MATRIX CAPITAL CORP /CO/
8-K, 1997-02-20
MORTGAGE BANKERS & LOAN CORRESPONDENTS
Previous: ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORP, 8-K, 1997-02-20
Next: PRO TECH COMMUNICATIONS INC, SB-2, 1997-02-20




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


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): FEBRUARY 5, 1997


                           MATRIX CAPITAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



           COLORADO                   000-21231                   84-1233716
(State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission File             (IRS Employer
         incorporation)                Number)               Identification No.)

      1380 LAWRENCE STREET, SUITE 1410, DENVER, COLORADO           80204
   -------------------------------------------------------      ----------
            (Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (303) 595-9898







CORPDAL:61663.1 26059-00016
                                                         1

<PAGE>



ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.

         Effective February 5, 1997, Matrix Capital  Corporation (the "Company")
completed  its  previously  announced  acquisition  of The Vintage  Group,  Inc.
("Vintage"). The acquisition was structured as a "pooling of interests" in which
a newly formed,  wholly owned  subsidiary of the Company  merged (the  "Merger")
with and into  Vintage,  with Vintage  being the  surviving  corporation  in the
Merger. In consideration of the Merger,  the shareholders of Vintage received an
aggregate of 779,592 shares of the Company's  common stock, par value $.0001 per
share (the "Common Stock").

         The Merger  was  treated as a  tax-free  reorganization  under  Section
368(a)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

         Vintage,  now a  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  the  Company,  has  two
subsidiaries,  Sterling Trust Company  ("Sterling  Trust") and Vintage Financial
Services  Corporation  ("VFSC").  Sterling Trust was  incorporated  in 1984 as a
Texas  independent,   non-bank  trust  company   specializing  in  self-directed
qualified retirement plans,  individual  retirement accounts,  and custodial and
directed  trust  accounts.  As of December 31, 1996,  Sterling  Trust has assets
under  administration  in excess  of $1.1  billion.  VFSC is an  NASD-registered
broker/dealer  that provides services to a small, but growing,  customer base of
individuals and deferred contribution plans.

         In connection with the Merger, the Company agreed to file, on or before
August 2, 1997, a  registration  statement  under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"), registering the resale of the shares of Common Stock issued
in connection  with the Merger.  The Company also agreed to use its best efforts
to have such  registration  statement  under the Act  declared  effective by the
Securities and Exchange Commission promptly following its filing.

         The  terms of the  Merger  and the  transactions  related  thereto  are
contained in that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 22,
1996,  and that  certain  Asset  Purchase and  Exchange  Agreement,  dated as of
February 4, 1997, each of which is filed as an exhibit to this current report on
Form 8-K. Reference is made to such documents for a more complete description of
the terms and provisions of the acquisition.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (a)      Financial statements of businesses acquired.

                  Not Applicable.

         (b)      Pro forma financial information.

                  Not Applicable.

         (c)      Exhibits.

         The following  exhibits are  furnished in  accordance  with Item 601 of
Regulation S-K.


CORPDAL:61663.1 26059-00016
                                                         2

<PAGE>



         10.1     Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 22, 1996.

         10.2     Asset Purchase and Exchange Agreement, dated as of 
                    February 3, 1997.






CORPDAL:61663.1 26059-00016
                                                         3

<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                     MATRIX CAPITAL CORPORATION



Date: February 17, 1997           By:/s/David W. Kloos
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Print Name: David W. Kloos
                                        Title: Senior Vice-President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



CORPDAL:61663.1 26059-00016



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                          DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 22, 1996




                                      AMONG


                           MATRIX CAPITAL CORPORATION,
                        MATRIX/VINTAGE ACQUISITION, INC.


                                       AND


                             THE VINTAGE GROUP, INC.








CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014

<PAGE>



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


SECTION                                                                 PAGE NO.


1.       Transactions on or Prior to the Closing Date..........................1
         1.1      The Merger...................................................1
         1.2      Conversion of Stock..........................................2
         1.3      Shareholders' Meeting........................................4

2.       Closing...............................................................5

3.       Representations and Warranties of the Company.........................5
         3.1      Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.................5
         3.2      Capitalization...............................................6
         3.3      Financial Condition..........................................6
         3.4      Tax Matters..................................................8
         3.5      Litigation and Claims........................................9
         3.6      Properties and Assets.......................................10
         3.7      Insurance...................................................12
         3.8      Contracts and Other Instruments.............................12
         3.9      Labor and Employment Agreements.............................13
         3.10     Employee Benefit Plans......................................14
         3.11     Officers, Directors and Employees; Compensation 
                    of and Indebtedness to and from Officers, Directors,
                    Shareholders and Employees................................14
         3.12     Agreement Not in Breach of Certain Instruments..............14
         3.13     Regulatory Approvals........................................14
         3.14     Accounts and Notes Receivable...............................15
         3.15     No Undisclosed Liabilities..................................15
         3.16     Disclosure..................................................15
         3.17     Brokerage...................................................15
         3.18     Authorization of Agreement..................................15
         3.19     Bank Accounts...............................................16
         3.20     Account Balances............................................16

4.       Representations and Warranties of the Acquiror.......................16
         4.1      Organization................................................16
         4.2      Authority...................................................16
         4.3      Brokerage...................................................17
         4.4      Issuance of Common Stock....................................17
         4.5      Private Transaction.........................................17
         4.6      Litigation Pending or Threatened............................17
         4.7      Agreement Not in Breach of Certain Instruments..............17
         4.8      Disclosure..................................................18

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                        i

<PAGE>



         4.9      Acquiror Disclosure Document................................18
         4.10     Regulatory Approvals........................................18
         4.11     Capitalization..............................................18
         4.12     Financial Condition.........................................18

5.       Covenants and Agreements of the Company..............................19
         5.1      Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws........................19
         5.2      Corporate Existence and Rights..............................19
         5.3      Transactions Affecting Business and Properties 
                    of the Company............................................20
         5.4      Negotiations................................................20
         5.5      Access and Information Before the Closing...................21
         5.6      Current Information.........................................21
         5.7      Corporate Approvals.........................................21
         5.8      Consents....................................................21
         5.9      Contracts...................................................21
         5.10     Insurance...................................................22
         5.11     Termination of Agreements...................................22
         5.12     Agreements of Affiliates....................................22
         5.13     Employment Agreement........................................22
         5.14     No Default..................................................22
         5.15     Compliance with Laws........................................22
         5.16     Consents....................................................22
         5.17     Asset Purchase and Exchange Agreement.......................23
         5.18     Receivables.................................................23
         5.19     Notice to Kemper, Etc.......................................23

6.       Covenants and Agreements of the Acquiror.............................23
         6.1      Current Information.........................................23
         6.2      Consents....................................................24
         6.3      Employment Agreement........................................24
         6.4      Sales Under Rule 145 if Applicable..........................24
         6.5      Listing.....................................................25
         6.6      Employee Matters............................................25
         6.7      Underwriter Consent.........................................26

7.       Conditions to Obligations of the Company.............................26
         7.1      Correctness of Representations and Warranties...............26
         7.2      Performance of Covenants and Agreements.....................26
         7.3      Additional Closing Documents................................26
         7.4      No Legal Bar................................................26
         7.5      Approval by the Shareholders................................26
         7.6      Employment Agreement........................................27
         7.7      APA.........................................................27
         7.8      Regulatory Approval.........................................27
         7.9      Listing.....................................................27

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                       ii

<PAGE>



         7.10     Piper Consent...............................................27

8.       Conditions to Obligations of Acquiror................................27
         8.1      Correctness of Representations and Warranties...............27
         8.2      Performance of Covenants and Agreements.....................27
         8.3      APA.........................................................27
         8.4      Additional Closing Documents................................27
         8.5      No Legal Bar................................................28
         8.6      Material Adverse Effect.....................................28
         8.7      Third-Party Consents and Approvals..........................28
         8.8      Approval by the Shareholders................................28
         8.9      Listing.....................................................28
         8.10     Dissenters..................................................28
         8.11     Pooling Letter..............................................28
         8.12     Affiliate Agreements........................................28
         8.14     Piper Consent...............................................28
         8.15     Regulatory Approval.........................................28
         8.16     Resignation of Directors....................................29

9.       Registration Rights..................................................29
         9.1      Registrations...............................................29
         9.2      Registrable Securities......................................29
         9.3      Procedure for Registration..................................29
         9.4      Indemnification.............................................29
         9.5      Rule 144 Requirements.......................................30
         9.6      Transfer of Registration Rights.............................30
         9.7      Obligations of Holders and Others in a Registration.........30

10.      Termination of Agreement.............................................30
         10.1     Events of Termination.......................................30
         10.2     Breakup Fee.................................................31

11.      Miscellaneous Provisions.............................................31
         11.1     Construction................................................31
         11.2     Survival....................................................31
         11.3     Notices.....................................................32
         11.4     Assignment..................................................32
         11.5     Amendments and Waivers......................................32
         11.6     Attorneys' Fees.............................................33
         11.7     Binding Nature of Agreement.................................33
         11.8     Expenses....................................................33
         11.9     Entire Agreement............................................33
         11.10  Severability..................................................33
         11.11  Counterparts..................................................34
         11.12  Public Announcements..........................................34

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                       iii

<PAGE>



         11.13  Section Headings..............................................34
         11.14 Knowledge......................................................34


CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                       iv

<PAGE>



                                    EXHIBITS

A -      List of Shares and Percentage Interest
B -      Form of Irrevocable Proxy
C -      Form of Asset Purchase and Exchange Agreement
D -      Employment Agreement of Paul Skretny
E -      Required Third-party Consents and Approvals
F -      Agreement of Affiliate


                                    SCHEDULES

3.1(a)            Organization and Qualification
3.1(b)            Subsidiaries
3.3(c)            Material Changes
3.5(a)            Litigation
3.6(a)            Real Property
3.6(b)            Assets
3.6(d)            Intangible Personal Property
3.7               Insurance Summary
3.8(a)            Contracts and Other Instruments
3.8(b)            Defaults under Contracts; Consents
3.8(c)            Proposals and Claims
3.9(a)            Labor and Employment Agreements
3.9(b)            Employment Agreements
3.10              Employee Benefit Plans
3.11(a)           Officers, Directors and Employees; Compensation
3.11(b)           Indebtedness to and from Officers, Directors and Employees
3.15              Liabilities not Reflected or Reserved Against on Balance Sheet
3.16              Disclosures
3.19              Bank Accounts
3.20              Account Balances
5.12              Affiliates
11.14             Management Personnel

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                        v

<PAGE>



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


         THIS  AGREEMENT  AND PLAN OF MERGER  (this  "Agreement")  is made as of
November  22,  1996,  by  and  among  Matrix  Capital  Corporation,  a  Colorado
corporation  (the  "Acquiror"),  Matrix/Vintage  Acquisition,  Inc.,  a Delaware
corporation  ("Acquisition"),  and The Vintage Group,  Inc., a Texas corporation
(the "Company").


                                 R E C I T A L S


         A. Acquiror and the Company  desire to cause  Acquisition to merge with
and into the Company in accordance  with a certificate of merger and articles of
merger,  pursuant to the Delaware  General  Corporation Law (the "DGCL") and the
Texas Business  Corporation Act (the "TBCA"),  respectively,  and upon the terms
and conditions of this Agreement.

         B. For  reference,  "Percentage  Interest"  of any of the holders  (the
"Shareholders")  of the  Company's  common  stock,  no par value per share  (the
"Company Common Stock") and the Company's  preferred  stock, par value $1.00 per
share  (the  "Company  Preferred  Stock")  means  with  respect to the shares of
Company  Common Stock (the "Common  Shares")  and Company  Preferred  Stock (the
"Preferred  Shares")  issued and  outstanding  at the Effective  Time, a number,
expressed as a percentage,  obtained by dividing the number of Common Shares and
the number of Preferred Shares owned by a Shareholder  immediately  prior to the
Effective  Time, by the aggregate  number of Common Shares and Preferred  Shares
issued and  outstanding.  The  Percentage  Interest for each  Shareholder is set
forth in EXHIBIT A attached hereto.

         C.       For reference, the Common Shares and the Preferred Shares  are
referred to herein,  collectively, as the  "Shares" and the Common  Shareholders
and the  Preferred Shareholders  are referred  to herein,  collectively,  as the
"Shareholders."


                                    AGREEMENT

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the foregoing  recitals and the
covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

         1.       TRANSACTIONS ON OR PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE.

                  1.1      THE MERGER.

                  (A) Subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and
in accordance  with the DGCL and the TBCA, at the Effective  Time (as defined in
SECTION  1.1(E)),  Acquisition  shall be merged with and into the  Company  (the
"Merger").  The  Company  shall  be the  surviving  corporation  of  the  Merger
(sometimes called the "Surviving Corporation") and shall continue its

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                         1

<PAGE>



corporate existence under the laws of the State of Texas. At the Effective Time,
the separate corporate existence of Acquisition shall cease.

                  (B) At the Effective  Time,  the Merger shall have the effects
provided for in this Agreement and in the DGCL and the TBCA.  Specifically,  the
Company and  Acquisition  have  endeavored to structure the Merger as a tax-free
"reorganization"  under  Section  368(a)(1)(B)  of the Internal  Revenue Code of
1986,  as  amended.  The  parties  represent,  warrant  and agree to report  the
transaction in such manner.

                  (C) In  connection  with the  filing of the  Certificates  (as
defined in SECTION  1.1(E)),  the  Articles of  Incorporation  and Bylaws of the
Company as respectively  existing  immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
be the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, unless
and until amended in the manner provided by law.

                  (D)  Subject  to SECTION  8.16,  the board of  directors,  the
committees  and members of the board,  and the  officers of the Company  serving
immediately  prior to the Effective  Time shall be the board of directors of the
Surviving  Corporation,  and the  committees  and  members  of the board and the
officers of the Surviving Corporation.

                  (E) As soon  as  practicable  following  the  satisfaction  or
waiver of all  conditions  to the Merger,  the parties to this  Agreement  shall
effect the Merger by filing with the  Secretary  of State of Delaware a properly
executed  certificate  of merger and with the Secretary of State of the State of
Texas  properly   executed  articles  of  merger  (together  with  the  Delaware
certificate  of  merger,  the  "Certificates").  The date and time at which  the
Merger shall become effective is herein referred to as the "Effective Time."

                  (F) If, at any time after the  Effective  Time,  the Surviving
Corporation  shall  consider  or be  advised  that any  further  assignments  or
assurances  in law or any other acts are  necessary  or  desirable  (i) to vest,
perfect or confirm of record or otherwise,  in the Surviving Corporation,  title
to and possession of any property or right to Acquisition or the Company, as the
case may be,  acquired  or to be  acquired  by reason of, or as a result of, the
Merger,  or (ii) otherwise to carry out the purposes of this Agreement,  each of
Acquisition  and the Company and its  respective  proper  officers and directors
shall  be  deemed  to  have  granted  hereby  to the  Surviving  Corporation  an
irrevocable  power of attorney  to execute  and  deliver all such proper  deeds,
assignments  and  assurances  in law and to do all acts  necessary  or proper to
vest, perfect or confirm title to, and the possession of such property or rights
in, the  Surviving  Corporation  and otherwise to carry out the purposes of this
Agreement,  and the proper  officers and directors of the Surviving  Corporation
are  hereby  fully  authorized  in the name of  Acquisition  or the  Company  or
otherwise to take any and all such action.

                  1.2      CONVERSION OF STOCK.

                  (A)      MERGER CONSIDERATION.    At  the  Effective Time,  by
virtue of the Merger  and  without  any action on the part of the  Shareholders,
each  one  of the  Shares  outstanding  as of the  Effective  Time  (except  for
Dissenting Shares (as defined in SECTION 1.2(E)) shall be converted into

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                         2

<PAGE>



the right to receive such fraction of a share of common stock,  par value $.0001
per share (the  "Common  Stock"),  of the  Acquiror  as is equal to the  decimal
fraction  determined  by dividing the  "Acquiror  Share Number" by the number of
Shares outstanding as of the Effective Time (the "Conversion  Ratio");  provided
that no scrip or  fractional  shares  of  Common  Stock  shall be  issued in the
Merger, but rather the total number of shares to be received by each Shareholder
pursuant to this SECTION  1.2(A) shall be rounded up to the next whole number of
shares (the "Common Merger Consideration"). Upon the surrender by a Shareholder,
other than a  Dissenting  Shareholder  (as  defined in SECTION  1.2(E)),  to the
Exchange Agent (as defined in SECTION 1.2(F)) of the  certificates  representing
such Shareholder's  Shares in accordance with SECTION 1.2(F), the Acquiror shall
deliver to each such Shareholder, promptly but in no event prior to the Closing,
certificates  representing the number of shares equal to such  Shareholder's pro
rata portion (based upon such Shareholder's  Percentage  Interest) of the Merger
Consideration.  For purposes hereof, the term "Acquiror Share Number" shall mean
the number  determined by dividing  $11,250,000  (the  "Purchase  Price") by the
"Fair Market Value of the Common  Stock." For  purposes  hereof,  the term "Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock" shall mean the average closing price per share
of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market as reported in The Wall Street
Journal  for the ten  (10)  trading  days (or such  fewer  trading  days as have
expired)  prior to the date that is two (2)  calendar  days prior to the Closing
Date.

                  (B) CONVERSION OF ACQUISITION  COMMON STOCK.  At the Effective
Time, by virtue of the Merger, and without any action on the part of the holders
thereof, each share of Acquisition's common stock outstanding  immediately prior
to the Effective  Time shall be converted  into one share of common stock of the
Surviving Corporation.

                  (C) CANCELLATION OF SHARES. The Merger Consideration for which
the Shares shall have been converted  pursuant to this SECTION 1 shall be deemed
to have been paid in full  satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such Shares.
At the Effective Time, the Shares,  and all treasury shares of the Company shall
be, by virtue of the Merger and  without  any action on the part of the  holders
thereof, canceled.

                  (D) NO FURTHER  TRANSFERS.  After the  Effective  Time,  there
shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the
Company of the  shares of Capital  Stock of the  Company  that were  outstanding
immediately  prior to the Effective  Time and that are to be converted  into the
right to receive the Merger Consideration, as provided in this SECTION 1.2.

                  (E)      DISSENTING SHARES.

                           (I)     Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, any Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and
which are held by  shareholders  of the  Company  who  object to the  Merger and
comply with all of the relevant  provisions  of the TBCA  ("Dissenting  Shares")
shall  not be  converted  into or  represent  a right to  receive  Common  Stock
hereunder  or pursuant  to the  Certificates,  but instead  shall be entitled to
receive  payment of the appraised  value of such shares in  accordance  with the
provisions of the TBCA, unless and until the holder thereof shall have failed to
perfect,  or shall  have  effectively  withdrawn  or lost,  his or her rights to
appraisal  and payment under the TBCA.  The Company  shall give Acquiror  prompt
notice

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                         3

<PAGE>



upon  receipt by the Company of any written  objection to the plan of merger set
forth  herein (any  shareholder  duly making such  objection  being  hereinafter
called  a  "Dissenting  Shareholder").  The  Company  agrees  that  prior to the
Effective  Time,  it will not,  without the prior  written  consent of Acquiror,
voluntarily  make or agree to make any  payment  with  respect  to, or settle or
offer to settle, any such objection.

                           (II)      Each  Dissenting  Shareholder  who  becomes
entitled,  pursuant to the provisions of the TBCA, to payment for his Dissenting
Shares  shall  receive  payment  therefor  after  the  Effective  Time  from the
Surviving  Corporation (but only after the amount thereof shall have been agreed
upon or finally determined pursuant to such provisions) and such shares shall be
canceled.

                  (F) EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES.  Promptly  following approval of
the Merger at the  Special  Meeting (as defined in SECTION  1.3),  the  Acquiror
shall cause American Securities Transfer & Trust, Inc. (the "Exchange Agent") to
mail to each Shareholder of an outstanding  certificate or certificates which as
of the Effective Time will represent shares of the Company (the "Certificates"),
a letter of transmittal in form mutually acceptable to Acquiror, the Company and
the  Exchange  Agent  ("Letters of  Transmittal")  and  instructions  for use in
effecting the surrender of the Certificates for proper payment therefor.  If the
Shareholders  provide the  Exchange  Agent with copies of  completed  Letters of
Transmittal  and  Certificates,  the Acquiror  shall cause the Exchange Agent to
promptly, but in no event later than the fifth business day after the receipt by
the Exchange  Agent of a particular  Letter of  Transmittal,  advise the Company
whether any defect,  omission or other issue  exists,  regarding  such Letter of
Transmittal  or the  Certificates,  that  would  prevent  any  Shareholder  from
receiving,  at the Effective Time, its portion of the Merger Conciliation.  Upon
surrender  to the  Exchange  Agent of a  Certificate,  together  with a properly
executed and completed  Letter of  Transmittal,  the holder of such  Certificate
shall be entitled to, at the Effective Time, receive in exchange therefor Common
Stock in the amount  provided  in SECTION  1.2(A),  and such  Certificate  shall
forthwith be canceled.  No dividend will be disbursed with respect to the shares
of Common Stock until the holder's shares are  surrendered in exchange  therefor
in accordance with this SECTION 1.2(F). Until surrendered in accordance with the
provisions of this SECTION  1.2(F),  each  Certificate  shall  represent for all
purposes only the right to receive the Merger Consideration without any interest
thereon.

                  1.3  SHAREHOLDERS'  MEETING.  The Company,  acting through its
board of directors,  shall duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a special
meeting (the "Special  Meeting") of its shareholders as soon as practicable (and
in any event before the date this  Agreement  may be  terminated  under  SECTION
10.1(C)  hereof)  for the  purpose of  considering  and taking  action upon this
Agreement  and the Merger.  Prior to  execution of this  Agreement,  the Company
shall have delivered to Acquisition an irrevocable  proxy  agreement (the "Proxy
Agreement"), substantially in the form of EXHIBIT B attached hereto, executed by
holders of Common  Shares and holders of Preferred  Shares  holding a sufficient
number of Shares to approve the Merger and this Agreement under the TBCA and the
Company's Articles of Incorporation.


CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                         4

<PAGE>



         2.       CLOSING.

                  (A) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the "Closing") shall
take place at the offices of Jenkens & Gilchrist,  a  Professional  Corporation,
1445 Ross Avenue,  Suite 3200,  Dallas,  Texas 75202,  on the third business day
after the later of (i) the date of the  Special  Meeting  referred to in SECTION
1.3  and  (ii)  the  satisfaction  or  waiver  of all  other  conditions  to the
obligations  of the parties  hereto,  whichever  shall last occurs or such other
time and place as the parties may  otherwise  agree (the date thereof  being the
"Closing  Date").  The  parties  intend  (with no  effect  on  their  respective
obligations) that the Closing would occur on or before December 31, 1996.

                  (B)  Immediately   following  the  Closing,  the  Company  and
Acquisition  shall execute and deliver to the Secretary of State of Delaware and
the  Secretary of State of Texas the  Certificates,  as required by the DGCL and
the TBCA, respectively, and the parties shall take such other and further action
as may be required by law to make the Merger effective.

         3.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.    The  Company


                  3.1      ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION; SUBSIDIARIES.

                  (A) The Company is duly  organized  and validly  existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of Texas,  with the corporate  power
to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business
in the manner in which such  business is now being  conducted and as proposed to
be conducted. The Company is duly qualified to transact business, and is in good
standing,  as a foreign  corporation in each  jurisdiction  in the United States
where the character of its activities requires such qualification, and each such
jurisdiction  of  qualification  is listed in SCHEDULE  3.1(A) hereto.  True and
complete copies of the Articles of  Incorporation,  or other charter  documents,
and Bylaws of the Company in effect on the date hereof  have been  delivered  to
Acquiror in SCHEDULE 3.1(A).

                  (B) Each  corporation,  of which,  directly or  indirectly,  a
majority  of all  outstanding  shares of capital  stock the holders of which are
ordinarily and generally  entitled to vote for the election of a majority of the
members of the board of  directors  thereof  and which are owned by the  Company
(individually,  a "Subsidiary," and collectively,  the  "Subsidiaries"),  is set
forth on SCHEDULE 3.1(B) hereto.  Except as described in SCHEDULE 3.1(B), all of
the  outstanding  shares of capital stock and other  ownership  interests of the
Subsidiaries are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, and are duly and
validly  issued  and  outstanding,  fully paid and  nonassessable,  and were not
issued in violation of, and are not subject to, preemptive  rights.  None of the
shares or other  ownership  interests of the  Subsidiaries  owned or held by the
Company,  directly or  indirectly,  is subject to any  mortgage,  pledge,  lien,
security interest, encumbrance, restriction, charge or claim of any kind. Except
as disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.1(B) hereto, no Subsidiary has outstanding any shares
of capital stock or other ownership interests or any securities convertible into
or  exchangeable  or  exercisable  for any shares of its capital  stock or other
ownership interests,  nor are there outstanding any options,  warrants,  rights,
calls, contracts, commitments, understandings,

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                         5

<PAGE>



arrangements  or claims of any  character  by which  the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries  is or may become bound to issue,  transfer or sell,  repurchase or
otherwise  acquire  or retire any  shares of  capital  stock or other  ownership
interests of any Subsidiary or any securities  convertible  into or exchangeable
or exercisable for, or otherwise  evidencing a right to acquire, any such shares
or ownership  interests.  Each of the Subsidiaries is duly organized and validly
existing as a  corporation  in good  standing  under the laws of its  respective
jurisdiction of  incorporation,  each with the corporate power to own, lease and
operate  its  respective  properties  and assets and to carry on its  respective
business  in the manner in which such  business  is now being  conducted  and as
proposed  to be  conducted.  Each  Subsidiary  is  duly  qualified  to  transact
business,  and  each is in  good  standing,  as a  foreign  corporation  in each
jurisdiction where the character of such Subsidiary's  activities  requires such
qualification,  and each such  jurisdiction of qualification for such Subsidiary
is listed in SCHEDULE 3.1(B) hereto.

                  3.2      CAPITALIZATION.

                  (A)  EXHIBIT A  attached  hereto  sets  forth  the  authorized
capitalization of the Company,  the number of Shares outstanding of the Company,
and the names of and the number of Shares owned by each of the  Shareholders  of
record as of the date hereof.  No person or entity,  other than as shown on such
EXHIBIT A, owns of record any of the outstanding  shares of capital stock of the
Company.  At the Effective  Time, all of the  outstanding  Shares of the Company
will be owned of record by the  Shareholders,  as set forth in EXHIBIT A hereto,
which  will  comprise  all of the issued and  outstanding  capital  stock of the
Company. All of the Shares are and will be validly issued and outstanding, fully
paid and  nonassessable.  The outstanding Shares are not subject to and were not
issued  in  violation  of any  preemptive  rights.  Each  Share  was  issued  in
conformity  with  applicable  law and neither any party to whom such Shares were
issued nor any person claiming  through any such party has any claim against the
Company in respect of any such issuance.  Except for the Proxy Agreement,  there
are no voting trusts or other agreements or  understandings to which the Company
is a party with respect to the voting of the capital  stock of the Company.  The
Company is not party to or bound by any shareholder's agreement.

                  (B) There are no outstanding  subscriptions,  options, rights,
warrants,  convertible  securities or other  agreements or  commitments  ("Stock
Rights")  obligating  the Company to issue or to transfer  from the treasury any
additional  shares of  capital  stock or any  securities  convertible  into,  or
exchangeable or exercisable for, or otherwise evidencing a right to acquire, any
shares of capital  stock of the  Company,  and no  unissued  shares of stock are
subject  to  any  preemptive  rights.  There  are  no  outstanding   contractual
obligations  of the  Company to  repurchase,  redeem or  otherwise  acquire  any
outstanding  shares  of  capital  stock of or other  ownership  interest  in the
Company.

                  3.3      FINANCIAL CONDITION.

                  (A) The Company has  furnished  to the  Acquiror:  (i) its and
Vintage Delaware Holdings,  Inc.'s ("VHD's") financial statements for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1996  consisting of a balance sheet as of June 30, 1996, and
the related  statement of operations and statement of  shareholders'  equity for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1996; (ii) its and VHD's financial statements for
the 3-month period ending  September 30, 1996,  consisting of a balance sheet as
of

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                         6

<PAGE>



September 30, 1996 and the related  statement of  operations,  statement of cash
flows and  statement  of  shareholders'  equity for such 3-month  period;  (iii)
Sterling Trust Company's and Vintage Financial Services Corporation's ("VFSC's")
financial  statements  for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1996  consisting  of a
balance sheet as of June 30, 1996, and the related statements of operations, and
statements of shareholders' equity for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1996, each
as audited by Arthur Andersen LLP and Cheshier & Fuller, LLP, respectively;  and
(iv) Sterling Trust  Company's and VFSC's  financial  statements for the 3-month
period ending  September 30, 1996  consisting of a balance sheet as of September
30, 1996, and the related statements of operations,  statement of cash flows and
statement  of  shareholders'  equity  for such  3-month  period.  The  financial
statements listed in SECTION 3.3(A)(I),  3.3(A)(II),  3.3(A)(III) and 3.3(A)(IV)
are referred to collectively as the "Financial Statements."

                  (B) The  Financial  Statements:  (i)  have  been  prepared  in
accordance  with the books and records of the Company or such  Subsidiaries,  as
the case may be; (ii) have been prepared in accordance  with generally  accepted
accounting  principles  consistently  applied ("GAAP") or regulatory  accounting
principles  ("RAP"),  as the case may be,  throughout the periods  covered;  and
(iii) subject, in the case of the unaudited financial statements, to the absence
of detailed  notes  customary  for GAAP  financial  statements:  (A) reflect and
provide adequate reserves and disclosures with respect to all liabilities of the
Company  or such  Subsidiaries,  as the case may be,  including  all  contingent
liabilities,  as of their respective dates to the extent required by GAAP or RAP
and (B) present  fairly the financial  position and results of operations of the
Company or such Subsidiaries,  as the case may be, at and for the fiscal periods
ended on such dates. The Company will provide Acquiror,  within 10 days from the
date hereof, with a true, correct and complete reconciliation of the differences
between RAP and GAAP for the periods  presented  relating to the Company and the
Subsidiaries.

                  (C)  Except   (x)  for  the   transactions   at  the   Closing
specifically  provided  for in this  Agreement,  (y) as set  forth  on  SCHEDULE
3.3(C),  and (z) as set forth in the  respective  September  30, 1996  financial
statements,  since the date of the June 30, 1996 financial statements, there has
not been:

                         (I)        other than  dividends  from  Sterling  Trust
Company to the Company for the payment of operating  expenses,  any declaration,
setting  aside for, or payment of, a dividend or any  distribution  of assets of
any kind whatsoever by the Company or any Subsidiary, including any distribution
in  redemption  of, or as the  purchase  price for,  any  capital  stock,  or in
discharge or cancellation, in whole or in part, of any indebtedness,  whether in
payment of principal, interest or otherwise, owing to the Shareholders;

                        (II)        other than bonuses paid to the employees  in
the ordinary  course of business and directors  fees, any increase in the salary
or other compensation  payable or to become payable to any officer,  director or
employee  of  the  Company  or any  Subsidiary,  or  the  declaration,  payment,
commitment  or  obligation  of any  kind  for the  payment  of a bonus  or other
additional salary compensation or benefit,  other than normal cost-of-living and
normal  merit  increases  totaling  not more than 12% per annum in the  ordinary
course of business  consistent with past practice to employees and other than as
previously disclosed to the Acquiror in writing;

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                         7

<PAGE>



                       (III)        any entry into any agreement, commitment  or
transaction  by the  Company or any  Subsidiary  not in the  ordinary  and usual
course of business;

                        (IV)        any Material Adverse Effect  (as hereinafter
defined);

                         (V)        any damage,  destruction or loss  to any  of
the tangible assets of the Company or any Subsidiary,  whether or not covered by
insurance, having a Material Adverse Effect;

                        (VI)        any  material  alteration in  the manner  in
which the Company or any Subsidiary  keeps its books,  accounts or records or in
the accounting methods, principles or practices therein reflected;

                       (VII)        except  for borrowings in  the ordinary  and
usual course of business consistent with past practices (including borrowings to
pay payables), the incurrence or issuance of any indebtedness for borrowed money
or any  commitment  to borrow  money or any  guaranty,  direct or  indirect,  of
indebtedness of others, or any prepayment of long-term debt;

                      (VIII)        a  termination or, to  the knowledge of  the
Company,  a  threatened  termination,  or  a  substantial  modification  of  the
relationship of the Company or any Subsidiary with a customer or supplier or the
occurrence of any event  affecting  any service,  product or process used by the
Company or any Subsidiary;

                        (IX)        any acquisition or lease of or commitment to
acquire  or lease any  realty,  or any item of  personal  property  in excess of
$15,000, other than inventory in the ordinary course of business;

                         (X)        any change in the  Articles of Incorporation
or other charter  document or in the Bylaws or other governing  documents of the
Company or any Subsidiary,  or in the authorized,  issued or outstanding capital
stock of the Company or any Subsidiary; or

                        (XI)        any change  in the  operations, business  or
manner of conducting the business of the Company or any  Subsidiary,  other than
changes  in the  ordinary  and usual  course of  business  consistent  with past
practice,  none  of  which,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  has  had or is
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

As used in this  Agreement,  "Material  Adverse  Effect"  means any change which
might  reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's
results of operations or financial position taken as a whole.

                  3.4 TAX MATTERS.  Within the times (including  extensions) and
in the manner  prescribed by law, the Company and each of the Subsidiaries  have
filed all federal, state, local and foreign returns for Taxes (as defined below)
("Returns")  required  to be  filed  in  any  jurisdiction  (including,  without
limitation,  informational  returns)  and such  Returns are  complete,  true and
correct in all  material  respects;  all  Returns  filed by the  Company and the
Subsidiaries  complied in all  material  respects  with the tax laws,  rules and
regulations, as presently interpreted, applicable to

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                         8

<PAGE>



such Returns;  neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has waived or extended any
statute of limitations relating to the assessment of any federal, state, county,
local or foreign  income,  franchise or other taxes  ("Taxes");  and no audit or
examination  of any of the Returns of the Company or any Subsidiary is currently
in progress or threatened or has occurred in the past.  All Taxes required to be
paid pursuant to such Returns have been paid on or before their  respective  due
dates;  provided,  however, in connection with Returns for which the Company has
received an extension, all estimated Taxes have been paid.

                  3.5      LITIGATION AND CLAIMS.

                  (A) LITIGATION  PENDING OR THREATENED.  Except as set forth on
SCHEDULE 3.5(A), there is no action, suit, arbitration proceeding, including any
grievance  proceeding,  or  investigation  pending or, to the  knowledge  of the
Company,  threatened,  before any court, tribunal, panel, master or governmental
agency,  authority or body in which the Company or any  Subsidiary is a party or
to which their  respective  businesses  or  properties  are subject;  nor is the
Company or any  Subsidiary,  or any  officer or  employee  (in their  respective
official capacities) of the Company or any Subsidiary,  enjoined from any action
or subject to any continuing restriction imposed by any court, tribunal,  panel,
master or governmental agency, authority or body.

                  (B) VIOLATION OF LAW. To the Company's knowledge,  neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of any provision of any law,  decree,
order or  regulation  applicable  to the  Company or the  Subsidiaries  or their
respective  businesses or properties.  The Company and the Subsidiaries have all
federal,  state,  local and foreign  licenses,  permits  and other  governmental
authorizations  required in the conduct of their businesses and the operation of
their  properties;  and other than the approval of the Merger and this Agreement
by the  Shareholders  (as  contemplated  by SECTION 1.4),  any required blue sky
filings,  the filing of the  Certificates  and the approval of the Merger by the
Texas Department of Banking (the "TDB"),  no consent of any governmental  agency
or  body  issuing  any  of  such   permits,   licenses  or  other   governmental
authorizations,   or  otherwise  having  jurisdiction  over  the  Company,   any
Subsidiary, or their businesses,  properties or operations, is required in order
to permit the  execution,  delivery  or  performance  of this  Agreement  by the
Company, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Company
or the sale,  transfer  and  delivery of the Shares or the  continuation  of the
Company's  and each  Subsidiaries'  business and  operations  after the Closing.
Neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary is a party to any consent  decree issued
by any governmental agency, authority or body.

                  (C) UNLAWFUL PRACTICES. None of the Company, any Subsidiary or
any director or any officer,  employee or agent of the Company or any Subsidiary
or any person  acting on their  behalf  has,  directly or  indirectly,  given or
agreed to give any gift or similar benefit to any customer, supplier, competitor
or  governmental  employee or  official or has engaged in any other  practice or
received  or  retained  any such gift or similar  benefit,  that (i) in any case
would subject the Company or any  Subsidiary to (A) any damage or penalty in any
criminal  litigation  or proceeding or (B) any damage or penalty in any civil or
governmental litigation or preceding or (ii) would be grounds for termination or
modification of any contract,  license or other  instrument to which the Company
is a party.


CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                         9

<PAGE>



                  3.6      PROPERTIES AND ASSETS.

                  (A)  SCHEDULE   3.6(A)   describes  all  real  property  owned
(including,  without limitation,  foreclosed real property or property deeded to
the Company or any Subsidiary in lieu of  foreclosure)  or leased by the Company
or any of its  Subsidiaries  (the "Real  Properties")  and the  Company  and the
Subsidiaries  own all the Real Properties  reflected in SCHEDULE 3.6(A) and have
valid leasehold interests in all Real Properties  reflected therein as leased by
them,  free and clear of all Liens,  except for: (i) those disclosed in SCHEDULE
3.6(A);  (ii)  Liens for taxes not yet  delinquent;  (iii)  Liens of  landlords,
carriers,  warehousemen,  mechanics,  materialmen and repairmen  incurred in the
ordinary  course of business for sums not yet  delinquent;  and (iv) other Liens
which do not impair the value of the Real Property.

                  (B) The Company and/or the  Subsidiaries own or otherwise have
the right to use all of the properties and assets, tangible and intangible,  now
used in the operation of their  businesses.  The Company and/or the Subsidiaries
have good and marketable  title to, and at the Effective Time the Company and/or
the  Subsidiaries  will have good and  marketable  title to,  all of the  assets
reflected in the September 30, 1996  financial  statements,  including  tangible
personal property, except the assets and inventory disposed of since the date of
such September 30, 1996 financial  statements in the ordinary course of business
consistent  with  past  practice,  free  and  clear  of  all  mortgages,  liens,
encumbrances,  leases,  equities,  claims,  charges,  easements,  rights-of-way,
covenants, conditions and restrictions,  except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.6(B),
and except for:

                           (I)     liens,  if any,  for personal  property taxes
not delinquent; and

                           (II)    mechanics' and other statutory liens securing
payment of not more than  $25,000 of  indebtedness  incurred in the ordinary and
usual  course of  business  subsequent  to the date of the  September  30,  1996
financial  statements  for services  rendered or goods  furnished to the Company
after that date.

                  All  of  the  buildings,  fixtures  and  other  real  property
improvements used in the Company's and the Subsidiaries' businesses are adequate
for such use.

                  (C) Except as set forth in  SCHEDULE  3.6(A),  (i) neither the
Company  nor any  Subsidiary  is in  default  under  any  lease  and there is no
outstanding  notice of termination or cancellation in connection with any lease;
(ii) each of the Real  Properties is  structurally  sound and in good repair and
operating  condition,  normal  wear and tear  excepted;  (iii) to the  Company's
knowledge,  none of the Real Properties  contains any underground  storage tanks
(as defined in 42 U.S.C.  section 6991),  or has ever been used as a landfill or
otherwise  used for the  disposal,  storage,  or treatment of any waste,  trash,
garbage,  or petroleum or petroleum derived,  chemical or hazardous substance of
any nature  (including a "hazardous  substance" as defined in 42 U.S.C.  section
9601(14)) or contains any asbestos insulation or electrical equipment containing
PCBs; and (iv) there is no pending or, to the Company's knowledge,  contemplated
eminent  domain or  condemnation  proceedings,  or under any  environmental  law
concerning  the disposal of any hazardous  substance,  affecting any of the Real
Properties. There are no outstanding options or

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        10

<PAGE>



rights in any person to acquire any of such property or assets,  or any interest
therein, except as is stated on SCHEDULE 3.6(A).

                  (D) SCHEDULE  3.6(D) attached hereto sets forth a complete and
accurate description of the following (herein "Intangible Personal Property"):

                         (I)        each  United  States   and  foreign   patent
license, patent application, trade name, trademark, service mark, trade name and
trademark  registration,  copyright,  copyright registration and application for
any other of the foregoing owned or used by the Company or any Subsidiary in the
conduct of their businesses;

                        (II)        a  description  of  each  material  license,
franchise  and  similar  agreement  or  arrangement  to which the Company or any
Subsidiary  is a party  either as  licensee  or  licensor  for each such item of
Intangible Personal Property; and

                       (III)        a  description   of  all   confidential  and
material inventions, processes, designs and formulae owned by, in the possession
of or used in the business of the Company or any Subsidiary; and

                        (IV)        a  description  of  all  royalty  and  other
similar  agreements or  arrangements to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a
party or by which either is bound.

Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.6(D), the Company or a Subsidiary is the owner
of all right, title and interest in and to each item of such Intangible Personal
Property and each other invention,  process,  design, formula,  license, royalty
arrangement,  trade secret, know how and proprietary technique necessary for the
conduct of the business of the Company and/or the Subsidiaries. The Company or a
Subsidiary  has the right and authority to use each item of Intangible  Personal
Property and each other invention,  process,  design, formula,  license, royalty
arrangement,  trade secret, know how and proprietary technique necessary for the
conduct of the  business of the Company  and/or the  Subsidiaries;  and such use
does not conflict with,  infringe upon or violate any patent,  trademark,  trade
name, trademark or trade name registration, copyright, copyright registration or
any  pending  application   relating  thereto  of  any  other  person,  firm  or
corporation.  There is no  outstanding  or,  to the  knowledge  of the  Company,
threatened  dispute or other disagreement with respect to any license or similar
agreement  used in the  Company's  or any  Subsidiary's  business.  Neither  the
Company nor any Subsidiary has knowledge that any employee of the Company or any
Subsidiary is obligated under any contract  (including any license,  covenant or
commitment of any nature),  or subject to any  judgment,  decree or order of any
court or  administrative  agency (other than through a decree of divorce),  that
would  materially  interfere  with the use of such  employee's  best  efforts to
promote the interests of the Company and the Subsidiaries or would conflict with
their businesses as presently conducted.  To the Company's  knowledge,  no prior
employer of any employee of the Company or any of the  Subsidiaries  has claimed
any right to, or interest in, any inventions, improvements, discoveries or other
information assigned to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries by such employee.


CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        11

<PAGE>



                  3.7  INSURANCE.  SCHEDULE  3.7  attached  hereto  sets forth a
summary  description of insurance  coverage covering the business and properties
of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries,  which description includes,  among
other things,  the property covered and the insurer and the amount and period of
coverage.  There  are no  outstanding  requirements  or  recommendations  of any
insurance company that issued any policy of fire or extended coverage  insurance
covering  the  properties  of the Company or any of the  Subsidiaries  or by any
Board of Fire Underwriters or other similar body exercising  similar  functions,
or by any governmental  authority  exercising similar functions which require or
recommend  any repairs or other work to be done on or with respect to any of the
properties  insured in any of said  policies.  All of such policies of insurance
are on an  occurrence  basis and will be in full  force and  effect  immediately
after the Effective Time.

                  3.8      CONTRACTS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS.

                  (A)  SCHEDULE  3.8(A)  sets  forth  a list  of  each  material
contract, license agreement, lease, indenture,  commitment or mortgage, trust or
other  instrument,  written or oral,  including all amendments or  modifications
thereof,  to which the Company or any  Subsidiary  is a party or by which any of
their respective assets are bound. The material  contracts,  license agreements,
leases, indentures or commitments that are required to be identified in SCHEDULE
3.8(A) are referred to as the  "Contracts."  True and complete copies of each of
the  Contracts,  or where they are oral,  true and  complete  written  summaries
thereof, have been delivered to the Acquiror by the Company.

                  (B) Except as set forth in SCHEDULE  3.8(B)  attached  hereto,
there has not been any breach of, nor has there  occurred any default under any,
Contract on the part of the Company or any  Subsidiary  or, to the  knowledge of
the Company, on the part of the other parties thereto, and no event has occurred
which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both would constitute a
default under any Contract.  Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.8(B),  no consent
of any  party to any  Contract  is  required  in order to permit  the  execution
delivery  or  performance  of  this  Agreement  and  the   consummation  of  the
transactions   contemplated   hereby,  nor  will  the  execution,   delivery  or
performance  of  this  Agreement  or  the   consummation  of  the   transactions
contemplated  hereby,  including  the  Merger,  result in a breach of any of the
terms and  provisions  of, or constitute a default  under,  or conflict with, or
result in a  modification  of, or give any third  party the right to  terminate,
cancel,  accelerate  or  increase  the  rate  of  interest  payable  under,  any
liabilities,  obligations, rights or benefits under, any Contract of the Company
or any  Subsidiary.  After the Closing Date and upon  provision of the requisite
notice  to  Kemper   Financial   Services,   Inc.  and  Kemper  Service  Company
(collectively,  "Kemper"),  the Surviving  Corporation will be able to cause its
subsidiary to sweep uninvested funds in its customer accounts to any institution
offering a market  rate,  without a breach or  violation  of the  documents  and
instruments governing the management of such customers' accounts;  provided that
the subsidiary's governing documents and agreements are amended accordingly.

                  (C) Set forth in SCHEDULE  3.8(C) attached hereto is a list of
the aggregate dollar amount of all outstanding claims against the Company or any
Subsidiary  or  claims,  which,  to the  knowledge  of the  Company,  have  been
threatened against the Company or a Subsidiary, under each

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        12

<PAGE>



Contract  presently or  heretofore  in effect  (including,  without  limitation,
claims  for back  charges,  rebates,  price  reductions  or  settlements  or for
breaches of warranties).

                  3.9      LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS.

                  (A) SCHEDULE  3.9(A) attached hereto contains a description of
each plan,  contract or  arrangement  (except  those  described in SECTION 3.10)
under which fringe  benefits  (including,  but not limited to, vacation plans or
programs,  sick leave plans or programs  and related  benefits)  are afforded to
employees of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary  is a party to any  collective  bargaining  agreement  or other labor
agreement.

                  (B) SCHEDULE  3.9(B) attached hereto contains a description of
each  employment  contract,  including any severance  arrangements,  between the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries and any of their employees.

                  (C) The Company and the Subsidiaries have withheld and paid to
the appropriate  governmental authorities or are withholding for payment not yet
due  to  such  authorities  all  amounts  required  to be  withheld  from  their
respective  employees  and are not  liable  for any  arrears  of  wages,  taxes,
penalties or other sums for failure to comply with any of the foregoing.

                  (D)  All   accrued   obligations   of  the   Company  and  the
Subsidiaries  (whether  arising by operation of law, by contract or past custom)
for  payments by the Company or any  Subsidiary,  to trusts or other funds or to
any  governmental  agency with respect to  unemployment  compensation  benefits,
social  security  benefits or any other benefits for employees of the Company or
any Subsidiary  with respect to employment of those  employees have been paid or
adequate  accruals  therefor have been made in the September 30, 1996  financial
statements  for   obligations   accrued  through  the  date  of  such  financial
statements,  and in the books and records of the Company or any  Subsidiary  for
obligations accruing after that date.

                  (E) All reasonably anticipated  obligations of the Company and
the  Subsidiaries  (whether  arising by operation  of law by  contract,  by past
custom or otherwise) for salaries,  vacation and holiday pay, sick pay and other
forms of  compensation  ("Compensation")  payable to the officers,  directors or
other  employees  of the Company or any  Subsidiary  in respect of the  services
rendered by any of them have been paid or adequate  accruals  therefor have been
made in the September 30, 1996  financial  statements  for  obligations  accrued
through the date of such financial  statements  and all  reasonably  anticipated
obligations of the Company and the  Subsidiaries  for  Compensation  and bonuses
payable to the  officers,  directors  or other  employees  of the Company or any
Subsidiary  in respect of the  services  rendered by any of them will be made in
the financial  statements  for the month-end  immediately  preceding the Closing
Date for obligations  accrued from October 1, 1996 through such  month-end,  and
have been made in the books and records of the Company and the  Subsidiaries for
obligations accruing thereafter.

                  3.10 EMPLOYEE  BENEFIT PLANS.  Except as set forth in SCHEDULE
3.10,  neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries  maintains or contributes
to any  "employee  benefit  plan" (as  defined in SECTION  3(3) of the  Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended).

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        13

<PAGE>



Except as set forth in  SCHEDULE  3.9(B),  neither  the  Company  nor any of the
Subsidiaries maintains or contributes to any retirement, termination, severance,
benefit or other similar plans or agreements for employees and former  employees
of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.

                  3.11    OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES; COMPENSATION OF AND
INDEBTEDNESS TO AND FROM OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS AND EMPLOYEES.

                  (A)  SCHEDULE  3.11(A)  attached  hereto sets forth a true and
complete  list of the names of, the offices held by, and the  compensation  paid
to,  the  officers,  directors  and  employees  of the  Company  and each of the
Subsidiaries.

                  (B)  Except  as set forth on  SCHEDULE  3.11(B),  neither  the
Company nor any Subsidiary has any financial obligation or is otherwise indebted
to any  person who is an  officer,  director,  shareholder  or  employee  of the
Company or any  Subsidiary,  or to any  spouse,  child or  relative  of any such
person or to any entity controlled directly or indirectly by such person, in any
amount  whatsoever other than for  compensation for services  rendered since the
start of the  current pay period of the  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  and for
business  expenses,  nor is any  director or  shareholder  of the Company or any
Subsidiary,  or any spouse, child or other relative of such person,  indebted to
the Company or any Subsidiary  except for  reimbursement of advances made in the
ordinary course of business.

                  3.12 AGREEMENT NOT IN BREACH OF CERTAIN  INSTRUMENTS.  Neither
the execution  and delivery of this  Agreement  nor,  assuming  Shareholder  and
applicable   regulatory   approval,   the   consummation  of  the   transactions
contemplated  hereby will violate or conflict with any provision of the Articles
of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  or result in a
breach of any of the terms and  provisions  of, or  constitute  a  violation  or
default  (or an  event  that  with  notice  or lapse  of  time,  or both,  would
constitute a default)  under,  or conflict  with,  (a) any Contract or permit to
which the Company or any  Subsidiary is or may be bound,  except as set forth in
SCHEDULE  3.8(B),  (b) any  judgment,  decree,  order  or  award  of any  court,
governmental  body or  arbitrator  to which the Company or any  Subsidiary  is a
party, or (c) to the Company's knowledge, any law, rule or regulation applicable
to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.

                  3.13 REGULATORY APPROVALS.  Other than (i) the approval of the
Merger and this Agreement by the  Shareholders (as contemplated by SECTION 1.4),
(ii) the filing of the  Certificates  as provided in SECTION  1.1(E),  (iii) the
receipt of the  approval  of the Merger by the TDB,  (iv) the  provision  of the
requisite  notice  to  Kemper,  (v)  approval  of  the  listing  of  the  Merger
Consideration  by the NASDAQ  National  Market,  (vi) the  amendment of Sterling
Trust Company's governing  documents,  and (vii) filing of any required blue sky
filings,  no consent,  declaration,  filing or approval or authorization  of, or
registration  with,  any  federal,  state,  municipal or local  governmental  or
regulatory  authority  or any other  person is required in  connection  with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company or the  consummation  of
the transactions contemplated hereby by the Company.

                  3.14    ACCOUNTS AND NOTES RECEIVABLE.  Except as set forth in
SCHEDULE  3.11(B),  the  accounts  and notes  receivable  of the Company and the
Subsidiaries existing on the date of the

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        14

<PAGE>



September 30, 1996 financial statements arose, and those existing on the Closing
Date will have arisen,  out of  transactions  in the ordinary course of business
and represent bona fide indebtedness of the applicable account debtor.

                  3.15 NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES.   Except as and to the extent
disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.15 and except:

                  (A)  as and to the  extent specifically reflected or  reserved
against in the September 30, 1996 financial statements at the date thereof; or

                  (B)  obligations  incurred after the date of the September 30,
1996  financial  statements,  in the  ordinary  and usual  course of business in
amounts and on terms consistent, with past practice;

neither  Company nor any  Subsidiary has any  Liability.  "Liability"  means any
liability or  obligation  of any nature,  whether  direct,  indirect,  absolute,
accrued,  contingent or otherwise,  and whether due or to become due (including,
without  limitation,  any liability for Taxes and interest,  penalties and other
charges payable with respect to any such liability or obligation).

                  3.16  DISCLOSURE.  Except as  contemplated  by or disclosed in
this Agreement,  and in SCHEDULE 3.16,  there is no fact or circumstance  within
the  knowledge  of the  Company  that might  reasonably  result in any  Material
Adverse  Effect.  None of the statements or information  contained in any of the
representations,  warranties  or  covenants  of the  Company  set  forth in this
Agreement  (including the Schedules and other certificates,  agreements or other
documents  to be  furnished  hereunder)  or in any  other  document  or  written
statement  furnished to the Acquiror by the Company contains or will contain any
misstatement  of a material fact or omission to state a material fact  necessary
to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading.

                  3.17 BROKERAGE.  Neither the Company, any Subsidiary,  nor any
Shareholder has dealt with any finder,  broker,  investment  banker or financial
advisor  in  connection  with  any  of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement  or  the   negotiations   looking  toward  the  consummation  of  such
transactions  which might as a result  reasonably give rise to the obligation to
pay a fee therefor.

                  3.18     AUTHORIZATION OF AGREEMENT.

                  (A) The  Company has full  corporate  power and  authority  to
execute  and  deliver  this  Agreement  and  to  consummate   the   transactions
contemplated  hereby. The execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby have been duly and
validly  authorized  by the  board of  directors  of the  Company,  and no other
proceedings on the part of the Company or the Shareholders are necessary, except
for the  approval  of the  Merger and this  Agreement  by the  Shareholders  (as
contemplated  by SECTION 1.3). By unanimous  vote of the directors  present at a
meeting of the Company's  board of directors  (which meeting was duly called and
held and at which a quorum was present at all times), the board of directors (i)
approved  and  adopted  this  Agreement,  including  the  Merger  and the  other
transactions

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        15

<PAGE>



contemplated  herein, and determined that the Merger is fair to the Shareholders
and  (ii)  resolved  to  recommend  approval  and  adoption  of this  Agreement,
including  the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  herein,  by the
Shareholders.

                  (B)  This   Agreement   and  all   other   agreements   herein
contemplated to be executed in connection  herewith by the Company have been (or
upon execution will have been) duly executed and delivered by or for the benefit
of the Company,  and, assuming approval by the Shareholders,  constitute binding
obligations,  enforceable in accordance with their respective terms. The Company
and the Shareholders  are not, and immediately  prior to the Effective Time each
of the Company and each Shareholder will not be, a party to, subject to or bound
by any provision of the Articles of Incorporation  or Bylaws of the Company,  or
any agreement or judgment, order, writ, prohibition, injunction or decree of any
court or other  governmental  body that would prevent the execution and delivery
of, or the consummation of the transactions  contemplated by, this Agreement and
the Merger.

                  3.19 BANK ACCOUNTS.  SCHEDULE 3.19 attached hereto contains an
accurate and complete list of: (a) the names and addresses of each bank in which
the Company or any  Subsidiary  has an account;  (b) the account  number of such
accounts;  and (c) the authorized  signatories and balances (such balances being
as of the date of the last available  bank  statement  prior to the date hereof)
for each such account.

                  3.20 ACCOUNT BALANCES. SCHEDULE 3.20 hereto sets forth (i) the
aggregate  dollar  amount as of  September  30,  1996 of the  Company's  and the
Subsidiaries'  customer accounts under administration and the amounts maintained
in money market accounts with respect thereto,  as published by Kemper, and (ii)
the total number of customer  accounts and the balances under  administration of
the Company and the  Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1996. No referring  broker
accounted or was  responsible  for more than 5% of the total  customer  accounts
under administration as of November 15, 1996.

         4.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ACQUIROR.   The Acquiror
represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

                  4.1  ORGANIZATION.  The Acquiror and Acquisition are each duly
organized and validly  existing as  corporations in good standing under the laws
of their respective  states of  incorporation,  each with the corporate power to
own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business in
the manner in which such business is now being conducted.

                  4.2  AUTHORITY.  The  Acquiror and  Acquisition  each have the
requisite  corporate  power, and prior to the Effective Time will have taken all
corporate action, necessary to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement. This
Agreement and all other  agreements  herein  contemplated  to be executed by the
Acquiror  and/or  Acquisition  have been (or upon execution will have been) duly
executed and delivered by the Acquiror or Acquisition,  as the case may be, have
been effectively authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Acquiror and  Acquisition  and constitute  (or upon  execution will  constitute)
legal, valid and binding obligations of the

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        16

<PAGE>



Acquiror and  Acquisition,  enforceable  against the Acquiror and Acquisition in
accordance with their respective terms.

                  4.3  BROKERAGE.   Neither  the  Acquiror  nor  any  affiliate,
director,  officer  or  employee  of the  Acquiror  has dealt with any finder or
broker,  in  connection  with  any  of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement  or  the   negotiations   looking  toward  the  consummation  of  such
transactions.

                  4.4 ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK. The issuance,  sale and delivery
of the shares of Common Stock as Merger  Consideration,  in accordance with this
Agreement,  have  been,  or will be on or  prior  to the  Effective  Date,  duly
authorized by all necessary  corporate  action on the part of the Acquiror,  and
the shares of Common Stock when so issued,  sold and  delivered at the Effective
Time,  by  virtue  of the  Merger  in  accordance  with the  provisions  of this
Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

                  4.5 PRIVATE  TRANSACTION.  The  Acquiror  understands  that no
aspect of the  transactions  incident to this Agreement has been registered with
or  reviewed  by the SEC under  the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended  (the
"Securities Act"), or with or by any state securities law administrator,  and no
federal or state  securities  law  administrator  has  reviewed or approved  any
disclosure or other material  concerning the Company, or made any recommendation
with respect to any  disclosure or other material  concerning  the Company.  The
Acquiror has  sufficient  knowledge  and  experience  in business and  financial
matters  such that it is  capable  of  evaluating  the  merits  and risks of the
proposed  transaction  with the Company,  and the Acquiror has  investigated and
will continue to investigate  the merits and risks of such proposed  transaction
under the provisions of this Agreement.

                  4.6 LITIGATION  PENDING OR THREATENED.  Except as disclosed in
Acquiror's  Prospectus,  dated  October 18, 1996,  there is no material  action,
suit,   arbitration   proceeding,   including  any  grievance   proceeding,   or
investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Acquiror,  threatened,  before
any court, tribunal,  panel, master or governmental agency, authority or body in
which the  Acquiror  is a party or to which its  businesses  or  properties  are
subject;  nor is the  Acquiror,  or any  officer or  employee  of the  Acquiror,
enjoined from any action or subject to any continuing restriction imposed by any
court, tribunal, panel, master or governmental agency, authority or body.

                  4.7  AGREEMENT NOT IN BREACH OF CERTAIN  INSTRUMENTS.  Neither
the  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  nor the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated hereby will violate or conflict with any provision of
the  Articles  of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of  Acquiror  or any  subsidiary  of
Acquiror  or  result  in a breach  of any of the  terms  and  provisions  of, or
constitute  a  violation  or default  (or an event that with  notice or lapse of
time, or both,  would  constitute a default)  under,  or conflict  with, (a) any
material  contract or permit to which the Acquiror or any subsidiary of Acquiror
is or may be  bound,  (b) any  judgment,  decree,  order or award of any  court,
governmental  body or  arbitrator  to which the  Acquiror or any  subsidiary  of
Acquiror  is a party,  or (c) to the  Acquiror's  knowledge,  any  law,  rule or
regulation applicable to the Acquiror or any of the subsidiaries.

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        17

<PAGE>



                  4.8 DISCLOSURE. Except as contemplated by or disclosed in this
Agreement, there is no fact or circumstance within the knowledge of the Acquiror
that might reasonably  result in any Material Adverse Effect with respect to the
Acquiror  and its  subsidiaries  taken as a  whole.  None of the  statements  or
information contained in any of the representations,  warranties or covenants of
the Acquiror set forth in this Agreement (including the certificates, agreements
or other  documents  to be  furnished  hereunder)  or in any other  document  or
written statement  furnished to the Company by Acquiror contains or will contain
any  misstatement  of a  material  fact or  omission  to state a  material  fact
necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading.

                  4.9 ACQUIROR  DISCLOSURE  DOCUMENT.  Acquiror has furnished to
the Company its  Prospectus,  dated October 18, 1996,  and the first  supplement
thereto, relating to Acquiror's initial public offering. Each of such documents,
at the time it was filed with the SEC,  complied in all material  respects  with
all applicable  requirements of the Exchange Act (as defined herein), and of the
forms,  rules and  regulations of the SEC  promulgated  thereunder,  and did not
contain  at the time filed 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.

                  4.10  REGULATORY  APPROVALS.  Other than (i) the filing of the
Certificates as provided in SECTION  1.1(E),  (ii) the approval of the Merger by
the TDB,  (iii) the approval of the listing of the Merger  Consideration  by the
NASDAQ National  Market,  (iv) the filing of any required blue sky filings,  (v)
the approval of the issuance of the Merger  Consideration  by Piper Jaffray Inc.
and (vi) the filings  required to be made in  connection  with the  registration
rights granted pursuant to SECTION 9 hereof, no consent, declaration,  filing or
approval  or  authorization  of,  or  registration  with,  any  federal,  state,
municipal or local  governmental or regulatory  authority or any other person is
required in  connection  with the  execution  and delivery of this  Agreement by
Acquiror  or  the  consummation  of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  by
Acquiror.

                  4.11  CAPITALIZATION.  The  Amended and  Restated  Articles of
Incorporation of Acquiror  authorize the issuance of 50,000,000 shares of $.0001
par value common stock and 5,000,000 shares of $.0001 par value preferred stock.
As of November  20,  1996,  there were no shares of  preferred  stock issued and
outstanding and 5,901,439 shares of common stock issued and  outstanding.  As of
November 20, 1996, Acquiror had options and warrants outstanding as described in
the Prospectus, dated October 18, 1996.

                  4.12  FINANCIAL  CONDITION.  Acquiror  has  furnished  to  the
Company its unaudited  consolidated  financial statements for the 9-month period
ended September 30, 1996, consisting of a balance sheet as of September 30, 1996
and the related  statement of operations,  statement of cash flows and statement
of shareholders'  equity for such 9-month period. Such financial  statements (i)
have been prepared in accordance  with the books and records of Acquiror and its
subsidiaries,  on a  consolidated  basis,  (ii) have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP consistently  applied throughout the periods covered and (iii) subject
to the absence of detailed  noted  customary in GAAP financial  statements:  (A)
reflect  and provide  adequate  reserves  and  disclosures  with  respect to all
liabilities of the Acquiror and its subsidiaries and (B) present fairly

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        18

<PAGE>



in all material  respects the  financial  position and results of  operations of
Acquiror and its subsidiaries at and for the fiscal period ended on such dates.

         5.       COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company covenants
and agrees that it will comply with each of the  covenants  and  agreements  set
forth in this SECTION 5.

                  5.1   ARTICLES  OF   INCORPORATION   AND  BYLAWS.   Except  as
specifically required by this Agreement, the Company will not, without the prior
written consent of the Acquiror,  take any of the following  actions or agree to
take any of such actions:

                  (A)    amend or otherwise change its Articles of Incorporation
         or Bylaws or any instrument similar in purpose and intent to them;

                  (B)      issue any shares of its capital stock;

                  (C) issue or create any warrants, obligations,  subscriptions,
         options,  convertible securities,  or other commitments under which any
         additional  shares of the Company's  capital  stock may be  authorized,
         issued or transferred from treasury;

                  (D) take any action that would make any of the representations
         and warranties in this Agreement untrue or incorrect; or

                  (E)      agree to do any of the acts listed above.

                  5.2  CORPORATE  EXISTENCE AND RIGHTS.  Except as  specifically
required by this Agreement,  between the date hereof and the Effective Time, the
Company  will take all  necessary  actions  to keep in full force and effect the
corporate  existence of the Company and each of the  Subsidiaries and will cause
the  operations  of the  Company  and  the  Subsidiaries  to be  conducted  only
according  to their  ordinary  and usual  course.  Neither  the  Company nor any
Subsidiary  shall do, nor permit to be done,  anything  that is  represented  or
warranted not to have  occurred  since June 30, 1996 as  represented  in SECTION
3.3(C) hereof.  The Company shall make all reasonable efforts to preserve intact
its and each of its Subsidiaries present business  organization,  keep available
the services of the officers and employees of the Company and the  Subsidiaries,
and  preserve  the  relationship  of  the  Company  and  the  Subsidiaries  with
customers,  suppliers and others having business  dealings with them, to the end
that their  businesses  shall not be  materially  impaired at the  Closing.  The
Company and each of the Subsidiaries shall maintain their respective records and
books of account in a manner that fairly and  correctly  reflects  their income,
expenses,  assets and liabilities in accordance with past practice.  The Company
shall not  permit  any of its  Subsidiaries  to (i) issue any shares of any such
Subsidiary's  capital stock or (ii) issue or create any  warrants,  obligations,
subscriptions, options, convertible securities, or other commitments under which
any additional shares of any such Subsidiary's  capital stock may be authorized,
issued or transferred from treasury.

                  5.3      TRANSACTIONS AFFECTING BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES OF THE
COMPANY.  Except as specifically  required by this  Agreement,  between the date
hereof and the Closing Date,  neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary  will make
any single capital commitment in excess of $20,000,

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        19

<PAGE>



or  $100,000  in the  aggregate,  without  the  prior  written  approval  of the
Acquiror,  nor will the Company or any  Subsidiary  incur any  indebtedness  for
money  borrowed  other  than  borrowings  in the  ordinary  course  of  business
consistent  with past practice,  declare,  set aside or pay any dividend or make
any other  distribution  regarding their outstanding  securities,  or do any act
other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,  or
mortgage or  otherwise  encumber,  voluntarily  or  involuntarily,  presently or
prospectively,  any of its  assets or  properties,  without  the  prior  written
approval of the Acquiror.  Neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary  shall agree,
without  the  prior  written  consent  of  the  Acquiror,  to  (i)  any  adverse
modification  of the terms of any  document  or  contractual  arrangement  or to
prepay  or  incur  additional  material  obligations  to  any  person,  whenever
effective,  (ii) dispose of any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary,  except
in the ordinary course of business,  (iii) materially  increase the annual level
of  compensation  of any  employee,  or  increase  at all the  annual  level  of
compensation  of any  person  whose  compensation  from the  Company in the last
preceding fiscal year exceeded  $100,000,  or grant any unusual or extraordinary
bonuses,  benefits  or other  forms of direct or  indirect  compensation  to any
employee,  officer,  director or  consultant,  except in amounts in keeping with
past practices by formulas or otherwise, or (iv) increase,  terminate,  amend or
otherwise modify any plan for the benefit of employees. Nothing contained herein
will limit the  ability  of either (A) the  Subsidiaries  from  paying  employee
bonuses on a pro rata basis  based upon the number of months  that have  elapsed
between June 30, 1996 and the Closing Date or (B) the ability of the Company and
its Subsidiaries to pay monthly directors' fees of up to $1,000 per month in the
case of VFSC's aggregate  directors' fees and up to $7,000 per month in the case
of the Sterling Trust Company's aggregate directors' fees.

                  5.4  NEGOTIATIONS.  The Company agrees not to, and shall cause
the Company's officers, directors and affiliates (as such term is defined in the
regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"))  and its  representatives  not to,  except to the extent  appropriate  to
fulfill the fiduciary  duties owed under  applicable laws to the shareholders as
advised  in  writing by counsel  to the  Company,  take any  action,  including,
without  limitation,  the solicitation of proxies from other shareholders of the
Company or voting of the Shares,  which could  impede,  or adversely  effect the
likelihood  of,  the  consummation  of the  Merger,  or  otherwise  directly  or
indirectly make,  solicit,  initiate,  participate in or otherwise encourage the
submission  of any  proposal  or  offer  from  any  person  (including,  without
limitation,  any of the directors,  officers,  shareholders  or employees of the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries)  relating to any liquidation,  dissolution,
recapitalization,  reorganization,  merger,  consolidation or the acquisition of
all or a material  portion of the  assets  of, or any  equity  interest  in, the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other similar  transaction or business
combination  involving  the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  other than the
Merger  (an  "Alternative  Transaction")  and shall  not,  and  shall  cause the
Company's  officers,  directors and affiliates and its  representatives  not to,
except to the extent  appropriate  to fulfill  the  fiduciary  duties owed under
applicable  laws to the  shareholders  as  advised  in writing by counsel to the
Company, directly or indirectly,  participate in any negotiations or discussions
regarding, or furnish any information with respect to, or otherwise cooperate in
any  way in  connection  with,  or  assist  or  participate  in,  facilitate  or
encourage,  any effort or attempt to effect or seek to effect,  any  Alternative
Transaction  with or involving any person other than Acquiror or an affiliate of
Acquiror.


CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        20

<PAGE>



                  5.5 ACCESS AND  INFORMATION  BEFORE THE  CLOSING.  Between the
date hereof and the Effective Time, the Company and the Subsidiaries will afford
to  the   Acquiror   and  the   Acquiror's   counsel,   accountants   and  other
representatives reasonable access to all of the properties, books, contracts and
records of the Company and the  Subsidiaries  and will  furnish the Acquiror and
the  Acquiror's  counsel,   accountants  and  other   representatives  with  all
information,  including copies of books,  contracts and records,  concerning the
affairs of the Company  and the  Subsidiaries,  which  Acquiror  may  reasonably
request.

                  5.6      CURRENT INFORMATION.    The Company  will advise  the
         Acquiror in writing as promptly as possible of:

                  (A)      the occurrence of  any event that renders any  of the
         representations or warranties of the Company set forth herein 
         inaccurate;

                  (B)      the awareness of the Company  that any representation
         or  warranty of the  Company set forth  herein was not  accurate in all
         respects when made; and

                  (C)    the failure of the Company to comply with or accomplish
         any of the covenants or agreements set forth herein in any respect.

The Company will also provide the Acquiror promptly on becoming available copies
of all material  operating and financial  reports  prepared by or for the normal
conduct of business of the Company.

                  5.7  CORPORATE  APPROVALS.  The Company will promptly take all
further  action  required,  if any,  to  obtain  the  approval  of the  board of
directors  (subject to applicable  fiduciary duty standards) and Shareholders of
the Company to this Agreement and to the transactions  contemplated  hereby, and
will advise the Acquiror when such approvals have been obtained.

                  5.8  CONSENTS.  The  Company  shall  use its best  efforts  to
procure all  consents,  approvals or waivers that must be obtained by any of the
Shareholders, any of the Subsidiaries or the Company and which are necessary for
completion of the transactions described herein,  including using all reasonable
efforts to obtain  all  required  consents  of any  governmental  agency or body
issuing any permits, licenses or other governmental authorizations affecting the
Company or any of the  Subsidiaries or their  businesses or properties,  so that
the Surviving Corporation may continue to operate the business and properties of
the Company and the Subsidiaries  without  interruption  following the Effective
Time.

                  5.9  CONTRACTS.  Between the date hereof and the Closing Date,
the Company  will not and will not allow any  Subsidiary  to,  without the prior
written  consent of the  Acquiror,  amend or allow to be amended in any material
respect or consent to the termination of any contract, agreement,  instrument or
other  arrangement to which it or a Subsidiary is a party which would reasonably
be  expected  to  require  the  payment or  expense  by the  Company  and/or any
Subsidiary of $25,000 or more annually,  whether  written or oral, or enter into
or  become a party  to or  submit  any bid or  proposal  for any such  contract,
agreement or other instrument or arrangement of the Company or a Subsidiary.

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        21

<PAGE>



                  5.10  INSURANCE.  Between  the date  hereof and the  Effective
Time,  the  Company  and each of the  Subsidiaries  shall  continue in force its
existing  insurance  policies,  or shall replace such  policies with  comparable
insurance companies on comparable terms and conditions.

                  5.11  TERMINATION OF AGREEMENTS.  The Company shall cause each
shareholder agreement,  registration rights agreement or employment agreement of
any kind  between  the  Company,  on the one hand,  and any  officer,  director,
shareholder or employee,  on the other hand, to be terminated  without liability
to the Company effective as of the Closing Date.

                  5.12  AGREEMENTS OF  AFFILIATES.  The Company  agrees to cause
each  officer,  director or  shareholder  of the Company  which may be deemed an
affiliate  (the  "Affiliated  Shareholders")  to  enter  into  an  Agreement  of
Affiliate  substantially in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT F (collectively,
"Agreements  of  Affiliates")  prior  to  the  Effective  Time.  The  Affiliated
Shareholders  shall be those  shareholders  of the  Company who are set forth in
SCHEDULE 5.12 hereto.

                  5.13  EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENT.  The  Company  shall  cause  Paul
Skretny (the "Management  Employee") to enter into an Employment  Agreement with
the  Acquiror,  substantially  in the form of the agreement  attached  hereto as
EXHIBIT C, and  incorporated  herein by  reference,  which shall be executed and
delivered at the Closing,  providing for the  employment by the Acquiror of such
person and providing that such person shall not compete with the Acquiror or the
Company or any  affiliate  of the  Acquiror  or the Company for a period of time
after the Closing Date, all as set forth in such agreement.

                  5.14 NO DEFAULT.  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall
do any act or omit to do any act,  or permit  any act or  omission  to act which
will cause a breach of any  contract,  agreement or commitment of the Company or
any  Subsidiary  which could have a Material  Adverse Effect and the Company and
the Subsidiaries  shall maintain in full force and effect all permits,  licenses
and  authorizations   which  are  material  to  the  condition   (financial  and
otherwise), assets, liabilities,  properties, business and results of operations
of the Company and the Subsidiaries.

                  5.15  COMPLIANCE  WITH LAWS. The Company and its  Subsidiaries
shall  duly  comply  with all laws  applicable  to them  and  their  properties,
business,  operations  and  employees,  except  to  the  extent  that  any  such
noncompliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  5.16  CONSENTS.  The Company agrees to use its best efforts to
take, or cause to be taken, all action, and to do or cause to be done all things
necessary,  proper,  or  advisable  under  applicable  laws and  regulations  to
consummate and make effective the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
and shall refrain from any action that would materially impair the likelihood of
the  consummation  of the  Merger  and  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement.  In  particular,  the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain as
soon as practicable, and, in any event, prior to the Closing Date, all consents,
authorizations, orders and approvals required in connection with, and waivers of
violations, breaches and defaults that may be caused by, the consummation of the
Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  and to make
all declarations, filings and registrations,  required to be obtained or made by
it pursuant to any law,  regulation,  order,  agreement or  instrument  prior to
consummating the transactions contemplated hereby, whether any

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        22

<PAGE>



such consent, waiver, authorization or approval, or such declaration,  filing or
registration,   is  to  be  obtained  from  or  made  with  private  parties  or
governmental  or regulatory  authorities.  The Company hereby agrees not to take
any action that may  materially  and adversely  affect the obtaining of any such
consent, waiver, authorization or approval.

                  5.17 ASSET PURCHASE AND EXCHANGE AGREEMENT.  The Company shall
cause STC  Holdings,  Inc. (the  "Shareholder  Company") and each of the holders
(the "STC  Shareholders")  of the  outstanding  capital stock of the Shareholder
Company to enter into that certain Asset  Purchase and Exchange  Agreement  (the
"APA"),  wherein Acquiror shall agree,  immediately prior to the Effective Time,
to  purchase  the  outstanding  shares of the Company  owned by the  Shareholder
Company (the "STC Shares") in exchange for Common Stock (the "STC  Transaction")
substantially on the terms and conditions set forth in EXHIBIT C hereto.

                  5.18  RECEIVABLES.  The  Company  shall  cause,  prior  to the
Closing Date, John Michael Posey and all officers, directors and shareholders of
the Company or any  Subsidiary  who owe accounts  receivable to the Company or a
Subsidiary to fully pay off and discharge such receivables.

                  5.19  NOTICE TO KEMPER,  ETC.  The  Company  will use its best
efforts to ensure that,  immediately following the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation  will be able to cause its subsidiary to sweep  uninvested  funds in
its  customer  accounts to any  institution  offering a market  rate,  including
promptly  notifying Kemper after the date hereof of the  subsidiary's  intent to
terminate its arrangement with Kemper and by amending the subsidiary's governing
documents and agreements to allow for such.

         6.       COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS OF THE ACQUIROR.  The Acquiror 
covenants and agrees with the Company as follows:

                  6.1      CURRENT INFORMATION.  The  Acquiror will  advise  the
         Company  in writing  as  promptly  as  possible, but in any event prior
         to the Closing, of:

                  (A)      the occurrence  of any event that renders  any of the
         representations  or  warranties  of  the  Acquiror  set  forth   herein
         inaccurate;

                  (B)      the awareness of the Acquiror that any representation
         or warranty of  the Acquiror set  forth herein was not accurate  in all
         respects when made; and

                  (C)      the  failure  of  the  Acquiror  to  comply  with  or
         accomplish any of the covenants  or agreements set forth  herein in any
         respect.

                  6.2 CONSENTS. Acquiror agrees to use its best efforts to take,
or cause  to be  taken,  all  action,  and to do or cause to be done all  things
necessary,  proper,  or  advisable  under  applicable  laws and  regulations  to
consummate and make effective the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
and shall refrain from any action that would materially impair the likelihood of
the  consummation  of the  Merger  and  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement. In particular,

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        23

<PAGE>



the Acquiror shall use its best efforts to obtain as soon as  practicable,  and,
in any event,  prior to the Closing Date, all consents,  authorizations,  orders
and approvals  required in connection with, and waivers of violations,  breaches
and defaults that may be caused by, the consummation of the Merger and the other
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  and to make  all  declarations,
filings and registrations, required to be obtained or made by it pursuant to any
law,  regulation,  order,  agreement or  instrument  prior to  consummating  the
transactions   contemplated   hereby,   whether   any  such   consent,   waiver,
authorization or approval, or such declaration, filing or registration, is to be
obtained  from or made  with  private  parties  or  governmental  or  regulatory
authorities.  Acquiror  hereby agrees not to take any action that may materially
and adversely affect the obtaining of any such consent, waiver, authorization or
approval.

                  6.3  EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENT.  The Acquiror  shall enter into an
Employment Agreement with the Management Employee,  substantially in the form of
the  agreement  attached  hereto  as  EXHIBIT  D,  and  incorporated  herein  by
reference, which shall be executed and delivered at the Closing (but which shall
be effective as of the  Effective  Time),  providing  for the  employment by the
Acquiror of such person and  providing  that such person  shall not compete with
the Acquiror or the Company or any  affiliate of the Acquiror or the Company for
a period of time after the Closing Date, all as set forth in such agreement.

                  6.4      SALES UNDER RULE 145 IF APPLICABLE.

                           (A)      Acquiror  will  comply  with  the  reporting
requirements of the Exchange Act, after the Effective Time.

                           (B)      Upon  being  informed   in  writing  by  any
Affiliated  Shareholder  that such  person  intends to sell any shares of Common
Stock acquired in the Merger under Rule 145,  Acquiror will promptly  certify in
writing to such person that it has been subject to the reporting requirements of
the  Exchange  Act for at  least  90 days and it has  filed  all of the  reports
required to be filed by it under the  Exchange Act to enable such person to sell
such person's Common Stock acquired in the Merger under Rule 145 (or will inform
such  person in  writing  that it has not filed  such  reports).  Acquiror  will
further supply such person with any  information in its possession  which he may
reasonably request in connection with any such proposed sale.

                           (C)      If any of the certificates representing  any
Common Stock  acquired in the Merger is presented to Acquiror's  transfer  agent
for  registration of transfer in connection with any sale theretofore made under
paragraph  (d) of Rule 145,  provided  such  certificate  is duly  endorsed  for
transfer or  accompanied by a duly executed stock power and is accompanied by an
opinion of counsel  reasonably  satisfactory  to Acquiror that such transfer has
complied with the requirements of Rule 145,  Acquiror will promptly instruct its
transfer  agent  to  register  such  transfer  and  to  issue  one or  more  new
certificates free of any stop transfer order or restrictive legend.

                  6.5  LISTING.  Acquiror  shall  file an  application  with the
Nasdaq  National  Market to list the Common Stock to be issued in the Merger and
shall use its best efforts to cause such application to be approved prior to the
Effective Time and to comply in all material  respects with the  requirements of
the Nasdaq National Market.

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        24

<PAGE>



                  6.6      EMPLOYEE MATTERS.

                  (A) The  employees  of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  will
become employees of the Surviving Corporation and/or its Subsidiaries  following
the  consummation of the  transaction  contemplated by this Agreement and, other
than Paul Skretny  (with whom the Acquiror  intends to enter into an  Employment
Agreement), such employment will be employment at will.

                  (B) The  Acquiror  acknowledges  the current  salary and bonus
structure of the Company and the Subsidiaries and contemplates  that,  following
the  consummation  of the transaction  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  if the
Acquiror  chooses to  discontinue  the payment of bonuses to the persons who are
employees of Sterling  Trust  Company as of the  Effective  Date (the  "Sterling
Employees"),  the salaries paid to the Sterling  Employees will be  recalculated
either (i) to include the benefit of current bonus program  bonuses,  or (ii) to
be  consistent  with the salaries  paid to  similarly  situated  employees  with
respect to job  description  and rank as employees of other  subsidiaries of the
Acquiror.  No third party,  including any Sterling  Employees,  shall be a third
party beneficiary of this paragraph.

                  (C) The  Acquiror  (i) will  cause  Sterling  Trust  Company's
health  insurance to remain in effect with  substantially  the same coverages as
exist as of the date of this  Agreement,  or (ii) will  cause the  employees  of
Sterling Trust Company to be covered under any other health  insurance plan made
available  to the  employees of the Acquiror  under  circumstances  in which the
insurer  waives  exceptions for  pre-existing  conditions in existence as of the
Effective Date.

                  (D) After the Effective  Date, the Acquiror will cause (i) the
qualified  profit-sharing  retirement  plan  of  Sterling  Trust  Company  to be
discontinued,  and the  assets of such  plan  either  to be  transferred  to the
qualified profit sharing retirement plan of the Acquiror (the "Acquiror's Plan")
or such plans to be merged,  and (ii) the employees of Sterling Trust Company to
be given credit  under the  Acquiror's  Plan for years of service with  Sterling
Trust Company.

                  (E)  Beginning on the  Effective  Date,  all employee  benefit
plans of  Sterling  (other  than the  health  insurance  plan and the  qualified
profit-sharing  plan) will be  terminated,  and all employees of Sterling  Trust
Company will  participate as of the Effective Date in all employee benefit plans
generally  applicable  to employees of the Acquiror  (with the  exception of the
health  insurance  plan  and the  Acquiror's  Plan,  as to which  the  foregoing
provisions in (c) and (d) are applicable).

                  6.7      UNDERWRITER CONSENT.   Acquiror  will  use  its  best
efforts to  obtain the consent  of Piper  Jaffray Inc. to the Merger (the "Piper
Consent").

         7.  CONDITIONS TO  OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.  The  obligations of the
Company to consummate the Merger and to make the deliveries  contemplated at the
Closing  shall,  in addition to the conditions set forth  elsewhere  herein,  be
subject to  satisfactory  completion  on or prior to the Closing Date of each of
the following conditions, any of which may be waived by the Company:


CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        25

<PAGE>



                  7.1 CORRECTNESS OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Each of the
representations and warranties of the Acquiror contained in this Agreement shall
have been true and  correct on the date  hereof and shall be true and correct in
all material respects on the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the
Closing Date,  and the Acquiror shall have executed and delivered to the Company
at Closing a certificate to that effect.

                  7.2  PERFORMANCE  OF  COVENANTS  AND  AGREEMENTS.  All  of the
covenants  and  agreements  of the  Acquiror  contained  in this  Agreement  and
required to be performed by the Acquiror before the Closing Date shall have been
performed in all material  respects,  and the Acquiror  shall have  executed and
delivered to the Company at Closing a certificate to that effect.

                  7.3  ADDITIONAL  CLOSING  DOCUMENTS.  The Acquiror  shall have
delivered to the Company at or prior to the Closing such documents  (including a
certificate  of  officers  of the  Acquiror)  as the Company and its counsel may
reasonably  request in order to enable  the  Company to  determine  whether  the
conditions to their obligations under this Agreement have been met and otherwise
to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.

                  7.4      NO LEGAL BAR.

                  (A) There shall not have been  instituted  or  threatened  any
legal  proceeding  seeking to  prohibit  the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement or to obtain  substantial  damages with respect
thereto.

                  (B) None of the parties hereto shall be prohibited by any law,
order,  writ,  injunction  or  decree  of any  governmental  body  of  competent
jurisdiction from consummating the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
and no action or proceeding shall then be pending that questions the validity of
this Agreement,  any of the transactions  contemplated hereby or any action that
has been taken by any of the  parties or any  corporate  entity,  in  connection
herewith, or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  7.5      APPROVAL BY THE SHAREHOLDERS.  The Merger  shall have
been approved by the  Shareholders in accordance with the TBCA and the Company's
Articles of Incorporation.

                  7.6      EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.     Acquiror  shall  have  duly
executed and delivered the Employment Agreement.

                  7.7 APA.  Acquiror  shall have duly executed and delivered the
APA and the  conditions  to Closing  specified in SECTION 3.4 thereof shall have
been satisfied.

                  7.8      REGULATORY APPROVAL.   Acquiror  shall have  received
approval of the Merger by the TDB.

                  7.9 LISTING.  The NASDAQ  National  Market shall have approved
the listing,  subject to official notice of issuance,  of the Common Stock to be
issued in the Merger.


CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        26

<PAGE>



                  7.10     PIPER CONSENT.      Acquiror shall  have received the
Piper Consent.

         8.  CONDITIONS  TO  OBLIGATIONS  OF ACQUIROR.  The  obligations  of the
Acquiror to consummate the Merger and to make the deliveries contemplated at the
Closing shall, in addition to conditions set forth elsewhere  herein, be subject
to the  satisfactory  completion  on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the
following conditions, any of which may be waived by the Acquiror:

                  8.1 CORRECTNESS OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Each of the
representa tions and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall
have been true and  correct on the date  hereof and shall be true and correct in
all material respects on the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the
Closing Date,  and the Company shall have executed and delivered to the Acquiror
at Closing a certificate of an officer of the Company to that effect.

                  8.2  PERFORMANCE  OF  COVENANTS  AND  AGREEMENTS.  All  of the
covenants and agreements of the Company contained in this Agreement and required
to be performed  on or before the Closing Date shall have been  performed in all
material  respects,  and the Company  shall have  delivered  to the  Acquiror at
Closing a certificate of the Company to that effect.

                  8.3 APA. STC Holdings and the STC Shareholders shall have duly
executed  and  delivered  the APA and the  conditions  to closing  specified  in
SECTION 3.5 thereof shall have been satisfied.

                  8.4  ADDITIONAL  CLOSING  DOCUMENTS.  The  Company  shall have
delivered  to the  Acquiror at or prior to the  Effective  Time such  additional
documents  as the Acquiror  and its counsel may  reasonably  request in order to
enable the Acquiror to determine whether the conditions to its obligations under
this  Agreement  have been met and otherwise to carry out the provisions of this
Agreement.

                  8.5      NO LEGAL BAR.

                  (A) There shall not have been  instituted  or  threatened  any
legal  proceeding  seeking to  prohibit  the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement or to obtain  substantial  damages with respect
thereto.

                  (B) None of the parties hereto shall be prohibited by any law,
order,  writ,  injunction  or  decree  of any  governmental  body  of  competent
jurisdiction from  consummating the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement
and no action or proceeding shall then be pending that questions the validity of
this Agreement,  any of the transactions  contemplated hereby or any action that
has been taken by any of the parties in  connection  herewith  or in  connection
with any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  8.6      MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT.    Since  the  date  of  the
September  30,  1996  financial  statements,  there  shall have been no Material
Adverse Effect.

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        27

<PAGE>



                  8.7      THIRD-PARTY CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. The Company shall
have obtained the consents and approvals of third parties set forth in EXHIBIT E
hereto.

                  8.8      APPROVAL BY THE SHAREHOLDERS.   The Merger shall have
been approved by the  Shareholders in accordance with the TBCA and the Company's
Articles of Incorporation.

                  8.9 LISTING.  The Nasdaq  National  Market shall have approved
the listing,  subject to official notice of issuance,  of the Common Stock to be
issued in the Merger.

                  8.10  DISSENTERS.  Persons  holding  not more  than 10% of the
Common  Shares and  persons  holding not more than 10% of the  Preferred  Shares
shall have perfected  their  dissenters'  appraisal  rights pursuant to the TBCA
with respect to the Merger prior to the Closing Date.

                  8.11 POOLING  LETTER.  Acquiror  shall have  received a letter
from Ernst & Young LLP, in form reasonably acceptable to Acquiror, to the effect
that the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  including the Merger and
the STC  Transaction,  will be accounted for as a "pooling of  interests"  under
GAAP.

                  8.12     AFFILIATE AGREEMENTS.       The  Company  shall  have
delivered to Acquiror the Agreements of Affiliates called for by SECTION 5.12.

                  8.13     EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.  Mr. Skretny  shall  have  duly
executed and delivered the Employment Agreement.

                  8.14     PIPER CONSENT. Acquiror shall have received the Piper
Consent.

                  8.15     REGULATORY APPROVAL.  The TDB shall have approved the
Merger.

                  8.16  RESIGNATION OF DIRECTORS.  Acquiror shall have received,
at or prior to the  Closing,  resignations  from  each of the  directors  of the
Company and/or the  Subsidiaries,  such  resignations  to be effective as of the
Effective Date (the "Resignations").

         9.       REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

                  9.1 REGISTRATIONS. On or before the date that is 180 days from
the  Closing  Date (the  "Target  Date"),  Acquiror  shall  file a  registration
statement  under the  Securities  Act relating to the resale of the  Registrable
Securities.  All  expenses  of such  registration  and the  reasonable  fees and
expenses of not more than one independent  counsel for the Shareholders  will be
borne by the  Acquiror,  except  that the  Shareholders  will bear  underwriting
discounts and commissions and transfer taxes  attributable to their  Registrable
Securities  being  registered  and  transfer  taxes of shares  being sold by the
Shareholders.

                  9.2   REGISTRABLE   SECURITIES.   For  the  purposes  of  this
Agreement,  the term  "Registrable  Securities" will mean shares of Common Stock
issued as Merger  Consideration  and/or shares of Common Stock issued to the STC
Shareholders pursuant to the APA.

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        28

<PAGE>



                  9.3      PROCEDURE FOR REGISTRATION.  Whenever the Acquiror is
required under this SECTION 9 to file a registration statement, it agrees to  do
the following:

                  (A) Use its  best  efforts  to take all  such  actions  as are
reasonably  necessary to have the registration  statement  declared effective by
the  Commission  as  promptly  as is  reasonably  practicable  and to  keep  the
registration  statement  effective  and to  comply  with the  provisions  of the
Securities  Act for  the  period  necessary  to  complete  the  proposed  public
offering, but not more than 180 days;

                  (B) Furnish to each selling  shareholder  (each "Holder") such
copies of each preliminary and final prospectus and such other documents as such
seller may reasonably  request to facilitate  the public  offering of his or her
Common Stock;

                  (C)      Enter into any underwriting agreement with provisions
reasonably required by the proposed underwriter for the selling Holders, if any;
and

                  (D) Use all  reasonable  efforts to  register  or qualify  the
Common Stock  covered by the  registration  statement  under the  securities  or
"blue-sky" laws of such jurisdictions as any selling  Shareholder may reasonably
request,  although  the  Acquiror  will not have to  register in any states that
require it to qualify to do  business  or subject  itself to general  service of
process.

                  9.4  INDEMNIFICATION.  Subject to applicable law, the Acquiror
will indemnify each  underwriter,  each Holder  holding  Registrable  Securities
included in the registration statement, and each person controlling any of them,
against all claims, losses,  damages and liabilities,  including legal and other
expenses reasonably incurred,  arising out of any untrue statement of a material
fact  contained  in the  registration  statement,  or any  omission  to  state a
material  fact  required  to be  stated  of a  material  fact  contained  in the
registration statement, or any statements not misleading,  or arising out of any
violation  by the  Acquiror  of the  Securities  Act,  any state  securities  or
"blue-sky" laws or any applicable rule or regulation.  This indemnification will
not apply to any claims,  losses, damages or liabilities to the extent that they
may have been caused by an untrue  statement or omission based upon  information
furnished in writing to the Acquiror by such underwriter,  Holder or controlling
person,  respectively,  expressly for use in the  registration  statement.  With
respect to such untrue  statement  or omission in the  information  furnished in
writing  to the  Acquiror  by  such  Holder,  such  Holder  will  indemnify  the
underwriters,  the Acquiror,  its directors and officers,  the other Holders and
each  person  controlling  any of them  against  any  losses,  claims,  damages,
expenses or  liabilities  to which any of them may become subject as a result of
such untrue statement or omission.

                  9.5  RULE 144  REQUIREMENTS.  The  Acquiror  will use its best
efforts to file with the  Commission  such  information  as the  Commission  may
require and will use all reasonable efforts to make available Rule 144 under the
Securities  Act (or any  successor  exemptive  rule).  The Acquiror  will not be
required  to  file a  registration  statement  under  SECTION  9.1 if (a) in the
unqualified  opinion of counsel to the Acquiror,  which counsel and opinion will
reasonably  be  acceptable  to the  Holders,  the  Holders  may  then  sell  all
Registrable  Securities  proposed to be sold in the manner proposed  pursuant to
Rule 144 without registration under the Act, or (b) the

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        29

<PAGE>



underwriter then  representing the Acquiror (or another  underwriter  reasonably
acceptable to both the Acquiror and the Holders)  concludes that the Registrable
Securities  proposed to be sold may be sold (although in a manner different from
the manner proposed by the Holders),  at a price not less than five percent (5%)
below the market price for the  Registrable  Securities  in effect at that time,
within 60 days pursuant to Rule 144 without registration under the Act.

                  9.6 TRANSFER OF REGISTRATION  RIGHTS. The registration  rights
of any Shareholder  under this Agreement may be transferred to any transferee of
Registrable Securities (i) who is a Holder, (ii) who is a partner or shareholder
of such Holder, or (iii) who is a member of such Holder's  immediate family. The
Acquiror must be notified in writing of the transfer and must receive an opinion
of  counsel  acceptable  to the  Acquiror  that the  transfer  has been  made in
compliance with  applicable  securities laws and the transferee has received the
registration  rights.  Any such  transferee  will be deemed to be a "Holder" for
purposes of this SECTION 9.

                  9.7 OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS AND OTHERS IN A  REGISTRATION.  Any
Holder included in any registration agrees to furnish such information regarding
such person and the  securities  sought to be  registered  as the  Acquiror  may
reasonably  request  in  connection  with  the  registration,  qualification  or
compliance.

         10.      TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.

                  10.1 EVENTS OF TERMINATION.  This Agreement may be, by written
notice given prior to the  Effective  Time in the manner  hereinafter  provided,
terminated and the Merger shall be abandoned  (and,  subject to SECTION 10.2 and
SECTION 11.8 hereof and survival of the  Confidentiality  Agreement  (as defined
below),  this  Agreement  shall be of no  further  force or effect  between  the
parties  hereto,  except  as to  liabilities  for  misrepresentation,  breach or
default in  connection  with any  warranty,  representation,  covenant,  duty or
obligation  given,  occurring or arising  prior to the date of  termination  and
abandonment):

                  (A)  MISREPRESENTATION,  BREACH OR FAILURE BY THE COMPANY.  By
the Acquiror,  at Acquiror's election, if any of the conditions precedent to its
obligation to close stated in SECTION 8 have not been fulfilled or waived by the
scheduled Closing Date, or if there has been any  misrepresentation or breach of
or failure to satisfy  timely on the part of the  Company any  condition  or any
warranty,  representation  or  agreement  contained  herein,  if such  breach or
failure is not cured within five (5) business  days after receipt of notice from
the Acquiror.

                  (B)  MISREPRESENTATION BY THE ACQUIROR. By the Company, at the
Company's  election,  if any of the conditions  precedent to its  obligations to
close  stated in SECTION 7 have not been  fulfilled  or waived by the  scheduled
Closing Date, or if there has been any misrepresentation or breach of or failure
to satisfy  timely on the part of the  Acquiror  any  condition  or any material
warranty,  representation  or  agreement  contained  herein,  if such  breach or
failure is not cured within five (5) business days of receipt of notice from the
Company.

                  (C)      EXPIRATION OF TIME. By either the Company, on the one
hand, or the  Acquiror, on the other  hand,  if, for any  reason other  than the
failure of the TDB to have yet

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        30

<PAGE>



approved  the  Merger  (in which  case the date  shall be March 31,  1997),  the
Closing shall not have taken place by February 1, 1997; provided,  however, that
neither the  Company  nor the  Acquiror  shall be  entitled  to  terminate  this
Agreement  pursuant to this SECTION  10.1(C) if such party is in material breach
of this Agreement at such time.

                  (D) By  either  Acquiror  or the  Company,  if at the  Special
Meeting (including any adjournments thereof) this Agreement and the Merger shall
fail to be approved and adopted by the  Shareholders in accordance with the TBCA
and the Company's Articles of Incorporation.

                  10.2  BREAKUP  FEE.  Notwithstanding  any  provision  in  this
Agreement  to the  contrary,  in the  event  that  the  Company  consummates  an
Alternative Transaction,  the Company shall, promptly following the consummation
of such Alternative  Transaction,  pay to Acquiror, by check or wire transfer, a
fee (the "Breakup Fee") of $2,500,000.

         11.      MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

                  11.1  CONSTRUCTION.  THIS  AGREEMENT  SHALL BE  CONSTRUED  AND
ENFORCED IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH AND  GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

                  11.2 SURVIVAL.  The representations  and warranties  contained
herein shall not survive the Closing,  but nothing  herein shall be construed to
limit or eliminate  the ability of Acquiror or  Acquisition  to pursue an action
based upon misrepresentations made with actual knowledge and/or fraud.

                  11.3 NOTICES. All notices and other communications  called for
or  contemplated  hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly  given  when  delivered  to the  party to whom  addressed  or when  sent by
telecopy,  telegram,  telex or wire (if  promptly  confirmed  by  registered  or
certified mail, return receipt requested, prepaid and addressed) to the parties,
their successors in interest, or their assignees at the following addresses,  or
at such other  addresses as the parties may  designate by written  notice in the
manner aforesaid:

         If to the Acquiror or Acquisition:    Matrix Capital Corporation
                                               1380 Lawrence Street, Suite 1410
                                               Denver, Colorado 80204
                                               Attn: Mr. David W. Kloos
                                               Facsimile: 303-595-9906

         With copies to:                       Jenkens & Gilchrist,
                                                 a Professional Corporation
                                               1445 Ross Avenue
                                               Suite 3200
                                               Dallas, Texas 75202
                                               Attn: Ronald J. Frappier, Esq.
                                               Facsimile: 214-855-4300

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        31

<PAGE>




         If to the Company:                    The Vintage Group, Inc.
                                               7901 Fish Pond Road
                                               Waco, Texas 76710
                                               Attn:  Mr. Paul Skretny
                                               Facsimile:  817-751-7734

         With copies to:                       Jenkens & Gilchrist,
                                                 a Professional Corporation
                                               1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 3200
                                               Dallas, Texas 75202
                                               Attn: Peter Weinstock, Esq.
                                               Facsimile:  214-855-4300

                  11.4 ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any right, remedy,
obligation  or liability  arising  hereunder or by reason  hereof nor any of the
documents  executed in connection  herewith may be assigned by any party without
the  consent  of the  other  parties;  provided,  however,  that the  rights  of
Acquisition under this Agreement shall be vested in the Surviving Corporation at
and after the Effective Time. Nothing contained herein,  express or implied,  is
intended to confer upon any person or entity  other than the parties  hereto and
their  successors  in interest and  permitted  assignees  any rights or remedies
under or by reason of this Agreement unless so stated herein to the contrary.

                  11.5  AMENDMENTS  AND  WAIVERS.  No  breach  of any  covenant,
agreement,  warranty or  representation  shall be deemed waived unless expressly
waived in writing by the party who might  assert such  breach.  No waiver of any
right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any other right or of the same or a
similar right on another occasion. This Agreement and all Exhibits and Schedules
hereto may be modified only by a written instrument duly executed by the parties
hereto and authorized as provided herein. This Agreement and the Exhibits hereto
may be amended  with the approval of the  respective  boards of directors of the
Company and Acquisition,  at any time prior to the filing of the Certificates as
provided  in  SECTION  1.2(G)  hereof;  provided  that,  except as  specifically
provided  for in this  Agreement as of the date of its  original  execution,  no
amendment  shall (a) alter or change the amount or kind of  consideration  to be
received  in the  Merger by the  holders  of any class or series of any  capital
stock of the  Company,  (b) alter or change any of the terms and  conditions  of
this Agreement if such alteration or change would  adversely  affect the holders
of any class or series of any capital stock of the Company,  unless, in any such
case described in clauses (a) and (b), such  alteration or change is approved by
shareholders holding a majority of the shares of such class or series.

                  11.6  ATTORNEYS'  FEES.  In  the  event  that  any  action  or
proceeding,  including  arbitration,  is  commenced  by any party hereto for the
purpose of  enforcing  any  provision  of this  Agreement,  the  parties to such
action,  proceeding or arbitration  may receive as part of any award,  judgment,
decision or other  resolution of such action,  proceeding or  arbitration  their
costs and reasonable  attorneys' fees as determined by the person or body making
such award,  judgment,  decision or  resolution.  Should any claim  hereunder be
settled short of the  commencement  of any such action or proceeding,  including
arbitration, the parties in such settlement shall be entitled to

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        32

<PAGE>



include as part of the damages alleged to have been incurred reasonable costs of
attorneys or other professionals in investigation or counseling on such claim.

                  11.7 BINDING NATURE OF AGREEMENT.  The Agreement includes each
of the Schedules  and Exhibits  that are referred to herein or attached  hereto,
all of which are incorporated by reference herein.  All the terms and provisions
of this Agreement  shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective executors, heirs, legal representatives,  successors
and assigns.

                  11.8  EXPENSES.  The costs and expenses  and the  professional
fees  incurred  by the  Company  in  connection  herewith  shall be borne by the
Company.  The costs and expenses and the  professional  fees of the Acquiror and
Acquisition, shall be borne by the Acquiror.

                  11.9  ENTIRE   AGREEMENT.   Except  for  the   Confidentiality
Agreement, dated August 21, 1996 (the "Confidentiality  Agreement") the terms of
which  survive the  execution of this  Agreement,  this  Agreement  contains the
entire  understanding  of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof,
supersedes  all prior  agreements  and  understandings  relating  to the subject
matter hereof.

                  11.10  SEVERABILITY.  Any provision of this  Agreement that is
invalid,  illegal  or  unenforceable  in  any  jurisdiction  shall,  as to  that
jurisdiction,  be  ineffective to the extent of such  invalidity,  illegality or
unenforceability,  without affecting in any way the remaining  provisions hereof
in such  jurisdiction or rendering that or any other provision of this Agreement
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any other jurisdiction.

                  11.11  COUNTERPARTS.  This  Agreement  may be  executed by the
parties in separate  counterparts,  each of which when so executed and delivered
shall be an original,  but all such counterparts  shall together  constitute but
one and the same instrument.

                  11.12 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS.  The Acquiror and the Company will
consult with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any
public  statements with respect to the Merger and shall not issue any such press
release  or make any such  public  statement  prior to an  agreement  among  the
Company and the Acquiror as to the content of any such press release,  except as
may be required by law.

                  11.13  SECTION   HEADINGS.   The  headings  of  each  Section,
subsection or other  subdivision  of this  Agreement are for reference  only and
shall not limit or control the meaning thereof.

                  11.14  KNOWLEDGE.   Where  any   representation   or  warranty
contained in this Agreement is expressly qualified by reference to the knowledge
of the person making such representation or warranty,  it means to the actual or
constructive knowledge of such person's directors,  corporate officers and other
management  personnel  (the  "Knowledge  Persons").  The parties  agree that the
Knowledge  Persons of the Company  are those  persons  listed on SCHEDULE  11.14
hereto.

CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014
                                                        33

<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement and
Plan of Merger as of the date first above written.

                                            MATRIX CAPITAL CORPORATION


                                     By: /s/
                                            -------------------------------
                                            Name: Richard V. Schmitz
                                            Title: Chairman


                                            THE VINTAGE GROUP, INC.


                                     By: /s/
                                            --------------------------------
                                            Name: Paul E. Skretny
                                            Title: Chairman of the Board, C.E.O.



                                            MATRIX/VINTAGE ACQUISITION, INC.


                                     By: /s/
                                            ---------------------------------
                                            Name: David W. Kloos
                                            Title: President


CORPDAL:61883.1  26059-00014




                      ASSET PURCHASE AND EXCHANGE AGREEMENT


         THIS ASSET PURCHASE AND EXCHANGE  AGREEMENT (this  "Agreement") is made
and  entered  into as of the 3rd day of  February,  1997 by and  between  Matrix
Capital Corporation,  a Colorado corporation ("Buyer") and STC Holdings, Inc., a
Texas  corporation  ("STC  Holdings");   and  is  joined  in,  specifically  for
Paragraphs 1 and 2, by the undersigned  shareholders of STC Holdings,  being the
holders of at least 2/3 of the voting stock of STC Holdings  (collectively,  the
"STC Shareholders").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the STC Shareholders  are the respective owners of  all of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of STC Holdings; and

         WHEREAS,  STC  Holdings is the record and  beneficial  owner of certain
shares of the common stock of Seller (the "Shares"),  and the Shares,  as of the
Closing, will comprise the sole asset (the "Assets") of STC Holdings; and

         WHEREAS,  Buyer  desires  to buy from STC  Holdings,  and STC  Holdings
desires to sell to Buyer, and the STC Shareholders desire that STC Holdings sell
to Buyer,  the  Assets,  on the terms and  subject to the  conditions  set forth
herein.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and  the  mutual
promises contained herein, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

                               A G R E E M E N T:

         1.       Agreement to Sell and Purchase; Intended Effect.

                  (a) On the terms and  subject to the  conditions  set forth in
this  Agreement,  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time (as  defined in the
Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated  November  22,  1996,  between The Vintage
Group, Inc. ("Seller"),  Matrix/Vintage  Acquisition,  Inc.  ("Acquisition") and
Buyer (the "Merger  Agreement"))  (such time immediately  prior to the Effective
Time being  referred to herein as the "Time of  Exchange"),  STC Holdings  shall
convey,  transfer,  assign, sell and deliver the Assets to Buyer, free and clear
of any liens,  claims and  encumbrances,  and Buyer  shall  acquire,  accept and
purchase the Assets.  The STC Shareholders do hereby approve and consent to such
sale and conveyance.

                  (b) Buyer and STC Holdings  have  endeavored  to structure the
asset acquisition as a tax-free  "reorganization"  under Section 368(a)(1)(C) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The parties  represent,  warrant
and agree to report the transaction in such manner.


CORPDAL:61879.1  26059-00016


<PAGE>



         2.  Consideration to be Paid by Buyer. The consideration (the "Purchase
Price") to be paid by Buyer for the Assets shall be the issuance by Buyer to the
STC  Shareholders,  in the aggregate,  as of the Effective  Time, of a number of
shares of Common Stock as is equal to STC Holdings' pro rata portion (based upon
the number of shares of Seller  common stock owned by Buyer as of the  Effective
Time  bears to the total  number of shares of Seller  common  stock  issued  and
outstanding as of the Effective Time) of the Merger Consideration (as defined in
the Merger Agreement).  The Purchase Price shall be paid to the STC Shareholders
pro rata based upon the number of shares of capital  stock of STC Holdings  held
by a particular STC  Shareholder  bears to the total number of shares of capital
stock of STC Holdings held by all STC Shareholders.

         3.       Closing; Conditions; Termination.

                  3.1 Time and Place of Closing.  The sale and purchase provided
for in this Agreement  shall be  consummated at a closing (the  "Closing") to be
held  at  the  principal   offices  of  Jenkens  &  Gilchrist,   a  Professional
Corporation,  in Dallas,  Texas  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time (the
"Closing Date"), or at such other place, time and date as the parties may agree.

                  3.2  Actions to be taken at Closing  by STC  Holdings.  At the
Closing,  STC Holdings shall execute and deliver to Buyer the  following,  which
shall constitute a condition precedent to Buyer's obligation to close hereunder:

                           (a)      a bill of sale, in form acceptable to Buyer,
conveying  title  to the  Assets,  free  and  clear  of any  liens,  claims  and
encumbrances,  as well as the stock  certificates  evidencing all of the Shares,
duly  endorsed to Buyer or  accompanied  by stock powers duly executed in blank;
and

                           (b)       a  certificate  of  the  President  of  STC
Holdings certifying that the Shares comprise the sole asset of STC Holdings; and

                           (c)      STC Holdings shall cause  Jack W. Jones, Jr.
to deliver  his legal  opinion  certifying  as to the  accuracy  of the  matters
represented  and  warranted  by STC  Holdings set forth in Section 4 hereof (the
"Legal Opinion"); and

                           (d)      such other documents as Buyer may reasonably
request.

                  3.3 Actions to be Taken at Closing by Buyer.  At the  Closing,
Buyer shall execute and deliver to STC Holdings and/or the STC Shareholders,  as
the case may be, the following,  which shall constitute a condition precedent to
STC Holdings's obligations to close hereunder:

                           (a)         stock  certificates,  registered  in  the
respective names of the STC Shareholders, evidencing the Purchase Price; and


CORPDAL:61879.1  26059-00016


<PAGE>



                           (b)      such other documents as the STC Shareholders
may reasonably request.

                  3.4  Conditions to STC Holdings'  Obligations.  In addition to
those  items  reflected  in Section  3.3,  the  obligations  of STC  Holdings to
consummate  the  transactions  provided for by this Agreement are subject to the
satisfaction of each of the following conditions,  any of which may be waived by
STC Holdings:

                           (a)      Representations and Warranties.  Each of the
representations and warranties of Buyer made in this Agreement shall be true and
correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing.

                           (b)      Covenants.  Buyer  shall have performed  and
complied in all material respects with all covenants and agreements  required to
be performed or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing.

                           (c)      Consents.  All consents of  any governmental
authorities  and  third  parties   necessary  to  consummate  the   transactions
contemplated hereunder shall have been obtained.

                           (d)      No Proceeding or Litigation. There shall not
exist,   nor  shall  there  be  threatened,   any  litigation,   action,   suit,
investigation,  claim or proceeding  challenging  the legality of, or seeking to
restrain,  prohibit or materially modify, the transactions  provided for in this
Agreement.

                  3.5  Conditions to Buyer's  Obligations.  In addition to those
items  reflected in Section  3.2, the  obligations  of Buyer to  consummate  the
transactions  provided for by this Agreement are subject to the  satisfaction of
each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by Buyer:

                           (a)      Representations and Warranties.  Each of the
representations  and warranties of STC Holdings made in this Agreement  shall be
true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing.

                           (b)      Covenants.  STC Holdings and the STC 
Shareholders shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all
covenants and agreements required to be performed or complied with by them at or
prior to the Closing.

                           (c)      Consents.  All consents of any  governmental
authorities  and  third  parties   necessary  to  consummate  the   transactions
contemplated hereunder shall have been obtained.

                           (d)      No Proceeding or Litigation. There shall not
exist,   nor  shall  there  be  threatened,   any  litigation,   action,   suit,
investigation,  claim or proceeding  challenging  the legality of, or seeking to
restrain,  prohibit or materially modify, the transactions  provided for in this
Agreement.


CORPDAL:61879.1  26059-00016


<PAGE>



                           (e)      The Legal Opinion shall have been  delivered
to Buyer.

                           (f)      Each of the  representations and  warranties
of Seller  contained in the Merger Agreement shall have been true and correct on
the date of execution of the Merger  Agreement (the "date thereof") and shall be
true and correct in all  material  respects  on the  Closing  Date with the same
effect as if made on the Closing  Date,  and the Seller shall have  executed and
delivered  to the Buyer at the  closing of the Merger (the  "Merger  Closing") a
certificate of an officer of the Seller to that effect.

                           (g)      All of  the covenants and  agreements of the
Seller  contained  in the Merger  Agreement  and  required to be performed on or
before the Closing Date shall have been performed in all material respects,  and
the Seller shall have delivered to the Buyer at the Merger Closing a certificate
of the Seller to that effect.

                           (h)      (i)  There shall not have been instituted or
threatened  any legal  proceeding  seeking to prohibit the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated  by the  Merger  Agreement  or to obtain  substantial
damages with respect thereto.

                                    (ii)  None  of  the  parties to  the  Merger
Agreement shall be prohibited by any law, order,  writ,  injunction or decree of
any  governmental   body  of  competent   jurisdiction   from  consummating  the
transactions  contemplated  by the Merger  Agreement and no action or proceeding
shall then be pending that questions the validity of the Merger  Agreement,  any
of the  transactions  contemplated  thereby or any action that has been taken by
any of the parties in  connection  therewith  or in  connection  with any of the
transactions contemplated thereby.

                           (i)      Since  the  date of  the  September 30, 1996
financial  statements listed in the Merger  Agreement,  there shall have been no
Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement).

                           (j)      Seller shall have obtained the  consents and
approvals of third parties set forth in EXHIBIT E to the Merger Agreement.

                           (k)      The Merger  shall have been  approved by the
shareholders of Seller in accordance with the TBCA and the Seller's  Articles of
Incorporation.

                           (l)        The  Nasdaq  National  Market  shall  have
approved the  listing,  subject to official  notice of  issuance,  of the Common
Stock to be issued in the Merger and hereunder.

                           (m)      Persons  holding  not more  than  10% of the
Common Shares (as defined in the Merger  Agreement) and persons holding not more
than 10% of the Preferred Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement) shall have
perfected their  dissenters'  appraisal rights pursuant to the TBCA with respect
to the Merger prior to the Closing Date.


CORPDAL:61879.1  26059-00016


<PAGE>



                           (n)      Buyer shall  have  received  a  letter  from
Ernst & Young LLP, in form  reasonably  acceptable to Buyer,  to the effect that
the transactions  contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and this Agreement, will
be accounted for as a "pooling of interests" under GAAP.

                           (o)      Seller  shall  have delivered  to Buyer  the
Agreements of Affiliates called for the SECTION 5.12 of the Merger Agreement.

                           (p)      Mr. Skretny  shall  have duly  executed  and
delivered the Employment Agreement (as defined in the Merger Agreement).

                           (q)      Buyer shall have received the  Piper Consent
(as defined in the Merger Agreement).

                           (r)      The Texas  Department of  Banking shall have
approved the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                           (s)      Buyer shall have  received the  Resignations
(as defined in the Merger Agreement).

                  3.6  Termination.   Notwithstanding  anything  else  contained
herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be terminated,  without any liability
or further  obligations  of the parties  hereto,  (a) by either  Buyer or by STC
Holdings if the transactions and agreements contemplated by the Merger Agreement
have not been  consummated,  executed and/or delivered for any reason other than
the failure of the Texas  Department  of Banking to have yet approved the Merger
(in which  case the date  shall be March 31,  1997) on or prior to  February  1,
1997; or (b) by Buyer if there has been a material breach of any  representation
or warranty  of STC  Holdings  contained  herein or if STC  Holdings  shall have
failed to comply in any material respect with any of its covenants or agreements
contained  herein; or (c) by STC Holdings if there has been a material breach of
any  representation or warranty of Buyer contained herein or if Buyer shall have
failed to comply in any material respect with any of its warrants and agreements
contained  herein;  or (d) by mutual written  agreement between STC Holdings and
Buyer.

         4.       Representations and Warranties of STC Holdings.   STC Holdings
represents and warrants to Buyer as follows:

                  4.1  Ownership.  Except as set forth in SCHEDULE  4.1(A),  STC
Holdings  has good and  marketable  title to the  Shares,  free and clear of all
liens,  claims and encumbrances.  Upon the Closing,  Buyer will receive good and
marketable  title to such  Shares,  free  and  clear of all  liens,  claims  and
encumbrances.  STC Holdings has, and at the time of delivery of the Shares to be
sold hereunder STC Holdings will have,  full legal right,  power,  authority and
capacity to execute,  deliver and perform this Agreement,  and to consummate the
transactions  contemplated  hereby.  SCHEDULE  4.1(B)  hereto sets forth a true,
correct and complete  list of all of the Assets.  At the Time of  Exchange,  the
sole asset of STC Holdings shall be the Shares.


CORPDAL:61879.1  26059-00016


<PAGE>



                  4.2      Capitalization.

                           (a)      EXHIBIT A  attached  hereto  sets forth  the
authorized  capitalization of STC Holdings,  the number of shares outstanding of
STC  Holdings,  and the names of and the  number of shares  owned by each of the
shareholders of record as of the date hereof. No person or entity, other than as
shown on such EXHIBIT A, owns of record any of the outstanding shares of capital
stock of STC Holdings.  At the Effective Time, all of the outstanding  shares of
STC Holdings  will be owned of record by the STC  Shareholders,  as set forth in
EXHIBIT A hereto,  which will comprise all of the issued and outstanding capital
stock of STC  Holdings.  All of the  outstanding  shares of STC Holdings are and
will be validly  issued and  outstanding,  fully  paid and  nonassessable.  Such
outstanding  shares are not subject to and were not issued in  violation  of any
preemptive rights.  Each such share was issued in conformity with applicable law
and neither  any party to whom such  shares were issued nor any person  claiming
through any such party has any claim against STC Holdings in respect of any such
issuance.  There are no voting trusts or other agreements or  understandings  to
which STC Holdings is a party with respect to the voting of the capital stock of
STC Holdings. Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 4.2(A) hereto, STC Holdings is not
party to or bound by any shareholder's agreement.

                           (b)       There  are  no  outstanding  subscriptions,
options,  rights,  warrants,  convertible  securities  or  other  agreements  or
commitments  ("Stock  Rights")  obligating  STC Holdings to issue or to transfer
from the  treasury  any  additional  shares of capital  stock or any  securities
convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, or otherwise  evidencing a
right to acquire,  any shares of capital stock of STC Holdings,  and no unissued
shares of stock are  subject to any  preemptive  rights.  Except as set forth in
SCHEDULE 4.2(A) hereto, there are no outstanding  contractual obligations of STC
Holdings to repurchase,  redeem or otherwise  acquire any outstanding  shares of
capital stock of or other ownership interest in STC Holdings.

                  4.3   Enforceability.   This   Agreement  is,  and  the  other
agreements, documents and instruments required hereby will be, when executed and
delivered by the parties  hereto and thereto,  enforceable  against STC Holdings
and the STC Shareholders in accordance with their respective terms.

                  4.4  Agreement  Not  in  Breach  of  Other  Instruments.   The
execution and delivery of this Agreement,  the  consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not result in a
breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default  under,  or
conflict  with,  (a) any material  agreement,  indenture or other  instrument to
which STC Holdings  and/or the STC  Shareholders  are a party or by which any of
them is bound,  including  without  limitation  those items  listed in SCHEDULES
4.1(A),  4.1(B) and 4.2(A) hereto; (b) any judgment,  decree,  order or award of
any court,  governmental  body or arbitrator  applicable to STC Holdings or such
STC Shareholders;  or (d) any law, rule or regulation applicable to STC Holdings
or such STC Shareholders.

                  4.5 Vote for Merger.  STC Holdings will vote all of the Shares
in favor of the Merger or, if  requested by Buyer,  will execute an  irrevocable
proxy in favor of Buyer with  respect to the Shares,  substantially  in the form
attached as EXHIBIT B to the Merger Agreement.

CORPDAL:61879.1  26059-00016


<PAGE>




         5.       Representations and Warranties of Buyer.  Buyer represents and
warrants to STC Holdings as follows:

                  5.1  Organization.  Buyer is a corporation  duly organized and
validly  existing  and  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of  its  state  of
incorporation  and has the requisite  corporate  power to enter into and perform
its obligations under this Agreement and under any other  agreements,  documents
and/or  instruments  to be  executed  and/or  delivered  by it pursuant to or in
connection with this Agreement.

                  5.2 Authorization; Enforceability. The execution, delivery and
performance of this  Agreement and of all of the  agreements,  documents  and/or
instruments  to  be  executed  and/or  delivered  by  Buyer  pursuant  to  or in
connection  with  this  Agreement  have been duly  authorized  by all  necessary
corporate  action  on the  part of  Buyer.  This  Agreement  is,  and the  other
agreements, documents and instruments required hereby will be, when executed and
delivered  by the  parties  hereto and  thereto,  enforceable  against  Buyer in
accordance with their respective terms.

                  5.3  Agreement  Not  in  Breach  of  Other  Instruments.   The
execution and delivery of this Agreement,  the  consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not result in a
breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default  under,  or
conflict  with,  (a) any material  agreement,  indenture or other  instrument to
which  Buyer  is a  party  or  by  which  it  is  bound;  (b)  the  articles  of
incorporation  or bylaws of Buyer; (c) any judgment,  decree,  order or award of
any court,  governmental body or arbitrator applicable to Buyer; or (d) any law,
rule or regulation applicable to Buyer.

         6.       Miscellaneous.

                  6.1  Notices.  All  notices,  requests,   demands,  and  other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given as of the
date of delivery if delivered  personally  or two (2) business  days after being
mailed  by  certified  or  registered  mail,  postage  prepaid,  return  receipt
requested,  to the parties,  their  successors in interest or their assignees at
the following addresses, or at such other addresses as the parties may designate
by written notice in the manner aforesaid:

                  If to STC Holdings or any
                     of the STC Shareholders:    c/o Jack W. Jones, Jr.
                                                 2010 Bird Creek Drive
                                                 Suite 101
                                                 Temple, Texas 76502

                           With a copy to:       Jenkens & Gilchrist,
                                                 a Professional Corporation
                                                 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 3200
                                                 Dallas, Texas 75202
                                                 Attn.:  Peter Weinstock, Esq.

CORPDAL:61879.1  26059-00016


<PAGE>




                  If to Buyer:                   Matrix Capital Corporation
                                                 1380 Lawrence Street
                                                 Suite 1410
                                                 Denver, Colorado 80204
                                                 Attn.:President

                           With a copy to:       Jenkens & Gilchrist,
                                                 a Professional Corporation
                                                 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 3200
                                                 Dallas, Texas 75202
                                                 Attn.: Ronald J. Frappier, Esq.

                  6.2  Assignability  and Parties in  Interest.  This  Agreement
shall not be assignable by any of the parties hereto,  without the prior written
consent of the non-assigning party. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding  upon Buyer,  the STC  Shareholders  and STC  Holdings  and their
permitted successors and assigns.

                  6.3      GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF COLORADO, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CHOICE OF LAW
PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

                  6.4    Counterparts.    This   Agreement   may   be   executed
simultaneously  in one or more  counterparts,  each of which  shall be deemed an
original, but all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

                  6.5  Complete  Agreement.  This  Agreement  and the  documents
delivered or to be delivered  pursuant to, or in connection with, this Agreement
contain or will  contain the entire  agreement  between the parties  hereto with
respect to the transactions contemplated herein and shall supersede all previous
and contemporaneous oral and all previous written negotiations,  commitments and
understandings.

                  6.6      Modifications, Amendments and  Waivers.  At any  time
prior  to the  Closing or  termination  of this  Agreement, the parties  may, by
written agreement:

                           (a)      extend the time for the  performance of  any
of the obligations or other acts of the parties hereto;

                           (b)     waive any inaccuracies in the representations
and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant
to this Agreement;

                           (c)      waive compliance  with any  of the covenants
or agreements contained in this Agreement; and

                           (d)      amend or supplement any of the provisions of
this Agreement.


CORPDAL:61879.1  26059-00016


<PAGE>



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

                  6.8  Severability.  Any provision of this  Agreement  which is
invalid,  illegal  or  unenforceable  in  any  jurisdiction  shall,  as to  that
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of affecting in any way the remaining
provisions  hereof in such jurisdiction or rendering that or any other provision
of this Agreement invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any other jurisdiction.

                  6.9 Survival.  The  representations  and warranties  contained
herein shall not survive the Closing,  but nothing  herein shall be construed to
limit or  eliminate  the  ability  of Buyer  to  pursue  an  action  based  upon
misrepresentations made with actual knowledge and/or fraud.

         IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each of the  parties  hereto has  executed  this
Agreement as of the date first written above.

                                                     STC HOLDINGS:

                                                     STC HOLDINGS, INC.


                                                     By:/s/
                                                           ------------------
                                                     Name: Paul E. Skretny
                                                     Title: President


                                                     BUYER:

                                                     MATRIX CAPITAL CORPORATION


                                                     By:/s/
                                                           ------------------
                                                     Name: Richard V. Schmitz
                                                     Title: Chairman






CORPDAL:61879.1  26059-00016


<PAGE>



         The STC Shareholders,  by executing below, hereby join in the foregoing
Agreement to reflect their  acknowledgment  of and agreement to Paragraphs 1 and
2.

                                                     STC SHAREHOLDERS:


                                     /s/
                                        --------------------------   
                                        Jack W. Jones, Jr.


                                     Kangas Family Trust
                                     By:      /s/
                                                 -----------------
                                                 Jack W. Jones, Jr.

                                     /s/
                                        --------------------------
                                        Michele B. Maruri

                                     /s/
                                        --------------------------
                                        Robert H. Saxton, M.D.


                                     /s/
                                        --------------------------
                                        Paul E. Skretny

                                     /s/
                                        --------------------------
                                        Kent R. Snodgrass

                                     /s/
                                        --------------------------
                                        Daniel R. Weir

                                     /s/
                                        --------------------------
                                        Jeff Thompson



CORPDAL:61879.1  26059-00016


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