SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                         Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 22, 1999


                         FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL LTD.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


                                    Singapore
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)



         0-23354                                            Not Applicable
       (Commission                                          (IRS Employer
       File Number)                                       Identification No.)


      514 Chai Chee Lane, #04-13, Bedok Industrial Estate, Singapore    469029
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)


                                  (65) 449-5255
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)





Item 5:  Other Events.

     On November 22, 1999,  Flextronics  International Ltd., a Singapore company
("Flextronics"), The DII Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("DII"), and Slalom
Acquisition  Corp.,  a Delaware  corporation  and a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of
Flextronics  ("Merger  Sub"),  entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
"Merger  Agreement").  Subject  to  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  Merger
Agreement,  Merger Sub will be merged with and into DII (the "Merger"), with DII
surviving the Merger and becoming a wholly-owned  subsidiary of Flextronics.  At
the effective time of the Merger,  each outstanding share of DII's common stock,
par value $0.01 per share ("DII Common  Stock"),  will be exchanged for 0.805 of
an  ordinary  share of  Flextronics,  par value  S$0.01 per share  ("Flextronics
Ordinary  Shares"),  adjusted to 1.61  Flextronics  Ordinary Shares after giving
effect to Flextronics' planned one-for-one stock dividend in the form of a bonus
issue,  the Singapore  equivalent of a stock  dividend (the  "Exchange  Ratio").
Options  and other  rights to  purchase  DII  Common  Stock  will be  assumed by
Flextronics and converted into options and other rights to purchase  Flextronics
Ordinary  Shares,  and the exercise  price and number of  Flextronics'  Ordinary
Shares  subject to these options and other rights will be adjusted  according to
the Exchange Ratio.

     Upon the closing of the Merger, Michael Marks will continue as Flextronics'
Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer,  and Ronald R. Budacz,  Chief  Executive
Officer  of DII,  or a  person  selected  by Mr.  Budacz  with  the  consent  of
Flextronics, will become Deputy Chairman of Flextronics.

     The Merger is intended to be accounted for as a pooling of  interests,  and
is  subject  to  various  closing  conditions,  including  clearance  under  the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and approval by the shareholders of
Flextronics and the stockholders of DII.

     In connection with the execution of the Merger  Agreement,  Flextronics and
DII  entered  into a stock  option  agreement  (the  "Stock  Option  Agreement")
pursuant to which DII granted to  Flextronics  an option to purchase up to 19.9%
of the outstanding shares of DII Common Stock (the "Option"). The Option becomes
exercisable  upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the Stock Option
Agreement.

     Flextronics  and DII also each entered into voting  agreements with certain
officers and directors of DII and  Flextronics,  respectively.  Under the voting
agreements, these officers and directors agreed to vote their shares in favor of
the Merger and to waive certain rights.

     The foregoing  description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
full text of the Merger  Agreement,  the Stock Option  Agreement  and the voting
agreements listed as exhibits to this Report.





Item 7:  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

     (c)  Exhibits.

     The following exhibits are filed herewith:

     2.1  Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated as of  November  22, 1999 by and
          among Flextronics International Ltd., Slalom Acquisition Corp. and The
          DII Group,  Inc.  Schedules have been omitted.  Flextronics  agrees to
          furnish   supplementally  a  copy  of  any  omitted  schedule  to  the
          Commission upon request.

     2.2  Stock  Option   Agreement  dated  as  of  November  22,  1999  between
          Flextronics International Ltd. and The DII Group, Inc.

     2.3  Form of Parent  Voting  Agreement  entered  into  between  Flextronics
          International Ltd. and certain  stockholders of The DII Group, Inc. on
          November  22,  1999,  together  with  the  form of  Irrevocable  Proxy
          delivered therewith.

     2.4  Form of Company Voting  Agreement  entered into between The DII Group,
          Inc. and certain  shareholders  of Flextronics  International  Ltd. on
          November  22,  1999,  together  with  the  form of  Irrevocable  Proxy
          delivered therewith.

     99.1 Press release dated November 22, 1999.





                                    SIGNATURE

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


                                    FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL LTD.




Date: December 6, 1999              By:      /s/ Robert R.B. Dykes
                                          ------------------------
                                          Robert R. B. Dykes
                                          President, Systems Group and
                                            Chief Financial Officer





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
Index                     Description of Exhibit
- -----                     ----------------------

2.1  Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated as of November  22, 1999 by and among
     Flextronics International Ltd., Slalom Acquisition Corp. and The DII Group,
     Inc.   Schedules   have  been  omitted.   Flextronics   agrees  to  furnish
     supplementally  a copy  of any  omitted  schedule  to the  Commission  upon
     request.

2.2  Stock Option  Agreement  dated as of November 22, 1999 between  Flextronics
     International Ltd. and The DII Group, Inc.

2.3  Form  of  Parent  Voting   Agreement   entered  into  between   Flextronics
     International  Ltd.  and  certain  stockholders  of The DII Group,  Inc. on
     November 22, 1999,  together with the form of Irrevocable  Proxy  delivered
     therewith.

2.4  Form of Company Voting Agreement  entered into between The DII Group,  Inc.
     and certain shareholders of Flextronics  International Ltd. on November 22,
     1999, together with the form of Irrevocable Proxy delivered therewith.

99.1 Press release, dated November 22, 1999.





- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                      AMONG

                         FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL LTD.

                            SLALOM ACQUISITION CORP.

                                       AND

                               THE DII GROUP, INC.



                                                               NOVEMBER 22, 1999


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------





                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            Page


ARTICLE I THE MERGER..........................................................1

1.1      THE MERGER...........................................................1

1.2      TIMING OF THE MERGER.................................................2

1.3      EFFECT OF THE MERGER.................................................2

1.4      EFFECT ON CAPITAL STOCK..............................................3

1.5      SURRENDER OF CERTIFICATES............................................4

1.6      DIRECTOR OF PARENT...................................................6

1.7      TAX AND ACCOUNTING CONSEQUENCES......................................7

1.8      TAKING OF NECESSARY ACTION; FURTHER ACTION...........................8

ARTICLE II  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY.........................8

2.1      ORGANIZATION AND GOOD STANDING.......................................8

2.2      SUBSIDIARIES AND OTHER INTERESTS.....................................8

2.3      CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS..............................8

2.4      AUTHORITY............................................................9

2.5      COMPANY CAPITAL STRUCTURE...........................................10

2.6      OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO CAPITAL STOCK...........................11

2.7      SEC FILINGS; COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS...........................12

2.8      ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS................................13

2.9      TAXES...............................................................15

2.10     TITLE TO PROPERTIES; ABSENCE OF ENCUMBRANCES........................17

2.11     INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY...............................................18

2.12     COMPLIANCE WITH LAW; PERMITS; RESTRICTIONS..........................19

2.13     LITIGATION..........................................................19

2.14     EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS..............................................19

2.15     ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS...............................................23

2.16     AGREEMENTS, CONTRACTS AND COMMITMENTS...............................25

2.17     CHANGE OF CONTROL PAYMENTS..........................................26

2.18     INSURANCE...........................................................26

2.19     CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS.............................................27


                                       -i-



                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (continued)

2.20     INVENTORY...........................................................27

2.21     RELATED PARTIES.....................................................28

2.22     DISCLOSURE..........................................................28

2.23     BOARD APPROVAL......................................................29

2.24     FAIRNESS OPINION....................................................29

2.25     BROKERS' AND FINDERS' FEES..........................................29

2.26     AFFILIATES..........................................................29

2.27     POOLING OF INTERESTS................................................29

2.28     NO EXISTING DISCUSSIONS.............................................30

2.29     DGCL SECTION 203 NOT APPLICABLE.....................................30

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB..........30

3.1      ORGANIZATION........................................................30

3.2      SUBSIDIARIES AND OTHER INTERESTS....................................30

3.3      CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS.............................30

3.4      AUTHORITY...........................................................31

3.5      PARENT AND MERGER SUB CAPITAL STRUCTURE.............................32

3.6      OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO CAPITAL STOCK...........................33

3.7      SEC FILINGS; PARENT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS............................33

3.8      ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS................................35

3.9      TAXES...............................................................36

3.10     TITLE TO PROPERTIES; ABSENCE OF ENCUMBRANCES........................37

3.11     INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY...............................................38

3.12     COMPLIANCE WITH LAW; PERMITS; RESTRICTIONS..........................38

3.13     LITIGATION..........................................................39

3.14     EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS..............................................40

3.15     ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS...............................................41

3.16     INSURANCE...........................................................42

3.17     CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS.............................................43

3.18     INVENTORY...........................................................43


                                      -ii-



                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (continued)


3.19     INVENTORY...........................................................43

3.20     DISCLOSURE..........................................................44

3.21     BOARD APPROVAL......................................................44

3.22     BROKERS' AND FINDERS' FEES..........................................44

3.23     AFFILIATES..........................................................44

3.24     POOLING OF INTERESTS................................................44

ARTICLE IV CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME...............................44

4.1      CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.................................................44

4.2      COOPERATION.........................................................49

ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS..............................................49

5.1      PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS; REGISTRATION STATEMENT;
           ANTITRUST AND CERTAIN OTHER FILINGS...............................49

5.2      MEETING OF COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS.....................................50

5.3      MEETING OF PARENT SHAREHOLDERS......................................52

5.4      CONFIDENTIALITY; ACCESS TO INFORMATION; STANDSTILL..................53

5.5      NO SOLICITATION.....................................................54

5.6      PUBLIC DISCLOSURE...................................................55

5.7      REASONABLE EFFORTS; NOTIFICATION....................................56

5.8      THIRD PARTY CONSENTS................................................57

5.9      STOCK OPTIONS, WARRANTS, ESPP AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.................57

5.10     FORM S-8............................................................59

5.11     NASDAQ QUOTATION....................................................59

5.12     INDEMNIFICATION;  INSURANCE.........................................59

5.13     AFFILIATE AGREEMENTS................................................60

5.14     LETTER OF COMPANY'S ACCOUNTANTS.....................................60

5.15     LETTER OF PARENT'S ACCOUNTANTS......................................61

5.16     TAKEOVER STATUTES...................................................61

5.17     STOCKHOLDER LITIGATION..............................................61

5.18     POOLING ACCOUNTING..................................................61

5.19     RIGHTS AGREEMENT....................................................61


                                     -iii-



                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (continued)


ARTICLE VI  CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER.........................................62

6.1      CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH PARTY TO EFFECT THE MERGER........62

6.2      ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF COMPANY.....................63

6.3      ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB...64

ARTICLE VII  TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER...............................65

7.1      TERMINATION.........................................................65

7.2      NOTICE OF TERMINATION; EFFECT OF TERMINATION........................67

7.3      FEES AND EXPENSES...................................................67

7.4      AMENDMENT...........................................................68

7.5      EXTENSION; WAIVER...................................................68

ARTICLE VIII GENERAL PROVISIONS..............................................69

8.1      NON-SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES......................69

8.2      NOTICES.............................................................69

8.3      INTERPRETATION; CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS...............................69

8.4      COUNTERPARTS........................................................71

8.5      ENTIRE AGREEMENT; THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES.........................71

8.6      SEVERABILITY........................................................71

8.7      OTHER REMEDIES; SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE................................72

8.8      GOVERNING LAW.......................................................72

8.9      RULES OF CONSTRUCTION...............................................72

8.10     ASSIGNMENT..........................................................72

8.11     DISCLOSURE LETTER...................................................72

8.12     WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL................................................72


                                      -iv-



                                INDEX OF EXHIBITS


Exhibit A      Form of Company Option Agreement

Exhibit B      Form of Company Voting Agreement

Exhibit C      Form of Parent Voting Agreement

Exhibit D      Form of Company Affiliate Agreement

Exhibit E      Form of Parent Affiliate Agreement





                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

     This  AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this  "Agreement")  is made and entered
into as of November 22, 1999, among Flextronics  International Ltd., a Singapore
company  ("Parent"),  Slalom  Acquisition  Corp., a Delaware  corporation  and a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of Parent  ("Merger Sub"),  and The Dii Group,  Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Company").

                                    RECITALS

     A. Upon the terms and subject to the  conditions  of this  Agreement and in
accordance  with the  Delaware  Law,  Parent and Company  intend to enter into a
business combination transaction.

     B. The Merger (as  defined in Section  1.1) is  intended to be treated as a
tax-free  reorganization  pursuant to the provisions of Section  368(a)(1)(A) of
the Code.  The Merger is intended to be treated as a "pooling of interests"  for
accounting and financial reporting purposes.

     C. The  respective  Boards of  Directors  of Parent and Company  have:  (i)
determined  that the Merger is advisable and fair to, and in the best  interests
of,  Parent and Company and their  respective  stockholders,  (ii) approved this
Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
and (iii) determined to recommend that the respective shareholders of Parent and
Company adopt and approve this Agreement and approve the Merger.

     D.  Concurrently  with the execution of this Agreement,  and as a condition
and  inducement to Parent's  willingness to enter into this  Agreement,  Company
shall  execute  and  deliver a Company  Option  Agreement  in favor of Parent in
substantially  the form  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  A (the  "Company  Option
Agreement").  The Board of Directors of Company has approved the Company  Option
Agreement.

     E.  Concurrently  with the execution of this Agreement,  and as a condition
and  inducement to Parent's  willingness to enter into this  Agreement,  certain
executive  officers and directors of Company are entering into voting agreements
in  substantially  the form attached  hereto as Exhibit B (the  "Company  Voting
Agreements").

     F.  Concurrently  with the execution of this Agreement,  and as a condition
and inducement to Company's  willingness to enter into this  Agreement,  certain
executive  officers and directors of Parent are entering into voting  agreements
in  substantially  the form  attached  hereto as Exhibit C (the  "Parent  Voting
Agreements").

     In  consideration  of the  foregoing and the  representations,  warranties,
covenants  and  agreements  set forth in this  Agreement,  the parties  agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   THE MERGER

     1.1 The Merger.  At the Effective  Time (as defined  herein) and subject to
and  upon  the  terms  and  conditions  of this  Agreement  and  the  applicable
provisions  of Delaware  Law,  Merger Sub shall be merged with and into  Company
(the "Merger"), the separate corporate





existence of Merger Sub shall cease and Company shall  continue as the surviving
corporation, and Company as the surviving corporation will become a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent.  Company as the surviving  corporation after the Merger is
hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Surviving Corporation."

     1.2 Timing of the Merger.

     (a)  Effective  Time.  Subject to the  provisions  of this  Agreement,  the
parties  hereto shall cause the Merger to be consummated by filing a certificate
of merger,  in such form as is required by the relevant  provisions  of Delaware
Law, with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the
relevant provisions of Delaware Law (the "Certificate of Merger"). The effective
time (the  "Effective  Time") shall occur upon the filing of the  Certificate of
Merger  with the  Secretary  of State of the State of  Delaware or on such other
date as may be agreed in  writing by Company  and  Parent and  specified  in the
Certificate  of Merger,  and shall occur as soon as  practicable on or after the
Closing (as herein defined).

     (b) Closing.  The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall take place at
the offices of Fenwick & West LLP, Two Palo Alto Square,  Palo Alto,  California
94306,  on April 3, 2000; or if each of the  conditions  set forth in Article VI
shall not then have been satisfied or waived, as soon as practicable  thereafter
(but not more than two (2)  business  days after the  satisfaction  or waiver of
each of such  conditions),  or at such  other  time,  date and  location  as the
parties  hereto agree in writing (the  "Closing  Date");  provided,  that Parent
shall be  entitled,  by written  notice to Company,  to specify that the Closing
Date shall be such other date as may be specified in such written  notice (which
other date shall be after  January 31, 2000 and before April 3, 2000,  and shall
be not less than five business  days after the date of such notice),  if each of
the  conditions  set forth in Article VI (other than the conditions set forth in
Sections 6.1(f), 6.2(d), 6.3(e) and the last sentence of each of Sections 6.2(a)
and 6.3(a))  shall have been  satisfied  or waived at or before the date of such
notice, in which case the Closing Date shall be such date as may be specified in
such written notice.

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

     (a) Certificate of Incorporation. At the Effective Time, the Certificate of
Incorporation  of Merger Sub, as in effect  immediately  prior to the  Effective
Time, shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.

     (b) Bylaws.  At the Effective  Time, the Bylaws of Merger Sub, as in effect
immediately  prior to the Effective  Time,  shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation.

     (c) Directors and Officers of Surviving Corporation.  The initial directors
of the Surviving  Corporation  shall be the directors of Merger Sub  immediately
prior to the Effective Time, until their respective  successors are duly elected
or appointed and qualified. The initial


                                       2



officers  of the  Surviving  Corporation  shall be the  officers  of Merger  Sub
immediately  prior to the Effective Time, until their respective  successors are
duly appointed.

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

     (a)  Conversion of Company  Common Stock.  Each share of common stock,  par
value $0.01 per share,  of Company (the "Company  Common  Stock") that is issued
and outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective Time, other than any shares
of Company  Common  Stock to be  canceled  pursuant to Section  1.4(d),  will be
canceled  and  extinguished  and  automatically  converted  (subject to Sections
1.4(c) and 1.4(f)) into the right to receive, and shall be exchangeable for .805
(the "Exchange  Ratio") of an ordinary share, par value S$0.01 per share, in the
capital of Parent (the "Parent Ordinary Shares").

     (b) Stock Options;  Employee Stock Purchase  Plans.  At the Effective Time,
all options and other  rights to purchase or receive  Company  Common Stock then
outstanding  under  Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan, 1994 Stock Incentive Plan,
KMOS Semiconductor,  Inc. 1989 Stock Option Plan, KMOS Semiconductor,  Inc. 1990
Non-Qualified  Stock Option Plan, OAC Acquisition Corp. 1992 Stock  Option/Stock
Issuance  Plan,  Orbit  Semiconductor,  Inc. 1994 Stock  Incentive  Plan and any
options that were not granted under any such plans  (collectively,  the "Company
Stock Option  Plans") shall be assumed by Parent in accordance  with Section 5.9
of this  Agreement.  Rights  outstanding  under  Company's  1994 Employee  Stock
Purchase  Plan (the "ESPP") and Company's  1997  Non-Employee  Directors'  Stock
Compensation Plan (the "Directors' Stock Plan") shall be treated as set forth in
Sections 5.9(c) and 5.9(d) of this Agreement.

     (c)  Fractional  Shares.  No  fraction of a Parent  Ordinary  Share will be
issued by virtue of the Merger,  but in lieu  thereof,  each holder of shares of
Company  Common Stock who would  otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a Parent
Ordinary Share (after  aggregating  all fractional  Parent  Ordinary Shares that
otherwise  would be  received  by such  holder)  shall be entitled to receive an
amount of cash  (rounded to the nearest  whole cent) equal to the product of (i)
such  fraction,  multiplied  by (ii) the last sale price of one Parent  Ordinary
Share on the last trading day prior to the  Effective  Time,  as reported on the
Nasdaq Stock Market.

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

     (e) Capital  Stock of Merger  Sub.  Each share of Common  Stock,  par value
$0.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding  immediately  prior to the
Effective  Time  shall be  converted  into one  validly  issued,  fully paid and
nonassessable share of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Surviving
Corporation. Each certificate evidencing ownership of shares of the Common Stock
of Merger Sub shall  evidence  ownership of such shares of capital  stock of the
Surviving Corporation.


                                        3



     (f)  Adjustments  to Exchange  Ratio.  If,  between the date hereof and the
Effective  Time  Parent  (i)  recapitalizes  either  through a  split-up  of its
outstanding  shares into a greater number of shares, or through a combination of
its  outstanding  shares into a lesser  number of shares,  or (ii)  reorganizes,
reclassifies  or  otherwise  changes its  outstanding  shares into the same or a
different  number of shares of other  classes  (other than through a split-up or
combination of shares provided for in the previous clause),  or (iii) declares a
dividend on its outstanding  shares payable in shares or securities  convertible
into shares, the Exchange Ratio will be adjusted appropriately so as to maintain
the  proportionate  interests of the  stockholders of Company in the outstanding
Parent Ordinary Shares.

     (g)  Restricted  Stock.  If any  shares of  Company  Common  Stock that are
outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective Time are unvested or are subject
to a repurchase  option,  risk of forfeiture or other  condition  providing that
such shares may be forfeited or repurchased  by Company upon any  termination of
the stockholders'  employment,  directorship,  consulting or other  relationship
with Company (and/or any affiliate of Company) under the terms of any restricted
stock  purchase  agreement or other  agreement with Company that does not by its
terms provide that such repurchase option, risk of forfeiture or other condition
lapses upon consummation of the Merger ("Company  Restricted  Stock"),  then the
Parent  Ordinary  Shares  issued upon the  conversion  of such shares of Company
Common Stock in the Merger will,  to the extent  permitted  by  applicable  law,
continue to be unvested  and subject to the same  repurchase  options,  risks of
forfeiture  or  other   conditions   following  the  Effective   Time,  and  the
certificates  representing such Parent Ordinary Shares may accordingly be marked
with appropriate legends noting such repurchase options,  risks of forfeiture or
other conditions. Company shall take all actions that may be necessary to ensure
that, from and after the Effective Time,  Parent is, to the extent  permitted by
applicable law,  entitled to exercise any such repurchase  option or other right
set forth in any such  restricted  stock purchase  agreement or other  agreement
other than with respect to any such  repurchase  option,  risk of  forfeiture or
other  condition  that by its terms lapses upon  consummation  of the Merger.  A
listing of the holders of Company Restricted Stock,  together with the number of
shares of Company  Restricted Stock held by each, is set forth on Part 1.4(g) of
the Company Disclosure Letter.

     1.5 Surrender of Certificates.

     (a) Exchange Agent.  Parent shall select a bank or trust company reasonably
acceptable to Company to act as the exchange agent (the "Exchange Agent") in the
Merger pursuant to an exchange agent agreement reasonably acceptable to Company.

     (b) Provision of Share  Certificates  for Parent  Ordinary Shares and Cash.
Promptly,  and in no event later than the tenth (10th)  business day,  after the
Effective  Time,  Parent shall make available to the Exchange Agent for exchange
in accordance with this Article I, certificates representing the Parent Ordinary
Shares issuable  pursuant to Section 1.4 in exchange for  outstanding  shares of
Company  Common Stock,  and cash in an amount  sufficient for payment of cash in
lieu of  fractional  shares  pursuant  to Section  1.4(c) and any  dividends  or
distributions to which holders of shares of Company Common Stock may be entitled
pursuant to Section 1.5(d) (such Parent  Ordinary Shares and cash being referred
to herein as the "Exchange Fund").


                                        4



     (c) Exchange  Procedures.  Promptly after the Effective Time,  Parent shall
cause the Exchange  Agent to mail to each holder of record (as of the  Effective
Time) of a certificate or certificates ("Certificates"), which immediately prior
to the Effective  Time  represented  outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock
whose shares were  converted into the right to receive  Parent  Ordinary  Shares
pursuant to Section 1.4, (i) a letter of  transmittal  in customary  form (which
shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the
Certificates  shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange
Agent and shall contain such other provisions as Parent may reasonably  specify)
and (ii)  instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in
exchange for certificates  representing  Parent Ordinary Shares, cash in lieu of
any  fractional  shares  pursuant to Section  1.4(c) and any  dividends or other
distributions  pursuant to Section 1.5(d).  Upon surrender of  Certificates  for
cancellation  to the  Exchange  Agent or to such other agent or agents as may be
appointed by Parent,  together with such letter of  transmittal,  duly completed
and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, the holders of
such  Certificates  shall be entitled to receive in exchange  therefor,  and the
Exchange  Agent shall  deliver to the  holders,  certificates  representing  the
number of whole Parent Ordinary Shares into which their shares of Company Common
Stock were converted at the Effective Time, payment in lieu of fractional shares
which such holders have the right to receive  pursuant to Section 1.4(c) and any
dividends  or  distributions   payable  pursuant  to  Section  1.5(d),  and  the
Certificates so surrendered  shall forthwith be canceled.  Until so surrendered,
outstanding  Certificates  will be deemed from and after the Effective Time, for
all  corporate  purposes,  to evidence  ownership  of the number of whole Parent
Ordinary  Shares into which such shares of Company  Common Stock shall have been
so converted, and the right to receive an amount in cash in lieu of the issuance
of any fractional  shares in accordance with Section 1.4(c) and any dividends or
distributions  payable pursuant to Section 1.5(d).  No interest shall be paid or
will  accrue on any cash  payable  to holders of  Certificates  pursuant  to the
provisions of this Article I.

     (d)  Distributions  With  Respect to  Unexchanged  Share  Certificates.  No
dividends  or  other  distributions  declared  or made  after  the  date of this
Agreement  with respect to Parent  Ordinary  Shares with a record date after the
Effective  Time will be paid to the  holders of any  unsurrendered  Certificates
with respect to the Parent Ordinary Shares represented thereby until the holders
of record of such  Certificates  shall surrender such  Certificates.  Subject to
applicable law, following surrender of any such Certificates, the Exchange Agent
shall deliver to the record  holders  thereof,  without  interest,  certificates
representing whole Parent Ordinary Shares issued in exchange therefor along with
payment in lieu of fractional  shares  pursuant to Section 1.4(c) hereof and the
amount of any such dividends or other distributions with a record date after the
Effective Time and  theretofore  paid with respect to such whole Parent Ordinary
Shares.

     (e)  Transfers of  Ownership.  If requests  are  received for  certificates
representing  Parent  Ordinary  Shares to be issued in a name other than that in
which the Certificates surrendered in exchange therefor are registered,  it will
be a condition of the issuance thereof that the Certificates so surrendered will
be properly  endorsed and accompanied by proper forms for transfer of the Parent
Ordinary Shares represented  thereby and such other documents as may be required
by the  Exchange  Agent or  Parent,  as the case  may be,  and that the  persons
requesting such issue will have paid to Parent or any agent designated by it any
transfer  or other  taxes  required  by reason of the  transfer  of such  Parent
Ordinary Shares to such persons, or


                                       5



established  to the  satisfaction  of Parent or any agent  designated by it that
such tax has been paid or is not payable.

     (f)  Lost,  Stolen  or  Destroyed  Certificates.  In  the  event  that  any
Certificates shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Exchange Agent shall
issue in exchange  for such lost,  stolen or  destroyed  Certificates,  upon the
making  of an  affidavit  of  that  fact  by the  holder  thereof,  certificates
representing  Parent  Ordinary  Shares  into which the shares of Company  Common
Stock represented by such  Certificates were converted  pursuant to Section 1.4,
cash for  fractional  shares,  if any,  as may be  required  pursuant to Section
1.4(c) and any dividends or  distributions  payable  pursuant to Section 1.5(d);
provided,  however,  that  Parent  may,  in its  discretion  and as a  condition
precedent  to the issuance of such  certificates  representing  Parent  Ordinary
Shares, cash and other distributions,  require the owner of such lost, stolen or
destroyed Certificates to deliver a bond in such sum as it may reasonably direct
as indemnity  against any claim that may be made against  Parent,  the Surviving
Corporation  or the Exchange Agent with respect to the  Certificates  alleged to
have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

     (g) No  Further  Ownership  Rights in  Company  Common  Stock.  All  Parent
Ordinary Shares issued in accordance  with the terms hereof  (including any cash
paid in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section 1.4(c)) shall be deemed to
have been issued in full  satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of
Company Common Stock represented by the Certificates  surrendered therefor,  and
there  shall be no  further  registration  of  transfers  on the  records of the
Surviving  Corporation of shares of Company Common Stock which were  outstanding
immediately   prior  to  the  Effective   Time.  If  after  the  Effective  Time
Certificates are presented to the Surviving  Corporation for any reason,  except
as otherwise  provided by law,  they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided
in this Article I, subject to Section 1.5(h).

     (h)  Termination  of Exchange  Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund which
remains  undistributed  to the  stockholders  of Company  for 180 days after the
Effective Time shall be delivered to Parent,  upon demand,  and any stockholders
of Company who have not previously complied with Section 1.5(c) shall thereafter
look only to Parent for payment of their claim for Parent Ordinary  Shares,  any
cash in  lieu  of  fractional  Parent  Ordinary  Shares  and  any  dividends  or
distributions with respect to Parent Ordinary Shares.

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

     1.6 Director of Parent.

     (a) Parent  shall take all  actions  necessary  to cause the  election  and
appointment  of Ronald  Budacz,  or such person as may be selected by Mr. Budacz
with the consent of Parent,  which consent shall not be  unreasonably  withheld,
provided  that  such  person  is not be an  employee  of  Company  or any of its
subsidiaries (the "Company  Nominee"),  to the Board of Directors of Parent (the
"Parent Board"), and his election to the position of Deputy Chairman,  as of the
Effective Time.


                                       6



     (b) The Company  Nominee  shall hold his position as a member of the Parent
Board,  and as Deputy  Chairman,  for a term of three (3) years if  permitted by
Singapore law or the Articles and Memorandum of  Association of Parent.  If such
term is not permitted by Parent's  Articles and  Memorandum of  Association  and
applicable  law, the Company  Nominee  shall hold such  position  until the next
Annual General Meeting of the  shareholders of Parent,  and Parent shall use all
reasonable  efforts to cause the Company  Nominee to be nominated and re-elected
at such Annual General Meeting to serve as a member of the Parent Board,  unless
he shall decline or be unable to serve,  until his resignation or removal or the
election or  appointment  of his  successor  in the manner  provided by Parent's
charter documents and applicable law.

     1.7 Tax and Accounting Consequences.

     (a) It is intended by the parties hereto that the Merger shall constitute a
non-taxable  reorganization  within the meaning of Section  368(a)(1)(A)  of the
Code.

     (b) Neither Parent nor Merger Sub nor the Surviving Corporation will report
the Merger or take any other action for tax purposes inconsistent with treatment
of the Merger as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code,
to the full extent permitted by the Code.

     (c) It is intended  by the  parties  hereto that the Merger be treated as a
pooling of  interests  for  accounting  purposes.  Upon the  written  request of
Parent,  Merger Sub and Company shall enter into an amendment to this  Agreement
providing  that in lieu of the  Merger of Merger  Sub with and into  Company  as
contemplated by this Article I, the structure of the  transactions  contemplated
by this Agreement  would be modified so that Parent may effect an acquisition of
all of the  outstanding  Company  Common Stock  directly,  or by an affiliate of
Parent or a trust established by Parent or an affiliate thereof, or may effect a
merger of Company with or into any other  subsidiary or affiliate of Parent,  in
each case on the terms  specified  in such written  request of Parent;  provided
that (a) the holders of Company Common Stock and holders of Company  Options are
not and will not be adversely  affected in any way thereby;  (b) the transaction
provided for in such amendment qualifies as a tax free  reorganization  pursuant
to Internal  Revenue Code Section 368(a) and that Company's  stockholders  shall
not incur any tax liability as a result thereof or with respect thereto; (c) the
transaction  provided for in such amendment may be accounted for as a pooling of
interests  under  GAAP;  (d) the  transaction  does not  impose  any  additional
requirements or obligations upon Company (other than  obligations  arising after
the Effective Time) or adversely affect the ability of any of Company, Parent or
Merger Sub to satisfy the  conditions to Closing by the  scheduled  Closing Date
set forth in Article VI hereof; and (e) the transaction shall not have any other
adverse  affect on Company,  its employees or operations  prior to the Effective
Time or on Company's stockholders. In any proceeding in which there shall be any
dispute  between  Parent and  Company as to whether  any  transaction  meets the
criteria set forth in clauses (a) through (e) of the preceding sentence,  Parent
shall have the burden of proof.

     1.8. Taking of Necessary Action;  Further Action. If, at any time after the
Effective  Time,  any further  action is necessary or desirable to carry out the
purposes  of this  Agreement  and to vest the  Surviving  Corporation  with full
right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges,  powers
and franchises of Company and Merger Sub, the officers and directors


                                       7



of Parent,  Company  and Merger Sub will take all such lawful and  necessary  or
desirable  action.  Parent  shall  cause  Merger  Sub  to  perform  all  of  its
obligations relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

                                   ARTICLE II
                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY

     As of the  date of  this  Agreement  and as of the  Closing  Date,  Company
represents  and  warrants  to Parent and Merger Sub,  subject to the  exceptions
specifically  disclosed in writing (and referencing the specific  representation
qualified thereby or to which exceptions specific references are made herein) in
the disclosure letter delivered by Company to Parent dated as of the date hereof
and certified by a duly authorized  officer of Company (the "Company  Disclosure
Letter"), as follows:

     2.1.  Organization and Good Standing.  Company and each of its subsidiaries
(a) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized;  (b) has the corporate or
other power and authority to own,  lease and operate its assets and property and
to carry on its business as now being conducted;  and (c) except as would not be
material  to  Company,  is duly  qualified  or  licensed  to do business in each
jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned,  leased or operated by
it or the  nature  of its  activities  makes  such  qualification  or  licensing
necessary.

     2.2.  Subsidiaries and Other Interests.  Other than the entities identified
in Part 2.2 of the Company  Disclosure  Letter,  neither  Company nor any of the
other entities  identified in Part 2.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter owns any
capital  stock of, or any equity  interest  of any  nature in, any  corporation,
partnership, joint venture arrangement or other business entity. Neither Company
nor any of its  subsidiaries  has agreed or is obligated to make, or is bound by
any written,  oral or other agreement,  contract,  subcontract,  lease,  binding
understanding,  instrument,  note, option,  warranty,  purchase order,  license,
sublicense,  insurance  policy,  benefit plan or legally  binding  commitment or
undertaking of any nature, as in effect as of the date hereof under which it may
become obligated to make any future investment in or capital contribution to any
other entity.  Neither Company,  nor any of its subsidiaries,  has, at any time,
been a general partner of any general partnership,  limited partnership or other
entity.  Part 2.2 of the Company Disclosure Letter indicates the jurisdiction of
organization  of each entity  listed  therein and  Company's  direct or indirect
equity interest therein.

     2.3.  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and Bylaws.  Company has delivered to
Parent a true and correct  copy of: (a) the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and
Bylaws of  Company,  as amended to date and as in full force in effect;  and (b)
Company's  minute  book  containing  all records of all  proceedings,  consents,
actions and meetings during the past three (3) years of Company's  stockholders,
Board of Directors  and any  committees  of the Board of  Directors  (other than
minutes of the November 8, 1999 and  November 20, 1999  meetings of the Board of
Directors  of  Company).  Neither  Company  nor  any of its  subsidiaries  is in
violation of any of the provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws
or equivalent governing instruments.


                                       8



     2.4 Authority.

     (a) Company has all requisite  corporate  power and authority to enter into
this  Agreement  and  the  Company  Option   Agreement  and  to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  thereby,  subject  to  approval  by the
stockholders  of Company.  The execution and delivery of this  Agreement and the
Company Option Agreement and the  consummation of the transactions  contemplated
hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary  corporate  action
on the part of Company, subject, in the case of consummation of the Merger, only
to the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the Merger by
Company's  stockholders.  A vote of the  holders  of  outstanding  shares of the
Company Common Stock representing a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on
the matter is sufficient  for Company's  stockholders  to approve and adopt this
Agreement  and  approve  the  Merger.  This  Agreement  and the  Company  Option
Agreement  have each been duly executed and  delivered by Company and,  assuming
the due  authorization,  execution  and delivery by Parent and Merger Sub,  each
constitutes  the valid and binding  obligation of Company,  enforceable  against
Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy  and other similar laws  affecting the rights of creditors  generally
and general  principles of equity.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the Company  Option  Agreement by Company does not, and the  performance  of
this  Agreement  and the  Company  Option  Agreement  by Company  will not,  (i)
conflict with or violate the Certificate of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of Company
or the  equivalent  organizational  documents of any of its  subsidiaries,  (ii)
subject to  obtaining  the  approval  and  adoption  of this  Agreement  and the
approval of the Merger by Company's  stockholders as contemplated in Section 5.2
and compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 2.4(b) below, conflict
with or violate any law, rule, regulation,  order, judgment or decree applicable
to  Company  or  any of  its  subsidiaries  or by  which  Company  or any of its
subsidiaries  or any of their  respective  properties  is bound or affected,  or
(iii) result in any material  breach of or constitute a material  default (or an
event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a material default)
under,  or impair  Company's  rights or alter the rights or  obligations  of any
third  party  under,  or give to others  any rights of  termination,  amendment,
acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the creation of a material lien or
Encumbrance on any of the material properties or assets of Company or any of its
subsidiaries  pursuant to, any Company  Contract (as defined in Section 2.16) or
any other material note, bond, mortgage, indenture,  contract, agreement, lease,
license,  permit,  franchise,  concession,  or other instrument or obligation to
which Company or any of its  subsidiaries  is a party or by which Company or any
of its  subsidiaries  or its or any of  their  respective  assets  are  bound or
affected. Part 2.4 of the Company Disclosure Letter lists all consents,  waivers
and approvals under any Company Contract or any other of Company's or any of its
subsidiaries' agreements,  contracts, licenses or leases required to be obtained
in connection with the  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,
which,  if individually  or in the aggregate not obtained,  could  reasonably be
expected to result in a material  loss of  benefits  to  Company,  Parent or the
Surviving Corporation as a result of the Merger.

     (b) No  consent,  approval,  order or  authorization  of, or  registration,
declaration or filing with any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or
made by Company in connection  with the execution and delivery of this Agreement
or the  consummation of the Merger,  except (i) 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  Company is
qualified to do business, (ii) the filing of the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus (as
defined


                                       9



in Section 2.22) with the SEC in accordance  with the Exchange Act, (iii) as may
be required under applicable federal,  foreign and state securities (or related)
laws and under the HSR Act, and the  corresponding  laws of any foreign country,
and  (iv)  such  other   consents,   authorizations,   filings,   approvals  and
registrations  which if not obtained or made would not be material to Company or
Parent or have a material adverse effect on the ability of the parties hereto to
consummate the Merger.

     2.5 Company Capital Structure.

     (a)  Stock.  The  authorized  capital  stock  of  Company  consists  of (i)
90,000,000  shares of Company Common Stock,  par value $0.01 per share, of which
there were  38,266,719  shares issued and  outstanding  as of November 19, 1999,
including shares held in treasury, and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock,
par value  $0.01 per share,  of which no shares are issued or  outstanding.  All
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are duly authorized,  validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable and are not subject to preemptive rights created by
statute,  the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of Company or any agreement
or document to which Company is a party or by which it is bound.  As of November
19, 1999, there are 1,647,000 shares of Company Common Stock held in treasury by
Company.

     (b) Options and Warrants.  As of November 19, 1999, Company had reserved an
aggregate of 8,590,492  shares of Company Common Stock for issuance  pursuant to
the Company Stock Option Plans (including shares subject to outstanding  options
or other  outstanding  rights).  Stock options and unvested  performance  shares
granted  under the Company  Stock Option Plans are  respectively  referred to in
this Agreement as "Company Options" and "Performance Shares." As of November 19,
1999,  there were  outstanding  Company  Options to  purchase  an  aggregate  of
3,392,492 shares of Company Common Stock and rights to acquire 561,000 shares of
Company  Common  Stock upon the vesting of  Performance  Shares  pursuant to the
Company  Stock Option  Plans.  As of November  19, 1999,  there were no warrants
outstanding to purchase any shares of Company  Common Stock.  As of November 19,
1999,  there were  available an aggregate  of 543,562  shares of Company  Common
Stock for issuance  pursuant to  Company's  ESPP.  All shares of Company  Common
Stock  subject  to  issuance  as  aforesaid,  upon  issuance  on the  terms  and
conditions  specified in the  instruments  pursuant to which they are  issuable,
will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.  Part 2.5
of the Company  Disclosure  Letter  lists for each holder of Company  Options or
Performance  Shares as of November 19, 1999:  (i) the name of such holder;  (ii)
the exercise price of the Company  Options;  (iii) the vesting  schedule for the
Company Options and the Performance  Shares; and (iv) whether the exercisability
of the  Company  Options  or the  vesting  of the  Performance  Shares  will  be
accelerated in any way by the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement and
the extent of acceleration, if any.

     (c) Compliance with Legal  Requirements.  All outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock, all outstanding  Company Options,  all Performance  Shares and all
outstanding  shares of capital  stock of each  subsidiary  of Company  have been
issued and granted in compliance with (i) all applicable securities laws and, to
the knowledge of Company,  all other applicable Legal  Requirements and (ii) all
material requirements set forth in applicable agreements or instruments.


                                       10



     (d) Vesting  Acceleration.  There are no  commitments  or agreements of any
character to which Company is bound obligating Company to accelerate the vesting
of any Company Options or Performance Shares as a result of the Merger.

     (e) Option Records. Company has made available to Parent accurate,  current
and complete copies of the Company Stock Option Plans and any other stock option
plans  pursuant to which  Company has granted stock options or other rights that
are currently  outstanding and the form of all stock option  agreements or other
agreements evidencing such options or rights.

     (f) Ownership of Subsidiaries.  All of the outstanding capital stock of, or
other  ownership  interests in, each  subsidiary of Company is owned by Company,
directly or indirectly,  free and clear of any Encumbrance and free of any other
limitation or restriction  (including any restriction on the right to vote, sell
or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or other ownership interests).  There
are no issued or outstanding  securities  exchangeable  or  convertible  into or
exercisable  for equity  securities or other  ownership  interests of any of the
Company's subsidiaries.

     2.6 Obligations With Respect to Capital Stock.

     (a) Except as set forth in Sections 2.5(a) and 2.5(b),  there are no equity
securities  of, or  partnership  interests or similar  ownership  interests  in,
Company,  or any securities  exchangeable or convertible into or exercisable for
such equity securities,  partnership  interests or similar ownership  interests,
issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding.

     (b) Except as set forth in  Sections  2.5(b),  there are no  subscriptions,
options,  warrants, calls, rights (including preemptive rights),  commitments or
agreements  of any character to which  Company or any of its  subsidiaries  is a
party or by which it is bound  obligating  Company or any of its subsidiaries to
issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, or repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire, or cause the repurchase,  redemption or acquisition
of, any shares of capital  stock,  partnership  interests  or similar  ownership
interests of Company or any of its subsidiaries or obligating  Company or any of
its subsidiaries to grant,  extend,  accelerate the vesting of or enter into any
such subscription,  option, warrant, equity security, call, right, commitment or
agreement.

     (c) Except as  contemplated  by or disclosed  elsewhere in this  Agreement,
there are no  registration  rights and there is no voting trust,  proxy,  rights
plan,  antitakeover plan or other agreement or understanding to which Company is
a party or by which it is bound with respect to any equity security of any class
of Company  or with  respect to any equity  security,  partnership  interest  or
similar ownership interest of any class of any of its subsidiaries. Stockholders
of Company  will not be  entitled  to  dissenters'  or  appraisal  rights  under
applicable state law in connection with the Merger.

     2.7 SEC Filings; Company Financial Statements.

     (a) SEC  Filings  Generally.  Company  has filed  all  forms,  reports  and
documents required to be filed by Company with the SEC since January 1, 1997 and
has made available to Parent such forms, reports and documents in the form filed
with the SEC. All such


                                       11



required  forms,  reports and documents  (including  those that Company may file
subsequent  to the date  hereof)  are  referred  to herein as the  "Company  SEC
Reports."  As of their  respective  dates,  the  Company  SEC  Reports  (i) were
prepared  in  accordance  with the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act or the
Exchange  Act,  as the case may be,  and the  rules and  regulations  of the SEC
thereunder  applicable  to such Company SEC Reports and (ii) did not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements  therein,  in the
light of the circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading except to
the extent  corrected by a  subsequently  filed Company SEC Report  (except that
inaccuracies or omissions in Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this
Agreement may be corrected  only by other Company SEC Reports filed prior to the
date of this  Agreement).  Taken as a whole,  the  Company  SEC  Reports  do not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required  to be stated  therein  or  necessary  in order to make the  statements
therein,  in the light of the  circumstances  under  which they were  made,  not
misleading,  except to the extent  corrected prior to the date of this Agreement
by a subsequently filed Company SEC Report (except  inaccuracies or omissions in
Company SEC Reports  filed prior to the date of this  Agreement may be corrected
only by other  Company SEC Reports  filed prior to the date of this  Agreement).
None of Company's  subsidiaries is required to file any forms,  reports or other
documents  with the SEC. Each of the Company SEC Reports  included,  as exhibits
thereto,  all  documents  required to be filed as  exhibits to such  Company SEC
Report under the rules and  regulations  of the SEC,  except to the extent filed
prior to the date of this Agreement in a subsequently  filed Company SEC Report.
All agreements filed by Company as exhibits to Company SEC Reports, as displayed
on the World  Wide Web via the  EDGAR  Service,  conform  to the  agreements  as
executed  by all  parties  thereto and are in full force and effect as so filed,
except  those  which have  expired in  accordance  with their terms or have been
revised as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports.

     (b)  Publicly  Reported  Financial  Statements.  Each  of the  consolidated
financial  statements  (including,  in each case,  any  related  notes  thereto)
contained in the Company SEC Reports (the "Company Financials"),  including each
Company SEC Report filed after the date hereof  until the Closing,  (i) complied
as to form in all material  respects with the published rules and regulations of
the SEC with respect thereto,  (ii) was prepared in accordance with GAAP applied
on a  consistent  basis  throughout  the  periods  involved  (except  as  may be
indicated  in the notes  thereto)  and (iii)  fairly  presented  in all material
respects the consolidated  financial position of Company and its subsidiaries as
at the  respective  dates  thereof  and the  consolidated  results of  Company's
operations  and cash  flows for the  periods  indicated,  except  to the  extent
corrected by a subsequently  filed Company SEC Report (except that  inaccuracies
or  omissions in Company SEC Reports  filed prior to the date of this  Agreement
may be corrected  only by other  Company SEC Reports  filed prior to the date of
this Agreement),  and except that the unaudited interim financial statements may
not contain  footnotes and were or are subject to normal and recurring  year-end
adjustments. The balance sheet of Company contained in Company SEC Reports as of
January 3, 1999 is hereinafter referred to as the "Company Balance Sheet." Since
January  1,  1997,  there has been no change in  Company's  accounting  policies
except as  described in the notes to the Company  Financials.  Since the date of
the Company  Balance  Sheet,  neither  Company nor any of its  subsidiaries  has
incurred any liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) which are,
individually  or  in  the  aggregate,  material  to  the  business,  results  of
operations  or financial  condition of Company and its  subsidiaries  taken as a
whole, except for (i)


                                       12



liabilities incurred since the date of the Company Balance Sheet in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practices,  (ii) liabilities incurred in
connection with this Agreement,  and (iii) liabilities specifically disclosed in
Company SEC Reports filed with the SEC prior to the date of this Agreement.

     (c) Interim Financial Statements. Company has delivered to Parent copies of
Company's unaudited  consolidated balance sheet as of October 3, 1999 and income
statement  and statement of cash flows for the nine months ended October 3, 1999
(the "Company  Interim  Financial  Statements").  The Company Interim  Financial
Statements:  (i) are in accordance  with the books and records of Company;  (ii)
fairly  present  in  all  material  respects  Company's  consolidated  financial
condition  at the  date  therein  indicated  and  the  consolidated  results  of
operations  for the period  therein  specified;  and (iii) have been prepared in
accordance  with GAAP  applied on a  consistent  basis  (except that the Company
Interim Financial  Statements may not contain footnotes required by GAAP and may
be subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments).

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

     2.8.  Absence of Certain  Changes or Events.  Since the date of the Company
Balance Sheet,  Company and each of its subsidiaries has carried on its business
in  the  ordinary  course   consistent  with  past  practices,   and  except  as
specifically  and expressly  disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed with the
SEC prior to the date of this  Agreement,  since the date of the Company Balance
Sheet there has not been:

     (a) any change in the financial condition, properties, assets, liabilities,
business,  results of operations or prospects of Company, which change by itself
or in  conjunction  with all other such  changes,  whether or not arising in the
ordinary  course of business,  has had or can  reasonably  be expected to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect;

     (b) any declaration,  setting aside or payment of any dividend on, or other
distribution  (whether  in cash,  stock  or  property)  in  respect  of,  any of
Company's or any of its subsidiaries' capital stock, or any purchase, redemption
or other  acquisition by Company of any of Company's  capital stock or any other
securities of Company or its subsidiaries,  or any options,  warrants,  calls or
rights to acquire any such  shares or other  securities  except for  repurchases
from  employees  following  their  termination  pursuant  to the  terms of their
pre-existing stock option or purchase agreements,  other than transactions among
Company and its subsidiaries;

     (c) any split,  combination or  reclassification of any of Company's or any
of its subsidiaries' capital stock;

     (d) any granting by Company or any of its  subsidiaries  of any increase in
compensation  or fringe  benefits to any of their officers or employees  (except
for increases in compensation to employees that are not officers or directors of
Company, in the ordinary course


                                       13



of business consistent with prior practice), or any payment by Company or any of
its subsidiaries of any bonus to any of their officers or employees  (except for
payments  made to  employees  that are not listed on Part  2.8(d) of the Company
Disclosure  Letter in the  ordinary  course of  business  consistent  with prior
practice,  and payments of bonuses to the employees listed on Part 2.8(d) of the
Company Disclosure Letter in the amounts specified  thereon,  or any granting by
Company or any of its  subsidiaries  of any increase in severance or termination
pay (except for grants made to  employees  that are not listed on Part 2.8(d) of
the Company Disclosure Letter in the ordinary course of business consistent with
prior  practice)  or any entry by Company or any of its  subsidiaries  into,  or
material  modification  or amendment  of, any  currently  effective  employment,
severance,  termination,  change-of-control or indemnification  agreement or any
agreement  the  benefits  of which  are  contingent  or the  terms of which  are
materially altered upon the occurrence of a transaction involving Company of the
nature contemplated hereby;

     (e) any material change or alteration in the policy of Company  relating to
the granting of stock options to its employees, directors and consultants;

     (f) any purchase or sale or other  disposition,  or any  agreement or other
legally binding arrangement for the purchase, sale or other disposition,  of any
of the  properties or assets of Company or any of its  subsidiaries,  other than
purchases  and  sales of  inventory  and  equipment  in the  ordinary  course of
business consistent with past practice;

     (g) any damage,  destruction or loss,  whether or not covered by insurance,
materially and adversely affecting the properties, assets or business of Company
or any subsidiary;

     (h) any material change by Company in its accounting methods, principles or
practices,   except  as  required  by   concurrent   changes  in  GAAP  (or  the
applicability thereof);

     (i) any  material  contingent  liability  incurred by Company or any of its
subsidiaries as guarantor or otherwise with respect to the obligations of others
or any  cancellation  of any  material  debt or claim owing to, or waiver of any
material right of, Company or any of its subsidiaries;

     (j) any material  obligation or liability of any nature,  whether  accrued,
absolute  or  contingent,   incurred  by  Company  other  than  obligations  and
liabilities  incurred in the ordinary  course of business  consistent  with past
practice;

     (k) any payment or  discharge  of a material  Encumbrance  or  liability of
Company which was not shown in the Company Interim Financial Statements or which
was not incurred in the ordinary course of business thereafter;

     (l) any  revaluation  by Company of any of its assets,  including,  without
limitation,  writing off notes or accounts receivable other than in the ordinary
course of business;

     (m)  any  material   contract  entered  into  by  Company  or  any  of  its
subsidiaries,  other than in the ordinary  course of business and as provided to
Parent,  or any material  amendment or  termination  of, or default  under,  any
material  contract to which Company or any of its  subsidiaries is a party or by
which it or any of them is bound;


                                       14



     (n) any obligation or liability incurred by Company to any of its officers,
directors or stockholders, or any loans or advances made to any of its officers,
directors,  stockholders or affiliates,  except normal  compensation and expense
allowances payable to officers;

     (o) any other  material  transaction  entered into by Company or any of its
subsidiaries other than transactions in the ordinary course of business; or

     (p) any agreement or  understanding  whether in writing or  otherwise,  for
Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  to take any of the  actions  specified  in
paragraphs (a) through (o) above.

     2.9 Taxes.

     (a)  Definition  of Taxes.  For the  purposes of this  Agreement,  "Tax" or
"Taxes"  refers to (i) any and all  federal,  state,  local and  foreign  taxes,
assessments and other governmental charges, duties,  impositions and liabilities
relating to taxes,  including  taxes  based upon or measured by gross  receipts,
income,  profits,  sales,  use and  occupation,  and value  added,  ad  valorem,
transfer,  franchise,  withholding,  payroll, recapture,  employment, excise and
property taxes, together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed with
respect to such amounts and (ii) any liability for payment of any amounts of the
type  described  in clause  (i) as a result  of being a member of an  affiliated
consolidated, combined or unitary group.

     (b) Tax Returns and Audits.

          (i)  Company  and  each of its  subsidiaries  have  timely  filed  all
     federal,   state,  local  and  foreign  returns,   estimates,   information
     statements and reports  ("Returns")  relating to Taxes required to be filed
     by or on  behalf  of  Company  and  each of its  subsidiaries  with any Tax
     authority,  such  Returns are true,  correct and  complete in all  material
     respects,  and  Company  and each of its  subsidiaries  have paid all Taxes
     shown to be due on such Returns;

          (ii) Company and each of its  subsidiaries  have withheld with respect
     to its employees all material (A) federal and state income taxes, (B) Taxes
     pursuant to the Federal  Insurance  Contribution  Act  ("FICA"),  (C) Taxes
     pursuant to the Federal  Unemployment  Tax Act ("FUTA") and other  material
     Taxes required to be withheld;

          (iii) Neither Company nor any of its  subsidiaries has been delinquent
     in the payment of any material Tax nor is there any material Tax deficiency
     outstanding,   proposed  or  assessed   against   Company  or  any  of  its
     subsidiaries,  nor has  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  executed  any
     unexpired  waiver of any statute of  limitations on or extending the period
     for the assessment or collection of any material Tax;

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


                                       15



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

          (vi) Neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any liability for
     unpaid  Taxes  which has not been  accrued  for or  reserved on the Company
     Balance Sheet,  whether  asserted or  unasserted,  contingent or otherwise,
     which is material to Company,  other than any  liability  for unpaid  Taxes
     that may  have  accrued  since  the date of the  Company  Balance  Sheet in
     connection   with  the  operation  of  the  business  of  Company  and  its
     subsidiaries in the ordinary course,  including,  without limitation,  as a
     result of acquisitions;

          (vii) There is no contract,  agreement,  plan or  arrangement to which
     Company is a party,  including  but not limited to the  provisions  of this
     Agreement  and  the  agreements   entered  into  in  connection  with  this
     Agreement,  covering any  employee or former  employee of Company or any of
     its subsidiaries  that,  individually or collectively,  would be reasonably
     likely  to  give  rise to the  payment  of any  amount  that  would  not be
     deductible  pursuant to Sections 280G, 404 or 162(m) of the Code;  there is
     no contract,  agreement, plan or arrangement to which Company is a party or
     by which it is bound to  compensate  any  individual  for excise taxes paid
     pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code;

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

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

          (x) Except as may be required  as a result of the Merger,  Company and
     its  subsidiaries  have not been and will not be  required  to include  any
     adjustment  in  Taxable  income for any Tax  period  (or  portion  thereof)
     pursuant  to  Section  481 or  Section  263A of the Code or any  comparable
     provision  under  state or  foreign  Tax laws as a result of  transactions,
     events or accounting methods employed prior to the Closing;

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

          (xii)  Company  has  provided  to Parent  or its  legal or  accounting
     representatives  copies of all material  foreign,  federal and state income
     tax and all state  sales and use tax  Returns  for  Company and each of its
     subsidiaries  filed for all periods which have been  requested by Parent or
     its representatives;

          (xiii) There are no material  Encumbrances on the assets of Company or
     any  subsidiary   relating  to  or  attributable   to  Taxes,   other  than
     Encumbrances for Taxes not yet due and payable;

          (xiv) None of Company or any of its subsidiaries (A) has been a member
     of an affiliated  group filing a consolidated  federal income Return (other
     than a group the


                                       16



     common parent of which was Company), or (B) has any liability or obligation
     for  the  Taxes  of  any  Person   (other  than  any  of  Company  and  its
     subsidiaries)  under Treasury  Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar
     provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by
     contract, or otherwise; and

          (xv)  Neither  Company nor any of its  subsidiaries  is subject to any
     joint venture, partnership or other arrangement or contract that is treated
     as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

     2.10 Title to Properties; Absence of Encumbrances.

     (a) Part 2.10 of the Company  Disclosure  Letter  lists each parcel of real
property  owned by Company or any  subsidiary  and all real  property  leases to
which Company or any subsidiary is a party and each amendment thereto that is in
effect  as of the date of this  Agreement.  All  such  current  leases,  and all
material leases of personal  property,  are in full force and effect,  are valid
and effective in accordance with their respective  terms, and afford Company and
each of its  subsidiaries,  in all material  respects,  peaceful and undisturbed
possession  of the  subject  matter of the lease and there is not,  under any of
such  leases,  any  existing  default or event of default  (or event  which with
notice or lapse of time, or both,  would constitute a default) by Company or any
of its  subsidiaries  that  would  give rise to a claim  against  Company or any
subsidiary in an amount greater than $100,000.

     (b)  Company  has  good and  valid  title  to,  or,  in the case of  leased
properties  and  assets,  valid  leasehold  interests  in,  all of its  tangible
properties  and assets,  real,  personal and mixed,  used or held for use in its
business, free and clear of any Encumbrances, except as reflected in the Company
Financials  and  except  for liens for  taxes not yet due and  payable  and such
Encumbrances  or  other  imperfections  of  title,  which  are not  material  in
character, amount or extent, and which do not materially detract from the value,
or materially interfere with the present use, of the property subject thereto or
affected thereby.

     (c) The plants, property and equipment of Company and its subsidiaries that
are used in the  operations of their  business are  generally in good  operating
condition and repair.  All properties  used in the operations of Company and its
subsidiaries  are reflected in the Company  Balance Sheet to the extent required
to be reflected under GAAP.

     2.11 Intellectual Property.

     (a) Title; Non-infringement.  Company and each of its subsidiaries owns all
right,  title and  interest  in, or has the right to use,  sell or  license  all
patent applications, patents, trademark applications, trademarks, service marks,
trade  names,  copyright  applications,  copyrights,  trade  secrets,  know-how,
technology,  customer lists,  proprietary processes and formulae, all source and
object code, algorithms, inventions, development tools and all documentation and
media  constituting,  describing  or relating to the above,  including,  without
limitation,  manuals,  memoranda and records and other intellectual property and
proprietary  rights used in or reasonably  necessary or required for the conduct
of  its  respective  business  as  presently  conducted  ("Company  Intellectual
Property").  Set forth in Part 2.11 of the Company  Disclosure  Letter is a true
and complete list of all copyright and trademark  registrations and applications
and


                                       17



all patents and patent applications for Company  Intellectual  Property owned by
Company and each of its  subsidiaries.  To the  knowledge of Company,  each such
registration  and  patent is valid and  subsisting.  Company is not aware of any
material loss,  cancellation,  termination or expiration of any such copyrights,
trademarks, patents, registrations or applications. To the knowledge of Company,
the business of Company and its  subsidiaries  does not cause  Company or any of
its subsidiaries to infringe or violate any of the patents, trademarks,  service
marks, trade names, mask works, copyrights, trade secrets, proprietary rights or
other intellectual  property of any other person, and neither Company nor any of
its  subsidiaries  has received any written claim or notice of  infringement  or
potential infringement of the intellectual property of any other person. Neither
the  manufacture,  marketing,  sale or  intended  use of any  product  currently
licensed or sold by Company or currently under  development by Company  violates
any license or agreement  between Company and any third party.  Company and each
of its  subsidiaries  has taken  reasonable  and  practicable  steps designed to
safeguard and maintain the secrecy and  confidentiality  of, and its proprietary
rights in, all material Company Intellectual  Property.  Company is not aware of
any infringement of any Company Intellectual  Property by any third party. There
are no  royalties,  fees or other  payments  payable  by  Company  or any of its
subsidiaries  to any person by reason of the ownership,  use,  license,  sale or
disposition of the Company Intellectual Property.

     (b) Year  2000.  Company  has taken  reasonable  steps to  ensure  that its
material  systems and  technology  will record,  store,  process,  calculate and
present calendar dates falling before, on and after (and if applicable, spans of
time  including)  January 1, 2000 and February 29, 2000 and will  calculate  any
information  dependent on or relating to such dates in the same manner, and with
the same  functionality,  data  integrity  and  performance,  as the systems and
technology record,  store,  process,  calculate and present calendar dates on or
before December 31, 1999, or calculate any information  dependent on or relating
to  such  dates  (collectively,   "Year  2000  Compliant").  Company  has  taken
reasonable  steps to ensure that its systems,  services and technology will lose
no functionality  with respect to the  introduction of records  containing dates
falling on or after January 1, 2000 and February 29, 2000.  All of Company's and
its subsidiaries'  internal  computer and technology  systems and services which
are  critical  or  material  to the  operation  of its  business  are Year  2000
Compliant.  The  Company  Intellectual  Property  owned  by the  Company  or any
subsidiary is Year 2000  Compliant.  Neither the Company  Intellectual  Property
owned by the Company or any subsidiary nor any of the Company's material systems
and technology used in the provision of its services or used in the operation or
management of its business  contains any  significant  defect in connection with
processing  data  containing  dates in leap  years  or in the  year  2000 or any
preceding or following years.

     2.12 Compliance with Law; Permits; Restrictions.

     (a)  Neither  Company  nor  any of its  subsidiaries  is,  in any  material
respect,  in conflict  with,  or in default or in  violation  of any law,  rule,
regulation,  order,  judgment  or decree  applicable  to  Company  or any of its
subsidiaries  or by which  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  or any of their
respective  properties is bound or affected.  No  investigation or review by any
Governmental Entity is pending or, to Company's  knowledge,  has been threatened
in a writing  delivered to Company against  Company or any of its  subsidiaries,
nor, to Company's knowledge,  has any Governmental Entity indicated an intention
to conduct an investigation of Company or


                                       18



any of its  subsidiaries  with respect to any alleged  violation in any material
respect of any law, rule,  regulation,  order,  judgment or decree applicable to
Company or any of its subsidiaries.

     (b) Company and its subsidiaries hold, to the extent legally required,  all
permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, orders and approvals from governmental
authorities  that are material to and required for the operation of the business
of Company as currently conducted (collectively, the "Company Permits"). Company
and its subsidiaries  are in compliance in all material  respects with the terms
of the Company Permits.

     2.13 Litigation. There are no claims, suits, actions or proceedings pending
or, to the knowledge of Company,  threatened  against,  relating to or affecting
Company or any of its subsidiaries,  before any court,  governmental department,
commission,  agency,  instrumentality or authority, or any arbitrator that seeks
to restrain or enjoin the consummation of the transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement or which could  reasonably  be expected,  either  singularly or in the
aggregate  with all such  claims,  actions  or  proceedings,  to have a  Company
Material  Adverse Effect or which in any manner  challenges or seeks to prevent,
enjoin,  alter or materially  delay the Merger or any of the other  transactions
contemplated  hereby.  No  Governmental  Entity  has at any time  challenged  or
questioned  in a writing  delivered  to  Company  the legal  right of Company to
design,  offer or sell any of its products or services in the present  manner or
style thereof.  As of the date hereof, to the knowledge of Company, no event has
occurred,  and no claim, dispute or other condition or circumstance exists, that
will,  or that would  reasonably  be expected  to,  cause or provide a bona fide
basis for a director  or  executive  officer of Company to seek  indemnification
from Company.

     2.14 Employee Benefit Plans.

     (a)  Definitions.  With the exception of the  definitions  of  "Affiliate,"
"Employee"  and "Employee  Agreement" set forth in Section  2.14(a)(i),  (v) and
(vi) below  (which  definitions  shall  apply only to this  Section  2.14),  for
purposes of this  Agreement,  the  following  terms shall have the  meanings set
forth below:

          (i)  "Affiliate"  shall mean any other  person or entity  under common
     control with Company within the meaning of Section 414(b),  (c), (m) or (o)
     of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder;

          (ii) "Company  Employee  Plan" shall mean any plan,  program,  policy,
     practice,   contract,   agreement  or  other   arrangement   providing  for
     compensation,  severance,  termination pay,  performance  awards,  stock or
     stock-related  awards,  fringe  benefits  or  other  employee  benefits  or
     remuneration of any kind, whether written or unwritten, funded or unfunded,
     including  without  limitation,  each  "employee  benefit plan," within the
     meaning  of  Section  3(3)  of  ERISA  which  is or  has  been  maintained,
     contributed  to,  or  required  to be  contributed  to, by  Company  or any
     Affiliate for the benefit of any Employee;

          (iii)   "COBRA"   shall   mean   the   Consolidated   Omnibus   Budget
     Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended;

          (iv) "DOL" shall mean the Department of Labor;


                                       19



          (v) "Employee" shall mean any current,  former,  or retired  employee,
     officer, or director of Company or any Affiliate;

          (vi)  "Employee  Agreement"  shall mean each  management,  employment,
     severance, consulting,  relocation or similar agreement or contract between
     Company or any Affiliate  and any Employee or consultant  that provides for
     annual compensation to such Employee or consultant in excess of $150,000;

          (vii) "ERISA" shall mean the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act
     of 1974, as amended;

          (viii)  "FMLA"  shall mean the Family  Medical  Leave Act of 1993,  as
     amended;

          (ix) "IRS" shall mean the Internal Revenue Service;

          (x)  "Multiemployer  Plan" shall mean any  "Pension  Plan" (as defined
     below)  which is a  "multiemployer  plan," as defined  in Section  3(37) of
     ERISA;

          (xi) "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; and

          (xii) "Pension Plan" shall mean each Company Employee Plan which is an
     "employee  pension  benefit  plan,"  within the meaning of Section  3(2) of
     ERISA.

     (b) List of Plans  and  Agreements.  Part  2.14 of the  Company  Disclosure
Letter  contains an accurate and complete  list of each Company  Employee  Plan.
Company  does not  have any plan or  commitment  to  establish  any new  Company
Employee  Plan,  to modify  any  Company  Employee  Plan  (except  to the extent
required by law or to conform any such Company Employee Plan to the requirements
of any  applicable  law,  in each  case as  previously  disclosed  to  Parent in
writing,  or as  required  by this  Agreement),  or to enter  into  any  Company
Employee  Plan,  nor does it have any  intention or  commitment to do any of the
foregoing.

     (c)  Documents.  Company has  provided to Parent:  (i) correct and complete
copies of each  Company  Employee  Plan  including  all  amendments  thereto and
written   interpretations   thereof;  (ii)  the  most  recent  annual  actuarial
valuations, if any, prepared for each Company Employee Plan; (iii) the three (3)
most recent  annual  reports  (Form Series 5500 and all  schedules and financial
statements  attached  thereto),  if any,  required  under  ERISA  or the Code in
connection  with each Company  Employee  Plan or related  trust (other than with
respect to employee  welfare  plans (as  defined in Sections  3(1) of ERISA) for
which Company  provided to Parent the two (2) most recent such annual  reports);
(iv) if the Company Employee Plan is funded, the most recent annual and periodic
accounting  of Company  Employee Plan assets;  (v) the most recent  summary plan
description together with the summary of material modifications thereto, if any,
required under ERISA with respect to each Company  Employee  Plan;  (vi) all IRS
determination,  opinion, notification and advisory letters, and rulings relating
to Company Employee Plans;  (vii) all material written  agreements and contracts
relating  to  each  Company  Employee  Plan,  including,  but  not  limited  to,
administrative  service agreements,  group annuity contracts and group insurance
contracts; and (viii) all written communications distributed to any


                                       20



Employee or  Employees  relating to any Company  Employee  Plan and any proposed
Company Employee Plans, in each case, relating to any amendments,  terminations,
establishments,  increases or decreases in benefits, acceleration of payments or
vesting  schedules or other events which would result in any material  liability
to Company.

     (d)  Employee  Plan  Compliance.  (i)  Company  and its  subsidiaries  have
performed in all material  respects all obligations  required to be performed by
them under,  are not in default or  violation  of, and have no  knowledge of any
default or violation by any other party to any Company  Employee  Plan, and each
Company  Employee  Plan has been  established  and  maintained  in all  material
respects in  accordance  with its terms and in  compliance  with all  applicable
laws,  statutes,  orders,  rules and  regulations,  including but not limited to
ERISA or the Code;  (ii) each Company  Employee  Plan  intended to qualify under
Section  401(a) of the Code and each trust  intended  to qualify  under  Section
501(a) of the Code has either received a favorable determination letter from the
IRS with respect to each such Plan as to its qualified  status under the Code or
has  remaining a period of time under  applicable  Treasury  regulations  or IRS
pronouncements  in which to apply for such a  determination  letter and make any
amendments  necessary  to  obtain a  favorable  determination  and no event  has
occurred which would adversely affect the status of such determination letter or
the qualified status of such Plan; (iii) no "prohibited transaction," within the
meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Sections  406 and 407 of ERISA,  which is
not otherwise  exempt under  Section 408 of ERISA,  has occurred with respect to
any Company  Employee Plan; (iv) there are no actions,  suits or claims pending,
or, to the knowledge of Company,  threatened or  reasonably  anticipated  (other
than routine claims for benefits)  against any Company  Employee Plan or against
the assets of any Company  Employee  Plan;  (v) subject to applicable  law, each
Company Employee Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after
the Effective Time in accordance  with its terms,  without  liability to Parent,
Company or any of its Affiliates  (other than ordinary  administration  expenses
typically incurred in a termination event); (vi) there are no audits,  inquiries
or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Company, threatened by the IRS or
DOL with respect to any Company Employee Plan; and (vii) neither Company nor any
Affiliate is subject to any penalty or tax with respect to any Company  Employee
Plan under Section 402(i) of ERISA or Sections 4975 through 4980 of the Code.

     (e)  Pension  Plans.  Company  does not now,  nor has it ever,  maintained,
established,  sponsored,  participated  in, or contributed  to, any Pension Plan
which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.

     (f)  Multiemployer  Plans.  At  no  time  has  Company  or  any  subsidiary
contributed to or been requested to contribute to any Multiemployer Plan.

     (g) No Post-Employment  Obligations.  No Company Employee Plan provides, or
has any obligation to provide,  retiree life insurance,  retiree health or other
retiree employee welfare benefits to any person for any reason, except as may be
required by COBRA or other  applicable  law, and Company has never  represented,
promised or contracted (whether in oral or written form) to any Employee (either
individually  or to  Employees  as a  group)  or  any  other  person  that  such
Employee(s)  or other  person would be provided  with  retiree  life  insurance,
retiree health or other retiree employee  welfare benefit,  except to the extent
required by law.


                                       21



     (h) COBRA;  FMLA.  Neither  Company nor any  subsidiary  nor, to  Company's
knowledge,  any other  Affiliate  has,  prior to the Effective  Time, and in any
material respect,  violated any of the health care continuation  requirements of
COBRA,  any  material  requirements  of FMLA or any material  provisions  of any
similar  provisions of state law applicable to its  Employees,  except where the
same would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     (i) Contributions. All contributions due from the Company and any Affiliate
with respect to any of the Company  Employee  Plans have been made or accrued on
the Company  Balance Sheet or arose after the date of the Company  Balance Sheet
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices including as a
result of acquisitions.

     (j)  Effect  of  Transaction.  The  execution  of  this  Agreement  and the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby will not (either alone or
upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent  events) constitute an event
under any Company  Employee  Plan, or a related trust or loan,  that will or may
result in any payment  (whether of severance  pay or  otherwise),  acceleration,
forgiveness  of  indebtedness,  vesting,  distribution,  increase in benefits or
obligation to fund  benefits  with respect to any Employee,  other than any such
effects or any restrictions resulting under applicable laws of Singapore from or
in connection with Parent's assumption of its obligations hereunder.

     (k) Employment  Matters.  Company and each of its  subsidiaries:  (i) is in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable foreign,  federal, state
and  local  laws,  rules  and  regulations  respecting  employment,   employment
practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, in each case,
with respect to Employees;  (ii) has withheld all amounts  required by law or by
agreement  to be  withheld  from the  wages,  salaries  and  other  payments  to
Employees; (iii) has properly classified independent contractors for purposes of
federal and applicable state tax laws, laws applicable to employee  benefits and
other  applicable laws; (iv) is not liable for any arrears of wages or any taxes
or any penalty for failure to comply with any of the  foregoing;  and (v) is not
liable  for  any  material  payment  to  any  trust  or  other  fund  or to  any
governmental  or   administrative   authority,   with  respect  to  unemployment
compensation  benefits,  social  security or other benefits or  obligations  for
Employees  (other  than  routine  payments  to be made in the  normal  course of
business and consistent with past practice),  in each case, except where failure
to be in compliance,  to withhold or to properly classify such withholding could
not reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to Company. Company
and its subsidiaries have good labor relations,  and Company has no knowledge of
any facts  indicating  that the  consummation of the  transactions  provided for
herein will have a material  adverse effect on its labor  relations,  and has no
knowledge that any of its officers or management  employees,  or any significant
number or other  employees,  intends to leave its employ.  There are no pending,
or, to Company's knowledge, threatened or reasonably anticipated material claims
or actions against Company under any worker's  compensation  policy or long-term
disability policy. To Company's knowledge, no Employee of Company has materially
violated any  employment  contract,  nondisclosure  agreement or  noncompetition
agreement by which such Employee is bound due to such Employee being employed by
Company  or  disclosing  to  Company  or  using  trade  secrets  or  proprietary
information of any other person or entity.


                                       22



     (l) Labor.  No work stoppage,  labor strike or other material labor dispute
against Company is pending,  threatened or reasonably anticipated.  Company does
not know of any  activities  or  proceedings  of any labor union to organize any
Employees.  There are no actions,  suits,  claims,  labor disputes or grievances
pending, or, to the knowledge of Company,  threatened or reasonably  anticipated
relating to any labor, safety or discrimination  matters involving any Employee,
including,   without   limitation,   charges  of  unfair   labor   practices  or
discrimination complaints,  which, if adversely determined,  would, individually
or in the  aggregate,  result in any  material  liability  to  Company.  Neither
Company nor any of its  subsidiaries  has engaged in any unfair labor  practices
within  the  meaning  of  the  National  Labor  Relations  Act.  Company  is not
presently,  nor has it been in the past, a party to, or bound by, any collective
bargaining  agreement  or  union  contract  with  respect  to  Employees  and no
collective bargaining agreement is being negotiated by Company. All employees of
the Company,  and its United  States  Subsidiaries  are legally  permitted to be
employed by Company or such subsidiary in the United States of America.

     2.15 Environmental Matters. To Company's knowledge:

     (a)  Compliance  with  Law.  Each  of  Company,  its  subsidiaries  and its
predecessors has complied and is in compliance in all material respects with all
Environmental,  Health, and Safety Requirements. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Environmental,  Health,  and  Safety  Requirements"  shall  mean all  statutes,
regulations,  ordinances and other provisions having the force or effect of law,
all judicial  and  administrative  orders and  determinations,  all  contractual
obligations and all laws concerning public health and safety,  worker health and
safety,  and  pollution or  protection  of the  environment,  including  without
limitation  all those  relating to the presence,  use,  production,  generation,
handling, transportation,  treatment, storage, disposal, distribution, labeling,
testing, processing, discharge, release, threatened release, control, or cleanup
of any Hazardous  Materials,  each as amended and as now or hereafter in effect.
"Hazardous  Materials"  means  any  toxic or  hazardous  substances,  materials,
chemicals  or  wastes,  pollutants,  contaminants,  toxic  chemicals,  petroleum
fractions, distillates, products or byproducts, asbestos, radioactive substances
and  polychlorinated  biphenyls,  as those  terms are  defined in the  following
statutes:  the Comprehensive  Environmental  Response Compensation and Liability
Act  ("CERCLA"),  42  U.S.C.ss.9601,  et seq.;  the  Resource  Conservation  and
Recovery Act ("RCRA"),  42 U.S.C.ss.6901,  et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control
Act, 15 U.S.C.ss.2601,  et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C.  ss.7401, et seq.;
the  Clean  Water  Act,  33  U.S.C.ss.1251,  et seq.;  the  Hazardous  Materials
Transportation   Authorization   Act,  49   U.S.C.ss.5101,   et  seq.;  and  the
Occupational  Safety and Health Act, 29  U.S.C.ss.651,  et seq., or any related,
comparable  or analogous  law of the  particular  state,  province or country in
which a particular Company facility is located.

     (b) Neither Company, its subsidiaries nor their respective predecessors has
received  any written or oral  notice,  report,  demand,  citation,  request for
information,  complaint  or other  information  regarding  any actual or alleged
violation of Environmental,  Health, and Safety Requirements, or any liabilities
or potential liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or
otherwise),  arising  under  Environmental,  Health,  and  Safety  Requirements.
Neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a potentially  responsible  party
under  CERCLA,  RCRA,  or any similar  law of the state,  province or country in
which a Company  facility is located.  There have not been in the past,  and are
not now,  any  Hazardous  Materials  on,  under or migrating to or from any real
property owned or leased by it or any of its subsidiaries which could reasonably
be


                                       23



expected to result in a material  liability  to Company.  There have not been in
the  past,  and are  not  now,  any  aboveground  tanks,  underground  tanks  or
underground pipes, lines,  connections or other improvements at, on or under any
real  property  owned or  leased  by it or any of its  subsidiaries,  including,
without  limitation,  treatment or storage tanks,  sumps,  or water,  gas or oil
wells,  except in accordance  with applicable  Environmental,  Health and Safety
Requirements.  Company  has not  deposited,  released,  spilled,  discharged  or
disposed of Hazardous  Materials on any real  property  owned or leased by it or
any of its  subsidiaries,  except in accordance  with  applicable  Environmental
Health and Safety Requirements,  which could reasonably be expected to result in
a material liability to Company.

     (c) None of Company, its subsidiaries, or their respective predecessors has
treated,  stored,  disposed  of,  arranged  for or  permitted  the  disposal of,
transported,  handled,  or released any substance,  including without limitation
any  Hazardous  Material,  or owned or operated any property or facility (and no
such  property or facility is  contaminated  by any such  substance) in a manner
that violates any  Environmental,  Health and Safety  Requirements or would give
rise to material  liabilities,  including  any  liability  for  response  costs,
corrective  action costs,  personal injury,  property damage,  natural resources
damages,  administrative  or civil penalties or criminal fines or penalties,  or
attorney fees,  pursuant to any Environmental,  Health, and Safety  Requirements
which,  in any case,  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  result in a  material
liability to Company.

     (d)  Liability  for  Others.  Neither  Company,  its  subsidiaries  nor its
predecessors has, either expressly or by operation of law, assumed,  retained or
undertaken  any  liability,  including  without  limitation  any  obligation for
corrective  or  remedial  action,  of any other  person or  entity  relating  to
Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements other than in connection with any
acquisitions  of the  assets,  businesses  or  operations  of another  person or
entity, or which could reasonably be expected to result in a material  liability
to Company.

     (e) Ongoing  Compliance.  Company has not  received  written  notice of any
facts, events, conditions or systems relating to the past or present facilities,
properties  or  operations of any of Company,  its  subsidiaries,  its and their
respective  predecessors which could prevent ongoing or continued  compliance in
all  material  respects  with  applicable  Environmental,   Health,  and  Safety
Requirements,  give rise to any material  obligations pursuant to Environmental,
Health,  and Safety  Requirements,  or give rise to any  administrative or civil
penalties  or criminal  fines or  penalties  or any other  material  liabilities
(whether accrued, absolute,  contingent,  unliquidated or otherwise) pursuant to
Environmental,  Health, and Safety Requirements,  including, without limitation,
any liabilities relating to onsite or offsite releases or threatened releases of
Hazardous  Materials,  personal  injury,  property  damage or natural  resources
damage.

     2.16 Agreements,  Contracts and Commitments. Neither Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by:

     (a) any employment  agreement,  contract or commitment providing for annual
compensation  in excess of $150,000  with any  employee  or member of  Company's
Board of  Directors,  other than those that are  terminable by Company or any of
its  subsidiaries  on no more than  thirty  days  notice  without  liability  or
financial obligation, except to the extent general


                                       24



principles  of  wrongful  termination  law  may  limit  Company's  or any of its
subsidiaries'  ability  to  terminate  employees  at  will,  or  any  consulting
agreement;

     (b) any agreement of  indemnification  (other than indemnities of banks and
other   financial   institutions,   financial   advisers  or   underwriters   or
indemnification provisions contained in any acquisition,  disposition or similar
agreements  or  otherwise  provided in the  ordinary  course of  business),  any
guaranty or any instrument evidencing  indebtedness for borrowed money by way of
direct loan, sale of debt  securities,  purchase money  obligation,  conditional
sale, or otherwise, other than any such instruments between or among Company and
its  subsidiaries  or  financing  facilities  and  borrowings   thereunder  made
available to Company's  subsidiaries,  divisions and facilities to finance their
respective local or regional operations;

     (c) any agreement, obligation or commitment containing covenants purporting
to  limit or  which  effectively  limit  Company's  or any of its  subsidiaries'
freedom to compete in any material line of business or in any geographic area or
which would so limit Company or Surviving Corporation or any of its subsidiaries
or any  employees  of any  thereof  after the  Effective  Time or  granting  any
exclusive distribution or other exclusive rights;

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

     (e) any supply  agreement,  manufacturing  agreement  or purchase  order to
which  Company  or one of its  subsidiaries  is a  party  which  (i)  may not be
canceled by Company or its subsidiary,  as the case may be, without penalty upon
notice of 30 days or less, and (ii) which is material to Company;

     (f) any license agreement under which Company or any of its subsidiaries is
licensor;  or under which Company or any of its subsidiaries is licensee (except
for standard "shrink wrap" licenses for off-the-shelf software products);

     (g) any  agreement  by  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  to  encumber,
transfer or sell rights in or with respect to any Company Intellectual Property;

     (h) any joint venture  contract or arrangement or any other  agreement that
involves a sharing of profits with other  persons or the payment of royalties to
any other person;

     (i) any agreement,  contract or commitment relating to capital expenditures
and which involves  future  payments in excess of $500,000 and which is not made
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices; or

     (j) any other agreement, contract or commitment currently in effect that is
material  to  Company's  and its  subsidiaries  business,  taken as a whole,  as
presently conducted and proposed to be conducted.


                                       25



     Neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor to Company's knowledge any
other  party to any  contracts  or  commitments  to which  Company or any of its
subsidiaries  is a party  or by  which  it is  bound  that  are  required  to be
disclosed in the Company  Disclosure  Letter pursuant to clauses (a) through (j)
above or pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof or are required to be filed as exhibits
to any  Company  SEC Report  (any such  agreement,  contract  or  commitment,  a
"Company Contract"), is in breach, violation or default thereunder,  and neither
Company nor any of its  subsidiaries  has  received  written  notice that it has
breached,  violated or defaulted  under, any of the material terms or conditions
of any  Company  Contract,  in such a manner as would  permit any other party to
cancel or terminate such Company Contract, could reasonably be expected to cause
the loss of any  material  benefit or result in any  material  liability  to the
Company or any  subsidiary,  or would  permit any other  party to seek  material
damages  or other  remedies  (for  any or all of such  breaches,  violations  or
defaults, in the aggregate).  Each Company Contract is in full force and effect.
No Company  Contract has or could  reasonably  be expected to have the effect of
prohibiting or materially  impairing any business  practice of Company or any of
its subsidiaries,  any acquisition of material property by Company or any of its
subsidiaries or the conduct of business by Company as currently conducted.

     2.17 Change of Control Payments. Part 2.17 of the Company Disclosure Letter
sets forth  each plan or  agreement  pursuant  to which any  amounts  may become
payable  (whether  currently or in the future) to current or former officers and
directors  of  Company as a result of or in  connection  with the Merger or as a
result of termination of service or employment following the Merger.

     2.18  Insurance.  Company  and each of its  subsidiaries  have  policies of
insurance  and bonds of the type and in amounts  customarily  carried by persons
conducting  business  or  owning  assets  similar  to those of  Company  and its
subsidiaries.  There is no material  claim pending under any of such policies or
bonds as to which  coverage  has been  questioned,  denied  or  disputed  by the
underwriters  of such policies or bonds.  All premiums due and payable under all
such policies have been paid and Company and its  subsidiaries  are otherwise in
compliance  in all material  respects with the terms of such policies and bonds.
To the  knowledge of Company,  there has been no threatened  termination  of, or
material premium increase with respect to, any of such policies.

     2.19 Customers and Suppliers.

     (a) Customers.  Neither Company nor any of its subsidiaries has outstanding
material disputes concerning its goods and/or services with any customer who, in
the nine  months  ended  October 3, 1999,  was one of the  twenty  (20)  largest
sources of revenues for Company,  based on amounts paid (a "Company  Significant
Customer") and Company has no knowledge of any material  dissatisfaction  on the
part  of any  Company  Significant  Customer.  No  current  Company  Significant
Customer has notified  Company that it does not intend to continue as a customer
of Company or its  subsidiaries  after the Closing or that such customer intends
to terminate or materially modify existing contracts or arrangement with Company
or  subsidiaries.  Part  2.19(a) of the  Company  Disclosure  Letter  lists each
Company Significant Customer.

     (b)  Accounts  Receivable.  Part 2.19(b) of the Company  Disclosure  Letter
provides an accurate and complete breakdown and aging of the accounts receivable
and notes


                                       26



receivable of Company and its subsidiaries as of November 19, 1999,  categorized
by  period  of  aging  (30,  60,  90 or 120  more  days,  and  indicating  which
receivables are subject to asserted warranty claims).  Such accounts  receivable
arose in the  ordinary  course  of  business  and  have  been  collected  or are
collectible in the book amounts thereof,  less allowances for doubtful  accounts
and  warranty  returns  determined  in  accordance  with the past  practices  of
Company.

     (c) Suppliers.  Neither Company nor its  subsidiaries  have any outstanding
material disputes  concerning goods or services provided by any supplier who, in
the nine  months  ended  October 3, 1999,  was one of the  twenty  (20)  largest
suppliers of goods and  services to Company,  based on amounts paid for products
not readily available from another source ("Significant Supplier").  Company has
not received any written notice of a termination or interruption of any existing
contracts  or  arrangements  with any  Significant  Suppliers.  Company  and its
subsidiaries  have  access,  on  reasonable  terms,  to all goods  and  services
reasonably  necessary to them to carry on their business as currently  conducted
and Company has no knowledge of any reason why Company and its subsidiaries will
not continue to have such access on reasonable terms subject to general industry
conditions relating to availability of components.  No Significant  Supplier has
notified  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  that it will stop or  materially
decrease the rate of supplying materials,  products or services to Company. Part
2.19(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists each Significant Supplier.

     (d) Warranties and Product Returns.  Company's obligations to its customers
with respect to defects in materials or  workmanship is limited to an obligation
to repair or replace the product in question. Since January 3, 1999, Company has
not had any of its products  returned by a customer  except for normal  warranty
returns  consistent with past history and those returns that would not result in
a reversal of any revenue by Company.

     2.20 Inventory.  The inventory of Company and its subsidiaries reflected in
the Company Interim  Financial  Statements (the  "Inventory") was valued at cost
(determined on a first-in,  first-out basis) or market,  whichever is lower. The
Inventory is in all material  respects of good and  merchantable  quality and is
readily  usable and  salable in the  ordinary  course of  Company's  businesses,
except for items of obsolete  materials and materials of below standard quality,
substantially all of which have been written down to realizable market value, or
for which adequate reserves have been provided, in the Company Interim Financial
Statements.  For Inventory manufactured to customer  specifications  effectively
rendering the Inventory  salable only to that  customer,  the terms of the sales
contracts  applicable thereto require the customer to acquire such Inventory (to
the extent of the quantity  limits  specified in such sales  contracts) if it is
manufactured and delivered in accordance with such sales contracts.

     2.21  Related  Parties.  Except as  disclosed  in Part 2.21 of the  Company
Disclosure  Letter or in Company's Proxy Statement dated March 31, 1999 relating
to its 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders,  there are no undischarged contracts
or  agreements  or other  material  transactions  between  Company or any of its
subsidiaries,  on the one hand, and any director or officer of Company or any of
their respective  Related Persons (as defined below),  on the other hand, and no
director or officer of the Company or any of their  respective  Related  Persons
have any interest in any of the assets of Company or any of its subsidiaries, in
each case,  which  would be  required  to be  disclosed  pursuant to Item 404 of
Regulation S-K.  Except as set forth in the Company SEC Reports,  since the date
of Company's last proxy statement filed with the SEC, no


                                       27



event has occurred as of the date of this Agreement that would be required to be
reported by Company  pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation  S-K  promulgated by the
SEC.  No  director  or officer of  Company  or any of their  respective  Related
Persons has any claim, charge,  action or cause of action against Company or any
of its  Subsidiaries,  except for  claims  for  accrued  vacation  pay,  accrued
benefits  under the Company  Benefit  Plans,  claims for  compensation,  expense
reimbursement and similar obligations. "Related Persons" means each other member
of such  individual's  Family who is directly or  indirectly  controlled by such
individual.  "Family" of an  individual  includes (A) such  individual,  (B) the
individual's spouse,  siblings, or ancestors,  (C) any lineal descendant of such
individual,  or their  siblings,  or ancestors or (D) a trust for the benefit of
any of the foregoing.

     2.22 Disclosure.  The information  supplied by Company for inclusion in the
Form S-4 (or any similar  successor form thereto)  Registration  Statement to be
filed by Parent with the SEC in connection  with the issuance of Parent Ordinary
Shares in the Merger (the  "Registration  Statement")  shall not at the time the
Registration  Statement  is  filed  with  the  SEC and at the  time  it  becomes
effective  under the Securities  Act contain any untrue  statement of a material
fact or omit to state  any  material  fact  required  to be  stated  therein  or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they are made, not misleading.  The information  supplied by Company
for inclusion in the proxy  statement/prospectus  to be sent to the stockholders
of Company in connection with the meeting of Company's  stockholders to consider
the approval and adoption of this  Agreement and the approval of the Merger (the
"Company Stockholders' Meeting") and to the shareholders of Parent in connection
with the  meeting of  Parent's  shareholders  to  consider  the  approval of the
issuance of the Parent  Ordinary  Shares  pursuant  to the Merger  (the  "Parent
Shareholders'   Meeting")  (such  proxy   statement/prospectus   as  amended  or
supplemented  is referred to herein as the "Proxy  Statement/Prospectus")  shall
not,  on  the  date  the  Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  is  mailed  to  Company's
stockholders or Parent's shareholders,  at the time of the Company Stockholders'
Meeting  or  the  Parent's  Shareholder  Meeting,  respectively,  or as  of  the
Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made,
not false or misleading; or omit to state any material fact necessary to correct
any statement in any earlier  communication  with respect to the solicitation of
proxies  for the  Company  Stockholders'  Meeting  which  has  become  false  or
misleading.  The  Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  will  comply  as to  form  in all
material  respects with the provisions of the  Securities  Act, the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder.  If at any time prior to the Effective
Time any  event  relating  to  Company  or any of its  affiliates,  officers  or
directors  should be  discovered by Company which is required to be set forth in
an  amendment  to the  Registration  Statement  or a  supplement  to  the  Proxy
Statement/Prospectus,  Company shall promptly inform Parent. Notwithstanding the
foregoing,  Company  makes no  representation  or warranty  with  respect to any
information  supplied by Parent or Merger Sub which is  contained  in any of the
foregoing documents.

     2.23 Board Approval.  The Board of Directors of Company has, as of the date
of this Agreement,  unanimously  determined (a) that the Merger is advisable and
fair to, and in the best interests of Company and its  stockholders,  and (b) to
recommend that the  stockholders of Company approve and adopt this Agreement and
approve the Merger.


                                       28



     2.24 Fairness  Opinion.  Company's Board of Directors has received  written
opinions  from its financial  advisors,  Salomon Smith Barney Inc. and Broadview
International  LLC, dated as of the date hereof, to the effect that the Exchange
Ratio is fair to Company's stockholders from a financial point of view, and have
delivered to Parent a copy of such opinions.

     2.25 Brokers' and Finders'  Fees.  Except for fees payable to Salomon Smith
Barney Inc. and Broadview International LLC pursuant to engagement letters dated
October 18, 1999, copies of which have been provided to Parent,  Company has not
incurred, nor will it incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage
or finders'  fees or agents'  commissions  or any similar  charges in connection
with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.

     2.26 Affiliates.  Part 2.26 of the Company  Disclosure Letter is a complete
list of those persons who may be deemed to be, in Company's reasonable judgment,
affiliates  of Company  within the  meaning  of Rule 145  promulgated  under the
Securities Act (each, a "Company Affiliate").

     2.27  Pooling  of  Interests.   To  the  knowledge  of  Company,  based  on
consultation  with its independent  accountants,  neither Company nor any of its
directors,  officers, affiliates or stockholders has taken or agreed to take any
action  which  would  preclude  Parent's  ability to account for the Merger as a
pooling of  interests.  Company is  autonomous  and has not been a subsidiary or
division  or another  corporation  or other  entity  since May 21,  1993.  Since
December 31, 1996,  Company has not (a) paid any dividends or effected any other
distributions  to  its  stockholders   other  than  distributions  to  Company's
stockholders  paid solely in shares of Company  Common Stock,  (b) reacquired or
purchased  any  Shares of its  capital  stock,  (c)  changed  any of its  equity
interests, or (d) sold significant assets in contemplation of a merger.

     2.28  No  Existing  Discussions.  As of the  date  hereof,  Company  is not
engaged,  directly or  indirectly,  in any discussion or  negotiations  with any
other party with  respect to any  Company  Acquisition  Proposal  (as defined in
Section 5.5).

     2.29 DGCL Section 203 Not Applicable. The Board of Directors of Company has
taken all actions on its part required so that (a) the restrictions contained in
Section 203 of the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law applicable to a "business
combination"  (as defined in such Section  203) will not apply to the  Company's
execution,  delivery or performance of this Agreement or to the  consummation of
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE III
             REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

     As of the date of this  Agreement  and as of the Closing  Date,  Parent and
Merger  Sub  represent  and  warrant  to  Company,  subject  to  the  exceptions
specifically  disclosed in writing (and referencing the specific  representation
qualified thereby or to which exceptions specific references are made herein) in
the disclosure letter delivered by Parent to Company dated as of the date hereof
and  certified by a duly  authorized  officer of Parent (the "Parent  Disclosure
Letter"), as follows:


                                       29


     3.1  Organization.  Parent and each of its subsidiaries  (including  Merger
Sub) (a) is a corporation  duly organized and validly existing under the laws of
the jurisdiction in which it is organized;  (b) has the corporate or other power
and authority to own,  lease and operate its assets and property and to carry on
its business as now being conducted;  and (c) except as would not be material to
Parent, is duly qualified or licensed to do business in each jurisdiction  where
the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of
its activities makes such qualification or licensing necessary.

     3.2 Subsidiaries and Other Interests. Other than the entities identified in
Part 3.2 of the Parent  Disclosure  Letter,  neither Parent nor any of the other
entities identified in Part 3.2 of the Parent Disclosure Letter owns any capital
stock of, or any equity interest of any nature in, any corporation, partnership,
joint  venture  arrangement  or  other  business  entity,   except  for  passive
investments not exceeding five percent (5%) of any entity's  ownership in equity
interests of companies as part of the cash management program of Parent. Neither
Parent nor any of its  subsidiaries  has agreed or is obligated  to make,  or is
bound by any written,  oral or other agreement,  contract,  subcontract,  lease,
binding  understanding,  instrument,  note,  option,  warranty,  purchase order,
license,   sublicense,   insurance  policy,  benefit  plan  or  legally  binding
commitment  or  undertaking  of any  nature,  as in effect as of the date hereof
under which it may become obligated to make any future  investment in or capital
contribution to any other entity.  Neither Parent,  nor any of its subsidiaries,
has, at any time,  been a general  partner of any general  partnership,  limited
partnership or other entity.  Part 3.2 of the Parent Disclosure Letter indicates
the  jurisdiction  of  organization  of each entity listed  therein and Parent's
direct or indirect equity interest therein.

     3.3 Certificate of Incorporation  and Bylaws.  Parent has delivered or made
available to Company a true and correct copy of: (a) the Articles of Association
and Memorandum of Association of Parent, as amended to date and as in full force
in  effect;  and  (b)  Parent's  minute  book  containing  all  records  of  all
proceedings,  consents,  actions and meetings during the past three (3) years of
the Parent  shareholders,  Board of Directors and any committees of the Board of
Directors.  Neither Parent nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any of
the  provisions of its Articles of  Association  or Memorandum of Association or
equivalent governing instruments.

     3.4 Authority.

     (a) Parent has all  requisite  corporate  power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and to consummate the transactions  contemplated hereby,  subject
to  approval  by the  shareholders  of  Parent.  Merger  Sub has  all  requisite
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions  contemplated  hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly
authorized  by all necessary  corporate  action on the part of Parent and Merger
Sub,  subject,  in the case of consummation of the Merger,  only to the approval
and  adoption  of this  Agreement  and the  approval  of the Merger by  Parent's
shareholders.  The  affirmative  vote of the holders of a majority of the issued
shares of Parent present in person or by proxy,  attorney or  representative  at
the Parent Shareholders' Meeting is sufficient to approve the issuance of Parent
Ordinary  Shares  pursuant to the Merger.  Parent,  as the sole  stockholder  of
Merger Sub, has acted by written  consent to approve the Merger and the adoption
of this  Agreement by Merger Sub,  which consent Parent and Merger Sub represent
and warrant constitutes the requisite approval of


                                       30



the  Merger and this  Agreement  by Merger  Sub.  This  Agreement  has been duly
executed  and  delivered  by  Parent  and  Merger  Sub  and,  assuming  the  due
authorization,  execution  and  delivery by Company,  constitutes  the valid and
binding obligations of Parent and Merger Sub, respectively,  enforceable against
Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may
be  limited  by  bankruptcy  and other  similar  laws  affecting  the  rights of
creditors generally and general principles of equity. The execution and delivery
of this  Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub do not, and the  performance of this
Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub will not,  (i)  conflict  with or violate the
Articles  of   Association  or  Memorandum  of  Association  of  Parent  or  the
Certificate  of  Incorporation  or  Bylaws  of  Merger  Sub  or  the  equivalent
organizational  documents  of any of  Parent's  subsidiaries,  (ii)  subject  to
compliance  with the  requirements  set forth in Section 3.4(b) below,  conflict
with or violate any law, rule, regulation,  order, judgment or decree applicable
to  Parent  or any of its  subsidiaries  or by  which  any of  their  respective
properties  is bound or affected,  or (iii) result in any material  breach of or
constitute a material  default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or
both would become a material  default) under, or impair Parent's rights or alter
the rights or obligations of any third party under, or give to others any rights
of termination,  amendment,  acceleration  or cancellation  of, or result in the
creation of a material lien or Encumbrance on any of the material  properties or
assets  of Parent  or any of its  subsidiaries  pursuant  to,  any  note,  bond,
mortgage,  indenture,  contract,  agreement,  lease, license, permit, franchise,
concession or other  instrument or obligation,  in each case that is material to
Parent, to which Parent or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which Parent
or any of its  subsidiaries or any of their  respective  properties are bound or
affected.  Part 3.4 of the Parent Disclosure Letter lists all consents,  waivers
and approvals under Parent's or any of its subsidiaries' agreements,  contracts,
licenses or leases required to be obtained in connection  with the  consummation
of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  which,  if  individually  or in the
aggregate  not  obtained,  could  reasonably be expected to result in a material
loss of  benefits  to Parent  or the  Surviving  Corporation  as a result of the
Merger.

     (b) No  consent,  approval,  order or  authorization  of, or  registration,
declaration or filing with any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or
made by Parent or Merger Sub in  connection  with the  execution and delivery of
this Agreement or the  consummation of the Merger,  except (i) the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (ii)
the filing of the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus with
the SEC in  accordance  with the  Securities  Act and the Exchange  Act, and the
effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement,  (iii) as may be required  under
applicable federal, foreign and state corporate and securities (or related) laws
and under the HSR Act and the corresponding  laws of any foreign country,  there
being no consents, approvals or other such matters required under the securities
laws of  Singapore  except for filings to notify of the  allotment of the Parent
Ordinary  Shares and except for filings to comply with relevant  securities laws
in the event that any shares in the  capital of Parent are offered to the public
in  Singapore  pursuant  to  this  Agreement,  and  (iv)  such  other  consents,
authorizations,  filings,  approvals and registrations  which if not obtained or
made would not be  material  to Parent or  Company  or have a  material  adverse
effect on the ability of the parties hereto to consummate the Merger.

     3.5 Parent and Merger Sub Capital Structure.

     (a) Shares.  The  authorized  share  capital of Parent  consists of (i) two
hundred fifty million (250,000,000) Parent Ordinary Shares, par value S$0.01 per
share, of which there


                                       31



were  57,177,536  shares  issued and  outstanding  as of November 19, 1999.  All
outstanding  Parent Ordinary Shares are duly authorized,  validly issued,  fully
paid and  nonassessable  and are not  subject to  preemptive  rights  created by
statute,  the Articles of  Association or Memorandum of Association of Parent or
any agreement or document to which Parent is a party or by which it is bound.

     (b) Options and Warrants.  As of November 19, 1999,  Parent had reserved an
aggregate of 12,800,000 Parent Ordinary Shares for issuance pursuant to Parent's
1993 Share Option  Plan,  1997 Interim  Share  Option Plan,  1998 Interim  Share
Option Plan,  1999 Share Option Plan and  non-plan  options (the "Parent  Equity
Plans"),  including  shares subject to outstanding  options,  and 400,000 Parent
Ordinary  Shares for issuance  pursuant to Parent's 1997 Employee Share Purchase
Plan.  As of November 19, 1999,  there were options  outstanding  to purchase an
aggregate of 6,389,704  Parent  Ordinary  Shares  pursuant to the Parent  Equity
Plans  ("Parent  Options") and purchase  rights  outstanding to purchase no more
than an aggregate of 293,277 Parent  Ordinary  Shares  pursuant to Parent's 1997
Employee Share  Purchase  Plan. As of November 19, 1999,  there were no warrants
outstanding to purchase  Parent  Ordinary  Shares.  All Parent  Ordinary  Shares
subject to  issuance as  aforesaid,  upon  issuance on the terms and  conditions
specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable,  would be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     (c) Merger Sub.  The  authorized  capital  stock of Merger Sub  consists of
1,000  shares of common  stock,  $0.01 par value,  100 of which,  as of the date
hereof,  are  issued  and  outstanding  and  are  held  by  Parent.  All  of the
outstanding  shares of Merger Sub's common stock have been duly  authorized  and
validly issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable.  Merger Sub was formed for
the purpose of consummating the Merger and has no material assets or liabilities
except as necessary for such purpose.

     (d) Due Issuance.  The Parent  Ordinary  Shares to be issued in the Merger,
when issued in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, will be validly
issued,  fully  paid and  nonassessable  and free and clear of any  Encumbrances
whatsoever except Encumbrances created by the respective holders thereof.

     3.6 Obligations With Respect to Capital Stock.

     (a) Except as set forth in  Sections  3.5(a)  and (b),  there are no equity
securities  of, or  partnership  interests or similar  ownership  interests  in,
Parent,  or any securities  exchangeable or convertible  into or exercisable for
such equity securities,  partnership  interests or similar ownership  interests,
issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding.

     (b)  Except  for  securities  Parent  owns free and clear of all claims and
Encumbrances,  directly  or  indirectly  through one or more  subsidiaries,  and
except for shares of  capital  stock or other  similar  ownership  interests  of
certain  subsidiaries of Parent that are owned by certain nominee equity holders
as required by the applicable law of the  jurisdiction  of  organization of such
subsidiaries,  as of the date of this Agreement,  there are no equity securities
of, or partnership  interests or similar ownership  interests in, any subsidiary
of Parent,  or any security  exchangeable or convertible into or exercisable for
such equity securities,  partnership  interests or similar ownership  interests,
issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding.


                                       32



     (c)  Except as set forth in  Section  3.5(b),  there are no  subscriptions,
options,  warrants, calls, rights (including preemptive rights),  commitments or
agreements  of any  character  to which Parent or any of its  subsidiaries  is a
party or by which it is bound  obligating  Parent or any of its  subsidiaries to
issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, or repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire, or cause the repurchase,  redemption or acquisition
of, any shares of capital  stock,  partnership  interests  or similar  ownership
interests of Parent or any of its  subsidiaries  or obligating  Parent or any of
its subsidiaries to grant,  extend,  accelerate the vesting of or enter into any
such subscription, option, warrants, call, right, commitment or agreement.

     3.7 SEC Filings; Parent Financial Statements.

     (a) SEC  Filings  Generally.  Parent  has  filed  all  forms,  reports  and
documents required to be filed by Parent with the SEC since January 1, 1997, and
has made  available  to Company  such forms,  reports and  documents in the form
filed with the SEC. All such required  forms,  reports and documents  (including
those that Parent may file subsequent to the date hereof) are referred to herein
as the  "Parent  SEC  Reports."  As of their  respective  dates,  the Parent SEC
Reports (i) were prepared in accordance with the  requirements of the Securities
Act or the Exchange  Act, as the case may be, and the rules and  regulations  of
the SEC  thereunder  applicable to such Parent SEC Reports,  and (ii) did not at
the time they were filed (or if amended or  superseded  by a filing prior to the
date of this  Agreement,  then on the date of such  filing)  contain  any untrue
statement  of a material  fact or omit to state a material  fact  required to be
stated  therein or necessary  in order to make the  statements  therein,  in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  Taken as
a whole,  the  Parent SEC  Reports do not  contain  any  untrue  statement  of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or
necessary  in  order  to  make  the  statements  therein,  in the  light  of the
circumstances  under  which they were made,  not  misleading.  None of  Parent's
subsidiaries is required to file any forms,  reports or other documents with the
SEC. Each of the Parent SEC Reports included, as exhibits thereto, all documents
required to be filed or  exhibits to such Parent SEC Report  under the rules and
regulations of the SEC. All agreements filed by Parent as exhibits to the Parent
SEC Reports,  as displayed on the World Wide Web via the EDGAR Service,  conform
to the  agreements as executed by all parties  thereto and are in full force and
effect as so filed,  except  those which have expired in  accordance  with their
terms or have been revised as disclosed in the Parent SEC Reports.

     (b)  Publicly  Reported  Financial  Statements.  Each  of the  consolidated
financial  statements  (including,  in each case,  any  related  notes  thereto)
contained  in the Parent SEC Reports (the "Parent  Financials"),  including  any
Parent SEC Reports  filed after the date hereof until the Closing,  (i) complied
as to form in all material  respects with the published rules and regulations of
the SEC with respect thereto,  (ii) was prepared in accordance with GAAP applied
on a  consistent  basis  throughout  the  periods  involved  (except  as  may be
indicated in the notes  thereto or, in the case of unaudited  interim  financial
statements,  as may be permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q,  8-K or any  successor
form  under the  Exchange  Act),  and (iii)  fairly  presented  in all  material
respects the consolidated  financial  position of Parent and its subsidiaries as
at the  respective  dates  thereof  and the  consolidated  results  of  Parent's
operations  and cash  flows for the  periods  indicated,  except  to the  extent
corrected  by a  subsequently  filed Parent SEC Report prior to the date of this
Agreement, and except that the unaudited interim financial statements may not


                                       33



contain  footnotes  and were or are  subject to normal and  immaterial  year-end
adjustments.  The balance sheet of Parent  contained in Parent SEC Reports as of
March 31, 1999 is hereinafter  referred to as the "Parent  Balance Sheet." Since
March 31, 1998, there has been no change in Parent's  accounting policies except
as described in the notes to the Parent Financials. Since the date of the Parent
Balance  Sheet,  neither  Parent nor any of its  subsidiaries  has  incurred any
liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) which are, individually
or in the  aggregate,  material  to  the  business,  results  of  operations  or
financial  condition of Parent and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, except for
(i)  liabilities  incurred  since the date of the  Parent  Balance  Sheet in the
ordinary course of business  consistent with past  practices,  (ii)  liabilities
incurred in connection with this Agreement,  and (iii) liabilities  specifically
disclosed in Parent SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement.

     (c) Interim Financial Statements. Parent has delivered to Company copies of
Parent's  unaudited  consolidated  balance  sheet as of  September  24, 1999 and
income  statement and statement of cash flows for the six months ended September
24, 1999.  Such financial  statements:  (i) are in accordance with the books and
records  of  Parent;  (ii)  fairly  present in all  material  respects  Parent's
consolidated   financial  condition  at  the  date  therein  indicated  and  the
consolidated  results of operations for the period therein specified;  and (iii)
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis (except
for the absence of any footnotes  required by GAAP and may be subject to normal,
immaterial year end adjustments).

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

     3.8.  Absence  of Certain  Changes or Events.  Since the date of the Parent
Balance Sheet,  Parent and each of its  subsidiaries has carried on its business
in  the  ordinary  course   consistent  with  past  practices,   and  except  as
specifically  and  expressly  disclosed in the Parent SEC Reports filed with the
SEC prior to the date of this  Agreement,  since the date of the Parent  Balance
Sheet there has not been:

     (a) any change in the financial condition, properties, assets, liabilities,
business,  results of operations or prospects of Parent,  which change by itself
or in  conjunction  with all other such  changes,  whether or not arising in the
ordinary  course of business,  has had or can  reasonably  be expected to have a
Parent Material Adverse Effect;

     (b) any declaration,  setting aside or payment of any dividend on, or other
distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of, any of Parent's
or any of its subsidiaries' capital stock, or any purchase,  redemption or other
acquisition by Parent of any of Parent's  capital stock or any other  securities
of Parent  or its  subsidiaries  or any  options,  warrants,  calls or rights to
acquire  any such  shares  or  other  securities  except  for  repurchases  from
employees   following  their   termination   pursuant  to  the  terms  of  their
pre-existing stock option or purchase agreements;


                                       34



     (c) any split, combination or reclassification of any of Parent's or any of
its subsidiaries' capital stock;

     (d) any material  change or alteration in the policy of Parent  relating to
the granting of stock options to its employees, directors and consultants;

     (e) any  revaluation  by Parent of any of its  assets,  including,  without
limitation,  writing off notes or accounts receivable other than in the ordinary
course of business;

     (f) any damage,  destruction or loss,  whether or not covered by insurance,
materially and adversely affecting the properties,  assets or business of Parent
or any subsidiary;

     (g) any material change by Parent in its accounting methods,  principles or
practices, except as required by concurrent changes in GAAP;

     (h) any  material  contingent  liability  incurred  by Parent or any of its
subsidiaries as guarantor or otherwise with respect to the obligations of others
or any  cancellation  of any  material  debt or claim owing to, or waiver of any
material right of, Parent or any of its subsidiaries;

     (i) any material  obligation or liability of any nature,  whether  accrued,
absolute  or  contingent,  incurred  by Parent  other than (A)  obligations  and
liabilities  which could not  reasonably  be expected to have a Parent  Material
Adverse  Effect and (B)  obligations  and  liabilities  incurred in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice;

     (j)  any  material  payment  or  discharge  of a  material  Encumbrance  or
liability  of  Parent  which  was not  shown  in the  Parent  Interim  Financial
Statements  or  which  was not  incurred  in the  ordinary  course  of  business
thereafter; or

     (l) any agreement or  understanding  whether in writing or  otherwise,  for
Parent  or any of its  subsidiaries  to take  any of the  actions  specified  in
paragraphs (a) through (k) above.

     3.9 Taxes.

     (a) Parent  and each of its  subsidiaries  have  timely  filed all  Returns
relating to Taxes required to be filed by or on behalf of Parent and each of its
subsidiaries with any Tax authority, such Returns are true, correct and complete
in all material respects,  and Parent and each of its subsidiaries have paid all
Taxes shown to be due on such Returns;

     (b) Parent and each of its  subsidiaries  have withheld with respect to its
employees all material (i) federal and state income taxes,  (ii) Taxes  pursuant
to FICA,  (iii) Taxes  pursuant to FUTA and other  material Taxes required to be
withheld;

     (c) Neither Parent nor any of its  subsidiaries  has been delinquent in the
payment  of  any  material  Tax  nor  is  there  any  material  Tax   deficiency
outstanding, proposed or assessed against Parent or any of its subsidiaries, nor
has Parent or any of its subsidiaries


                                       35



executed any unexpired  waiver of any statute of limitations on or extending the
period for the assessment or collection of any material Tax;

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

     (e) No material  adjustment  relating to any Returns filed by Parent or any
of its  subsidiaries  has been proposed in writing formally or informally by any
Tax  authority  to  Parent  or  any of its  subsidiaries  or any  representative
thereof;

     (f) Neither Parent nor any of its subsidiaries has any liability for unpaid
Taxes which has not been  accrued for or reserved on the Parent  Balance  Sheet,
whether  asserted or unasserted,  contingent or otherwise,  which is material to
Parent,  other than any  liability  for unpaid Taxes that may have accrued since
the date of the Parent  Balance  Sheet in  connection  with the operation of the
business of Parent and its subsidiaries in the ordinary course;

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

     (h)  Neither  Parent  nor any of its  subsidiaries  is  party to or has any
obligation under any tax-sharing,  tax indemnity or tax allocation  agreement or
arrangement;

     (i) Except as may be  required  as a result of the  Merger,  Parent and its
subsidiaries have not been and will not be required to include any adjustment in
Taxable income for any Tax period (or portion  thereof)  pursuant to Section 481
or Section 263A of the Code or any comparable  provision  under state or foreign
Tax laws as a result of  transactions,  events or  accounting  methods  employed
prior to the Closing;

     (j)  None of  Parent's  or its  subsidiaries'  assets  are tax  exempt  use
property within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the Code;

     (k)  There  are no  material  Encumbrances  on the  assets of Parent or any
subsidiary  relating to or attributable to Taxes,  other than  Encumbrances  for
Taxes not yet due and payable; and

     (l) None of Parent or any of its  subsidiaries  (A) has been a member of an
affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Return (other than a group
the common  parent of which was Parent),  or (B) has any liability or obligation
for the Taxes of any  Person  (other  than any of Parent  and its  subsidiaries)
under Treasury  Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state,
local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.


                                       36


     3.10 Title to Properties; Absence of Encumbrances.

     (a) All real estate leases to which Parent or any of its  subsidiaries is a
party,  and all  material  leases of  personal  property,  are in full force and
effect,  are valid and effective in accordance with their respective  terms, and
afford Parent and each of its subsidiaries,  in all material respects,  peaceful
and undisturbed  possession of the subject matter of the lease and there is not,
under any of such  leases,  any  existing  default or event of default (or event
which with  notice or lapse of time,  or both,  would  constitute  a default) by
Parent or any of its subsidiaries that would give rise to a claim against Parent
or any subsidiary in an amount greater than $100,000.

     (b)  Parent  has  good and  valid  title  to,  or,  in the  case of  leased
properties  and  assets,  valid  leasehold  interests  in,  all of its  tangible
properties  and assets,  real,  personal and mixed,  used or held for use in its
business, free and clear of any Encumbrances,  except as reflected in the Parent
Financials  and  except  for liens for  taxes not yet due and  payable  and such
Encumbrances  or  other  imperfections  of  title,  which  are not  material  in
character, amount or extent, and which do not materially detract from the value,
or materially interfere with the present use, of the property subject thereto or
affected thereby.

     (c) The plants,  property and equipment of Parent and its subsidiaries that
are used in the  operations of their  business are  generally in good  operating
condition and repair.  All  properties  used in the operations of Parent and its
subsidiaries are reflected in the Parent Balance Sheet to the extent required to
be reflected under GAAP.

     3.11 Intellectual Property.

     (a) Title;  Non-infringement.  Parent and each of its subsidiaries owns all
right,  title and  interest  in, or has the right to use,  sell or  license  all
patent applications, patents, trademark applications, trademarks, service marks,
trade  names,  copyright  applications,  copyrights,  trade  secrets,  know-how,
technology,  customer lists,  proprietary processes and formulae, all source and
object code, algorithms, inventions, development tools and all documentation and
media  constituting,  describing  or relating to the above,  including,  without
limitation,  manuals,  memoranda and records and other intellectual property and
proprietary  rights used in or reasonably  necessary or required for the conduct
of  its  respective  business  as  presently  conducted  ("Parent   Intellectual
Property").   To  the  knowledge  of  Parent,   each   copyright  and  trademark
registration  and each patent for Parent  Intellectual  Property owned by Parent
and each of its subsidiaries is valid and subsisting. Parent is not aware of any
material loss,  cancellation,  termination or expiration of any such copyrights,
trademarks, patents, registrations or applications therefor. To the knowledge of
Parent, the business of Parent and its subsidiaries does not cause Parent or any
of its  subsidiaries  to  infringe or violate  any of the  patents,  trademarks,
service marks, trade names, mask works, copyrights,  trade secrets,  proprietary
rights or other  intellectual  property of any other person,  and neither Parent
nor any of its  subsidiaries  has  received  any  written  claim  or  notice  of
infringement or potential infringement of the intellectual property of any other
person. Neither the manufacture,  marketing, sale or intended use of any product
currently  licensed or sold by Parent or currently  under  development by Parent
violates any license or agreement between Parent and any third party. Parent and
each of its subsidiaries has taken reasonable and practicable  steps designed to
safeguard and maintain the


                                       37



secrecy and  confidentiality  of, and its  proprietary  rights in, all  material
Parent  Intellectual  Property.  Parent is not aware of any  infringement of any
Parent Intellectual Property by any third party. There are no royalties, fees or
other  payments  payable by Parent or any of its  subsidiaries  to any person by
reason  of the  ownership,  use,  license,  sale or  disposition  of the  Parent
Intellectual Property.

     (b) Year  2000.  Parent  has  taken  reasonable  steps to  ensure  that its
material  systems  and  technology  is Year  2000  Compliant.  Parent  has taken
reasonable  steps to ensure that its systems,  services and technology will lose
no functionality  with respect to the  introduction of records  containing dates
falling on or after  January 1, 2000 and February 29, 2000.  All of Parent's and
its subsidiaries'  internal  computer and technology  systems and services which
are  critical  or  material  to the  operation  of its  business  are Year  2000
Compliant. The Parent Intellectual Property owned by Parent or any subsidiary is
Year 2000 Compliant. Neither the Parent Intellectual Property owned by Parent or
any subsidiary nor any of Parent's  material  systems and technology used in the
provision of its services or used in the operation or management of its business
contains any  significant  defect in connection  with processing data containing
dates in leap years or in the year 2000 or any preceding or following years.

     3.12 Compliance with Law; Permits; Restrictions.

     (a) Neither Parent nor any of its subsidiaries is, in any material respect,
in  conflict  with,  or in  default  or in  violation  of  (i)  any  law,  rule,
regulation,  order,  judgment  or  decree  applicable  to  Parent  or any of its
subsidiaries  or by  which  Parent  or any of its  subsidiaries  or any of their
respective  properties is bound or affected,  or (ii) any material  note,  bond,
mortgage,  indenture,  contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or
other  instrument or obligation to which Parent or any of its  subsidiaries is a
party  or by  which  Parent  or any of its  subsidiaries  or its or any of their
respective properties is bound or affected, except for conflicts, violations and
defaults that  (individually or in the aggregate) would not cause Parent to lose
any material benefit or incur any material liability. No investigation or review
by any  Governmental  Entity is  pending  or, to  Parent's  knowledge,  has been
threatened  in a  writing  delivered  to  Parent  against  Parent  or any of its
subsidiaries,  nor, to Parent's knowledge, has any Governmental Entity indicated
an intention to conduct an  investigation  of Parent or any of its  subsidiaries
with  respect to any alleged  violation  of any law,  rule,  regulation,  order,
judgment or decree applicable to Parent or any of its subsidiaries.  There is no
material agreement, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon Parent or
any of its  subsidiaries  which has or could  reasonably be expected to have the
effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any business practice of Parent or
any of its  subsidiaries,  any acquisition of material property by Parent or any
of its subsidiaries or the conduct of business by Parent as currently conducted.

     (b) Parent and its subsidiaries  hold, to the extent legally required,  all
permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, orders and approvals from governmental
authorities  that are material to and required for the operation of the business
of Parent as currently conducted  (collectively,  the "Parent Permits").  Parent
and its subsidiaries  are in compliance in all material  respects with the terms
of the Parent Permits.

     3.13 Litigation. There are no claims, suits, actions or proceedings pending
or, to the  knowledge of Parent,  threatened  against,  relating to or affecting
Parent or any of its subsidiaries,


                                       38



before any court, governmental department,  commission,  agency, instrumentality
or  authority,   or  any  arbitrator  that  seeks  to  restrain  or  enjoin  the
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or which could
reasonably be expected,  either  singularly  or in the  aggregate  with all such
claims,  actions or  proceedings,  to have a Parent  Material  Adverse Effect or
which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent,  enjoin, alter or materially
delay the  Merger  or any of the  other  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  No
Governmental  Entity  has at any time  challenged  or  questioned  in a  writing
delivered  to Parent the legal  right of Parent to design,  offer or sell any of
its products or services in the present manner or style thereof.  As of the date
hereof, to the knowledge of Parent, no event has occurred, and no claim, dispute
or other condition or circumstance  exists,  that will, or that would reasonably
be expected  to,  cause or provide a bona fide basis for a director or executive
officer of Parent to seek indemnification from Parent.

     3.14 Employee Benefit Plans.

     (a)  Definitions.  With the exception of the  definitions  of  "Affiliate,"
"Employee"  and "Employee  Agreement" set forth in Section  3.14(a)(i),  (v) and
(vi) below  (which  definitions  shall  apply only to this  Section  3.14),  for
purposes of this  Agreement,  the  following  terms shall have the  meanings set
forth below:

          (i)  "Affiliate"  shall mean any other  person or entity  under common
     control with Parent within the meaning of Section  414(b),  (c), (m) or (o)
     of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder;

          (ii)  "Parent  Employee  Plan" shall mean any plan,  program,  policy,
     practice,   contract,   agreement  or  other   arrangement   providing  for
     compensation,  severance,  termination pay,  performance  awards,  stock or
     stock-related  awards,  fringe  benefits  or  other  employee  benefits  or
     remuneration of any kind, whether written or unwritten, funded or unfunded,
     including  without  limitation,  each  "employee  benefit plan," within the
     meaning  of  Section  3(3)  of  ERISA  which  is or  has  been  maintained,
     contributed  to,  or  required  to be  contributed  to,  by  Parent  or any
     Affiliate for the benefit of any Employee;

          (iii) "Employee" shall mean any current,  former, or retired employee,
     officer, or director of Parent or any Affiliate;

          (iv)  "Employee  Agreement"  shall mean each  management,  employment,
     severance, consulting, relocation, repatriation,  expatriation, visas, work
     permit or similar agreement or contract between Parent or any Affiliate and
     any Employee or consultant  that provides for annual  compensation  to such
     Employee or consultant in excess of $150,000;

     (b)  Employee  Plan  Compliance.  (i)  Parent  and  its  subsidiaries  have
performed in all material  respects all obligations  required to be performed by
them under,  are not in default or  violation  of, and have no  knowledge of any
default or violation by any other party to any Parent  Employee  Plan,  and each
Parent  Employee  Plan has  been  established  and  maintained  in all  material
respects in  accordance  with its terms and in  compliance  with all  applicable
laws,  statutes,  orders,  rules and  regulations,  including but not limited to
ERISA or the Code;  (ii) each Parent  Employee  Plan  intended to qualify  under
Section 401(a) of the Code and each trust


                                       39



intended  to qualify  under  Section  501(a) of the Code has  either  received a
favorable determination letter from the IRS with respect to each such Plan as to
its  qualified  status  under the Code or has  remaining  a period of time under
applicable Treasury regulations or IRS pronouncements in which to apply for such
a determination  letter and make any amendments  necessary to obtain a favorable
determination  and no event has occurred which would adversely affect the status
of such  determination  letter or the  qualified  status of such Plan;  (iii) no
"prohibited  transaction,"  within the  meaning  of Section  4975 of the Code or
Sections 406 and 407 of ERISA,  which is not otherwise  exempt under Section 408
of ERISA,  has occurred with respect to any Parent Employee Plan; (iv) there are
no actions, suits or claims pending, or, to the knowledge of Parent,  threatened
or reasonably  anticipated  (other than routine claims for benefits) against any
Parent  Employee  Plan or against the assets of any Parent  Employee  Plan;  (v)
there are no audits,  inquiries or  proceedings  pending or, to the knowledge of
Parent,  threatened by the IRS or DOL with respect to any Parent  Employee Plan;
and (vi) neither  Parent nor any Affiliate is subject to any penalty or tax with
respect to any Parent  Employee Plan under  Section  402(i) of ERISA or Sections
4975 through 4980 of the Code.

     (c)  Pension  Plans.  Parent  does  not now,  nor has it ever,  maintained,
established,  sponsored,  participated  in, or contributed  to, any Pension Plan
which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.

     (d)  Multiemployer   Plans.  At  no  time  has  Parent  or  any  subsidiary
contributed to or been requested to contribute to any Multiemployer Plan.

     (e) No Post-Employment  Obligations.  No Parent Employee Plan provides,  or
has any obligation to provide,  retiree life insurance,  retiree health or other
retiree employee welfare benefits to any person for any reason, except as may be
required by COBRA or other applicable statute, and Parent has never represented,
promised or contracted (whether in oral or written form) to any Employee (either
individually  or to  Employees  as a  group)  or  any  other  person  that  such
Employee(s)  or other  person would be provided  with  retiree  life  insurance,
retiree health or other retiree employee  welfare benefit,  except to the extent
required by statute.

     (f)  COBRA;  FMLA.  Neither  Parent nor any  subsidiary  nor,  to  Parent's
knowledge,  any other  Affiliate  has,  prior to the Effective  Time, and in any
material respect,  violated any of the health care continuation  requirements of
COBRA,  any  material  requirements  of FMLA or any material  provisions  of any
similar  provisions of state law applicable to its  Employees,  except where the
same would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.

     (g) Contributions.  All contributions due from the Parent and any Affiliate
with  respect to any of the Parent  Employee  Plans have been made or accrued on
the Parent  Balance Sheet or arose after the date of the Parent Balance Sheet in
the ordinary course of business  consistent  with past practices  including as a
result of acquisitions.

     3.15 Environmental Matters. To Parent's knowledge:

     (a)  Compliance  with  Law.  Each  of  Parent,  its  subsidiaries  and  its
predecessors has complied and is in compliance in all material respects with all
Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.


                                       40



     (b) Neither Parent, its subsidiaries nor their respective  predecessors has
received  any written or oral  notice,  report,  demand,  citation,  request for
information,  complaint  or other  information  regarding  any actual or alleged
violation of Environmental,  Health, and Safety Requirements, or any liabilities
or potential liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or
otherwise),  arising  under  Environmental,  Health,  and  Safety  Requirements.
Neither Parent nor any of its  subsidiaries is a potentially  responsible  party
under  CERCLA,  RCRA,  or any similar  law of the state,  province or country in
which a Parent facility is located. There have not been in the past, and are not
now, any Hazardous Materials on, under or migrating to or from any real property
owned or leased  by it or any of its  subsidiaries  which  could  reasonably  be
expected to result in a material liability to Parent. There have not been in the
past, and are not now, any aboveground  tanks,  underground tanks or underground
pipes,  lines,  connections  or other  improvements  at,  on or  under  any real
property owned or leased by it or any of its  subsidiaries,  including,  without
limitation,  treatment  or storage  tanks,  sumps,  or water,  gas or oil wells,
except  in  accordance   with  applicable   Environmental,   Health  and  Safety
Requirements.  Parent  has  not  deposited,  released,  spilled,  discharged  or
disposed of Hazardous  Materials on any real  property  owned or leased by it or
any of its  subsidiaries,  except in accordance  with  applicable  Environmental
Health and Safety Requirements,  which could reasonably be expected to result in
a material liability to Parent.

     (c) None of Parent, its subsidiaries,  or their respective predecessors has
treated,  stored,  disposed  of,  arranged  for or  permitted  the  disposal of,
transported,  handled,  or released any substance,  including without limitation
any  Hazardous  Material,  or owned or operated any property or facility (and no
such  property or facility is  contaminated  by any such  substance) in a manner
that violates any  Environmental,  Health and Safety  Requirements or would give
rise to material  liabilities,  including  any  liability  for  response  costs,
corrective  action costs,  personal injury,  property damage,  natural resources
damages,  administrative  or civil penalties or criminal fines or penalties,  or
attorney fees,  pursuant to any Environmental,  Health, and Safety  Requirements
which,  in any case,  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  result in a  material
liability to Parent.

     (d)  Liability  for  Others.  Neither  Parent,  its  subsidiaries  nor  its
predecessors has, either expressly or by operation of law, assumed,  retained or
undertaken  any  liability,  including  without  limitation  any  obligation for
corrective  or  remedial  action,  of any other  person or  entity  relating  to
Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements other than in connection with any
acquisitions  of the  assets,  businesses  or  operations  of another  person or
entity, or which could reasonably be expected to result in a material  liability
to Parent.

     (e)  Ongoing  Compliance.  Parent has not  received  written  notice of any
facts, events, conditions or systems relating to the past or present facilities,
properties  or  operations  of any of Parent,  its  subsidiaries,  its and their
respective  predecessors which could prevent ongoing or continued  compliance in
all  material  respects  with  applicable  Environmental,   Health,  and  Safety
Requirements,  give rise to any material  obligations pursuant to Environmental,
Health,  and Safety  Requirements,  or give rise to any  administrative or civil
penalties  or criminal  fines or  penalties  or any other  material  liabilities
(whether accrued, absolute,  contingent,  unliquidated or otherwise) pursuant to
Environmental,  Health, and Safety Requirements,  including, without limitation,
any liabilities relating to onsite or offsite releases or threatened releases of
Hazardous  Materials,  personal  injury,  property  damage or natural  resources
damage.


                                       41



     3.16  Insurance.  Parent  and each of its  subsidiaries  have  policies  of
insurance  and bonds of the type and in amounts  customarily  carried by persons
conducting  business  or  owning  assets  similar  to  those of  Parent  and its
subsidiaries.  There is no material  claim pending under any of such policies or
bonds as to which  coverage  has been  questioned,  denied  or  disputed  by the
underwriters  of such policies or bonds.  All premiums due and payable under all
such  policies have been paid and Parent and its  subsidiaries  are otherwise in
compliance  in all material  respects with the terms of such policies and bonds.
To the  knowledge of Parent,  there has been no  threatened  termination  of, or
material premium increase with respect to, any of such policies.

     3.17 Customers and Suppliers

     (a) Customers.  Neither Parent nor any of its  subsidiaries has outstanding
material disputes concerning its goods and/or services with any customer who, in
the nine months ended  September  25, 1999,  was one of the fifteen (15) largest
sources of revenues  for Parent,  based on amounts  paid (a "Parent  Significant
Customer")  and Parent has no knowledge of any material  dissatisfaction  on the
part of any Parent Significant Customer.

     (b) Suppliers.  Neither Parent nor its  subsidiaries  have any  outstanding
material disputes  concerning goods or services provided by any supplier who, in
the nine months ended  September  25, 1999,  was one of the fifteen (15) largest
suppliers  of goods and  services to Parent,  based on amounts paid for products
not readily  available  from another  source  ("Parent  Significant  Supplier").
Parent has not received any written notice of a termination or  interruption  of
any existing  contracts or arrangements with any Parent  Significant  Suppliers.
Parent and its subsidiaries  have access,  on reasonable terms, to all goods and
services  reasonably  necessary to them to carry on their  business as currently
conducted  and  Parent  has no  knowledge  of any  reason  why  Parent  and  its
subsidiaries  will not continue to have such access on reasonable  terms subject
to general industry conditions relating to availability of components. No Parent
Significant Supplier has notified Parent or any of its subsidiaries that it will
stop or  materially  decrease  the  rate of  supplying  materials,  products  or
services to Parent.

     (c) Warranties and Product Returns.  Parent's  obligations to its customers
with respect to defects in materials or workmanship  is generally  limited to an
obligation  to repair or replace the product in question.  Since March 31, 1999,
Parent has not had any of its products  returned by a customer except for normal
warranty  returns  consistent with past history and those returns that would not
result in a reversal of any material revenue by Parent.

     3.18 Inventory.  The inventory of Parent and its subsidiaries  reflected in
the Parent Interim Financial  Statements (the "Parent  Inventory") was valued at
cost (determined on a first-in,  first-out basis) or market, whichever is lower.
The  Parent  Inventory  is in all  material  respects  of good and  merchantable
quality  and is readily  usable and salable in the  ordinary  course of Parent's
businesses,  except  for items of  obsolete  materials  and  materials  of below
standard  quality,  substantially  all  of  which  have  been  written  down  to
realizable market value, or for which adequate  reserves have been provided,  in
the Parent Interim Financial  Statements.  For Parent Inventory  manufactured to
customer specifications  effectively rendering the Parent Inventory salable only
to that customer,  the terms of the sales contracts applicable thereto generally
require the  customer to acquire  such  Parent  Inventory  (to the extent of the
quantity


                                       42



limits specified in such sales contracts) if it is manufactured and delivered in
accordance with such sales contracts.

     3.19  Disclosure.  The information  supplied by Parent for inclusion in the
Registration Statement shall not at the time the Registration Statement is filed
with the SEC and at the time it  becomes  effective  under  the  Securities  Act
contain any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein,  in  light  of  the  circumstances  under  which  they  are  made,  not
misleading.  The  information  supplied  by Parent  for  inclusion  in the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus  shall not, on the date the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  is
mailed to Company's  stockholders or Parent's  shareholders,  at the time of the
Company  Stockholders'  Meeting or the Parent Shareholders' Meeting or as of the
Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made,
not false or misleading, or omit to state any material fact necessary to correct
any statement in any earlier  communication  with respect to the solicitation of
proxies  for the  Company  Stockholders'  Meeting  or the  Parent  Shareholders'
Meeting which has become false or misleading.  The  Registration  Statement will
comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities
Act and the  rules  and  regulations  thereunder.  If at any  time  prior to the
Effective Time, any event relating to Parent or any of its affiliates,  officers
or directors should be discovered by Parent which is required to be set forth in
an  amendment  to the  Registration  Statement  or a  supplement  to  the  Proxy
Statement/Prospectus,  Parent shall promptly inform Company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing,  Parent  makes no  representation  or  warranty  with  respect to any
information  supplied  by Company  which is  contained  in any of the  foregoing
documents.

     3.20 Board  Approval.  The Board of Directors of Parent has, as of the date
of this Agreement,  determined (a) that the Merger is advisable and fair to, and
in the best  interests of Parent,  its  shareholders  and Merger Sub, and (b) to
recommend  that the  shareholders  of Parent  approve the issuance of the Parent
Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Merger and adopt this Agreement.

     3.21  Brokers'  and Finders'  Fees.  Parent has not  incurred,  nor will it
incur,  directly or indirectly,  any liability for brokerage or finders' fees or
agents'  commissions or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or
any transaction contemplated hereby.

     3.23 Affiliates.  Part 3.23 of the Parent  Disclosure  Letter is a complete
list of those persons who may be deemed to be, in Parent's reasonable  judgment,
affiliates  of Parent  within  the  meaning  of Rule 145  promulgated  under the
Securities Act (each a "Parent Affiliate").

     3.24  Pooling  of  Interests.   To  the  knowledge  of  Parent,   based  on
consultation  with its  independent  accountants,  neither Parent nor any of its
directors,  officers, affiliates or stockholders has taken or agreed to take any
action  which  would  preclude  Parent's  ability to account for the Merger as a
pooling of  interests.  Parent is  autonomous  and has not been a subsidiary  or
division of another  corporation or other entity since December 31, 1993.  Since
December 31, 1996,  Parent has not (a) paid any  dividends or effected any other
distributions  to  its  stockholders   other  than   distributions  to  Parent's
shareholders paid solely in Parent Ordinary


                                       43



Shares,  (b)  reacquired or purchased  any of its sales,  (c) changed any of its
equity interests, or (d) sold significant assets in contemplation of a merger.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                       CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME

     4.1 Conduct of Business.  During the period from the date of this Agreement
and continuing  until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement  pursuant
to its terms or the Effective Time,  Parent and Company each agrees as to itself
and its  respective  subsidiaries,  to  carry  on its  (and  its  subsidiaries')
business in the usual,  regular and ordinary course,  in substantially  the same
manner as heretofore  conducted and in compliance in all material  respects with
all applicable laws and regulations, pay its debts and taxes when due subject to
good  faith  disputes  over  such  debts or  taxes,  pay or  perform  its  other
obligations  when due, and use all reasonable  efforts (and in any event no less
than would be consistent  with its past  practices),  to (i) preserve intact its
(and its subsidiaries') present business  organization,  (ii) keep available the
services  of its present  officers  and key  employees  and (iii)  preserve  its
relationships with customers,  suppliers,  licensors,  licensees and others with
which it has business  dealings.  In  addition,  Company  will  promptly  notify
Parent, and Parent will promptly notify Company, of any material event involving
its respective business or operations, and of any event that could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (a) In addition,  except as permitted by the terms of this  Agreement,  and
except as  provided in Part 4.1 of the Company  Disclosure  Letter,  without the
prior  written  consent  of  Parent,  during  the  period  from the date of this
Agreement and continuing  until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to its terms or the  Effective  Time,  Company  shall not do any of the
following and shall not permit its subsidiaries to do any of the following:

          (i) Waive any stock repurchase rights, accelerate, amend or change the
     period of  exercisability  of any  options or  restricted  stock or reprice
     options  granted  under any employee,  consultant,  director or other stock
     plans or authorize cash payments in exchange for any options  granted under
     any of such  plans  except as  required  by the terms of such  plans or any
     related  agreements  or  employment  agreements in effect as of the date of
     this Agreement;

          (ii) Grant any severance or termination pay to any officer or employee
     except pursuant to written agreements in effect, or policies  existing,  on
     the date  hereof and as  previously  disclosed  in the  Company  Disclosure
     Letter, or adopt any new severance plan;

          (iii) Transfer or license to any person or entity or otherwise extend,
     amend  or  modify  in any  material  respect  any  rights  to  the  Company
     Intellectual   Property   other  than  such   extensions,   amendments   or
     modifications  as would be  necessary to maintain the term or status of the
     Company Intellectual Property;

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


                                       44



          (v) Purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any
     shares of its capital stock,  except repurchases of unvested shares at cost
     in connection with the termination of the employment  relationship with any
     employee  pursuant to stock option or purchase  agreements in effect on the
     date hereof;

          (vi) Issue, deliver, sell, authorize, pledge or otherwise encumber any
     shares  of  capital  stock or any  securities  convertible  into  shares of
     capital stock, or subscriptions, rights, warrants or options to acquire any
     shares  of  capital  stock or any  securities  convertible  into  shares of
     capital  stock,  or enter  into  other  agreements  or  commitments  of any
     character obligating it to issue any such shares or convertible securities,
     other  than (a) the  issuance,  delivery  and/or  sale of shares of Company
     Common  Stock  pursuant  to the  exercise  of  Company  Options or upon the
     vesting of Performance  Shares,  outstanding on the date of this Agreement,
     (b) the issuance,  delivery  and/or sale of shares of Company  Common Stock
     issuable to participants in the ESPP consistent with the terms thereof, (c)
     the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock under the  Directors'  Stock
     Plan,  or the grant of options to acquire  shares of Company  Common  Stock
     outside of any Company Stock Option Plan to newly hired  employees that are
     not officers or directors of Company on terms  consistent with past grants,
     provided  that (1) the  vesting  of such  options  does not  accelerate  in
     connection  with the Merger or any of the other  transactions  contemplated
     hereby,  (2) such options vest over a four-year period,  with not more than
     twenty-five percent (25%) in the first year, (3) the exercise price of such
     option is not less than the fair market  value of Company  Common  Stock on
     the date of grant,  and (4) the number of shares  subject to such option is
     consistent with the past practice of Company.

          (vii) Cause,  permit or propose any  amendments to its  Certificate of
     Incorporation,  Bylaws or other  charter  documents  (or similar  governing
     instruments of any of its subsidiaries);

          (viii) Acquire or agree to acquire by merging or  consolidating  with,
     or by purchasing  any equity  interest in or a  substantial  portion of the
     assets  of,  or by any  other  manner,  any  business  or any  corporation,
     partnership,   association  or  other  business  organization  or  division
     thereof;  or otherwise  acquire or agree to acquire any assets  (other than
     inventory and other items in the ordinary  course of business),  except for
     any such acquisitions involving aggregate consideration  (including assumed
     indebtedness) of not more than $1,000,000, or enter into any material joint
     ventures, strategic partnerships or alliances;

          (ix)  Sell,  lease,  license,  encumber  or  otherwise  dispose of any
     properties or assets which are material,  individually or in the aggregate,
     to Company and its subsidiaries'  business,  taken as a whole, except sales
     of  inventory  and obsolete  equipment  in the ordinary  course of business
     consistent with past practice;

          (x) Incur any  indebtedness  for borrowed  money or guarantee any such
     indebtedness  of  another  person,  issue or sell any  debt  securities  or
     options,  warrants, calls or other rights to acquire any debt securities of
     Company,  enter into any "keep well" or other  agreement  to  maintain  any
     financial  statement  condition  or enter into any  arrangement  having the
     economic  effect of any of the foregoing  other than (i) in connection with
     the  financing  of ordinary  course  trade  payables  consistent  with past
     practice or (ii) pursuant to existing credit


                                       45



     facilities,  as in effect on the date of this  Agreement,  in the  ordinary
     course of business consistent with past practice;

          (xi) (A) Enter into any employment  contract or collective  bargaining
     agreement   except  offer  letters  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business
     consistent  with past practice with new  employees who are  terminable  "at
     will", (B) pay or agree to pay any special bonus or special remuneration to
     any director or employee  other than (1) to employees that are not officers
     or directors of Company in the ordinary course of business  consistent with
     past practice,  and (2) payments of bonuses to the employees listed on Part
     2.8(d)  of  the  Company  Disclosure  Letter  pursuant  to  bonus  criteria
     specified  thereon,  (C)  increase  the  salaries  or wage  rates or fringe
     benefits (including rights to severance or indemnification)  payable, or to
     become payable to its directors,  officers,  employees or consultants other
     than  increases in salary to employees  that are not officers of Company in
     the ordinary course of business,  consistent with past practice,  (D) grant
     any  additional  severance  or  termination  pay  to,  or  enter  into  any
     employment or severance  agreements  with, any employees or officers except
     to employees  that are not  officers of Company in the  ordinary  course of
     business, consistent with past practice, or (E) establish, adopt enter into
     or amend any bonus,  profit sharing,  thrift,  compensation,  stock option,
     restricted stock, pension, retirement,  deferred compensation,  employment,
     termination, severance or other plan, trust, fund policy or arrangement for
     the benefit of any directors, officers or employees;

          (xii) Make any payments  outside of the ordinary course of business in
     excess of $5.0  million  in the  aggregate,  other than  pursuant  to those
     certain  letter  agreements  dated  October  18, 1999  between  Company and
     Salomon Smith Barney Inc. and Broadview International LLC, respectively;

          (xiii)  Except  as  disclosed  in Part 4.1 of the  Company  Disclosure
     Letter  pursuant to any other  clause of this Section  4.1(a),  enter into,
     amend, modify or terminate any Company Contract or any agreement,  contract
     or obligation which, if in effect on the date of this Agreement, would be a
     Company Contract;

          (xiv) Enter into or amend any  agreements  pursuant to which any other
     party is granted exclusive  marketing or other exclusive rights of any type
     or scope with respect to any of its products or technology;

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

          (xvi) Take any actions  that could  prevent  Parent from being able to
     account for the Merger as a pooling of interests  whether or not  otherwise
     permitted by the  provisions of this Article IV (provided that if, prior to
     the taking of such actions,  representatives of the independent auditors of
     both  Parent and  Company  have  stated  that a proposed  action  would not
     prevent  Parent  from being able to account  for the Merger as a pooling of
     interests, such action shall not be deemed to breach this clause (xvi);

          (xvii)  Initiate,  compromise  or settle any  material  litigation  or
     arbitration  proceeding  (other  than  as a  result  of a  breach  of  this
     Agreement  by  Parent),  except  that  Company  may  compromise  or  settle
     litigation or arbitration if the terms of such settlement do not require


                                       46


     payment by Company and its subsidiaries of in excess of $1.5 million and do
     not impose any other material obligations on Company and its subsidiaries;

          (xviii)  Except as  contemplated  by  Section  5.19,  amend the Rights
     Agreement  or take any action with  respect  to, or make any  determination
     under, the Rights Agreement;

          (xix)  Take or agree  in  writing  or  otherwise  to take,  any of the
     actions described in clauses (i) through (xviii) above, or any action which
     would  make any of its  representations  or  warranties  contained  in this
     Agreement untrue or incorrect or prevent it from performing or cause it not
     to perform its covenants hereunder.

     (b) In addition,  except as permitted by the terms of this  Agreement,  and
except as  provided  in Part 4.1 of the Parent  Disclosure  Letter,  without the
prior  written  consent of  Company,  during  the  period  from the date of this
Agreement and continuing  until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement
pursuant  to its terms or the  Effective  Time,  Parent  shall not do any of the
following and shall not permit its subsidiaries to do any of the following:

          (i) waive any stock repurchase rights, accelerate, amend or change the
     period of  exercisability  of any  options or  restricted  stock or reprice
     options  granted  under any employee,  consultant,  director or other stock
     plans or authorize cash payments in exchange for any options  granted under
     any of such  plans  except as  required  by the terms of such  plans or any
     related  agreements  or  employment  agreements in effect as of the date of
     this Agreement;

          (ii) grant any severance or termination pay to any officer or employee
     except pursuant to written agreements in effect, or policies  existing,  on
     the date hereof, or adopt any new severance plan;

          (iii)  declare,  set aside or pay any  dividends  on or make any other
     distributions
     (whether in cash,  stock,  equity securities or property) in respect of any
     capital stock or split, combine or reclassify any capital stock or issue or
     authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or
     in substitution for, any capital stock; provided,  that, subject to Section
     1.4(f) above, Parent may effect a bonus issue of its Ordinary Shares in the
     manner contemplated in its proxy statement dated July 30, 1999 with respect
     to its Annual General Meeting on August 27, 1999;

          (iv) purchase,  redeem or otherwise  acquire,  directly or indirectly,
     any shares of its capital stock,  except  repurchases of unvested shares at
     cost in connection with the termination of the employment relationship with
     any employee  pursuant to stock option or purchase  agreements in effect on
     the date hereof;

          (v) issue, deliver, sell, authorize,  pledge or otherwise encumber any
     shares or any securities convertible into shares, or subscriptions, rights,
     warrants  or options to acquire  any shares or any  securities  convertible
     into shares, or enter into other agreements or commitments of any character
     obligating  it to issue any such shares or  convertible  securities,  other
     than (A) the grant of Parent  Options,  (B) the issuance,  delivery  and/or
     sale of Parent  Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of Parent Options,
     (C) the issuance,  delivery  and/or sale of Parent Ordinary Shares issuable
     to participants under Parent's 1997 Employee Share Purchase


                                       47



     Plan consistent with the terms thereof,  and the (D) the issuance of Parent
     Ordinary Shares in connection with acquisitions,  joint ventures, strategic
     partnerships and strategic alliances other than issuance that would require
     approval by Parent's shareholders.

          (vi)  cause,  permit or propose  any  amendments  to its  Articles  of
     Association or Memorandum of Association;

          (vii) acquire or agree to acquire,  by merging or consolidating  with,
     or by
     purchasing  all  or a  majority  of  the  equity  interests  in,  or all or
     substantial  portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business
     or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization
     or  division  thereof,  in each case  where the same  could  reasonably  be
     expected to prevent or materially delay the Merger;

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

          (ix) take any actions that could prevent it from being able to account
     for the Merger as a pooling of interests whether or not otherwise permitted
     by the provisions of this Article IV (provided that if, prior to the taking
     of  such  actions,  representatives  of the  independent  auditors  of both
     Company and Parent have  stated  that a proposed  action  would not prevent
     Company  from  being  able  to  account  for the  Merger  as a  pooling  of
     interests, such action shall not be deemed to breach this clause (ix)); or

          (x) take or agree in writing or otherwise to take,  any of the actions
     described in
     clauses (i) through  (ix) above,  or any action which would make any of its
     representations  or  warranties  contained  in  this  Agreement  untrue  or
     incorrect  or prevent  it from  performing  or cause it not to perform  its
     covenants hereunder.

     4.2      Cooperation.  Subject to compliance  with applicable law, from the
date hereof until the Effective Time, each of Parent and Company shall confer on
a regular and frequent basis with one or more representatives of the other party
to report on the general status of ongoing operations and shall promptly provide
the other  party or its counsel  with  copies of all filings  made by such party
with any Governmental  Entity in connection with this Agreement,  the Merger and
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

                                    ARTICLE V
                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

     5.1  Proxy  Statement/Prospectus;  Registration  Statement;  Antitrust  and
Certain Other Filings.

     (a) As promptly  as  practicable  after the  execution  of this  Agreement,
Company   and   Parent   will   prepare   and  file   with  the  SEC  the  Proxy
Statement/Prospectus,  and  Parent  will  prepare  and  file  with  the  SEC the
Registration Statement in which the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus will be included
as a prospectus.  Each of Company and Parent will respond to any comments of the
SEC,  and will use all  reasonable  efforts to have the  Registration  Statement
declared  effective  under the Securities  Act as promptly as practicable  after
such filing; provided, however, that Parent shall have no obligation to agree to
account for the Merger as a


                                       48



"purchase"  in order to cause the  Registration  Statement to become  effective.
Each of Company  and  Parent  will  cause the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  to be
mailed to its respective stockholders and at the earliest practicable time after
the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC.

     (b) As promptly as practicable  after the date of this  Agreement,  each of
Company and Parent  will  prepare  and file (i) with the United  States  Federal
Trade Commission and the Antitrust  Division of the United States  Department of
Justice Notification and Report Forms relating to the transactions  contemplated
herein as required by the HSR Act, as well as comparable pre-merger notification
forms required by the merger notification or control laws and regulations of any
other  applicable  jurisdiction,  as agreed to by the  parties,  including  such
filings as may be required under the European  Community Merger  Regulation (the
"Antitrust Filings") and (ii) any other filings required to be filed by it under
the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or pursuant to any other Legal  Requirement
relating to the Merger and the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement (the
"Other Filings").

     (c)  Company  and  Parent  each  shall  promptly  supply the other with any
information which may be required in order to effectuate any filings pursuant to
this Section 5.1. Each of Company and Parent will notify the other promptly upon
the receipt of any  comments  from the SEC or its staff or any other  government
officials in connection  with any filing made pursuant hereto and of any request
by the SEC or its staff or any other  government  officials  for  amendments  or
supplements to the Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any
Antitrust Filings or Other Filings or for additional information and will supply
the other with  copies of all  correspondence  between  such party or any of its
representatives,  on the one  hand,  and the  SEC,  or its  staff  or any  other
government  officials,  on the other  hand,  with  respect  to the  Registration
Statement, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the Merger or any Antitrust Filing or
Other  Filing.  Each of Company and Parent will cause all  documents  that it is
responsible  for filing  with the SEC or other  Governmental  Entity  under this
Section 5.1 to comply in all material respects with all applicable  requirements
of law and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

     (d)  Whenever  any event  occurs  which is  required  to be set forth in an
amendment or  supplement  to the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus,  the  Registration
Statement or any  Antitrust  Filing or Other Filing,  Company or Parent,  as the
case may be, will promptly  inform the other of such occurrence and cooperate in
filing with the SEC or any other  Governmental  Entity,  as applicable,  and, if
necessary or advisable,  mailing to stockholders of Company and/or  shareholders
of Parent, such amendment or supplement.

     5.2 Meeting of Company Stockholders.

     (a) Promptly after the date hereof,  Company will take all action necessary
in accordance with Delaware Law and its Certificate of Incorporation  and Bylaws
to  convene  the  Company  Stockholders'  Meeting  to be  held  as  promptly  as
practicable,  and in any event (to the extent  permissible under applicable law)
within 45 days  after  the  declaration  of  effectiveness  of the  Registration
Statement,  for the  purpose  of  voting  upon  approval  and  adoption  of this
Agreement and approval of the Merger.  Subject to Section  5.2(c),  Company will
use all reasonable efforts to solicit from its stockholders  proxies in favor of
the adoption and approval of


                                       49



this  Agreement  and the  approval of the Merger and will take all other  action
necessary  or  advisable  to  secure  the vote or  consent  of its  stockholders
required under the rules of Nasdaq or Delaware Law in connection  with obtaining
such  approvals.  Company  shall not  postpone  or adjourn  (other  than for the
absence of a quorum) the Company  Stockholders'  Meeting  without the consent of
Parent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.  Company shall ensure that the
Company Stockholders' Meeting is called, noticed,  convened, held and conducted,
and  subject  to  Section  5.2(c)  that all  proxies  solicited  by  Company  in
connection with the Company Stockholders'  Meeting are solicited,  in compliance
with the Delaware Law, its Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, the rules of
Nasdaq and all other  applicable  Legal  Requirements.  Company's  obligation to
call,  give notice of,  convene and hold the  Company  Stockholders'  Meeting in
accordance  with this  Section  5.2(a)  shall  not be  limited  to or  otherwise
affected by the commencement,  disclosure, announcement or submission to Company
of any  Company  Acquisition  Proposal  (as defined in Section  5.5),  or by any
withdrawal,  amendment or  modification  of the  recommendation  of the Board of
Directors of Company with respect to this Agreement or the Merger.

     (b) Subject to Section 5.2(c):  (i) the Board of Directors of Company shall
unanimously recommend that Company's stockholders vote in favor of and adopt and
approve  this  Agreement  and approve  the Merger at the  Company  Stockholders'
Meeting;  (ii) the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  shall include a statement to the
effect that the Board of Directors of Company has unanimously  recommended  that
Company's stockholders vote in favor of and adopt and approve this Agreement and
the Merger at the Company Stockholders'  Meeting; and (iii) neither the Board of
Directors of Company nor any  committee  thereof  shall (A)  withdraw,  amend or
modify,  or propose or resolve to withdraw,  amend or modify in a manner adverse
to Parent,  the  unanimous  recommendation  of the Board of Directors of Company
that  Company's  stockholders  vote in  favor  of and  adopt  and  approve  this
Agreement and the Merger or (B) approve or recommend,  or indicate  publicly its
intention  to approve or  recommend,  any  Company  Acquisition  Transaction  or
Company  Acquisition  Proposal (as defined in Section 5.5). For purposes of this
Agreement, said recommendation of the Board of Directors shall be deemed to have
been  modified  in a manner  adverse to Parent if said  recommendation  shall no
longer be unanimous.

     (c)  Nothing in this  Agreement  shall  prevent the Board of  Directors  of
Company  from  withholding,  withdrawing,  amending or modifying  its  unanimous
recommendation  in favor of the Merger,  omitting such  recommendation  from the
Proxy  Statement/Prospectus,  or approving or recommending  any Company Superior
Offer, if (i) a Company Superior Offer (as defined below) is made to Company and
is not withdrawn,  (ii) Company shall have provided  written notice to Parent (a
"Notice of Company  Superior Offer") advising Parent that Company has received a
Company  Superior Offer,  specifying all of the material terms and conditions of
such Company  Superior  Offer and  identifying  the person or entity making such
Company  Superior Offer,  (iii) Parent shall not have,  within five (5) business
days of Parent's receipt of the Notice of Company Superior Offer,  made an offer
that the Company Board by a majority vote  determines in its good faith judgment
(based  on the  written  advice  of its  financial  adviser)  to be at  least as
favorable to Company's  stockholders  as such Company  Superior  Offer (it being
agreed  that the Board of  Directors  of  Company  shall  convene  a meeting  to
consider any such offer by Parent promptly following the receipt thereof),  (iv)
the Board of Directors of Company  concludes in good faith,  after  consultation
with its outside


                                       50



counsel,  that,  in light  of such  Company  Superior  Offer,  the  withholding,
withdrawal,  amendment or  modification  of such  recommendation,  omitting such
recommendation from the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, or approving or recommending
a Company  Superior  Offer,  is required in order for the Board of  Directors of
Company to comply with its fiduciary obligations to Company's stockholders under
applicable law, and (v) Company shall not have violated any of the  restrictions
set forth in Section 5.5 or this Section 5.2.  Company shall provide Parent with
at least three (3)  business  days prior  notice (or such lesser prior notice as
provided  to the  members of  Company's  Board of  Directors)  of any meeting of
Company's Board of Directors at which Company's Board of Directors considers, or
is  reasonably  expected  to  consider,  any  Company  Acquisition  Proposal  to
determine whether such Company Acquisition Proposal is a Company Superior Offer.
Subject to applicable  laws,  nothing  contained in this Section 5.2 shall limit
Company's  obligation  to hold and  convene the  Company  Stockholders'  Meeting
(regardless of whether the unanimous recommendation of the Board of Directors of
Company shall have been withdrawn, amended or modified).

     For purposes of this Agreement  "Company  Superior Offer" shall mean a bona
fide  written  offer made by a third party to  consummate  any of the  following
transactions:  (i) a merger or consolidation involving Company pursuant to which
the  stockholders of Company  immediately  preceding such  transaction will hold
less than 50% of the equity  interest in the  surviving or  resulting  entity of
such  transaction or (ii) the  acquisition by any person or group  (including by
way of a tender offer or an exchange offer or a two step transaction involving a
tender offer followed with reasonable  promptness by a cash-out merger involving
Company),  directly or indirectly,  of ownership of 100% of the then outstanding
shares of capital  stock of  Company,  on terms that the Board of  Directors  of
Company determines,  in its reasonable good faith judgment (based on the written
advice of a financial  adviser of nationally  recognized  reputation) to be more
favorable to the Company  Stockholders  than the terms of the Merger;  provided,
however,  that any such  offer  shall not be deemed  to be a  "Company  Superior
Offer" if any financing  required to consummate the transaction  contemplated by
such  offer is not  committed,  or if such  offer  is  subject  to any  material
contingency  as to the  availability  of  financing  (unless  in the  reasonable
judgment of Company's Board of Directors,  it is unlikely that such  contingency
will not be satisfied).

     (d) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit Company or its Board
of  Directors  from  taking  and  disclosing  to  its  stockholders  a  position
contemplated by Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a)  promulgated under the Exchange Act if,
in the  good  faith  judgment  of the  Board  of  Directors  of  Company,  after
consultation with outside counsel,  failure so to disclose would be inconsistent
with its obligations under applicable law.

     5.3 Meeting of Parent Shareholders.

     (a) Promptly after the date hereof,  Parent will take all action  necessary
in accordance  with the Companies Act,  Chapter 50 of Singapore and its Articles
of  Association  to  convene  the  Parent  Shareholders'  Meeting  to be held as
promptly  as  practicable,  and in any event (to the  extent  permissible  under
applicable  law) within 45 days after the  declaration of  effectiveness  of the
Registration  Statement.  Parent will use all reasonable efforts to solicit from
its  shareholders  proxies in favor of the  issuance of Parent  Ordinary  Shares
pursuant to the Merger, and will take all other action necessary or advisable to
secure the vote or consent of its


                                       51



shareholders  required  by the rules of Nasdaq or  Singapore  law to obtain such
approvals. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement,
Parent may,  with the consent of the meeting,  adjourn the Parent  Shareholders'
Meeting to the extent  necessary  to ensure  that any  necessary  supplement  or
amendment to the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  is provided to Parent Shareholders
in advance of a vote on the issuance of Parent  Ordinary  Shares pursuant to the
Merger,  or, if as of the time for which the  Parent  Shareholders'  Meeting  is
originally scheduled (as set forth in the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus) there are
insufficient  Parent Ordinary Shares represented  (either in person or by proxy)
to  constitute  a  quorum  necessary  to  conduct  the  business  of the  Parent
Shareholders' Meeting. Parent shall ensure that the Parent Shareholders' Meeting
is called, noticed,  convened, held and conducted, that all proxies solicited by
Parent in  connection  with the Parent  Shareholders'  Meeting are  solicited in
compliance with Singapore law, its Articles of Association,  the rules of Nasdaq
and all other applicable legal  requirements.  Parent's obligation to call, give
notice, or convene and hold the Parent Shareholders'  Meeting in accordance with
this  Section  5.3(a)  shall not be  limited  to or  otherwise  affected  by any
withdrawal,  amendment or  modification  of the  recommendation  of the Board of
Directors  of Parent  with  respect to the  issuance of Parent  Ordinary  Shares
pursuant to the Merger.

     (b) (i) the  Board of  Directors  of Parent  shall  recommend  that  Parent
Shareholders  vote in  favor  of the  issuance  of the  Parent  Ordinary  Shares
pursuant  to the Merger,  (ii) the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  shall  include a
statement to the effect that the Board of  Directors  of Parent has  recommended
that  Parent   shareholders  vote  in  favor  of  such  matters  at  the  Parent
Shareholders'  Meeting,  and (iii)  neither the Board of Directors of Parent nor
any committee thereof shall withdraw,  amend or modify, or propose to resolve to
withdraw,  amend or modify in a manner adverse to Company, the recommendation of
the Board of Directors of Parent that Parent  shareholders vote in favor of such
matters.  For purposes of this Agreement,  said  recommendation  of the Board of
Directors  shall be deemed to have been modified in a manner  adverse to Company
if said  recommendation  shall no longer be unanimous,  provided  that,  for all
purposes of this  Agreement,  an action by any Board of  Directors  or committee
thereof  shall  be  unanimous  if each  member  of such  Board of  Directors  or
committee  has  approved  such  action  other  than (i) any such  member who has
appropriately  abstained  from  voting on such  matter  because  of an actual or
potential conflict of interest and (ii) any such member who is unable to vote in
connection with such action as a result of death or disability.

     5.4  Confidentiality; Access to Information; Standstill.

     (a)  Confidentiality  Agreement.  The parties  acknowledge that Company and
Parent have previously executed mutual Confidentiality  Agreements,  dated as of
August 9, 1999 and November 9, 1999 (the "Confidentiality  Agreements"), and the
Standstill Agreement dated as of November 9, 1999 (the "Standstill  Agreement"),
which Agreements will continue in full force and effect in accordance with their
respective terms.

     (b) Access to Information. Company and Parent will each afford to the other
and its accountants,  counsel and other representatives reasonable access during
normal business hours to its properties, books, records and personnel during the
period prior to the  Effective  Time to obtain all  information  concerning  its
business,  including the status of its product development efforts,  properties,
results of operations and personnel,  as such other party may reasonably


                                       52



request  and,  during such period,  each of Parent and Company  shall (and shall
cause each of their respective  subsidiaries to) furnish promptly to the other a
copy of each report,  schedule,  registration statement and other document filed
or received by it during such  period  pursuant to the  requirements  of federal
securities  laws.  Unless  otherwise  required by law, the parties will hold any
such  information  which is non-public  in  confidence  in  accordance  with the
Confidentiality   Agreements.  No  information  or  knowledge  obtained  in  any
investigation  pursuant  to this  Section 5.4 will affect or be deemed to modify
any  representation  or  warranty  contained  herein  or the  conditions  to the
obligations of the parties to consummate the Merger.

     5.5 No Solicitation.

     (a) Company  and its  subsidiaries  will not,  nor will they  authorize  or
permit any of their respective officers,  directors,  affiliates or employees or
any investment banker,  attorney or other advisor or representative  retained by
any of them to,  directly or  indirectly,  (i) solicit,  initiate,  encourage or
induce  the  making,  submission  or  announcement  of any  Company  Acquisition
Proposal,  (ii)  propose,  enter  into  or  participate  in any  discussions  or
negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any non-public information with
respect to, or take any other action to  facilitate  any inquiries or the making
of any proposal that  constitutes  or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any
Company Acquisition  Proposal,  (iii) engage in discussions with any person with
respect to any Company Acquisition Proposal, except as to the existence of these
provisions,  (iv) subject to Section 5.2(c),  approve,  endorse or recommend any
Company Acquisition  Proposal, or (v) enter into any letter of intent or similar
document or any  contract,  agreement or commitment  contemplating  or otherwise
relating to any Company  Acquisition  Transaction (as defined below);  provided,
however,  that prior to the  approval  of this  Agreement  and the Merger at the
Company Stockholders'  Meeting, this Section 5.5 shall not prohibit Company from
furnishing non-public  information regarding Company and its subsidiaries to, or
entering into discussions with, any person or group who has submitted to Company
prior to the date of the Company  Stockholders'  Meeting (and not  withdrawn) an
unsolicited,  written,  bona fide Company Acquisition Proposal that the Board of
Directors of Company  reasonably  concludes  (based on the written advice of its
financial  adviser)  may  constitute  a Company  Superior  Offer if (A)  neither
Company  nor any  representative  of  Company  and its  subsidiaries  shall have
violated any of the restrictions set forth in this Section 5.5, (B) prior to the
date of the Company  Stockholders'  Meeting,  the Board of  Directors of Company
concludes in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that
such action is required in order for the Board of Directors of Company to comply
with its  fiduciary  obligations  to  Company's  stockholders  under  applicable
Delaware Law, (C) prior to furnishing  any such  non-public  information  to, or
entering into any such  discussions  with,  such person or group,  Company gives
Parent  written  notice of the  identity  of such person or group and all of the
material  terms and  conditions  of such  Company  Acquisition  Proposal  and of
Company's  intention  to  furnish  non-public  information  to,  or  enter  into
discussions with, such person or group, and Company receives from such person or
group  an  executed  confidentiality  agreement  containing  terms  at  least as
restrictive   with  regard  to  Company's   confidential   information   as  the
Confidentiality  Agreement, (D) Company gives Parent at least three (3) business
days advance  notice of its intent to furnish  such  non-public  information  or
enter into such discussions,  and (E) contemporaneously with furnishing any such
non-public   information  to  such  person  or  group,  Company  furnishes  such
non-public  information to Parent (to the extent such non-public information has
not  been  previously   furnished  by  Company  to  Parent).   Company  and  its


                                       53



subsidiaries will immediately cease any and all existing activities, discussions
or  negotiations  with any  parties  conducted  heretofore  with  respect to any
Company Acquisition Proposal.  Without limiting the foregoing,  it is understood
that any violation of the  restrictions set forth in the preceding two sentences
by any officer,  director or employee of Company or any of its  subsidiaries  or
any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or representative of Company or
any of its subsidiaries shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.5(a) by
Company.

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

     (c) In addition to the  obligations  of Company set forth in the  preceding
Section  5.5(a),  Company as promptly as practicable  shall advise Parent orally
and  in  writing  of  any  request  for  non-public  information  which  Company
reasonably  believes  would  lead to a Company  Acquisition  Proposal  or of any
Company  Acquisition  Proposal,  or any inquiry with respect to or which Company
reasonably believes would lead to any Company Acquisition Proposal, the material
terms and conditions of such request,  Company Acquisition  Proposal or inquiry,
and the  identity  of the  person  or group  making  any such  request,  Company
Acquisition  Proposal or inquiry.  Company will keep Parent informed as promptly
as  practicable  in all material  respects of the status and details  (including
material  amendments  or  proposed  amendments)  of any  such  request,  Company
Acquisition Proposal or inquiry.

     5.6 Public Disclosure. Parent and Company will consult with each other, and
to the extent practicable,  agree, before issuing any press release or otherwise
making any public  statement  with respect to the Merger,  this Agreement or any
Company  Acquisition  Proposal and will not issue any such press release or make
any such public statement prior to such consultation,  except as may be required
by law or the rules of the Nasdaq National Market after reasonable  efforts have
been made to consult  with the other  party  before  such  public  statement  is
required  to be made.  The  parties  have  agreed to the text of the joint press
release announcing the signing of this Agreement.


                                       54



     5.7 Reasonable Efforts; Notification.

     (a)  Upon  the  terms  and  subject  to the  conditions  set  forth in this
Agreement,  each of the parties agrees to use all reasonable efforts to take, or
cause to be taken,  all actions,  and to do, or cause to be done,  and to assist
and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things  necessary,  proper or
advisable to  consummate  and make  effective,  in the most  expeditious  manner
practicable,  the  Merger  and  the  other  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement, including using reasonable efforts to accomplish the following:

          (i)  the  taking  of  all  reasonable  acts  necessary  to  cause  the
     conditions precedent set forth in Article VI to be satisfied,

          (ii)  the  obtaining  of all  necessary  actions,  waivers,  consents,
     approvals,  orders and  authorizations  from Governmental  Entities and the
     making of all necessary registrations,  declarations and filings (including
     registrations, declarations and filings with Governmental Entities, if any)
     and the taking of all  reasonable  steps as may be  necessary  to avoid any
     suit,  claim,  action,  investigation  or  proceeding  by any  Governmental
     Entity,

          (iii) the  obtaining of all necessary  consents,  approvals or waivers
     from third parties,

          (iv) the defending of any suits,  claims,  actions,  investigations or
     proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement
     or the  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  including
     seeking  to have any stay or  temporary  restraining  order  entered by any
     court or other Governmental Entity vacated or reversed, and

          (v) the execution or delivery of any additional  instruments necessary
     to consummate the transactions  contemplated by, and to fully carry out the
     purposes of, this Agreement.

     (b) Each of Company and Parent will give prompt  notice to the other of (i)
any notice or other  communication  from any person alleging that the consent of
such person is or may be required in connection with the Merger, (ii) any notice
or other  communication  from any  Governmental  Entity in  connection  with the
Merger,  or (iii) any litigation  relating to, involving or otherwise  affecting
Company,  Parent or their respective subsidiaries that relates to, or that could
reasonably be expected to affect any party's ability to effect, the consummation
of the Merger.  Company shall give prompt notice to Parent of any representation
or  warranty  made  by  it  contained  in  this  Agreement  becoming  untrue  or
inaccurate,  or any failure of Company to comply with or satisfy in any material
respect any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by
it under this  Agreement,  in each case,  such that the  conditions set forth in
Section 6.3(a) or 6.3(b) would not be satisfied, provided, however, that no such
notification  shall  affect  the  representations,   warranties,   covenants  or
agreements of the parties or the  conditions to the  obligations  of the parties
under  this  Agreement.  Parent  shall  give  prompt  notice to  Company  of any
representation  or warranty made by it or Merger Sub contained in this Agreement
becoming untrue or inaccurate,  or any failure of Parent or Merger Sub to comply
with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant,  condition or agreement to
be complied  with or


                                       55



satisfied by it under this Agreement, in each case, such that the conditions set
forth in Section  6.2(a) or 6.2(b) would not be  satisfied,  provided,  however,
that  no  such  notification  shall  affect  the  representations,   warranties,
covenants or agreements of the parties or the  conditions to the  obligations of
the parties under this Agreement.

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

     5.9 Stock Options, Warrants, ESPP and Employee Benefits.

     (a) At the Effective Time, each then outstanding  Company Option whether or
not vested or exercisable at the Effective Time and regardless of the respective
exercise  prices of the  Company  Options,  will be assumed by Parent,  and each
Performance Share that vests at the Effective Time will be converted into Parent
Ordinary  Shares  pursuant to Section  1.4.  Each  Company  Option so assumed by
Parent under this  Agreement  will continue to have, and be subject to, the same
terms and conditions set forth in the applicable  Company Stock Option Plan (and
any applicable stock option agreement for such Company Option and any applicable
agreement  accelerating  the vesting of such  Company  Option  disclosed  in the
Company Disclosure  Letter)  immediately prior to the Effective Time (including,
without  limitation,  any repurchase rights or vesting provisions and provisions
providing for exercisability following termination of employment) except as such
terms and conditions may be altered to comply with Singapore legal requirements,
and except  further that (i) each Company  Option will be  exercisable  (or will
become exercisable in accordance with its terms) for that number of whole Parent
Ordinary  Shares equal to the product of the number of shares of Company  Common
Stock that were issuable upon exercise of such Company Option  immediately prior
to the  Effective  Time  multiplied by the Exchange  Ratio,  rounded down to the
nearest whole number of Parent  Ordinary  Shares and (ii) in the case of Company
Options,  the per share exercise price for the Parent  Ordinary  Shares issuable
upon  exercise of such  assumed  Company  Option  will be equal to the  quotient
determined by dividing the exercise  price per share of Company  Common Stock at
which such Company  Option was  exercisable  immediately  prior to the Effective
Time by the Exchange Ratio,  rounded up to the nearest whole cent; provided that
if such calculation  results in the exercise price being less than the par value
of a Parent  Ordinary  Share,  the  exercise  price  shall be the par value of a
Parent Ordinary Share.  Each assumed Company Option shall be vested  immediately
following  the Effective  Time as to the same  percentage of the total number of
shares subject thereto as it was vested immediately prior to the Effective Time,
subject to acceleration in accordance with the terms thereof as disclosed in the
Company   Disclosure   Letter.   Continuous   employment  with  Company  or  its
subsidiaries  shall be credited to the optionee for purposes of determining  the
vesting of all Company Options after the Effective Time. Within twenty (20) days
after the Effective Time, Parent will issue to each person who immediately prior
to the Effective Time was a holder of an  outstanding  Company Option a document
evidencing the foregoing assumption thereof by Parent.

     (b) It is intended  that Company  Options  assumed by Parent shall  qualify
following  the Effective  Time as incentive  stock options as defined in Section
422 of the Code to


                                       56



the extent such Company Options qualified as incentive stock options immediately
prior to the  Effective  Time and the  provisions  of this  Section 5.9 shall be
applied consistent with such intent.

     (c) At the Effective Time, each outstanding  purchase right with respect to
the then open  offering  under the  Company's  ESPP (each an  "Assumed  Purchase
Right") shall be assumed by Parent.  Each Assumed  Purchase Right shall continue
to have,  and be subject to, the terms and conditions set forth in the Company's
ESPP and the documents  governing  the Assumed  Purchase  Right,  except as such
terms and conditions may be altered to comply with Singapore legal requirements,
and except  further that the purchase  price of the shares of Parent's  Ordinary
Shares under the Assumed  Purchase Right shall be the lesser of (i) the quotient
determined by the dividing 85% of the fair market value of the Company's  Common
Stock on the Offering  Date (as defined in the  Company's  ESPP) by the Exchange
Ratio and (ii) 85% of the last sale  price of the  Parent's  Ordinary  Shares on
Nasdaq on the last day of the offering that was open at the Effective Time (with
the number of shares  rounded  down to the nearest  whole share and the Purchase
Price  rounded up to the nearest whole cent;  provided that if such  calculation
results in the purchase price being less than the par value of a Parent Ordinary
Share,  the purchase price shall be the par value of a Parent  Ordinary  Share).
The  Assumed  Purchase  Rights  shall be  exercisable  only for Parent  Ordinary
Shares. The Company's ESPP shall terminate immediately following the purchase of
shares under the Assumed Purchase Rights.

     (d) Effective  immediately prior to the Effective Time, Company shall issue
a final pro rata  number  of shares of  Company  Common  Stock to  directors  of
Company under  Company's  Directors'  Stock Plan, it being  understood that such
shares of Company  Common Stock shall be deemed  outstanding as of the Effective
Time for purposes of Section 1.4(a).

     (e) Parent  shall  take all action  necessary  to  reserve  for  issuance a
sufficient  number of Parent  Ordinary  Shares for delivery upon exercise of the
Company Options and the Assumed Purchase Rights,  and the vesting of Performance
Shares.

     (f) As soon as practicable  after the execution of this Agreement,  Company
and Parent shall confer and work  together in good faith to agree upon  mutually
acceptable  employee  benefit and  compensation  arrangements in accordance with
this Section 5.17 (which may include  terminating certain Company Employee Plans
(as defined in Section  2.14(a)(ii))  immediately prior to the Effective Time if
appropriate and to the extent permitted under applicable law).

     (g) For a period of at least one year following the Effective Time,  Parent
shall provide (or cause to be provided)  benefits to any person who was employed
by Company or its subsidiaries  immediately  prior to the Effective Time and who
continues to be an employee of Parent or its subsidiaries  ("Company Employees")
that are either no less  favorable in the aggregate to the benefits  provided to
similarly-situated  employees  of  Parent  or are  generally  equivalent  to the
benefits  provided  under the Company  Employee  Plans in existence  immediately
prior to the Effective Time.  After the Effective  Time,  Parent shall grant (or
cause to be  granted)  to each  Company  Employee  credit for all  service  with
Company  prior to the  Effective  Time to the same extent as if such service had
been service with Parent for (i) all eligibility and vesting  purposes under all
employee benefit plans, policies, programs and arrangements of Parent and any of
its subsidiaries that cover a Company Employee,  and (ii) purposes of satisfying
any


                                       57



preexisting  condition  exclusion  or  actively-at-work  requirement  that would
otherwise  apply to such Company  Employee  under any  medical,  dental or other
welfare benefit plans, policies,  programs and arrangements of Parent and any of
its subsidiaries that employ a Company Employee,  to the extent that this clause
(ii) does not violate  the  applicable  plan,  policy,  program or  arrangement;
provided  that Parent  shall,  to the extent  permitted by the terms thereof and
applicable law, as soon as practicable, take all action, including effecting any
amendments to any such plan, policy, program or arrangement, as may be necessary
or appropriate to prevent such violation.

     (h) Parent shall cause Surviving Corporation to assume, honor, maintain and
perform  in  accordance  with  their  respective  terms,   without   deductions,
counterclaims,   interruptions  or  deferments  (other  than  withholding  under
applicable  law),  all  employment  and severance  agreements  and  arrangements
disclosed on Part 5.9(h) of the Company Disclosure  Letter,  including any terms
thereof,  which  provides  for  the  payment  or  acceleration  of  benefits  to
employees,  former employees or directors or former directors of Company upon or
in  connection  with a change of control of Company.  Parent  further  agrees to
cause the Surviving  Corporation  to make any  amendments to Company's  Deferred
Compensation  Plan necessary to ensure that the intent of such plan is fulfilled
despite the changes resulting from the Merger,  such as, but not limited to, the
conversion of Company Common Stock to Parent Ordinary Shares.

     (i) Parent  shall cause  Merger Sub and the  Surviving  Company to take all
actions prescribed by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder,
including any SEC no-actions or  interpretative  letters issued  thereunder,  in
order to  ensure  that  the  exchange  of  Company  Common  Stock  and  Parent's
assumption of Company Options and obligations  relating to unvested  Performance
Shares in accordance  with this Agreement will not be deemed to be a purchase or
sale of securities by any officer, director or employee of Company or any of its
subsidiaries for purpose of Section 16 under the Exchange Act.

     5.10 Form S-8.  Parent agrees to file a registration  statement on Form S-8
for the Parent Ordinary Shares issuable with respect to assumed Company Options,
Performance  Shares  and  Assumed  Purchase  Rights  as  soon  as is  reasonably
practicable  after the Effective  Time and shall maintain the  effectiveness  of
such  registration  statement  thereafter  for so long as any of such options or
other rights remain outstanding.

     5.11 Nasdaq  Quotation.  Parent agrees to cause the Parent  Ordinary Shares
issuable, and those required to be reserved for issuance, in connection with the
Merger,  to be approved  prior to the Effective Time for quotation on the Nasdaq
Stock Market, subject to official notice of issuance.

     5.12 Indemnification; Insurance.

     (a) Indemnification. From and after the Effective Time, Parent will (to the
extent  permitted  under all  applicable  laws),  and will  cause the  Surviving
Corporation  to,  fulfill and honor in all respects the  obligations  of Company
pursuant to any  indemnification  agreements  between Company and its directors,
officers,  employees  and other agents and  representatives  as of the Effective
Time  (the  "Indemnified  Parties")  and any  indemnification  provisions  under
Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  or  Bylaws  as in  effect on the date
hereof. The Certificate


                                       58



of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation will contain provisions
with respect to exculpation and  indemnification  that are at least as favorable
to  the   Indemnified   Parties  as  those   contained  in  the  Certificate  of
Incorporation  and  Bylaws of  Company  as in effect on the date  hereof,  which
provisions will not be amended,  repealed or otherwise  modified for a period of
six (6) years from the Effective Time in any manner that would adversely  affect
the rights  thereunder of individuals  who,  immediately  prior to the Effective
Time, were entitled to indemnification under the corresponding  provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Company,  unless such modification is
required by law.

     (b)  Insurance.  For a period of six (6) years  after the  Effective  Time,
Parent will cause the Surviving Corporation to maintain in effect, to the extent
available,  directors' and officers' liability insurance, with respect to claims
arising from events or conditions  occurring on or prior to the Effective  Time,
including  any claims  relating to the Merger,  covering  those  persons who are
currently  covered by Company's  directors'  and officers'  liability  insurance
policy on terms  comparable  to those  applicable  to the current  directors and
officers  of  Company;  provided,  however,  that in no event will Parent or the
Surviving  Corporation  be  required  to expend in excess of 200% of the  annual
premium  currently  paid by Company for such  coverage  (or such  coverage as is
available for such 200% of such annual premium).

     (c)  Survival  and  Beneficiaries.  This  Section  5.12 shall  survive  the
consummation  of the  Merger,  is  intended to benefit  Company,  the  Surviving
Corporation and each Indemnified  Party,  shall be binding on all successors and
assigns of the Surviving Corporation and Parent, and shall be enforceable by the
Indemnified Parties.

     5.13  Affiliate  Agreements.  Company  will use all  reasonable  efforts to
deliver or cause to be delivered  to Parent,  as promptly as  practicable  on or
following  the date hereof,  from each Company  Affiliate an executed  affiliate
agreement in  substantially  the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the "Company
Affiliate Agreement"),  each of which will be in full force and effect as of the
date  thereof  and as of the  Effective  Time.  Parent  will use all  reasonable
efforts to deliver or cause to be delivered,  as promptly as  practicable  on or
following  the date hereof,  from each Parent  Affiliate  an executed  affiliate
agreement in  substantially  the form attached  hereto as Exhibit D (the "Parent
Affiliate Agreement"),  each of which will be in full force and effect as of the
date  hereof and as of the  Effective  Time.  Parent  will be  entitled to place
appropriate legends on the certificates evidencing any Parent Ordinary Shares to
be received by a Company Affiliate or Parent Affiliate  pursuant to the terms of
this  Agreement,  and to issue  appropriate  stop transfer  instructions  to the
transfer agent for the Parent Ordinary Shares,  consistent with the terms of the
Company Affiliate Agreement or Parent Affiliate Agreement.

     5.14 Letter of  Company's  Accountants.  Company  shall use all  reasonable
efforts to cause to be  delivered  to Parent a letter of  Deloitte & Touche LLP,
dated no more than two business  days before the date on which the  Registration
Statement becomes  effective (and reasonably  satisfactory in form and substance
to Parent),  that is customary in scope and substance  for letters  delivered by
independent  public  accountants  in  connection  with  registration  statements
similar to the Registration Statement.

     5.15  Letter of  Parent's  Accountants.  Parent  shall  use all  reasonable
efforts to cause to be  delivered  to Company a letter of Arthur  Andersen  LLP,
dated no more than two business  days


                                       59



before  the date on which the  Registration  Statement  becomes  effective  (and
reasonably  satisfactory in form and substance to Company), that is customary in
scope and substance for letters delivered by independent  public  accountants in
connection with registration statements similar to the Registration Statement.

     5.16 Takeover Statutes. If any takeover statute is or may become applicable
to the Merger or the other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement, each of
Parent and Company and their  respective  Boards of  Directors  shall grant such
approvals  and take such  lawful  actions as are  necessary  to ensure  that the
Merger and such other transactions may be consummated as promptly as practicable
on the terms  contemplated  by this  Agreement and otherwise act to eliminate or
minimize the effects of such statute and any regulations  promulgated thereunder
on such transactions.

     5.17  Stockholder  Litigation.  Each of Company  and Parent  shall give the
other  the  reasonable   opportunity  to  participate  in  the  defense  of  any
stockholder  litigation  against  Company  or  Parent,  as  applicable,  and its
directors  relating to the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement and the
Option Agreements.

     5.18  Pooling  Accounting.  Each  of  Parent  and  Company  shall  use  all
reasonable  efforts  to cause the  Merger to be  accounted  for as a pooling  of
interests.  Parent will use its reasonable  efforts to ensure that no person who
is a Parent Affiliate takes any action that would prevent Parent from accounting
for the  Merger as a  pooling  of  interests.  Company  will use all  reasonable
efforts  to ensure  that no person who is a Company  Affiliate  takes any action
that  would  prevent  Parent  from  accounting  for the  Merger as a pooling  of
interests.

     5.19 Rights Agreement.  Company shall, within five (5) business days of the
date hereof,  take all actions  necessary,  if any, such that,  for all purposes
under the Rights  Agreement  dated as of May 4, 1993 between Company and Norwest
Bank  Minnesota,  N.A., as rights agent,  neither Parent nor Merger Sub shall be
deemed  an  Acquiring  Person  (as  defined  in  the  Rights   Agreement),   the
Distribution  Date (as defined in the Rights  Agreement)  shall not be deemed to
occur,  and the Rights will not separate  from the Company  Common  Stock,  as a
result of Parent's or Merger Sub's  entering  into this  Agreement,  the Company
Option  Agreement or the Company  Voting  Agreement or  consummating  the Merger
and/or the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby or thereby.  Company shall,
within five (5) business days of the date hereof, taken all necessary action, if
any, with respect to all of the outstanding Rights so that, immediately prior to
the Effective Time, (a) Company will not have any  obligations  under the Rights
or the Rights Agreement with respect to the Merger and/or the other transactions
contemplated  hereby and (b) the holders of Rights will have no rights under the
Rights or the Rights  Agreement  with  respect  to the  Merger  and/or the other
transactions contemplated hereby.


                                       60



                                   ARTICLE VI
                            CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER

     6.1  Conditions  to  Obligations  of Each Party to Effect the  Merger.  The
respective  obligations  of each  party to this  Agreement  to effect the Merger
shall be  subject to the  satisfaction  at or prior to the  Closing  Date of the
following conditions:

     (a) Company Stockholder  Approval.  This Agreement shall have been approved
and  adopted,  and the Merger  shall have been  approved by a vote of holders of
outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock representing a majority of all votes
entitled to be cast on the matter.

     (b) Parent Shareholder Approval. The issuance of the Parent Ordinary Shares
pursuant to the Merger shall have been duly approved by the  requisite  majority
of the shareholders of Parent under applicable Nasdaq rules,  Singapore laws and
Parent's Articles of Association.

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

     (d) No Order; HSR Act. No Governmental  Entity shall have enacted,  issued,
promulgated, enforced or entered any statute, rule, regulation, executive order,
decree, injunction or other order (whether temporary,  preliminary or permanent)
which is in effect  and which has the  effect of making  the  Merger  illegal or
otherwise  prohibiting  consummation  of the  Merger or  otherwise  limiting  or
restricting  Parent's  conduct or  operation  of the business of Company and its
subsidiaries  following the Merger in a manner that could reasonably be expected
to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. All waiting periods, if any, under the
HSR  Act  and  the  European   Community  Merger  Regulation   relating  to  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby will have expired or terminated early and all
material foreign antitrust approvals required to be obtained prior to the Merger
in  connection  with  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  shall  have  been
obtained.

     (e) Approvals.  Other than the filing provided for by Section  1.2(a),  all
authorizations,  consents,  orders or approvals of, or  declarations  or filings
with, or expirations of waiting periods imposed by, any Governmental  Entity the
failure  of which to file or  obtain  is  reasonably  likely  to have a  Company
Material Adverse Effect or Parent Material Adverse Effect shall have been filed,
been obtained or occurred.

     (f) Tax  Opinions.  Parent and  Company  shall each have  received  written
opinions  from their  respective  tax  counsel  (Fenwick & West LLP and  Curtis,
Mallet-Prevost,   Colt  &  Mosle  LLP,  respectively),  in  form  and  substance
reasonably satisfactory to them, to the effect that the Merger will constitute a
reorganization  within  the  meaning  of  Section  368(a)  of the  Code and such
opinions shall not have been  withdrawn.  The parties to this Agreement agree to


                                       61



make such  reasonable  representations  as  requested  by such  counsel  for the
purpose of rendering such opinions.

     (g) Nasdaq  Listing.  The Parent Ordinary Shares to be issued in the Merger
shall have been  approved for  quotation  on the Nasdaq Stock Market  subject to
notice of issuance.

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

     (a)  Representations  and Warranties.  Each  representation and warranty of
Parent and Merger Sub  contained in this  Agreement (i) shall have been true and
correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) shall
be true and correct in all material  respects on and as of the Closing Date with
the same force and effect as if made on the Closing Date (except, in the case of
clause (ii), for breaches,  inaccuracies  and omissions of such  representations
and warranties which have neither had nor reasonably would be expected to have a
Material  Adverse  Effect on Parent (it being  understood  that, for purposes of
determining  the  accuracy  of  such  representations  and  warranties,  (1) all
"Material Adverse Effect"  qualifications and other  qualifications based on the
word  "material"  or  similar  phrases  contained  in such  representations  and
warranties  shall be  disregarded,  and (2) any update of or modification to the
Parent Disclosure Letter made or purported to have been made after the execution
of  this  Agreement  shall  be  disregarded).  Company  shall  have  received  a
certificate  with  respect  to the  foregoing  signed  on behalf of Parent by an
authorized officer of Parent.

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

     (c) Material  Adverse Effect.  No Parent Material Adverse Effect shall have
occurred since the date of this Agreement and be continuing.

     (d) Opinion of Accountants.

          (i) Parent shall have received from Arthur  Andersen LLP,  independent
     auditors  for Parent,  a letter  dated the Closing  Date (which may contain
     customary  qualifications  and  assumptions),  to the  effect  that  Arthur
     Andersen LLP concurs with Parent's  management  conclusion  that Parent may
     account  for  the  Merger  as  a  pooling  of  interests  under  Accounting
     Principles  Board Opinion No. 16, and Company shall have received a copy of
     such letter.

          (ii)  Company   shall  have  received  from  Deloitte  &  Touche  LLP,
     independent public accountants for Company, a letter dated the Closing Date
     (which may contain customary qualifications and assumptions), to the effect
     that  Deloitte & Touche LLP concurs with  Company's  management  conclusion
     that no conditions exist related to Company that would preclude Parent from
     accounting  for the  Merger  as a pooling  of  interests  under  Accounting
     Principles Board Opinion No. 16.


                                       62



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

     (a) Representations  and Warranties.  The representations and warranties of
Company  contained in this Agreement (i) shall have been true and correct in all
material  respects as of the date of this  Agreement  and (ii) shall be true and
correct in all  material  respects on and as of the  Closing  Date with the same
force  and  effect as if made on and as of the  Closing  Date  (except,  for (1)
breaches,  inaccuracies and omissions of such representations and warranties (A)
contained in Section  2.8(a),  which shall be true and correct as of the date of
this  Agreement and shall be true and correct in all material  respect is on and
as of January 31, 2000,  or (B) with respect to any  representation  or warranty
which have  neither  had nor  reasonably  would be  expected  to have a Material
Adverse  Effect on Company,  or, (2) in the case of clause (ii),  which directly
result  from  actions  taken  with the prior  written  consent,  or taken at the
written  direction  of  Parent,  it  being  understood  that,  for  purposes  of
determining  the  accuracy  of  such  representations  and  warranties,  (1) all
"Material Adverse Effect"  qualifications and other  qualifications based on the
word  "material"  or  similar  phrases  contained  in such  representations  and
warranties  shall be  disregarded,  and (2) any update of or modification to the
Company  Disclosure  Letter  made or  purported  to have  been  made  after  the
execution of this Agreement shall be disregarded).  Parent shall have received a
certificate  with  respect  to the  foregoing  signed on behalf of Company by an
authorized officer of Company.

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

     (c) Material Adverse Effect.  No Company Material Adverse Effect shall have
occurred since the date of this Agreement and prior to January 31, 2000.

     (d) Opinion of Accountants.

          (i) Parent shall have received from Arthur  Andersen LLP,  independent
     auditors  for Parent,  a letter  dated the Closing  Date (which may contain
     customary  qualifications  and  assumptions),  to the  effect  that  Arthur
     Andersen LLP concurs with Parent's  management  conclusion  that Parent may
     account  for  the  Merger  as  a  pooling  of  interests  under  Accounting
     Principles Board Opinion No. 16.

          (ii)  Company   shall  have  received  from  Deloitte  &  Touche  LLP,
     independent public accountants for Company, a letter dated the Closing Date
     (which may contain customary qualifications and assumptions), to the effect
     that  Deloitte & Touche LLP concurs with  Company's  management  conclusion
     that no conditions exist related to Company that would preclude Parent from
     accounting  for the  Merger  as a pooling  of  interests  under  Accounting
     Principles  Board  Opinion No. 16, and Parent shall have received a copy of
     such letter.


                                       63



                                   ARTICLE VII
                        TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

     7.1 Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the
Effective  Time,  whether  before  or  after  the  requisite  approvals  of  the
stockholders of Company or shareholders of Parent:

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

     (b) by  either  Company  or  Parent  if the  Merger  shall  not  have  been
consummated  by the date that six (6)  months  after the date of this  Agreement
(the "Outside Date"), for any reason;  provided,  however, that the Outside Date
shall be  extended  to the date that is nine (9)  months  after the date of this
Agreement upon written  notice of either party to the other party,  which notice
shall be  delivered  on or within ten (10) days  before the date that is six (6)
months after the date of this  Agreement if any of the  conditions  specified in
Section 6.1(d) have not been satisfied on the date of such notice; and provided,
further, that the right to terminate or extend this Agreement under this Section
7.1(b)  shall not be  available  to any party whose action or failure to act has
been a  principal  cause of or resulted in the failure of the Merger to occur on
or before  such date and such action or failure to act  constitutes  a breach of
this Agreement;

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

     (d) by either  Company or Parent if the required  approval of the Merger by
the  stockholders of Company  contemplated by this Agreement shall not have been
obtained  by reason of the failure to obtain the  required  vote at a meeting of
the Company  Stockholders duly convened therefor or at any adjournment  thereof;
provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section
7.1(d) shall not be available to Company where the failure to obtain approval of
the Company's  stockholders  shall have been caused by (i) the action or failure
to act of  Company  and such  action or failure  to act  constitutes  a material
breach by  Company  of this  Agreement  or (ii) a breach of any  Company  Voting
Agreements by any party thereto other than Parent;

     (e)  by  either  Company  or  Parent  if  the  required   approval  of  the
shareholders  of  Parent  contemplated  by this  Agreement  shall  not have been
obtained  by reason of the failure to obtain the  required  vote at a meeting of
the shareholders of Parent duly convened therefor or at any adjournment thereof;
provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section
7.1(e)  shall not be  available to Parent where the failure to obtain the Parent
shareholder  approval shall have been caused by (i) the action or failure to act
of the Parent and such action or failure to act constitutes a material breach by
Parent of this Agreement or (ii) a breach of any Parent Voting  Agreement by any
party thereto other than Company;


                                       64



     (f) by Parent  (at any time  prior to the  adoption  and  approval  of this
Agreement and the Merger by the required vote of the stockholders of Company) if
a Company Triggering Event (as defined below) shall have occurred.

     (g) by Company, upon a breach of any representation,  warranty, covenant or
agreement on the part of Parent or Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement, or if
any representation or warranty of Parent or Merger Sub shall have become untrue,
in either case such that the  conditions  set forth in Section 6.2(a) or Section
6.2(b)  would not be  satisfied  as of the time of such breach or as of the time
such representation or warranty shall have become untrue,  provided that if such
inaccuracy in Parent's or Merger Sub's  representations and warranties or breach
by Parent or Merger Sub is curable by Parent or Merger Sub through the  exercise
of its reasonable  efforts,  then Company may not terminate this Agreement under
this  Section  7.1(g)  prior to the Outside  Date for 30 days after  delivery of
written  notice from Company to Parent or Merger Sub, as the case may be, of its
breach,  provided  Parent or Merger Sub  continues  to exercise  all  reasonable
efforts to cure its breach (it being  understood  that Company may not terminate
this Agreement pursuant to this paragraph (g) if such breach by Parent or Merger
Sub is cured prior to the Outside Date during such 30 day period,  or if Company
shall have materially breached this Agreement); or

     (h) by Parent, upon a breach of any representation,  warranty,  covenant or
agreement  on the  part  of  Company  set  forth  in this  Agreement,  or if any
representation  or warranty of Company shall have become untrue,  in either case
such that the conditions set forth in Section 6.3(a) or Section 6.3(b) would not
be satisfied as of the time of such breach or as of the time such representation
or warranty  shall have  become  untrue,  provided  that if such  inaccuracy  in
Company's  representations  and  warranties  or breach by  Company is curable by
Company  through the  exercise of its  reasonable  efforts,  then Parent may not
terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.1(h) prior to the Outside Date for
30 days after  delivery of written notice from Parent to Company of such breach,
provided  Company  continues  to exercise  all  reasonable  efforts to cure such
breach  (it being  understood  that  Parent  may not  terminate  this  Agreement
pursuant to this  paragraph  (h) if such breach by Company is cured prior to the
Outside  Date  during  such 30 day period,  or if Parent  shall have  materially
breached this Agreement).

     For the purposes of this Agreement,  a "Company  Triggering Event" shall be
deemed  to have  occurred  if:  (i) the Board of  Directors  of  Company  or any
committee  thereof shall for any reason have  withdrawn or shall have amended or
modified in a manner adverse to Parent its unanimous  recommendation in favor of
the adoption and approval of the  Agreement or the approval of the Merger;  (ii)
Company  shall  have  failed to include  in the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  the
unanimous  recommendation  of the Board of  Directors of Company in favor of the
adoption and approval of the Agreement and the approval of the Merger; (iii) the
Board of Directors of Company fails to reaffirm its unanimous  recommendation in
favor of the  adoption  and  approval of the  Agreement  and the approval of the
Merger  within 10  business  days after  Parent  requests  in writing  that such
recommendation be reaffirmed at any time following the public  announcement of a
Company  Acquisition  Proposal;  (iv) the Board of  Directors  of Company or any
committee  thereof  shall have  approved  or  publicly  recommended  any Company
Acquisition  Proposal;  (v) Company shall have entered into any letter of intent
or similar  document or any  agreement,  contract or  commitment  accepting  any
Company  Acquisition


                                       65



Proposal;  (vi) a tender or exchange  offer  relating to  securities  of Company
shall have been  commenced  by a person or entity  unaffiliated  with Parent and
Company  shall  not have  sent to its  securityholders  pursuant  to Rule  14e-2
promulgated  under the Exchange  Act,  within ten (10)  business days after such
tender  or  exchange  offer  is  first  published  sent or  given,  a  statement
disclosing that Company  recommends  rejection of such tender or exchange offer;
or (vii) for any reason Company fails to call and hold the Company Stockholders'
Meeting by the Outside Date  (provided  that such failure shall not constitute a
Company  Triggering Event if, at the Outside Date,  Company would be entitled to
terminate this Agreement under Section 7.1(b), 7.1(c), 7.1(e) or pursuant to the
Merger7.1(g)).

     7.2 Notice of Termination;  Effect of Termination.  Any termination of this
Agreement  under  Section  7.1  above  will be  effective  immediately  upon the
delivery of written notice of the terminating party to the other parties hereto.
In the event of the  termination  of this  Agreement as provided in Section 7.1,
this Agreement  shall be of no further force or effect,  except (a) as set forth
in Section  5.4(a),  this Section 7.2,  Section 7.3 and Article 8, each of which
shall survive the  termination  of this  Agreement,  and (b) that nothing herein
shall relieve any party from liability for any willful breach of this Agreement.
No  termination of this  Agreement  shall affect the  obligations of the parties
contained in the  Confidentiality  Agreements and Standstill  Agreement,  all of
which obligations shall survive termination of this Agreement in accordance with
their terms.

     7.3 Fees and Expenses.

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

     (b)  Termination  Fee. In the event that this  Agreement is  terminated  by
Parent or Company,  as  applicable,  pursuant to  Sections  7.1(b),  (d) or (f),
Company  shall  promptly,  but in no event later than two days after the date of
such  termination,  pay Parent a fee equal to three percent (3%) of the value of
the  Company  Equity  Value,  in  immediately   available  funds  (the  "Company
Termination  Fee");  provided,  that in the case of  termination  under  Section
7.1(b) or 7.1(d),  such  payment  shall be made only if (A)  following  the date
hereof  and  prior to the  termination  of this  Agreement,  a third  party  has
publicly announced a Company Acquisition Proposal, (B) the failure to consummate
the Merger by the Outside Date is principally due to action or failure to act by
Company,  and such  action  or  failure  to act  constitutes  a  breach  of this
Agreement,  and (C) within twelve (12) months  following the termination of this
Agreement a Company  Acquisition  (as defined  below) is  consummated or Company
enters into an agreement providing for a Company Acquisition (in which case such
payment  shall be made  promptly,  but in no event later than two days after the
consummation  of such  Company  Acquisition  or the entry by  Company  into such
agreement).  Company  acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section
7.3(b) are an integral part of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
and that, without these agreements,  Parent would not enter into this Agreement;
accordingly, if


                                       66



Company fails to pay in a timely manner the amounts due pursuant to this Section
7.3(b) , and, in order to obtain such payment, Parent makes a claim that results
in a judgment  against Company for the amounts set forth in this Section 7.3(b),
Company  shall pay to  Parent  its  reasonable  costs  and  expenses  (including
reasonable  attorneys' fees and expenses) in connection with such suit, together
with interest on the amounts set forth in this Section  7.3(b) at the prime rate
of The Chase  Manhattan  Bank in effect on the date such payment was required to
be made.  Payment of the fees  described in this Section  7.3(b) shall not be in
lieu of damages incurred in the event of a willful breach of this Agreement. For
the  purposes  of this  Agreement  "Company  Acquisition"  shall mean any of the
following  transactions  (other  than  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement); (i) a merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization,
liquidation,  dissolution or similar  transaction  involving Company pursuant to
which the  stockholders of Company  immediately  preceding such transaction hold
less than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate equity interests in the surviving
or resulting  entity of such  transaction,  (ii) a sale or other  disposition by
Company of assets representing in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate
fair market value of Company's business  immediately prior to such sale or (iii)
the acquisition by any person or group (including by way of a tender offer or an
exchange offer or issuance by Company),  directly or  indirectly,  of beneficial
ownership or a right to acquire beneficial  ownership of shares  representing in
excess of fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the then outstanding shares
of capital stock of Company.

     In no event shall  Company be  required to make a payment  pursuant to this
Section  7.2 to the  extent  that  such  payment,  together  with the  aggregate
proceeds (without offset for any amounts paid or withheld for taxes) received by
Parent in respect of the  Option and any Option  Shares  (each as defined in the
Company Option Agreement),  prior to the time of such payment,  exceeds or would
exceed 3.5% of the Company Equity Value.

     For the  purposes  of this  Agreement,  "Company  Equity  Value"  means the
product  of the  average  closing  price of Company  Common  Stock on the Nasdaq
National  Market over the five (5) trading days prior to the date of termination
pursuant to  Sections  7.1(b),  (d),  or (f),  and the sum of: (A) all shares of
Company Common Stock that are outstanding as of the date of termination; (B) all
shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of capital
stock that is  convertible  into  shares of Company  Common  Stock;  and (C) all
shares of Company  Common  Stock  issuable  upon  conversion  of all options and
warrants to acquire  Company Common Stock that are outstanding as of the date of
termination.

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

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


                                       67



                                  ARTICLE VIII
                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

     8.1 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of Company,  Parent and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement  shall
terminate at the  Effective  Time,  and only the  covenants  that by their terms
survive the Effective Time shall survive the Effective  Time. The obligations of
Parent and Company  pursuant to Sections  5.4(a),  7.3 and 7.4, and this Article
VIII, shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

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

If to Parent or Merger Sub, to:         If to Company, to:

FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL LTD.          THE DII GROUP, INC.
2090 Fortune Drive                      6273 Monarch Park Place, Suite 200
San Jose, California  95131             Niwot, Colorado  80503
Attention: Chief Executive Officer      Attention:  Chief Executive Officer
Telecopy No.: (408) 428-0420            Telecopy No.:(303) 652-0416

with a copy to:                         with a copy to:

Fenwick & West LLP                      Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP
Two Palo Alto Square                    101 Park Avenue
Palo Alto, California 94306             New York, New York 10178-0061
Attention:  David K. Michaels           Attention:  Jeffrey N. Ostrager
Facsimile Number: (650) 494-1417        Facsimile Number:  (212) 697-1559

     8.3 Interpretation; Certain Defined Terms. When a reference is made in this
Agreement to Exhibits,  such reference  shall be to an Exhibit to this Agreement
unless  otherwise  indicated.  When a  reference  is made in this  Agreement  to
Sections,  such  reference  shall  be to a  Section  of  this  Agreement  unless
otherwise indicated.  The words "include,"  "includes" and "including" when used
herein  shall be  deemed  in each  case to be  followed  by the  words  "without
limitation." The table of contents and headings  contained in this Agreement are
for  reference  purposes  only and shall not  affect in any way the  meaning  or
interpretation of this Agreement. When reference is made herein to "the business
of" an entity,  such  reference  shall be deemed to include the  business of all
direct and indirect  subsidiaries of such entity.  Reference to the subsidiaries
of an entity shall be deemed to include all direct and indirect  subsidiaries of
such  entity.  For the purposes of this  Agreement,  the  following  definitions
apply:

     (a) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

     (b)  "Delaware  Law"  means  the  General  Corporation  Law of the State of
Delaware;


                                       68



     (c) "Encumbrances" means any lien, pledge, hypothecation, charge, mortgage,
security interest, encumbrance, claim, infringement, interference, option, right
of first refusal,  preemptive right,  community property interest or restriction
of any nature  (including  any  restriction  on the voting of any security,  any
restriction on the transfer of any security or other asset,  any  restriction on
the receipt of any income derived from any asset,  any restriction on the use of
any asset and any  restriction  on the  possession,  exercise or transfer of any
other attribute of ownership of any asset);

     (d) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

     (e) "GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles;

     (f)  "Governmental  Entity"  means  any  court,  administrative  agency  or
commission or other  governmental  authority or instrumentality of any nation or
subdivision of any nation;

     (g) "HSR Act" means the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust  Improvements  Act of
1976, as amended;

     (h) "knowledge"  means with respect to a party hereto,  with respect to any
matter in question,  that any of the officers of such party has actual knowledge
of such matter, after reasonable inquiry of such matter;

     (i) "Legal Requirements" means any law, statute, constitution, principle of
common law, resolution, ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, regulation, ruling
or requirement issued, enacted, adopted,  promulgated,  implemented or otherwise
put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Entity (as defined
above);

     (j) "Material  Adverse Effect" when used in connection with an entity means
any change, event, violation,  inaccuracy,  circumstance or effect that is or is
reasonably  likely  to be  materially  adverse  to,  (A)  the  business,  assets
(including intangible assets), capitalization, financial condition or results of
operations  of such  entity  taken  as a whole  with its  subsidiaries,  (B) the
ability of such person to perform its  obligations  under this  Agreement and to
consummate the transactions  provided for hereunder,  or (C) the ability of such
entity to conduct  its  business as  presently  conducted  (except for  changes,
events,  circumstances  or  effects  that are  caused  solely by (i)  conditions
affecting the U.S. or world economy,  (ii) conditions  affecting the electronics
manufacturing  services industry as a whole,  (iii) the pendency or announcement
of  this  Agreement  or the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  to the  extent
attributable   to  the  pendency  or  announcement  of  this  Agreement  or  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  (iv) changes in the market price or trading
volume of such  entity's  capital stock or (v) actions taken by Company with the
prior written consent of Parent or at Parent's written direction;  provided that
any party  asserting that any change,  event,  circumstance  or effect is or has
been caused solely by one or more of the  conditions or events  described in the
preceding  clauses  (i)  through  (iv)  shall  bear the  burden  of proof in any
proceeding  with respect to  establishing  such  assertion).  "Company  Material
Adverse Effect" means a Material  Adverse Effect with respect to Company and its
subsidiaries, and "Parent Material Adverse Effect" means Material Adverse Effect
with respect to Parent and its Subsidiaries.


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     (k)  "person"  shall  mean  any  individual,   corporation  (including  any
non-profit  corporation),  general  partnership,  limited  partnership,  limited
liability  partnership,  joint venture,  estate,  trust,  company (including any
limited  liability  company or joint stock company),  firm or other  enterprise,
association, organization, entity or Governmental Entity;

     (l) "SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;

     (m) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and

     (n) "subsidiary" of a specified entity means any corporation,  partnership,
limited  liability  company,  joint  venture  or other  legal  entity  which the
specified  entity  controls,  or of which the specified  entity (either alone or
through or together with any other subsidiary) owns, directly or indirectly, 50%
or more of the stock or other  equity or  partnership  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 or other legal entity.

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

     8.5 Entire  Agreement;  Third Party  Beneficiaries.  This Agreement and the
documents  and  instruments  and other  agreements  among the parties  hereto as
contemplated by or referred to herein,  including the Company  Disclosure Letter
and the Parent  Disclosure  Letter (a) constitute the entire agreement among the
parties  with  respect to the  subject  matter  hereof and  supersede  all prior
agreements  and  understandings,  both written and oral,  among the parties with
respect  to  the  subject  matter   hereof,   it  being   understood   that  the
Confidentiality  and  Standstill  Agreements  shall  continue  in full force and
effect until the Closing and shall survive any  termination  of this  Agreement;
and (b) except for the provisions of Sections 1.4, 1.5, 5.9(h) and 5.12, are not
intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies hereunder.

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

     8.7 Other  Remedies;  Specific  Performance.  Except as otherwise  provided
herein,  any and all remedies  herein  expressly  conferred upon a party will be
deemed  cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred  hereby,
or by law or equity  upon such  party,  and the  exercise  by a party of any one
remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other  remedy.  The parties  hereto
agree  that  irreparable  damage  would  occur  in  the  event  that  any of the
provisions  of this  Agreement  were not  performed  in  accordance  with  their
specific terms or were  otherwise  breached.  It is accordingly  agreed that the
parties  shall be  entitled  to seek an  injunction  or


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injunctions to prevent  breaches of this  Agreement and to enforce  specifically
the terms and  provisions  hereof in any court of the United States or any state
having  jurisdiction,  this being in addition to any other  remedy to which they
are entitled at law or in equity.

     8.8  Governing  Law. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in
accordance  with the laws of the State of Delaware,  regardless of the laws that
might otherwise govern under applicable  principles of conflicts of law thereof.
Any litigation or dispute  resolution  proceeding  among the parties relating to
this  Agreement will take place in County of New Castle,  Delaware.  The parties
consent to the personal  jurisdiction  of and the venue in the state and federal
courts within such county.

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

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

     8.11 Disclosure Letter.  Notwithstanding anything in the Company Disclosure
Letter or the Parent Disclosure  Letter to the contrary,  nothing in the Company
Disclosure  Letter or the Parent  Disclosure  Letter shall be deemed adequate to
disclose an exception to a  representation  or warranty  made herein  unless the
disclosure  identifies  the  exception  with  particularity  and  describes  the
relevant facts in reasonable  detail;  provided,  that a particular  matter need
only be disclosed once in such manner so long as it is cross-referenced wherever
else  applicable  in the  Company  Disclosure  Letter or the  Parent  Disclosure
Letter, as the case may be, in a manner  sufficiently clear to identify to which
representation  or warranty an  exception is being made or unless it is apparent
from the  express  disclosure  made on the Company  Disclosure  Letter or Parent
Disclosure  Letter,  as  applicable,  that an  exception  is being  made to such
representation or warranty.

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



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

                                     FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL LTD.

                                     Signature: /s/ Michael E. Marks
                                               --------------------------------

                                     Printed Name: Michael E. Marks

                                     Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


                                     SLALOM ACQUISITION CORP.

                                     Signature: /s/ Robert R.B. Dykes
                                               --------------------------------

                                     Printed Name: Robert R.B. Dykes

                                     Title: Chief Executive Officer


                                     THE DII GROUP, INC.

                                     Signature: /s/ Ronald Budacz
                                               --------------------------------

                                     Printed Name: Ronald Budacz

                                     Title: Chief Executive Officer




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