AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                      Among

                       CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,

                             CCU II MERGER SUB, INC.

                                       and

                             SFX ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

                          Dated as of February 28, 2000


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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                         Page

ARTICLE 1.        THE MERGER.................................................2
Section 1.1.......The Merger.................................................2
Section 1.2.......Closing  2
Section 1.3.......Effective Time.............................................2
Section 1.4.......Effects of the Merger......................................2
Section 1.5.......Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
                   Surviving Corporation.....................................2
Section 1.6.......Directors..................................................3
Section 1.7.......Officers 3
ARTICLE 2.........EFFECT  OF  THE  MERGER  ON THE  CAPITAL  STOCK  OF THE
                  CONSTITUENT  CORPORATIONS;  EXCHANGE  OF CERTIFICATES......3
Section 2.1.......Capital Stock of Merger Sub................................3
Section 2.2.......Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Parent Owned Stock......3
Section 2.3.......Conversion of Company Common Stock.........................3
Section 2.4.......Exchange of Certificates...................................4
Section 2.5.......Stock Transfer Books.......................................7
ARTICLE 3.........REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY..............7
Section 3.1.......Organization, Qualification, Etc...........................7
Section 3.2.......Capital Stock..............................................8
Section 3.3.......Corporate Authority Relative to this Agreement;
                  No Violation...............................................9
Section 3.4.......Reports and Financial Statements..........................10
Section 3.5.......No Undisclosed Liabilities................................10
Section 3.6.......No Violation of Law.......................................11
Section 3.7.......Environmental Laws and Regulations........................11
Section 3.8.......No Undisclosed Employee Benefit Plan Liabilities or
                  Severance Arrangements....................................11
Section 3.9.......Absence of Certain Changes or Events......................13
Section 3.10......Investigations; Litigation................................14
Section 3.11......Joint Proxy Statement; Registration Statement;
                  Other Information.........................................14
Section 3.12......Lack of Ownership of Parent Common Stock..................14
Section 3.13......Tax Matters...............................................14
Section 3.14......Opinion of Financial Advisor..............................15
Section 3.15......Required Vote of the Company Stockholders.................15
Section 3.16......Insurance.................................................15
Section 3.17......Real Property; Title......................................16
Section 3.18......Collective Bargaining Agreements and Labor................16
Section 3.19......Material Contracts........................................16

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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (Continued)

Section 3.20......Takeover Statute..........................................16
Section 3.21......Transactions With Affiliates..............................17
Section 3.22......Intellectual Property.....................................17
ARTICLE 4.........REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER
                  SUB.......................................................17
Section 4.1.......Organization, Qualification, Etc..........................18
Section 4.2.......Capital Stock.............................................18
Section 4.3.......Corporate Authority Relative to this Agreement.
                  No Violation..............................................19
Section 4.4.......Reports and Financial Statements..........................20
Section 4.5.......No Undisclosed Liabilities................................21
Section 4.6.......No Violation of Law.......................................21
Section 4.7.......Environmental Laws and Regulations........................21
Section 4.8.......No Undisclosed Employee Benefit Plan Liabilities
                  or Severance Arrangements.................................22
Section 4.9.......Absence of Certain Changes or Events......................22
Section 4.10......Investigations; Litigation................................22
Section 4.11......Joint Proxy Statement; Registration Statement;
                  Other Information.........................................22
Section 4.12......Lack of Ownership of Company Common Stock.................23
Section 4.13......Tax Matters...............................................23
Section 4.14......Required Vote of Parent Stockholders......................23
Section 4.15......Opinion of Financial Advisor..............................24
Section 4.16......Insurance.................................................24
Section 4.17......Real Property; Title......................................24
Section 4.18......Collective Bargaining Agreements and Labor................24
Section 4.19......Material Contracts........................................24
Section 4.20......Takeover Statute..........................................24
ARTICLE 5.........COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.................24
Section 5.1.......Conduct of Business by the Company or Parent..............24
Section 5.2.......Proxy Material; Registration Statement....................29
Section 5.3.......Stockholders' Meeting.....................................30
Section 5.4.......Approvals and Consents; Cooperation.......................30
Section 5.5.......Access to Information; Confidentiality....................31
Section 5.6.......Affiliates................................................32
Section 5.7.......Rights Under Stock Plans..................................32
Section 5.8.......Filings; Other Action.....................................33
Section 5.9.......Further Assurances........................................34
Section 5.10......No Solicitation by the Company............................34
Section 5.11......Director and Officer Liability............................36
Section 5.12......Accountants' "Comfort" Letters............................39
Section 5.13......Additional Reports........................................39
Section 5.14......Plan of Reorganization....................................39
Section 5.15......Conveyance Taxes..........................................39
Section 5.16......Public Announcements......................................39
Section 5.17......Termination Fee and Expenses..............................40
Section 5.18......Notice of Certain Events..................................41
Section 5.19......Section 16(b) Board Approval..............................42
Section 5.20......Employee Plans and Employment Agreement...................42
ARTICLE 6.........CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER..................................43
Section 6.1.......Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party...............43
Section 6.2.......Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub....44
Section 6.3.......Conditions to the Obligations of the Company..............45
ARTICLE 7.........TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT.................................45
Section 7.1.......Termination...............................................45
Section 7.2.......Effect of Termination.....................................47
ARTICLE 8.........GENERAL PROVISIONS........................................47
Section 8.1.......Notices  47
Section 8.2.......Definitions...............................................48
Section 8.3.......Counterparts..............................................51
Section 8.4.......Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries...................51
Section 8.5.......Assignment................................................51
Section 8.6.......Governing Law.............................................51
Section 8.7.......Enforcement...............................................51
Section 8.8.......Severability..............................................52
Section 8.9.......Interpretation............................................52
Section 8.10......Finders or Brokers........................................52
Section 8.11......Survival of Representations and Warranties................52
Section 8.12......Survival of Covenants and Agreements......................52
Section 8.13......Attorneys' Fees...........................................52
Section 8.14......Amendment.................................................52
Section 8.15......Extension; Waiver.........................................53
Section 8.16......Procedure for Termination, Amendment, Extension or Waiver.53





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     This  AGREEMENT  AND PLAN OF MERGER,  dated as of  February  28,  2000,  is
entered  into  by  and  among  Clear  Channel  Communications,   Inc.,  a  Texas
corporation  ("Parent"),  CCU II Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware ------ corporation
and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"),  and SFX  Entertainment,
Inc., a Delaware ----------- corporation (the "Company"). -------

                                               W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS,  the  respective  Boards of  Directors  of Parent and
Merger Sub and the Company  have  approved  the  combination  of the Company and
Parent upon the terms and subject to the  conditions set forth in this Agreement
and Plan of Merger, including,  without limitation, the exhibits attached hereto
(collectively, this "Agreement");

                  WHEREAS,  the  respective  Boards of  Directors  of Parent and
Merger Sub and the Company have  determined that it is advisable and in the best
interests of their respective  shareholders for the Merger Sub to merge with and
into Company as set forth below (the "Merger") upon the terms and subject to the
conditions  set forth in this  Agreement,  whereby  each issued and  outstanding
share of  Class A common  stock,  par  value  $.01  per  share,  of the  Company
("Company Class A Common Stock"), and each issued and outstanding share of Class
B common  stock,  par value $.01 per share,  of the  Company  ("Company  Class B
Common Stock" and,  together with the Company Class A Common Stock, the "Company
Common Stock") other than shares owned directly or indirectly by Parent,  Merger
Sub or the Company,  will be converted  into shares of common  stock,  par value
$0.10 per  share,  of Parent  ("Parent  Common  Stock") in  accordance  with the
provisions of Article 2 of this Agreement;

                  WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to Parent's willingness
to enter into this  Agreement,  concurrently  with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement,  (a) Parent and certain stockholders of the Company are entering
into voting agreements dated as of the date of this Agreement (collectively, the
"Company  Stockholders  Voting  Agreement")  pursuant to which such stockholders
have  agreed  to vote  their  shares  of  Company  Common  Stock in favor of the
proposal to approve and adopt the Merger,  the approval of the Charter Amendment
(as defined herein) and this Agreement,  (b) Parent and certain  stockholders of
the Company are entering into stockholders  agreements,  dated as of the date of
this Agreement (collectively,  the "Stockholder Agreement"),  relating to, among
other things, the recapture by Parent of a specified profit amount that would be
realized by such stockholders in connection with certain specified transactions,
and (c) Parent and Robert F.X. Sillerman, Executive Chairman and a member of the
Board  of  Directors  of the  Company  are  entering  into a  Nondisclosure  and
Noncompetition   Agreement,   dated   as  of  the   date   of   this   Agreement
("Noncompetition  Agreement") and a Registration  Rights Agreement,  dated as of
the date of this Agreement ("Registration Rights Agreement");

                  WHEREAS,  for  federal  income  tax  purposes,  the  Merger is
intended to qualify as a  reorganization  under the provisions of Section 368(a)
of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"); and

                  WHEREAS,  Parent,  Merger Sub and the  Company  desire to make
certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with
the Merger and also to prescribe certain conditions to the Merger.

<PAGE>

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  foregoing and the
mutual covenants and agreements  herein  contained,  and intending to be legally
bound hereby, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company hereby agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1
                                   THE MERGER

Section  1.1......The  Merger.  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this  Agreement and the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law, as amended
(the  "DGCL"),  the Merger Sub shall be merged  with and into the Company at the
Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.3) of the Merger.  Following the Merger,
the separate corporate  existence of the Merger Sub shall cease, and the Company
shall continue as the surviving  corporation (the "Surviving  Corporation")  and
shall  succeed to and assume all the rights and  obligations  of the Company and
Merger Sub in accordance with the DGCL.

Section  1.2......Closing.  The closing of the Merger  shall take place at 10:00
a.m. on a date to be specified  by the parties  which shall be no later than the
second business day after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth
in Article 6 (the "Closing Date") at the offices of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer &
Feld, L.L.P., 300 Convent Street,  Suite 1500, San Antonio,  Texas 78205, unless
another date, time or place is agreed in writing by the parties hereto.

Section  1.3      Effective Time. On the Closing Date, the parties shall execute
and file in the office of the  Secretary of State of Delaware a  certificate  of
merger (a  "Certificate  of Merger")  executed in  accordance  with the DGCL and
shall make all other  filings  or  recordings,  and take such other and  further
action as may be required  under the DGCL in  connection  with the  Merger.  The
Merger  shall  become  effective  at the time of  filing of the  Certificate  of
Merger,  or at such later time as is agreed upon by the  parties  hereto and set
forth therein (such time as the Merger  becomes  effective is referred to herein
as the "Effective  Time").

Section 1.4 Effects of the Merger.  The Merger  shall have the effects set forth
in the DGCL.

Section  1.5   Certificate  of   Incorporation   and  Bylaws  of  the  Surviving
Corporation.

     (a) The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company as
in effect  immediately  prior to the Effective Time shall be the  Certificate of
Incorporation  of the  Surviving  Corporation  after  the  Effective  Time,  and
thereafter  may be amended as provided  therein and as permitted by law and this
Agreement.

     (b) The  By-Laws of the Merger  Sub as in effect  immediately  prior to the
Effective Time shall become the By-Laws of the Surviving  Corporation  after the
Effective  Time,  and  thereafter  may be amended  as  provided  therein  and as
permitted by law and this Agreement.

<PAGE>

Section 1.6      Directors. The directors of the Merger Sub immediately prior to
the  Effective  Time shall become the  directors of the  Surviving  Corporation,
until the  earlier of their  resignation  or removal or until  their  respective
successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.

Section 1.7......Officers.  The officers of the Company immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall become the officers of the Surviving Corporation, until the
earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors are
duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.

                                    ARTICLE 2
          EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT
                     CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES

     Section  2.1......Capital Stock of Merger Sub. As of the Effective Time, by
virtue of the  Merger  and  without  any action on the part of the holder of any
shares of Company  Common  Stock or any shares of capital  stock of Merger  Sub,
each share of common stock,  par value $0.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and
outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and
become 80,000 fully paid and non-assessable  shares of the Class A common stock,
par value $.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation, and 3,000 fully paid and
non-assessable  shares of the Class B common stock, par value $.01 per share, of
the  Surviving  Corporation,  and  such  shares  shall,  following  the  Merger,
represent  all of the  issued and  outstanding  capital  stock of the  Surviving
Corporation.

Section  2.2......Cancellation  of Treasury Stock and Parent Owned Stock.  As of
the  Effective  Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part
of the  holder of any shares of  Company  Common  Stock or any shares of capital
stock of Merger  Sub,  each  share of  Company  Common  Stock  issued  and held,
immediately prior to the Effective Time, in the Company's  treasury or by any of
the Company's  direct or indirect wholly owned  subsidiaries,  and each share of
Company Common Stock that is owned by Parent,  Merger Sub or any other direct or
indirect wholly-owned  subsidiary of Parent, shall automatically be canceled and
retired and shall cease to exist,  and no  consideration  shall be  delivered in
exchange therefor.

Section  2.3......Conversion  of Company Common Stock. As of the Effective Time,
by virtue of the Merger and  without any action on the part of the holder of any
shares of Company  Common  Stock or any shares of capital  stock of Merger  Sub,
subject to this Section 2.3 and Section  2.4(f),  each share of Company  Class A
Common Stock issued and  outstanding  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time
(other  than  shares to be canceled in  accordance  with  Section  2.2) shall be
converted  into 0.60  (the  "Class A  Conversion  Number")  of duly  authorized,
validly issued and  nonassessable  shares of Parent Common Stock; and each share
of Company Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding  immediately prior to the
Effective  Time (other than shares to be  cancelled in  accordance  with Section
2.2) shall be  converted  into 1.0 (the  "Class B  Conversion  Number")  of duly
authorized,  validly  issued and  nonassessable  shares of Parent  Common Stock;
provided, however, that, in any event, if between the date of this Agreement and
the Effective  Time,  the  outstanding  shares of Parent Common Stock shall have
been changed into a different  number of shares or a different  class of shares,
by  reason  of  any  declared  or   completed   stock   dividend,   subdivision,
reclassification,  recapitalization,  split,  combination or exchange of shares,
the  Class A  Conversion  Number  and the  Class B  Conversion  Number  shall be
correspondingly  adjusted  to the  extent  appropriate  to  reflect  such  stock
dividend, subdivision, reclassification, recapitalization, split, combination or
exchange of shares. The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued to holders of
Company Common Stock in accordance  with this Section 2.3 and the amount in cash
to be paid in lieu of fractional  shares in accordance  with Section  2.4(f)(ii)
are collectively referred to as the "Merger Consideration".  As of the Effective
Time,  all shares of Company  Common  Stock shall no longer be  outstanding  and
shall  automatically  be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each
holder of a certificate or certificates which immediately prior to the Effective
Time represented  outstanding shares of Company Common Stock shall cease to have
any  rights  with  respect  thereto,  except  the right to  receive  the  Merger
Consideration.  The  Company  represents  and  warrants  that the holders of the
Company  Class A Common  Stock will not be entitled to  appraisal  rights in the
Merger.

<PAGE>

Section  2.4......Exchange of Certificates.

(a) Exchange Agent. Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent shall deliver to a
bank or trust company  designated by Parent and reasonably  satisfactory  to the
Company  (the  "Exchange  Agent"),  for the  benefit of the holders of shares of
Company  Common Stock,  for exchange in accordance  with this Article 2, through
the  Exchange  Agent,  certificates  evidencing  such number of shares of Parent
Common Stock issuable to holders of Company Common Stock in the Merger  pursuant
to Section  2.3 and cash in an amount  required  to be paid  pursuant to Section
2.4(d) and 2.4(f) (such certificates for shares of Parent Common Stock, together
with any  dividends  or  distributions  with  respect  thereto  and cash,  being
hereinafter  referred to as the  "Exchange  Fund").  The  Exchange  Agent shall,
pursuant to  irrevocable  instructions,  deliver,  out of the Exchange  Fund, to
holders of Company Common Stock,  Parent Common Stock  contemplated to be issued
pursuant to Section 2.3 (and any dividends or other  distributions to which such
holders  are  entitled  pursuant  to  Section  2.4(d))  and the  cash in lieu of
fractional  shares of Parent  Common Stock to which such holders are entitled to
pursuant  to  Section  2.4(f)  hereof,  out  of the  Exchange  Fund.  Except  as
contemplated  by Section 2.4(g) hereof,  the Exchange Fund shall not be used for
any other purpose.

(b) Exchange  Procedures.  As promptly as practicable  after the Effective Time,
Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of a certificate or
certificates (the "Certificates")  which immediately prior to the Effective Time
represented  outstanding  shares of Company  Common  Stock  (other  than  shares
cancelled in accordance with Section 2.2 (the "Cancelled  Shares")) (i) a letter
of transmittal (which shall be in customary form and shall specify that delivery
shall be effected,  and risk of loss and title to the  Certificates  shall pass,
only upon proper  delivery of the  Certificates  to the Exchange Agent) and (ii)
instructions  for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange
for  certificates  evidencing  shares of Parent Common Stock, or cash in lieu of
fractional  shares of  Parent  Common  Stock to which  such  holder is  entitled
pursuant to Section 2.4(f) hereof.

(c)  Exchange  of  Certificates.  Upon  surrender  to the  Exchange  Agent  of a
Certificate  for  cancellation,  together  with a letter  of  transmittal,  duly
executed and completed in accordance  with the  instructions  thereto,  and such
other documents as may be reasonably required pursuant to such instructions, the
holder of such Certificate  shall be entitled to receive in exchange  therefor a
certificate  representing  that number of whole  shares of Parent  Common  Stock
which such  holder's  shares of Company  Common Stock shall have been  converted
into pursuant to this Article 2 (and any cash in lieu of any  fractional  shares
of Parent  Common  Stock to which such  holder is  entitled  pursuant to Section
2.4(f) and any dividends or other distributions to which such holder is entitled
pursuant to Section 2.4(d)),  and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith
be canceled. In the event of a transfer of ownership of shares of Company Common
Stock which is not registered in the transfer records of the Company,  shares of
Parent  Common  Stock,  cash in lieu of any  fractional  shares of Parent Common
Stock to which  such  holder is  entitled  pursuant  to  Section  2.4(f) and any
dividends or other  distributions  to which such holder is entitled  pursuant to
Section  2.4(d) may be issued to a transferee  if the  Certificate  representing
such  shares  of  Company  Common  Stock is  presented  to the  Exchange  Agent,
accompanied  by all documents  required to evidence and effect such transfer and
by evidence  that any  applicable  stock  transfer  taxes have been paid.  Until
surrendered  as  contemplated  by this Section 2.4,  each  Certificate  shall be
deemed at all times  after the  Effective  Time to  represent  only the right to
receive upon such  surrender  the number of whole shares of Parent  Common Stock
into which the shares of Company Common Stock formerly  represented thereby have
been converted,  cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Parent Common Stock to
which such holder is entitled  pursuant to Section  2.4(f) and any  dividends or
other distributions to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 2.4(d).

<PAGE>


(d) Distributions  with Respect to Unexchanged Shares of Parent Common Stock. No
dividends or other distributions  declared or made after the Effective Time with
respect to Parent Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall
be paid to the  holder of any  unsurrendered  Certificate  with  respect  to the
shares of Parent Common Stock represented  thereby,  and no cash payment in lieu
of any  fractional  shares shall be paid to any such holder  pursuant to Section
2.4(f),  until the holder of such Certificate  shall surrender such Certificate.
Subject  to the  effect of  escheat,  tax or other  applicable  laws,  following
surrender of any such Certificate, there shall be paid promptly to the holder of
such  Certificate  representing  whole  shares of Parent  Common Stock issued in
exchange  therefor,  without  interest,  (i) the amount of  dividends  and other
distributions  with a record date after the Effective Time and theretofore  paid
with  respect  to  such  whole  shares  of  Parent  Common  Stock,  (ii)  at the
appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends and other distributions,  with
a record date after the Effective Time but prior to surrender and a payment date
occurring after  surrender,  payable with respect to such whole shares of Parent
Common  Stock  and  (iii)  the  amount of any cash  payable  with  respect  to a
fractional  share of  Parent  Common  Stock to which  such  holder  is  entitled
pursuant to Section 2.4(f).

(e) No Further Rights in Company Common Stock. All shares of Parent Common Stock
into which the shares of Company  Common Stock shall be converted in  accordance
with the terms hereof  (including  any cash paid  pursuant to Section  2.4(d) or
2.4(f)) shall be deemed to have been issued in full  satisfaction  of all rights
pertaining to such shares of Company Common
Stock.

(f)      No Fractional Shares.

(i) No certificates  or scrip  representing  fractional  shares of Parent Common
Stock shall be issued  upon the  surrender  for  exchange  of  Certificates,  no
dividend  or  distribution  of  Parent  shall  relate to such  fractional  share
interests and such fractional share interests will not entitle the owner thereof
to vote or to any rights of a stockholder of Parent.

<PAGE>

(ii) In lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, each holder of Company Common
Stock  shall be  entitled  to  receive  an amount in cash  equal to the  product
obtained by multiplying  (A) the fractional  share interest to which such holder
(after  taking  into  account  all  shares of Company  Common  Stock held at the
Effective  Time by such holder)  would  otherwise be entitled by (B) the closing
price for a share of  Parent  Common  Stock as  reported  on the New York  Stock
Exchange  ("NYSE")  Composite  Transaction  Tape (as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or, if not reported thereby, any other authoritative source) on the last
trading day prior to the Closing Date.

(g)  Termination of Exchange  Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund  (including
any shares of Parent Common Stock) which remains undistributed to the holders of
Company  Common Stock for six months after the Effective Time shall be delivered
to Parent,  upon  demand,  and any holders of Company  Common Stock who have not
theretofore  complied with this Article 2 shall  thereafter  look only to Parent
for, and Parent shall deliver, the applicable Merger Consideration,  any cash in
lieu of  fractional  shares of Parent  Common  Stock to which they are  entitled
pursuant to Section 2.4(f) and any dividends or other distributions with respect
to Parent  Common Stock to which they are entitled  pursuant to Section  2.4(d).
Any portion of the  Exchange  Fund  remaining  unclaimed by holders of shares of
Company  Common  Stock as of a date which is  immediately  prior to such time as
such amounts would  otherwise  escheat to or become  property of any  government
entity shall, to the extent  permitted by applicable law, become the property of
Parent  free and  clear of any  claims  or  interest  of any  Person  previously
entitled thereto.

(h)  No  Liability.  None  of the  Exchange  Agent,  Parent  nor  the  Surviving
Corporation  shall be liable to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock for
any such shares of Parent  Common  Stock (or  dividends  or  distributions  with
respect  thereto)  or  cash  delivered  to a  public  official  pursuant  to any
abandoned property, escheat or similar law.

(i) Withholding Rights. Each of the Surviving Corporation and the Exchange Agent
shall be  entitled  to deduct  and  withhold  from the  consideration  otherwise
payable  pursuant to this  Agreement  to any holder of shares of Company  Common
Stock such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold  with respect to the
making of such  payment  under the Code,  or any  provision  of state,  local or
foreign  tax law. To the extent  that  amounts  are so properly  withheld by the
Surviving  Corporation or the Exchange  Agent, as the case may be, such withheld
amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this  Agreement as having been paid
to the holder of the shares of Company  Common  Stock,  in respect of which such
deduction and withholding was made by the Surviving  Corporation or the Exchange
Agent, as the case may be.

(j) Lost  Certificates.  If any  Certificate  shall  have been  lost,  stolen or
destroyed,  upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person  claiming
such  Certificate  to be lost,  stolen or  destroyed  and,  if  required  by the
Surviving Corporation,  the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable
amount as the Surviving  Corporation may direct,  as indemnity against any claim
that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent
will  issue in  exchange  for such lost,  stolen or  destroyed  Certificate  the
applicable Merger Consideration, any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent
Common Stock to which the holder thereof is entitled  pursuant to Section 2.4(f)
and any dividends or other distributions to which the holder thereof is entitled
pursuant to Section 2.4(d).

<PAGE>

(k) Further Assurances.  If, at any time after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation  shall  consider  or be  advised  that  any  deeds,  bills  of sale,
assignments,  assurances  or any  other  actions  or  things  are  necessary  or
desirable to vest,  perfect or confirm of record or  otherwise in the  Surviving
Corporation  its right,  title or  interest  in, to or under any of the  rights,
properties  or assets of either of the Merger Sub or the Company  acquired or to
be acquired by the Surviving  Corporation as a result of, or in connection with,
the  Merger  or  otherwise  to carry out this  Agreement,  the  officers  of the
Surviving  Corporation  shall be authorized to execute and deliver,  in the name
and on behalf of each of the Merger Sub and the Company or  otherwise,  all such
deeds,  bills of sale,  assignments  and  assurances and to take and do, in such
names and on such  behalves or  otherwise,  all such other actions and things as
may be necessary  or  desirable  to vest,  perfect or confirm any and all right,
title and  interest in, to and under such  rights,  properties  or assets in the
Surviving Corporation or otherwise to carry out the purposes of this Agreement.

Section 2.5      Stock Transfer Books. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer
books of the Company shall be closed and there shall be no further  registration
of transfers of shares of Company Common Stock  thereafter on the records of the
Company.  From and  after  the  Effective  Time,  the  holders  of  Certificates
representing shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective  Time shall  cease to have any rights  with  respect to such shares of
Company Common Stock, except as otherwise provided herein or by law. On or after
the Effective Time, any Certificates  presented to the Exchange Agent (or Parent
for any reason) shall promptly be exchanged for certificates representing shares
of Parent Common Stock,  any cash in lieu of fractional  shares of Parent Common
Stock to which the holders  thereof are entitled  pursuant to Section 2.4(f) and
any dividends or other  distributions  to which the holders thereof are entitled
pursuant to Section 2.4(d).

                               ARTICLE 3
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

                  The  Company  hereby  represents  and  warrants  to Parent and
Merger Sub that,  except as set forth in the disclosure  letter delivered by the
Company to Parent and Merger  Sub on the date of this  Agreement  (the  "Company
Disclosure Letter"):

Section 3.1......Organization,  Qualification, Etc. The Company is a corporation
duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the
State  of  Delaware  and  has  the  corporate  power  and  authority  to own its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being  conducted
and  is  duly  qualified  to  do  business  and  is in  good  standing  in  each
jurisdiction  in which the  ownership  of its  properties  or the conduct of its
business  requires such  qualification,  except for  jurisdictions in which such
failure to be so qualified or to be in good standing  would not in the aggregate
reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Company.  The
copies of the Company's  Amended and Restated  Certificate of Incorporation  and
By-laws which have been made available to Parent are complete and correct and in
full  force and  effect  on the date of this  Agreement.  Each of the  Company's
Significant  Subsidiaries  (as defined in Regulation S-X  promulgated  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act")) (a) is a corporation,
general  partnership,  limited  partnership  or limited  liability  company duly
organized,  validly  existing  and  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of its
jurisdiction of incorporation or  organization,  (b) has the corporate,  general
partnership,   limited  partnership  or  limited  liability  company  power  and
authority to own its  properties and to carry on its business as it is now being
conducted,  and (c) is duly  qualified to do business and is in good standing in
each  jurisdiction  in which the ownership of its property or the conduct of its
business requires such qualification,  except in the case of clauses (a) and (c)
for  jurisdictions  in which such  failure to be so  qualified  or to be in good
standing  would not in the  aggregate  reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse  Effect on the  Company  and  except in the case of clause  (b) for such
exceptions  as would  not in the  aggregate  reasonably  be  expected  to have a
Material  Adverse Effect on the Company.  All the outstanding  shares of capital
stock of, or other ownership  interests in, the Company's  Subsidiaries  are (y)
validly  issued,  fully  paid and  nonassessable  and (z) owned by the  Company,
directly  or  indirectly,  free and  clear of all  Liens,  except in the case of
clause  (y) for such  exceptions  as would not in the  aggregate  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and except in the case
of clause (z) for  restrictions  and Liens  contained in credit  agreements  and
similar  instruments  to  which  the  Company  is a Party  and  except  for such
exceptions  as are  disclosed in the Company SEC Reports and those that would be
immaterial to the Company and its Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole. Except as set
forth in the  Company  SEC  Reports,  there  are no  outstanding  subscriptions,
options,  warrants, rights of first refusal,  preemptive rights, calls or rights
or other arrangements or commitments of any character  obligating any Subsidiary
of the  Company  to issue any  capital  stock or other  securities  of, or other
ownership  interests in, any Subsidiary of the Company,  except those that would
be immaterial to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

<PAGE>

Section  3.2      Capital  Stock.  The  authorized  capital stock of the Company
consists  of  100,000,000  shares of Company  Class A Common  Stock,  10,000,000
shares of Company Class B Common Stock and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock,
$.01  par  value  per  share  ("Preferred  Stock").  As of  February  24,  2000,
64,116,270  shares  of  Company  Class A Common  Stock and  2,545,557  shares of
Company  Class B Common  Stock were issued and  outstanding,  112,529  shares of
Company  Class A Common  Stock were held in treasury  and no shares of Preferred
Stock were issued and  outstanding.  All the  outstanding  shares of the Company
Common Stock have been validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.  As
of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding subscriptions,  options,
warrants, rights or other arrangements or commitments,  rights of first refusal,
preemptive  rights,  calls or rights obligating the Company to issue any capital
stock or other  securities  of, or other  ownership  interests  in, the Company,
other than options, warrants and other rights to receive or acquire an aggregate
of  9,867,512  shares  of the  Company  Class A  Common  Stock  pursuant  to the
Company's  stock option plans, as amended (the "Company Stock Option Plans") and
the  options and  warrants  described  in Section 3.2 of the Company  Disclosure
Letter.

                  Except for the issuance of shares of the Company  Common Stock
pursuant  to (i)  the  Company  Stock  Option  Plans,  (ii) in  connection  with
acquisitions permitted under Section 5.1 of this Agreement and (iii) the options
and  warrants  referred to in Section 3.2 of the  Company's  Disclosure  Letter,
since February 24, 2000, no shares of the Company Common Stock have been issued.

<PAGE>

Section  3.3      Corporate  Authority Relative to this Agreement; No Violation.
The Company has the corporate  power and authority to enter into this  Agreement
and to carry out its obligations  hereunder.  The execution and delivery 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, except
for the approval  and adoption of the  agreement of merger (as such term is used
in Section 251 of the DGCL)  contained  in this  Agreement,  the approval of the
Merger and the approval of the amendment to the  Company's  Amended and Restated
Certificate  of  Incorporation  to repeal  Section  5.7  thereof  (the  "Charter
Amendment"),  by the holders of a majority of the outstanding  shares of Company
Common  Stock (with the holders of Company  Class A Common Stock and the holders
of Company  Class B Common  Stock  voting  together  as a single  class) and the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding  shares of each
of the Company  Class A Common Stock and Company  Class B Common Stock voting as
separate classes, no other corporate  proceedings on the part of the Company are
necessary to authorize this Agreement and the transactions  contemplated hereby.
As of the date of this  Agreement,  the Board of  Directors  of the  Company has
determined  that the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement are advisable
and in the best  interest of its  stockholders  and,  subject to the  provisions
contained in Section 5.10, to recommend to such  stockholders  that they vote in
favor thereof.  This Agreement has been duly and validly  executed and delivered
by the Company and,  assuming this Agreement has been duly and validly  executed
and  delivered  by  the  other  parties  hereto,  and  subject  to  the  Company
Stockholder  Approval  (as  defined  in  Section  5.3  hereof),  this  Agreement
constitutes a valid and binding  agreement of the Company,  enforceable  against
the Company in accordance with its terms (except insofar as  enforceability  may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium or
similar laws affecting  creditors' rights generally,  or by principles governing
the  availability  of equitable  remedies).  Other than in connection with or in
compliance  with the provisions of the Securities  Act, the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the  "Exchange  Act"),  the rules of the NYSE, the Hart
Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), any
non-United States competition,  antitrust and investment laws and the securities
or blue sky laws of the  various  states,  and,  other  than the  filing  of the
Certificate  of Merger with the Delaware  Secretary  of State and any  necessary
state  filings to maintain the good standing or  qualification  of the Surviving
Corporation  and  its   Subsidiaries   (collectively,   the  "Company   Required
Approvals"),  no  authorization,  consent or approval  of, or filing  with,  any
governmental  body or authority is necessary for the consummation by the Company
of  the   transactions   contemplated  by  this   Agreement,   except  for  such
authorizations,  consents,  approvals or filings,  the failure to obtain or make
which would not,  in the  aggregate,  reasonably  be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company; provided that the Company makes no representation
with  respect  to  such  of the  foregoing  as are  required  by  reason  of the
regulatory  status of Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries  or facts  specifically
pertaining  to any of them.  Except  for the  Company  Required  Approvals,  the
Company is not  subject  to or  obligated  under any  charter,  bylaw,  material
contract or any  governmental  license,  franchise or permit,  or subject to any
order or decree,  which  would be breached  or  violated  by its  executing  or,
subject to the approval of its stockholders, carrying out this Agreement, except
for any breaches or violations which would not, in the aggregate,  reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

<PAGE>

Section 3.4      Reports and Financial Statements.  The following reports, proxy
statements  and  prospectuses  filed by the  Company  with the SEC are  publicly
available:

(a) the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K  filed with the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for the year ended December 31, 1998;

(b) the  Company's  Quarterly  Reports  on Form 10-Q  filed with the SEC for the
quarters ended March 31, 1999, June 30, 1999 and September 30, 1999;

(c) each  definitive  proxy  statement  filed by the Company  with the SEC since
April 27, 1998;

(d) each final  prospectus  filed by the  Company  with the SEC since  April 27,
1998, except any final prospectus on Form S-8; and

(e) all  Current  Reports  on Form 8-K filed by the  Company  with the SEC since
December 31, 1998.

                  As of their respective dates, such reports,  proxy statements,
and prospectuses filed on or prior to the date of this Agreement  (collectively,
the "Company SEC Reports") (i) complied as to form in all material respects with
the  applicable  requirements  of the  Securities  Act, the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) did not contain any untrue
statement  of a material  fact or omit to state a material  fact  required to be
stated  therein or necessary  to make the  statements  therein,  in light of the
circumstances  under which they were made, not  misleading;  provided,  that the
foregoing  clause (ii) shall not apply to the financial  statements  included in
the Company  SEC Reports  (which are  covered by the  following  sentence).  The
audited  consolidated  financial  statements and unaudited  consolidated interim
financial  statements included in the Company SEC Reports (including any related
notes and  schedules)  fairly  present in all material  respects  the  financial
position  of the  Company  and its  consolidated  Subsidiaries  as of the  dates
thereof and their  results of  operations  and cash flows for the  periods  then
ended (subject, where appropriate, to normal year-end adjustments), in each case
in accordance with past practice and generally accepted accounting principles in
the United States  ("GAAP")  consistently  applied  during the periods  involved
(except  as  otherwise  disclosed  in the  notes  thereto  and  except  that the
unaudited  financial  statements  therein  do not  contain  all of the  footnote
disclosures  required  by GAAP).  Since April 27,  1998,  the Company has timely
filed all material reports,  registration  statements and other filings required
to be filed by it with the SEC under the rules and regulations of the SEC.

Section 3.5      No Undisclosed  Liabilities.  As of the date of this Agreement,
neither  the  Company  nor  any of  its  Subsidiaries  has  any  liabilities  or
obligations of any nature, whether or not accrued, contingent or otherwise, of a
type required by GAAP to be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet except (a)
liabilities  or  obligations  reflected in any of the Company SEC  Reports,  (b)
liabilities  or obligations  incurred  since  September 30, 1999 in the ordinary
course of the Company's  business and (c) liabilities or obligations which would
not in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company.

<PAGE>

Section  3.6      No  Violation  of Law. The  businesses  of the Company and its
Subsidiaries  are not being  conducted  in  violation  of any law,  ordinance or
regulation   of  any   governmental   body  or  authority   (provided   that  no
representation  or  warranty  is  made in  this  Section  3.6  with  respect  to
Environmental  Laws (as  defined  in  Section  3.7  below)  which are dealt with
exclusively  in Section  3.7) except (a) as  described in any of the Company SEC
Reports and (b) for  violations  or possible  violations  which would not in the
aggregate  reasonably  be  expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on the
Company.  The  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  have all  permits,  licenses  and
governmental   authorizations  material  to  ownership  or  occupancy  of  their
respective  properties  and  assets  and the  carrying  on of  their  respective
businesses,  except for such permits,  licenses and governmental  authorizations
the  failure of which to have would not  reasonably  be  expected to have in the
aggregate a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

Section 3.7      Environmental Laws and Regulations.  Except as described in any
of the Company SEC Reports, (a) to the Knowledge of the Company, the Company and
each of its Subsidiaries is in material  compliance with all applicable federal,
state,  local  and  foreign  laws  and  regulations  relating  to  pollution  or
protection of human health or the environment  (including,  without  limitation,
ambient air,  surface water,  ground water,  land surface or subsurface  strata)
(collectively,  "Environmental  Laws"), except for noncompliance which would not
in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company, which compliance includes, but is not limited to, the possession by the
Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  of  material  permits  and  other  governmental
authorizations  required  under  applicable  Environmental  Laws,  and  material
compliance  with the terms and conditions  thereof,  (b) neither the Company nor
any of its  Subsidiaries has received written notice of, or, to the Knowledge of
the  Company,  is the  subject  of,  any  actions,  causes  of  action,  claims,
investigations,  demands or notices by any Person alleging  liability  under, or
non-compliance with, any Environmental Law or that the Company or any Subsidiary
is a potentially  responsible  party at any Superfund  site or state  equivalent
site  ("Environmental  Claims")  which  would  in the  aggregate  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company,  (c) to the Knowledge
of the Company, there are no circumstances that are reasonably likely to prevent
or interfere with such material  compliance in the future,  (d) to the Knowledge
of the  Company,  the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  have not  disposed  of or
released  hazardous  materials  (at a  concentration  or  level  which  requires
remedial  action under any  Environmental  Law) at any real  property  currently
owned or leased by the Company or any  Subsidiary or at any other real property,
except for such  disposals or releases as would not in the aggregate  reasonably
be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Company,  and (e) neither
the Company nor its  Subsidiaries  have agreed to indemnify any  predecessor  or
other party with respect to any  environmental  liability,  other than customary
indemnity provisions contained in agreements entered into in the ordinary course
of business  and  provisions  which  would not in the  aggregate  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

Section 3.8 No  Undisclosed  Employee  Benefit  Plan  Liabilities  or  Severance
Arrangements.


                  (a) All benefit and compensation plans,  contracts,  policies,
agreements  or  other  arrangements   providing  for  compensation,   severance,
termination  pay,  performance  awards,  stock or stock related  awards,  fringe
benefits,  change in control,  employment  agreement,  deferred  compensation or
other  employee  benefits of any kind,  whether  formal or  informal,  funded or
unfunded,  written or oral, or arrangements covering current employees or former
employees  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  (all such  current and former
employees of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  being herein  referred to as the
"Employees") and current or former directors of the Company,  including, but not
limited to,  "employee  benefit plans" within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the
Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974,  as amended  ("ERISA")  (the
"Benefit Plans") are listed on Section 3.8(a) of the Company  Disclosure Letter,
except for those plans,  contracts,  policies or other arrangements that are not
material  to the Company and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole.  There are no
"change in control" or similar  provisions  covering  current  employees  of the
Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries,  and,  to the  Knowledge  of the  Company,
covering any former employees of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  other
than those set forth in the Benefit Plans  identified  on Section  3.8(a) of the
Company  Disclosure  Letter and except for such  exceptions  as would not in the
aggregate  reasonably  be  expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on the
Company.


<PAGE>
                  (b)  All employee  benefit plans within the meaning of Section
3(3) of ERISA,  other than  "multiemployer  plans" within the meaning of Section
3(37) of ERISA, covering Employees (the "Plans"), to the extent subject to ERISA
or the Code, are in substantial  compliance with ERISA,  the Code, and all other
applicable  law,  except  for  such  exceptions  as would  not in the  aggregate
reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Company.  Each
Plan which is an "employee  pension  benefit plan" within the meaning of Section
3(2) of ERISA  ("Pension  Plan") and which is  intended  to be  qualified  under
Section 401(a) of the Code, has received a favorable  determination  letter from
the Internal Revenue Service,  or operates as a standardized  prototype plan, or
is  operating  within  the  remedial  amendment  period  and may still  obtain a
favorable  determination  letter from the Internal  Revenue  Service and, to the
Company's  Knowledge,   there  exists  no  circumstances  likely  to  result  in
revocation of any such favorable determination letter, except, in each case, for
such  exceptions as would not in the aggregate  reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  There is no material pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened litigation relating to the Plans except for
such  litigation as would not in the aggregate  reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  Except for such exceptions as would not
in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company,  neither  the  Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has  engaged in a
transaction  with respect to any Plan that,  assuming the taxable period of such
transaction expired as of the date of this Agreement,  could subject the Company
or any Subsidiary to a tax or penalty imposed by either Section 4975 of the Code
or Section 502(i) of ERISA in an amount which would be material.

                  (c) No current or former Pension Plan of the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries,  or any entity  which is  considered  one  employer  with the
Company  under  Section  4001 of ERISA  or  Section  414 of the Code (an  "ERISA
Affiliate"),  is or has been  subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the
Code within the past six years,  except for such  exceptions as would not in the
aggregate  reasonably  be  expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on the
Company.

<PAGE>

                 (d) All  contributions  required to be made under the terms of
any Benefit  Plan have been timely  made or have been  reflected  on the audited
financial statements of the Company,  except for such exceptions as would not in
the aggregate  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the
Company.

                  (e)  Neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has any
obligations for retiree health and life benefits under any Benefit Plan,  except
for those under collective  bargaining  agreements  existing on the date of this
Agreement  and such  exceptions  as would  not in the  aggregate  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

                  (f)  Except for such  exceptions as would not in the aggregate
reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Company,  the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, solely
as a result of such  consummation,  (i) entitle any Employees to severance  pay,
(ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting or trigger any payment or funding
(through a grantor  trust or  otherwise)  of  compensation  or  benefits  under,
materially  increase the amount payable or trigger any other material obligation
pursuant to, any of the Benefit Plans (other than the Company Stock Option Plans
and the options and warrants  described in Section 3.2 of the Company Disclosure
Letter) or (iii) result in any breach or violation of, or a default  under,  any
of the Benefit Plans.

                  (g)  Any  amount  that  could be  received  (whether  in cash,
property,  or vesting of property) as a result of the transactions  contemplated
by this Agreement by any officer,  director,  employee or independent contractor
of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  who is a "disqualified  individual"
(as  defined  in  proposed  Treasury  Regulation  Section  1.280G-1),  under any
employment  arrangement or Benefit Plan would not be characterized as an "excess
parachute  payment"  (as  defined in Section  280G of the Code)  except for such
exceptions  as would  not in the  aggregate  reasonably  be  expected  to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

     (h) All Benefit Plans covering current or former non-U.S.  Employees comply
in all material  respects with  applicable  law,  except for such  exceptions as
would not in the  aggregate  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect on the Company. No unfunded liabilities exist with respect to any Benefit
Plan that covers such non-U.S.  Employees,  except for such  exceptions as would
not in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company.

Section  3.9      Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Other than as disclosed
in the Company SEC Reports or previously  disclosed in writing to Parent,  since
September  30, 1999 and to the date of this  Agreement,  the  businesses  of the
Company and its Subsidiaries have been conducted in all material respects in the
ordinary  course and there has not been any event,  occurrence,  development  or
state of  circumstances  or facts that has had a Material  Adverse Effect on the
Company.  Since  September  30,  1999  and to the  date  of this  Agreement,  no
dividends or distributions have been declared or paid on or made with respect to
the shares of capital  stock or other  equity  interests  of the  Company or its
Subsidiaries nor have any such shares been  repurchased or redeemed,  other than
dividends or distributions paid to the Company or a wholly-owned  Subsidiary and
other than dividends, distributions, repurchases and redemptions with respect to
equity interests in Subsidiaries not exceeding $2.0 million in the aggregate.

<PAGE>

Section  3.10     Investigations;  Litigation. Except as described in any of the
Company SEC Reports or  previously  disclosed  in writing to Parent:

     (a) to the  Knowledge of the  Company,  no  investigation  or review by any
governmental  body  or  authority  with  respect  to the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries  which  would in the  aggregate  reasonably  be  expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company is pending nor has any governmental  body
or  authority  notified  the Company in writing of an  intention  to conduct the
same; and

     (b)  there  are no  actions,  suits  or  proceedings  pending  (or,  to the
Company's  Knowledge,  threatened)  against  or  affecting  the  Company  or its
Subsidiaries,  or any of their  respective  properties  or before  any  federal,
state, local or foreign governmental body or authority, which, in the aggregate,
are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

Section 3.11     Proxy Statement; Registration Statement; Other Information. The
information,  taken as a whole,  with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries
to be  included  in the Proxy  Statement  (as  defined  in  Section  5.2) or the
Registration  Statement (as defined in Section 5.2) will not, in the case of the
Proxy Statement or any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, at the time of
the mailing of the Proxy Statement or any amendments or supplements thereto, and
at the time of the Company  Special  Meeting (as defined in Section 5.3), or, in
the case of the Registration  Statement,  at the time it becomes effective or at
the effective time of any post-effective amendment, contain any untrue statement
of a material  fact or omit to state any  material  fact  required  to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the  statements  therein,  in light of the
circumstances  under  which  they were  made,  not  misleading,  except  that no
representation  is made by the Company with respect to  information  supplied in
writing  by Parent,  Merger  Sub or any  affiliate  of Parent  specifically  for
inclusion  in the Proxy  Statement.  The Proxy  Statement  (as it relates to the
Company) will comply as to form in all material  respects with the provisions of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated  thereunder.

Section 3.12 Lack of Ownership of Parent Common  Stock.  Neither the Company nor
any of its  Subsidiaries  owns  any  shares  of  Parent  Common  Stock  or other
securities  convertible  into shares of Parent  Common Stock  (exclusive  of any
shares owned by the Company's Benefit Plans).

Section  3.13    Tax Matters.

(a) All federal, state, local and foreign Tax Returns required to be filed by or
on  behalf  of the  Company,  each of its  Subsidiaries,  and  each  affiliated,
combined,  consolidated  or  unitary  group of which the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries  or was a member (a  "Company  Group")  have been  timely  filed or
requests for  extensions  to file such returns or reports have been timely filed
and  granted  and have not  expired,  and all  returns  filed are  complete  and
accurate  except to the extent any failure to file or any  inaccuracies in filed
returns would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  reasonably be expected to
have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Company.  All Taxes due and owing by the
Company,  any  Subsidiary of the Company or any Company Group have been paid, or
adequately  reserved  for,  except to the extent  any  failure to pay or reserve
would not,  individually  or in the  aggregate  reasonably be expected to have a
Material  Adverse  Effect  on  the  Company.  There  is  no  audit  examination,
deficiency, refund litigation, proposed adjustment or matter in controversy with
respect to any Taxes due and owing by the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company
or any Company Group nor has the Company or any  Subsidiary  filed any waiver of
the statute of  limitations  applicable  to the  assessment or collection of any
Tax, in each case, which would, individually or in the aggregate,  reasonably be
expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect on the Company.  All assessments for
Taxes due and owing by the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Company
Group with respect to completed and settled examinations or concluded litigation
have been paid.  Neither the Company  nor any  Subsidiary  is a party to any tax
indemnity  agreement,  tax sharing  agreement or other agreement under which the
Company or any  Subsidiary  could become liable to another Person as a result of
the  imposition of a Tax upon any Person,  or the  assessment or collection of a
Tax,  except for such  agreements  as would not in the  aggregate  reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  The Company and each
of its  Subsidiaries  has complied in all material  respects  with all rules and
regulations  relating to the withholding of Taxes, except to the extent any such
failure to comply would not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  reasonably be
expected  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the  Company.

<PAGE>


(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has Knowledge of any fact or
has taken any action  that could  reasonably  be  expected to prevent the Merger
from qualifying as a reorganization  within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Code.

Section  3.14     Opinion of Financial Advisors.  On the date of this Agreement,
the Board of  Directors  of the Company has  received an oral opinion from Bear,
Stearns & Co. and the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company
has received an oral opinion from Lehman Brothers (together with Bear, Stearns &
Co.,  the  "Financial  Advisors")  to the  effect  that,  as of the date of this
Agreement, the Class A Conversion Number is fair to the holders of Company Class
A Common Stock from a financial point of view. Copies of the written opinions of
the  Financial  Advisors,  substantially  in the forms  previously  submitted to
Parent,  will be  delivered to Parent as soon as  practicable  after the date of
this Agreement.

Section 3.15     Required Vote of the Company Stockholders. The affirmative vote
of the holders of a majority  of the  outstanding  shares of the Company  Common
Stock  (with the  holders of  Company  Class A Common  Stock and the  holders of
Company  Class B  Common  Stock  voting  together  as a  single  class)  and the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding  shares of each
of the Company  Class A Common Stock and Company  Class B Common Stock voting as
separate classes is required to adopt this Agreement, the Merger and the Charter
Amendment.  No other vote of the  stockholders of the Company is required by law
or the charter or Bylaws of the  Company in order for the Company to  consummate
the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 3.16.....Insurance. Except to the extent that the lack of a policy would
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, the
Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  have  insurance  policies,  including,  without
limitation,  policies of fire and other casualty and liability  insurance,  that
the Company believes are sufficient for the respective businesses and operations
of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

<PAGE>

Section  3.17.....Real  Property;  Title. The Company and its Subsidiaries  have
good and  marketable  title  subject to Permitted  Liens to all real  properties
owned by them,  except  where the  failure to have such  title  would not in the
aggregate  reasonably  be  expected  to have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on the
Company.

Section  3.18.....Collective  Bargaining  Agreements and Labor.  The Company has
previously  made  available  to  Parent  all  labor  or  collective   bargaining
agreements  in  effect  as of the  date of this  Agreement  which  pertain  to a
material number of the employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries.  As of the
date of this  Agreement,  there are no  pending  complaints,  charges  or claims
against the Company or its  Subsidiaries  filed with any public or  governmental
authority,  arbitrator or court based upon the  employment or termination by the
Company of any individual,  except for such complaints,  charges or claims which
if  adversely  determined  would not in the  aggregate  have a Material  Adverse
Effect on the Company.

Section  3.19.....Material Contracts.

(a) Neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has  Knowledge  of, or has
received  notice of, any  violation or default  under any material  contract (as
such term is defined in item  601(b)(10) of Regulation  S-K of the SEC) to which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, except for such violations or
defaults as would not in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse  Effect  on  the  Company.

(b) Neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is (i) in  violation of or
default under any contract or agreement that restricts its ability to compete or
otherwise  conduct  its  business  as  presently  conducted,   except  for  such
violations or defaults as would not in the  aggregate  reasonably be expected to
have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Company or (ii) a party to, or bound by,
any contract or agreement  that  restricts or would  restrict the ability of the
Company,  Parent  or any of their  respective  Subsidiaries  from  competing  or
otherwise  conducting  their  respective   businesses  as  such  businesses  are
conducted on the date of this Agreement, except for such restrictions that would
not in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Parent or the Company.

Section 3.20     Takeover Statute. The Board of Directors of the Company, having
considered the Company Stockholders Voting Agreement, the Stockholder Agreement,
the Noncompetition Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, has approved
this  Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  thereby  and,
assuming  the  accuracy of Parent's  representation  and  warranty  contained in
Section  4.12,  such approval  constitutes  approval of the Merger and the other
transactions  contemplated hereby by the Board of Directors of the Company under
the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL, such that the restrictions of Section
203 of the DGCL do not apply to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby,  including the Merger.  Except as provided in Section 4.20 below, to the
Knowledge of the Company,  no other state takeover  statute is applicable to the
Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby.

<PAGE>

Section  3.21     Transactions  With  Affiliates.  Other  than the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or except to the extent  disclosed in the Company
SEC  Reports,  there  have been no  transactions,  agreements,  arrangements  or
understandings between the Company or its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the
Company's  Affiliates  (other  than  Subsidiaries  of the  Company) or any other
Person, on the other hand, that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404
of  Regulation  S-K  under the  Securities  Act.

Section  3.22  Intellectual  Property.  Except to the  extent  disclosed  in the
Company SEC Reports and except to the extent that the  inaccuracy  of any of the
following (or the circumstances giving rise to such inaccuracy), individually or
in the aggregate,  would not  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect on the Company:  (a) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries owns, or is
licensed to use (in each case,  free and clear of any Liens),  all  Intellectual
Property  (as  defined  below)  necessary  for the  conduct of its  business  as
currently conducted; (b) to the Company's Knowledge, the use of any Intellectual
Property by the Company and its  Subsidiaries  does not infringe on or otherwise
violate the rights of any Person and is in accordance  in all material  respects
with any  applicable  license  pursuant to which the  Company or any  Subsidiary
acquired the right to use any Intellectual  Property; (c) as of the date of this
Agreement, to the Knowledge of the Company, no Person is challenging, infringing
on or  otherwise  violating  any  material  right of the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual  Property owned by and/or licensed
to the Company or its  Subsidiaries;  and (d) as of the date of this  Agreement,
neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries has received any written notice
of any  pending  claim with  respect to any  Intellectual  Property  used by the
Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  and,  to  the  Knowledge  of  the  Company,  no
Intellectual  Property owned and/or licensed by the Company or its  Subsidiaries
is being used or  enforced  in a manner  that would  result in the  abandonment,
cancellation or unenforceability of such Intellectual  Property. For purposes of
this Agreement,  "Intellectual  Property" shall mean trademarks,  service marks,
brand names and other  indications of origin,  the goodwill  associated with the
foregoing and  registrations  in any  jurisdiction  of, and  applications in any
jurisdiction to register, the foregoing,  including any extension,  modification
or renewal of any such registration or application;  inventions, discoveries and
ideas, whether patentable or not, in any jurisdiction; patents, applications for
patents (including, without limitation, divisions, continuations,  continuations
in part and renewal  applications),  and any  renewals,  extensions  or reissues
thereof,  in  any  jurisdiction;   nonpublic  information,   trade  secrets  and
confidential  information  and  rights in any  jurisdiction  to limit the use or
disclosure   thereof  by  any  Person;   writings  and  other   works,   whether
copyrightable  or not, in any  jurisdiction;  registrations  or applications for
registration of copyrights in any  jurisdiction,  and any renewals or extensions
thereof; any similar intellectual property or proprietary rights; and any claims
or  causes  of  action  arising  out  of or  relating  to  any  infringement  or
misappropriation of any of the foregoing.

                                   ARTICLE 4
             REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

                  Parent and Merger Sub hereby  jointly and severally  represent
and warrant to the Company  that  except as set forth in the  disclosure  letter
delivered  to the  Company  on the date of this  Agreement  ("Parent  Disclosure
Letter"):

<PAGE>

Section 4.1      Organization, Qualification, Etc. Each of Parent and Merger Sub
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws  of its  jurisdiction  of  organization  and has the  corporate  power  and
authority to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is
now being conducted and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing
in each  jurisdiction in which the ownership of its properties or the conduct of
its business requires such qualification, except for jurisdictions in which such
failure to be so qualified or to be in good standing  would not in the aggregate
reasonably  be  expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on Parent or Merger
Sub. The copies of Parent's Articles of Incorporation,  as amended,  and Amended
and Restated  By-laws and Merger Sub's  charter and by-laws which have been made
available  to the Company are  complete and correct and in full force and effect
on the date of this Agreement.  Each of Parent's Significant Subsidiaries (a) is
a corporation,  partnership or limited liability company duly organized, validly
existing  and  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of  its   jurisdiction   of
incorporation  or  organization,  (b) has the corporate,  partnership or limited
liability  company power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its
business as it is now being conducted,  and (c) is duly qualified to do business
and is in good  standing  in each  jurisdiction  in which the  ownership  of its
property or the conduct of its business requires such  qualification,  except in
case of clauses  (a) and (c) for  jurisdictions  in which such  failure to be so
qualified or to be in good  standing  would not in the  aggregate  reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or Merger Sub and except in
the  case of  clause  (b) for such  exceptions  as  would  not in the  aggregate
reasonably  be  expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on Parent or Merger
Sub.  All the  outstanding  shares  of  capital  stock  of,  or other  ownership
interests in, Parent's Subsidiaries and Merger Sub are (y) validly issued, fully
paid and  non-assessable and (z) owned by Parent,  directly or indirectly,  free
and clear of all Liens,  except in the case of clause (y) for such exceptions as
would not in the  aggregate  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect on Parent and except in the case of clause (z) for restrictions contained
in credit agreements and similar  instruments to which Parent is a party and for
such exceptions as would be immaterial to Parent.  Except as disclosed in Parent
SEC Reports, there are no outstanding  subscriptions,  warrants, options (except
for those set forth in Section 4.2 below),  rights of first refusal,  preemptive
rights,  calls or rights or other  arrangements  or  commitments  obligating any
Subsidiary  of the  Parent or Merger  Sub to issue  any  capital  stock or other
securities  of, or other  ownership  interests  in, any  Subsidiary of Parent or
Merger Sub, except as would be immaterial to Parent.

Section  4.2      Capital Stock. The authorized capital stock of Parent consists
of 900,000,000  shares of Parent Common Stock,  and 2,000,000  shares of Class A
Preferred  Stock,  par value  $1.00 per  share and  8,000,000  shares of Class B
Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (collectively,  the "Parent Preferred
Stock").  The shares of Parent  Common  Stock to be issued in the Merger or upon
the exercise of the Company stock options, warrants,  conversion rights or other
rights  or  upon  vesting  or  payment  of  other  Company  equity-based  awards
thereafter will, when issued,  be validly issued fully paid and  non-assessable.
As of February 24, 2000, 338,807,036 shares of Parent Common Stock and no shares
of Parent  Preferred  Stock were  issued and  outstanding  and 12,829  shares of
Parent  Common  Stock held in  treasury.  All the  outstanding  shares of Parent
Common Stock have been validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.  As
of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding subscriptions,  options,
warrants, rights or other arrangements or commitments,  rights of first refusal,
pre-emptive rights,  calls or rights obligating Parent to issue capital stock or
other  securities  of, or other  ownership  interests  in the Parent  other than
options and other rights to receive or acquire an aggregate of up to  42,575,482
shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to:

<PAGE>

(a)      the 1984 Incentive Stock Option Plan of Parent;

(b)      the 1994 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan;

(c)      Parent Director's Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan;

(d)      the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan;

(e)      the 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan;

(f) various  other  option  agreements  with  officers or employees of Parent or
Parent's Subsidiaries,  option assumption agreements, and incentive compensation
grants;

(g) Parent's 2-5/8% Senior  Convertible Notes due 2003,  convertible into Parent
Common Stock;

(h) Parent's 1-1/2% Senior  Convertible Notes due 2002,  convertible into Parent
Common Stock;

(i) the warrants of Jacor Communications, Inc. ("Jacor") assumed by Parent;

(j) Jacor liquid yield option notes due 2011; and

(k) Jacor liquid yield  option  notes due 2018.

Section  4.3      Corporate Authority Relative to this Agreement. No Violation.

(a) Parent has the corporate  power and authority to enter into this  Agreement,
the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company Stockholders Voting Agreement and
the  Stockholder  Agreement  (collectively,  the  "Ancillary  Agreements"),  the
Stockholder Agreement and the Company Stockholders Voting Agreement and to carry
out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Ancillary  Agreements and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated  hereby and thereby  have been duly and validly  authorized  by the
Board of Directors of Parent and no other  corporate or stockholder  proceedings
on the part of Parent are necessary to authorize this  Agreement,  the Ancillary
Agreements,  the issuance of Parent Common Stock in  connection  with the Merger
and the other transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby.  This Agreement and
the Ancillary  Agreements  have been duly and validly  executed and delivered by
Parent and, assuming this Agreement and the Ancillary  Agreements have been duly
and validly executed and delivered by the other parties hereto and thereto, this
Agreement and the Ancillary  Agreements  constitute valid and binding agreements
of Parent,  enforceable  against it in accordance  with their  respective  terms
(except  insofar as  enforceability  may be limited  by  applicable  bankruptcy,
insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium  or similar laws  affecting  creditors'
rights  generally,  or by  principles  governing the  availability  of equitable
remedies). Other than in connection with or in compliance with the provisions of
the DGCL,  the  Securities  Act, the Exchange  Act, the HSR Act, any  non-United
States  competition,  antitrust and investments  laws and the securities or blue
sky laws of the various  states and the rules of the NYSE,  and,  other than the
filing of the  Certificate of Merger with the Delaware  Secretary of State,  and
any necessary  state filings to maintain the good standing or  qualification  of
the Surviving Corporation  (collectively,  the "Parent Required Approvals"),  no
authorization,  consent or approval of, or filing with, any governmental body or
authority  is  necessary  for the  consummation  by Parent  of the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement or the  Ancillary  Agreements,  except for such
authorizations,  consents,  approvals or filings,  the failure to obtain or make
which would not, in the  aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse  Effect on Parent;
provided  that  Parent  makes  no  representation  with  respect  to such of the
foregoing as are required by reason of the  regulatory  status of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or facts specifically  pertaining to any of them. Except
for Parent  Required  Approvals,  neither Parent nor Merger Sub is subject to or
obligated  under any charter,  bylaw or contract  provision or any  governmental
license,  franchise or permit, or subject to any order or decree, which would be
breached or violated by its  executing  or carrying  out this  Agreement  or the
Ancillary Agreements,  except for any breaches or violations which would not, in
the  aggregate,  reasonably  be  expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on
Parent.

<PAGE>

(b) Merger Sub has the corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the  consummation of the transaction  contemplated  hereby
have been duly and validly  authorized  by the Board of Directors of Merger Sub,
and no other corporate or stockholder  proceedings on the part of Merger Sub are
necessary to authorize this Agreement and the transactions  contemplated hereby.
The  Board of  Directors  of Merger  Sub has  determined  that the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement  are  advisable and in the best interest of its
stockholder  and recommends to such  stockholder  that it vote in favor thereof.
This  Agreement  has been duly and validly  executed and delivered by Merger Sub
and, assuming this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by
the Company,  this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Merger
Sub,  enforceable  against it in accordance  with its terms  (except  insofar as
enforceability   may  be   limited   by   applicable   bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,   moratorium  or  similar  loss  affecting   creditors'   rights
generally, or by principles governing the available of equitable remedies). This
Agreement has been approved by Parent as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub.

(c) Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) All of the  outstanding  capital  stock of Merger Sub is owned  directly  or
indirectly by Parent.

Section 4.4 Reports and  Financial  Statements.  The  following  reports,  proxy
statements and prospectuses filed by Parent with the SEC are publicly available:

(a)  Parent's  Annual  Reports  on Form 10-K  filed with the SEC for each of the
years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998;

(b) Parent's  Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the quarters
ended March 31, 1999, June 30, 1999 and September 30, 1999;

<PAGE>

(c) each  definitive  proxy statement filed by Parent with the SEC since January
1, 1996;

(d) each final  prospectus  filed by Parent with the SEC since  January 1, 1996,
except any final prospectus on Form S-8; and

(e) all Current  Reports on Form 8-K filed by Parent with the SEC since December
31, 1998.

                  As of their respective dates,  such reports,  proxy statements
and prospectuses filed on or prior to the date of this Agreement  (collectively,
"Parent SEC Reports")  (i) complied as to form in all material  respect with the
applicable  requirements  of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules
and  regulations  promulgated  thereunder  and (ii) did not  contain  any untrue
statement  of a material  fact or omit to state a material  fact  required to be
stated  therein or necessary  to make the  statements  therein,  in light of the
circumstances  under which they were made, not  misleading;  provided,  that the
foregoing  clause (ii) shall not apply to the financial  statements  included in
Parent SEC Reports  (which are covered by the following  sentence).  The audited
consolidated  financial statements and unaudited  consolidated interim financial
statements  included in Parent SEC  Reports  (including  any  related  notes and
schedules)  fairly  present in all material  respects the financial  position of
Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the results
of their  operations  and their cash flows for the periods then ended  (subject,
where appropriate,  to normal year-end adjustments),  in each case in accordance
with GAAP consistently  applied during the periods involved (except as otherwise
disclosed  in  the  notes  thereto  and  except  that  the  unaudited  financial
statements  therein do not contain all of the footnote  disclosures  required by
GAAP).  Since  January 1, 1996,  Parent has timely filed all  material  reports,
registration  statements  and other filings  required to be filed by it with the
SEC under the rules and regulations of the SEC.

Section 4.5      No Undisclosed  Liabilities.  As of the date of this Agreement,
neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of
any nature, whether or not accrued,  contingent or otherwise, of a type required
by GAAP to be reflected on a consolidated  balance sheet except (a)  liabilities
or  obligations  reflected  in any of Parent SEC  Reports,  (b)  liabilities  or
obligations incurred since September 30, 1999 in the ordinary course of Parent's
business and (c)  liabilities  or  obligations  which would not in the aggregate
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

Section  4.6      No  Violation  of  Law.  The  businesses  of  Parent  and  its
Subsidiaries  are not being  conducted  in  violation  of any law,  ordinance or
regulation  of  any  governmental  body  or  authority,  including  the  Federal
Communications  Commission  (provided that no representation or warranty is made
in this Section 4.6 with respect to Environmental  Laws) except (a) as described
in any of Parent SEC Reports and (b) for violations or possible violations which
would not in the  aggregate  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect on Parent.

Section 4.7  Environmental  Laws and Regulations.  Except as described in any of
Parent SEC  Reports,  (a) to the  Knowledge  of  Parent,  Parent and each of its
Subsidiaries is in material  compliance with all applicable  Environmental Laws,
except  for  non-compliance  which  would  not in the  aggregate  reasonably  be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, which compliance includes,
but is not limited to, the possession by Parent and its Subsidiaries of material
permits  and  other  governmental   authorizations   required  under  applicable
Environmental  Laws, and compliance with the terms and conditions  thereof;  (b)
neither Parent nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has received written notice of, or,
to the Knowledge of Parent,  is the subject of, any  Environmental  Claims which
would in the aggregate  reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on Parent;  and (c) to the Knowledge of Parent,  there are no circumstances that
are reasonably  likely to prevent or interfere with such material  compliance in
the future.

<PAGE>

Section 4.8      No  Undisclosed  Employee Benefit Plan Liabilities or Severance
Arrangements.  Except as described in any of Parent SEC Reports,  all  "employee
benefit plans" as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, maintained or contributed to
by Parent or its  Subsidiaries  are in material  compliance with their terms and
all  applicable   provisions  of  ERISA,  the  Code  and  any  other  applicable
legislation,  and Parent and its  Subsidiaries  do not have any  liabilities  or
obligations  with respect to any such  employee  benefit  plans,  whether or not
accrued,  contingent or otherwise,  except (a) as described in any of Parent SEC
Reports and (b) for instances of  noncompliance  or  liabilities  or obligations
that  would not in the  aggregate  reasonably  be  expected  to have a  Material
Adverse Effect on Parent.

Section  4.9      Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Other than as disclosed
in  Parent  SEC  Reports,  since  September  30,  1999  and to the  date of this
Agreement,  the businesses of Parent and its Subsidiaries have been conducted in
all material  respects in the ordinary  course and there has not been any event,
occurrence,  development  or state  of  circumstances  or  facts  that has had a
Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

Section 4.10  Investigations;  Litigation.  Except as described in any of Parent
SEC Reports or previously disclosed in writing to the Company:

(a) to the Knowledge of Parent,  no  investigation or review by any governmental
body or authority with respect to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries  which would
in the  aggregate  reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on
Parent is pending nor has any governmental body or authority  notified Parent in
writing of an intention to conduct the same; and

(b)  there  are no  actions,  suits or  proceedings  pending  (or,  to  Parent's
Knowledge,  threatened) against or affecting Parent or its Subsidiaries,  or any
of their respective properties,  or before any federal,  state, local or foreign
governmental  body or authority  which in the aggregate is reasonably  likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

Section 4.11     Proxy Statement; Registration Statement; Other Information. The
information,  taken as a whole, with respect to Parent or its Subsidiaries to be
included in the Proxy Statement (as defined in Section 5.2) or the  Registration
Statement  (as  defined  in  Section  5.2)  will  not,  in the case of the Proxy
Statement or any amendments thereof or supplements  thereto,  at the time of the
mailing of the Proxy Statement or any amendments or supplements  thereto, and at
the time of the Company  Special  Meeting,  or, in the case of the  Registration
Statement,  at the time it becomes  effective  or at the  effective  time of any
post-effective  amendment,  contain any untrue  statement of a material  fact or
omit to state any material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in
order to make the statements  therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading,  except that no representation is made by Parent
or Merger Sub with respect to information  supplied in writing by the Company or
any affiliate of the Company  specifically  for inclusion in the Proxy Statement
or the  Registration  Statement.  Each of the Proxy  Statement and  Registration
Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated  thereunder.

<PAGE>

Section 4.12 Ownership of Company Common Stock.  Parent and its Subsidiaries and
other  Affiliates  beneficially  own,  in the  aggregate,  less  than 10% of the
outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities  convertible into
shares of Class A Common Stock.

Section  4.13      Tax Matters.

(a) All federal, state, local and foreign Tax Returns required to be filed by or
on behalf of Parent,  each of its Subsidiaries,  and each affiliated,  combined,
consolidated  or unitary group of which Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries is or
was a  member  (a  "Parent  Group")  have  been  timely  filed or  requests  for
extensions  to file such  returns or reports  have been timely filed and granted
and have not expired,  and all returns filed are complete and accurate except to
the extent any failure to file or any  inaccuracies  in filed returns would not,
individually or in the aggregate,  have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. All
Taxes due and owing by Parent, any Subsidiary of Parent or any Parent Group have
been paid, or adequately  reserved for,  except to the extent any failure to pay
or reserve would not, individually or in the aggregate,  have a Material Adverse
Effect on Parent. There is no audit examination,  deficiency, refund litigation,
proposed  adjustment or matter in controversy  with respect to any Taxes due and
owing by Parent,  any  Subsidiary  of Parent or any Parent Group nor has Parent,
any  Subsidiary of Parent or any Parent Group filed any waiver of the statute of
limitations applicable to the assessment or collection of any Tax, in each case,
which could  individually  or in the aggregate  reasonably be expected to have a
Material  Adverse Effect on Parent.  All  assessments for Taxes due and owing by
Parent,  any  Subsidiary of Parent or any Parent Group with respect to completed
and settled examinations or concluded litigation have been paid. Parent and each
of its  Subsidiaries  has complied in all material  respects  with all rules and
regulations  relating to the withholding of Taxes, except to the extent any such
failure to comply would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent.

(b) Neither Parent nor any of its  Subsidiaries has Knowledge of any fact or has
taken any action  that could  reasonably  be expected to prevent the Merger from
qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

Section 4.14     Required Vote of Stockholders.  Other than the affirmative vote
of the  holders of a majority of the  outstanding  shares of Merger Sub to adopt
this  Agreement  and approve the Merger,  no other vote of the  stockholders  of
Parent or Merger  Sub is  required  by law,  the  charter or Bylaws of Parent or
Merger Sub in order for Parent and Merger Sub to  consummate  the Merger and the
transactions contemplated hereby.

<PAGE>

Section 4.15 Opinion of Financial Advisor.  The Board of Directors of Parent has
received the opinion of Salomon Smith Barney Inc.  ("Financial  Advisor")  dated
the date of this  Agreement  to the effect that,  as of such date,  the Exchange
Ratios (as defined therein) are fair from a financial point of view to Parent. A
copy of the written  opinion of the  Financial  Advisor will be delivered to the
Company as soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement.

Section 4.16     Insurance. Except to the extent that the lack of a policy would
not reasonably be expected to have a Material  Adverse Effect on Parent,  Parent
and its  Subsidiaries  have insurance  policies,  including  without  limitation
policies  of fire and  other  casualty  and  liability  insurance,  that  Parent
believes are sufficient  for the respective  businesses and operations of Parent
and its Subsidiaries.

Section 4.17     Real Property; Title. Parent and its Subsidiaries have good and
marketable  title subject to Permitted Liens to all real properties owned by it,
except  where  the  failure  to  have  such  title  would  not in the  aggregate
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

Section  4.18     Collective  Bargaining Agreements and Labor. As of the date of
this  Agreement,  there are no pending  complaints,  charges  or claims  against
Parent or its  Subsidiaries  filed  with any public or  governmental  authority,
arbitrator or court based upon the  employment or  termination  by Parent of any
individual,  except for such  complaints,  charges or claims  which if adversely
determined would not in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

Section 4.19     Material  Contracts. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries
has Knowledge of, or has received  notice of, any violation or default under any
material  contract (as such term is defined in item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K
of the SEC) to which Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party,  except for
such violations or defaults as would not in the aggregate reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

Section 4.20     Takeover Statute. The Board of Directors of Parent has approved
this Agreement,  the Company  Stockholders  Voting  Agreement,  the Stockholders
Agreement,  the Noncompetition  Agreement and Registration  Rights Agreement and
the transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby and, assuming the accuracy of
the  Company's  representation  and  warranty  contained in Section  3.12,  such
approval   constitutes  approval  of  the  Merger  and  the  other  transactions
contemplated  hereby and thereby by the Board of  Directors  of Parent under the
provisions of Article 13.03 of the Texas Business  Corporation Act (the "TBCA"),
such that  Article  13.03 of the TBCA does not apply to this  Agreement  and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Except as provided in Section 3.20
above, to the Knowledge of Parent, no other state takeover statute is applicable
to the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby.

                                   ARTICLE 5
                    COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

Section  5.1      Conduct  of  Business  by the  Company  or  Parent.  Except as
contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth in the Company  Disclosure Letter
or Parent  Disclosure  Letter,  or as  necessary or  appropriate  to satisfy the
obligations  hereunder  or to  comply  with  applicable  Law or  stock  exchange
regulations,  between the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time
or the date, if any, on which this Agreement is earlier  terminated  pursuant to
Section  7.1, and except as may be agreed to by the other  parties  hereto or as
may be permitted pursuant to this Agreement:

<PAGE>

(a)      The Company:

     (i)  shall,  and shall  cause  each of its  Subsidiaries  to,  conduct  its
operations according to their ordinary and usual course of business;

     (ii) shall use its reasonable  efforts,  and cause each of its Subsidiaries
to use its reasonable efforts,  consistent with prudent business practice to (A)
preserve intact its business organization and goodwill in all material respects,
(B) keep  available the services of its officers and key  employees,  subject to
changes in the ordinary course, and (C) maintain satisfactory relationships with
suppliers,  distributors,  customers  and  others  having  significant  business
relationships with them, in each case as a group;

     (iii) shall  notify  Parent of any  emergency or other change in the normal
course of its or its Subsidiaries'  respective businesses or in the operation of
its  or  its  Subsidiaries'   respective   properties  and  of  any  complaints,
investigations  or hearings (or  communications  indicating that the same may be
contemplated) of any governmental  body or authority if such emergency,  change,
complaint,  investigation  or hearing  would  reasonably  be  expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company;

     (iv) shall not authorize or pay any  dividends on or make any  distribution
with respect to its outstanding shares of capital stock;

     (v) shall not, and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries to, enter into
or amend any  severance or similar  agreements  or  arrangements  which would be
triggered by the transactions  contemplated hereby, with any of their respective
directors or employees, except to the extent required by Law or the terms of any
agreement  or Benefit  Plan in  existence  on the date hereof or any  collective
bargaining agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

     (vi) shall not, and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  without
the consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably  withheld,  enter
into any new written  employment,  consulting or salary  continuation  agreement
with any employee or director  which,  in any case,  has a term of more than one
year or  compensation  at an annual  rate in excess  of  $150,000,  or grant any
increases in the compensation or benefits to any management employee, officer or
director,  other than as required by any  agreement or Benefit Plan in existence
on the date of this Agreement and other than (A) salary  increases not in excess
of 10% per year of such Person's compensation which increases are awarded in the
ordinary course of business, and (B) wages and benefits to employees pursuant to
collective  bargaining  agreements  entered  into  in  the  ordinary  course  of
business;

<PAGE>

     (vii)  shall  not,  and  shall  not  permit  any  of its  Subsidiaries  to,
authorize,  propose or announce an intention  to authorize or propose,  or enter
into or consummate an agreement with respect to (x) any new Internet initiative,
(y) any merger,  consolidation or business  combination,  any acquisition of any
assets or  securities,  or any  disposition  of assets or  securities  involving
consideration  (including stock, debt and all contingent  payments) in excess of
$50 million in the aggregate,  provided that any merger, business combination or
other acquisition undertaken by the Company is in a line of business the same as
or related to the line of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the
date of this  Agreement  or (z) any release or  relinquishment  of any  material
contract rights;

     (viii) shall not propose or adopt any  amendments to its corporate  charter
or By-laws (except as contemplated by this Agreement);


     (ix) shall not, and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries to, (A) issue
any shares of their  capital  stock  (other than with  respect to  issuances  by
Subsidiaries,  to the  Company or a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of the  Company),
except (y) upon  exercise  of  options  under the  Company  Stock  Option  Plans
existing on the date of this  Agreement  and the options and warrants  listed in
Section 3.2 of the  Company  Disclosure  Letter and (z) shares of capital  stock
issued in connection with  acquisitions  permitted under this Section 5.1 or (B)
effect any stock split not  previously  announced  or (C)  otherwise  change the
capitalization  of the  Company  as it  existed  on the date of this  Agreement,
except as contemplated by or permitted under this Agreement;

     (x) without the consent of Parent,  which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld,  shall not, and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to,  grant,
confer or award any  options,  warrants,  conversion  rights or other  rights to
acquire  any  shares  of its  capital  stock,  other  than  as  required  in any
employment  or other  agreement  or pursuant to any Benefit Plan in existence on
the date of this Agreement or as otherwise  contemplated  by or permitted  under
this Agreement;

     (xi) shall not, and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries to, except in
the  ordinary  course of business in  connection  with  employee  incentive  and
benefit  plans,  programs  or  arrangements  in  existence  on the  date of this
Agreement,  purchase,  exchange,  convert, or redeem any shares of the Company's
capital stock other than shares of preferred stock of Subsidiaries;

     (xii) shall not, and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries to, amend in
any significant  respect the terms of their respective Benefit Plans,  including
but not limited to employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements in existence
on the date of this Agreement, or adopt any new employee benefit plans, programs
or arrangements,  except as required by law, by the terms of any Benefit Plan or
agreement  in  existence  on the  date of this  Agreement,  by the  terms of any
collective  bargaining agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business
or to maintain tax  qualified  status or as  requested  by the Internal  Revenue
Service in order to receive a  determination  letter for such  employee  benefit
plan;

     (xiii)  shall not, and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to, enter
into any credit  facilities  or other loan  agreements as borrower or as lender,
amend any existing  credit  facility or loan agreement to increase the borrowing
availability  thereunder or increase  applicable  prepayment  penalties or incur
indebtedness that is subject to any prepayment  penalty or for which the Company
or its  Subsidiaries  are obligated to pay any discount,  origination or similar
fees, or grant any Liens on any of its assets;  provided,  however, that nothing
in this clause shall limit the ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
to incur indebtedness or grant Liens under their respective credit facilities or
other loan agreements existing on the date of this Agreement;

<PAGE>

     (xiv) except as contemplated  by or permitted  under this Agreement,  shall
not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to (a) enter into any material
agreement with aggregate consideration in excess of $5.0 million per year or (b)
make any cash  touring  advance or upfront  guarantee  in excess of $10  million
individually or $30 million in the aggregate;

     (xv) shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into
an agreement or arrangement with any Affiliate of the Company, any family member
of any Affiliate of the Company or any stockholder who owns more than 10% of the
outstanding capital stock of the Company;

     (xvi) shall not, and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries to, make any
material Tax election or settle or compromise any material Tax liability,  other
than in  connection  with  currently  pending  proceedings  or other than in the
ordinary  course of  business  consistent  in all  material  respects  with past
practices;

     (xvii)  shall not, and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to, enter
into,  amend,  or extend  any  material  collective  bargaining  or other  labor
agreement,  except  as  required  by law and  except in the  ordinary  course of
business consistent in all material respects with past practices;

     (xviii)  except as may be  required by  applicable  Law or the terms of any
agreement in existence on the date of this  Agreement,  shall not, and shall not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any acquisition, by means of a merger or
otherwise,  of assets or securities,  or any sale,  lease,  encumbrance or other
disposition of assets or securities,  or enter into any similar transaction,  or
enter into an agreement to effect any of the foregoing, in each case which would
reasonably  be  expected  to  adversely  affect the  ability  of the  Company to
consummate the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or materially delay
obtaining any consents or approvals of any  Governmental  Entity  required under
this Agreement or otherwise materially delay the Closing; and

     (xix)  shall not agree,  or permit  any of its  Subsidiaries  to agree,  in
writing or otherwise,  to take any of the foregoing actions described in clauses
(iv) through (xviii) or take any action that is intended or would  reasonably be
expected to result in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article 6
not being satisfied, except, in each case, as may be required by applicable Law.

(b) Parent:

     (i)  shall,  and shall  cause  each of its  Subsidiaries  to,  conduct  its
operations  according to their ordinary and usual course of business;  provided,
however,  that nothing  contained in this clause shall limit Parent's ability to
authorize or propose,  or enter into or amend,  an agreement with respect to any
acquisitions  or credit  facilities  or to issue or refinance any debt or equity
securities,  provided that any such  acquisition or issuance of securities would
not  reasonably be expected to adversely  affect the ability of Parent or Merger
Sub to consummate the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or materially
delay  obtaining  any consents or approvals of any  Government  Entity  required
under this Agreement or otherwise materially delay the Closing;;

<PAGE>

     (ii) shall take all action  necessary  to cause  Merger Sub to perform  its
obligations  under this  Agreement and to consummate the Merger on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement;

     (iii) shall and shall cause Merger Sub to vote all shares of Company Common
Stock, if any,  beneficially owned by Parent,  Merger Sub or their Affiliates in
favor of adoption and  approval of the Merger and this  Agreement at the Company
Special Meeting (as defined in Section 5.3);

     (iv)  except  as may be  required  by  applicable  Law or the  terms of any
agreement in existence on the date of this  Agreement,  shall not, and shall not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any acquisition, by means of a merger or
otherwise,  of assets or securities,  or any sale,  lease,  encumbrance or other
disposition of assets or securities,  or enter into any similar transaction,  or
enter into an agreement to effect any of the foregoing, in each case which would
reasonably  be expected to adversely  affect the ability of Parent to consummate
the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or materially  delay obtaining
any  consents  or  approvals  of any  Governmental  Entity  required  under this
Agreement or otherwise materially delay the Closing;

     (v) shall not, and shall not permit any of its  Subsidiaries to, change any
of the accounting principles or practices used by it or any of its Subsidiaries,
except as required by the Securities Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or required
by GAAP;

     (vi) shall not authorize or pay any  dividends on or make any  distribution
with respect to its outstanding shares of capital stock;

     (vii) shall not propose or adopt any amendments to its corporate charter or
By-laws;

     (viii)  shall not agree,  or permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to agree,  in
writing or otherwise,  to take any of the foregoing actions described in clauses
(iv) through  (vii) or take any action that is intended or would  reasonably  be
expected to result in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article 6
not being satisfied, except, in each case, as may be required by applicable Law;
and

     (ix) shall use its reasonable  efforts,  and cause each of its Subsidiaries
to use its reasonable efforts,  consistent with prudent business practice to (A)
preserve intact its business organization and goodwill in all material respects,
(B) keep  available the services of its officers and key  employees,  subject to
changes in the ordinary course, and (C) maintain satisfactory relationships with
suppliers,  distributors,  customers  and  others  having  significant  business
relationships with them, in each case as a group.

<PAGE>

Section  5.2......Proxy  Material;  Registration  Statement.

     (a) As promptly as practicable  after the execution of this Agreement,  the
Company  shall prepare and file with the SEC a proxy  statement  relating to the
meeting of the Company's  stockholders  to be held in connection with the Merger
(together with any amendments  thereof or supplements  thereto,  in each case in
the form or forms mailed to the Company's  stockholders,  the "Proxy Statement")
and Parent shall prepare and file with the SEC a registration  statement on Form
S-4 (together  with all amendments  thereto,  the  "Registration  Statement") in
which the Proxy Statement shall be included as a prospectus,  in connection with
the  registration  under the Securities Act of the shares of Parent Common Stock
to be issued to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Merger.  Each of
Parent and the Company will use all reasonable efforts to cause the Registration
Statement to become  effective  as promptly as  practicable,  and,  prior to the
effective  date of the  Registration  Statement,  Parent  shall  take all or any
action  required  under  any  applicable  federal  or state  securities  laws in
connection  with the  issuance of shares of Parent  Common  Stock in the Merger.
Each of Parent and the Company shall furnish all  information  concerning it and
the  holders  of its  capital  stock as the  other  may  reasonably  request  in
connection with such actions and the preparation of the  Registration  Statement
and Proxy Statement. As promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement
shall have become  effective,  the Company shall mail the Proxy Statement to its
stockholders.  The Proxy Statement shall include the recommendation of the Board
of Directors of the Company in favor of the Merger  (subject to Section  5.10(d)
hereof) and the Charter Amendment.

         Subject to Section  5.10(d)  hereof,  no amendment or supplement to the
Proxy  Statement  or the  Registration  Statement  will be made by Parent or the
Company  without the  approval of the other party (which  approval  shall not be
unreasonably  withheld or delayed).  Parent and the Company each will advise the
other,  promptly  after  it  receives  notice  thereof,  of the  time  when  the
Registration  Statement has become  effective or any supplement or amendment has
been  filed,  of  the  issuance  of  any  stop  order,  the  suspension  of  the
qualification  of the Parent Common Stock issuable in connection with the Merger
for  offering  or  sale  in any  jurisdiction,  or any  request  by the  SEC for
amendment  of the Proxy  Statement  or the  Registration  Statement  or comments
thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional information.

(b) The  information  supplied  by  Parent  for  inclusion  in the  Registration
Statement and the Proxy  Statement  shall not, at (1) the time the  Registration
Statement  is  declared  effective,  (2) the time the  Proxy  Statement  (or any
amendment thereof or supplement  thereto) is first mailed to the stockholders of
the Company,  (3) the time of the Company Special Meeting, and (4) the Effective
Time,  contain  any untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state any
material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make the
statements  therein not  misleading.  If at any time prior to the Effective Time
any event or  circumstance  relating  to Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or
their  respective  officers or  directors,  should be discovered by Parent which
should  be set  forth  in an  amendment  or a  supplement  to  the  Registration
Statement or Proxy  Statement,  Parent shall  promptly  inform the Company.  All
documents that Parent is responsible  for filing with the SEC in connection with
the transactions contemplated herein will comply as to form and substance in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the
rules  and  regulations  thereunder  and the  Exchange  Act and  the  rules  and
regulations thereunder.

<PAGE>

(c) The  information  supplied by the Company for inclusion in the  Registration
Statement and the Proxy  Statement  shall not, at (1) the time the  Registration
Statement  is  declared  effective,  (2) the time the  Proxy  Statement  (or any
amendment thereof or supplement  thereto) is first mailed to the stockholders of
the Company,  (3) the time of the Company Special Meeting, and (4) the Effective
Time,  contain  any untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state any
material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make the
statements  therein not  misleading.  If at any time prior to the Effective Time
any event or circumstance relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
their  respective  officers or  directors,  should be  discovered by the Company
which should be set forth in an amendment  or a supplement  to the  Registration
Statement or Proxy  Statement,  the Company shall promptly  inform  Parent.  All
documents that the Company is responsible  for filing with the SEC in connection
with the transactions  contemplated  herein will comply as to form and substance
in all material respects with the applicable  requirements of the Securities Act
and the rules and regulations  thereunder and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder.

Section  5.3      Stockholders'  Meeting.  The Company shall, in accordance with
applicable  law and its Amended and Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  and
By-laws duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting (which, as
may be duly adjourned,  the "Company  Special  Meeting") of its stockholders for
the purpose of approving  and adopting the  agreement of merger (as such term is
used in  Section  251 of the DGCL) set forth in this  Agreement,  approving  the
Merger and  approving  the Charter  Amendment,  in each case by the holders of a
majority of the outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock (with the holders of
Company  Class A Common  Stock and the holders of Company  Class B Common  Stock
voting together as a single class) and the affirmative  vote of the holders of a
majority of the  outstanding  shares of each of the Company Class A Common Stock
and Company  Class B Common  Stock  voting as  separate  classes  (the  "Company
Stockholder  Approval").  The Company  agrees to use its  reasonable  efforts to
cause the Company Special Meeting to occur within  seventy-five  (75) days after
the date on which the Registration Statement becomes effective,  but not earlier
than  twenty  (20)  business  days after the date the Proxy  Statement  is first
mailed to  stockholders.  The Company shall  include in the Proxy  Statement the
recommendation of its Board of Directors ("Company Board  Recommendation")  that
its stockholders vote in favor of the Company Stockholder  Approval,  subject to
the  duties  of the  Board of  Directors  of the  Company  to make  any  further
disclosure  to the  stockholders  (which  shall not,  unless  expressly  stated,
constitute a withdrawal  or adverse  modification  of such  recommendation)  and
subject  to the  right to  withdraw,  modify or change  such  recommendation  in
accordance with Section 5.10 of this Agreement. If the Board of Directors of the
Company  withdraws,  modifies or changes its recommendation of this Agreement or
the Merger in a manner adverse to Parent or resolves to do any of the foregoing,
the Company shall nevertheless remain obligated to call, give notice of, convene
and hold the Company Special Meeting.

Section  5.4       Approvals and Consents; Cooperation.

(a) The Company and Parent  shall  together,  or  pursuant to an  allocation  of
responsibility  to be agreed upon  between  them:

<PAGE>

     (i) as soon as is  reasonably  practicable  take all such  action as may be
required  under  state  blue  sky or  securities  laws in  connection  with  the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

     (ii) promptly prepare and file with the NYSE listing applications  covering
the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable in the Merger or upon exercise of the
Company stock options, warrants, conversion rights or other rights or vesting or
payment of other Company equity based awards and use its reasonable best efforts
to obtain,  prior to the Effective Time, approval for the listing of such Parent
Common Stock, subject only to official notice of issuance;

     (iii)  cooperate  with  one  another  in  seeking  any  actions,  consents,
approvals or waivers or making any filings in connection  with the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; and

     (iv)  cooperate  with one another in obtaining  the  opinions  described in
Section 6.1(g) of this Agreement.

(b) Subject to the limitations  contained in Section 5.2, the Company and Parent
shall  each  furnish  to one  another  and to one  another's  counsel  all  such
information as may be required in order to effect the foregoing actions.

Section  5.5      Access to Information;  Confidentiality.  As permitted by law,
each of the Company and Parent  shall,  upon  reasonable  notice to an Executive
Officer (as defined in Section 8.2 hereof) of the Company or Parent, as the case
may be,  afford to the other  party,  and to such party's  authorized  officers,
employees,  accountants,  counsel,  financial advisors and other representatives
(collectively,  "Representatives"),  reasonable  access during  normal  business
hours,  in a manner so as not to  interfere  with the normal  operations  of the
Company or Parent and their  respective  Subsidiaries  and subject to reasonable
restrictions  imposed by an Executive  Officer of the Company or Parent,  as the
case  may  be,  during  the  period  prior  to the  Effective  Time  to all  the
properties,  books, contracts,  commitments and records of the Company or Parent
and their respective Subsidiaries, and during such period, the Company or Parent
shall furnish  promptly to the other party (a) a copy of each report,  schedule,
registration statement and other document filed by it or its Subsidiaries during
such  period  pursuant  to the  requirements  of  applicable  federal  or  state
securities  laws  and  (b)  all  other  information   concerning  its  business,
properties   and   personnel  as  the  other  party  may   reasonably   request.
Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in this  Agreement,  neither party nor
any or its  Subsidiaries  shall be required to disclose any  information  to the
other party or its authorized  representatives if doing so would (i) violate any
federal,  state, local or foreign law, rule or regulation to which such party or
any of its Subsidiaries is subject, (ii) violate the regulations or requirements
of the NYSE, (iii) violate the terms of any confidentiality agreement or similar
agreement or  arrangement  to which such party or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a
party  (provided that such party shall use all  reasonable  efforts to cause the
counterparty  thereto to waive such  agreement)  or (iv)  directly or indirectly
affect either party's competitive position in any of the markets in which either
party operates or in respect of the activities in which either party is engaged.
No  investigation  or information  furnished  pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall
affect any  representations  or  warranties  made by the  parties  herein or the
conditions  to the  obligations  of the parties to consummate  the Merger.  Each
party will,  and will  counsel  its  Representatives  to, keep such  information
provided to it by the other party  confidential  in accordance with the terms of
the Confidentiality  Agreement,  dated February 18, 2000, between Parent and the
Company (the  "Confidentiality  Agreement") the terms of which are  incorporated
herein by reference,  as if such information were  Confidential  Information (as
such   term   is   defined   in   the   Confidentiality   Agreement).

<PAGE>

Section  5.6      Affiliates.  The Company shall,  prior to the Effective  Time,
deliver  to Parent a list  (reasonably  satisfactory  to  counsel  for  Parent),
setting forth the names and addresses of all Persons who are, at the time of the
Company Special Meeting, in the Company's reasonable  judgment,  "affiliates" of
the Company for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act. The Company shall
furnish such information and documents as Parent may reasonably  request for the
purpose of reviewing such list.  The Company will use its reasonable  efforts to
cause its  affiliates  to  deliver to Parent not later that 10 days prior to the
date of the Company Special Meeting,  a written  agreement  substantially in the
form attached as Exhibit 5.6, with such modifications as may be appropriate, and
will use its  reasonable  efforts  to  cause  Persons  or  entities  who  become
"affiliates"  after  such  date but prior to the  Closing  Date to  execute  and
deliver these agreements at least 5 days prior to the Closing Date.

Section  5.7......Rights Under Stock Plans.

(a) Each  outstanding  option or warrant to  purchase  shares of Company  Common
Stock  ("Option")  granted  under the Company  Stock Option Plans or  otherwise,
which is outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective  Time,  whether or not
then exercisable,  shall vest in accordance with the terms of such Company Stock
Option  Plan or  agreement  under  which it was  granted and shall be assumed by
Parent and deemed to  constitute  an option or warrant to  acquire,  on the same
terms  and  conditions,   mutatis  mutandis   (including,   without   limitation
adjustments   for   any   stock   dividend,    subdivision,    reclassification,
recapitalization,   split,   combination,   exchange   of  shares   or   similar
transaction),  as were  applicable  under such Option or agreement  prior to the
Effective  Time,  the number of shares of Parent  Common  Stock as the holder of
such Option would have been entitled to receive  pursuant to the Merger had such
holder  exercised  such Option in full  immediately  prior to the Effective Time
(not taking into account whether or not such Option was in fact  exercisable) at
a price per share equal to (x) the aggregate  exercise  price for Company Common
Stock purchasable  pursuant to such Option divided by (y) the Class A Conversion
Number;  provided,  that the number of shares of Parent Common Stock that may be
purchased  upon  exercise of any such Option or agreement  shall not include any
fractional share and, upon exercise of such Option or agreement,  a cash payment
shall be made for any fractional  share based upon the last sale price per share
of Parent  Common  Stock on the trading day  immediately  preceding  the date of
exercise.   From  and  after  the  Effective  Time,  Parent  and  the  Surviving
Corporation  shall  comply with the terms of the Company  Stock Option Plans and
the  agreements  governing any Options.  The  adjustments  provided  herein with
respect to any Options that are "incentive stock options" (as defined in Section
422 of the Code) shall be effected in a manner consistent with Section 424(a) of
the Code.

(b) Parent shall cause to be taken all corporate action necessary to reserve for
issuance a sufficient  number of shares of Parent Common Stock for delivery upon
exercise  of Options  in  accordance  with this  Section  5.7.  As  promptly  as
practicable after the Effective Time, Parent shall use its reasonable efforts to
cause Parent Common Stock subject to assumed Options to be registered  under the
Securities  Act  pursuant  to a  registration  statement  on  Form  S-8  (or any
successor or other  appropriate  forms) and shall use its reasonable  efforts to
cause the  effectiveness of such  registration  statement (and current status of
the prospectus or  prospectuses  contained  therein) to occur promptly after the
Effective  Time  and to be  maintained  for  so  long  as  such  Options  remain
outstanding.

<PAGE>

(c) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the
part of the holder of any stock appreciation right ("SAR"), each outstanding SAR
issued by the Company on or prior to the date of this Agreement shall, as of the
Effective Time,  automatically  and without any action on the part of the holder
thereof,  be assumed by Parent. The holders of such SARs shall continue to have,
and be subject  to, the same terms and  conditions  set forth in the  agreements
pursuant  to which the SARs  were  issued  in  effect  immediately  prior to the
Effective  Time,  except  that  (i) such  SARs  shall  be  exercisable  for cash
representing  that number of whole  shares of Parent  Common  Stock equal to the
product  of the  number  of shares of Class A Common  Stock  covered  by the SAR
immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time  multiplied by the Class A Conversion
Number  rounded up to the nearest  whole number of shares of Parent Common Stock
and (ii) the per share strike price for the cash  representing  shares of Parent
Common  Stock  issuable  upon the exercise of such assumed SAR shall be equal to
the quotient determined by dividing the strike price per share of Class A Common
Stock specified for such SAR under the applicable agreement immediately prior to
the  Effective  Time by the Class A Conversion  Number,  rounding the  resulting
strike  price down to the nearest  whole  cent.  The holders of the SARs will be
entitled to receive only cash upon exercise of the SARs in lieu of Parent Common
Stock as