AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
                                     AMONG
                               CONCORD EFS, INC.,
                            ORION ACQUISITION CORP.
                                      AND
                               STAR SYSTEMS, INC.
                          Dated as of October 6, 2000

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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            Page
ARTICLE I  THE MERGER                                                         2
Section 1.1  The Merger.                                                      2
Section 1.2  Effective Time.                                                  2
Section 1.3  Effects of the Merger.                                           2
Section 1.4  Charter and Bylaws; Directors and Officers.                      2
Section 1.5  Conversion of Securities.                                        3
Section 1.6  Delivery of Certificates and Payment of Cash.                    4
Section 1.7  Dividends; Transfer Taxes; Withholding.                          5
Section 1.8  No Fractional Securities.                                        6
Section 1.9  Return of Exchange Fund.                                         6
Section 1.10  Adjustment of Exchange Ratio.                                   7
Section 1.11  No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock.            7
Section 1.12  Closing of Company Transfer Books.                              7
Section 1.13  Lost Certificates.                                              7
Section 1.14  Further Assurances.                                             7
Section 1.15  Closing; Closing Deliveries.                                    8
ARTICLE II  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB                  9
Section 2.1  Organization, Standing and Power.                               10
Section 2.2  Capital Structure.                                              10
Section 2.3  Authority.                                                      11
Section 2.4  Consents and Approvals; No Violation.                           12
Section 2.5  SEC Documents and Other Reports.                                13
Section 2.6  Actions and Proceedings.                                        13
Section 2.7  Required Vote of Parent Stockholders.                           14
Section 2.8  Pooling of Interests; Reorganization.                           14
Section 2.9  Tax Matters.                                                    14
Section 2.10  Brokers.                                                       15
Section 2.11  Operations of Sub.                                             15
Section 2.12  Permits and Compliance; Defaults.                              15
Section 2.13  Certain Agreements.                                            15
Section 2.14  ERISA.                                                         16
ARTICLE III  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY                   17
Section 3.1  Organization, Standing and Power.                               17
Section 3.2  Capital Structure.                                              17
Section 3.3  Authority.                                                      19
Section 3.4  Consents and Approvals; No Violation.                           19
Section 3.5  Financial Statements.                                           20

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Section 3.6  No Dividends; Absence of Certain Changes or Events.             21
Section 3.7  Governmental Permits.                                           23
Section 3.8  Tax Matters.                                                    24
Section 3.9  Actions and Proceedings.                                        25
Section 3.10  Certain Agreements.                                            25
Section 3.11  ERISA.                                                         25
Section 3.12  Worker Safety and Environmental Laws.                          27
Section 3.13  Labor Matters.                                                 27
Section 3.14  Intellectual Property; Software.                               27
Section 3.15  Availability of Assets and Legality of Use.                    30
Section 3.16  Real Property.                                                 31
Section 3.17  Real Property Leases.                                          31
Section 3.18  Personal Property Leases.                                      31
Section 3.19  Title to Assets.                                               31
Section 3.20  Contracts.                                                     32
Section 3.21  Status of Contracts.                                           33
Section 3.22  Insurance.                                                     33
Section 3.23  Budgets.                                                       33
Section 3.24  Takeover Statutes and Charter Provisions.                      34
Section 3.25  Required Vote of Company Stockholders.                         34
Section 3.26  Opinion of Financial Advisor.                                  34
Section 3.27  Pooling of Interests; Reorganization.                          34
Section 3.28  Brokers.                                                       34
Section 3.29  Hart-Scott-Rodino                                              34
Section 3.30  Stockholder Information.                                       34
Section 3.31  Investor Qualifications.                                       35
ARTICLE IV  COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS                        36
Section 4.1  Conduct of Business Pending the Merger.                         36
Section 4.2  No Solicitation.                                                38
Section 4.3  Third Party Standstill Agreements.                              39
Section 4.4  Pooling of Interests; Reorganization.                           40
ARTICLE V  ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS                                             40
Section 5.1  Stockholder Consent.                                            40
Section 5.2  Access to Information.                                          41
Section 5.3  Fees and Expenses.                                              41
Section 5.4  Company Stock Plan.                                             41
Section 5.5  Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Pooling of Interests.          42
Section 5.6  Public Announcements.                                           44
Section 5.7  Real Estate Transfer and Gains Tax.                             44
Section 5.8  Transfer Tax Filings.                                           44
Section 5.9  Other Transfer Taxes.                                           44

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Section 5.10  State Takeover Laws.                                           44
Section 5.11  Indemnification; Directors and Officers Insurance.             45
Section 5.12  Notification of Certain Matters.                               45
Section 5.13  Compliance with the Securities Act.                            46
Section 5.14  Registration Rights Agreement.                                 46
Section 5.15  Employee Matters.                                              46
Section 5.16  Advisory Committee.                                            47
Section 5.17  Directorship                                                   48
ARTICLE VI  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE MERGER                               48
Section 6.1  Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.     48
Section 6.2  Condition to Obligation of the Company to Effect the Merger.    49
Section 6.3  Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub to Effect the
             Merger.                                                         49
ARTICLE VII  TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER                               51
Section 7.1  Termination.                                                    51
Section 7.2  Effect of Termination.                                          55
Section 7.3  Amendment.                                                      55
Section 7.4  Waiver.                                                         55
ARTICLE VIII  GENERAL PROVISIONS                                             55
Section 8.1  Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties.                 55
Section 8.2  Notices.                                                        56
Section 8.3  Interpretation.                                                 57
Section 8.4  Counterparts.                                                   57
Section 8.5  Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.                 57
Section 8.6  Governing Law.                                                  58
Section 8.7  Assignment.                                                     58
Section 8.8  Severability.                                                   58
Section 8.9  Enforcement of this Agreement.                                  58

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EXHIBITS
Exhibit A
Form of Stockholder Agreement
Exhibit B
Form of Company Affiliate Letter
Exhibit C
Form of Parent Affiliate Letter
Exhibit D
Form of Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit E
Form of Employment Agreement Amendment


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TABLE OF DEFINED TERMS
Defined Term                                            Section
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advisory Board                                          Section 5.16(a)
Affiliate                                               Section 3.15
Agreement                                               First paragraph
Audited Financial Statements                            Section 3.5
Balance Sheet                                           Section 3.5
Balance Sheet Date                                      Section 3.5
Bank Act                                                Section 2.4
Blue Sky Laws                                           Section 2.4
Calculation Period                                      Section 7.1(g)
Certificates                                            Section 1.6(a)
Certificate of Merger                                   Section 1.2
Class A Shares                                          Recital
Class B Shares                                          Recital
Closing                                                 Section 1.15(a)
Closing Date                                            Section 1.15(a)
Code                                                    Recitals
Company                                                 First paragraph
Company Affiliate Letter                                Section 5.13(a)
Company Agreements                                      Section 3.21
Company Ancillary Agreements                            Section 3.3
Company Business Personnel                              Section 3.13
Company Bylaws                                          Section 1.15(d)
Company Charter                                         Section 1.4(a)
Company Common Stock                                    Recitals
Company Diluted Share Number                            Section 1.5(c)
Company Letter                                          Section 3.2(c)
Company Multiemployer Plan                              Section 3.11(c)
Company Permits                                         Section 3.7
Company Plan                                            Section 3.11(c)

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Company Stockholders                                    Section 1.6(a)
Company Stock Options                                   Section 3.2(a)
Company Stock Plan                                      Section 3.2(a)
Confidentiality Agreement                               Section 5.2
Constituent Corporations                                First paragraph
Copyrights                                              Section 3.14(a)(iii)
D&O Insurance                                           Section 5.11(a)
DGCL                                                    Section 1.1
Determination Date                                      Section 7.1(g)
Dissenting Shares                                       Section 1.5(d)
Domain Names                                            Section 3.14(a)(iv)
Effective Time                                          Section 1.2
Employment Agreements                                   Section 6.3(j)
Employment Agreement Amendments                         Section 6.3(j)
Encumbrance                                             Section 3.6(c)(vii)
Environmental Laws                                      Section 3.12
ERISA                                                   Section 2.14(a)
ERISA Affiliate                                         Section 2.14(c)
Exchange Act                                            Section 2.5
Exchange Agent                                          Section 1.6(a)
Exchange Fund                                           Section 1.6(a)
Exchange Ratio                                          Section 1.5(c)
Financial Statements                                    Section 3.5
GAAP                                                    Section 2.5
Gains Taxes                                             Section 5.7
Governmental Entity                                     Section 2.4
HSR Act                                                 Section 2.4
Indemnified Party                                       Section 5.11(a)
Index Company Price                                     Section 7.1(g)
Index Company Ratios                                    Section 7.1(g)
Index Group                                             Section 7.1(g)
Intellectual Property                                   Section 3.14(a)
IRS                                                     Section 3.8(a)
Joint Venture                                           Section 3.2(d)
Knowledge of Parent                                     Section 2.6
Knowledge of the Company                                Section 3.6(e)
Leased Real Property                                    Section 3.17

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Material Adverse Change                                 Section 2.1
Material Adverse Effect                                 Section 2.1
Member Agreements                                       Section 3.20(xiii)
Merger                                                  Recitals
Nasdaq                                                  Section 1.8
Network                                                 Section 5.16(a)
Owned Software                                          Section 3.14(j)
Parent                                                  First paragraph
Parent Affiliate Letter                                 Section 5.13(b)
Parent Ancillary Agreements                             Section 2.3
Parent Annual Report                                    Section 2.2(c)
Parent Average Price                                    Section 7.1(g)
Parent Bylaws                                           Section 2.4
Parent Charter                                          Section 1.15(b)
Parent Common Stock                                     Recitals
Parent Letter                                           Section 2.2(a)
Parent Multiemployer Plan                               Section 2.14(c)
Parent Permits                                          Section 2.12
Parent Plan                                             Section 2.14(c)
Parent SEC Documents                                    Section 2.5
Parent Stock Options                                    Section 2.2(a)
Parent Stock Plans                                      Section 2.2(a)
Parent Transactions                                     Section 2.2(a)
Patent Rights                                           Section 3.14(a)(i)
PBGC                                                    Section 2.14(a)
Permitted Encumbrance                                   Section 3.6(c)(vii)
Person                                                  Section 3.15
Real Property Leases                                    Section 3.17
Registered Intellectual Property                        Section 3.14(f)
Registration Rights Agreement                           Section 5.14
Requirements of Laws                                    Section 3.9
Rule 145 Affiliates                                     Section 5.13(a)

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SEC                                                     Section 2.2(c)
Securities Act                                          Section 2.5
Share Issuance                                          Section 2.3
Software                                                Section 3.14(b)
Starting Date                                           Section 7.1(g)
State Takeover Approvals                                Section 2.4
Stockholder Agreements                                  Recitals
Stockholder Consent                                     Section 5.1
Stockholder Information                                 Section 3.30
Sub                                                     First paragraph
Subsidiary                                              Section 2.2(d)
Substitute Option                                       Section 5.4(a)
Superior Proposal                                       Section 4.2(a)
Surviving Corporation                                   Section 1.1
Takeover Proposal                                       Section 4.2(a)
Taxes                                                   Section 2.9
Tax Return                                              Section 2.9
Trademarks                                              Section 3.14(a)(ii)
Trade Secrets                                           Section 3.14(a)(v)
Transfer Taxes                                          Section 5.8
Transmittal Letter                                      Section 1.6(a)
Unaudited Financial Statements                          Section 3.5
Worker Safety Laws                                      Section 3.12
<PAGE>

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
     AGREEMENT  AND  PLAN  OF  MERGER,   dated  as  of  October  6,  2000  (this
"Agreement"), among Concord EFS, Inc ., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), Orion
Acquisition Corp., a Delaware  corporation and a direct wholly-owned  subsidiary
of  Parent  ("Sub"),  and  Star  Systems,  Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company") (Sub and the Company being  hereinafter  collectively  referred to as
the "Constituent Corporations").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and the Company
have approved and declared advisable the merger of Sub with and into the Company
with the Company  surviving  (the  "Merger"),  upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein,  whereby each issued and outstanding  Class A Share
of Common Stock,  par value $0.01 per share  ("Class A Shares"),  of the Company
and each issued and outstanding  Class B Share of Common Stock,  par value $0.01
per share of the Company (the "Class B Shares" and collectively with the Class A
Shares,  the "Company  Common  Stock"),  not owned directly or indirectly by the
Company,  will be converted into shares of Common Stock, par value $0.33 1/3 per
share, of Parent ("Parent Common Stock");

     WHEREAS,  the respective Boards of Directors of Parent and the Company have
determined  that the  Merger is in  furtherance  of and  consistent  with  their
respective  long-term  business  strategies and is in the best interest of their
respective stockholders;

     WHEREAS,  in order to induce  Parent and Sub to enter into this  Agreement,
concurrently  herewith  certain  stockholders  of the Company are entering  into
agreements   with  Parent  dated  as  of  the  date  hereof  (the   "Stockholder
Agreements"),  in the form of the attached  Exhibit A, pursuant to which,  among
other  things,  each  such  stockholder  has  agreed  to vote in  favor  of this
Agreement and the Merger;

     WHEREAS,  it is intended  that the Merger will qualify as a  reorganization
within the meaning of section  368(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as
amended (the "Code"); and

     WHEREAS,  it is intended  that the Merger shall be recorded for  accounting
purposes as a pooling of interests.
<PAGE>

     NOW,  THEREFORE,   in  consideration  of  the  premises,   representations,
warranties and agreements herein contained, the parties agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                                   THE MERGER
                            Section 1.1 The Merger.
     Upon the terms and subject to the conditions  set forth in this  Agreement,
and in accordance with the Delaware  General  Corporation Law (the "DGCL"),  Sub
shall be merged with and into the Company at the Effective Time (as  hereinafter
defined).  Following the Merger, the separate  corporate  existence of 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 Sub in accordance with the DGCL.  Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, at the election of Parent, any direct  wholly-owned  Subsidiary
(as  hereinafter  defined) of Parent may be substituted for Sub as a Constituent
Corporation  in the Merger;  provided  that such  substituted  corporation  is a
Delaware  corporation  which is formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and has engaged in no other business
activities. In such event, the parties agree to execute an appropriate amendment
to this Agreement,  in form and substance reasonably  satisfactory to Parent and
the Company, in order to reflect such substitution.

     Section 1.2  Effective  Time.  The Merger  shall  become  effective  when a
Certificate of Merger (the "Certificate of Merger"), executed in accordance with
the relevant provisions of the DGCL, is filed with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware;  provided,  however, that, upon mutual written consent of the
Constituent Corporations, the Certificate of Merger may provide for a later date
of  effectiveness  of the  Merger  not  more  than 30 days  after  the  date the
Certificate of Merger is filed. When used in this Agreement, the term "Effective
Time"  shall  mean  the date and time at which  the  Certificate  of  Merger  is
accepted for  recording or such later time  established  by the  Certificate  of
Merger. The filing of the Certificate of Merger shall be made on the date of the
Closing (as hereinafter defined).
     Section 1.3 Effects of the  Merger.  The Merger  shall have the effects set
forth in Sections 259 through 261 of the DGCL.
     Section  1.4  Charter  and  Bylaws;  Directors  and  Officers.  (a)  At the
Effective Time, the  Certificate of  Incorporation,  as amended,  of the Company

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(the "Company  Charter"),  as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time,
shall be amended so that (i) Article  FOURTH  reads in its  entirety as follows:
"The  total  number  of  shares  of all  classes  of  capital  stock  which  the
Corporation  shall have authority to issue is 1,000 shares of Common Stock,  par
value $.01 per share" (ii) subsection (7) of Article SIXTH reads in its entirety
as follows:  "Intentionally  deleted"  and (iii)  Article  SEVENTH  reads in its
entirety as follows: "Intentionally deleted". As so amended, the Company Charter
shall be the Certificate of  Incorporation  of the Surviving  Corporation  until
thereafter  changed or amended as provided  therein or by applicable law. At the
Effective  Time,  the  Bylaws  of Sub,  as in  effect  immediately  prior to the
Effective  Time,  shall  be  the  Bylaws  of  the  Surviving  Corporation  until
thereafter  changed or  amended as  provided  therein or in the  Certificate  of
Incorporation  of the  Surviving  Corporation.  (b) The directors of Sub and the
employee  officers of the Company at the  Effective  Time shall be the directors
and  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.
     Section 1.5 Conversion of Securities.  As of the Effective  Time, by virtue
of the Merger and  without  any  action on the part of Sub,  the  Company or the
holders of any securities of the Constituent  Corporations:  (a) Each issued and
outstanding  share of common stock,  par value $0.01 per share,  of Sub shall be
converted into one validly issued,  fully paid and nonassessable share of common
stock of the Surviving Corporation.  (b) All shares of Company Common Stock that
are held in the treasury of the Company or by any wholly owned Subsidiary of the
Company shall be canceled and no capital stock of Parent or other  consideration
shall be paid or delivered in exchange  therefor.  (c) Subject to the provisions
of Sections  1.8,  1.10 and 7.1(g)  hereof,  each share of Company  Common Stock
issued and  outstanding  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time  (other than
Dissenting  Shares  (as  hereinafter  defined)  and  shares  to be  canceled  in
accordance  with Section  1.5(b))  shall be converted  into the right to receive
4.6452 (such number being the "Exchange  Ratio") validly issued,  fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Parent Common Stock (the Exchange Ratio being determined
by dividing (i)  24,750,000  by (ii) the  aggregate  number of shares of Company
Common  Stock  outstanding  determined  on a fully  diluted  basis  assuming all
options are fully exercised (the "Company  Diluted Share Number") as of the date
hereof).  In the event the Company Diluted Share Number immediately prior to the
Effective  Time shall be greater than  5,328,036,  the  Exchange  Ratio shall be
proportionately  reduced  and  all  references  to the  Exchange  Ratio  in this
Agreement shall be deemed to be to the Exchange Ratio, as so reduced. All shares
of Company Stock  outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective Time, when so

<PAGE>

converted,  shall no longer be outstanding and shall  automatically  be canceled
and retired and each holder of a certificate  representing any such shares shall
cease to have any rights with respect  thereto,  except the right to receive (i)
subject to Section 1.6,  certificates  representing  the shares of Parent Common
Stock  into  which  such  shares  are   converted,   (ii)  dividends  and  other
distributions  in  accordance  with  Section  1.7,  and (iii) any cash,  without
interest,  in lieu of  fractional  shares to be issued or paid in  consideration
therefor in accordance  with Section 1.8. (d)  Notwithstanding  anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time which are held of record by stockholders
who shall not have voted  such  shares in favor of the Merger and who shall have
demanded properly in writing appraisal of such shares in accordance with Section
262 of the DGCL  ("Dissenting  Shares") shall not be converted into the right to
receive  Parent  Common Stock and cash as set forth in Section  1.5(c),  but the
holders  thereof  instead shall be entitled to, and the Dissenting  Shares shall
only represent the right to receive, payment of the fair value of such shares in
accordance  with the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL;  provided,  however,
that (i) if such a holder fails to demand properly in writing from the Surviving
Corporation the appraisal of his or its shares in accordance with Section 262(d)
of the DGCL or,  after making such  demand,  subsequently  delivers an effective
written  withdrawal of such demand, or fails to establish his or its entitlement
to appraisal  rights as provided in Section 262 of the DGCL, if so required,  or
(ii) if a court  shall  determine  that such  holder is not  entitled to receive
payment for his or its shares or such  holder  shall  otherwise  lose his or its
appraisal  rights,  then, in any such case,  each share of Company  Common Stock
held of record by such holder or holders shall  automatically  be converted into
and  represent  only the right to receive  Parent  Common  Stock and cash as set
forth in Section  1.5(c),  upon  surrender of the  certificate  or  certificates
representing  such  Dissenting  Shares.  Any cash paid in respect of  Dissenting
Shares shall be paid by the Company  solely with its own funds,  and the Company
shall not be  reimbursed  therefor by Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries  either
directly or indirectly.  (e) In calculating the consideration payable under this
Section  1.5,  Parent  shall  be  entitled  to rely on the  representations  and
warranties contained in Section 3.2(a) and the certificate delivered pursuant to
Section  6.3(f).  If such  representations,  warranties and  certificate are not
correct,  Parent shall have the right to adjust the Exchange  Ratio  accordingly
and,  notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained in this Agreement,
in no event shall the aggregate merger  consideration  payable by Parent, Sub or
the  Surviving  Corporation  to the holders of equity  interests  in the Company
(including,  without  limitation,  holders of  options) in  connection  with the

<PAGE>

Merger or the transactions contemplated hereby exceed such consideration payable
assuming such representations,  warranties and certificate are correct.  Section
1.6 Delivery of Certificates  and Payment of Cash. (a) At or after the Effective
Time, each holder of record of a certificate or certificates (collectively,  the
"Certificates")   representing   shares  of  Company  Common  Stock  issued  and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (collectively,  the "Company
Stockholders"),  may surrender  such  Certificate  or  Certificates  to Parent's
designee as the exchange agent (the "Exchange Agent"), together with a letter of
transmittal  in the form  prepared by Parent  (which shall specify that delivery
shall be effected,  and risk of loss and title to the  Certificates  shall pass,
only upon actual  delivery of the  Certificates  to the Exchange Agent and shall
contain  instructions  for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in
exchange for certificates representing shares of Parent Common Stock and cash in
lieu of  fractional  shares)  (the  "Transmittal  Letter").  Promptly  after the
Effective  Time,  Parent  shall  deposit with the  Exchange  Agent  certificates
representing  the shares of Parent  Common  Stock  issuable  pursuant to Section
1.5(c) for exchange with outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, and cash as
required to make payments in lieu of any fractional  shares  pursuant to Section
1.8 (such cash and shares of Parent Common Stock, together with any dividends or
distributions  with  respect  hereto,  being  hereinafter  referred  to  as  the
"Exchange  Fund").  The  Exchange  Agent shall  deliver the Parent  Common Stock
contemplated  to be issued  pursuant to Section 1.5(c) out of the Exchange Fund.
Upon surrender for cancellation to the Exchange Agent of all  Certificates  held
by any Company Stockholder, together with the Transmittal Letter, duly executed,
such  Company  Stockholder  shall be entitled to receive in exchange  therefor a
certificate representing that number of whole shares of Parent Common Stock into
which the shares  represented by the  Certificate or Certificates so surrendered
shall have been converted at the Effective Time pursuant to Section 1.5(c), cash
in lieu of any  fractional  share in  accordance  with  Section  1.8 and certain
dividends  and other  distributions  in  accordance  with  Section  1.7, and any
Certificate so surrendered  shall  forthwith be canceled.  (b) Each  Transmittal
Letter  shall  contain   representations   and  warranties  by  the  Person  (as
hereinafter defined) surrendering any Certificates similar to those contained in
Section 3.31. Each certificate  delivered pursuant to Section 1.6 evidencing any
Parent  Common  Stock  shall  bear  a  legend  substantially  as  follows:  "THE
SECURITIES  REPRESENTED BY THIS  CERTIFICATE  HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES  ACT  OF  1933,  AS  AMENDED,  OR ANY  STATE  SECURITIES  LAWS.  SUCH
SECURITIES  HAVE BEEN  ACQUIRED BY THE HOLDER  HEREOF NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR
RESALE IN CONNECTION  WITH, ANY  DISTRIBUTION  THEREOF WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED.  SUCH SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR

<PAGE>

OTHERWISE  TRANSFERRED,  PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED  UNLESS (A) THE SECURITIES HAVE
BEEN REGISTERED  UNDER SUCH ACT AND ANY AND ALL SUCH OTHER  APPLICABLE  LAWS, OR
(B) PARENT  RECEIVES AN OPINION OF  COUNSEL,  IN FORM AND  SUBSTANCE  REASONABLY
SATISFACTORY  TO PARENT,  TO THE EFFECT THAT  REGISTRATION OF SUCH SECURITIES IS
NOT REQUIRED."

     Section 1.7 Dividends;  Transfer Taxes; Withholding.  No dividends or other
distributions  that are declared on or after the Effective Time on Parent Common
Stock,  or are payable to the  Company  Stockholders  on or after the  Effective
Time,  will be paid to any Person  entitled by reason of the Merger to receive a
certificate  representing  Parent Common Stock until such Person  surrenders the
related  Certificate  or  Certificates,  as provided in Section 1.6, and no cash
payment in lieu of fractional shares will be paid to any such Person pursuant to
Section 1.8 until such Person  shall so  surrender  the related  Certificate  or
Certificates.  Subject to the effect of applicable  law,  there shall be paid to
each record holder of a new certificate  representing  such Parent Common Stock:
(i) at the time of such surrender or as promptly as practicable thereafter,  the
amount of any dividends or other distributions  theretofore paid with respect to
the shares of Parent Common Stock represented by such new certificate and having
a record date on or after the  Effective  Time and a payment  date prior to such
surrender;  (ii) at the  appropriate  payment date or as promptly as practicable
thereafter,  the amount of any  dividends  or other  distributions  payable with
respect to such  shares of Parent  Common  Stock and having a record  date on or
after the  Effective  Time but prior to such  surrender and a payment date on or
subsequent  to such  surrender;  and (iii) at the time of such  surrender  or as
promptly as practicable thereafter,  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  1.8. In no event shall the Person  entitled to receive such
dividends  or  other  distributions  or cash in lieu  of  fractional  shares  be
entitled to receive interest on such dividends or other distributions or cash in
lieu of fractional  shares.  If any cash or certificate  representing  shares of
Parent  Common  Stock is to be paid to or  issued in a name  other  than that in
which the Certificate  surrendered in exchange therefor is registered,  it shall
be a condition of such exchange that the  Certificate  so  surrendered  shall be
properly  endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the Person
requesting  such  exchange  shall  pay to Parent  any  transfer  or other  taxes
required  by reason of the  issuance of  certificates  for such shares of Parent
Common  Stock  in a name  other  than  that  of  the  registered  holder  of the
Certificate  surrendered,  or shall establish to the satisfaction of Parent that
such tax has been paid or is not applicable.  Parent shall be entitled to deduct

<PAGE>

and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement
to any Person such  amounts as Parent is required  to deduct and  withhold  with
respect to the making of such payment  under the Code or under any  provision of
state,  local or foreign tax law. To the extent that  amounts are so withheld by
Parent,  such  withheld  amounts  shall  be  treated  for all  purposes  of this
Agreement as having been paid to the Person who  otherwise  would have  received
the  payment  in respect of which such  deduction  and  withholding  was made by
Parent.

     Section 1.8 No Fractional Securities. No certificates or scrip representing
fractional  shares of Parent Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for
exchange of  Certificates  pursuant to this Article I, and no Parent dividend or
other  distribution or stock split shall relate to any fractional  share, and no
fractional  share shall entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any other rights
of a securityholder of Parent. In lieu of any such fractional share, each holder
of Company Common Stock who would  otherwise have been entitled to a fraction of
a share of Parent  Common  Stock upon  surrender  of  Certificates  for exchange
pursuant to this  Article I will be paid an amount in cash  (without  interest),
rounded  down to the  nearest  cent,  determined  by  multiplying  (i) the  last
reported  sale price per share of Parent  Common  Stock on the  Nasdaq  National
Market System ("Nasdaq") on the Closing Date (or, if the shares of Parent Common
Stock do not trade on Nasdaq on such date, the trading day immediately preceding
the Closing  Date) by (ii) the  fractional  interest to which such holder  would
otherwise be entitled. As promptly as practicable after the determination of the
amount of cash, if any, to be paid to holders of fractional share interests, the
Exchange Agent shall so notify Parent, and Parent shall deposit such amount with
the  Exchange  Agent and shall cause the Exchange  Agent to forward  payments to
such holders of fractional share interests subject to and in accordance with the
terms of Section 1.7 and this Section 1.8.

     Section  1.9 Return of Exchange  Fund.  Any  portion of the  Exchange  Fund
deposited  with the Exchange  Agent which remains  undistributed  to the Company
Stockholders  for 60 days after the Effective Time shall be delivered to Parent,
upon  demand  of  Parent,  and  any  such  Company  Stockholders  who  have  not
theretofore  complied with this Article I shall  thereafter  look only to Parent
for  payment  of  their  claim  for  Parent  Common  Stock,  any cash in lieu of
fractional shares of Parent Common Stock and any dividends or distributions with
respect to Parent Common  Stock.  Neither  Parent nor the Surviving  Corporation
shall  be  liable  to  any  former  holder  of  Company  Common  Stock  for  any
consideration  payable in accordance with this Article I which is delivered to a

<PAGE>

public  official  pursuant  to any  applicable  abandoned  property,  escheat or
similar law.

     Section  1.10   Adjustment  of  Exchange   Ratio.   In  the  event  of  any
reclassification,  stock split or stock  dividend  with respect to Parent Common
Stock or any change or conversion  of Parent Common Stock into other  securities
(or if a record date with respect to any of the foregoing should occur) prior to
the Effective Time, appropriate and proportionate adjustments,  if any, shall be
made to the Exchange  Ratio,  and all  references to the Exchange  Ratio in this
Agreement shall be deemed to be to the Exchange  Ratio, as so adjusted.

     Section  1.11 No Further  Ownership  Rights in Company  Common  Stock.  All
shares  of Parent  Common  Stock  issued  upon the  surrender  for  exchange  of
Certificates  in  accordance  with the  terms  hereof  (including  any cash paid
pursuant  to  Section  1.8)  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been  issued  in  full
satisfaction  of all rights  pertaining  to the shares of Company  Common  Stock
represented by such Certificates.

     Section 1.12 Closing of Company  Transfer Books. At the Effective Time, the
stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and no transfer of shares of
Company Common Stock shall thereafter be made on the records of the Company. If,
after  the  Effective  Time,   Certificates   are  presented  to  the  Surviving
Corporation  or Parent,  such  Certificates  shall be canceled and  exchanged as
provided in this Article I.

     Section 1.13 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
Parent or the  Exchange  Agent,  the posting by such  Person of a bond,  in such
amount as Parent or the  Exchange  Agent may direct,  as  indemnity  against any
claim that may be made against Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange
Agent  with  respect  to such  Certificate,  the  Exchange  Agent  will issue in
exchange for such lost,  stolen or destroyed  Certificate,  the shares of Parent
Common  Stock to which the holder  thereof is entitled  pursuant to Section 1.5,
any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common Stock to which the holder
thereof  is  entitled  pursuant  to  Section  1.8 and  any  dividends  or  other
distributions to which the holder thereof is entitled pursuant to Section 1.7.

     Section 1.14 Further  Assurances.  If at any time after the Effective  Time
the Surviving  Corporation shall consider or be advised that any deeds, bills of

<PAGE>

sale,  assignments  or  assurances  or any other acts or things  are  necessary,
desirable or proper (a) to vest, perfect or confirm, of record or otherwise,  in
the Surviving  Corporation  its right,  title or interest in, to or under any of
the rights, privileges,  powers,  franchises,  properties or assets of either of
the Constituent Corporations, or (b) otherwise to carry out the purposes of this
Agreement,  the Surviving  Corporation  and its proper officers and directors or
their designees  shall be authorized to execute and deliver,  in the name and on
behalf of either of the Constituent Corporations, all such deeds, bills of sale,
assignments  and  assurances  and to do,  in the name and on  behalf  of  either
Constituent  Corporation,  all such other  acts and things as may be  necessary,
desirable  or proper to vest,  perfect or confirm  the  Surviving  Corporation's
right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights, privileges,  powers,
franchises,  properties or assets of such Constituent  Corporation and otherwise
to carry out the purposes of this Agreement.

     Section  1.15  Closing;   Closing  Deliveries.   (a)  The  closing  of  the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  (the  "Closing") and all actions
specified  in this  Agreement  to occur at the  Closing  shall take place at the
offices of Sidley & Austin,  Bank One Plaza, 10 South Dearborn Street,  Chicago,
Illinois,  at 10:00  a.m.,  local  time,  no later than the fifth  business  day
following  the day on which the last of the  conditions  set forth in Article VI
shall have been fulfilled or waived (if  permissible)  or at such other time and
place as Parent and the Company shall agree (the date of the Closing is referred
to herein as the "Closing  Date").  (b) Subject to  fulfillment or waiver of the
conditions  set forth in Article VI, at the Closing  Parent shall deliver to the
Company  all of  the  following:  (i) a copy  of  the  Restated  Certificate  of
Incorporation,  as amended, of Parent (the "Parent Charter"),  certified as of a
recent  date  by the  Secretary  of  State  of the  State  of  Delaware;  (ii) a
certificate  of good  standing  of  Parent,  issued  as of a recent  date by the
Secretary  of  State  of the  State  of  Delaware;  (iii) a  certificate  of the
Secretary or an Assistant  Secretary of Parent,  dated the Closing Date, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, as to (a) no amendments to
the Parent  Charter since a specified  date,  (b) the Bylaws of Parent,  (c) the
resolutions  of the Board of Directors of Parent  authorizing  the execution and
performance of this Agreement and the transactions  contemplated herein, and (d)
the incumbency and signatures of the officers of Parent executing this Agreement
and any other agreement or certificate executed by Parent in connection with the
Closing;  (iv) the  certificate  contemplated  by  Section  6.2(a);  and (v) all
consents,   waivers  or  approvals  obtained  by  Parent  with  respect  to  the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement. (c) Subject to

<PAGE>

fulfillment  or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VI, at the Closing
Sub  shall  deliver  to the  Company  all of the  following:  (i) a copy  of the
Certificate  of  Incorporation  of Sub  certified  as of a  recent  date  by the
Secretary of the State of Delaware;  (ii) a certificate of good standing of Sub,
issued as of a recent date by the  Secretary  of State of the State of Delaware;
and (iii) a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of Sub, dated
the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably  satisfactory to the Company,
as to (a) no  amendments  to the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of Sub since a
specified  date,  (b) the  Bylaws of Sub,  (c) the  resolutions  of the Board of
Directors of Sub authorizing the execution and performance of this Agreement and
the  transactions  contemplated  herein and the written consent of Parent in its
capacity as sole  stockholder of Sub adopting this Agreement in accordance  with
Section 251 of the DGCL,  and (d) the  incumbency and signatures of the officers
of Sub executing this Agreement and any other agreement or certificate  executed
by Sub in connection  with the Closing.  (d) Subject to fulfillment or waiver of
the conditions set forth in Article VI, at the Closing the Company shall deliver
to Parent all of the following: (i) a copy of the Company Charter,  certified as
of a recent  date by the  Secretary  of State of the State of  Delaware;  (ii) a
certificate  of good standing of the Company,  issued as of a recent date by the
Secretary  of  State  of the  State  of  Delaware;  (iii) a  certificate  of the
Secretary or an Assistant  Secretary of the Company,  dated the Closing Date, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent, as to (i) no amendments to
the Company Charter since a specified  date, (ii) the Bylaws of the Company,  as
amended (the "Company Bylaws"),  (iii) the resolutions of the Board of Directors
of the Company  authorizing  the execution and performance of this Agreement and
the transactions  contemplated herein and the resolutions of the stockholders of
the Company approving and adopting this Agreement in accordance with Section 251
of the DGCL,  and (iv) the  incumbency  and  signatures  of the  officers of the
Company executing this Agreement and any other agreement or certificate executed
by the Company in connection  with the Closing;  (iv) all  consents,  waivers or
approvals  obtained  by the  Company  with  respect to the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement; (v) the certificates  contemplated
by Sections 6.3(a),  6.3(c),  6.3(f),  6.3(g),  6.3(h) and 6.3(j);  and (vi) the
written confirmations contemplated by Section 6.3(k).

                                   ARTICLE II

                REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB
     Parent and Sub represent and warrant, jointly and severally, to the Company
as follows:
<PAGE>

     Section 2.1  Organization,  Standing and Power. Each of Parent and Sub is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Delaware and has the requisite  corporate power and authority to
carry on its  business  as now being  conducted.  Each of Parent and Sub is duly
qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction  where the
character  of its  properties  owned or held  under  lease or the  nature of its
activities makes such qualification or good standing necessary, except where the
failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the
aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse  Effect on  Parent.  For  purposes  of this
Agreement,  "Material  Adverse Change" or "Material  Adverse Effect" means, when
used with  respect  to Parent or the  Company,  as the case may be,  any  event,
change or effect that  individually  or when taken  together with all other such
events,  changes or effects is or could  reasonably be expected to be materially
adverse to the business, prospects, assets, liabilities,  financial condition or
results of operations of Parent and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, or the
Company and its Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, as the case may be. None of the
following  shall be deemed by itself or by themselves,  to constitute a Material
Adverse Change or Material Adverse Effect: (i) conditions affecting the industry
in which the Company and its Subsidiaries or Parent and its Subsidiaries, as the
case may be, operates or the U.S. economy as a whole, or (ii) any effect arising
from the public announcement of this Agreement.

     Section 2.2 Capital  Structure.  (a) As of the date hereof,  the authorized
capital stock of Parent  consists of 500,000,000  shares of Parent Common Stock.
At the close of business on September 29, 2000, (i) 215,364,106 shares of Parent
Common  Stock were issued and  outstanding,  all of which were  validly  issued,
fully paid and  nonassessable and free of preemptive  rights,  (ii) no shares of
Parent  Common Stock were held in the treasury of Parent or by  Subsidiaries  of
Parent,  and (iii)  24,220,513  shares of Parent  Common Stock were reserved for
issuance pursuant to outstanding options,  warrants,  convertible securities and
rights  ("Parent  Stock  Options"),  to purchase or otherwise  acquire shares of
Parent  Common  Stock under  Parent's  benefit  plans or other  arrangements  or
pursuant to any plans or  arrangements  assumed by Parent in connection with any
acquisition,  business  combination or similar  transaction  (collectively,  the
"Parent Stock Plans"). As of the date of this Agreement,  except as set forth in
Section  2.2(a) of the letter  dated as of the date  hereof  from  Parent to the
Company, which letter relates to this Agreement and is designated therein as the
Parent Letter (the "Parent Letter"),  except as set forth above,  except for the
issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to the Parent Stock Plans and

<PAGE>

except in connection with acquisitions,  mergers or other business  combinations
involving Parent or its Subsidiaries (the "Parent  Transactions"),  no shares of
capital  stock or other voting  securities  of Parent were issued,  reserved for
issuance or  outstanding.  All of the shares of Parent Common Stock  issuable in
exchange for Company Common Stock at the Effective Time in accordance  with this
Agreement will be, when so issued, duly authorized,  validly issued,  fully paid
and  nonassessable  and  free  of  preemptive  rights.  As of the  date  of this
Agreement,  except for (i) this Agreement and (ii) as set forth above, there are
no options,  warrants,  calls, rights, puts or agreements to which Parent or any
of its  Subsidiaries  is a party  or by which  any of them is  bound  obligating
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver, sell or redeem, or cause to
be issued,  delivered,  sold or redeemed, any additional shares of capital stock
(or  other  voting  securities  or equity  equivalents)  of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries or obligating Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to grant, extent or
enter into any such option,  warrant,  call, right, put or agreement.  (b) As of
the date of this Agreement,  each  outstanding  share of capital stock (or other
voting  security  or equity  equivalent)  of each  Subsidiary  of Parent is duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and each such share (or
other  voting  security  or equity  equivalent)  is owned by  Parent or  another
Subsidiary of Parent, free and clear of all security interests,  liens,  claims,
pledges,  options,  rights of first refusal,  agreements,  limitations on voting
rights,  charges and other encumbrances of any nature  whatsoever,  except where
any failure(s) be so duly authorized, valid issued, fully paid and nonassessable
or owned would not have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a Material  Adverse
Effect  on  Parent.  (c)  Except as set forth in  Section  2.2(c) of the  Parent
Letter,  Exhibit 21 to  Parent's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1999, as filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (the
"SEC") (the  "Parent  Annual  Report"),  contained a true,  accurate and correct
statement in all material respects of all of the information  required to be set
forth therein by the regulations of the SEC. (d) For purposes of this Agreement,
"Subsidiary"  means any corporation,  partnership,  limited  liability  company,
joint  venture,  trust,  association  or other  entity  of which  Parent  or the
Company,  as the case may be (either alone or through or together with any other
Subsidiary),  owns,  directly or  indirectly,  50% or more of the stock or other
equity  interests  the holders of which are  generally  entitled to vote for the
election of the board of directors or other governing body of such  corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity.

     Section 2.3  Authority.  On or prior to the date of this  Agreement (i) the
Board of Directors of Sub approved this  Agreement  and declared this  Agreement

<PAGE>

and the Merger  advisable  and fair to and in the best  interest  of Sub and its
sole stockholder, and (ii) the Board of Directors of Parent approved and adopted
this  Agreement  and approved the issuance of Parent  Common Stock in connection
with the Merger (the "Share  Issuance"),  both in accordance  with the DGCL. The
Board of Directors of Parent has  approved  the other  agreements  to be entered
into by it as contemplated hereby (such other agreements,  the "Parent Ancillary
Agreements").  Parent has the requisite  corporate  power and authority to enter
into this  Agreement and the Parent  Ancillary  Agreements,  to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby and to effect the Share Issuance.
Sub has all corporate  power and  authority to enter into this  Agreement and to
consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by Parent and Sub and the Parent Ancillary  Agreements by Parent,
and the consummation by Parent and Sub of the transactions  contemplated  hereby
and thereby,  have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
part of Parent and Sub, subject to the filing of appropriate Merger documents as
required by the DGCL. This Agreement and the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby have been  approved by the sole  stockholder  of Sub.  This
Agreement  has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and Sub and the Parent
Ancillary  Agreements executed as of the date hereof have been duly executed and
delivered by Parent. Assuming the valid authorization, execution and delivery by
the other parties thereto and the validity and binding effect hereof and thereof
on the other parties thereto,  this Agreement  constitutes the valid and binding
obligation of Parent and Sub enforceable against each of them in accordance with
its terms,  and each of the Parent  Ancillary  Agreements,  upon  execution  and
delivery thereof by Parent,  will constitute the valid and binding obligation of
Parent  enforceable   against  it  in  accordance  with  its  terms,  except  as
enforceability   may  be   limited   by   applicable   bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,   moratorium  or  similar  laws  affecting  the  enforcement  of
creditors'  rights  generally and by the effect of general  principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).

     Section  2.4  Consents  and  Approvals;  No  Violation.  Assuming  that all
consents, approvals,  authorizations and other actions described in this Section
2.4 have been obtained and all filings and obligations described in this Section
2.4 have been made, except as set forth in Section 2.4 of the Parent Letter, the
execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  by Parent and Sub,  and the Parent
Ancillary Agreements by Parent, do not, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated  hereby and thereby and compliance  with the provisions  hereof and
thereof will not, result in any violation of, or default (with or without notice

<PAGE>

or lapse of time,  or both)  under,  or give to  others a right of  termination,
cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or the loss of a material benefit
under,  or result in the  creation  of any lien,  security  interest,  charge or
encumbrance  upon  any of the  properties  or  assets  of  Parent  or any of its
Subsidiaries  under,  any  provision of (i) the Parent  Charter or the Bylaws of
Parent (the "Parent  Bylaws") or the Certificate of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of
Sub, (ii) the comparable  charter or  organization  documents of any of Parent's
Subsidiaries,  (iii)  any  loan  or  credit  agreement,  note,  bond,  mortgage,
indenture, lease or other agreement,  instrument, permit, concession,  franchise
or  license  applicable  to  Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any of their
respective properties or assets, or (iv) any judgment,  order, decree,  statute,
law,  ordinance,  rule  or  regulation  applicable  to  Parent  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, other than, in the
case of clauses (ii),  (iii) and (iv), any such  violations,  defaults,  rights,
liens, security interests,  charges or encumbrances that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, materially impair
the ability of Parent or Sub to perform their respective  obligations  hereunder
or, in the case of Parent, under the Parent Ancillary Agreements, or prevent the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby by Parent
or Sub.  Except as set forth in Section 2.4 of the Parent  Letter,  no filing or
registration  with,  or  authorization,  consent or  approval  of, any  domestic
(federal and state),  foreign or supranational court,  commission,  governmental
body,  regulatory  agency,  authority or tribunal (a  "Governmental  Entity") is
required by or with respect to Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries  in connection
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent or Sub or the Parent
Ancillary Agreements by Parent or is necessary for the consummation by Parent or
Sub of the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or
the Parent Ancillary Agreements,  except for (i) in connection, or in compliance
with the  provisions  of the  Bank  Holding  Company  Act of  1956,  as  amended
(together  with the  rules and  regulations  promulgated  thereunder,  the "Bank
Act"), and the Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended
(together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the "HSR Act"),
(ii) the filing of the  Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware and  appropriate  documents  with the relevant  authorities of
other states in which the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries is qualified to do
business,  (iii) such  filings,  authorizations,  orders and approvals as may be
required by state  takeover  laws (the "State  Takeover  Approvals"),  (iv) such
filings as may be required in  connection  with the taxes  described in Sections
5.7, 5.8 and 5.9, (v) applicable  requirements,  if any, of state  securities or
"blue sky" laws ("Blue Sky Laws") and Nasdaq, (vi) applicable  requirements,  if

<PAGE>

any, under foreign laws and (vii) such other consents,  orders,  authorizations,
registrations,  declarations  and filings the failure of which to be obtained or
made would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
on  Parent,  materially  impair  the  ability  of Parent or Sub to  perform  its
obligations  hereunder  or, in the case of Parent,  under the  Parent  Ancillary
Agreements,  or prevent the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby by Parent or Sub.

     Section 2.5 SEC Documents and Other Reports.  Parent has filed all required
documents with the SEC between  January 1, 2000 and the date hereof (the "Parent
SEC Documents").  As of their respective dates or, if amended, as of the date of
the last amendment,  the Parent SEC Documents  complied in all material respects
with the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended  (together with
the rules and regulations promulgated  thereunder,  the "Securities Act") or the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (together  with the  rules  and
regulations promulgated thereunder, to "Exchange Act"), as the case may be, and,
at the  respective  times they were  filed,  none of the  Parent  SEC  Documents
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein,
in light of the  circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading.  The
consolidated financial statements  (including,  in each case, any notes thereto)
of Parent  included  in the  Parent  SEC  Documents  complied  as to form in all
material  respects with  applicable  accounting  requirements  and the published
rules  and  regulations  of the SEC  with  respect  thereto,  were  prepared  in
accordance with generally accepted  accounting  principles  ("GAAP") (except, in
the case of the  unaudited  statements,  as  permitted  by Form 10-Q of the SEC)
applied on a  consistent  basis  during the periods  involved  (except as may be
indicated  therein or in the notes thereto) and fairly presented in all material
respects  the  consolidated  financial  position of Parent and its  consolidated
Subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof and the consolidated  results of
their  operations and their  consolidated  cash flows for the periods then ended
(subject,  in the  case  of  unaudited  statements,  to  normal  year-end  audit
adjustments and to any other adjustments described therein). Except as disclosed
in the  Parent SEC  Documents  or as  required  by GAAP,  Parent has not,  since
December  31,  1999,  made any material  change in the  accounting  practices or
policies  applied in the  preparation  of financial  statements  included in the
Parent SEC Documents.

     Section 2.6 Actions and Proceedings.  Except as set forth in the Parent SEC
Documents  filed prior to the date of this  Agreement and except as set forth in

<PAGE>

Section 2.6 of the Parent Letter,  as of the date hereof,  there are no actions,
suits, labor disputes or other litigation,  legal or administrative  proceedings
or  governmental   investigations  pending  or,  to  the  Knowledge  of  Parent,
threatened  against  Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries  or, to the Knowledge of
Parent,  any of its or their present or former officers,  directors,  employees,
consultants, agents or stockholders, as such, or any of its or their properties,
assets or business  relating to the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement
and the  Parent  Ancillary  Agreements.  Except as set forth in the  Parent  SEC
Documents filed prior to the date of this Agreement,  and except as set forth in
Section  2.6  of  the  Parent  Letter,  as of  the  date  hereof,  there  are no
outstanding   orders,   judgments,   injunctions,   awards  or  decrees  of  any
Governmental  Entity  against  Parent  or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or,  to the
Knowledge  of Parent (as  hereinafter  defined),  against  any of the present or
former directors or officers of Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries,  as such, or
any of its or their  properties,  assets or businesses that,  individually or in
the aggregate,  would have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.  For purposes of
this  Agreement,  "Knowledge  of  Parent"  means  the  actual  knowledge  of the
individuals identified in Section 2.6 of the Parent Letter.

     Section  2.7  Required  Vote  of  Parent  Stockholders.   No  vote  of  the
securityholders  of Parent is required by law, the Parent  Charter or the Parent
Bylaws  or  otherwise  in order for  Parent to  consummate  the  Merger  and the
transactions contemplated hereby.

     Section 2.8  Pooling of  Interests;  Reorganization.  To the  Knowledge  of
Parent,  neither Parent nor any of its  Subsidiaries has (i) taken any action or
failed to take any action which action or failure would jeopardize the treatment
of the Merger as a pooling of interests  for  accounting  purposes or (ii) taken
any action or failed to take any action  which action or failure  would  prevent
the Merger from  qualifying  as a  reorganization  within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code.

     Section 2.9 Tax Matters.  Except as  otherwise  set forth in Section 2.9 of
the  Parent  Letter,  as of  the  date  hereof,  (i)  Parent  and  each  of  its
Subsidiaries have filed all federal,  and all material state, local and foreign,
Tax Returns (as hereinafter  defined) required to have been filed or appropriate
extensions  therefor  have been  properly  obtained,  and such Tax  Returns  are
correct  and  complete,  except to the extent that any failure to so file or any
failure to be correct and complete would not,  individually or in the aggregate,
have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on  Parent;  (ii) all  Taxes  (as  hereinafter

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defined) shown to be due on such Tax Returns have been timely paid or extensions
for payment have been properly  obtained,  except to the extent that any failure
to so pay or so obtain  such an  extension  would  not,  individually  or in the
aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse Effect on Parent;  (iii) Parent and each of
its  Subsidiaries  have  complied in all  material  respects  with all rules and
regulations  relating to the  withholding of Taxes except to the extent that any
failure to comply with such rules and regulations would not,  individually or in
the  aggregate,  have  a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on  Parent;  and  (iv)  all
deficiencies asserted or assessments made as a result of any examination of such
Tax Returns by any taxing  authority  have been paid in full or are being timely
and properly  contested other than any  deficiencies  or assessments  that would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
For purposes of this  Agreement:  (i) "Taxes" means any federal,  state,  local,
foreign or provincial  income,  gross receipts,  property,  sales, use, license,
excise,  franchise,  employment,  payroll,  withholding,  alternative  or  added
minimum, ad valorem, value-added,  transfer or excise tax, or other tax, custom,
duty,  governmental  fee  or  other  like  assessment  or  charge  of  any  kind
whatsoever,  together with any interest or penalty  imposed by any  Governmental
Entity with respect thereto,  and (ii) "Tax Return" means any return,  report or
similar statement  (including the attached  schedules) required to be filed with
respect to any Tax, including, without limitation, any information return, claim
for refund, amended return or declaration of estimated Tax.

     Section 2.10 Brokers. No broker,  investment banker or other Person,  other
than  William  Blair & Company,  L.L.C.,  the fees and expenses of which will be
paid by Parent,  is entitled to any  broker's,  finder's or other similar fee or
commission in connection  with the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement
based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or Sub.

     Section 2.11 Operations of Sub. Sub is a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of
Parent,  was formed  solely  for the  purpose of  engaging  in the  transactions
contemplated  hereby,  has  engaged  in no  other  business  activities  and has
conducted its operations only as contemplated hereby.

     Section  2.12  Permits  and  Compliance;  Defaults.  Each of Parent and its
Subsidiaries is in possession of all licenses, franchises,  permits, privileges,
immunities,  approvals and other authorizations from Governmental Entities which
are  necessary to entitle  Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries  to own,  lease or
possess,  and  operate  and  use  its  assets  and  to  carry  on  its  business
substantially as currently  conducted  (herein  collectively  called the "Parent

<PAGE>

Permits"),  and each of the material  Parent Permits are valid and in full force
and effect,  except where the failure to be in  possession  of any of the Parent
Permits or the failure of any such Parent  Permit to be in full force and effect
would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a Material Adverse Effect on
Parent.  Parent and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material  respects
with  their  respective  obligations  under the Parent  Permits,  with only such
exceptions  as,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  would not have a  Material
Adverse Effect on Parent.

     Section 2.13 Certain Agreements. Except as set forth in Section 2.13 of the
Parent Letter,  as of the date of this Agreement,  neither Parent nor any of its
Subsidiaries  is a party to any contract,  agreement or  arrangement  which is a
"material  contract"  (as such term is defined in Item  601(b)(10) of Regulation
S-K under the Securities  Act) to be performed  after the date of this Agreement
that  has not  been  filed  or  incorporated  by  reference  in the  Parent  SEC
Documents.  As of the  date of  this  Agreement,  each  contract,  agreement  or
arrangement  of Parent or its  Subsidiaries  which is a "material  contract" (as
such term is defined in Item  601(b)(10) of Regulation  S-K under the Securities
Act) is valid and binding on Parent or its respective Subsidiary, as applicable,
and in full force and effect and Parent and each Subsidiary has performed in all
material  respects  its  obligations  required to be performed by it to the date
hereof  under each such  contract,  agreement or  arrangement,  except where the
failure of any such contract to be valid and binding or in full force and effect
or the  failure  of any  such  obligation  to have  been  performed  would  not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

     Section  2.14  ERISA.  (a)  Except  as would  not,  individually  or in the
aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse  Effect on  Parent,  each  Parent  Plan (as
hereinafter  defined)  complies in all  material  respects  with Title IV of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"),  the Code
and all other applicable  statutes and governmental  rules and regulations,  and
(ii) to the Knowledge of Parent,  no  "reportable  event" (within the meaning of
Section 4043 of ERISA) for which the 30-day  notice  requirement  to the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC") has occurred prior to the date hereof with
respect  to any  Parent  Plan.  Except  as  would  not,  individually  or in the
aggregate,  have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent,  neither Parent nor any of
its ERISA  Affiliates  (as  hereinafter  defined)  has,  within  the five  years
preceding   the  date  hereof,   withdrawn   from  any  Parent  Plan  or  Parent
Multiemployer  Plan (as  hereinafter  defined) or  instituted,  or is  currently
considering taking, any action to do so. Except as would not, individually or in

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the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, no Parent Plan, nor any
trust created thereunder,  has incurred any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as
defined in Section 301 of ERISA), whether or not waived. (b) Except as listed in
Section 2.14 of the Parent  Letter,  with respect to the Parent Plans,  no event
has occurred and, to the  Knowledge of Parent,  there exists no condition or set
of  circumstances in connection with which Parent or any of its ERISA Affiliates
would be subject to any material liability under the terms of such Parent Plans,
ERISA, the Code or any other applicable law, other than liabilities for benefits
payable  in the  normal  course  or  premiums  to the  PBGC and  other  than any
liability  that would not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent. (c) As used herein, (i) "Parent Plan" means a "pension
plan" (as defined in Section  3(2) of ERISA  (other than a Parent  Multiemployer
Plan)),  a "welfare  plan" (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA),  or any bonus,
profit sharing, deferred compensation,  incentive compensation, stock ownership,
stock purchase,  stock option, phantom stock, holiday pay, vacation,  severance,
death  benefit,  sick  leave,  fringe  benefit,  insurance  or  other  plan,  or
arrangement,  in each case  established  or  maintained  by Parent or any of its
ERISA  Affiliates  or as to which  Parent  or any of its  ERISA  Affiliates  has
contributed or otherwise has any material liability,  (ii) "Parent Multiemployer
Plan" means a "multiemployer  plan" (as defined in Section  4001(a)(3) of ERISA)
to which  Parent  or any of its ERISA  Affiliates  is or has been  obligated  to
contribute  within the five years  preceding  the date hereof,  or otherwise has
material  liability,  and (iii)  "ERISA  Affiliate"  means any trade or business
(whether  or not  incorporated)  which  is  under  common  control  or  would be
considered  a single  employer  with such  Person in either  case,  pursuant  to
Section  414(b),  (c),  (m) or (o) of the Code and the  regulations  promulgated
under those sections or pursuant to Section 4001(b) of ERISA and the regulations
promulgated thereunder.

                                  ARTICLE III

                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
       The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as follows:

     Section 3.1 Organization,  Standing and Power. The Company is a corporation
duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the
State of Delaware and has the requisite  corporate  power and authority to carry
on its business as now being  conducted.  Each Subsidiary of the Company is duly
organized,  validly  existing  and  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of the
jurisdiction  in which it is organized and has the  requisite  corporate (in the

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case of a  Subsidiary  that is a  corporation)  or other power and  authority to
carry on its  business  as now  being  conducted.  The  Company  and each of its
Subsidiaries  are duly qualified to do business,  and are in good  standing,  in
each  jurisdiction  where the character of their  properties owned or held under
lease or the  nature  of  their  activities  makes  such  qualification  or good
standing necessary, except where any such failure to be so qualified or licensed
and in  good  standing  would  not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

     Section 3.2 Capital  Structure.  (a) The  authorized  capital  stock of the
Company consists of 8,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, 6,000,000 of which
are  designated as Class A Shares and 2,000,000 of which are designated as Class
B Nonvoting  Shares.  At the close of business on October 4, 2000, (i) 5,160,333
shares of Company  Common Stock were issued and  outstanding,  all of which were
validly issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable and none of which has been issued
in violation of, or is subject to any preemptive or subscription rights, (ii) no
shares of Company  Common  Stock were held in the  treasury of the Company or by
Subsidiaries  of the Company,  (iii) 258,000 shares of Company Common Stock were
reserved for issuance  pursuant to the Star Systems,  Inc. 2000 Equity Incentive
Plan (the "Company  Stock Plan"),  and (iv) 167,703  options (the "Company Stock
Options") to purchase  shares of Company  Common  Stock  pursuant to the Company
Stock Plan were outstanding.  The Company Stock Plan is the only benefit plan of
the Company or its Subsidiaries under which any securities of the Company or any
of its  Subsidiaries  are issuable.  Since October 4, 2000,  except as set forth
above, no shares of capital stock or other voting securities of the Company were
issued,  reserved  for issuance or  outstanding.  Except as set forth in Section
3.2(a)(i)  of the  Company  Letter (as  hereinafter  defined),  there will be no
acceleration  in the  vesting of the  Company  Stock  Options as a result of the
execution of this Agreement or  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby.  Except as set forth in Section  3.2(a)(ii)  of the  Company  Letter and
except for the Company  Stock  Options  there are no  agreements,  arrangements,
options,  warrants, calls, rights, puts or commitments of any character relating
to the issuance,  sale, purchase or redemption of any shares of capital stock or
other  equity  interests  or equity  equivalents  of the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries,  whether  on  conversion  of other  securities  or  otherwise,  or
obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to grant, extend or enter into
any  such  agreement,   arrangement,   option,  warrant,  call,  right,  put  or
commitment.  Except as set forth in Section  3.2(a)(iii) of the Company  Letter,
the Company is not a party to, and does not otherwise  have any Knowledge of the
current existence of, any stockholder  agreement,  voting trust agreement or any

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other   similar   contract,   agreement,   arrangement,   commitment,   plan  or
understanding  restricting  or  otherwise  relating  to  the  voting,  dividend,
ownership or transfer rights of any shares of capital stock of the Company. True
and complete copies of the Company Charter,  Company Bylaws,  and the agreements
and other  instruments  referred to in Section 3.2(a) of the Company Letter have
been delivered to Parent.  (b) Each outstanding share of capital stock (or other
equity interest or equity equivalent,  as the case may be) of each Subsidiary of
the Company is duly authorized,  validly issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable,
and each such share (or other equity interest or equity equivalent,  as the case
may be) is owned by the Company or another  Subsidiary of the Company,  free and
clear of all security interests,  liens,  claims,  pledges,  options,  rights of
first  refusal,  agreements,  limitations  on voting  rights,  charges and other
encumbrances of any nature whatsoever. The Company does not have any outstanding
bonds,  debentures,  notes or other  obligations  the  holders of which have the
right to vote (or  convertible  into or exercisable  for  securities  having the
right to vote) with the  stockholders of the Company on any matter.  (c) Section
3.2(c)(i) of the letter  dated the date hereof and  delivered on the date hereof
by the  Company  to  Parent,  which  letter  relates  to this  Agreement  and is
designated  the Company  Letter (the  "Company  Letter") sets forth the name and
address  of each  holder of record of  shares of  capital  stock of the  Company
outstanding  on the date  hereof,  together,  in each  case,  with the number of
shares of Company  Common Stock held by such holder.  Section  3.2(c)(ii) of the
Company  Letter sets forth each  Company  Stock  Option  issued by the  Company,
together,  in each  case,  with the  number of  shares  issuable  upon  exercise
thereof,  the grant date, the exercise price,  the expiration  date, the vesting
schedule and any early vesting provisions and the name and address of the record
owner thereof.  Other than Ronald V. Congemi who holds the Company Stock Options
set forth in Section 3.2(c)(ii) of the Company Letter,  none of the directors of
the Company holds, is eligible to hold or will hold, between the date hereof and
the  Effective  Time,  any shares of Company  Common Stock or any Company  Stock
Options.  True and complete  copies of (i) the Company Stock Plan, and (ii) each
instrument  governing any Company Stock Option has been delivered by the Company
to Parent.  (d) Section  3.2(d) of the  Company  Letter sets forth a list of all
Subsidiaries  and Joint  Ventures of the Company and the  jurisdiction  in which
such  Subsidiary or Joint Venture is  organized.  Section  3.2(d) of the Company
Letter  also sets  forth the  nature  and  extent of the  ownership  and  voting
interests  held by the  Company in each such Joint  Venture.  The Company has no
obligation to make any capital  contributions,  or otherwise  provide  assets or
cash, to any Joint Venture. Except as set forth in Section 3.2(d) of the Company
Letter,  the Company  does not,  directly or  indirectly,  (i) own, of record or

<PAGE>

beneficially, any outstanding voting securities or other equity interests in any
corporation,  partnership,  joint  venture or other  entity or (ii)  control any
corporation,  partnership,  joint venture or other entity.  For purposes of this
Agreement,  "Joint Venture" means any corporation,  limited  liability  company,
partnership,  joint venture,  trust,  association or other entity which is not a
Subsidiary  of the  Company,  as the case may be, and in which (a) the  Company,
directly  or  indirectly,  owns or  controls  any  shares  of any  class  of the
outstanding  voting securities or other equity interests,  or (b) the Company or
one of its  Subsidiaries  is a general  partner.  (e) All issued and outstanding
shares  of  Company  Common  Stock  have  been  issued  in  compliance  with all
appropriate  securities laws and are subject to all appropriate  restrictions on
transfer in connection with such laws.

     Section 3.3 Authority. On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Board
of Directors of the Company approved this Agreement, declared this Agreement and
the Merger advisable and fair to and in the best interest of the Company and its
stockholders,  resolved to recommend the approval and adoption of this Agreement
by the Company's stockholders,  directed that this Agreement be submitted to the
Company's  stockholders  for approval and adoption,  all in accordance  with the
DGCL,  approved the Stockholder  Agreements and approved the other agreements to
be  entered  into by it as  contemplated  hereby  (such  other  agreements,  the
"Company Ancillary  Agreements").  The Company has the requisite corporate power
and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Company Ancillary Agreements,
to consummate the transactions  contemplated by the Company Ancillary Agreements
and,  subject to approval by the  stockholders of the Company of this Agreement,
to consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby.  The execution
and  delivery of this  Agreement  and the Company  Ancillary  Agreements  by the
Company and the  consummation  by the Company of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary  corporate  action
on the  part of the  Company,  subject,  in the case of this  Agreement,  to (x)
approval and adoption of this Agreement by the  stockholders  of the Company and
(y) the filing of  appropriate  Merger  documents as required by the DGCL.  This
Agreement  has been duly  executed and  delivered  by the  Company.  The Company
Ancillary Agreements executed as of the date hereof have each been duly executed
and  delivered by the Company and no other  corporate  action on the part of the
Company is necessary in connection therewith.  Assuming the valid authorization,
execution and delivery by the other parties thereto and the validity and binding
effect  hereof  and  thereof  on  the  other  parties  thereto,  this  Agreement
constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company  enforceable against
it in  accordance  with its terms and each of the Company  Ancillary  Agreements

<PAGE>

upon execution and delivery thereof by the Company will constitute the valid and
binding obligation of the Company  enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms,  except  as  enforceability  may be  limited  by  applicable  bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement
of creditors' rights generally and by the effect of general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).

     Section  3.4  Consents  and  Approvals;  No  Violation.  Assuming  that all
consents, approvals,  authorizations and other actions described in this Section
3.4 have been obtained and all filings and obligations described in this Section
3.4 have been made,  except as set forth in Section 3.4 of the  Company  Letter,
the  execution  and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and  the  Company  Ancillary
Agreements  by the  Company do not,  and the  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby and thereby and compliance  with the provisions  hereof and
thereof will not, result in any violation of, or default (with or without notice
or lapse of time,  or both)  under,  or give to  others a right of  termination,
cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or the loss of a material benefit
under,  or result in the  creation  of any lien,  security  interest,  charge or
encumbrance  upon any of the  properties  or assets of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries  under,  any  provision  of (i) the Company  Charter or the Company
Bylaws,  (ii) the comparable  charter or organizational  documents of any of the
Company's  Subsidiaries,  (iii)  any  loan  or  credit  agreement,  note,  bond,
mortgage,  indenture,  guaranty, lease or other agreement,  instrument,  permit,
concession,  franchise  or  license  applicable  to  the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries  or any of  their  respective  properties  or  assets,  or (iv) any
judgment,  order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable
to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective  properties
or assets  except,  in the case of clauses (iii) or (iv),  any such  violations,
defaults,  rights,  liens,  security  interests,  charges or encumbrances  that,
individually  or in the aggregate,  would not have a Material  Adverse Effect on
the  Company,  materially  impair  the  ability of the  Company  to perform  its
obligations  hereunder or under the Company Ancillary  Agreements or prevent the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby or thereby by the Company.
No filing or registration  with, or  authorization,  consent or approval of, any
Governmental  Entity is required by or with respect to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries  in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or
the  Company  Ancillary  Agreements  by the  Company  or is  necessary  for  the
consummation   by  the  Company  of  the  Merger  and  the  other   transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the Company Ancillary  Agreements,  except for

<PAGE>

(i) in connection, or in compliance with, the provisions of the Bank Act and the
HSR Act,  (ii) the filing of the  Certificate  of Merger with the  Secretary  of
State of the State of  Delaware  and  appropriate  documents  with the  relevant
authorities of other states in which the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  is
qualified to do business,  (iii) State Takeover Approvals,  (iv) such filings as
may be required in connection  with the taxes described in Sections 5.7, 5.8 and
5.9, (v)  applicable  requirements,  if any,  under foreign laws,  and (vi) such
other consents, orders, authorizations,  registrations, declarations and filings
the failure of which to be obtained  or made would not,  individually  or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company,  materially impair the
ability of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under the Company
Ancillary  Agreements,  or prevent the  consummation of any of the  transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby by the Company.

     Section  3.5  Financial  Statements.  Section  3.5  of the  Company  Letter
contains  (i) the  balance  sheet (the  "Balance  Sheet") of the Company and its
subsidiaries  as of December 31, 1999 (the "Balance Sheet Date") and the related
statements  of  income,  stockholders'  equity  and cash flows for the year then
ended,  together  with  the  appropriate  notes  to such  financial  statements,
accompanied by the report thereon of Deloitte & Touche, LLP,  independent public
accountants (the "Audited Financial Statements"), and (ii) the unaudited balance
sheet of the  Company and its  Subsidiaries  as of July 31, 2000 and the related
unaudited  statements  of  income,  stockholders'  equity and cash flows for the
seven months then ended (the "Unaudited Financial  Statements" and together with
the  Audited  Financial  Statements,  the  "Financial  Statements").  Except  as
disclosed in the notes thereto,  the Financial  Statements have been prepared in
conformity  with GAAP  consistently  applied and fairly  present in all material
respects the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the dates
of such balance  sheets and the results of its operations and cash flows for the
respective periods indicated (except that the Unaudited Financial Statements are
subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and do not contain footnotes).

     Section 3.6 No Dividends;  Absence of Certain Changes or Events. (a) Except
as set forth in Section 3.6(a) of the Company  Letter,  since December 31, 1999,
the Company has not declared or made, or agreed to declare or make,  any payment
of  dividends  or  distributions  to its  stockholders  (and no record date with
respect to any of the  foregoing  has  occurred) or  purchased  or redeemed,  or
agreed to purchase or redeem, any of its capital stock or other equity interest.
(b)  Except as set forth in  Section  3.6(b) of the  Company  Letter,  since the
Balance Sheet Date there has been:  (i) no Material  Adverse Change with respect

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to the Company; and (ii) no material damage, destruction, loss or claim, whether
or not covered by insurance, or condemnation or other taking adversely affecting
any material assets or business of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries.  (c)
Except as set forth in Section 3.6(c) of the Company  Letter,  since the Balance
Sheet Date, the Company and its  Subsidiaries  have conducted  their  respective
businesses  in  all  material  respects  only  in  the  ordinary  course  and in
conformity with past practice. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
since the  Balance  Sheet  Date,  except as set forth in  Section  3.6(c) of the
Company Letter, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has: (i) issued,
delivered or agreed  (conditionally or  unconditionally) to issue or deliver, or
granted any option, warrant or other right to purchase, any of its capital stock
or other equity interest or any security  convertible  into its capital stock or
other equity  interest;  (ii)  issued,  delivered  or agreed  (conditionally  or
unconditionally)  to issue or  deliver  any of its  bonds,  notes or other  debt
securities or borrowed or agreed to borrow any funds, other than in the ordinary
course of business  consistent with past practice;  (iii) paid any obligation or
liability (absolute or contingent) other than current  liabilities  reflected on
the Balance Sheet and current liabilities  incurred since the Balance Sheet Date
in the ordinary course of business  consistent with past practice or liabilities
and  obligations  not  exceeding  $50,000 in the  aggregate;  (iv) except in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, made or permitted any
material  amendment or  termination  of any Company  Agreement  (as  hereinafter
defined);   (v)  undertaken  or  committed  to  undertake  capital  expenditures
exceeding  $50,000  for any  single  project or related  series of  projects  or
$200,000 in the aggregate;  (vi) made charitable  donations in excess of $10,000
in the  aggregate;  (vii) sold,  leased (as  lessor),  transferred  or otherwise
disposed of (including any transfers from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
to any of the stockholders of the Company or any of their respective  Affiliates
(as hereinafter defined)), or mortgaged or pledged, or imposed or suffered to be
imposed any lien, claim, charge, security interest,  mortgage, pledge, easement,
conditional sale or other title retention agreement,  defect in title,  covenant
or  other  restriction  of any  kind (an  "Encumbrance"),  on any of the  assets
reflected on the Balance  Sheet or any assets  acquired by the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries  after the  Balance  Sheet  Date,  except  for  inventory  and
immaterial  amounts of personal property sold or otherwise  disposed of for fair
value in the ordinary  course of its business  consistent with past practice and
except for (A) liens for taxes and other  governmental  charges and  assessments
which are not yet due and payable, (B) liens of landlords and liens of carriers,
warehousemen,  mechanics  and  materialmen  and other like liens  arising in the
ordinary course of business for sums not yet due and payable and (C) other liens

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or imperfections on property which are not material in amount,  do not interfere
with, and are not violated by the consummation of the transactions  contemplated
by,  this  Agreement,   and  do  not  materially   detract  from  the  value  or
marketability  of, or  materially  impair  the  existing  use of,  the  property
affected by such lien or imperfection (each, a "Permitted Encumbrance");  (viii)
canceled  any  debts  owed  to or  claims  held  by  the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries  (including the settlement of any claims or litigation)  other than
in the ordinary course of its business consistent with past practice or debts or
claims not  exceeding  $50,000  in the  aggregate;  (ix)  created,  incurred  or
assumed,  or agreed to create,  incur or assume,  any  indebtedness for borrowed
money or entered into, as lessee,  any capitalized lease obligations (as defined
in Statement of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 13); (x)  accelerated  or
delayed collection of notes or accounts receivable in advance of or beyond their
regular  due dates or the dates when the same would have been  collected  in the
ordinary course of its business  consistent with past practice;  (xi) delayed or
accelerated  payment  of any  account  payable or other  liability  beyond or in
advance of its due date or the date when such liability  would have been paid in
the  ordinary  course  of its  business  consistent  with past  practice;  (xii)
instituted any increase in any compensation payable to any employee, director or
consultant of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries or in any  profit-sharing,
bonus,  incentive,   deferred  compensation,   insurance,  pension,  retirement,
medical,  hospital,  disability,  welfare or other  benefits  made  available to
employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries except, in case of employees
other than directors or officers,  salary increases in connection with annual or
periodic compensation reviews in the ordinary course of business consistent with
the Company's past practice; (xiii) settled or compromised any material federal,
state,  local or foreign income tax  liability;  (xiv) prepared or filed any Tax
Return  inconsistent  with past  practice  or, on any such Tax Return,  took any
position,  made any election,  or adopted any method that is  inconsistent  with
positions  taken,  elections made or methods used in preparing or filing similar
Tax Returns in prior periods;  (xv) made any change in the accounting principles
and practices  used by the Company from those applied in the  preparation of the
Financial  Statements;  or (xvi) entered into or become  committed to enter into
any other  material  transaction  except  in the  ordinary  course  of  business
consistent with past practice.  (d) Except as set forth in Section 3.6(d) of the
Company  Letter,  neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries is subject to
any  liability  (including,  without  limitation,  unasserted  claims),  whether
absolute,  contingent,  accrued or otherwise,  which is not shown or which is in
excess of  amounts  shown or  reserved  for in the  Balance  Sheet,  other  than
liabilities  of the same nature as those set forth in the Balance  Sheet and the

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notes  thereto and  reasonably  incurred in the ordinary  course of its business
consistent   with  past  practice   after  the  Balance  Sheet  Date  or  which,
individually  or in the aggregate,  would not have a Material  Adverse Effect on
the Company.  (e) For  purposes of this  Agreement,  "Knowledge  of the Company"
means the actual  knowledge of the  individuals  identified in Section 3.6(e) of
the Company Letter.

     Section 3.7 Governmental  Permits. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries
owns,  holds  or  possesses  all  licenses,  franchises,   permits,  privileges,
immunities,  approvals and other authorizations from Governmental Entities which
are necessary to entitle the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to own, lease or
possess, and operate and use its assets and to carry on and conduct its business
substantially as currently  conducted (herein  collectively  called the "Company
Permits"),  except where the failure to be in  possession  of any of the Company
Permits would not,  individually  or in the aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse
Effect on the  Company.  Complete  and  correct  copies  of all of the  material
Company Permits have been made available to Parent.  Each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries  has  substantially  fulfilled and performed its obligations  under
each  of the  Company  Permits  as of the  date  hereof  and  no  suspension  or
cancellation  of any of the Company  Permits is pending or, to the  Knowledge of
the  Company,  threatened  and each of the  material  Company  Permits is valid,
subsisting  and in full force and effect,  except  where the failure of any such
Company Permit to be in full force and effect would not,  individually or in the
aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Company and will continue in
full force and effect  after the  Effective  Time,  in each case without (x) the
occurrence of any breach, default or forfeiture of rights thereunder, or (y) the
consent, approval, or act of, or the making of any filing with, any Governmental
Entity.

     Section  3.8 Tax  Matters.  (a)  Except as  otherwise  set forth in Section
3.8(a) of the Company Letter,  (i) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have
filed all  federal,  and all  material  state,  local and  foreign,  Tax Returns
required  to have  been  filed or  appropriate  extensions  therefor  have  been
properly obtained, and such Tax Returns are correct and complete,  except to the
extent that any  failure to so file or any  failure to be correct  and  complete
would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company; (ii) all Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Returns have been timely
paid or extensions for payment have been properly obtained, except to the extent
that  any  failure  to  so  pay  or so  obtain  such  an  extension  would  not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company;

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(iii) the Company and each of its  Subsidiaries  have  complied in all  respects
with all rules and  regulations  relating to the  withholding of Taxes except to
the extent that any failure to comply with such rules and regulations would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company;
(iv) all Tax  Returns  referred  to in  clause  (i) have  been  examined  by the
Internal  Revenue  Service  ("IRS") or the period for assessment of the Taxes in
respect of which such Tax Returns were required to be filed has expired;  (v) no
material  issues  that  have been  raised  in  writing  by the  relevant  taxing
authority in connection with the  examination of the Tax Returns  referred to in
clause (i) are currently pending;  (vi) all deficiencies asserted or assessments
made as a result of any examination of such Tax Returns by any taxing  authority
have been paid in full or are being  timely  and  properly  contested;  (vii) no
withholding  is required  under Section 1445 of the Code in connection  with the
Merger; (viii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any
tax  allocation  or sharing  agreement  and  neither  the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries  has been a member of an  affiliated  group  filing a  consolidated
federal income tax return (other than a group the common parent of which was the
Company) or has any material  liability  for Taxes of any Person (other than the
Company and its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any
similar  provision of state,  local or foreign law) as a transferee or successor
or by contract or  otherwise;  (ix) there are no liens for Taxes upon the assets
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries except liens relating to current Taxes
not yet due; and (x) none of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  has waived
or been requested to waive any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes, which
waiver or request is currently in effect.  (b) Except as otherwise  set forth in
Section  3.8(b)  of  the  Company  Letter,  as  a  result  of  the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement,  none of the Company,  any  Subsidiary  of the
Company,  or Parent  has made,  or will be  obligated  to make,  a payment to an
individual  that  would be an  "excess  parachute  payment"  to a  "disqualified
individual"  as those  terms are  defined in Section  280G of the Code,  without
regard to whether such payment is reasonable  compensation for personal services
performed  or to be  performed  in the  future.  (c)  None of the  Company,  any
predecessor of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is (and none thereof
has ever been),  a member of (i) any  "affiliated  group" (as defined in Section
1504(a)  of the Code  without  regard to the  limitations  contained  in Section
1504(b) of the Code) or (ii) any other group of  corporations  or entities which
files or has filed Tax Returns on a combined, consolidated or unitary basis.

     Section 3.9 Actions and Proceedings.  Except as set forth in Section 3.9 of
the Company Letter,  there are no outstanding  orders,  judgments,  injunctions,

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awards or decrees of any Governmental  Entity or actions,  suits, labor disputes
or  other  litigation  or  claims  or  legal,   administrative   or  arbitration
proceedings  or  investigations  pending or, to the  Knowledge  of the  Company,
threatened  against or  involving  the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or
against or involving any of the present or former directors, officers, employees
or, to the Knowledge of the Company, consultants,  agents or stockholders of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries,  as such, or any of its or their properties,
assets or business or any Company Plan (as hereinafter defined). The Company and
each  of its  Subsidiaries  has  complied  in all  material  respects  with  all
Requirements  of Laws which are applicable to the Company's  assets or business.
There are no  actions,  suits,  labor  disputes  or other  litigation,  legal or
administrative  proceedings or  governmental  investigations  pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company,  threatened against or affecting the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries or any of its or their present or former  officers,  directors,
employees,  or,  to  the  Knowledge  of  the  Company,  consultants,  agents  or
stockholders,  as such,  or any of its or their  properties,  assets or business
relating to the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  and the Company
Ancillary  Agreements.  For purposes of this Agreement,  "Requirements  of Laws"
means any foreign, federal, state and local laws, statutes,  regulations, rules,
codes or ordinances enacted,  adopted, issued or promulgated by any Governmental
Entity (including, without limitation, those pertaining to electrical, building,
zoning, environmental and occupational safety and health requirements) or common
law.

     Section 3.10 Certain Agreements. Except as set forth in Section 3.10 of the
Company  Letter,  neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries is a party to
any oral or written  agreement  or plan,  including  any  employment  agreement,
severance  agreement,   stock  option  plan,  stock  appreciation  rights  plan,
restricted  stock plan or stock purchase plan, any of the benefits of which will
be increased,  or the vesting of the benefits of which will be  accelerated,  by
the occurrence of any of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or the
value of any of the benefits of which will be  calculated on the basis of any of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Except as set forth in Section
3.10 of the  Company  Letter,  no holder of any option or  warrant  to  purchase
shares of Company  Common  Stock,  or shares of Company  Common Stock granted in
connection with the performance of services for the Company or its Subsidiaries,
is or will be entitled to receive  cash from the  Company or any  Subsidiary  in
lieu of or in exchange for such option, warrant or shares.

     Section  3.11 ERISA.  (a) Each  Company  Plan (as  hereinafter  defined) is

<PAGE>

listed in Section  3.11(a) of the Company  Letter,  true and complete  copies of
which have heretofore  been delivered to Parent.  Except as set forth in Section
3.11(a) of the Company  Letter,  (i) each Company Plan  complies in all material
respects with Title IV of ERISA, the Code and all other applicable  statutes and
governmental  rules and regulations,  and (ii) no "reportable event" (within the
meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA) has occurred  with respect to any Company Plan
for which the 30-day notice requirement to the PBGC has not been waived. Neither
the Company nor any of its ERISA  Affiliates has within the five years preceding
the date hereof  withdrawn from any Company Plan that is a defined  benefit plan
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code or any Company Multiemployer Plan (as
hereinafter  defined) or instituted,  or is currently  considering  taking,  any
action to do so. No action has been taken, or is currently being considered,  to
terminate any Company Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA.  No Company  Plan,  nor
any trust created thereunder,  has incurred any "accumulated funding deficiency"
(as  defined in  Section  302 of ERISA),  whether or not  waived.  (b) Except as
listed in Section  3.11(b) of the Company  Letter,  with  respect to the Company
Plans, no event has occurred and, to the Knowledge of the Company,  there exists
no condition or set of circumstances in connection with which the Company or its
ERISA  Affiliates  or Company  Plan  fiduciary  could be subject to any material
liability  under the terms of such Company Plans,  ERISA,  the Code or any other
applicable law, other than liabilities for benefits payable in the normal course
or  premiums  to the PBGC  that  are not yet due.  All  Company  Plans  that are
intended to be qualified  under Section 401(a) of the Code have been  determined
by the IRS to be so qualified or, if no such  determination  has been made,  all
such  Company  Plans  qualify in form with Section  401(a) of the Code,  and the
Company is not aware of any reason why any such Company Plan is not so qualified
in  operation.  Neither  the Company  nor any of its ERISA  Affiliates  has been
notified by any Company  Multiemployer Plan that such Company Multiemployer Plan
is currently in  reorganization  or  insolvency  under and within the meaning of
Section 4241 or 4245 of ERISA or that such Company Multiemployer Plan intends to
terminate  or has been  terminated  under  Section  4041A of  ERISA.  Except  as
disclosed in Section 3.11(b) of the Company Letter,  neither the Company nor any
of its ERISA  Affiliates has any liability or obligation  under any welfare plan
to provide benefits after termination of employment to any employee or dependent
other than as required by Section  4980B of the Code.  (c) As used  herein,  (i)
"Company  Plan"  means a "pension  plan" (as  defined  in Section  3(2) of ERISA
(other  than a Company  Multiemployer  Plan)),  a "welfare  plan" (as defined in
Section 3(1) of ERISA),  or any bonus,  profit sharing,  deferred  compensation,
incentive compensation,  stock ownership,  stock purchase, stock option, phantom
stock,  holiday pay,  vacation,  severance,  death benefit,  sick leave,  fringe

<PAGE>

benefit,  insurance or other plan,  arrangement or  understanding,  in each case
established or maintained by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates or as to
which the Company or any of its ERISA  Affiliates  has  contributed or otherwise
may  have  any  liability,   and  (ii)  "Company  Multiemployer  Plan"  means  a
"multiemployer  plan" (as defined in Section  4001(a)(3)  of ERISA) to which the
Company or any of its ERISA  Affiliates  is or has been  obligated to contribute
within  the five  years  preceding  the date  hereof or  otherwise  may have any
liability.  (d) Section  3.11(d) of the Company Letter  contains a list, and the
Company has  heretofore  provided to Parent a true and complete copy, of all (i)
severance,  employment and consulting  agreements with employees and consultants
of the Company and each of its ERISA Affiliates and (ii) severance  programs and
policies of the Company and each of its ERISA Affiliates with or relating to its
employees.

     Section 3.12 Worker Safety and Environmental  Laws. The properties,  assets
and past and present  operations of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  have been
and are in all material  respects in  compliance  with all  applicable  federal,
state,  local  and  foreign  laws,  rules  and  regulations,   orders,  decrees,
judgments,  permits and licenses relating to public and worker health and safety
(collectively,  "Worker  Safety  Laws") and the  protection  and clean-up of the
environment and activities or conditions  related  thereto,  including,  without
limitation, those relating to the generation, handling, disposal, transportation
or release of hazardous materials  (collectively,  "Environmental Laws"), except
as would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company.

     Section  3.13 Labor  Matters.  The  Company has  complied  in all  material
respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations which relate to prices,
wages, hours,  discrimination in employment and collective bargaining and to the
operation  of its  business  and is not liable  for any  arrears of wages or any
withholding  taxes or penalties for failure to comply with any of the foregoing,
except as would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a Material Adverse
Effect on the  Company.  Neither the Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is a
party to any  collective  bargaining  agreement or labor  contract.  Neither the
Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has engaged in any unfair  labor  practice
with  respect  to any  Persons  employed  by or  otherwise  performing  services
primarily  for the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  (the  "Company  Business
Personnel"),  and there is no  unfair  labor  practice  complaint  or  grievance
against the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  by the National Labor Relations
Board or any  comparable  state  agency  pending or  threatened  in writing with

<PAGE>

respect to the Company Business  Personnel.  There is no labor strike,  dispute,
slowdown or stoppage  pending or, to the  Knowledge of the  Company,  threatened
against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  which may interfere
with  the  respective   business  activities  of  the  Company  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries.

     Section  3.14  Intellectual  Property;  Software.  (a) For purposes of this
Agreement,  the term  "Intellectual  Property" means the  intellectual  property
owned by,  licensed to, or used by the Company or any  Subsidiary of the Company
that relate to either the  Company's or such  Subsidiary's  business,  including
without  limitation:   (i)  all  United  States  and  foreign  patents,   patent
applications, continuations, continuations-in-part,  divisions, reissues, patent
disclosures,  inventions  (whether or not  patentable) or  improvements  thereto
("Patent Rights"); (ii) all United States, state and foreign trademarks, service
marks,  logos,  trade dress and trade names (including all assumed or fictitious
names under which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is conducting its
business or has within the previous five years conducted its business),  and any
other source-identifying designations or devices, including any combinations and
variations thereof, and associated goodwill, whether registered or unregistered,
and pending  applications  to register the foregoing  ("Trademarks");  (iii) all
United States and foreign  copyrights,  whether registered or unregistered,  and
pending  applications  to register  the same  ("Copyrights");  (iv) all Internet
domain  names  and  registrations   thereof  ("Domain   Names");   and  (v)  all
confidential  ideas, trade secrets,  computer  software,  including source code,
know-how, works-in-progress, concepts, methods, processes, inventions, invention
disclosures,  formulae,  reports,  data, customer lists, mailing lists, business
plans, or other proprietary  information  ("Trade Secrets").  Section 3.14(a) of
the Company  Letter sets forth all Patent  Rights,  Trademarks,  Copyrights  and
Domain Names owned by,  licensed to, or used by the Company or any Subsidiary of
the  Company  that  are  material  to the  conduct  of  the  Company's  or  such
Subsidiary's  business  as  presently  conducted.   (b)  For  purposes  of  this
Agreement,  the term "Software"  means computer  software  programs and software
systems, including, without limitation, all databases,  compilations, tool sets,
compilers,  higher level or proprietary  languages,  related  documentation  and
materials, whether in source code, object code or human readable form, owned by,
licensed  to, or used by the Company or any  Subsidiary  of the Company that are
material  to the  conduct of the  Company's  or such  Subsidiary's  business  as
presently  conducted.  Section  3.14(b) of the  Company  Letter  sets forth such
Software.  (c)  Section  3.14(c)  of the  Company  Letter  contains  a list  and
description of all agreements, commitments, contracts, understandings, licenses,

<PAGE>

sublicenses,  assignments  and  indemnities  which  relate  or  pertain  to  any
Intellectual Property or Software and are material to the conduct of the Company
or any Subsidiary's business as currently conducted, to which the Company or any
Subsidiary is a party,  showing in each case the parties thereto.  (d) Except as
disclosed in Section 3.14(d) of the Company  Letter,  and except with respect to
software  licensed  to the  Company  that is  subject to  "shrink-wrap"  license
agreements,  either the  Company or a  Subsidiary  of the Company  has,  through
ownership or licensing,  all perpetual,  unrestricted and royalty-free rights to
use the Intellectual  Property as are material to the conduct of the business of
the Company and its  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole. (e) Except as disclosed in
Section 3.14(e) of the Company Letter, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of
the Company is in breach of or is aware of any allegation  (communicated  orally
or in writing) that the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is in breach of
any  material  provision  of  any  material  agreement,   commitment,  contract,
understanding, license, sublicense, assignment or indemnity which relates to any
of the  Intellectual  Property  or  Software  and the  Company has not taken any
action which would impair or otherwise materially adversely affect its rights in
any of the Intellectual Property or Software.  The transactions  contemplated by
this  Agreement  and the  Company  Ancillary  Agreements  shall have no material
adverse  effect on the validity and  enforceability  of any of the  Intellectual
Property,  Software or materials  identified in Sections  3.14(a) and (b) of the
Company  Letter,  and,  except as  disclosed  in Section  3.14(e) of the Company
Letter,  the right,  title and interest thereto of the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company  immediately  after the Effective Time shall be identical to that
of the Company or such Subsidiary  immediately  prior to the Effective Time. (f)
Section  3.14(a) of the Company  Letter  includes a complete  list of all issued
patents, pending patent applications, trademark registrations, pending trademark
registration   applications,   registered   copyrights  and  pending   copyright
registration  applications owned by the Company or any Subsidiary (collectively,
the "Registered Intellectual Property").  Except as disclosed in Section 3.14(a)
of the Company  Letter:  (i) the Registered  Intellectual  Property has not been
sold,  assigned or  transferred  to a third party,  or abandoned or permitted to
lapse,  and is not the subject of any  pending  opposition  proceedings,  office
actions,  pending cancellation  proceedings,  pending interference  proceedings,
pending  lawsuit  naming the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  as a party,  or other
pending  challenges or  proceedings  of which the Company or any  Subsidiary has
knowledge;  (ii) all registrations for Intellectual Property identified as being
owned by the Company are valid and in force,  and all  applications  to register
any  unregistered  Intellectual  Property are pending and in good standing,  all
without  challenge of any kind;  (iii) the  Intellectual  Property  owned by the

<PAGE>

Company  is  valid  and  enforceable;  and  (iv)  each  of the  Company  and its
Subsidiaries  has the sole and exclusive right to bring actions for infringement
or  unauthorized  use of the  Intellectual  Property and  Software  owned by the
Company and such Subsidiaries,  and to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no
basis for any such action.  (g) Except as  disclosed  in Section  3.14(g) of the
Company  Letter,  each of the  employees,  agents,  consultants,  contractors or
others who have  contributed to or  participated  in the discovery,  creation or
development  of any  Intellectual  Property  on  behalf  of the  Company  or its
Subsidiaries:  (i) has executed an  assignment  or an agreement to assign to the
Company of all right, title and interest in such Intellectual Property;  (ii) is
a party to a valid  "work-for-hire"  agreement  under  which the  Company or any
Subsidiary  is  deemed  to be the  original  owner/author  of all  copyrightable
subject matter  included in such  Intellectual  Property;  or (iii) is otherwise
deemed by operation of law to have vested in the Company or any  Subsidiary  all
right,  title  and  interest  in such  Intellectual  Property  by  virtue of his
employment  relationship with the Company or any such Subsidiary.  (h) Except as
disclosed  in Section  3.14(h) of the Company  Letter,  to the  Knowledge of the
Company, no infringement of any copyright,  trademark, service mark, trade name,
patent,  patent  right,  or trade  secret or other  property  right of any third
Person has occurred or results in any way, no claim of any such infringement has
been made or asserted against the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company,  and
neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary  has had notice of, nor to the Knowledge
of the Company,  does any basis for such a claim exist,  in connection  with the
operations,   products  (including  software,  equipment,   machinery  or  other
devices), processes, methods or activities of the business of the Company or any
Subsidiary  of the Company as  presently  conducted.  (i) Except as disclosed in
Section 3.14(i) of the Company Letter, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of
the Company,  nor their  respective  employees or agents,  have taken any of the
following  actions  such that a  Material  Adverse  Effect on its  rights in the
Intellectual  Property or Software would result:  disclosing or providing access
to source  code for the  Software  except to  employees  of the  Company  or its
Subsidiaries  bound  by  confidentiality  obligations  to  the  Company  or  its
Subsidiaries, or to third party consultants bound by confidentiality agreements;
disclosing any Trade Secrets  without an appropriate  non-disclosure  agreement;
providing access to the Software without  restrictions on use (including against
copying, sale, transfer, decompilation, disassembly or reverse-engineering);  or
embedding,  incorporating  or modifying  third-party  software or other material
without adequate  permission.  (j) Except as disclosed in Section 3.14(j) of the
Company  Letter:  (i) the Software is not subject to any  transfer,  assignment,
site,  equipment,  or  other  operational  limitations;  (ii)  the  Company  has

<PAGE>

maintained and protected the Software it owns (the "Owned Software") (including,
without limitation,  all source code and system specifications) with appropriate
proprietary notices (including,  without limitation,  the notice of copyright in
accordance with the  requirements of 17 U.S.C.  Sec. 401),  confidentiality  and
non-disclosure  agreements  and such other  measures as are necessary to protect
the proprietary,  trade secret or confidential  information  contained  therein;
(iii) the Owned  Software has been  registered or is eligible for protection and
registration  under  applicable  copyright law and has not been forfeited to the
public domain;  (iv) the Company has copies of all releases or separate versions
of the Owned  Software  so that the same may be subject to  registration  in the
United  States  Copyright  Office;  (v) the Company has complete  and  exclusive
right, title and interest in and to the Owned Software; (vi) to the Knowledge of
the Company,  the Owned  Software  does not infringe any  copyright,  trademark,
service mark, trade name,  patent,  patent right, trade secret or other property
right of any other Person;  (vii) any Owned  Software  includes the source code,
system documentation,  statements of principles of operation and schematics,  as
well as any pertinent commentary,  explanation,  program (including  compilers),
workbenches,  tools,  and  higher  level or  proprietary  language  used for the
development,  maintenance,  implementation  and use  thereof,  so that a trained
computer  programmer  could  develop,  maintain,  support,  compile  and use all
releases  or  separate  versions  of the same  that  are  currently  subject  to
maintenance  obligations  by the  Company;  (viii)  there are no  agreements  or
arrangements in effect with respect to the marketing, distribution, licensing or
promotion of the Owned  Software by any other  Person;  (ix) the Owned  Software
complies  with all  applicable  Requirements  of Laws  relating to the export or
reexport  of the  same;  and (x) to the  Knowledge  of the  Company,  the  Owned
Software  licensed  to third  parties in the  ordinary  course of the  Company's
business may be exported or reexported to all countries without the necessity of
any license, other than to those countries specified as prohibited  destinations
pursuant to applicable regulations of the U.S. Department of Commerce and/or the
United States State Department.

     Section  3.15  Availability  of Assets and  Legality of Use.  Except as set
forth in Section 3.15 of the Company  Letter,  the assets owned or leased by the
Company and its  Subsidiaries  constitute  all the assets  used in its  business
(including,  but not  limited to, all books,  records,  computers  and  computer
programs  and data  processing  systems) and are in good  condition  (subject to
normal  wear and tear and  immaterial  impairments  of  value  and  damage)  and
serviceable  condition  and are  generally  suitable  for  the  uses  for  which
intended.  Except as set forth in Section 3.15 of the Company Letter,  there are

<PAGE>

no material  services  provided by any of the stockholders of the Company or any
of their  Affiliates to the Company or any  Subsidiary of the Company  utilizing
either  (i)  assets  not  owned by the  Company  or its  Subsidiaries  as of the
Effective Time or (ii) Persons not employed by the Company or its  Subsidiaries.
For purposes of this Agreement,  "Affiliate"  means, with respect to any Person,
any other Person which directly or indirectly  controls,  is controlled by or is
under common control with such Person. For purposes of this Agreement,  "Person"
means any  individual,  corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  association,
joint-stock company, trust or unincorporated organization.

     Section 3.16 Real Property. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
owns any real property or holds any option to acquire any real property.

     Section 3.17 Real Property Leases.  Section 3.17 of the Company Letter sets
forth a list of each lease or similar  agreement  (the "Real  Property  Leases")
under which the Company or any  Subsidiary of the Company is lessee of, or holds
or  operates,  any real  property  owned by any third  Person (the  "Leased Real
Property")  as of the date  hereof.  Except as set forth in Section  3.17 of the
Company Letter each of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  has the right to quiet
enjoyment of all the real property described in such Schedule of which it is the
lessee  for the full  term of each  such  lease or  similar  agreement  (and any
related renewal option) relating thereto, and the leasehold or other interest of
the  Company  or  any  Subsidiary  in  such  real  property  is not  subject  or
subordinate to any Encumbrance except for Permitted  Encumbrances and except for
such  Encumbrances  as  would  not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  Complete and correct copies of the Real
Property Leases have been made available by the Company to Parent.

     Section 3.18 Personal  Property Leases.  Section 3.18 of the Company Letter
sets forth a list of each lease or other agreement or right,  whether written or
oral,  under which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is lessee of, or
holds or operates, any machinery,  equipment, vehicle or other tangible personal
property owned by a third Person, except for any such lease,  agreement or right
that is  terminable  by the Company or any  Subsidiary  of the  Company  without
penalty or payment on notice of 30 days or less,  or which  involves the payment
by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of rentals of less than $100,000
per year.

     Section 3.19 Title to Assets.  Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has
good title to all of its assets reflected on the Balance Sheet as being owned by

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it and all of the assets  thereafter  acquired  by it (except to the extent that
such assets have been  disposed of after the Balance  Sheet Date in the ordinary
course  of  business  consistent  with  past  practice),  free and  clear of all
Encumbrances,  except  for  Permitted  Encumbrances  and  except as set forth in
Section 3.19 of the Company Letter.

     Section 3.20 Contracts.  Except as set forth in Section 3.20 of the Company
Letter, and except for those contracts  expressly permitted by Section 4.1 which
are entered into after the date of this  Agreement,  neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary  of the Company is a party to or bound by: (i) any  contract  for the
purchase,  sale or lease of real property  other than the Real Property  Leases;
(ii) any contract for the purchase of raw materials,  other than in the ordinary
course of business;  (iii) any contract for the sale of goods or services, other
than in the ordinary  course of  business;  (iv) any  contracts  relating to the
marketing,  distribution or  manufacturing of products,  services,  processes or
technology  individually  involving more than $50,000;  (v) any contract for the
purchase,  licensing or development of software to be used by the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company individually  involving more than $50,000,  other than
software  licensed  to the  Company  that is  subject to  "shrink-wrap"  license
agreements;  (vi) any guarantee of the  obligations or liabilities of customers,
suppliers,  officers,  directors,  employees,  Affiliates  of the Company or its
Subsidiaries,  or any other Persons other than guarantees that are immaterial in
amount; (vii) any agreement which provides for, or relates to, the incurrence by
the Company or any  Subsidiary of the Company of debt for borrowed  money or the
extension of credit by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to any other
Person other than routine  extensions of trade credit in the ordinary  course of
business;  (viii)  any  agreement  or  understanding  with a third  Person  that
restricts the Company or any Subsidiary  from carrying on its business  anywhere
in the  world;  (ix) any  contract  which  provides  for,  or  relates  to,  any
non