to the
     extent such amendment or incorporation  is required.  Company does not have
     any plan or  commitment  to  establish  any new Plan or to modify  any Plan
     (except to the extent  required  by law or to conform  any such Plan to the
     requirements of any applicable law, in each case as previously disclosed to
     Parent in  writing,  or as required  by this  Agreement).  Each Plan can be
     amended,  terminated or otherwise  discontinued after the Effective Time in
     accordance with its terms,  without liability to Parent,  Company or any of
     its ERISA Affiliates  except as otherwise  provided in the Plan (other than
     ordinary  administration expenses and expenses for benefits accrued but not
     yet paid).


                                      -14-

<PAGE>

          (c) Neither Company nor any its ERISA  Affiliates has at any time ever
     maintained,  established, sponsored, participated in, or contributed to any
     plan  subject  to Title IV of ERISA or Section  412 of the Code,  and at no
     time has  Company  or any of its ERISA  Affiliates  contributed  to or been
     requested  to  contribute  to any  "multiemployer  plan,"  as such  term is
     defined in ERISA or to any plan  described  in Section  413(c) of the Code.
     Neither  Company,  any of its ERISA  Affiliates,  nor, to the  knowledge of
     Company,  any officer or director of Company or any of ERISA  Affiliates is
     subject to any liability or penalty under Section 4975 through 4980B of the
     Code or Title I of ERISA. No "prohibited  transaction,"  within the meaning
     of  Section  4975 of the Code or  Sections  406 and 407 of  ERISA,  and not
     otherwise  exempt under Section 408 of ERISA,  has occurred with respect to
     any Plan which  could  subject  Company  or its  subsidiaries  to  material
     liabilities.

          (d) None of the Plans  promises or provides  retiree  medical or other
     retiree  welfare  benefits to any person  except as required by  applicable
     law,  and neither  Company  nor any of its  subsidiaries  has  represented,
     promised or  contracted  to provide such retiree  benefits to any employee,
     former employee,  director,  consultant or other person,  except (i) to the
     extent required by statute or (ii) for benefits the cost of which are fully
     paid for by such person.

          (e) Neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries is bound by or subject
     to (and none of its respective  assets or properties is bound by or subject
     to) any arrangement  with any labor union. No employee of Company or any of
     its  subsidiaries  is  represented  by any labor  union or  covered  by any
     collective   bargaining  agreement  relating  to  Company  or  any  of  its
     subsidiaries  and, to the  knowledge  of Company,  no campaign to establish
     such  representation  is in  progress.  There  is no  pending  or,  to  the
     knowledge of Company,  threatened labor dispute involving Company or any of
     its  subsidiaries  and any group of its employees nor has Company or any of
     its subsidiaries  experienced any significant labor  interruptions over the
     past three (3) years. Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all
     material respects with all applicable material foreign,  federal, state and
     local  laws,  rules  and  regulations  respecting  employment,   employment
     practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours.

          (f) Neither Company nor any of its ERISA  Affiliates has, prior to the
     Effective  Time and in any  material  respect,  violated  any of the health
     continuation  requirements of COBRA, the requirements of the Family Medical
     Leave Act of 1993, as amended,  the  requirements of the Womens' Health and
     Cancer  Rights Act, as  amended,  the  requirements  of the  Newborns'  and
     Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996, as amended, the requirements of the
     Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, or
     any similar provisions of state law applicable to employees of Company.

          (g)  Except as  required  by the  Code,  including  the  effect of the
     termination  described  in  Section  5.08(c),  neither  the  execution  and
     delivery of this  Agreement by Company nor the  consummation  by Company of
     the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  will  (i)  result  in any  payment
     (including severance, unemployment compensation, golden parachute, bonus or
     otherwise) becoming due to any stockholder, director or employee of Company
     or any of its  subsidiaries  under any Plan or otherwise,  (ii)  materially


                                      -15-

<PAGE>

     increase any benefits  otherwise payable under any Plan, or (iii) except as
     required by the Code,  result in the acceleration of the time of payment or
     vesting of any such benefits.

          (h) Each Plan that has been adopted or maintained by Company or any of
     its  subsidiaries,  whether  informally  or  formally,  for the  benefit of
     current or former employees of Company or any of its  subsidiaries  outside
     the United States  ("International  Employee  Plan") has been  established,
     maintained  and  administered  in  material  compliance  with its terms and
     conditions and with the requirements prescribed by any and all statutory or
     regulatory laws that are applicable to such International Employee Plan. No
     International  Employee  Plan  has  unfunded  liabilities  that,  as of the
     Effective Time, will not be offset by insurance or fully accrued. Except as
     required  by law or the terms of any such plan,  no  condition  exists that
     would  prevent   Company  or  Parent  from   terminating  or  amending  any
     International Employee Plan at any time for any reason.

     Section  2.12  Registration  Statement;   Proxy  Statement.   None  of  the
information  supplied or to be supplied  by Company  for  inclusion  in: (i) the
registration  statement  on Form  S-4 to be  filed  with  the SEC by  Parent  in
connection with the issuance of the Parent Common Stock in or as a result of the
Merger  (the  "S-4")  will,  at the time the S-4  becomes  effective  under  the
Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make
the  statements  therein,  in light of the  circumstances  under which they were
made, not misleading;  and (ii) the joint proxy statement/prospectus to be filed
with  the  SEC  by   Company   pursuant   to   Section   5.01(a)   (the   "Proxy
Statement/Prospectus")  will, at the date mailed to the stockholders of Company,
at the time of the stockholders' meeting of Company (the "Company  Stockholders'
Meeting")  and at the  Effective  Time,  in  connection  with  the  transactions
contemplated hereby,  contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to
make the statements  therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not misleading.  The Proxy  Statement/Prospectus will comply as to form in
all material  respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations  promulgated by the SEC thereunder.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,
Company  makes no  representation  or warranty  with respect to any  information
supplied  by Parent or Merger  Sub which is  contained  in any of the  foregoing
documents.

     Section 2.13  Restrictions  on Business  Activities.  There is no judgment,
injunction, order or decree binding upon Company or its subsidiaries or to which
Company or any of its  subsidiaries is a party which has or would  reasonably be
expected  to  have  the  effect  of  prohibiting  or  materially  and  adversely
restricting any current business practice of Company or any of its subsidiaries,
any acquisition of property by Company or any of its subsidiaries or the conduct
of  business  by  Company or any of its  subsidiaries  as  currently  conducted.


     Section 2.14 Title to Property. Neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries
owns,  nor has Company or any of its  subsidiaries  previously  owned,  any real
property.  Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and valid title to, or
valid leasehold  interests in, all of their material properties and assets, free
and clear of all  Encumbrances  except as reflected in the financial  statements
contained  in the  Company  SEC  Reports and except for liens for taxes or other
governmental  charges or levies not yet due and  payable and such liens or other
imperfections  of title, if any, that could not reasonably be expected to result


                                      -16-
<PAGE>

in a Material  Adverse  Effect on  Company.  All  material  leases or  subleases
pursuant to which Company or any of its  subsidiaries  lease from others real or
personal  property are set forth in Section 2.14 of the Company's  Schedule (the
"Company  Leases").  Company has delivered to Parent full and complete copies of
all Company  Leases as amended to date.  Each of the  Company  Leases is in full
force and effect in  accordance  with their  respective  terms and there is not,
under any of such leases, any existing default or event of default of Company or
any of its subsidiaries or, to Company's knowledge, any other party.

     Section 2.15 Taxes.

          (a) Definition of Taxes. For the purposes of this Agreement,  "Tax" or
     "Taxes"  refers to any and all  federal,  state,  local and foreign  taxes,
     assessments  and  other  governmental  charges,  duties,   impositions  and
     liabilities  relating to taxes,  including  taxes based upon or measured by
     gross receipts,  income,  profits,  sales,  use and  occupation,  and value
     added, ad valorem, transfer,  franchise,  withholding,  payroll, recapture,
     employment,   excise  and  property  taxes,  together  with  all  interest,
     penalties  and  additions  imposed  with  respect to such  amounts  and any
     obligations under any agreements or arrangements with any other person with
     respect  to such  amounts  and  including  any  liability  for  Taxes  of a
     predecessor entity.

          (b)  Tax  Returns  and  Audits.

               (i) Company and each of its  subsidiaries  have timely  filed all
          federal,   state,  local  and  foreign  returns,   estimates,   forms,
          information  statements  and  reports  ("Returns")  relating  to Taxes
          required to be filed by Company and each of its subsidiaries  with any
          Tax authority,  except such Returns which are not,  individually or in
          the  aggregate,   material  to  Company.   Company  and  each  of  its
          subsidiaries  have paid all Taxes  required to be paid  whether or not
          shown to be due on such Returns.

               (ii)  Company and each of its  subsidiaries  as of the  Effective
          Time will have  withheld with respect to its employees all federal and
          state  income  Taxes,   Taxes   pursuant  to  the  Federal   Insurance
          Contribution  Act, Taxes pursuant to the Federal  Unemployment Tax Act
          and other Taxes  required to be withheld,  except such Taxes which are
          not, individually or in the aggregate, material to Company.

               (iii)  Neither  Company  nor  any of its  subsidiaries  has  been
          delinquent  in the payment of any material  Tax.  There is no material
          Tax deficiency  outstanding,  proposed or assessed  against Company or
          any of its  subsidiaries.  Neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries
          has executed any unexpired  waiver of any statute of limitations on or
          extension of any period for the assessment or collection of any Tax.

               (iv) No audit or other  examination  of any  Return of Company or
          any of its subsidiaries by any Tax authority is presently in progress,
          nor  has  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  been  notified  of any
          request for such an audit or other examination.


                                      -17-

<PAGE>


               (v) No adjustment relating to any Returns filed or required to be
          filed by  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  has been  proposed  in
          writing,  formally or  informally,  by any Tax authority to Company or
          any of its subsidiaries or any representative thereof.

               (vi)  Neither  Company  nor  any  of  its  subsidiaries  has  any
          liability  for any material  unpaid Taxes  (whether or not shown to be
          done on any  Return)  which has not been  accrued  for or  reserved on
          Company's  balance sheet dated June 30, 2000 in accordance  with GAAP,
          whether  asserted or  unasserted,  contingent or  otherwise,  which is
          material to Company,  other than any  liability  for unpaid Taxes that
          may have accrued since April 1, 2000 in connection  with the operation
          of the  business  of  Company  and its  subsidiaries  in the  ordinary
          course.  There are no liens with respect to Taxes on any of the assets
          of Company or any of its subsidiaries,  other than liens which are not
          individually  or in the  aggregate  material,  or customary  liens for
          current Taxes not yet due and payable.

               (vii) There is no contract,  agreement,  plan or  arrangement  to
          which Company or any of its  subsidiaries is a party as of the date of
          this  Agreement,  including but not limited to the  provisions of this
          Agreement, that, individually or collectively, should give rise to the
          payment  of any  amount  that  would  not be  deductible  pursuant  to
          Sections  280G,  404 or  162(m)  of the  Code.  There is no  contract,
          agreement,  plan  or  arrangement  to  which  Company  or  any  of its
          subsidiaries  is a party or by which  it is  bound to  compensate  any
          individual for excise taxes paid pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.

               (viii) Neither Company nor any of its  subsidiaries has filed any
          consent  agreement  under Section 341(f) of the Code or agreed to have
          Section 341(f)(2) of the Code apply to any disposition of a subsection
          (f) asset (as  defined  in  Section  341(f)(4)  of the Code)  owned by
          Company or any of its subsidiaries.

               (ix) Neither  Company nor any of its  subsidiaries is party to or
          has  any  obligation  under  any  tax-sharing,  tax  indemnity  or tax
          allocation  agreement  or  arrangement.

               (x) None of Company's or its subsidiaries'  assets are tax exempt
          use property  within the meaning of Section  168(h) of the Code.

               (xi) Neither Company nor any of its  subsidiaries has constituted
          either a "distributing corporation" or a "controlled corporation" in a
          distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free  treatment under Section
          355 of the  Code  (x) in the  two  years  prior  to the  date  of this
          Agreement or (y) in a distribution  which could  otherwise  constitute
          part of a "plan" or  "series  of  related  transactions"  (within  the
          meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in conjunction with the Merger.

               (xii) Company and each of its subsidiaries are in full compliance
          with all terms and  conditions of any Tax  exemptions,  Tax holiday or
          other Tax  reduction  agreement or order of a  territorial  or foreign
          government  and the  consummation  of the  Merger  will  not  have any
          adverse effect on the continued validity and effectiveness of any such
          Tax exemptions, Tax holiday or other Tax reduction agreement or order.


                                      -18-

<PAGE>

               (xiii)  Company  has not been and will not be required to include
          any  adjustment  in taxable  income  for any tax  period  (or  portion
          thereof) pursuant to Section 481 or 263A of the Code or any comparable
          provision  under State or foreign Tax laws as a result of transactions
          or events  occurring,  or accounting  methods  employed,  prior to the
          closing.

               (xiv) Company has never been a member of an  affiliated  group of
          companies within the meaning of Section 1504 of the Code.  Company has
          no  liability  for Taxes of any Person  other than  Company  (i) under
          Section  1502-6  of  the  Treasury   regulations  (or  any  comparable
          provisions  under  state or foreign  law) or (ii) as a  transferee  or
          successor.

     Section  2.16  Brokers.  Except  for  fees  payable  to each  of  Broadview
International  LLC,  pursuant to an engagement  letter dated September 16, 1999,
2000,  and fees payable to C.E.  Unterberg,  Towbin,  pursuant to an  engagement
letter dated August 30, 2000 (as amended  September  25, 2000) a copy of each of
which has been provided to Parent,  Company has not incurred, nor will it incur,
directly or  indirectly,  any liability for brokerage or finders fees or agent's
commissions  or any similar  charges in  connection  with this  Agreement or any
transaction contemplated hereby.

     Section 2.17 Intellectual Property. For the purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the following definitions:

                  "Intellectual Property" shall mean any or all of the following
                  and all worldwide  common law and statutory rights in, arising
                  out of, or associated therewith:  (i) patents and applications
                  therefor and all reissues,  divisions,  renewals,  extensions,
                  provisionals,  continuations and continuations-in-part thereof
                  ("Patents");  (ii)  inventions  (whether  patentable  or not),
                  invention    disclosures,    improvements,    trade   secrets,
                  proprietary information, know how, technology,  technical data
                  and customer lists, and all  documentation  relating to any of
                  the foregoing;  (iii) copyrights,  copyright registrations and
                  applications  therefor,  and all  other  rights  corresponding
                  thereto  throughout  the world;  (iv)  domain  names,  uniform
                  resource  locators  ("URLs")  and  other  names  and  locators
                  associated with the Internet ("Domain Names");  (v) industrial
                  designs and any registrations and applications therefor;  (vi)
                  trade names,  logos,  common law trademarks and service marks,
                  trademark  and service  mark  registrations  and  applications
                  therefor;  (vii) all  databases and data  collections  and all
                  rights  therein;  (viii)  all  moral  and  economic  rights of
                  authors  and  inventors,  however  denominated;  and  (ix) any
                  similar  or  equivalent  rights  to any of the  foregoing  (as
                  applicable).

                  "Company  Intellectual  Property" shall mean any  Intellectual
                  Property that is owned by, or exclusively licensed to, Company
                  and its subsidiaries.

                  "Registered  Intellectual  Property"  means  all  Intellectual
                  Property that is the subject of an  application,  certificate,
                  filing,  registration or other document issued, filed with, or
                  recorded  by any  private,  state,  government  or other legal
                  authority and that has not been abandoned or allowed to lapse.


                                      -19-
<PAGE>

                  "Company  Registered  Intellectual  Property" means all of the
                  Registered  Intellectual  Property  owned  by, or filed in the
                  name of, Company or any of its subsidiaries.

          (a) Section 2.17(a) of the Company Schedule is a complete and accurate
     list of all Company  Registered  Intellectual  Property which specifies the
     jurisdictions  in which each such item of Company  Registered  Intellectual
     Property has been issued or registered and lists any proceedings or actions
     before  any court or  tribunal  (including  the  United  States  Patent and
     Trademark Office (the "PTO") or equivalent authority anywhere in the world)
     related to any of the Company Registered Intellectual Property.

          (b) No Company Intellectual Property or product or service offering of
     Company or any of its subsidiaries (a "Company  Product") is subject to any
     proceeding or  outstanding  decree,  order,  judgment,  contract,  license,
     agreement,  or  stipulation  (other than those imposed by  applicable  law)
     restricting  in any  manner by its terms the use,  transfer,  or  licensing
     thereof  by  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries,  or which may affect the
     validity,  use or enforceability of such Company  Intellectual  Property or
     Company Product.

          (c) Each item of Company Registered  Intellectual  Property is, to the
     knowledge of Company,  valid and  subsisting.  All necessary  registration,
     maintenance  and renewal fees currently due in connection with such Company
     Registered  Intellectual  Property have been made. All necessary documents,
     recordations  and  certificates in connection with such Company  Registered
     Intellectual Property have been filed with the relevant patent,  copyright,
     trademark   or  other   authorities   in  the  United   States  or  foreign
     jurisdictions,  as the case may be, for the  purposes of  maintaining  such
     Company Registered  Intellectual  Property,  except, in such case, as would
     not   materially   adversely   affect  such  item  of  Company   Registered
     Intellectual Property.

          (d) Company or one of its  subsidiaries  owns and has good title to or
     has all necessary  licenses to each  material item of Company  Intellectual
     Property  free  of  any  Encumbrance  (excluding  rights  of  licensor  and
     non-exclusive  licenses  and related  restrictions  granted in the ordinary
     course). In this paragraph the term "Encumbrance"  excludes infringement of
     Company Intellectual Property by third parties.

          (e) To the  extent  that  any  Intellectual  Property  that  has  been
     developed or created independently by a third party or jointly with a third
     party for Company or any of its  subsidiaries  is used by Company or any of
     its subsidiaries or is incorporated into any Company Products,  Company has
     a written  agreement with such third party with respect thereto and Company
     thereby  either (i) has obtained  ownership of, and is the exclusive  owner
     of, or (ii) has  obtained a perpetual,  non-terminable  license to all such
     Intellectual Property.

          (f)  Neither  Company  nor  any of its  subsidiaries  has  transferred
     ownership  of, or  granted  any  exclusive  license  with  respect  to, any
     material Company Intellectual Property, to any third party.

                                      -20-

<PAGE>


          (g)  Section  2.17(g)  of the  Company  Schedule  lists  all  material
     contracts,  licenses  and  agreements  to  which  Company  or  any  of  its
     subsidiaries is a party: (i) with respect to Company Intellectual  Property
     licensed or transferred to any third party (other than end-user licenses in
     the ordinary course);  (ii) pursuant to which a third party has licensed or
     transferred   any   Intellectual   Property   to  Company  or  any  of  its
     subsidiaries;  or (iii) by which  Company  has agreed to, or  assumed,  any
     obligation  or  duty  to  warrant,  indemnify,  reimburse,  hold  harmless,
     guarantee  or  otherwise  assume or incur any  obligation  or  liability to
     provide  a  right  of  rescission  with  respect  to  the  infringement  or
     misappropriation  by Company or such other person of Intellectual  Property
     Rights of anyone other than Company.

          (h) All contracts,  licenses and agreements  listed in Section 2.17(g)
     of the Company  Schedule are in full force and effect.  The consummation of
     the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement will neither violate nor
     result in the breach, modification, cancellation, termination or suspension
     ("Termination") of such contracts,  licenses and agreements by their terms.
     Each of  Company  and its  subsidiaries  is in  compliance  with  any  such
     contracts,  licenses and agreements. To the knowledge of Company, all other
     parties  to  such  contracts,  licenses  and  agreements  are  in  material
     compliance  with,  and have not  breached  any  term  of,  such  contracts,
     licenses and  agreements,  which breach has not been cured.  Following  the
     Closing Date, the Surviving  Corporation  will be permitted to exercise all
     of Company's rights under such contracts,  licenses and agreements by their
     terms to the same extent Company and its subsidiaries  would have been able
     to had the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement not occurred and
     without the payment of any additional  amounts or consideration  other than
     ongoing  fees,  royalties  or payments  which  Company  would  otherwise be
     required to pay.  There is no provision  in any of  Company's  contracts or
     agreements  which,  as a  result  of this  Agreement  and the  transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement,  requires Parent or Merger Sub to (i) grant
     to  any  third  party  any  right  to  or  with  respect  to  any  material
     Intellectual  Property  owned by, or licensed to,  either of them,  (ii) be
     bound by, or subject to, any  non-compete or other material  restriction on
     the  operation  or  scope  of  their  respective  businesses,  or  (iii) be
     obligated to pay any royalties or other material amounts to any third party
     in excess of those payable by Parent or Merger Sub, respectively,  prior to
     the Closing.

          (i) Company's and its subsidiaries' design, development,  manufacture,
     distribution,  reproduction,  marketing  or sale of the products of Company
     and its  subsidiaries  has not  infringed or  misappropriated  and does not
     infringe or  misappropriate  the Intellectual  Property of any third party,
     and does not constitute  unfair  competition or trade  practices  under the
     laws of any jurisdiction.

          (j) Neither Company nor any of its  subsidiaries  has received written
     notice from any third party that the  operation  of the business of Company
     or any of its subsidiaries or any act, product or service of Company or any
     of its subsidiaries, infringes or misappropriates the Intellectual Property
     of any third party or constitutes  unfair  competition  or trade  practices
     under the laws of any jurisdiction.


                                      -21-

<PAGE>


          (k)  To  the  knowledge  of  Company,   no  person  has  infringed  or
     misappropriated   or  is   infringing  or   misappropriating   any  Company
     Intellectual  Property.

          (l) Company and each of its subsidiaries has taken reasonable steps to
     protect  Company's and its subsidiaries'  rights in Company's  confidential
     information  and  trade  secrets  that it wishes  to  protect  or any trade
     secrets or confidential information of third parties provided to Company or
     any of its subsidiaries.  Each of Company and its subsidiaries has a policy
     requiring   each   employee  and   contractor   to  execute  a  proprietary
     information/confidentiality agreement substantially in the form provided to
     Parent. All current and former employees and contractors of Company and any
     of its subsidiaries have executed such an agreement.

     Section 2.18 Agreements,  Contracts and Commitments. As of the date of this
Agreement, neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to or is bound
by:

          (a) any  written  employment  or  consulting  agreement,  contract  or
     commitment  with  any  officer  or  employee  of  Company  or  any  of  its
     subsidiaries  currently  earning an annual  salary in excess of $100,000 or
     member  of  Company's  Board  of  Directors,  other  than  those  that  are
     terminable  by Company or any of its  subsidiaries  on no more than  thirty
     (30) days' notice  without  material  liability or financial  obligation to
     Company, except to the extent general principles of law may limit Company's
     ability to terminate employees at will;

          (b) any material  agreement of  indemnification  or any guaranty other
     than any agreement of  indemnification  entered into in connection with the
     sale of  products  or  license  of  technology  in the  ordinary  course of
     business;

          (c) any  agreement,  contract or  commitment  containing  any covenant
     limiting the right of Company or any of its  subsidiaries  to engage in any
     line of business or to compete  with any person or granting  any  exclusive
     distribution rights;

          (d) any agreement,  contract or commitment relating to the disposition
     or acquisition by Company or any of its subsidiaries after the date of this
     Agreement  of a  material  amount of assets not in the  ordinary  course of
     business or pursuant to which  Company or any of its  subsidiaries  has any
     material ownership interest in any corporation,  partnership, joint venture
     or other business enterprise other than Company's subsidiaries;

          (e) any material dealer,  distributor,  joint marketing or development
     agreement  under which Company or any of its  subsidiaries  have continuing
     obligations to jointly market any product,  technology or service and which
     may not be  canceled  without  penalty  upon  notice of ninety (90) days or
     less, or any agreement pursuant to which Company or any of its subsidiaries
     have continuing  obligations to jointly develop any  intellectual  property
     that  will not be  owned,  in whole or in part,  by  Company  or any of its
     subsidiaries  and which may not be canceled  without penalty upon notice of
     ninety (90) days or less;

          (f) any  material  agreement,  contract or  commitment  to license any
     third party to  manufacture  or reproduce any Company  product,  service or
     technology  or any material  agreement,  contract or  commitment to sell or

                                      -22-

<PAGE>

     distribute any Company  products,  service or technology  except agreements
     with distributors or sales representatives in the normal course of business
     cancelable  without  penalty  upon  notice of ninety  (90) days or less and
     substantially in the form previously provided to Parent;

          (g) any mortgages, indentures, guarantees, loans or credit agreements,
     security  agreements  or other  agreements or  instruments  relating to the
     borrowing  of money by Company or any of its  subsidiaries  or extension of
     credit (other than customer accounts  receivable owing to Company or any of
     its  subsidiaries  in the  ordinary  course  of  business  and  payable  or
     dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms);

          (h) any material  settlement  agreement  under which Company or any of
     its subsidiaries has ongoing obligations;

          (i) any other  agreement,  contract or  commitment  that calls for the
     payment or receipt by Company or any of its  subsidiaries  of $1,000,000 or
     more;

          (j) any  agreement  under which the  consequences  of a default  could
     reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Company; or (k)
     any other agreement,  contract or commitment that is of the nature required
     to be filed by  Company  as an  exhibit  to a Report on Form 10-K under the
     Exchange Act which has not already been filed.

     Company has  delivered  or made  available to Parent a correct and complete
copy of each  Company  Contract  (as  defined  below) as amended  to date.  Each
Company  Contract,  with respect to Company and any relevant  subsidiary and, to
Company's  knowledge,  all other  parties  thereto,  is legal,  valid,  binding,
enforceable  and in full force and effect in all respects.  Neither  Company nor
any of its subsidiaries, nor to Company's knowledge any other party to a Company
Contract, is in breach,  violation or default under a Company Contract.  Neither
Company nor any of its  subsidiaries has received written notice within the last
twelve  months that it has  breached,  violated or defaulted  under,  any of the
terms or conditions of any of the agreements,  contracts or commitments to which
Company or any of its  subsidiaries  is a party or by which it is bound that are
required to be disclosed in the Company  Schedule  pursuant to this Section 2.18
(any such  agreement,  contract or commitment,  a "Company  Contract") in such a
manner as would permit any other party to cancel or  terminate  any such Company
Contract,  or would  permit any other  party to seek  material  damages or other
remedies  (for  any or all of such  breaches,  violations  or  defaults,  in the
aggregate).

     Section 2.19 Opinion of Financial Advisor.  Company has been advised by its
financial advisor,  C.E. Unterberg,  Towbin, that in its opinion, as of the date
of this Agreement,  the Exchange Ratio is fair to stockholders of Company from a
financial  point of view,  and  Company  shall  provide  to Parent a copy of the
written confirmation of such opinion as soon as available.

     Section 2.20 Board  Approval.  The Board of Directors of Company has, as of
the date of this Agreement, (i) approved,  subject to stockholder approval, this
Agreement,  the  Company  Ancillary  Agreements  and the  Merger  and the  other
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (ii) determined that the Merger is

                                      -23-

<PAGE>

consistent  with the long-term  business  strategy of Company and is in the best
interests of the  stockholders  of Company and is on terms that are fair to such
stockholders (iii) adopted a resolution  declaring the Merger advisable and (iv)
determined  unanimously to recommend that the stockholders of Company adopt this
Agreement.

     Section 2.21 Vote Required.  The affirmative  vote of holders of a majority
of the  outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock which shares are entitled to
vote with  respect to the Merger is the only vote of the holders of any class or
series of Company's  capital stock  necessary to adopt this  Agreement.

     Section 2.22 Company  Rights  Agreement.  Company has delivered to Parent a
true and complete copy of the Preferred  Shares  Rights  Agreement,  dated as of
November 19, 1998,  between Company and ChaseMellon  Shareholder  Services,  LLC
(the "Company  Rights Plan").  Company has taken all action so that the entering
into  of  this  Agreement,  the  Stock  Option  Agreement,  the  Company  Voting
Agreements  and the  Merger,  the  acquisition  of shares  pursuant to the Stock
Option Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will
not result in a grant of any rights to any person under the Company Rights Plan.

     Section 2.23 Pooling of Interests. To its knowledge,  based on consultation
with its  independent  accountants,  neither  Company nor any of its  directors,
officers or affiliates has taken any action which would  interfere with Parent's
ability to account  for the Merger as a "pooling  of  interests."

     Section  2.24 Labor  Matters.  No work  stoppage  or labor  strike  against
Company is pending or, to Company's knowledge, threatened. Company does not know
of any  activities or  proceedings of any labor union to organize any employees.
There are no actions,  suits,  claims, labor disputes or grievances pending, or,
to the  knowledge  of  Company,  threatened  relating  to any  labor,  safety or
discrimination  matters involving any Employee,  including,  without limitation,
charges of unfair  labor  practices  or  discrimination  complaints,  which,  if
adversely  determined,  would,  individually or in the aggregate,  result in any
material  liability to Company.  Neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
engaged in any unfair labor  practices  within the meaning of the National Labor
Relations Act.  Company is not  presently,  nor has it been in the past, a party
to, or bound by, any  collective  bargaining  agreement or union  contract  with
respect to Employees and no collective  bargaining agreement is being negotiated
by Company.

     Section  2.25  Environmental  Matters.  Except as could not  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Company,  Company (i) has obtained
all  applicable  permits,  licenses and other  authorizations  that are required
under  Environmental  Laws and all such  permits are valid and in full force and
effect;  (ii) is in compliance in all respects with all terms and  conditions of
such required permits, licenses and authorizations, and also is in compliance in
all respects with all other limitations,  restrictions,  conditions,  standards,
prohibitions,  requirements,  obligations, schedules and timetables contained in
such laws or contained in any regulation,  code, plan, order, decree,  judgment,
notice or demand letter issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder; and
(iii) has conducted its business in substantial  compliance  with all applicable
Environmental  Laws.  "Environmental  Laws" means all Federal,  state, local and

                                      -24-

<PAGE>

foreign laws and regulations relating to pollution of the environment (including
ambient air, surface water,  ground water, land surface or subsurface strata) or
the protection of human health and worker safety, including, without limitation,
laws and regulations relating to emissions,  discharges,  releases or threatened
releases of  Hazardous  Materials,  or  otherwise  relating to the  manufacture,
processing,  distribution,  use,  treatment,  storage,  disposal,  transport  or
handling  of  Hazardous  Materials.   "Hazardous   Materials"  means  chemicals,
pollutants,  contaminants,  wastes, toxic substances, radioactive and biological
materials,  asbestos-containing materials,  hazardous substances,  petroleum and
petroleum  products  or any  fraction  thereof,  excluding,  however,  Hazardous
Materials  contained  in  products  typically  used for  office  and  janitorial
purposes properly and safely maintained in accordance with Environmental Laws.

     Section 2.26 Insurance.  Company and each of its subsidiaries has insurance
policies and fidelity  bonds of the type and in amounts  customarily  carried by
persons conducting  business or owning assets,  equipment and properties similar
to Company and its subsidiaries (collectively,  the "Insurance Policies"). There
is no claim by  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  pending  under  any of the
Insurance Policies as to which coverage has been questioned,  denied or disputed
by the  underwriters  of such policies or bonds,  which denial of coverage could
reasonably  be  expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on  Company.  All
premiums due and payable under the Insurance Policies have been paid and Company
and its subsidiaries  are otherwise in compliance in all material  respects with
the terms of the  Insurance  Policies.  Company has not  received  notice of any
threatened termination of, or any material premium increase with respect to, any
of the Insurance  Policies.

     Section 2.27 State Takeover Statutes. The Board of Directors of Company has
taken all  actions so that the  restrictions  contained  in  Section  203 of the
Delaware Law applicable to a "business  combination" (as defined in such Section
203) will not apply to the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement,
the Company  Ancillary  Agreements or to the  consummation  of the Merger or the
other  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or the Company  Ancillary
Agreements.  To the  knowledge of Company,  no other state  takeover  statute is
applicable to the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby.

                                  ARTICLE III
             REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

     Parent  and Merger Sub  jointly  and  severally  represent  and  warrant to
Company,  subject  to  such  exceptions  as  are  disclosed  in  writing  in the
disclosure letter supplied by Parent to Company dated as of the date hereof (the
"Parent Schedule"),  which disclosure shall provide an exception to or otherwise
qualify the  representations or warranties of Parent and Merger Sub contained in
the section of this Agreement corresponding by number to such disclosure and the
other  representations and warranties herein to the extent such disclosure shall
reasonably appear to be applicable to such other  representations or warranties,
as follows:


                                      -25-

<PAGE>

     Section 3.01  Organization  and  Qualification;  Subsidiaries.

          (a) Each of Parent  and Merger Sub is a  corporation  duly  organized,
     validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
     its  incorporation  and has the requisite  corporate power and authority to
     own,  lease and  operate  its  assets  and  properties  and to carry on its
     business as it is now being conducted.

          (b) Parent has no material  subsidiaries  except for the  corporations
     identified  in the Parent SEC Reports  (as  hereinafter  defined).  Neither
     Parent nor any of its  subsidiaries has agreed nor is obligated to make nor
     is bound by any Contract  under which it may become  obligated to make, any
     future investment in or capital  contribution to any other entity.  Neither
     Parent nor any of its  subsidiaries  directly or indirectly owns any 10% or
     greater  equity  or  similar  interest  in,  or any  interest  convertible,
     exchangeable  or  exercisable  for,  any 10% or  greater  equity or similar
     interest in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business,
     association or entity other than the entities  identified in the Parent SEC
     Reports and  Parent's  limited  partnership  or limited  liability  company
     interests  in  venture  capital  funds.  Neither  Parent  nor  any  of  its
     subsidiaries  directly or indirectly owns,  beneficially or of record,  any
     shares of Company  Common Stock or other equity  interest in Company  other
     than pursuant to this Agreement and the Company Voting Agreements.

          (c) Each of Parent and  Merger  Sub is  qualified  or  licensed  to do
     business as a foreign corporation, and is in good standing (with respect to
     jurisdictions  which  recognize  such  concept),  under  the  laws  of  all
     jurisdictions  where  the  character  of the  properties  owned,  leased or
     operated  by  them  or  the  nature  of  their  activities   requires  such
     qualification or licensing,  except where the failure to be so qualified or
     licensed could not  reasonably be expected to result in a Material  Adverse
     Effect on Parent.

     Section 3.02 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. Parent has previously
furnished  to  Company  complete  and  correct  copies  of  its  Certificate  of
Incorporation  and  Bylaws  as  amended  and in  effect  as of the  date of this
Agreement  (together,  the "Parent  Charter  Documents").  Such  Parent  Charter
Documents are in full force and effect. Parent is not in violation of any of the
provisions of the Parent Charter Documents.  Parent has previously  furnished to
Company complete and correct copies of Merger Sub's Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws as amended and in effect as of the date of this Agreement  (together,
the "Merger Sub Charter  Documents").  Such Merger Sub Charter  Documents are in
full force and effect.  Merger Sub is not in violation of any of the  provisions
of the Merger Sub Charter Documents.

     Section  3.03  Capitalization.  The  authorized  capital  stock  of  Parent
consists of  300,000,000  shares of Parent Common Stock and 5,000,000  shares of
preferred  stock,  $0.001 par value per share,  650,000 of which are  designated
Series A Participating  Preferred Stock ("Parent  Preferred  Stock").  As of the
close of business on September 30, 2000, (i) 119,196,721 shares of Parent Common
Stock were issued and outstanding;  and (ii) no shares of Parent Preferred Stock
were issued or outstanding.  The authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists
of 1,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, all of which, as of
the date hereof,  are issued and outstanding.  All of the outstanding  shares of
Parent's and Merger Sub's respective capital stock have been duly authorized and
validly  issued  and are fully  paid and  nonassessable  and were not  issued in


                                      -26-
<PAGE>


violation  of any  preemptive  rights,  right of first  refusal,  or any similar
rights.  The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued  pursuant to the Merger,
upon  issuance  will  be,  duly  authorized,  validly  issued,  fully  paid  and
nonassessable  and free and clear of all  Encumbrances.  All of the  outstanding
shares of capital  stock (other than  directors'  qualifying  shares) of each of
Parent's  subsidiaries  is duly  authorized,  validly  issued,  fully  paid  and
nonassessable and all such shares (other than directors'  qualifying shares) are
owned by Parent or another subsidiary free and clear of all Encumbrances.

     Section 3.04 Authority Relative to this Agreement.

          (a) Each of Parent and/or Merger Sub has all necessary corporate power
     and  authority  to execute and deliver  this  Agreement  and to execute and
     deliver the Stock Option  Agreement,  the Company Voting Agreements and the
     Company  Affiliate  Agreements (the "Parent  Ancillary  Agreements") and to
     perform its  obligations  hereunder and  thereunder  and to consummate  the
     transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of
     this Agreement and the Parent Ancillary  Agreements by Parent and/or Merger
     Sub and the  consummation  by Parent and/or Merger Sub of the  transactions
     contemplated  hereby and thereby have been duly and validly  authorized  by
     all necessary corporate action on the part of Parent and/or Merger Sub, and
     no other  corporate  proceedings  on the part of Parent  or Merger  Sub are
     necessary to authorize this Agreement and the Parent  Ancillary  Agreements
     or to consummate the transactions so  contemplated.  This Agreement and the
     Parent  Ancillary  Agreements  have  been  duly and  validly  executed  and
     delivered by Parent and/or Merger Sub and, assuming the due  authorization,
     execution and delivery by Company, constitute legal and binding obligations
     of Parent and/or Merger Sub,  enforceable  against Parent and/or Merger Sub
     in accordance with their respective terms.

     Section 3.05 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.

          (a) The execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
     Parent  Ancillary  Agreements  do not and will not,  (i)  conflict  with or
     violate the Parent Charter Documents or Merger Sub Charter Documents,  (ii)
     subject to the  requirements  set forth in Section 3.05(b) below,  conflict
     with or  violate  any law,  rule,  regulation,  order,  judgment  or decree
     applicable to Parent or any of its  subsidiaries or by which they or any of
     their respective  properties are bound or affected,  or (iii) result in any
     breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of
     time or both would become a default) under,  or materially  impair Parent's
     or Merger  Sub's  rights or alter the  rights or  obligations  of any third
     party  against  or to Parent or Merger  Sub  under,  or give to others  any
     rights of  termination,  amendment,  acceleration  or  cancellation  of, or
     result in the creation of an Encumbrance on any of the properties or assets
     of Parent or Merger Sub  pursuant  to,  any  material  mortgage,  Contract,
     permit,  franchise or other  obligation  to which Parent or Merger Sub is a
     party  or by  which  Parent  or  Merger  Sub  or any  of  their  respective
     properties  are bound or  affected,  except to the  extent  such  conflict,
     violation,  breach,  default,  impairment  or other effect could not in the
     case of clauses (ii) or (iii) individually or in the aggregate,  reasonably
     be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

                                      -27-

<PAGE>


          (b) The  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  and the  Parent
     Ancillary   Agreements  by  Parent  and/or  Merger  Sub  do  not,  and  the
     performance of this Agreement and the Parent Ancillary Agreements by Parent
     and/or Merger Sub shall not, require Parent or Merger Sub to obtain or make
     any  consent,  approval,  authorization  or permit  of,  or filing  with or
     notification to, any Governmental Entity or third party except (i) pursuant
     to applicable  requirements,  if any, of the  Securities  Act, the Exchange
     Act, Blue Sky Laws, the pre-merger notification requirements of the HSR Act
     and  of  foreign  governmental  entities  and  the  rules  and  regulations
     thereunder,  the  rules and  regulations  of  Nasdaq,  and the  filing  and
     recordation  of the  Certificate  of Merger as required by Delaware Law and
     (ii) where the failure to obtain such consents,  approvals,  authorizations
     or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, (A) would not prevent
     consummation  of the Merger or otherwise  prevent Parent or Merger Sub from
     performing their respective  obligations  under this Agreement or (B) could
     not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  reasonably be expected to have a
     Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

     Section 3.06 Legal Compliance.

     Neither  Parent  nor  Merger  Sub is in  conflict  with,  or in  default or
violation  of, any Legal  Requirement,  except for any  conflicts,  defaults  or
violations  that  (individually  or in the aggregate)  would not cause Parent or
Merger Sub to incur any material liability. No charge, complaint, claim, demand,
notice, inquiry,  investigation,  action, suit, proceeding, hearing or review by
any  Governmental  Entity is  pending  or, to the  knowledge  of  Parent,  being
threatened  against  Parent or Merger Sub, nor, to Parent's  knowledge,  has any
Governmental  Entity  indicated to Parent in writing an intention to conduct the
same,  other  than,  in each such case,  those the  outcome of which  could not,
individually  or in the aggregate,  reasonably be expected to have the effect of
prohibiting or materially  restricting any business practice of Parent or Merger
Sub,  any  acquisition  of material  property by the Parent or Merger Sub or the
conduct  of  business  by Parent or any of its  subsidiaries.

     Section  3.07  SEC  Filings;  Financial  Statements.

          (a)  Parent  has made  available  to  Company  (through  reference  to
     documents  filed by EDGAR or otherwise) a correct and complete copy of each
     report,  schedule,  registration  statement and definitive  proxy statement
     filed by Parent  with the SEC since  December  31,  1997 (the  "Parent  SEC
     Reports"),  which are all the forms,  reports and documents  required to be
     filed by Parent with the SEC since such date. As of their respective dates,
     the  Parent  SEC  Reports  (A)  were  prepared  in   accordance   with  the
     requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be,
     and (B) did not at the time they were filed (or if amended or superseded by
     a  filing  prior to the  date of this  Agreement,  then on the date of such
     filing) contain any untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state a
     material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make
     the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading. None of Parent's subsidiaries is required to file any
     reports or other documents with the SEC.

          (b) Each set of consolidated financial statements (including,  in each
     case,  any related notes  thereto)  contained in the Parent SEC Reports was
     prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent  basis  throughout
     the periods  involved  (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and

                                      -28-

<PAGE>


     except that unaudited  statements do not contain  footnotes in substance or
     form  required by GAAP,  as is permitted by Form 10-Q of the Exchange  Act)
     and  each  fairly  presents  in  all  material  respects  the  consolidated
     financial  position of Parent and its  subsidiaries at the respective dates
     thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for
     the  periods  indicated,   except  that  the  unaudited  interim  financial
     statements were or are subject to normal year-end adjustments.

          (c) Parent has previously  furnished to Company a complete and correct
     copy of any amendments or modifications, which have not yet been filed with
     the SEC but which are  required to be filed,  to  agreements,  documents or
     other  instruments  which  previously had been filed by Parent with the SEC
     pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

     Section  3.08 No  Undisclosed  Liabilities.  Neither  Parent nor any of its
subsidiaries has any liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) of
a nature  required to be disclosed on a balance sheet or in the related notes to
the  consolidated  financial  statements  prepared in accordance with GAAP which
are,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  material to the business,  results of
operations  or  financial  condition of Parent and its  subsidiaries  taken as a
whole,  except (i) liabilities  disclosed or provided for in Parent's  unaudited
balance  sheet as of June 30,  2000 as set forth in the Parent SEC Reports or in
the  related  notes or (ii)  liabilities  incurred  since  June 30,  2000 in the
ordinary course of business.

     Section  3.09  Absence of Certain  Changes or Events.  Since June 30, 2000,
there  has not  been:  (i) any  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  Parent,  (ii) any
declaration,  setting aside or payment of any dividend on, or other distribution
(whether in cash,  stock or  property)  in respect of, any of Parent's or any of
its  subsidiaries'   capital  stock,  or  any  purchase,   redemption  or  other
acquisition by Parent of any of Parent's  capital stock or any other  securities
of Parent  or its  subsidiaries  or any  options,  warrants,  calls or rights to
acquire  any such  shares  or  other  securities  except  for  repurchases  from
employees   following  their   termination   pursuant  to  the  terms  of  their
pre-existing stock option or purchase agreements,  (iii) any split,  combination
or  reclassification  of any of  Parent's  or any of its  subsidiaries'  capital
stock, (iv) any material change by Parent in its accounting methods,  principles
or  practices,  except  as  required  by  concurrent  changes  in GAAP,  (v) any
amendment or consent with respect to any licensing  agreement  filed or required
to be filed by Parent with the SEC, or (vi) any material  revaluation  by Parent
of any of its assets, including,  without limitation,  writing down the value of
capitalized inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable or any sale of
assets of the Parent other than in the ordinary course of business.

     Section 3.10  Absence of  Litigation.  As of the date hereof,  there are no
claims,  suits,  actions or  proceedings  that have a reasonable  likelihood  of
success  on the  merits  pending  or, to the  knowledge  of  Parent,  threatened
against, relating to or affecting Parent or any of its subsidiaries,  before any
court,   governmental  department,   commission,   agency,   instrumentality  or
authority, or any arbitrator that seek to restrain or enjoin the consummation of
the  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement  or  that  could  otherwise
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

                                      -29-

<PAGE>

     Section  3.11  Registration  Statement;   Proxy  Statement.   None  of  the
information  supplied or to be supplied by Parent for  inclusion in: (i) the S-4
will, at the time the S-4 becomes  effective under the Securities  Act,  contain
any untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state any  material  fact
required  to be stated  therein  or  necessary  in order to make the  statements
therein,  in  light  of  the  circumstances  under  which  they  are  made,  not
misleading;  and (ii) the Proxy Statement/Prospectus will, at the date mailed to
the stockholders of Company,  at the time of the Company  Stockholders'  Meeting
and at the  Effective  Time, in connection  with the  transactions  contemplated
hereby,  contain any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to state any
material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading.  The S-4 will comply as to form in all  material  respects  with the
provisions of the  Securities Act and the rules and  regulations  promulgated by
the  SEC   thereunder.   Notwithstanding   the   foregoing,   Parent   makes  no
representation  or warranty with respect to any information  supplied by Company
which is contained in any of the foregoing documents.

     Section 3.12 Taxes.

          (a) Parent and each of its subsidiaries have timely filed all federal,
     state, local and foreign returns,  estimates, forms, information statements
     and reports  ("Returns")  relating to Taxes  required to be filed by Parent
     and each of its  subsidiaries  with any Tax authority,  except such Returns
     which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to Parent. Parent
     and each of its  subsidiaries  have  paid  all  Taxes  required  to be paid
     whether or not shown to be due on such Returns.

          (b) Neither Parent nor any of its  subsidiaries  has any liability for
     any material  unpaid Taxes  (whether or not shown to be done on any Return)
     which has not been accrued for or reserved on Parent's  balance sheet dated
     June 30, 2000 in  accordance  with GAAP,  whether  asserted or  unasserted,
     contingent  or  otherwise,  which is  material  to  Parent,  other than any
     liability  for unpaid  Taxes that may have  accrued  since April 1, 2000 in
     connection   with  the   operation  of  the  business  of  Parent  and  its
     subsidiaries  in the  ordinary  course.  There are no liens with respect to
     Taxes on any of the assets of Parent or any of its subsidiaries, other than
     liens which are not individually or in the aggregate material, or customary
     liens for current Taxes not yet due and payable.

          (c) Neither Parent nor any of its  subsidiaries has been delinquent in
     the  payment of any  material  Tax.  There is no  material  Tax  deficiency
     outstanding,   proposed   or  assessed   against   Parent  or  any  of  its
     subsidiaries.  Neither Parent nor any of its  subsidiaries has executed any
     unexpired  waiver of any  statute of  limitations  on or  extension  of any
     period for the assessment or collection of any Tax.

          (d) Parent and each of its  subsidiaries  are in full  compliance with
     all terms and  conditions of any Tax  exemptions,  Tax holiday or other Tax
     reduction agreement or order of a territorial or foreign government and the
     consummation  of the  Merger  will  not  have  any  adverse  effect  on the
     continued  validity  and  effectiveness  of any  such Tax  exemptions,  Tax
     holiday or other Tax reduction agreement or order.

                                      -30-

<PAGE>

     Section  3.13  Brokers.  Except for fees  payable  to Morgan  Stanley & Co.
Incorporated  pursuant to an engagement  letter dated September 18, 2000, a copy
of which has been  provided to  Company,  Parent has not  incurred,  nor will it
incur,  directly or  indirectly,  any liability for brokerage or finders fees or
agent's  commissions or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or
any transaction contemplated hereby.

     Section 3.14  Intellectual  Property.  For the purposes of this  Agreement,
"Parent  Intellectual  Property"  shall mean any  Intellectual  Property that is
owned by, or exclusively licensed to, Parent and its subsidiaries.

          (a) No Parent  Intellectual  Property is subject to any  proceeding or
     outstanding decree,  order,  judgment,  contract,  license,  agreement,  or
     stipulation  restricting in any manner by its terms the use,  transfer,  or
     licensing thereof by Parent or any of its subsidiaries, or which may affect
     the validity,  use or enforceability of such Parent Intellectual  Property,
     in each case which could  reasonably be expected to have  Material  Adverse
     Effect.

          (b) Parent's and its subsidiaries' design,  development,  manufacture,
     distribution, reproduction, marketing or sale of the products of Parent and
     its subsidiaries has not infringed or misappropriated and does not infringe
     or  misappropriate  the Intellectual  Property of any third party, and does
     not constitute unfair  competition or trade practices under the laws of any
     jurisdiction,  except as would not be expected  to have a Material  Adverse
     Effect.

          (c) Neither Parent nor any of its  subsidiaries  has received  written
     notice from any third party that the operation of the business of Parent or
     any of its  subsidiaries or any act, product or service of Parent or any of
     its subsidiaries, infringes or misappropriates the Intellectual Property of
     any third party or constitutes  unfair competition or trade practices under
     the laws of any  jurisdiction,  except as would not be  expected  to have a
     Material Adverse Effect.

     Section 3.15 Opinion of Financial  Advisor.  Parent has been advised by its
financial advisor, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, that in its opinion, as of
the date of this Agreement, the Exchange Ratio is fair from a financial point of
view, and Parent shall provide to Company a copy of the written  confirmation of
such opinion as soon as available.

     Section  3.16 Board  Approval.  The Board of Directors of Parent has, as of
the date of this Agreement,  unanimously (i) approved this Agreement, the Parent
Ancillary Agreements and the transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby, (ii)
determined that the Merger is consistent with the long-term business strategy of
Parent  and is in the best  interests  of the  stockholders  of Parent and is on
terms  that  are  fair to such  stockholders  and  (iii)  adopted  a  resolution
declaring the Merger advisable.

     Section 3.17 Pooling of  Interests.  Except as set forth on Section 3.17 of
the Parent Disclosure Schedule, to its knowledge, based on consultation with its
independent  accountants,  neither Parent nor any of its directors,  officers or
affiliates has taken any action which would  interfere with Parent's  ability to
account for the Merger as a "pooling of interests."


                                      -31-

<PAGE>

     Section 3.18 State Takeover Statutes.  The Board of Directors of Parent has
taken all  actions so that the  restrictions  contained  in  Section  203 of the
Delaware Law applicable to a "business  combination" (as defined in such Section
203) will not apply to the execution,  delivery or performance of this Agreement
or the Parent Voting Agreement or to the consummation of the Merger or the other
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or the Company Voting Agreement. To
the knowledge of Parent,  no other state  takeover  statute is applicable to the
Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                       CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME

     Section  4.01  Conduct of Business  by Company.  During the period from the
date of this  Agreement and continuing  until the earlier of the  termination of
this Agreement  pursuant to its terms or the Effective Time, Company and each of
its subsidiaries shall, except to the extent that Parent shall otherwise consent
in writing,  carry on its business in the ordinary course in  substantially  the
same manner as  heretofore  conducted  and in  substantial  compliance  with all
applicable  laws and  regulations,  pay its debts and taxes when due  subject to
good faith  disputes  over such debts or taxes,  pay or perform  other  material
obligations when due subject to good faith disputes over such  obligations,  and
use its  commercially  reasonable  efforts  consistent  with past  practices and
policies to (i) preserve  intact its present  business  organization,  (ii) keep
available the services of its present officers and employees, and (iii) preserve
its relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors,  licensors, licensees
and others with which it has significant business dealings. In addition, Company
will  promptly  notify  Parent of any material  event  involving its business or
operations occurring outside the ordinary course of business.

     In addition,  except as expressly permitted by the terms of this Agreement,
without the prior written consent of Parent,  during the period from the date of
this  Agreement  and  continuing  until the earlier of the  termination  of this
Agreement  pursuant to its terms or the Effective Time, Company shall not do any
of  the  following  and  shall  not  permit  its  subsidiaries  to do any of the
following:

          (a) Except as  required  by law or  pursuant to the terms of a Plan in
     effect  as  of  the  date  hereof,   waive  any  stock  repurchase  rights,
     accelerate,  amend or change  the  period of  exercisability  of options or
     restricted   stock,   or  reprice   options  granted  under  any  employee,
     consultant,  director or other stock plans or  authorize  cash  payments in
     exchange for any options granted under any of such plans;

          (b) Grant any severance or termination  pay to any officer or employee
     except pursuant to written agreements outstanding, or practices or policies
     existing,  on the date  hereof (or as required  by  applicable  law) and as
     previously  disclosed in writing or made available to Parent,  or adopt any
     new severance plan, or amend or modify or alter in any manner any severance
     plan, agreement or arrangement existing on the date hereof;


                                      -32-

<PAGE>

          (c) Other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
     practices, transfer or license to any person or entity or otherwise extend,
     amend  or  modify  in any  material  respect  any  rights  to  the  Company
     Intellectual  Property,  or enter into grants to transfer or license to any
     person  future  patent  rights;  provided  that in no event  shall  Company
     license on an  exclusive  basis or sell any Company  Intellectual  Property
     (other  than in  connection  with the  abandonment  of  immaterial  Company
     Intellectual Property after at least five (5) business days' written notice
     to Parent);

          (d)  Declare,  set  aside or pay any  dividends  on or make any  other
     distributions  (whether in cash,  stock,  equity securities or property) in
     respect of any capital stock or split,  combine or  reclassify  any capital
     stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect
     of, in lieu of or in substitution for any capital stock;

          (e) Purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any
     shares of capital stock of Company or its subsidiaries,  except repurchases
     of  unvested  shares  at cost in  connection  with the  termination  of the
     employment  relationship  with any  employee  pursuant  to stock  option or
     purchase  agreements  in effect on the date hereof (or any such  agreements
     entered  into in the  ordinary  course  consistent  with past  practice  by
     Company with employees hired after the date hereof);

          (f) Issue, deliver,  sell, authorize,  pledge or otherwise encumber or
     propose any of the foregoing with respect to any shares of capital stock or
     any securities  convertible into shares of capital stock, or subscriptions,
     rights,  warrants or options to acquire any shares of capital  stock or any
     securities  convertible  into shares of capital stock,  or enter into other
     agreements or commitments of any character  obligating it to issue any such
     shares or  convertible  securities,  other than (x) the issuance,  delivery
     and/or sale of (i) shares of Company  Common Stock pursuant to the exercise
     of stock options or warrants  outstanding as of the date of this Agreement,
     and (ii) shares of Company  Common Stock  issuable to  participants  in the
     ESPP  consistent  with the terms  thereof,  and (y) the  granting  of stock
     options to new employees in the ordinary course of business in such amounts
     and in all other  respects and  consistent  with past  practices  and in an
     amount not to exceed 150,000 in the aggregate with similar vesting terms;

          (g) Cause,  permit or submit to a vote of Company's  stockholders  any
     amendments  to  the  Company  Charter   Documents  (or  similar   governing
     instruments of any of its subsidiaries); (h) Acquire or agree to acquire by
     merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing any equity interest in or a
     portion of the  assets  of, or by any other  manner,  any  business  or any
     corporation,  partnership,  association or other business  organization  or
     division  thereof,  or  otherwise  acquire or agree to enter into any joint
     ventures or strategic partnerships;

          (i)  Sell,  lease,  license,  encumber  or  otherwise  dispose  of any
     properties or assets except in the ordinary  course of business  consistent
     with past practice,  except for the sale, lease, licensing,  encumbering or
     disposition  (other  than  through  licensing  permitted  by clause (c)) of

                                      -33-

<PAGE>

     property  or  assets  which  are  not  material,  individually  or  in  the
     aggregate, to the business of Company and its subsidiaries;

          (j) Incur any  indebtedness  for borrowed  money or guarantee any such
     indebtedness  of  another  person,  issue or sell any  debt  securities  or
     options,  warrants, calls or other rights to acquire any debt securities of
     Company,  enter into any "keep well" or other  agreement  to  maintain  any
     financial  statement  condition  or enter into any  arrangement  having the
     economic  effect of any of the foregoing  other than in the ordinary course
     of business consistent with past practice;

          (k) Other than the increase in the number of shares of Company  Common
     Stock available for grant pursuant to the Company's 2000 Nonstatutory Stock
     Option Plan by  1,000,000,  adopt or amend any Plan or any  employee  stock
     purchase  or  employee  stock  option  plan;  or enter into any  employment
     contract or collective  bargaining  agreement (other than offer letters and
     letter  agreements   entered  into  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business
     consistent  with  past   practice);   pay  any  special  bonus  or  special
     remuneration  to any  director or employee;  or,  other than annual  salary
     increases for  employees  and officers (but not  directors) in the ordinary
     course of business consistent with past practices, increase the salaries or
     wage  rates  or  fringe   benefits   (including   rights  to  severance  or
     indemnification)  of its  directors,  officers,  employees  or  consultants
     except,  in each case,  as may be required  by law;  or  increase  the cash
     compensation of the persons listed on Schedule  4.01(k) hereto by more than
     8% of the total  base  salary  paid to such  persons  in the  aggregate  in
     calendar  year 2000;  provided  that any such  increase  is approved by the
     Board of  Directors  of the  Company  and would not  adversely  affect  the
     ability of Parent to account for the merger as a "pooling of interests."

          (l) (i) pay,  discharge,  settle or satisfy any litigation (whether or
     not commenced prior to the date of this Agreement) or any material  claims,
     liabilities  or  obligations  (absolute,  accrued,  asserted or unasserted,
     contingent or otherwise), other than the payment, discharge,  settlement or
     satisfaction,  in the  ordinary  course of  business  consistent  with past
     practice or in accordance  with their terms,  of liabilities  recognized or
     disclosed in the most recent financial statements (or the notes thereto) of
     Company  included in the Company SEC Reports or incurred  since the date of
     such  financial  statements  or  disclosed  in Section  2.08 or 2.09 of the
     Company  Schedule,  or (ii) waive the  benefits  of, agree to modify in any
     manner, terminate, release any person from or knowingly fail to enforce the
     confidentiality  or  nondisclosure  provisions  of any  agreement  to which
     Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which Company or any of
     its subsidiaries is a beneficiary;

          (m) Except in the  ordinary  course of business  consistent  with past
     practice,  materially modify,  amend or terminate any Contract disclosed in
     Section  2.17(g)  or 2.18 of the  Company  Schedule  or  waive,  delay  the
     exercise of, release or assign any material rights or claims thereunder;

          (n) Except as required by GAAP,  revalue any of its assets or make any
     change in accounting methods, principles or practices;

                                      -34-

<PAGE>

          (o)  Incur  or  enter  into  any  agreement,  contract  or  commitment
     requiring  Company or any of its subsidiaries to pay in excess of $750,000;

          (p) Engage in any action  that would  reasonably  be  expected  to (i)
     cause the  Merger to fail to qualify as a  "reorganization"  under  Section
     368(a) of the Code or (ii) interfere  with Parent's  ability to account for
     the  Merger as a  "pooling  of  interests,"  whether  or not (in each case)
     otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Article IV;

          (q) Make any Tax  election  or  accounting  method  change  (except as
     required by GAAP) inconsistent with past practice that,  individually or in
     the  aggregate,  is reasonably  likely to adversely  affect in any material
     respect  the Tax  liability  or Tax  attributes  of  Company  or any of its
     subsidiaries, settle or compromise any material Tax liability or consent to
     any extension or waiver of any limitation period with respect to Taxes; or

          (r) Agree in writing or otherwise to take any of the actions described
     in Section 4.01 (a) through (q) above.

     Section 4.02 Conduct of Business by Parent. During the period from the date
of this  Agreement and continuing  until the earlier of the  termination of this
Agreement  pursuant to its terms or the Effective  Time,  Parent and each of its
subsidiaries shall, except to the extent that Company shall otherwise consent in
writing,  carry on its business in the ordinary course in substantially the same
manner as heretofore conducted and in substantial compliance with all applicable
laws and  regulations,  pay its debts and taxes  when due  subject to good faith
disputes  over such debts or taxes,  pay or perform other  material  obligations
when due  subject  to good faith  disputes  over such  obligations,  and use its
commercially  reasonable  efforts consistent with past practices and policies to
(i) preserve intact its present business  organization,  (ii) keep available the
services  of  its  present  officers  and  employees,  and  (iii)  preserve  its
relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors,  licensors, licensees and
others with which it has significant business dealings.

     In addition,  except as expressly permitted by the terms of this Agreement,
without the prior written consent of Company, during the period from the date of
this  Agreement  and  continuing  until the earlier of the  termination  of this
Agreement  pursuant to its terms or the Effective Time,  Parent shall not do any
of  the  following  and  shall  not  permit  its  subsidiaries  to do any of the
following:

          (a)  Declare,  set  aside,  or pay any  dividends  or make  any  other
     distributions  (whether in cash,  stock,  equity securities or property) in
     respect to Parent's  capital stock,  except where (i) an adjustment is made
     to the  Exchange  Ratio in  accordance  with  Section  1.06(e)  or (ii) the
     holders  of Company  Common  Stock will  otherwise  receive an  equivalent,
     proportional  dividend or  distribution  (based on the Exchange  Ratio,  as
     adjusted  pursuant to Section  1.06(e)) in connection with the Merger as if
     they had been  holders of Parent  Common  Stock on the record date for such
     dividend or distribution;

          (b) Purchase,  redeem, or otherwise  acquire,  directly or indirectly,
     any shares of capital  stock of Parent or its  subsidiaries  in any amounts
     that would adversely affect Parent's financial condition or liquidity;

          (c) Effect any amendment to Parent's Certificate of Incorporation;

                                      -35-
<PAGE>

          (d) Engage in any action  that would  reasonably  be  expected  to (i)
     cause the  Merger to fail to qualify as a  "reorganization"  under  Section
     368(a) of the Code or (ii)  interfere  with its  ability to account for the
     Merger as a "pooling of interests," whether or not (in each case) otherwise
     permitted by the provisions of this Article IV;

          (e) Take any action that would  materially  delay the  consummation of
     the transactions  contemplated hereby; or

          (f) Agree in writing or otherwise to take any of the actions described
     in Section 4.02 (a) through (e) above.


                                   ARTICLE V
                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

     Section  5.01 Proxy  Statement/Prospectus;  Registration  Statement;  Other
Filings; Board Recommendations.

          (a) As promptly as practicable  after the execution of this Agreement,
     Parent and Company shall jointly prepare and Parent shall file with the SEC
     the S-4, which shall include a document or documents  that will  constitute
     (i) the prospectus  forming part of the  registration  statement on the S-4
     and (ii) the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus.  Each of the parties hereto shall
     use its best  efforts to cause the S-4 to become  effective  as promptly as
     practicable after the date hereof,  and, prior to the effective date of the
     S-4, the parties hereto shall take all action required under any applicable
     laws in  connection  with the  issuance  of shares of Parent  Common  Stock
     pursuant to the Merger.  Each of Parent and Company shall provide  promptly
     to the  other  such  information  concerning  its  business  and  financial
     statements  and affairs  as, in the  reasonable  judgment of the  providing
     party or its counsel,  may be required or appropriate  for inclusion in the
     Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the S-4, or in any amendments or supplements
     thereto,  and cause its counsel and auditors to cooperate  with the other's
     counsel and auditors in the  preparation of the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus
     and the S-4. As promptly as  practicable  after the  effective  date of the
     S-4, the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus shall be mailed to the stockholders of
     Company.   Each   of   the   parties   hereto   shall   cause   the   Proxy
     Statement/Prospectus  to comply as to form and  substance  with  respect to
     such party in all material respects with the applicable requirements of (i)
     the  Exchange  Act,  (ii) the  Securities  Act,  and  (iii)  the  rules and
     regulations  of the Nasdaq.  As promptly as  practicable  after the date of
     this Agreement,  each of Company and Parent will prepare and file any other
     filings  required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act, the  Securities
     Act or any other  Federal,  foreign or Blue Sky or related laws relating to
     the Merger and the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement (the "Other
     Filings").  Prior to the Effective Time,  Parent shall use its commercially
     reasonable efforts to obtain all regulatory approvals needed to ensure that
     the Parent  Common Stock to be issued in the Merger will be  registered  or
     qualified  under the  securities  law of every  jurisdiction  in the United
     States  in which  any  registered  holder of  Company  Common  Stock has an


                                      -36-

<PAGE>

     address  of record on the  record  date for  determining  the  stockholders
     entitled  to notice of and to vote at the  Company  Stockholders'  Meeting;
     provided  that  Parent  shall not be  required to consent to the service of
     process in any jurisdiction in which it is not so subject.  Each of Company
     and Parent will notify the other  promptly upon the receipt of any comments
     from the SEC or its staff or any other government  officials of the receipt
     of notice that the S-4 has become  effective,  of the  issuance of any stop
     order,  of the suspension of the  qualification  of the Parent Common Stock
     issuable  in  connection  with  the  Merger  for  offering  or  sale in any
     jurisdiction,  or of any  request  by the  SEC or its  staff  or any  other
     government  officials for  amendments or  supplements to the S-4, the Proxy
     Statement/Prospectus or any Other Filing or for additional information and,
     except  as may be  prohibited  by any  Governmental  Entity or by any Legal
     Requirement,  will  supply  the other  with  copies  of all  correspondence
     between such party or any of its representatives,  on the one hand, and the
     SEC or its staff or any other government officials, on the other hand, with
     respect to the S-4, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the Merger or any Other
     Filing.  Each of Company  and Parent  will cause all  documents  that it is
     responsible for filing with the SEC or other regulatory  authorities  under
     this Section 5.01(a) to comply in all material respects with all applicable
     requirements of law and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

          (b) The Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  shall (i) solicit the approval of
     this Agreement and the Merger and include the  recommendation  of the Board
     of Directors of Company to Company's  stockholders  that they vote in favor
     of approval of this  Agreement and the Merger,  subject to the right of the
     Board of Directors of Company to withdraw its  recommendation and recommend
     a Superior Proposal  determined to be in compliance with Section 5.02(c) of
     this  Agreement,  and (ii)  include the opinion of C.E.  Unterberg,  Towbin
     referred to in Section 2.19; provided, however, that the Board of Directors
     of Company shall submit this Agreement to Company's stockholders whether or
     not at any time subsequent to the date hereof such board determines that it
     can no longer make such recommendation. If Company has not breached Section
     5.02(c),  then nothing  contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Board
     of Directors of Company from complying with Rule 14d-9 and Rule 14e-2 under
     the Exchange Act.

          (c) Each of Parent and Company shall promptly  inform the other of any
     event which is required to be set forth in an  amendment or  supplement  to
     the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus,  the S-4 or any Other  Filing  and each of
     Parent and Company shall amend or supplement the Proxy Statement/Prospectus
     to the extent  required by law to do so. No amendment or  supplement to the
     Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the S-4 shall be made without the approval of
     Parent and Company,  which approval shall not be  unreasonably  withheld or
     delayed.

     Section 5.02 Stockholder Meeting.

          (a) Company shall call and hold the Company  Stockholders'  Meeting as
     promptly  as  practicable  after the date  hereof for the purpose of voting
     upon the approval of this  Agreement  and the Merger  pursuant to the Proxy
     Statement/Prospectus, and Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts
     to hold the Company  Stockholders' Meeting as soon as practicable after the
     date on which the S-4  becomes  effective.  Nothing  herein  shall  prevent
     Company from adjourning or postponing the Company  Stockholders' Meeting if
     there are  insufficient  shares of Company  Common  Stock,  represented  in

                                      -37-

<PAGE>


     person  or  by  proxy,   necessary  to  conduct  business  at  the  Company
     Stockholders'  Meeting.  Unless  Company's Board of Directors has withdrawn
     its  recommendation  of this  Agreement and the Merger in  compliance  with
     Section  5.02(c),  Company  shall use  commercially  reasonable  efforts to
     solicit  from its  stockholders  proxies in favor of the  approval  of this
     Agreement  and the Merger  pursuant to the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  and
     shall take all other commercially  reasonable action necessary or advisable
     to secure the vote or consent of  stockholders  required by Delaware Law or
     applicable stock exchange requirements to obtain such approval. The Company
     shall take all other action  reasonably  necessary or advisable to promptly
     and  expeditiously  secure any vote or consent of stockholders  required by
     applicable Law and its  Certificate of  Incorporation  and Bylaws to effect
     the Merger.  Company's obligation to call, give notice of, convene and hold
     the Company  Stockholders'  Meeting in accordance with this Section 5.02(a)
     shall  not  be  limited  to or  otherwise  affected  by  the  commencement,
     disclosure,  announcement  or  submission  to  Company  of any  Acquisition
     Proposal or any change in the Board of Directors  recommendation  regarding
     the Merger.

          (b) Subject to Section 5.02(c):  (i) the Board of Directors of Company
     shall recommend that Company's  stockholders vote in favor of and adopt and
     approve this Agreement and the Merger at the Company Stockholders' Meeting;
     (ii) the Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall include a statement to the effect
     that the Board of  Directors  of Company  has  recommended  that  Company's
     stockholders  vote in favor of and adopt and approve this Agreement and the
     Merger at the Company Stockholders' Meeting; and (iii) neither the Board of
     Directors of Company nor any  committee  thereof shall  withdraw,  amend or
     modify,  or propose or  resolve  to  withdraw,  amend or modify in a manner
     adverse to Parent,  the recommendation of the Board of Directors of Company
     that  Company's  stockholders  vote in favor of and adopt and approve  this
     Agreement and the Merger.

          (c) Nothing in this Agreement  shall prevent the Board of Directors of
     Company  from   withholding,   withdrawing,   amending  or  modifying   its
     recommendation  in favor of the Merger if (i) a Superior  Offer (as defined
     below) is made to Company and not withdrawn,  (ii) neither  Company nor any
     of its  representatives  shall have  violated any of the  restrictions  set
     forth in  Section  5.04,  and  (iii)  the  Board of  Directors  of  Company
     concludes in good faith, after consultation with its outside counsel, that,
     in light of such Superior Offer, the withholding,  withdrawal, amendment or
     modification of such  recommendation  is required in order for the Board of
     Directors of Company to comply with its fiduciary  obligations to Company's
     stockholders  under applicable law. Nothing  contained in this Section 5.02
     shall  limit   Company's   obligation  to  hold  and  convene  the  Company
     Stockholders'  Meeting  (regardless  of whether the  recommendation  of the
     Board of  Directors  of  Company  shall  have been  withdrawn,  amended  or
     modified).  For purposes of this Agreement,  "Superior Offer" shall mean an
     unsolicited,  bona fide written  offer made by a third party to  consummate
     any of the following transactions:  (i) a merger,  consolidation,  business
     combination,   recapitalization,   liquidation,   dissolution   or  similar
     transaction involving Company pursuant to which the stockholders of Company
     immediately  preceding  such  transaction  hold less than 51% of the equity
     interest in the surviving or resulting entity of such  transaction;  (ii) a
     sale or other  disposition  by Company of assets  (excluding  inventory and
     used equipment  sold in the ordinary  course of business)  representing  in
     excess of 51% of the fair market  value of Company's  business  immediately


                                      -38-

<PAGE>

     prior to such  sale,  or  (iii)  the  acquisition  by any  person  or group
     (including  by way of a tender  offer or an  exchange  offer or issuance by
     Company),  directly or  indirectly,  of beneficial  ownership or a right to
     acquire beneficial ownership of shares representing in excess of 51% of the
     voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of Company, in
     each case on terms that the Board of  Directors of Company  determines,  in
     its  reasonable  judgment  (based  on  advice  of a  financial  advisor  of
     nationally   recognized   reputation)  to  be  more  favorable  to  Company
     stockholders  from a financial  point of view than the terms of the Merger;
     provided,  however,  that  any  such  offer  shall  not be  deemed  to be a
     "Superior  Offer" if any financing  required to consummate the  transaction
     contemplated  by such  offer  is not  committed  and is not  likely  in the
     judgment of Company's Board of Directors to be obtained by such third party
     on a timely basis.

     Section 5.03 Confidentiality; Access to Information.

          (a)  Confidentiality  Agreement.  The parties acknowledge that Company
     and Parent have previously executed a Confidentiality  Agreement,  dated as
     of   September   26,   2000  (the   "Confidentiality   Agreement"),   which
     Confidentiality  Agreement  will  continue  in full  force  and  effect  in
     accordance with its terms.

          (b)  Access  to  Information.  Company  will  afford  Parent  and  its
     accountants,  counsel and other  representatives  reasonable  access during
     normal business hours, upon reasonable  notice,  to the properties,  books,
     records and  personnel of Company  during the period prior to the Effective
     Time to obtain all  information  concerning  the  business,  including  the
     status of product development  efforts,  properties,  results of operations
     and personnel of Company,  as Parent may reasonably request. No information
     or  knowledge  obtained  by Parent in any  investigation  pursuant  to this
     Section  5.03 will  affect or be deemed  to modify  any  representation  or
     warranty  contained  herein or the  conditions  to the  obligations  of the
     parties to consummate the Merger.

     Section 5.04 No Solicitation.

          (a) From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the
     Effective Time or  termination  of this Agreement  pursuant to Article VII,
     Company and its  subsidiaries  will not, nor will they  authorize or permit
     any of their respective officers, directors, affiliates or employees or any
     investment banker,  attorney or other advisor or representative retained by
     any of them to, directly or indirectly (i) solicit, initiate,  encourage or
     induce the making,  submission or announcement of any Acquisition  Proposal
     (as defined  below),  (ii)  participate in any  discussions or negotiations
     regarding, or furnish to any person any non-public information with respect
     to, or take any other action to  facilitate  any inquiries or the making of
     any proposal that constitutes or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any
     Acquisition  Proposal,  (iii)  engage in  discussions  with any person with
     respect to any  Acquisition  Proposal,  (iv)  subject  to Section  5.02(c),
     approve,  endorse or recommend any  Acquisition  Proposal or (v) enter into
     any letter of intent or similar  document  or any  contract,  agreement  or
     commitment   contemplating   or  otherwise   relating  to  any  Acquisition
     Transaction (as defined  below);  provided,  however,  this Section 5.04(a)
     shall  not  prohibit  Company  from (A)  furnishing  information  regarding
     Company and its subsidiaries to, entering into a confidentiality  agreement
     with or entering into discussions  with, any person or group in response to
     a Superior  Offer  submitted by such person or group (and not withdrawn) if
     (1) neither Company nor any  representative of Company and its subsidiaries

                                      -39-

<PAGE>

     shall have violated any of the restrictions set forth in this Section 5.04,
     (2) the Board of  Directors  of  Company  concludes  in good  faith,  after
     consultation  with its outside legal counsel,  that such action is required
     in order for the Board of Directors of Company to comply with its fiduciary
     obligations  to Company's  stockholders  under  applicable  law, (3) (x) at
     least  two (2)  business  days  prior  to  furnishing  any  such  nonpublic
     information  to, or entering into  discussions or  negotiations  with, such
     person or group,  Company  gives Parent  written  notice of the identity of
     such  person or group  and of  Company's  intention  to  furnish  nonpublic
     information to, or enter into discussions or negotiations with, such person
     or group and (y)  Company  receives  from such  person or group an executed
     confidentiality  agreement containing customary  limitations on the use and
     disclosure of all written and oral information  furnished to such person or
     group by or on behalf of Company, and (4) contemporaneously with furnishing
     any such  information  to such  person or  group,  Company  furnishes  such
     information  to  Parent  (to the  extent  such  information  has  not  been
     previously furnished by Company to Parent) or (B) complying with Rule 14e-2
     promulgated  under the Exchange Act with regard to an Acquisition  Proposal
     with  respect  to  which no  violation  of this  Section  5.04  shall  have
     occurred.  Company and its subsidiaries  will immediately cease any and all
     existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted
     heretofore with respect to any Acquisition  Proposal.  Without limiting the
     foregoing,  it is  understood  that any violation of the  restrictions  set
     forth in the  preceding two sentences by any officer or director of Company
     or any of its  subsidiaries  or any  investment  banker,  attorney or other
     advisor or  representative  of Company or any of its subsidiaries  shall be
     deemed to be a breach of this Section  5.04 by Company.  In addition to the
     foregoing,  Company shall (i) provide Parent with at least forty-eight (48)
     hours prior  notice (or such lesser prior notice as provided to the members
     of  Company's  Board of  Directors)  of any meeting of  Company's  Board of
     Directors at which Company's  Board of Directors is reasonably  expected to
     consider a Superior  Offer and (ii) provide  Parent with at least three (3)
     business days prior written notice (or such lesser prior notice as provided
     to the members of Company's  Board of  Directors) of a meeting of Company's
     Board of Directors  at which  Company's  Board of  Directors is  reasonably
     expected to  recommend a Superior  Offer to its  stockholders  and together
     with such notice a copy of the  definitive  documentation  relating to such
     Superior Offer.

     For purposes of this Agreement, "Acquisition Proposal" shall mean any offer
or  proposal  (other  than an offer  or  proposal  by  Parent)  relating  to any
Acquisition  Transaction.  For  the  purposes  of this  Agreement,  "Acquisition
Transaction" shall mean any transaction or series of related  transactions other
than  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement  involving:  (A)  any
acquisition  or purchase from Company by any person or "group" (as defined under
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and  regulations  thereunder) of
more than a 15% interest in the total  outstanding  voting securities of Company
or any of its  subsidiaries  or any  tender  offer  or  exchange  offer  that if
consummated  would  result in any person or "group"  (as defined  under  Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder) beneficially
owning 15% or more of the total outstanding  voting securities of Company or any
of its  subsidiaries  or any  merger,  consolidation,  business  combination  or
similar  transaction  involving  Company  pursuant to which the  stockholders of
Company immediately  preceding such transaction hold less than 85% of the equity
interests  in the  surviving or resulting  entity of such  transaction;  (B) any
sale, lease (other than in the ordinary course of business), exchange, transfer,


                                      -40-

<PAGE>


license  (other  than  in the  ordinary  course  of  business),  acquisition  or
disposition of more than 15% of the assets of Company; or (C) any liquidation or
dissolution of Company.

          (b) In addition to the  obligations  of Company set forth in paragraph
     (a) of this Section 5.04,  Company as promptly as practicable  shall advise
     Parent  orally and in  writing  of any  request  received  by  Company  for
     information which Company reasonably  believes would lead to an Acquisition
     Proposal or of any Acquisition Proposal, or any inquiry received by Company
     with respect to, or which  Company  reasonably  believes  would lead to any
     Acquisition  Proposal,  the material  terms and conditions of such request,
     Acquisition  Proposal or inquiry,  and the  identity of the person or group
     making any such request, Acquisition Proposal or inquiry. Company will keep
     Parent  informed  in all  material  respects  of  the  status  and  details
     (including material amendments or proposed amendments) of any such request,
     Acquisition Proposal or inquiry.

     Section 5.05 Public  Disclosure.  Parent and Company will consult with each
other, and to the extent practicable, agree, before issuing any press release or
otherwise making any public statement with respect to the Merger, this Agreement
or an Acquisition Proposal and will not issue any such press release or make any
such public statement prior to such  consultation,  except as may be required by
law or any listing agreement with a national  securities  exchange or Nasdaq, in
which case reasonable efforts to consult with the other party will be made prior
to such release or public statement.  The parties have agreed to the text of the
joint press release announcing the signing of this Agreement.

     Section 5.06 Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Notification.

          (a) Upon the terms and  subject  to the  conditions  set forth in this
     Agreement,  each  of the  parties  agrees  to use  commercially  reasonable
     efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions,  and to do, or cause to
     be done, and to assist and cooperate  with the other parties in doing,  all
     things necessary,  proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in
     the  most  expeditious  manner  practicable,   the  Merger  and  the  other
     transactions  contemplated by this  Agreement,  including to accomplish the
     following:  (i) causing the conditions precedent set forth in Article VI to
     be satisfied; (ii) obtaining all necessary actions or nonactions,  waivers,
     consents,  approvals, orders and authorizations from Governmental Entities;
     (iii)  making  all  necessary   registrations,   declarations  and  filings
     (including  registrations,   declarations  and  filings  with  Governmental
     Entities, if any); (iv) avoiding any suit, claim, action,  investigation or
     proceeding by any Governmental  Entity  challenging the Merger or any other
     transaction  contemplated  by this  Agreement;  (v) obtaining all consents,
     approvals  or  waivers  from  third  parties  required  as a result  of the
     transactions  contemplated  in this  Agreement;  (vi)  defending any suits,
     claims,  actions,  investigations  or  proceedings,   whether  judicial  or
     administrative,  challenging  this  Agreement  or the  consummation  of the
     transactions  contemplated  hereby,  including  seeking to have any stay or
     temporary  restraining  order  entered  by any court or other  Governmental
     Entity  vacated  or  reversed;   and  (vii)  executing  or  delivering  any
     additional  instruments reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions
     contemplated by, and to fully carry out the purposes of, this Agreement. In
     connection  with and without  limiting the foregoing,  subject to the other
     terms and conditions  hereof,  Company and its Board of Directors shall, if


                                      -41-

<PAGE>

     any state takeover  statute or similar  statute or regulation is or becomes
     applicable  to the  Merger,  this  Agreement  or  any  of the  transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement,  use  commercially  reasonable  efforts and
     take  all  acts   necessary  to  ensure  that  the  Merger  and  the  other
     transactions  contemplated by this Agreement may be consummated as promptly
     as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to
     minimize  the effect of such  statute or  regulation  on the  Merger,  this
     Agreement  and  the  transactions   contemplated  hereby.   Notwithstanding
     anything herein to the contrary,  nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed
     to require  Parent or Company or any  subsidiary  or  affiliate  thereof to
     agree to any  divestiture  by itself or any of its  affiliates of shares of
     capital stock or of any business,  assets or property, or the imposition of
     any  material  limitation  on the  ability of any of them to conduct  their
     business  or to own or  exercise  control of such  assets,  properties  and
     stock.

          (b) Company  shall give prompt  notice to Parent upon  becoming  aware
     that any  representation or warranty made by it contained in this Agreement
     has become  untrue or  inaccurate,  or of any  failure of Company to comply
     with  or  satisfy  in any  material  respect  any  covenant,  condition  or
     agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this  Agreement,  in
     each case,  where the  conditions  set forth in Section  6.03(a) or Section
     6.03(b) would not be satisfied as a result thereof; provided, however, that
     no  such  notification  shall  affect  the   representations,   warranties,
     covenants or agreements of the parties or the conditions to the obligations
     of the parties under this Agreement.

          (c) Parent  shall give prompt  notice to Company upon  becoming  aware
     that any  representation  or warranty made by it or Merger Sub contained in
     this Agreement has become untrue or inaccurate, or of any failure of Parent
     or  Merger  Sub to comply  with or  satisfy  in any  material  respect  any
     covenant,  condition or  agreement  to be complied  with or satisfied by it
     under this  Agreement,  in each  case,  where the  conditions  set forth in
     Section  6.02(a)  or Section  6.02(b)  would not be  satisfied  as a result
     thereof;  provided,  however,  that no such  notification  shall affect the
     representations,  warranties, covenants or agreements of the parties or the
     conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement.

     Section 5.07 Third Party  Consents.  As soon as  practicable  following the
date  hereof,  Parent  and  Company  will each use its  commercially  reasonable
efforts to obtain any consents,  waivers and  approvals  under any of its or its
subsidiaries' respective agreements,  contracts,  licenses or leases required to
be obtained in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.

     Section 5.08 Stock Options; ESPP and Employee Benefits.

          (a) Stock  Options.  At the  Effective  Time,  Parent shall assume the
     Company Stock Option Plans and each  outstanding  option to purchase shares
     of Company  Common Stock (each, a "Company Stock Option") under the Company
     Option  Plans,  whether or not  vested,  shall be  assumed by Parent.  Each
     Company  Stock  Option so  assumed  by Parent  under  this  Agreement  will
     continue to have,  and be subject to, the same terms and conditions of such
     Company Stock Options  immediately  prior to the Effective Time (including,
     without  limitation,  any  repurchase  rights  or  vesting  provisions  and
     provisions regarding the acceleration of vesting on certain  transactions),
     except that (i) each  Company  Stock  Option will be  exercisable  (or will


                                      -42-

<PAGE>

     become  exercisable in accordance  with its terms) for that number of whole
     shares of Parent  Common Stock equal to the product of the number of shares
     of Company  Common Stock that were  issuable  upon exercise of such Company
     Stock Option  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time  multiplied by the
     Exchange  Ratio,  rounded  down to the  nearest  whole  number of shares of
     Parent Common Stock and (ii) the per share exercise price for the shares of
     Parent Common Stock  issuable  upon exercise of such assumed  Company Stock
     Option will be equal to the  quotient  determined  by dividing the exercise
     price per share of Company  Common Stock at which such Company Stock Option
     was  exercisable  immediately  prior to the Effective  Time by the Exchange
     Ratio,  rounded up to the nearest whole cent.  Parent shall comply with the
     terms of all such Company Stock Options and use its best efforts to ensure,
     to the extent  required  by and subject to the  provisions  of, the Company
     Option Plans,  and to the extent permitted under the Code, that any Company
     Stock Options that  qualified for tax treatment as incentive  stock options
     under  Section 422 of the Code prior to the  Effective  Time continue to so
     qualify after the Effective Time.  Parent shall take all corporate  actions
     necessary to reserve for  issuance a sufficient  number of shares of Parent
     Common Stock for delivery upon exercise of assumed Company Stock Options on
     the terms set forth in this Section 5.08(a).

          (b) ESPP.  At the  Effective  Time,  Parent  shall  assume the ESPP in
     accordance with its terms, and all outstanding rights to purchase shares of
     Company Common Stock under the ESPP ("Purchase Rights"), shall be converted
     (in accordance  with the Exchange  Ratio) into rights to purchase shares of
     Parent Common Stock (with the number of shares  rounded down to the nearest
     whole  share  and the  purchase  price  as of the  offering  date  for each
     offering  period in  effect  as of the  Effective  Time  rounded  up to the
     nearest whole cent). All such converted Purchase Rights shall be assumed by
     Parent, and each offering period in effect under the ESPP immediately prior
     to the Effective  Time shall be continued in  accordance  with the terms of
     the ESPP until the end of such offering  period.  The ESPP shall  terminate
     with the exercise of the last assumed  Purchase  Right,  and no  additional
     Purchase  Rights shall be granted  under the ESPP  following  the Effective
     Time, provided that references to Company in the ESPP and related documents
     shall mean Parent  (except  that the purchase  price for a relevant  period
     shall be determined with respect to the fair market value of Company Common
     Stock on such date,  as adjusted  hereby).  Parent shall take all corporate
     action  necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient  number of shares of
     Parent Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of Purchase Rights under the
     ESPP assumed in accordance with this Section  5.08(b).  Parent agrees that,
     from and after the Effective Time,  Company's  employees may participate in
     the employee  stock  purchase  plan  sponsored by Parent  ("Parent  ESPP"),
     subject to the terms and  conditions  of the Parent ESPP,  and that service
     with Company  shall be treated as service  with the Parent for  determining
     eligibility of Company's employees under the Parent ESPP.

          (c)  401(k).  Company  shall  terminate,   effective  as  of  the  day
     immediately  preceding  the  Effective  Time,  any  and  all  401(k)  plans
     sponsored or maintained by Company unless Parent provides written notice to
     Company prior to the Effective  Time that any such 401(k) plan shall not be
     terminated.  Parent  shall  receive from Company  evidence  that  Company's
     plan(s) and / or program(s) have been terminated pursuant to resolutions of
     Company's  Board of Directors  (the form and substance of such  resolutions
     shall be subject to review and approval of Parent), effective as of the day

                                      -43-

<PAGE>

     immediately  preceding  the  Effective  Time.  Company  employees  shall be
     eligible to  participate in a 401(k) plan sponsored by Parent no later than
     the first day of the next commencing month  immediately after the Effective
     Time.

          (d)  Benefits;  Prior  Service.  From and  after the  Effective  Time,
     Company  employees  shall be provided with  employee  benefits that are the
     same as those  provided to employees of Parent who are  similarly  situated
     and which are substantially similar in the aggregate to those provided such
     employees  prior to the  Effective  Time.  Parent shall cause  employees of
     Company and its  subsidiaries  to be credited with service with Company and
     each of its subsidiaries for purposes of eligibility and vesting under each
     employee  benefit plan maintained by Parent or its  subsidiaries  after the
     Effective  Time to the  extent of their  service  with  Company;  provided,
     however,  that such service shall not be recognized to the extent that such
     recognition would result in duplication of benefits.

     Section 5.09 Form S-8.  Parent agrees to file a  registration  statement on
Form S-8 for the shares of Parent Common Stock  issuable with respect to assumed
Company  Stock Options as soon as is  reasonably  practicable  (and in any event
within 30 days) after the Effective Time and shall maintain the effectiveness of
such  registration  statement  thereafter  for so long as any of such options or
other rights  remain  outstanding.

     Section 5.10 Indemnification.

          (a) From and after the Effective Time, Parent will cause the Surviving
     Corporation to fulfill and honor in all respects the obligations of Company
     (or any  predecessor  corporation)  pursuant  to (i)  each  indemnification
     agreement   between  Company  and  its  directors  or  officers  in  effect
     immediately  prior to the Effective  Time (the  "Indemnified  Parties") and
     (ii) any  indemnification  provision under the Company Charter Documents as
     in effect on the date hereof.  The Certificate of Incorporation  and Bylaws
     of the  Surviving  Corporation  will  contain  provisions  with  respect to
     exculpation  and  indemnification  that are at least  as  favorable  to the
     Indemnified  Parties as those contained in the Company Charter Documents as
     in  effect  on the date  hereof,  which  provisions  will  not be  amended,
     repealed  or  otherwise  modified  for a period of six (6)  years  from the
     Effective  Time in any  manner  that  would  adversely  affect  the  rights
     thereunder of any  Indemnified  Party or of  individuals  who,  immediately
     prior to the Effective  Time,  were employees or agents of Company,  unless
     such modification is required by law.

          (b) In the event Company or the Surviving  Corporation or any of their
     respective  successors or assigns (i) consolidates  with or merges into any
     other person and shall not be the  continuing or surviving  corporation  or
     entity of such  consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers a material amount
     of its  properties  and assets to any person in a single  transaction  or a
     series of  transactions,  then,  and in each such case,  Parent will either
     guarantee or otherwise  remain liable for the  indemnification  obligations
     referred  to in this  Section  5.10 or will make or cause to be made proper
     provision so that the  successors  and assigns of Company or the  Surviving
     Corporation,  as the case may be,  assume the  indemnification  obligations
     described herein for the benefit of the Indemnified Parties.


                                      -44-

<PAGE>


          (c) The provisions of this Section 5.10 shall survive  consummation of
     the  Merger  and are (i)  intended  to be for the  benefit  of, and will be
     enforceable  by, each of the  Indemnified  Parties and (ii) in addition to,
     and not in  substitution  for,  any  other  rights  to  indemnification  or
     contribution  that any such  Indemnified  Party  may  have by  contract  or
     otherwise.

          (d) For a period of six (6) years  after the  Effective  Time,  Parent
     will either (i) cause the Surviving  Corporation to maintain in effect,  if
     available,  directors'  and officers'  liability  insurance  covering those
     persons who are  currently  covered by Company's  directors'  and officers'
     liability  insurance  policy on terms comparable to those applicable to the
     current directors and officers of Company;  provided,  however,  that in no
     event will  Parent or the  Surviving  Corporation  be required to expend in
     excess of 150% of the annual  premium  currently  paid by Company  for such
     coverage  (or such  coverage as is  available  for such 150% of such annual
     premium),  or (ii) Parent may purchase  directors' and officers'  liability
     tail  coverage  on terms  comparable  to those  applicable  to the  current
     directors  and  officers  of  Company  covering  all  periods  prior to the
     Effective Time.

     Section 5.11 Affiliate Agreements; Pooling Actions.

          (a) Set forth in Section 5.11(a) of the Company  Schedule is a list of
     those  persons who may be deemed to be, in Company's  reasonable  judgment,
     affiliates of Company within the meaning of Rule 145 promulgated  under the
     Securities Act or Opinion 16 of the Accounting  Principles Board applicable
     to SEC rules and regulations  (each, a "Company  Affiliate").  Company will
     provide  Parent with such  information  and documents as Parent  reasonably
     requests  for  purposes  of  reviewing  such  list.  Company  will  use its
     commercially  reasonable  efforts to deliver  or cause to be  delivered  to
     Parent,  on or as promptly as practicable  following the date hereof,  from
     each Company Affiliate that has not delivered a Company Affiliate Agreement
     on or prior to the date hereof,  an executed Company  Affiliate  Agreement.
     Each Company Affiliate Agreement will be in full force and effect as of the
     Effective Time. Parent will be entitled to place appropriate legends on the
     certificates evidencing any Parent Common Stock to be received by a Company
     Affiliate pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and to issue appropriate
     stop  transfer  instructions  to the transfer  agent for the Parent  Common
     Stock, consistent with the terms of the Company Affiliate Agreement.

          (b) Promptly after execution of this  Agreement,  Parent will take the
     actions specified in Section 3.18 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule.

     Section 5.12  Regulatory  Filings;  Reasonable  Efforts.  As soon as may be
reasonably  practicable,  Company  and  Parent  each  shall file with the United
States Federal Trade  Commission  (the "FTC") and the Antitrust  Division of the
United  States  Department  of Justice  ("DOJ")  Notification  and Report  Forms
relating to the transactions  contemplated herein as required by the HSR Act, as
well  as  comparable  pre-merger  notification  forms  required  by  the  merger
notification   or  control  laws  and   regulations  of  any  other   applicable
jurisdiction,  as agreed to by the  parties.  Company and Parent each shall each
use all  commercially  reasonable  efforts to obtain  early  termination  of any
waiting  period under HSR and Company and Parent shall each  promptly (a) supply


                                      -45-

<PAGE>

the other with any information which may be required in order to effectuate such
filings  and (b) supply  any  additional  information  which  reasonably  may be
required by the FTC, the DOJ or the competition or merger control authorities of
any other  jurisdiction  and which the parties may reasonably deem  appropriate;
provided, however, that Parent shall not be required to agree to any divestiture
by Parent or Company or any of Parent's  subsidiaries or affiliates of shares of
capital  stock  or of  any  business,  assets  or  property  of  Parent  or  its
subsidiaries or affiliates or of Company,  its affiliates,  or the imposition of
any  material  limitation  on the  ability  of  any of  them  to  conduct  their
businesses or to own or exercise  control of such assets,  properties and stock.

     Section 5.13 Action by Board of Directors. Prior to the Effective Time, the
Board of  Directors  of Parent,  or an  appropriate  committee  of  non-employee
directors thereof,  shall adopt a resolution  consistent with the interpretative
guidance  of the SEC so that (i) the  assumption  of  Company  Stock  Options by
Company  Insiders (as defined below)  pursuant to this  Agreement,  and (ii) the
receipt by Company  Insiders  of Parent  Common  Stock in  exchange  for Company
Common Stock pursuant to the Merger, shall in each case be an exempt transaction
for  purposes  of Section 16 of the  Exchange  Act by any officer or director of
Company who may become a covered  person of Parent for purposes of Section 16 of
the Exchange Act (a "Company  Insider").

     Section 5.14 Nasdaq  Listing.  Parent shall authorize for listing on Nasdaq
the  shares of Parent  Common  Stock  issuable,  and  those to be  reserved  for
issuance, in connection with the Merger, effective upon notice of issuance.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                            CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER

     Section 6.01  Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger.
The respective  obligations of each party to this Agreement to effect the Merger
shall be  subject to the  satisfaction  at or prior to the  Closing  Date of the
following  conditions,  any of which may be waived if waived in  writing by both
Parent and Company:

          (a) Stockholder  Approval.  This Agreement shall have been adopted and
     the  Merger  shall  have been duly  approved  by the  requisite  vote under
     applicable law by the stockholders of Company.

          (b) Registration Statement Effective;  Proxy Statement.  The SEC shall
     have declared the S-4 effective. No stop order suspending the effectiveness
     of the S-4 or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for
     that  purpose,   and  no  similar   proceeding  in  respect  of  the  Proxy
     Statement/Prospectus, shall have been initiated or threatened in writing by
     the SEC.

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

                                      -46-

<PAGE>

     Merger.  All waiting  periods,  if any,  under the HSR Act  relating to the
     transactions  contemplated hereby will have expired or terminated early and
     all material foreign antitrust  approvals  required to be obtained prior to
     the Merger in connection with the  transactions  contemplated  hereby shall
     have been obtained.

          (d) Tax  Opinions.  Each of Company and Parent  shall have  received a
     written  opinion from its  respective  tax counsel,  in form and  substance
     reasonably  satisfactory  to Company or Parent,  as the case may be, to the
     effect that the Merger will constitute a reorganization  within the meaning
     of  Section  368(a)  of the Code  and  such  opinion  shall  not have  been
     withdrawn;  provided,  however,  that if tax counsel to Company  (Jenkens &
     Gilchrist,  Professional  Corporation)  does not  render  such  opinion  or
     renders but withdraws  such opinion,  this condition  shall  nonetheless be
     deemed to be  satisfied  if counsel to Parent  (Wilson  Sonsini  Goodrich &
     Rosati,  Professional  Corporation)  renders,  and does not withdraw,  such
     opinion  to  Company.  Officers  of  Company,  Parent  and Merger Sub shall
     provide tax counsel with customary officer's tax certificates in support of
     such tax opinions.

     Section  6.02  Additional   Conditions  to  Obligations  of  Company.   The
obligation of Company to effect the Merger shall be subject to the  satisfaction
at or prior to the  Closing  Date of each of the  following  conditions,  any of
which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by Company:

          (a) Representations  and Warranties.  Each representation and warranty
     of Parent and Merger Sub  contained in this  Agreement  (i) shall have been
     accurate in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) shall be
     true and correct in all  respects  on and as of the  Closing  Date with the
     same force and effect as if made on the Closing Date  except,  with respect
     to clauses (i) and (ii), (A) in each case, or in the aggregate, as does not
     constitute  a  Material   Adverse  Effect  on  Parent  and  (B)  for  those
     representations   and  warranties  which  address  matters  only  as  of  a
     particular  date  (which  representations  shall have been true and correct
     (subject to the  qualification as set forth in the preceding clause (A)) as
     of such  particular  date) (it  being  understood  that,  for  purposes  of
     determining the accuracy of such  representations  and warranties,  (i) all
     "Material Adverse Effect"  qualifications and other qualifications based on
     the word  "material" or similar phrases  contained in such  representations
     and warranties  shall be disregarded and (ii) any update of or modification
     to the Parent  Schedule  made or purported to have been made after the date
     of this  Agreement  shall be  disregarded).  Company  shall have received a
     certificate  with respect to the foregoing signed on behalf of Parent by an
     authorized officer of Parent.

          (b)  Agreements  and  Covenants.  Parent  and  Merger  Sub shall  have
     performed or complied  with, in all material  respects,  all agreements and
     covenants  required by this  Agreement to be performed or complied  with by
     them on or prior to the Closing  Date,  and Company  shall have  received a
     certificate  to such  effect  signed on  behalf of Parent by an  authorized
     officer of Parent.

     Section 6.03 Additional  Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger
Sub.  The  obligations  of Parent and  Merger Sub to effect the Merger  shall be
subject  to the  satisfaction  at or  prior to the  Closing  Date of each of the
following  conditions,  any of which may be waived,  in writing,  exclusively by
Parent:

          (a) Representations  and Warranties.  Each representation and warranty
     of Company  contained in this Agreement shall have been true and correct in
     all respects as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) shall be accurate in
     all  respects on and as of the Closing  Date with the same force and effect

                                      -47-
<PAGE>

     as if made on and as of the Closing  Date  except,  with respect to clauses
     (i) and (ii), (A) in each case, or in the aggregate, as does not constitute
     a Material  Adverse  Effect on Company;  provided,  however,  such Material
     Adverse   Effect   qualifier   shall  be   inapplicable   with  respect  to
     representations  and  warranties  contained in Sections 2.04,  2.19,  2.20,
     2.21, and 2.27 (which  representations  shall have been true and correct in
     all  material  respects  as of the  date of this  Agreement  and  shall  be
     accurate in all material respects as of the Closing Date) and (B) for those
     representations   and  warranties  which  address  matters  only  as  of  a
     particular date (which representations shall have been accurate (subject to
     the  qualification  as set forth in the  preceding  clause  (A)) as of such
     particular date) (it being understood that, for purposes of determining the
     accuracy of such representations and warranties,  (i) all "Material Adverse
     Effect"   qualifications  and  other   qualifications  based  on  the  word
     "material"  or  similar  phrases  contained  in  such  representations  and
     warranties  shall be disregarded  and (ii) any update of or modification to
     the Company  Schedule made or purported to have been made after the date of
     this  Agreement  shall  be  disregarded).  Parent  shall  have  received  a
     certificate with respect to the foregoing signed on behalf of Company by an
     authorized officer of Company.

          (b) Agreements and Covenants. Company shall have performed or complied
     with, in all material  respects,  all agreements and covenants  required by
     this  Agreement to be  performed or complied  with by it at or prior to the
     Closing Date,  and Parent shall have received a certificate  to such effect
     signed on behalf of Company by an authorized officer of Company.

          (c)  Consents.  Company  shall  have  procured  consents  set forth in
     Section 6.03(c) of the Company Schedule.

          (d)  Opinion  of  Accountants.  Parent  shall have  received  (i) from
     PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP,  independent auditors for Company, a copy of a
     letter  addressed  to Company  dated as of the  Closing  Date in  substance
     reasonably   satisfactory   to  Parent   (which   may   contain   customary
     qualifications  and assumptions) to the effect that  PricewaterhouseCoopers
     LLP concurs with Company  management's  conclusion that no conditions exist
     related to  Company  that would  preclude  Company  from being a party to a
     business  combination  for  which  the  "pooling  of  interests"  method of
     accounting  is used and (ii)  from KPMG LLP,  independent  accountants  for
     Parent, a copy of a letter addressed to Parent dated as of the Closing Date
     in substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent (which may contain customary
     qualifications  and  assumptions)  to the effect that KPMG LLP concurs with
     Parent  management's  conclusion  that the Merger can properly be accounted
     for as a "pooling of interests."

          (e) Company Affiliate  Agreements.  The Company  Affiliate  Agreements
     shall be in full force and effect.


                                      -48-

<PAGE>


                                  ARTICLE VII
                        TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

     Section 7.01  Termination.  This  Agreement  may be  terminated at any time
prior to the Effective Time,  whether before or after the requisite  approval of
the  stockholders  of Company:

          (a) by  mutual  written  consent  duly  authorized  by the  Boards  of
     Directors  of Parent and  Company;

          (b) by either  Company  or Parent  if the  Merger  shall not have been
     consummated  by April 30, 2001 (such  date,  or such other date that may be
     agreed by mutual written consent, being the "Outside Date") for any reason;
     provided,  however,  that the right to terminate this Agreement  under this
     Section 7.01(b) shall not be available to any party whose action or failure
     to act has been a  principal  cause of or  resulted  in the  failure of the
     Merger to occur on or before  such date if such  action or  failure  to act
     constitutes a breach of this Agreement;

          (c) by either  Company or Parent if a  Governmental  Entity shall have
     issued an order,  decree or ruling or taken any other  action,  in any case
     having  the  effect of  permanently  restraining,  enjoining  or  otherwise
     prohibiting the Merger, which order,  decree,  ruling or other action shall
     have become final and nonappealable;

          (d) by either  Company  or Parent if:  (i) the  Company  Stockholders'
     Meeting  (including  any  adjournments  thereof)  shall  have been held and
     completed and the  stockholders of Company shall have taken a final vote on
     a proposal to adopt this  Agreement  and (ii) the required  approval of the
     stockholders of Company  contemplated by this Agreement shall not have been
     obtained;  provided,  however,  that the right to terminate  this Agreement
     under this  Section  7.01(d)  shall not be  available  to Company or Parent
     where the failure to obtain  Company  stockholder  approval shall have been
     caused by the action or failure to act of Company or Parent,  respectively,
     and such  action or  failure  to act  constitutes  a breach by  Company  or
     Parent, respectively, of this Agreement;

          (e) by Company, upon a breach of any covenant or agreement on the part
     of Parent set forth in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty
     of Parent shall have been untrue when made or shall have become untrue,  in
     either  case  such that the  conditions  set forth in  Section  6.02(a)  or
     Section  6.02(b) would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or as
     of the time such  representation  or  warranty  shall have  become  untrue;
     provided,   that  if  such  inaccuracy  in  Parent's   representations  and
     warranties or breach by Parent is curable by Parent through exercise of its
     commercially  reasonable  efforts,  then  Company  may not  terminate  this
     Agreement  pursuant  to this  Section  7.01(e)  for thirty  (30) days after
     delivery of written notice from Company to Parent of such breach;  provided
     that Parent continues to exercise  commercially  reasonable efforts to cure
     such  breach (it being  understood  that  Company  may not  terminate  this
     Agreement  pursuant  to this  Section  7.01(e) if such  breach by Parent is
     cured during such thirty-day period);

          (f) by Parent,  upon a breach of any covenant or agreement on the part
     of  Company  set  forth  in this  Agreement,  or if any  representation  or
     warranty  of Company  shall have been untrue when made or shall have become
     untrue,  in  either  case  such that the  conditions  set forth in  Section

                                      -49-

<PAGE>

     6.03(a) or Section  6.03(b)  would not be  satisfied as of the time of such
     breach or as of the time such  representation or warranty shall have become
     untrue; provided, that if such inaccuracy in Company's  representations and
     warranties or breach by Company is curable by Company  through  exercise of
     its  commercially  reasonable  efforts,  then Parent may not terminate this
     Agreement  pursuant  to this  Section  7.01(f)  for thirty  (30) days after
     delivery of written notice from Parent to Company of such breach;  provided
     that Company continues to exercise commercially  reasonable efforts to cure
     such  breach  (it being  understood  that  Parent  may not  terminate  this
     Agreement  pursuant  to this  Section  7.01(f) if such breach by Company is
     cured during such thirty-day period);

          (g) by Parent if a  Triggering  Event (as  defined  below)  shall have
     occurred. For the purposes of this Agreement, a "Triggering Event" shall be
     deemed to have  occurred  if: (i) the Board of  Directors of Company or any
     committee  thereof  shall  for  any  reason  have  withheld,  withdrawn  or
     refrained  from  making or shall  have  modified,  amended  or changed in a
     manner  adverse to Parent its  recommendation  in favor of the  adoption of
     this  Agreement  or the  approval of the Merger;  (ii)  Company  shall have
     failed to include in the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  the recommendation of
     the  Board  of  Directors  of  Company  in favor  of the  adoption  of this
     Agreement  and the approval of the Merger;  (iii) the Board of Directors of
     Company  fails to reaffirm its  recommendation  in favor of the adoption of
     this  Agreement  within ten (10)  business  days after  Parent  requests in
     writing that such  recommendation  be reaffirmed at any time  following the
     public  announcement  and during the pendency of an  Acquisition  Proposal;
     (iv) the Board of Directors of Company or any committee  thereof shall have
     approved or recommended  any Acquisition  Proposal;  (v) Company shall have
     entered  into any letter of intent or similar  document  or any  agreement,
     contract or commitment  accepting any  Acquisition  Proposal;  (vi) Company
     shall have breached any of the provisions of Section 5.04 of this Agreement
     or (vii) a tender or  exchange  offer  relating to not less than 15% of the
     then  outstanding  shares  of  capital  stock of  Company  shall  have been
     commenced by a person  unaffiliated  with Parent and Company shall not have
     sent to its  securityholders  pursuant to Rule 14e-2  promulgated under the
     Securities Act, within ten (10) business days after such tender or exchange
     offer is first published sent or given, a statement disclosing that Company
     recommends rejection of such tender or exchange offer.

     Section 7.02 Notice of Termination;  Effect of Termination. Any termination
of this Agreement under Section 7.01 will be effective  immediately  upon (or if
the  termination  is  pursuant  to Section  7.01(e) or 7.01(f)  and the  proviso
therein is  applicable,  thirty (30) days after) the delivery of written  notice
thereof by the terminating  party to the other parties  hereto.  In the event of
the  termination of this  Agreement as provided in Section 7.01,  this Agreement
shall be of no further force or effect,  except (i) as set forth in this Section
7.02,  Section 7.03 and Article VIII (General  Provisions),  each of which shall
survive the termination of this Agreement, and (ii) nothing herein shall relieve
any  party  from  liability  for  any  intentional  or  willful  breach  of this
Agreement.  No termination of this Agreement shall affect the obligations of the
parties  contained in the  Confidentiality  Agreement,  all of which obligations
shall survive termination of this Agreement in accordance with their terms.

                                      -50-

<PAGE>


     Section 7.03 Fees and Expenses.

          (a) General.  Except as set forth in this Section  7.03,  all fees and
     expenses  incurred in connection  with this Agreement and the  transactions
     contemplated  hereby  shall be paid by the  party  incurring  such fees and
     expenses whether or not the Merger is consummated;  provided, however, that
     Parent and Company shall share  equally all fees and  expenses,  other than
     attorneys' and accountants  fees and expenses,  incurred in connection with
     the printing  and filing  (with the SEC) of the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus
     (including  any  preliminary   materials   related  thereto)  and  the  S-4
     (including  financial  statements  and  exhibits)  and  any  amendments  or
     supplements thereto and any fees required to be paid under the HSR Act.

          (b) Company  Payments.

               (i) Company shall pay to Parent in immediately  available  funds,
          within three (3) business days after demand by Parent, an amount equal
          to $9,000,000 (the "Termination  Fee") if this Agreement is terminated
          by Parent pursuant to Section 7.01(g).

               (ii) If (A) this Agreement is terminated by Parent or Company, as
          applicable,  pursuant to Sections 7.01(b) or (d)(i), (B) prior to such
          termination a third party shall have announced an Acquisition Proposal
          and (C) within twelve (12) months  following the  termination  of this
          Agreement a Company  Acquisition  (as defined below) is consummated or
          Company  enters into an agreement or letter of intent  providing for a
          Company  Acquisition which is subsequently  consummated,  then Company
          shall  pay  Parent  in  immediately  available  funds  at or  prior to
          consummating   such  Company   Acquisition  an  amount  equal  to  the
          Termination Fee.

               (iii) Company  acknowledges that the agreements contained in this
          Section 7.03(b) are an integral part of the transactions  contemplated
          by this Agreement,  and that,  without these agreements,  Parent would
          not enter into this Agreement; accordingly, if Company fails to pay in
          a timely manner the amounts due pursuant to this Section  7.03(b) and,
          in order to obtain such payment,  Parent makes a claim that results in
          a judgment  against  Company for the amounts set forth in this Section
          7.03(b), Company shall pay to Parent its reasonable costs and expenses
          (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) in connection with
          such suit,  together  with  interest  on the amounts set forth in this
          Section  7.03(b)  at the  prime  rate of Wells  Fargo  Bank,  National
          Association  in effect on the date such  payment  was  required  to be
          made.  Payment of the fees described in this Section 7.03(b) shall not
          be in  lieu  of  damages  incurred  in the  event  of  breach  of this
          Agreement.  For the purposes of this Agreement,  "Company Acquisition"
          shall  mean  any  of  the  following   transactions  (other  than  the
          transactions   contemplated   by  this   Agreement):   (i)  a  merger,
          consolidation,  business combination,  recapitalization,  liquidation,
          dissolution or similar transaction involving Company pursuant to which
          the  stockholders of Company  immediately  preceding such  transaction
          hold less than 50% of the aggregate  equity interests in the surviving
          or  resulting  entity  of  such  transaction,  (ii)  a sale  or  other
          disposition by Company of assets  representing in excess of 50% of the
          aggregate fair market value of Company's business immediately prior to
          such sale or (iii) the  acquisition by any person or group  (including
          by way of a tender offer or an exchange offer or issuance by Company),


                                      -51-

<PAGE>

          directly or indirectly,  of beneficial ownership or a right to acquire
          beneficial  ownership of shares  representing  in excess of 50% of the
          voting  power of the  then  outstanding  shares  of  capital  stock of
          Company.

     Section 7.04  Amendment.  Subject to applicable  law, this Agreement may be
amended by the  parties  hereto at any time by  execution  of an  instrument  in
writing signed on behalf of each of Parent and Company.

     Section 7.05  Extension;  Waiver.  At any time prior to the Effective Time,
any party hereto may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto,
(ii) waive any inaccuracies in the  representations  and warranties made to such
party contained  herein or in any document  delivered  pursuant hereto and (iii)
waive  compliance  with any of the  agreements or conditions  for the benefit of
such party contained herein.  Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any
such  extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an  instrument  in
writing signed on behalf of such party. Delay in exercising any right under this
Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

     Section  8.01   Non-Survival  of   Representations   and  Warranties.   The
representations  and  warranties of Company,  Parent and Merger Sub contained in
this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered pursuant to Article
VI shall  terminate at the Effective  Time, and only the covenants that by their
terms survive the Effective Time shall survive the Effective Time.

     Section 8.02 Notices. All notices and other communications  hereunder shall
be in writing  and shall be deemed  given on the day of  delivery  if  delivered
personally or sent via telecopy  (receipt  confirmed) or on the second  business
day after being sent if delivered by commercial delivery service, to the parties
at the  following  addresses  or telecopy  numbers (or at such other  address or
telecopy numbers for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

          (i)  if to Parent or Merger Sub, to:

                           Microchip Technology Incorporated
                           2355 West Chandler Boulevard
                           Chandler, Arizona 85224
                           Attention:  General Counsel
                           Telecopy No.:  (480) 899-9210


                                      -52-

<PAGE>


                           with a copy to:
                           Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
                           Professional Corporation
                           One Market, Spear Tower
                           Suite 3300
                           San Francisco, CA 94105
                           Attention:       Michael J. Kennedy, Esq.
                           Telecopy No.: (415) 947-2099

          (ii) if to Company, to:

                           Telcom Semiconductor, Inc.
                           1300 Terra Bella Avenue
                           Mountain View, California 94043
                           Attention: Chief Executive Officer
                           Telecopy No.: (650) 940-9633

                           with a copy to:

                           Jenkens & Gilchrist, Professional Corporation
                           1445 Ross Avenue
                           Suite 3200
                           Dallas, TX 75202
                           Attention:       John R. Holzgraefe, Esq.
                                            Gregory J. Schmitt, Esq.
                           Telecopy No.:  (214) 885-4300


     Section 8.03 Interpretation.

          (i) When a  reference  is made in this  Agreement  to  Exhibits,  such
     reference  shall  be to an  Exhibit  to  this  Agreement  unless  otherwise
     indicated.  When a reference is made in this  Agreement to a Section,  such
     reference  shall  be to a  Section  of  this  Agreement.  Unless  otherwise
     indicated the words "include,"  "includes" and "including" when used herein
     shall  be  deemed  in  each  case  to be  followed  by the  words  "without
     limitation." The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement
     are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning
     or interpretation of this Agreement.  When reference is made herein to "the
     business  of" an entity,  such  reference  shall be deemed to  include  the
     business of all direct and indirect subsidiaries of such entity.  Reference
     to the  subsidiaries of an entity shall be deemed to include all direct and
     indirect subsidiaries of such entity.

          (ii) For purposes of this Agreement,  the term "person" shall mean any
     individual,  corporation  (including any non-profit  corporation),  general
     partnership,  limited  partnership,  limited liability  partnership,  joint
     venture, estate, trust, company (including any limited liability company or
     joint stock company), firm or other enterprise, association,  organization,
     entity or Governmental Entity.

          (iii) For  purposes  of this  Agreement,  the term  "Material  Adverse
     Effect" when used in  connection  with an entity  means any change,  event,
     violation,  inaccuracy,   circumstance  or  effect,  individually  or  when
     aggregated   with  other   changes,   events,   violations,   inaccuracies,


                                      -53-

<PAGE>

     circumstances  or  effects,  that is  materially  adverse to the  business,
     assets (including intangible assets),  capitalization,  financial condition
     or results of  operations  of such entity and its  subsidiaries  taken as a
     whole; provided, however that (i) no change, event, violation,  inaccuracy,
     circumstance  or effect  directly  attributable  to (A)  changes in general
     economic  conditions  or  changes  affecting  the  semiconductor   industry
     generally,  (B) the loss of current or  prospective  customers or suppliers
     that  arose  from such  entity  entering  into this  Agreement,  or (C) any
     shareholder litigation or litigation by a Governmental Entity, in each case
     brought or  threatened  against  such  entity or any member of its board of
     directors  in respect of this  Agreement or the  transactions  contemplated
     hereby,  shall constitute a Material  Adverse Effect;  and (ii) in no event
     shall (x) any change in the market  price or trading  volume of the Company
     Common  Stock or Parent  Common  Stock,  nor (y) the  failure by Company or
     Parent to meet revenue or earnings predictions of equity analysts reflected
     in the First Call  consensus  estimate,  or any other  revenue or  earnings
     predictions or expectations,  for any period ending on or after the date of
     this Agreement,  in and of itself  constitute a Material Adverse Effect (it
     being understood that this subsection (ii), as it relates to (y), shall not
     exclude any underlying  change,  circumstance,  effect or development which
     resulted  in  such  failure  to  meet  such   estimates,   predictions   or
     expectations).

          (iv) For purposes of this Agreement,  an  "agreement,"  "arrangement,"
     "contract,"  "commitment" or "plan" shall mean a legally  binding,  written
     agreement, arrangement, contract, commitment or plan, as the case may be.

     Section 8.04  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts,  all of which shall be considered  one and the same  agreement and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the parties and  delivered  to the other  party,  it being  understood  that all
parties need not sign the same counterpart.

     Section 8.05 Entire Agreement;  Third Party  Beneficiaries.  This Agreement
and the documents and instruments and other  agreements among the parties hereto
as contemplated by or referred to herein, including the Company Schedule and the
Parent  Schedule  (a)  constitute  the entire  agreement  among the parties with
respect to the subject  matter  hereof and supersede  all prior  agreements  and
understandings,  both  written and oral,  among the parties  with respect to the
subject matter hereof, it being understood,  however,  that the  Confidentiality
Agreement  shall  continue in full force and effect  until the Closing and shall
survive any  termination of this  Agreement;  and (b) except with respect to the
Indemnified  Parties  under  Section  5.10,  are not intended to confer upon any
other person any rights or remedies hereunder.

     Section  8.06  Severability.  In the  event  that  any  provision  of  this
Agreement,  or the  application  thereof,  becomes or is  declared by a court of
competent  jurisdiction to be illegal,  void or unenforceable,  the remainder of
this  Agreement  will continue in full force and effect and the  application  of
such  provision to other  persons or  circumstances  will be  interpreted  so as
reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto. The parties further agree
to replace such void or  unenforceable  provision of this Agreement with a valid
and  enforceable  provision  that will  achieve,  to the  extent  possible,  the
economic, business and other purposes of such void or unenforceable provision.


                                      -54-

<PAGE>

     Section  8.07 Other  Remedies;  Specific  Performance.  Except as otherwise
provided herein,  any and all remedies herein  expressly  conferred upon a party
will be deemed  cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy  conferred
hereby,  or by law or equity upon such party, and the exercise by a party of any
one remedy  will not  preclude  the  exercise of any other  remedy.  The parties
hereto  agree that  irreparable  damage would occur in the event that any of the
provisions  of this  Agreement  were not  performed  in  accordance  with  their
specific terms or were  otherwise  breached.  It is accordingly  agreed that the
parties  shall be  entitled  to seek an  injunction  or  injunctions  to prevent
breaches of this Agreement and to enforce  specifically the terms and provisions
hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction,  this
being in  addition to any other  remedy to which they are  entitled at law or in
equity.  In any action at law or suit in equity to enforce this Agreement or the
rights of any of the parties  hereunder,  the prevailing party in such action or
suit shall be entitled to receive a reasonable sum for its  attorneys'  fees and
all other reasonable costs and expenses incurred in such action or suit.

     Section  8.08  Governing  Law.  This  Agreement  shall be  governed  by and
construed in  accordance  with the laws of the State of Delaware,  regardless of
the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of
law thereof.

     Section 8.09 Rules of Construction. The parties hereto agree that they have
been  represented  by  counsel  during the  negotiation  and  execution  of this
Agreement and, therefore, waive the application of any law, regulation,  holding
or rule of  construction  providing  that  ambiguities  in an agreement or other
document  will be  construed  against  the  party  drafting  such  agreement  or
document.

     Section 8.10  Assignment.  No party may assign either this Agreement or any
of its rights,  interests,  or obligations  hereunder  without the prior written
approval of the other parties. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement
shall be binding  upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties  hereto and
their respective successors and permitted assigns.

     Section 8.11 Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH OF PARENT,  COMPANY AND MERGER SUB
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY  WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,  PROCEEDING
OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS  AGREEMENT  OR THE ACTIONS OF PARENT,  COMPANY OR MERGER SUB IN
THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

         [The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank]


                                      -55-
<PAGE>


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

                             MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED




                             By: /s/ Steve Sanghi
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                             Name: Steve Sanghi
                             Title    President and Chief Executive Officer

                             MATCHBOX ACQUISITION CORP.




                             By: /s/ Steve Sanghi
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                             Name: Steve Sanghi
                             Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

                             TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.



                             By: /s/ Robert G. Gargus
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                             Name: Robert G. Gargus
                             Title:   President

                      [Signature Page to Merger Agreement]







© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission