Exhibit 99.33



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                  by and among

                                 OMNICARE, INC.,

                              NCS ACQUISITION CORP.

                                       and

                              NCS HEALTHCARE, INC.

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

                                   Dated as of

                                December 17, 2002

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                                       
Article I THE OFFER ...................................................................         2

     Section 1.1.     The Offer........................................................         2
     Section 1.2.     Company Actions..................................................         3
     Section 1.3.     Directors........................................................         5

Article II THE MERGER .................................................................         6

     Section 2.1.     The Merger.......................................................         6
     Section 2.2.     Closing..........................................................         6
     Section 2.3.     Effective Time...................................................         7
     Section 2.4.     Effects of the Merger............................................         7
     Section 2.5.     Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws.........................         7
     Section 2.6.     Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation..............         7

Article III CONVERSION OF SECURITIES...................................................         7

     Section 3.1.     Conversion of Capital Stock......................................         7
     Section 3.2.     Exchange of Certificates.........................................         8
     Section 3.3.     Treatment of Stock Options.......................................        10
     Section 3.4.     Dissenting Shares................................................        10

Article IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB............................        11

     Section 4.1.     Organization and Standing........................................        11
     Section 4.2.     Corporate Power and Authority....................................        11
     Section 4.3.     Conflicts; Consents and Approval.................................        11
     Section 4.4.     Information Supplied.............................................        12
     Section 4.5.     Litigation.......................................................        12
     Section 4.6.     Sub's Operations.................................................        13

Article V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY................................        13

     Section 5.1.     Organization and Standing........................................        13
     Section 5.2.     Subsidiaries.....................................................        13
     Section 5.3.     Corporate Power and Authority....................................        14
     Section 5.4.     Capitalization of the Company....................................        14
     Section 5.5.     Conflicts; Consents and Approvals................................        15
     Section 5.6.     Brokerage and Finders' Fees; Expenses............................        16
     Section 5.7.     Company SEC Documents............................................        16
     Section 5.8.     Information Supplied.............................................        17
     Section 5.9.     Compliance with Law..............................................        17
     Section 5.10.    Litigation.......................................................        18
     Section 5.11.    Absence of Changes...............................................        18
     Section 5.12.    Taxes............................................................        18
     Section 5.13.    Intellectual Property............................................        20
     Section 5.14.    Title to and Condition of Properties.............................        22
     Section 5.15.    Employee Benefit Plans...........................................        23
     Section 5.16.    Contracts........................................................        25



                                       i


                                                                                       
     Section 5.17.    Labor Matters....................................................        26
     Section 5.18.    Undisclosed Liabilities..........................................        26
     Section 5.19.    Licenses; Permits; Compliance....................................        27
     Section 5.20.    Institutional Pharmacy Business..................................        29
     Section 5.21.    Environmental Matters............................................        29
     Section 5.22.    Accounts Receivable; Accounts Payable; Inventories and Cash......        30
     Section 5.23.    Insurance........................................................        31
     Section 5.24.    Opinion of Financial Advisor.....................................        31
     Section 5.25.    Related Parties..................................................        31
     Section 5.26.    Board Recommendation; Required Vote..............................        31
     Section 5.27.    Section 203 of the DGCL; No Rights Agreement.....................        32

Article VI COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES....................................................        32

     Section 6.1.     Mutual Covenants.................................................        32
     Section 6.2.     Covenants of Parent..............................................        36
     Section 6.3.     Covenants of the Company.........................................        38

Article VII CONDITIONS.................................................................        46

     Section 7.1.     Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party......................        46

Article VIII TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT.................................................        47

     Section 8.1.     Termination......................................................        47
     Section 8.2.     Effect of Termination............................................        48
     Section 8.3.     Amendment........................................................        50
     Section 8.4.     Extension; Waiver................................................        50

Article IX MISCELLANEOUS...............................................................        50

     Section 9.1.     Survival of Representations and Warranties.......................        50
     Section 9.2.     Notices..........................................................        50
     Section 9.3.     Interpretation...................................................        51
     Section 9.4.     Counterparts.....................................................        52
     Section 9.5.     Entire Agreement.................................................        52
     Section 9.6.     Third-Party Beneficiaries........................................        52
     Section 9.7.     Governing Law....................................................        52
     Section 9.8.     Consent to Jurisdiction; Venue...................................        52
     Section 9.9.     Specific Performance.............................................        53
     Section 9.10.    Assignment.......................................................        53
     Section 9.11.    Expenses.........................................................        53
     Section 9.12.    Certain Definitions..............................................        53

     CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER...........................................................   ANNEX A



                                       ii

                             INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS



DEFINED TERM                                                           SECTION
- ------------                                                           -------
                                                                  
14(f) Statement ...................................................       1.3(b)
Acceptance Date ...................................................       1.1(a)
Acquisition Proposal ..............................................   6.3(d)(vi)
Action ............................................................          4.5
Affiliate .........................................................      9.12(a)
Affiliated Parties ................................................  6.1(e)(iii)
Agreement .........................................................     Preamble
Antitrust Laws ....................................................   6.1(a)(ii)
Applicable Laws ...................................................          2.5
Business Day ......................................................       1.1(a)
Certificate .......................................................       3.1(b)
Certificate of Merger .............................................          2.3
Closing ...........................................................          2.2
Closing Date ......................................................          2.2
Code ..............................................................       3.2(f)
Commission ........................................................       1.1(a)
Company ...........................................................     Preamble
Company Board Recommendation ......................................         5.26
Company By-Laws ...................................................          5.1
Company Certificate of Incorporation ..............................          5.1
Company Class A Common Stock ......................................     Recitals
Company Class B Common Stock ......................................     Recitals
Company Common Stock ..............................................     Recitals
Company Financial Advisor .........................................       1.2(a)
Company Letter ....................................................    Article V
Company Option ....................................................          3.3
Company Permits ...................................................      5.19(a)
Company Recent Balance Sheet ......................................      5.18(a)
Company Agreements ................................................      5.16(a)
Company SEC Documents .............................................          5.7
Company Stockholders ..............................................     Recitals
Company Stockholders Approval .....................................         5.26
Company Stockholders Meeting ......................................       6.3(a)
Controlled Group Liability ........................................      5.15(a)
Credit Agreement ..................................................  6.1(d)(iii)
Delaware Secretary of State .......................................          2.3
DGCL ..............................................................          2.1
Dissenting Shares .................................................       3.4(a)
Effective Time ....................................................          2.3
Environmental Laws ................................................         5.21
Environmental Permit ..............................................         5.21
ERISA .............................................................      5.15(a)
ERISA Affiliate ...................................................      5.15(a)



                                      iii


                                                                  
Exchange Act ......................................................       1.1(a)
FDA ...............................................................  5.19(b)(ii)
Final Order .......................................................      9.12(b)
GAAP ..............................................................          5.7
Genesis ...........................................................     Recitals
Genesis Merger Agreement ..........................................     Recitals
Genesis Payment ...................................................       6.2(d)
Geneva Sub ........................................................     Recitals
Government Programs ...............................................      5.19(c)
Governmental Authority ............................................      9.12(c)
Hazardous Materials ...............................................         5.21
HSR Act ...........................................................       4.3(b)
Illinois Sub ......................................................       6.3(g)
Indenture .........................................................    6.1(d)(i)
Intellectual Property .............................................      5.13(a)
Knowledge of the Company ..........................................      9.12(d)
Lien ..............................................................      9.12(e)
Material Adverse Effect ...........................................      9.12(f)
Material Company-Owned Software ...................................      5.13(e)
Medicare and Medicaid Programs ....................................      5.19(c)
Merger ............................................................     Recitals
Merger Consideration ..............................................       3.1(b)
Minimum Condition .................................................      Annex A
Multiemployer Plan ................................................      5.15(f)
Multiple Employer Plan ............................................      5.15(f)
NOLs ..............................................................      5.12(e)
Non-Employee Directors ............................................       1.3(a)
Notes .............................................................    6.1(d)(i)
Offer .............................................................     Recitals
Offer Conditions ..................................................       1.1(a)
Offer Documents ...................................................       1.1(a)
Offer Price .......................................................     Recitals
Omnicare Litigation ...............................................    6.1(e)(i)
Order .............................................................      9.12(g)
Other Filings .....................................................    6.3(b)(i)
Outcalt Voting Agreement ..........................................     Recitals
Outside Date ......................................................       8.1(c)
Owned Real Property ...............................................      5.14(b)
Parent ............................................................     Preamble
Payment Agent .....................................................       3.2(a)
Payment Fund ......................................................       3.2(a)
Permitted Encumbrances ............................................      5.14(b)
Person ............................................................      9.12(h)
Plans .............................................................      5.15(a)
Private Programs ..................................................      5.19(c)
Proxy/Information Statement .......................................       1.2(a)



                                       iv


                                                                  
Qualified Plan ....................................................      5.15(c)
Recommendations ...................................................       1.2(a)
Required Governmental Approvals ...................................       4.3(b)
Schedule 14D-9 ....................................................       1.2(b)
Schedule TO .......................................................     Recitals
Securities Act ....................................................          5.4
Sub ...............................................................     Preamble
Sub By-Laws .......................................................          2.5
Sub Certificate of Incorporation ..................................          2.5
Sub Common Stock ..................................................       3.1(a)
Subsidiary ........................................................      9.12(i)
Superior Proposal .................................................   6.3(d)(vi)
Surviving Corporation .............................................          2.1
Tax Returns .......................................................      5.12(g)
Taxes .............................................................      5.12(h)
Termination Fee ...................................................       8.2(b)
Voting Agreements .................................................     Recitals



                                       v

            This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as of
December 17, 2002, is entered into by and among Omnicare, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("PARENT"), NCS Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("SUB"), and NCS HealthCare, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "COMPANY").

            WHEREAS, Parent and Sub shall amend the Tender Offer Statement on
Schedule TO filed by Parent and Sub on August 8, 2002 (together with all
amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto, the "SCHEDULE TO") with respect to
Sub's tender offer (as such offer is amended to reflect the terms set forth
herein, the "OFFER") to purchase each outstanding share of Class A common stock
of the Company, par value $0.01 per share ("COMPANY CLASS A COMMON STOCK"), and
each outstanding share of Class B common stock of the Company, par value $0.01
per share ("COMPANY CLASS B COMMON STOCK" and, together with the Company Class A
Common Stock, the "COMPANY COMMON STOCK") at a purchase price of $5.50 per share
of Company Common Stock, net to the seller in cash, without any interest thereon
(such price or any higher price paid in the Offer, the "OFFER PRICE"), upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;

            WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has approved this
Agreement and the Offer and deems it advisable and in the best interests of the
Company's stockholders (the "COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS") to consummate the merger of
Sub with and into the Company, wherein each share of Company Common Stock,
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than
shares held in the Company's treasury, shares held by any Subsidiary of the
Company, the Dissenting Shares and shares of Company Common Stock held by
Parent, Sub or any other Subsidiary of Parent, shall be converted into the right
to receive $5.50 per share in cash, without any interest thereon, on the terms
set forth in this Agreement (the "MERGER");

            WHEREAS, each of the Boards of Directors of Parent and Sub has
approved this Agreement and the Offer and deems it advisable and in the best
interests of its respective stockholders to consummate the Merger on the terms
set forth in this Agreement; and

            WHEREAS, (i) the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 28,
2002, by and among Genesis Health Ventures, Inc. ("GENESIS"), Geneva Sub, Inc.
("GENEVA SUB") and the Company (as may be amended, the "GENESIS MERGER
AGREEMENT"), (ii) the Voting Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2002, by and among
Jon C. Outcalt, the Company and Genesis (as may be amended, the "OUTCALT VOTING
AGREEMENT") and (iii) the Voting Agreement, dated July 28, 2002, by and among
Kevin B. Shaw, the Company and Genesis (as may be amended and together with the
Outcalt Voting Agreement, the "VOTING AGREEMENTS"), each have been terminated in
accordance with their respective terms (but in no event with aggregate payments
by the Company in excess of those specified in Section 7.2 of the Genesis Merger
Agreement) or otherwise on terms satisfactory to Parent and Sub.

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this
Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                                    THE OFFER

            Section 1.1. The Offer.

            (a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, as promptly as
practicable after the date that this Agreement is executed by Parent, Sub and
the Company, Parent and Sub shall amend the Offer to reflect this Agreement and
amend the conditions to the Offer in accordance herewith. The expiration date of
the Offer shall be the tenth day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on
which banks are authorized by law to close in New York, New York (each a
"BUSINESS DAY"), from and after the date the Offer is amended to provide for the
purchase of all of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement. The Offer shall be made pursuant to a
supplement to Sub's offer to purchase, dated August 8, 2002 and contained in the
Schedule TO, and a related letter of transmittal (such Schedule TO and the
documents included therein pursuant to which the Offer will be made, together
with any supplements or amendments thereto, the "OFFER DOCUMENTS") containing
the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in form reasonably
satisfactory to the Company. The obligation of Sub to accept for payment, and
pay for, any Company Common Stock tendered pursuant to the Offer shall be
subject only to the conditions set forth in Annex A (the "OFFER CONDITIONS")
(any of which may be waived in whole or in part by Parent and Sub in their
reasonable discretion, except that Parent and Sub shall not waive the Minimum
Condition without the consent of the Company) and to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement. Parent and Sub expressly reserve the right to modify the terms
of the Offer, except that, without the consent of the Company, Parent and Sub
shall not (i) reduce the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to the
Offer; (ii) reduce the Offer Price; (iii) amend or add to the Offer Conditions;
(iv) except as provided in the next sentence, extend the Offer; (v) change the
form of or reduce the consideration payable in the Offer; or (vi) amend any
other term of the Offer in any manner adverse to the Company Stockholders.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and Sub (i) shall extend the Offer for no
longer than five Business Days at any one time, if at the scheduled or extended
expiration date of the Offer any of the Offer Conditions shall not be satisfied
or waived, until such time as such conditions are satisfied or waived; (ii) may
extend the Offer for any period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation
or position of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION")
applicable to the Offer; (iii) may extend the Offer for any reason on one or
more occasions for an aggregate period of not more than 10 Business Days beyond
the latest expiration date that would otherwise be permitted under clause (i) or
(ii) of this sentence; or (iv) extend the Offer for one or more subsequent
offering periods of up to an additional 20 Business Days in the aggregate
pursuant to Rule 14d-11 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(together with the rules and regulations thereunder, the "EXCHANGE ACT");
provided that, in the case of clause (iv) above, Sub shall


                                      -2-

immediately accept for payment and promptly pay for all shares of Company Common
Stock validly tendered, and not properly withdrawn, during the initial offering
period in accordance with Rule 14d-11 of the Exchange Act. Subject to the
foregoing and applicable law and upon the terms and subject to the conditions of
the Offer, Sub shall, and Parent shall cause it to, accept for payment, as
promptly as permitted under applicable securities laws, and pay for, as promptly
as practicable after the date on which Sub first accepts shares for payment
pursuant to the Offer (such date, regardless of whether Parent and Sub elect to
provide for one or more subsequent offering periods pursuant to Rule 14d-11 of
the Exchange Act, the "ACCEPTANCE DATE"), all shares of Company Common Stock
validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer.

            (b) As promptly as practicable after this Agreement is executed by
Parent, Sub and the Company, Parent and Sub shall file with the Commission an
amendment to the Schedule TO. The Schedule TO shall reflect the terms of this
Agreement, amend the conditions to the Offer in accordance herewith and contain
the Offer Documents. Parent and Sub agree that the Offer Documents shall comply
in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the Offer Documents, on the
date first published, sent or given to the Company Stockholders, shall not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; provided that no covenant is made by Parent or Sub with respect to
information supplied by the Company or any Company Stockholders specifically for
inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Offer Documents. Each of Parent,
Sub and the Company agree promptly to correct any information provided by it for
use in the Offer Documents if and to the extent that such information shall have
become false or misleading in any material respect, and Parent and Sub further
agree to take all steps necessary to cause the Schedule TO, as so corrected, to
be filed with the Commission and the other Offer Documents, as so corrected, to
be disseminated to the Company Stockholders, in each case as and to the extent
required by applicable federal securities laws. The Company and its counsel
shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon the Offer
Documents prior to their filing with the Commission or dissemination to the
Company Stockholders. Parent and Sub agree to provide the Company and its
counsel with any comments Parent, Sub or their counsel may receive from the
Commission with respect to the Offer Documents promptly after the receipt of
such comments.

            (c) Parent shall provide or cause to be provided to Sub on a timely
basis the funds necessary to accept for payment, and pay for, any shares of
Company Common Stock that Sub becomes obligated to accept for payment, and pay
for, pursuant to the Offer.

            Section 1.2. Company Actions.

            (a) The Company hereby approves of and consents to the Offer and
represents that (i) the Board of Directors of the Company, at a meeting duly
called and held, duly adopted resolutions approving this Agreement; (ii) the
Board of Directors of the Company, at a meeting duly called and held, duly
adopted resolutions approving the


                                      -3-

Offer and the Merger (and effecting the other actions referred to in Section
5.27 of this Agreement); (iii) the Board of Directors of the Company, at a
meeting duly called and held, duly adopted resolutions determining that the
terms of the Offer and the Merger are fair to, and in the best interests of, the
Company and the Company Stockholders; (iv) the Board of Directors of the
Company, at a meeting duly called and held, duly adopted resolutions
recommending that the Company Stockholders accept the Offer, tender their shares
pursuant to the Offer and approve the Merger and this Agreement, if required
(the "RECOMMENDATIONS"); provided, however, that the Board of Directors of the
Company may withdraw, modify or amend the Recommendations as provided by Section
6.3(d) of this Agreement; (v) the Board of Directors of the Company, at a
meeting duly called and held, duly adopted resolutions approving the acquisition
of Company Common Stock by Sub pursuant to the Offer and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; and (vi) the Genesis Merger Agreement and the
Voting Agreements have been terminated in accordance with their respective terms
(but in no event with aggregate payments by the Company in excess of those
specified in Section 7.2 of the Genesis Merger Agreement) or otherwise on terms
satisfactory to Parent and Sub. The Company hereby consents to the inclusion in
the Offer Documents of the Recommendations and represents that it has obtained
all necessary consents to permit the inclusion in its entirety of the fairness
opinion of Candlewood Partners, LLC (the "COMPANY FINANCIAL ADVISOR") in the
Schedule 14D-9 (as defined below) and, in each case, as necessary, the proxy
statement (including the form of proxies) or information statement relating to
the vote of the Company Stockholders with respect to this Agreement (as amended,
supplemented or modified, the "PROXY/INFORMATION STATEMENT"). The Company has
been advised by each of its directors and executive officers that each such
person intends to tender all shares of Company Common Stock owned by such person
pursuant to the Offer.

            (b) As promptly as practicable on the date of the filing of the
amendment to the Schedule TO, the Company shall file with the Commission an
amendment to the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 filed
by the Company on August 20, 2002 (such Schedule 14D-9, and the documents
included therein, together with any supplements or amendments thereto, the
"SCHEDULE 14D-9") containing the Recommendations and shall mail the Schedule
14D-9 to the Company Stockholders. The Company agrees that the Schedule 14D-9
shall comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act
and, on the date filed with the Commission and on the date first published, sent
or given to the Company Stockholders, shall not contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no
covenant is made by the Company with respect to information supplied by Parent
or Sub specifically for inclusion in the Schedule 14D-9. Each of the Company,
Parent and Sub agrees promptly to correct any information provided by it for use
in the Schedule 14D-9 if and to the extent that such information shall have
become false or misleading in any material respect, and the Company further
agrees to take all steps necessary to cause the Schedule 14D-9, as so corrected,
to be filed with the Commission and to be disseminated to the Company
Stockholders, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable federal
securities laws. Parent and its counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity
to review and


                                      -4-

comment upon the Schedule 14D-9 prior to its filing with the Commission or
dissemination to the Company Stockholders. The Company agrees to provide Parent
and its counsel with any comments the Company or its counsel may receive from
the Commission or its staff with respect to the Schedule 14D-9 promptly after
the receipt of such comments.

            (c) In connection with the Offer and the Merger, the Company shall
cause its transfer agent to furnish Sub promptly with mailing labels containing
the names and addresses of the record holders of Company Common Stock as of a
recent date and of those persons becoming record holders subsequent to such
date, together with copies of all lists of stockholders, security position
listings and computer files and all other information in the Company's
possession or control regarding the beneficial owners of Company Common Stock,
and shall furnish to Sub such information and assistance (including updated
lists of stockholders, security position listings and computer files) as Parent
may reasonably request in communicating the Offer to the Company Stockholders.
Subject to the requirements of applicable law, and except for such steps as are
necessary to disseminate the Offer Documents and any other documents necessary
to consummate the Merger, Parent and Sub and their agents shall hold in
confidence the information contained in any such labels, listings and files,
will use such information only in connection with the Offer and the Merger and,
if this Agreement shall be terminated, will, upon request, deliver, and will use
their reasonable efforts to cause their agents to deliver, to the Company all
copies and any extracts or summaries from such information then in their
possession or control.

            Section 1.3. Directors.

            (a) Promptly upon the acceptance for payment of shares of Company
Common Stock by Sub pursuant to the Offer, Parent and Sub shall be entitled to
designate such number of directors on the Board of Directors of (i) the Company
as will give Parent and Sub, subject to compliance with Section 14(f) of the
Exchange Act and Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder, a majority of such
directors, and the Company shall, at such time, cause Parent's and Sub's
designees to be so elected by its existing Board of Directors and (ii) each
subsidiary of the Company and each committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company and each such subsidiary as will give Parent and Sub (collectively) a
majority of such directors or committee, and the Company shall, at such time,
cause Parent's and Sub's designees to be so elected. In the event that Parent's
and Sub's designees are elected to the Board of Directors of the Company, until
the Effective Time such Board of Directors shall have at least two directors who
are directors on the date of this Agreement and who are not officers or
employees of the Company (the "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS"); and provided that, in
such event, if the number of Non-Employee Directors shall be reduced below two
for any reason whatsoever, the remaining Non-Employee Director shall designate a
person to fill such vacancy who shall be deemed to be an Non-Employee Director
for purposes of this Agreement or, if no Non-Employee Directors then remain, the
other directors shall designate two persons to fill such vacancies who shall not
be officers or affiliates of the Company, or officers or affiliates of Parent or
any of its subsidiaries, and such persons shall be deemed to be Non-Employee
Directors for purposes of this Agreement.


                                      -5-

            (b) Subject to applicable law, the Company shall take all action
requested by Parent necessary to effect any election contemplated by this
Section 1.3, including mailing to its stockholders the information statement
containing the information required by Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act and
Rule 14f-1 promulgated thereunder (the "14(F) STATEMENT"), and the Company
agrees to make such mailing with the mailing of the Schedule 14D-9 (provided
that Parent and Sub shall have provided to the Company on a timely basis all
information required to be included in the 14(f) Statement with respect to
Parent's and Sub's designees). In connection with the foregoing, the Company
will promptly, at the option of Parent, either increase the size of the
Company's and each subsidiary's Board of Directors (and each committee thereof)
and/or obtain the resignation of such number of its current directors as is
necessary to enable Parent's and Sub's designees to be elected or appointed to,
and to constitute a majority of, the Company's and each subsidiary's Board of
Directors (and each committee thereof) as provided above.

            (c) Following the election or appointment of Parent's and Sub's
designees pursuant to this Section 1.3 and prior to the Effective Time, the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Non-Employee Directors then in office
shall be required by the Company to (i) amend or terminate this Agreement by the
Company, (ii) exercise or waive any of the Company's rights or remedies under
this Agreement, (iii) extend the time for performance of Parent's and Sub's
respective obligations under this Agreement or (iv) enter into any agreement
with Parent, Sub or their respective Affiliates that would prevent or materially
delay the consummation of the Merger.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   THE MERGER

            Section 2.1. The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL"), Sub shall be merged with
and into the Company at the Effective Time. As a result of the Merger, the
separate corporate existence of Sub shall cease, and the Company shall continue
as the surviving corporation and as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (in such
capacity, the Company is sometimes referred to as the "SURVIVING CORPORATION").

            Section 2.2. Closing. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
the closing of the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(the "CLOSING") will take place on the fifth Business Day after the satisfaction
or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII of this Agreement (other
than any such conditions that by their terms cannot be satisfied until the
Closing Date, which conditions shall be required to be so satisfied or waived on
the Closing Date), unless another time or date is agreed to in writing by the
parties hereto (the actual time and date of the Closing, the "CLOSING DATE").
The Closing shall be held at the offices of Dewey Ballantine LLP, 1301 Avenue of
the Americas, New York, New York, unless another place is agreed to in writing
by the parties hereto.


                                      -6-

            Section 2.3. Effective Time. As promptly as possible on the Closing
Date, the parties to this Agreement shall file with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware (the "DELAWARE SECRETARY OF STATE") a certificate of
merger (the "CERTIFICATE OF MERGER") in such form as is required by and executed
in accordance with Section 251 of the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective
when the Certificate of Merger has been filed with the Delaware Secretary of
State or at such subsequent time as Parent and the Company shall agree and
specify in the Certificate of Merger (the date and time that the Merger becomes
effective, the "EFFECTIVE TIME").

            Section 2.4. Effects of the Merger. At and after the Effective Time,
the Merger shall have the effects as provided for in this Agreement and the
applicable provisions of the DGCL, including those set forth in Section 259 of
the DGCL.

            Section 2.5. Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws. The
Certificate of Merger shall provide that, at the Effective Time, (a) the
certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be amended as of the Effective
Time so as to contain the provisions, and only the provisions, contained
immediately prior to the Effective Time in the certificate of incorporation of
Sub (the "SUB CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION"), except for Article I thereof,
which shall read "The name of the Corporation is 'NCS HealthCare, Inc.'"; and
(b) the by-laws of Sub (the "SUB BY-LAWS") in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be the by-laws of the Surviving Corporation, in each case,
until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by all applicable
laws, statutes, orders, rules, regulations, policies or guidelines promulgated,
or judgments, decisions or Orders entered by any Governmental Authority
(collectively, "APPLICABLE LAWS").

            Section 2.6. Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation.
From and after the Effective Time, (a) the officers of Sub shall be the officers
of the Surviving Corporation; and (b) the directors of Sub as of the Effective
Time shall serve as directors of the Surviving Corporation, in each case, until
the earlier of their death, resignation or removal or otherwise ceasing to be an
officer or a director, as the case may be, or until their respective successors
are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.

                                  ARTICLE III

                            CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

            Section 3.1. Conversion of Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the Company, Parent
or Sub or their respective shareholders and stockholders, as applicable:

            (a) Each share of common stock of Sub, par value $0.01 per share
("SUB COMMON STOCK") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be converted into one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation, par value $0.01 per share.
Such newly issued shares shall thereafter constitute all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Surviving Corporation.


                                      -7-

            (b) Subject to the other provisions of this Article III, each share
of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time (other than shares of Company Common Stock owned by Parent, Sub
or any other Subsidiary of Parent to be cancelled pursuant to Section 3.1(c) of
this Agreement, shares held in the Company's treasury, shares held by any
Subsidiary of the Company and the Dissenting Shares) shall be converted into and
represent the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the price per share
paid in the Offer, without any interest thereon (the "MERGER CONSIDERATION"),
upon the surrender of a certificate (a "Certificate") representing such shares
of Company Common Stock as provided in Section 3.2 of this Agreement.

            (c) Each share of capital stock of the Company owned by Parent, Sub
or any other Subsidiary of Parent immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
be cancelled and retired, and no payment shall be made in respect thereof.

            Section 3.2. Exchange of Certificates.

            (a) Payment Agent. Promptly following the Effective Time, Parent
shall deposit with The Bank of New York or such other payment agent as may be
designated by Parent (the "PAYMENT AGENT"), for the benefit of the Company
Stockholders, an amount in cash sufficient to make the payments required
pursuant to this Article III in exchange for certificates formerly representing
shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time (such cash, the "PAYMENT FUND").

            (b) Exchange Procedures. As soon as practicable after the Effective
Time, the Payment Agent shall mail to each holder of record of a Certificate or
Certificates, (i) a letter of transmittal in customary form (which shall specify
that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificate
shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificate to the Payment Agent, and
shall be in such form and have such other customary provisions as Parent may
reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for effecting the surrender of the
Certificate in exchange for the Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a
Certificate for cancellation to the Payment Agent, together with a letter of
transmittal, duly executed and completed in accordance with the instructions
thereto, Parent shall cause to be delivered to the person in whose name such
Certificate shall have been issued, or to such person as such person shall
direct in writing in the letter of transmittal, a check or wire transfer
representing the amount of cash which such holder has the right to receive in
respect of the Certificate surrendered pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.1
of this Agreement, after giving effect to any required withholding tax, and the
shares represented by such Certificate shall be forthwith cancelled. No interest
will be paid or accrued on the Merger Consideration. In the event of a transfer
of ownership of shares of Company Common Stock that is not registered on the
transfer records of the Company, the Merger Consideration to be paid to such
holder of Company Common Stock pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement may be
paid to such transferee if the Certificate representing such Company Common
Stock is presented to the Payment Agent accompanied by all documents required to
evidence and effect such transfer and to evidence that any applicable transfer
or other Taxes have been paid or, alternatively,


                                      -8-

payments of such Taxes to the Payment Agent. Until surrendered as contemplated
by this Section 3.2, each Certificate shall be deemed, at any time after the
Effective Time, to represent only the right to receive upon surrender the Merger
Consideration, as provided in this Article III. If any Certificate shall have
been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by
the Person claiming the Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if
required by Parent, the posting by the Person of a bond in such reasonable
amount as Parent may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made
against it with respect to the Certificate, the Payment Agent will issue for the
lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, the Merger Consideration, with respect to
the shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificate as
provided in this Article III.

            (c) Termination of Payment Fund. Any portion of the Payment Fund
that remains undistributed to the Company Stockholders six months after the date
of the mailing required by Section 3.2(b) of this Agreement shall be delivered
to Parent, upon demand thereby, and holders of Certificates that have not
theretofore complied with this Section 3.2 shall thereafter look only to Parent
for payment of the Merger Consideration deliverable in respect of each share of
Company Common Stock such stockholder holds as determined pursuant to this
Agreement.

            (d) No Liability. None of Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the
Payment Agent shall be liable to any Person in respect of any shares of Company
Common Stock or cash from the Payment Fund delivered to a public official
pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law. If any
Certificate shall not have been surrendered prior to seven years after the
Effective Time (or immediately prior to such earlier date on which shares of
Company Common Stock in respect of such Certificate would otherwise escheat to
or become the property of any Governmental Authority), any such shares in
respect of such Certificate shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws,
become the property of Parent, free and clear of all claims or interest of any
Person previously entitled thereto.

            (e) Investment of Payment Fund. The Payment Agent shall invest any
cash balances in the Payment Fund as directed by Parent, on a daily basis. Any
interest and other income resulting from such investments shall be paid to
Parent upon termination of the Payment Fund pursuant to Section 3.2(c) of this
Agreement.

            (f) Withholding Rights. Each of the Surviving Corporation and Parent
shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise
payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of shares of Company Common
Stock such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the
making of such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(together with the rules and regulations thereunder, the "CODE"), or any
provision of state, local or foreign Tax law. To the extent that amounts are so
withheld by the Surviving Corporation or Parent, as the case may be, such
withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having
been paid to the holder of the shares of Company Common Stock in respect of
which such deduction and withholding was made by the Surviving Corporation or
Parent, as the case may be.


                                      -9-

            Section 3.3. Treatment of Stock Options. Prior to the Effective
Time, Parent and the Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary to
cause each unexpired and unexercised outstanding option granted or issued under
the Company stock option or equity-incentive plans in effect on the date of this
Agreement (each, a "COMPANY OPTION") to be automatically converted at the
Effective Time into the right to receive an amount in cash (less any required
tax withholdings) determined by multiplying (i) the excess, if any, of the
Merger Consideration over the applicable exercise price of such Company Option
by (ii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company
Option. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall obtain any consents from
holders of the Company Options to make any amendments to the terms of the
applicable stock option plans or arrangements that are necessary to give effect
to the transactions contemplated by this Section 3.3. Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 3.3, payment may be withheld in respect of
any Company Option until the necessary consents are obtained. The conversion of
a Company Option into the right to receive the payment provided by this Section
3.3 shall be deemed a cancellation of such Company Option and a release of any
and all rights the holder had or may have had in respect of such Company Option.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and the Company shall use reasonable
efforts to take the actions contemplated by this Section 3.3 as soon as
practicable following the Acceptance Date.

            Section 3.4. Dissenting Shares.

            (a) Shares of Company Common Stock that are issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time and that are held by a Company
Stockholder who (i) has not voted such shares in favor of the Merger, (ii) shall
have delivered a written demand for appraisal of such shares in the manner
provided for in the DGCL and (iii) shall not have effectively withdrawn or lost
such right to appraisal as of the Effective Time (the "DISSENTING SHARES"),
shall be entitled to such rights (but only such rights) as are granted by
Section 262 of the DGCL. Each holder of Dissenting Shares who becomes entitled
to payment for such Dissenting Shares pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL shall
receive payment therefor from the Surviving Corporation in accordance with the
DGCL; provided, however, that (A) if any such holder of Dissenting Shares shall
have failed to establish such holder's entitlement to appraisal rights as
provided in Section 262 of the DGCL, (B) if any holder of Dissenting Shares
shall have effectively withdrawn his demand for appraisal of such Dissenting
Shares or lost his right to appraisal and payment for his Dissenting Shares
under Section 262 of the DGCL or (C) if neither any holder of Dissenting Shares
nor the Surviving Corporation shall have filed a petition demanding a
determination of the value of all Dissenting Shares within the time provided for
the filing of such petition in Section 262 of the DGCL, such holder shall
forfeit the right to appraisal of such Dissenting Shares, and the holder of each
such Dissenting Share shall be deemed to have been converted into, as of the
Effective Time, the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to
Section 3.1 of this Agreement, without any interest thereon, upon surrender, in
the manner provided in Section 3.2 of this Agreement, of the Certificate or
Certificates that formerly evidenced such shares.

            (b) The Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of any demands
for appraisal received by the Company, withdrawals of such demands, and any
other


                                      -10-

instruments served pursuant to the DGCL and received by the Company and (ii) the
opportunity to lead all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for
appraisal under the DGCL (it being understood that the Company shall be entitled
to participate therein). The Company shall not, except with the prior written
consent of Parent, make any payment with respect to any demands for appraisal or
offer to settle or settle any such demands.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND SUB

            Parent and Sub hereby represent and warrant to the Company as
follows:

            Section 4.1. Organization and Standing. Each of Parent and Sub is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its state of incorporation with full corporate power and authority to own,
lease, use and operate its properties and to conduct its business as and where
now owned, leased, used, operated and conducted.

            Section 4.2. Corporate Power and Authority. Each of Parent and Sub
has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and deliver this
Agreement, to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger,
by Parent and Sub have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
the part of each of Parent and Sub. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by each of Parent and Sub, and constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of each of Sub and Parent enforceable against each of them in
accordance with its respective terms.

            Section 4.3. Conflicts; Consents and Approval.

            (a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Sub
does not, and the performance and consummation of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby will not:

            (i) violate, or result in a breach of any provision of the Parent's
      certificate of incorporation, as amended, the Parent's by-laws, as
      amended, the Sub Certificate of Incorporation or the Sub By-Laws;

            (ii) violate, or conflict with, or result in a breach of any
      provision of, or constitute a default (or an event that, with the giving
      of notice, the passage of time or otherwise, would constitute a default)
      under, or entitle any Person (with the giving of notice, the passage of
      time or otherwise) to terminate, accelerate, modify or call a default
      under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or
      assets of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms,
      conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of
      trust,


                                      -11-

      license, contract, undertaking, agreement, lease or other instrument or
      obligation to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party; or

            (iii) subject, with respect to consummation, to Section 4.3(b) of
      this Agreement, violate any Applicable Laws relating to Parent or any of
      its Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets;

except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any of the foregoing
that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.

            (b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Sub
does not, and the performance and consummation of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby will not, require Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries to obtain any approval of any Person or approval of, observe any
waiting period imposed by, or make any filing with or notification to or seek
any approval or authorization from any Governmental Authority, other than (i)
actions, if any, required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended (together with the rules and regulations thereunder, the "HSR
ACT"), except for actions required by the HSR Act taken prior to the date
hereof, (ii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger and (iii) consents or
approvals of any Governmental Authority the failure of which to obtain would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent (collectively, the "REQUIRED GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS").

            Section 4.4. Information Supplied. None of the information supplied
or to be supplied by Parent or Sub specifically for inclusion or incorporation
by reference in (a) the Offer Documents, (b) the Schedule 14D-9, (c) the 14(f)
Statement or (d) the Proxy/Information Statement, as required, will, (i) in the
case of the Offer Documents, the Schedule 14D-9 and the 14(f) Statement, at the
respective times the Offer Documents, the Schedule 14D-9 and the 14(f) Statement
are filed with the Commission or first published, sent or given to the Company
Stockholders, or (ii) in the case of the Proxy/Information Statement, at the
time the Proxy/Information Statement is first mailed to the Company Stockholders
or at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting, 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.

            Section 4.5. Litigation. There is no suit, arbitration, inquiry,
prosecution, claim, action, proceeding, hearing, notice of violation, demand
letter or investigation by, of, in or before any Governmental Authority (an
"ACTION") pending, or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened, against Parent or
any executive officer or director of Parent that would reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
Parent is not subject to any outstanding Order that would reasonably be expected
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.


                                      -12-



            Section 4.6. Sub's Operations. Sub is a direct wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent that was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and has not (a) engaged in any
business activities, (b) conducted any operations other than in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby or (c) incurred any liabilities other than
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. Parent, as Sub's sole
stockholder, has approved Sub's execution of this Agreement.

                                    ARTICLE V

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

            The Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Sub, that
except as set forth in the Company's letter to Parent dated as of the date
hereof (the "Company Letter") as follows:

            Section 5.1. Organization and Standing. The Company is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Delaware with full corporate power and authority to own, lease, use and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as and where now owned,
leased, used, operated and conducted. Each of the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the property
that it owns, leases or operates requires it to so qualify, except where the
failure to be so qualified or in good standing in such jurisdiction would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company is not in default in the performance,
observance or fulfillment of any provision of its certificate of incorporation,
as amended (the "COMPANY CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION"), or its by-laws, as in
effect on the date of this Agreement (the "COMPANY BY-LAWS").

            Section 5.2. Subsidiaries. Each Subsidiary of the Company is a
corporation duly incorporated or an entity duly organized, and is validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization, has all powers and authority and all governmental
licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to own, lease and
operate its assets and to carry on its business as now conducted and is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction where the character of the property owned, leased or operated
by it or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, in
each case with exceptions that would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof,
the Company is not subject to any material obligation or requirement to provide
funds to or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or
otherwise) in any Subsidiary. Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents
filed prior to the date hereof, the Company owns, directly or indirectly, each
of the outstanding shares of capital stock (or other ownership interests having
by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of directors or others
performing similar functions with respect to such Subsidiary) of each of the
Company's


                                      -13-

Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to
the date hereof, each of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the
Company's Subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, and is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company free and
clear of all material liens, pledges, security interests, claims or other
encumbrances. Other than as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior
to the date hereof, there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants,
puts, calls, agreements, understandings, claims or other commitments or rights
of any type relating to the issuance, sale, purchase, repurchase or transfer of
any securities of any of the Company's Subsidiaries, nor are there outstanding
any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of
capital stock of any of the Company's Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has any obligation of any kind to issue any additional
securities of any of the Company's Subsidiaries.

            Section 5.3. Corporate Power and Authority. The Company has all
requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and deliver this
Agreement, to perform its obligations under this Agreement, and, subject to
receipt of the Company Stockholders Approval, if required, to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Company have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of the Company, subject to adoption by the Company
Stockholders of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, if required. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

            Section 5.4. Capitalization of the Company. As of July 26, 2002, the
Company's authorized capital stock consisted solely of (i) 50,000,000 shares of
Company Class A Common Stock, of which (A) 18,461,599 shares were issued and
outstanding, (B) no shares were issued and held in treasury, (C) 2,422,724
shares were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of Company Options, and (D)
1,477,276 shares were reserved for future issuance under the existing plans of
the Company that provide for the issuance of Company Options; provided that, in
the case of clauses (C) and (D), since July 26, 2002, the Company has not
reserved any additional shares of Company Class A Common Stock for issuance upon
the exercise of Company Options, (ii) 20,000,000 shares of Company Class B
Common Stock, of which (X) 5,255,210 shares were issued and outstanding and (Y)
94,858 shares were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of Company Options;
provided that since July 26, 2002, the Company has not reserved any additional
shares of Company Class B Common Stock for issuance upon the exercise of Company
Options, and (iii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of which no shares were issued and outstanding. Each outstanding share of
Company capital stock is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, and has not been issued in violation of any preemptive or similar
rights. The Company Class A Common Stock and the Company Class B Common Stock
are identical in all respects except that (I) each share of Company Class A
Common Stock is entitled to 1 vote per share, whereas each share of Company
Class B Common Stock is entitled to 10 votes per share; (II) the Company Class A
Common Stock is not convertible into another security, whereas the Company Class
B Common Stock is convertible into shares of


                                      -14-

Company Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis; and (III) the Company Class
B Common Stock is subject to certain transfer restrictions to which the Company
Class A Common Stock is not subject. The Company has not taken any action or
made any determination, pursuant to Section 7(i) of the Company Certificate of
Incorporation, that the restrictions on transfer or other provisions set forth
in Section 7 of the Company Certificate of Incorporation have a material adverse
effect on liquidity, marketability or market value of the outstanding shares of
Company Class A Common Stock. Other than as set forth in the first sentence of
this Section 5.4 or in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof,
there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, puts, calls,
agreements, understandings, claims or other commitments or rights of any type
relating to the issuance, sale, repurchase or transfer of any securities of the
Company, nor are there outstanding any securities that are convertible into or
exchangeable for any shares of Company capital stock, and neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries has any obligation of any kind to issue any
additional securities or to pay for or repurchase any securities of the Company
or its predecessors. The issuance and sale of all of the shares of capital stock
described in this Section 5.4 have been in compliance in all material respects
with United States federal and state securities laws. Except as set forth in the
Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, the Company has not agreed
to register any securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(together with the rules and regulations thereunder, the "SECURITIES ACT") or
under any state securities law or granted registration rights to any Person.
Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof,
there are no outstanding stock-appreciation rights, security-based performance
units, "phantom" stock or other security rights or other agreements,
arrangements or commitments of any character (contingent or otherwise) pursuant
to which any Person is or may be entitled to receive any payment or other value
based on the revenues, earnings or financial performance, stock price
performance or other attribute of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
assets or calculated in accordance therewith (other than ordinary course
payments or commissions to sales representatives of the Company).

            Section 5.5. Conflicts; Consents and Approvals.

            (a) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company does
not, and the performance and consummation of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby will not:

            (i) violate, or result in a breach of any provision of, the Company
      Certificate of Incorporation or the Company By-Laws;

            (ii) violate, or conflict with, or result in a breach of any
      provision of, or constitute a default (or an event that, with the giving
      of notice, the passage of time or otherwise, would constitute a default)
      under, or entitle any Person (with the giving of notice, the passage of
      time or otherwise) to terminate, accelerate, modify or call a default
      under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or
      assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms,
      conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed


                                      -15-

      of trust, license, contract, undertaking, agreement, lease or other
      instrument or obligation to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
      is a party; or

            (iii) violate any Applicable Laws relating to the Company, any of
      its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets;

except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, as set forth in the Company
SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof or for any of the foregoing that
would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

            (b) The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement does
not, and the performance and consummation of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby will not, require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
obtain any approval of any Person or approval of, observe any waiting period
imposed by, or make any filing with or notification to or seek any approval or
authorization from any Governmental Authority other than (i) actions, if any,
required by the HSR Act, except for actions required by the HSR Act taken prior
to the date hereof, (ii) the Company Stockholders Approval, if required, (iii)
registrations or other actions required under United States federal and state
securities laws as are contemplated by this Agreement and (iii) consents or
approvals of any Governmental Authority the failure of which to obtain would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company.

            Section 5.6. Brokerage and Finders' Fees; Expenses. Except as set
forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, none of the
Company, any of its Affiliates or any director, officer or employee of the
Company, (a) has incurred or will incur on behalf of the Company, any brokerage,
finders', advisory or similar fees in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or (b) is obligated to engage any broker,
investment bank or other advisor to provide services to or on behalf of the
Company or any of its Affiliates in the future.

            Section 5.7. Company SEC Documents. The Company has filed with the
Commission all forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents
required to be filed by it since January 1, 2000 under the Exchange Act or the
Securities Act (such documents, as supplemented and amended since the time of
filing, together with the Form S-4 filed by Genesis on August 29, 2002, which
includes the Company's preliminary proxy statement, collectively, the "COMPANY
SEC DOCUMENTS"). The Company SEC Documents, including any financial statements
or schedules included in the Company SEC Documents, at the time filed (and, in
the case of registration statements and proxy statements, on the dates of
effectiveness and the dates of mailing, respectively and, in the case of any
Company SEC Document amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this
Agreement, then on the date of such amending or superseding filing) (a) 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and (b) complied in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of


                                      -16-

the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as the case may be. The financial
statements of the Company included in the Company SEC Documents at the time
filed (and, in the case of registration statements and proxy statements, on the
dates of effectiveness and the dates of mailing, respectively and, in the case
of any the Company SEC Document amended or superseded by a filing prior to the
date of this Agreement, then on the date of such amending or superseding filing)
complied as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting
requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the Commission with
respect thereto, were prepared in accordance with United States generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis during the
periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the
case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the Commission), and
fairly present in all material respects (subject, in the case of unaudited
statements, to normal, recurring audit adjustments) the consolidated financial
position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the dates
thereof and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the
periods then ended. None of the Company's Subsidiaries is subject to the
periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act or required to file any
form, report or other document with the Commission, the Nasdaq Stock Market,
Inc.'s National Market, any stock exchange or any other comparable Governmental
Authority.

            Section 5.8. Information Supplied. None of the information supplied
or to be supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in
(a) the Offer Documents, (b) the Schedule 14D-9, (c) the 14(f) Statement or (d)
the Proxy/Information Statement, as required, will, (i) in the case of the Offer
Documents, the Schedule 14D-9 and the 14(f) Statement, at the respective times
the Offer Documents, the Schedule 14D-9 and the 14(f) Statement are filed with
the Commission or first published, sent or given to the Company Stockholders, or
(ii) in the case of the Proxy/Information Statement, at the time the
Proxy/Information Statement is first mailed to the Company Stockholders or at
the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting, 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 Schedule 14D-9, the
14(f) Statement and the Proxy/Information Statement will comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, provided that no representation or warranty is made by the Company
with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on
information supplied by Parent or Sub for inclusion or incorporation by
reference therein.

            Section 5.9. Compliance with Law. Except as set forth in the Company
SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, the Company is in compliance and,
at all times, has been in compliance with Applicable Laws relating to the
Company or its business or properties, except where the failure to be in
compliance with such Applicable Laws would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof,
no investigation or review by any Governmental Authority with respect to the
Company, to the knowledge of the Company, is pending or threatened, nor has any
Governmental Authority indicated in writing to the Company an


                                      -17-

intention to conduct the same, other than those the outcome of which would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company. Without limiting the foregoing, except as
disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, the
Company and each of its Subsidiaries is, and has been since July 1, 2001, in
compliance, in all material respects, with the Company's policies (as in effect
on the date hereof) with respect to the recording and issuing of all credits due
to the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

            Section 5.10. Litigation. Except as set forth in the Company SEC
Documents filed prior to the date hereof, (a) to the knowledge of the Company,
there is no Action pending or threatened against the Company or any executive
officer or director of the Company that would reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company; and
(b) the Company is not subject to any outstanding Order that would reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company.

            Section 5.11. Absence of Changes. Except as set forth in the Company
SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, since June 30, 2002, (a) the
Company has conducted its business only in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice; (b) there has been no change, event, development,
damage or circumstance affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that has
had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company; and (c) there has not been any material
change by the Company in its accounting methods, principles or practices, any
revaluation by the Company of any of its assets, including writing down the
value of inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

            Section 5.12. Taxes.

            (a) The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all material Tax
Returns (including those filed on a consolidated, combined or unitary basis)
required to have been filed by the Company or its Subsidiaries. All of such Tax
Returns are true, complete and correct as to the amount of Tax shown to be due
thereon (except for such inaccuracies that are, individually or in the
aggregate, not material), and the Company and its Subsidiaries have within the
time and manner prescribed by Applicable Laws paid or, prior to the Effective
Time, will pay all Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Returns. Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liability for any Taxes in
excess of the amounts paid (or reserved, in accordance with GAAP, as reflected
on the Company SEC Documents, as adjusted for operations in the ordinary course
of business since the date of such Company SEC Documents), and neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is delinquent in the payment of any material
Tax. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has requested or filed any
document having the effect of causing any extension of time within which to file
any material Tax Returns in respect of any fiscal year that have not since been
filed. Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date
hereof, no deficiencies for any material Tax have been proposed, asserted or
assessed (tentatively or definitely), in each case in writing, by any
Governmental Authority, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for which
there


                                      -18-

are not adequate reserves, in accordance with GAAP, as reflected on the Company
SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is the subject of any currently ongoing material Tax audit. There
are no pending requests for waivers of the time to assess any material Tax,
other than those made in the ordinary course and for which either payment has
been made or there are adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP as reflected on
the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof. With respect to any
taxable period ended on or prior to June 30, 1996, all United States federal
income Tax Returns including the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been
audited by the Internal Revenue Service or are closed by the applicable statute
of limitations. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has waived any
statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time
with respect to a material Tax assessment or deficiency. There are no liens with
respect to Taxes upon any of the properties or assets, real or personal,
tangible or intangible of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than
liens for Taxes not yet due). No material claim (that is currently pending or
that has been made on or after June 30, 2000) has been made in writing by an
authority in a jurisdiction where the Company does not (or a Subsidiary does
not) file Tax Returns asserting that the Company (or such Subsidiary) is or may
be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. The Company has not filed an
election under Section 341(f) of the Code to be treated as a consenting
corporation.

            (b) Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to
the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is obligated by
any contract, agreement or other arrangement to indemnify any other Person
(other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) with respect to material Taxes.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries are or were a party to or bound
by any agreement or arrangement (whether or not written and including any
arrangement required or permitted by law) that (i) requires the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries to make any material Tax payment to or for the account of
any Person (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries), (ii) affords any other
Person the benefit of any material net operating loss, net capital loss,
investment Tax credit, foreign Tax credit, charitable deduction or any other
credit or Tax attribute that could reduce Taxes (including deductions and
credits related to alternative minimum Taxes) of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or (iii) requires or permits the transfer or assignment of any
material quantity of income, revenues, receipts or gains to the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, from any Person.

            (c) The Company is not and has not been a United States real
property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code
during the applicable period described in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.

            (d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has constituted
either a "distributing corporation" or a "controlled corporation" (within the
meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock intended
to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (i) in the two
years prior to the date of this Agreement (or will constitute such a corporation
in the two years prior to the Closing Date) or (ii) in a distribution that
otherwise constitutes part of a "plan" or "series of


                                      -19-

related transactions" (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in
conjunction with the Merger.

            (e) The net operating loss carryforwards ("NOLS") for United States
federal income tax purposes of the consolidated group of which the Company is
the common parent as of June 30, 2001 are not less than $125,000,000, and,
except for limitations that may apply by reason of the Merger, such NOLs are not
subject to any material limitation under Section 382 of the Code, Treasury
Regulations Section 1.1502-15, -21 or otherwise.

            (f) The Company and its Subsidiaries have withheld and paid all
material Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with
amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor,
stockholder or other third party.

            (g) "TAX RETURNS" means returns, reports and forms required to be
filed with any Governmental Authority of the United States or any other
jurisdiction responsible for the imposition or collection of Taxes.

            (h) "TAXES" means (i) all taxes (whether United States federal,
local, state or foreign) based upon or measured by income and any other tax
whatsoever, including gross receipts, profits, sales, use, occupation, value
added, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, withholding, payroll, employment,
excise, or real or personal property taxes, together with any interest or
penalties imposed with respect thereto and (ii) any obligations under any
agreements or arrangements with respect to any taxes described in clause (i)
above.

            Section 5.13. Intellectual Property.

            (a) The Company or a Subsidiary of the Company is licensed to use or
otherwise possesses legally enforceable rights to use, all patents, trademarks,
trade names, service marks, copyrights and mask works, any applications for and
registrations of such patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks,
copyrights and mask works, and all processes, formulae, methods, schematics,
technology, know-how, computer software programs or applications and tangible or
intangible trade secrets, proprietary information or material ("INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY") that are necessary to conduct the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as currently conducted, except for such Intellectual Property the
absence of which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

            (b) The Company is not, nor will it as a result of the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the performance of the Company's obligations under
this Agreement or otherwise be, in breach of or otherwise cause the termination
of or limit any license, sublicense or other agreement relating to the Company's
Intellectual Property, or any licenses, sublicenses and other agreements as to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party and pursuant to which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is authorized to use any third-party
patents, trademarks or copyrights,


                                      -20-

including software that is used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
except for those the breach of which would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

            (c) To the knowledge of the Company, all patents, trademarks,
service marks (or any applications or registrations therefor) and copyrights
that are held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and that are material
to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as such business is
presently conducted, and all Intellectual Property rights pertaining to the
Material Company-Owned Software, are current, in effect, valid and subsisting.
The Company (i) has not been party to any Action still pending that involves a
claim of infringement by the Company of any Intellectual Property right of any
third party; and (ii) has no knowledge that the marketing, licensing or sale of
its services infringes any Intellectual Property right of any third party,
except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

            (d) The Company has a policy of requiring all employees to enter
into appropriate confidentiality agreements in order to maintain the secrecy and
confidentiality of all of the Company's material Intellectual Property
(including the Material Company-Owned Software), and has done so in all cases
except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

            (e) The Company has good and marketable title to, has the full right
to use and owns solely and outright, all of the software products known as
ConcordDX, Long-Term Care Pharmacy (LTCP), eAstral, and iAstral, and all
modifications, revisions, versions, updates, releases, refinements, improvements
and enhancements of such products and all derivative works (as such term is used
in the U.S. copyright laws) based upon any of such products, whether
operational, under development, superseded or inactive, including all object
code, source code, system and database architecture, design features, technical
manuals, test scripts, user manuals and other documentation therefor, whether in
machine-readable form, programming language or any other language or symbols,
and whether stored, encoded, recorded or written on disk, tape, film, memory
device, paper or other media of any nature and any data bases necessary to
operate any such computer program, operating system, application system,
firmware or software (all of the foregoing is collectively referred to as the
"MATERIAL COMPANY-OWNED SOFTWARE"), as relating to the Company's and its
Affiliates' respective businesses as conducted by the Company and its Affiliates
at all times on and before the Effective Time, free and clear of any liens,
licenses (other than written license agreements with customers entered into by
the Company in the ordinary course of business) or other encumbrances which
would in any way materially limit or restrict the Company's ability to market,
license, sell, modify, update, and/or create derivative works for, the Material
Company-Owned Software. The Material Company-Owned Software does not incorporate
or embody any third-party Intellectual Property.

            (f) To the extent that any author or developer of any Material
Company-Owned Software was not a regular full-time employee of the Company or
its


                                      -21-

predecessors working within the scope of his or her employment with the Company
or its predecessors, at the time such Person contributed to the creation or
modification of any Material Company-Owned Software, such author or developer
has irrevocably assigned to the Company or its predecessors, as applicable, in
writing all copyrights, patent rights, trade secrets and other Intellectual
Property in such Person's work with respect to such Material Company-Owned
Software. None of the Material Company-Owned Software is owned by or registered
in the name of any current or former owner, shareholder, partner, director,
executive, officer, employee, salesman, agent, customer, representative or
contractor of the Company, any of its predecessors or any third Person, nor do
such have any interest therein or right thereto, including the right to royalty
payments.

            (g) To the knowledge of the Company, none of the Material
Company-Owned Software or its respective past or current uses, including the
preparation, distribution, marketing or licensing thereof, has violated or
infringed upon, or is violating or infringing upon, any Intellectual Property of
any Person. To the knowledge of the Company, no Person is violating or
infringing upon, or has violated or infringed upon at any time, any of the
Material Company-Owned Software.

            Section 5.14. Title to and Condition of Properties.

            (a) The Company owns or holds under valid leases all real property
and all properties, assets and equipment necessary for the conduct of the
business of the Company as presently conducted, except where the failure to own
or hold such real property, properties, assets and equipment would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company.

            (b) Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to
the date hereof, the Company or one of its Subsidiaries holds good and
marketable fee title to all real property and interests in real property owned
in fee by the Company or its Subsidiaries (the "OWNED REAL PROPERTY"), free and
clear of any liens, mortgages, easements, rights-of-way, licenses, use
restrictions, claims, charges, options, title defects or encumbrances of any
nature whatsoever, except for the Permitted Encumbrances. All aspects of the
Owned Real Property are in compliance in all material respects with any and all
restrictions and other provisions included in the Permitted Encumbrances, and
there are no matters that create, or that with notice or the passage of time
would create, a default under any of the documents evidencing the Permitted
Encumbrances. As used herein, the term "PERMITTED ENCUMBRANCES" means (i) liens
for Taxes not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith and
by appropriate proceedings; (ii) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics',
materialmen's, repairmen's or other like liens arising in the ordinary course of
business that are less than $10,000 in amount; or (iii) easements,
rights-of-way, encroachments, restrictions, conditions and other similar
encumbrances of record or incurred or suffered in the ordinary course of
business and that, individually or in the aggregate, (A) are not substantial in
amount in relation to the applicable Owned Real Property; and (B) do not
materially detract from the use, utility or value of the applicable Owned Real
Property or otherwise materially impair the Company's present business
operations at such location.



                                      -22-

        (c)  All leases pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
leases real property are valid and effective and in accordance with their
respective terms, and there is not, under any such lease, any existing default
or event of default by the Company or its Subsidiaries (or event that, with
notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a material default by the
Company or its Subsidiaries), except where such default would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company. To the knowledge of the Company, the Company has all permits or
licenses necessary to use its leased real property, except where the failure to
obtain such permits or licenses would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

            Section 5.15. Employee Benefit Plans.

            (a) The following terms have the definitions given below:

            "CONTROLLED GROUP LIABILITY" means any and all liabilities (i) under
Title IV of ERISA, (ii) under Section 302 of ERISA, (iii) under Sections 412 and
4971 of the Code, (iv) resulting from a violation of the continuation coverage
requirements of Section 601 et seq. of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code or
the group health plan requirements of Sections 601 et seq. of the Code and
Section 601 et seq. of ERISA, and (v) under corresponding or similar provisions
of foreign laws or regulations, in each case, other than pursuant to the Plans.

            "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended, together with the rules and regulations thereunder.

            "ERISA AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any entity, trade or
business, any other entity, trade or business that is a member of a group
described in Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b)(1)
of ERISA that includes the first entity, trade or business, or that is a member
of the same "controlled group" as the first entity, trade or business pursuant
to Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA.

            "PLANS" means all employee benefit plans, programs and other
arrangements providing benefits to any employee or former employee in respect of
services provided to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to any
beneficiary or dependent thereof, and whether covering one individual or more
than one individual, sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries contributes or
is obligated to contribute. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the term "Plans" includes any defined benefit or defined contribution pension
plan, profit sharing plan, stock ownership plan, deferred compensation agreement
or arrangement, vacation pay, sickness, disability or death benefit plan
(whether provided through insurance, on a funded or unfunded basis or
otherwise), employee stock option or stock purchase plan, bonus or incentive
plan or program, severance pay plan, agreement, arrangement or policy, practice
or agreement, employment agreement, consulting agreements, salary continuation
agreements, retiree medical benefits plan and each other employee benefit plan,
program or arrangement including each "employee benefit plan" (within the
meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA).



                                      -23-

            (b) Since June 30, 2002, there have been no amendments to any stock
option or equity compensation plan that have been adopted or approved nor has
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries undertaken to make any such amendments or
to adopt or approve any new stock option or equity compensation plan.

            (c) The Internal Revenue Service has issued a favorable
determination letter with respect to each Plan that is intended to be a
"qualified plan" (within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code) (a
"QUALIFIED PLAN"), and all applicable foreign qualifications or registration
requirements have been satisfied with respect to any Plan maintained outside the
United States. There are no existing circumstances nor any events that have
occurred that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified
status of any Qualified Plan or the related trust or the qualified or registered
status of any Plan or trust maintained outside the United States, other than
qualification matters that can be corrected without material liability.

            (d) All material contributions required to be made by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates to any Plan
by Applicable Laws or by any plan document or other contractual undertaking, and
all material premiums due or payable with respect to insurance policies funding
any Plan, for any period through the date hereof have been made in a
substantially timely manner or paid in full and through the Closing Date will be
made in a substantially timely manner or paid in full. There are no Plans or
related trusts maintained outside the United States.

            (e) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, the Company and
its Subsidiaries and their respective ERISA Affiliates have complied, and are
now in compliance with all provisions of ERISA, the Code and all laws and
regulations (including any local Applicable Laws) applicable to the Plans. Each
Plan has been operated in material compliance with its terms. There is not now,
and there are no existing circumstances that would reasonably be expected to
give rise to, any material requirement for the posting of security with respect
to a Plan or the imposition of any Lien on assets of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates under ERISA or the
Code, or similar Applicable Laws of foreign jurisdictions.

            (f) No Plan is subject to Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA or
Section 412 or 4971 of the Code. No Plan is a "multiemployer plan" (within the
meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) (a "MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN") or a plan that
has two or more contributing sponsors at least two of whom are not under common
control, within the meaning of Section 4063 of ERISA (a "MULTIPLE EMPLOYER
PLAN"), nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective ERISA Affiliates, at any time within six years before the date of
this Agreement, contributed to or been obligated to contribute to any
Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan.

            (g) There does not now exist, and there are no existing
circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in, any material
Controlled Group Liability that would be a liability of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries following the Closing. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, neither the Company nor any of its


                                      -24-

Subsidiaries nor any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has engaged in any
transaction described in Section 4069 or Section 4204 of ERISA other than
transactions that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

            (h) Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to
the date hereof, except for health continuation coverage as required by Section
4980B of the Code or Part 6 of Title I of ERISA or similar state laws, neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liability for life,
health, medical or other welfare benefits to former employees or beneficiaries
or dependents thereof.

            (i) Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to
the date hereof, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement nor any
shareholder, board or other approval of such transactions will result in, cause
the accelerated vesting or delivery of, or increase the amount or value of, any
payment or benefit to any employee, officer, director or consultant of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (either alone or in conjunction with any
other event). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no amount paid
or payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, either solely as a result thereof
or as a result of such transactions in conjunction with any other events, will
be an "excess parachute payment" (within the meaning of Section 280G of the
Code).

            (j) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened Actions (other than claims for benefits in the ordinary course) that
have been asserted or instituted against the Plans, any fiduciaries thereof with
respect to their duties to the Plans or the assets of any of the trusts under
any of the Plans that would reasonably be expected to result in any material
liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation, the United States Department of Treasury, the United
States Department of Labor or any Multiemployer Plan, or to comparable entities
or Plans under Applicable Laws of jurisdictions outside the United States.

            (k) No material disallowance of a deduction under Section 162(m) of
the Code for employee reimbursement of any amount paid or payable by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur.

            Section 5.16. Contracts.

            (a) All material contracts required to be filed prior to the date
hereof by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to Regulation S-K have
been filed as exhibits to, or incorporated by reference in, a Company SEC
Document filed after December 31, 2001 and prior to the date hereof (such
agreements, the "COMPANY AGREEMENTS"). Except as set forth in the Company SEC
Documents filed prior to the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any non-competition agreements or any
other agreements or arrangements that may limit or otherwise restrict the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates or any
successor thereto, or that would, after the Effective Time, limit or restrict
Parent or


                                      -25-

any of its Affiliates (including the Surviving Corporation) or any successor
thereto from engaging or competing in any line of business currently engaged in,
or proposed to be engaged in, by the Company in any geographic area or with
respect to any customer or potential customer.

            (b) Each of the Company Agreements is a valid and binding obligation
of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company,
the valid and binding obligation of each other party thereto, except for such
Company Agreements that, if not so valid and binding, would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is or is alleged to
be nor, to the knowledge of the Company, is any other party thereto, in breach
or violation of or in default in respect of, nor has there occurred an event or
condition, that with the passage of time or giving of notice (or both), would
constitute a material default under or permit the termination of, or give rise
to or accelerate the timing of any material rights or penalties under, any
Company Agreements.

            Section 5.17. Labor Matters. Except as set forth in the Company SEC
Documents filed prior to the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to any labor contracts or collective bargaining
agreements. There is no labor strike, dispute or stoppage pending, or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company, and neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has experienced any labor strike, dispute or
stoppage or other material labor difficulty involving its employees since
January 1, 2000. To the knowledge of the Company, since January 1, 2000, no
campaign or other attempt for recognition has been made by any labor
organization or employees with respect to employees of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.

            Section 5.18. Undisclosed Liabilities.

            (a) Except (i) as and to the extent disclosed or reserved against on
the balance sheet of the Company at June 30, 2002 included in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002 (the "COMPANY
RECENT BALANCE SHEET") or (ii) as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed
prior to the date hereof, the Company does not have any liabilities or
obligations of any nature, whether known or unknown, absolute, accrued,
contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become due, that have had or would
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company.

            (b) Except (i) as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior
to the date hereof or (ii) for any actions that are not, individually or in the
aggregate, material, since June 30, 2002 through the date of this Agreement, the
Company has not engaged in any transaction that, if done after the execution of
this Agreement, would violate Section 6.3(c) of this Agreement.



                                      -26-

            Section 5.19. Licenses; Permits; Compliance.

            (a) To the knowledge of the Company, the Company and its
Subsidiaries are in possession of all material franchises, grants,
authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances, exemptions, consents,
certificates, approvals and orders necessary to own, lease and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted
(collectively, the "COMPANY PERMITS"), and there is no Action, pending or, to
the knowledge of the Company, threatened, regarding any of the Company Permits.
The Company and its Subsidiaries are not in material conflict with, or in
material default or violation of, any of the Company Permits.

            (b) Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to
the date hereof or as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company:

            (i) all necessary approvals from Governmental Authorities for all
      drug and device products that are manufactured, distributed and/or sold by
      the Company and its Subsidiaries have, to the knowledge of the Company,
      been obtained, and the Company and its Subsidiaries are in substantial
      compliance with the most current form of each applicable approval with
      respect to the manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution,
      promotion and sale by the Company and its Subsidiaries of such products;

            (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, none of the Company, its
      Subsidiaries, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Company or its
      Subsidiaries (during the term of such individual's employment by the
      Company or while acting as an agent of the Company) has made any untrue
      statement of a material fact or fraudulent statement to the United States
      Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") or any other Governmental
      Authorities, or failed to disclose a material fact required to be
      disclosed to the FDA or other Governmental Authorities;

            (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, no article of drug, device,
      cosmetic or vitamin manufactured (directly or indirectly) or distributed
      by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is adulterated or misbranded
      within the meaning of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act or similar
      governmental act or law of any jurisdiction; and

            (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, none of the Company, its
      Subsidiaries, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Company (during
      the term of such individual's employment by the Company or while acting as
      an agent of the Company) nor its Subsidiaries or Affiliates has been
      convicted of any crime, or engaged in any conduct, for which debarment or
      similar punishment is mandated or permitted by any Applicable Laws.

            (c) Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to
the date hereof, to the extent necessary to operate the Company's business as
presently


                                      -27-

conducted, the Company and its Subsidiaries are certified for participation and
reimbursement under Titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act (the
"MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PROGRAMS" and, together with such other similar federal,
state or local reimbursement or governmental programs for which the Company and
its Subsidiaries are eligible, the "GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS") and have current
provider agreements for such Government Programs and, to the knowledge of the
Company, except where the failure to so have would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company, with such private non-governmental programs, including any private
insurance program under which they, directly or indirectly, are presently
receiving payments (such non-governmental programs, the "PRIVATE PROGRAMS"). No
surveys of the Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective predecessors in
interest conducted in connection with any of the Government Programs, the
Private Programs or licensing or accrediting body during the past two years have
identified any facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

            (d) To the knowledge of the Company, there is no pending or
threatened Action by any Governmental Authority (i) to revoke, cancel, suspend,
modify in any material respect or refuse to renew any of the Company Permits or
(ii) that could adversely effect the ability of the Company and/or its
Subsidiaries to participate in any Government Programs or Private Programs.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of any
Action pending or recommended by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction
over any of the Company Permits or the Government Programs or the Private
Programs either to revoke, withdraw or suspend any license, right or
authorization, or to terminate the participation of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in any of the Government Programs or the Private Programs. To the
knowledge of the Company, and except as could not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to prejudice the ability of Parent or any of
its Subsidiaries to obtain any necessary licenses or permits as of and after the
Closing or to materially interfere with or limit the business of Parent or any
of its Subsidiaries after the Closing on an ongoing basis, no event has occurred
that, with the giving of notice, the passage of time, or both, would constitute
grounds for a violation, order or deficiency with respect to any of the Company
Permits or to terminate or modify the participation of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in any of the Government Programs or the Private Programs. Except
as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company, there has been no decision not to renew
any provider or third-party payor agreement of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries by any Governmental Authority, and no consent or approval of, prior
filing with or notice to, or any Action by, any Governmental Authority or any
other third party is required in connection with the transfer or change of
ownership of such Company Permit, or the Government Programs or the Private
Programs, by reason of the assignment thereof to the Company upon consummation
of the Merger.

            (e) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has timely filed all
reports and billings required to be filed by it prior to the date hereof in
accordance with the Government Programs and the Private Programs, all fiscal
intermediaries and other


                                      -28-

insurance carriers and all such reports and billings are complete and accurate
in all material respects and have been prepared in compliance with all
Applicable Laws governing reimbursement and payment claims, except for failures
that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. Each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries has paid or caused to be paid all known and undisputed refunds,
overpayments, discounts or adjustments that have become due pursuant to such
reports and billings and has no unpaid liability under any of the Government
Programs or the Private Programs for any refund, overpayment, discount or
adjustment, except for failures to pay that would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company. Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the
date hereof, (i) there are no pending material Actions relating to such prior
reports or billings, and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, during the last
two years, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not been subject to any
material audit or examination by any of the Government Programs or the Private
Programs. There are no other reports required to be filed by Parent in order to
be paid under any of the Government Programs or the Private Programs for
services rendered by the Company or its Subsidiaries, except for reports not yet
due and except for reports the failure of which to be filed would not reasonably
be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company.

            Section 5.20. Institutional Pharmacy Business.

            (a) The Company beneficially owns or has a valid leasehold interest
in each Company pharmacy utilized by the Company or its Subsidiaries in
connection with its pharmacy business. No other Person has any beneficial
ownership or interest in or to any such pharmacy nor does any other Person have
any right or option to acquire any beneficial ownership or interest in or to any
such pharmacy.

            (b) Except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to
the date hereof, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not violated, and are not
now in violation of, 42 U.S.C. Sections 1320a-7, 1320a-7a, 1320a-7b, 1395nn or
1396b.

            (c) Except as could not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to prejudice the ability of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries to obtain required licenses or permits as of and after the Closing
or to materially interfere with or limit the institutional pharmacy business of
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries after the Closing on an ongoing basis and,
except as set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof,
(i) the Company and its Subsidiaries are duly licensed to provide pharmacy
services in all states in which they do business, and also are participants in
the Medicare program and the Medicaid programs of such states and (ii) the
Company and its Subsidiaries are in material compliance with all Applicable Laws
affecting (A) such licenses and (B) the participation by the Company's
pharmacies in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

            Section 5.21. Environmental Matters. Except for matters disclosed in
the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof, (a) to the knowledge
of the


                                      -29-

Company, the properties, operations and activities of the Company and its
Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
Environmental Laws and all past noncompliance of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries with any Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits has been
resolved without any pending, ongoing or future material obligation, cost or
liability; (b) the Company and its Subsidiaries and the properties and
operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are not subject to any existing,
pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, material Action under
any Environmental Law; (c) to the knowledge of the Company, there has been no
material release of any Hazardous Material into the environment by the Company
or its Subsidiaries in connection with their current or former properties or
operations in violation of applicable Environmental Laws; and (d) to the
knowledge of the Company, there has been no material exposure of any Person or
property to any Hazardous Material in connection with the current or former
properties, operations and activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries in
violation of applicable Environmental Laws. "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means all
United States federal, state or local or foreign laws relating to pollution or
protection of human health or the environment (including ambient air, surface
water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including laws relating
to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals,
pollutants, contaminants, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes
(collectively, "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS") into the environment, or otherwise
relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all
authorizations, codes, decrees, demands or demand letters, injunctions,
judgments, licenses, notices, orders, permits, plans or regulations issued,
entered, promulgated or approved thereunder. "ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT" means any
permit, approval, grant, consent, exemption, certificate order, easement,
variance, franchise, license or other authorization required under or issued
pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law.

            Section 5.22. Accounts Receivable; Accounts Payable; Inventories and
Cash.

            (a) All accounts and notes receivable of the Company have arisen in
the ordinary course of business, and the accounts receivable reserve reflected
in the Company Recent Balance Sheet is, as of the date of the Company Recent
Balance Sheet, adequate and established in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied, subject to year-end adjustments and accruals in the ordinary course of
business and not material in amount. Since June 30, 2002, there has been no
event or occurrence that, when considered, individually or together with all
such other events or occurrences, would cause such accounts receivable reserve
to be inadequate, and that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or
in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

            (b) Since January 1, 2002, except as set forth in the Company SEC
Documents filed prior to the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has, with respect to any non-de minimus portion of its trade
accounts payable, (i) failed in any material respect to pay its trade accounts
payable in the ordinary course, or (ii)


                                      -30-

materially extended the terms of payment, whether by contract, amendment, act,
deed, or course of dealing, of any trade account payable.

            (c) The assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries that are
inventories (i) are in good and merchantable condition; (ii) to the knowledge of
the Company, have been purchased by the Company or its Subsidiaries directly
from the manufacturer thereof or from an authorized distributor of such products
in accordance with the Federal Prescription Drug Marketing Act, if applicable;
and (iii) are not past the manufacturer's expiration date or less than 30 days
from the manufacturer's expiration date, except for such failures as would not
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company and do not involve, affect or relate to more than
5% of such inventories by value.

            Section 5.23. Insurance. The Company presently has in effect
insurance policies that are, in all material respects, of the type and in
amounts that are customary, adequate and suitable in relation to the business,
assets and liabilities of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and are consistent
with past practice.

            Section 5.24. Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Board of Directors
of the Company has received the written opinion of the Company Financial Advisor
to the effect that, as of the date of this Agreement, the Merger Consideration
to be received in the Offer and the Merger is fair to the Company Stockholders
from a financial point of view. Promptly upon execution of this Agreement, the
Company will provide a copy of such opinion to Parent, and such opinion has not
been withdrawn or revoked or otherwise modified in any material respect as of
the date hereof.

            Section 5.25. Related Parties. Except as set forth in the Company
SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof and except for transactions between
the Company and its directly or indirectly wholly-owned Subsidiaries or between
two or more directly or indirectly wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company, (i)
no Affiliate of the Company is a party with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to an agreement that will continue after the Closing Date; (ii) no
Affiliate of the Company owes any money to, nor is such Affiliate owed any money
by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than pursuant to Plans and
other than reimbursement for or advancement of routine expenses; (iii) neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, directly or indirectly, guaranteed
or assumed any indebtedness for borrowed money or otherwise for the benefit of
an Affiliate of the Company; and (iv) since June 30, 2002, neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries has made any payment to, or engaged in any
transaction with, an Affiliate of the Company, or any affiliate of any such
Affiliate of the Company, other than pursuant to Plans and other than
reimbursement for or advancement of routine expenses.

            Section 5.26. Board Recommendation; Required Vote. The Board of
Directors of the Company, at a meeting duly called and held, has, by the vote of
its members required by law and the Company Certificate of Incorporation, as
applicable, (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement are advisable and fair to and in the best interests of the
Persons to whom the Board of


                                      -31-

Directors of the Company owes fiduciary duties, and (ii) resolved to recommend
that the holders of shares of Company Common Stock, if required, approve and
adopt this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including the Offer and the Merger (the "COMPANY BOARD RECOMMENDATION"). The
affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding
shares of the Company Common Stock, voting together as a single class (the
"COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS APPROVAL"), is the only vote necessary, if at all, of the
holders of any class or series of stock of the Company necessary to adopt this
Agreement and approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

            Section 5.27. Section 203 of the DGCL; No Rights Agreement. Prior to
the date of this Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company has taken all
action necessary to exempt under or make not subject to (a) the provisions of
Section 203 of the DGCL, (b) the provisions of Article VI of the Company
Certificate of Incorporation and (c) any other state takeover law or state law
that purports to limit or restrict business combinations or the ability to
acquire or vote shares: (i) the Offer, (ii) the execution of this Agreement,
(iii) the Merger and (iv) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The
Company does not have any stockholders or shareholder rights agreement or any
similar type of anti-takeover agreement.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                            COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

            The parties to this Agreement agree that:

            Section 6.1. Mutual Covenants.

            (a) Reasonable Efforts; Notification.

            (i) Each of Parent and the Company shall act in good faith and
      reasonably cooperate with the other party in connection with resolving any
      investigation or other inquiry of any such agency or other Governmental
      Authority under any Antitrust Laws with respect to any such filing or any
      such transaction. To the extent not prohibited by Applicable Laws, each
      party to this Agreement shall use all reasonable efforts to furnish to
      each other all information required for any application or other filing to
      be made pursuant to any Applicable Laws in connection with the
      transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each party to this Agreement
      shall give the other parties to this Agreement reasonable prior notice of
      any communication with, and any proposed understanding, undertaking, or
      agreement with, any Governmental Authority regarding any such filings or
      any such transaction. None of the parties to this Agreement shall
      independently participate in any meeting, or engage in any substantive
      conversation, with any Governmental Authority in respect of any such
      filings, investigation, or other inquiry without giving the other parties
      to this Agreement prior notice of the meeting and, to the extent permitted
      by such Governmental Authority, the opportunity to attend and/or
      participate. The parties to this


                                      -32-

      Agreement will consult and cooperate with one another, in connection with
      any analyses, appearances, presentations, memoranda, briefs, arguments,
      opinions and proposals made or submitted by or on behalf of any party to
      this Agreement in connection with proceedings under or relating to the HSR
      Act or other Antitrust Laws. The parties acknowledge that the applicable
      waiting periods under the HSR Act have expired or been terminated.

            (ii) Subject to Section 6.1(a)(iv) of this Agreement, each of Parent
      and the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to resolve such
      objections, if any, as may be asserted by any Governmental Authority with
      respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, under the HSR
      Act, the Sherman Act, as amended, the Clayton Act, as amended, the Federal
      Trade Commission Act, as amended, and any other United States federal or
      state or foreign statues, rules, regulations, orders, decrees,
      administrative or judicial doctrines or other laws that are designed to
      prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of
      monopolization or restraint of trade (collectively, "ANTITRUST LAWS"). In
      connection therewith and subject to Section 6.1(a)(iv) of this Agreement,
      if any Action is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) challenging
      any transactions contemplated by this Agreement as inconsistent with or
      violative of any Antitrust Law, each of Parent and the Company shall
      cooperate and use all reasonable efforts vigorously to contest and resist
      such Action, and to have vacated, lifted, reversed, or overturned any
      Order whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and
      that prohibits, prevents, delays or restricts consummation of the
      transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including by vigorously
      pursuing all available avenues of administrative and judicial appeal and
      all available legislative action, unless Parent determines that litigation
      is not in its best interests. Subject to Section 6.1(a)(iv) of this
      Agreement, each of Parent and the Company shall use all reasonable efforts
      to take such action as may be required to cause the expiration of the
      notice periods under applicable Antitrust Laws with respect to the
      transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as possible after
      the execution of this Agreement.

            (iii) Subject to Section 6.1(a)(iv) of this Agreement, each of the
      parties to this Agreement 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 to this Agreement in doing,
      all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make
      effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions
      contemplated by this Agreement, including (A) the obtaining of all other
      necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, consents, licenses, permits,
      authorizations, orders and approvals from Governmental Authorities and the
      making of all other necessary registrations and filings (including other
      filings with Governmental Authorities, if any), (B) the obtaining of all
      consents, approvals or waivers from third parties related to or required
      in connection with the Offer and the Merger that are necessary to
      consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or required to
      prevent a Material Adverse Effect on Parent or the Company from occurring
      prior to or after the Effective Time, (C) the preparation of the
      Proxy/Information Statement (if required), (D) the execution and delivery
      of


                                      -33-

      any additional instruments reasonably necessary to consummate the
      transactions contemplated by, and to fully carry out the purposes of, this
      Agreement, and (E) the providing of all such information concerning such
      party, its Subsidiaries, its Affiliates and its Subsidiaries' and
      Affiliates' officers, directors, employees and partners as may be
      reasonably requested in connection with any of the matters set forth in
      this paragraph (iii).

            (iv) At the request of Parent, the Company and its Subsidiaries
      shall agree to hold separate (including by trust or otherwise) or to
      divest any of their respective businesses, Subsidiaries or assets, or to
      take or agree to take any action with respect to, or agree to any
      limitation on, any of their respective businesses, Subsidiaries or assets,
      provided that any such action is conditioned upon the consummation of the
      Offer and the Merger. The Company agrees and acknowledges that,
      notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.1(a), neither
      the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, without Parent's prior
      written consent, agree to hold separate (including by trust or otherwise)
      or to divest any of their respective businesses, Subsidiaries or assets,
      or to take or agree to take any action with respect to, or agree to any
      limitation on, any of their respective businesses, Subsidiaries or assets.
      Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, Parent and its
      Subsidiaries shall not be required to hold separate (including by trust or
      otherwise) or to divest any of the respective businesses, Subsidiaries or
      assets of Parent and any of its Subsidiaries and/or the Company and any of
      its Subsidiaries, or to take or agree to take any action with respect to,
      or agree to any limitation on, any of their respective businesses in order
      to satisfy any of their respective obligations under this Agreement,
      including under this Section 6.1.

            (b) Public Announcements. Unless otherwise required by Applicable
Laws or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with or rules of any
securities exchange, the Company shall consult with, and use all reasonable
efforts to accommodate the comments (including as to timing) of Parent, and the
Parent shall consult with, and use all reasonable efforts to accommodate the
comments (including as to timing) of the Company before issuing any press
release or otherwise making any public statement with respect to this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby.

            (c) Notice of Breaches; Updates.

            (i) Parent shall, promptly upon receiving knowledge thereof, deliver
      to the Company written notice of any event or development that would (A)
      render any statement, representation or warranty of Parent in this
      Agreement inaccurate or incomplete in any material respect or (B)
      constitute or result in a breach by Parent of, or a failure by Parent to
      comply with, any agreement or covenant in this Agreement. No such
      disclosure shall be deemed to avoid or cure any such misrepresentation or
      breach.

            (ii) The Company shall, promptly upon receiving knowledge thereof,
      deliver to Parent written notice of any event or development that would
      (A)


                                      -34-

      render any statement, representation or warranty of the Company in this
      Agreement inaccurate or incomplete in any material respect or (B)
      constitute or result in a breach by the Company of, or a failure by the
      Company to comply with, any agreement or covenant in this Agreement. No
      such disclosure shall be deemed to avoid or cure any such
      misrepresentation or breach.

            (d) Outstanding Notes and Credit Agreement.

            (i) Prior to the Acceptance Date, the Company shall take all such
      actions as are required to be taken in advance of the Acceptance Date,
      including, without limitation, providing any required notices on a timely
      basis, in order to permit the Company to redeem the 5-3/4% convertible
      subordinated debentures, due 2004, of the Company (the "NOTES") as soon as
      practicable following the Acceptance Date in accordance with the terms of
      Article Eleven of the Indenture, dated as of August 13, 1997, between the
      Company and Wells Fargo, as successor trustee, relating to the Notes (the
      "INDENTURE"), as if such date were the Redemption Date (as defined in the
      Indenture).

            (ii) Subject to the Company's compliance with the preceding
      paragraph, Parent shall cause the Company to redeem the Notes, in
      accordance with the terms of Article Eleven of the Indenture, as soon as
      practicable following the Acceptance Date.

            (iii) Prior to the Acceptance Date, the Company shall take all such
      actions as are required to be taken in advance of the Acceptance Date, in
      order to permit the Company to repay on, or as soon as practicable
      following, the Acceptance Date, all amounts outstanding under the Credit
      Agreement, dated as of June 1, 1998, among the Company, KeyBank National
      Association and the other lenders named therein, as amended (the "CREDIT
      AGREEMENT"), on such date, including, without limitation, (A) providing
      any required notices on a timely basis, (B) obtaining a payoff letter, in
      a form reasonably satisfactory to Parent, setting forth the outstanding
      principal, interest and other amounts due and owing under the Credit
      Agreement on the Acceptance Date or such later date, as the case may be,
      and (C) obtaining a release, in a form reasonably satisfactory to Parent,
      of any and all liens under or related to the Credit Agreement and the
      return of any collateral under the Credit Agreement, which release shall
      be delivered upon the repayment of all amounts outstanding under the
      Credit Agreement as contemplated by this paragraph.

            (iv) Subject to the Company's compliance with the preceding
      paragraph, Parent shall cause the Company to repay the Credit Agreement,
      in accordance with the terms of the preceding paragraph.

            (e) Section 6.1(e) Mutual Release.

            (i) The Company does hereby, on behalf of itself, its Affiliated
      Parties (as defined below), successors and assigns, release, remise,
      acquit, and forever


                                      -35-

      discharge Parent and any of its Affiliated Parties of and from all, and
      all manner of, past, present, and future claims, complaints, actions,
      causes of action, promises, covenants, duties, damages (whether
      compensatory, consequential, punitive, or exemplary), and any and all
      suits of law, or in equity, and any liabilities of any kind of nature
      whatsoever arising from the Genesis Merger Agreement and/or the Omnicare
      Litigation (as defined below), including but not limited to any claim for
      equitable relief or damages arising from the facts forming the basis of
      the Omnicare Litigation. As used herein, the term "OMNICARE LITIGATION"
      shall mean the action filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of
      Delaware in and for New Castle County captioned Omnicare v. NCS
      HealthCare, Inc., et al., CA. No. 19800 and the action filed in the United
      States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio (Eastern Division)
      captioned NCS HealthCare, Inc. v. Omnicare, Inc., Case No. 1:02CV1635.

            (ii) Parent does hereby, on behalf of itself and its Affiliated
      Parties, successors and assigns, release, remise, acquit, and forever
      discharge the Company and its Affiliated Parties of and from all, and all
      manner of, past, present, and future claims, complaints, actions, causes
      of action, promises, covenants, duties, damages (whether compensatory,
      consequential, punitive, or exemplary), and any and all suits of law, or
      in equity, and any liabilities of any kind of nature whatsoever arising
      from the Genesis Merger Agreement and/or the Omnicare Litigation,
      including but not limited to any claim for equitable relief or damages
      arising from the facts forming the basis of the Omnicare Litigation.

            (iii) Neither Parent, the Company nor any of their respective
      Affiliated Parties shall, directly or indirectly, in its own name or
      through another, commence any action, litigation, suit, arbitration or
      other proceeding, or assert any claim or demand, against any one or more
      of the other parties or their respective affiliates, directors, officers,
      employees, representatives, attorneys and agents ("AFFILIATED PARTIES")
      and successors and assigns in any manner arising out of or in connection
      with any subject matter for which the release and discharge set forth in
      this Section 6.1(e) is given; provided, however, that nothing contained in
      this Section 6.1(e) shall release any Person from any claim or liability
      under this Agreement. As soon as practicable after the date hereof, Parent
      and the Company shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliated Parties
      to, take all action necessary to cause to be dismissed with prejudice or
      otherwise terminated any pending litigation or proceeding relating to or
      arising out of the subject matter for which the release and discharge set
      forth in this Section 6.1(e) is given.

            Section 6.2. Covenants of Parent.

            (a) Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance.

            (i) From and after the Acceptance Date, Parent shall cause the
      Surviving Corporation to indemnify and hold harmless the present and
      former officers and directors of the Company in respect of acts or
      omissions occurring prior to the


                                      -36-

      Effective Time to the extent provided under the Company Certificate of
      Incorporation or the Company By-Laws as in effect as of the date of this
      Agreement, and

            (ii) Parent shall use all reasonable efforts to cause the Surviving
      Corporation or Parent to maintain in effect the Company's fully paid
      existing directors' or officers' liability insurance and, to the extent
      the existing policy cannot be maintained, to obtain for a period of six
      years after the Effective Time, policies of directors' and officers'
      liability insurance at no cost to the beneficiaries thereof with respect
      to acts or omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time with
      substantially the same coverage and containing substantially similar terms
      and conditions as existing policies; provided, however, that neither the
      Surviving Corporation nor Parent shall be required to pay an aggregate
      premium for such insurance coverage in excess of 200% of the amount of
      such premium on the date of this Agreement, but in such case shall
      purchase as much coverage as reasonably practicable for such amount.

            (b) Employee Benefits. For a period of 12 months after the Closing
Date, Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall provide employees of the
Surviving Corporation with (i) wages or salaries, and commissions, as
applicable, and (ii) employee pension and welfare benefits, in each case, that
are substantially similar in the aggregate to those provided to such employees
immediately prior to the Closing Date or those provided to similarly situated
employees of the Parent and its Affiliates or their Subsidiaries at the sole
discretion of Parent. Subject to the preceding sentence, Parent and the
Surviving Corporation shall have the right to amend or terminate any benefit
plan, program or arrangement. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent,
limit or restrict in any way Parent's or the Surviving Corporation's right to
terminate the employment or services of any Person at any time following the
Closing Date, nor shall it be construed as a guarantee of employment to any
Person.

            (c) Maintenance of Operations at the Beachwood Location. Parent
shall cause the Surviving Corporation to maintain business operations at the
Beachwood, Ohio facility for a period of one year from the Closing Date.

            (d) Payments Pursuant to the Genesis Merger Agreement. Parent shall
make a payment, in cash, to the Company (by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account specified in writing by the Company), of an amount
equal to the amount payable by the Company to Genesis pursuant to Section 7.2 of
the Genesis Merger Agreement (the "GENESIS PAYMENT") at such time as the Company
becomes obligated to pay such amount to Genesis in accordance with the terms of
the Genesis Merger Agreement or, in the event that the Company has made the
Genesis Payment prior to the execution of this Agreement, Parent shall make such
payment to the Company upon execution of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Genesis Payment shall be returned to Parent (by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to an account specified in writing by Parent)
immediately upon the earliest to occur of the following: (i) at such time as the
Termination Fee is payable by the Company to Parent as provided in Section
8.2(b) of this Agreement, (ii) upon the termination of this Agreement


                                      -37-

by Parent pursuant to Section 8.1(e) of this Agreement; and (iii) upon the
termination of this Agreement by the Company other than pursuant to (A) Section
8.1(d) of this Agreement or (B) after the Outside Date, (y) Section 8.1(b) or
(z) Section 8.1(f) of this Agreement.

            (e) Employment Arrangements. Parent acknowledges and agrees to be
bound by the terms of the employment agreements and arrangements solely between
the Company and its employees set forth in the Company SEC Documents filed prior
to the date hereof (other than the Binding Term Sheet Agreement among Jon H.
Outcalt, the Company and Genesis, dated July 28, 2002 or any other agreement or
arrangement that Parent determines, after consultation with its legal advisor,
could result in a violation of Rule 14d-10 under the Exchange Act).

            Section 6.3. Covenants of the Company.

            (a) The Company Stockholders Meeting. If the Company Stockholders
Approval is required by law, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable
following the expiration of the Offer, take all action in accordance with the
United States federal securities laws, the DGCL and the Company Certificate of
Incorporation and the Company By-Laws necessary to duly call, give notice of,
convene and hold a special meeting of the Company Stockholders, to be held on
the earliest practicable date determined in consultation with Parent, for the
purpose of obtaining the Company Stockholders Approval (the "COMPANY
STOCKHOLDERS MEETING"). Once the Company Stockholders Meeting has been called
and noticed, the Company shall not postpone or adjourn (other than for the
absence of a quorum and then only to the next possible future date) the Company
Stockholders Meeting without Parent's consent. The Board of Directors of the
Company shall submit this Agreement to the Company Stockholders, whether or not
the Board of Directors of the Company at any time changes, withdraws or modifies
the Company Board Recommendation. The Company shall solicit from the Company
Stockholders proxies in favor of the Merger and shall take all other action
necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of the Company Stockholders
required by the DGCL and the Company Certificate of Incorporation and Company
By-Laws to authorize and adopt this Agreement and the Merger. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, (i) the Company agrees that its obligation to
duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of the holders of Company
Common Stock, as required by this Section 6.3, shall not be affected by the
withdrawal, amendment or modification of the Company Board Recommendation and
(ii) the Company agrees that its obligations pursuant to this Section 6.3 shall
not be affected by the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or
communication to the Company of any Acquisition Proposal or Superior Proposal.
Parent agrees to be present at the Company Stockholder Meeting with respect to
all shares of Company Common Stock owned by Parent or its Affiliates and to vote
or cause to be voted all such shares in favor of the Merger. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if Sub or any other Subsidiary of Parent shall acquire at least 90%
of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, the parties shall, at the
option and request of Parent, take all necessary and appropriate action to cause
the Merger to become effective as soon as practicable after the expiration of
the Offer without a Company Stockholders Meeting in accordance with Section 253
of the DGCL.



                                      -38-

            (b) Proxy/Information Statement; Other Filings; Board
Recommendations.

            (i) If the Company Stockholders Approval is required by law, the
      Company shall, as soon as practicable following expiration of the Offer,
      prepare and file with the Commission the Proxy/Information Statement. The
      Company will respond promptly to any comments of the Commission and will
      cause the Proxy/Information Statement to be mailed to the Company
      Stockholders at the earliest practicable time following expiration of the
      Offer. As promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement, each
      of the Company and Parent will prepare and file any other documents
      required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or
      any other federal, state, foreign or Blue Sky or related laws relating to
      the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the "OTHER
      FILINGS"). No amendment or supplement to the Proxy/Information Statement
      will be made by the Company without the prior approval of the Parent
      except as required by Applicable Laws, and then only to the extent
      necessary. The Company will notify Parent promptly upon the receipt of any
      comments from the Commission or its staff or any other government
      officials and of any request by the Commission or its staff or any other
      government officials for amendments or supplements to the
      Proxy/Information Statement or any Other Filings or for additional
      information and will supply the Parent with copies of all correspondence
      between the Company or any of its representatives, on the one hand, and
      the Commission, or its staff or any other government officials, on the
      other hand, with respect to the Proxy/Information Statement, the Merger or
      any Other Filing. Whenever any event occurs that is required to be set
      forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy/Information Statement or
      any Other Filing, the Company will promptly inform the Parent of such
      occurrence and cooperate in filing with the Commission or its staff or any
      other Governmental Authority, and/or mailing to the Company Stockholders,
      such amendment or supplement.

            (ii) If the Proxy/Information Statement is required, the Company
      Board Recommendation shall be included in the Proxy/Information Statement,
      except that the Board of Directors of the Company may withdraw or modify
      in a manner adverse to Parent such recommendation only if the Board of
      Directors of the Company determines, in good faith, after consultation
      with outside legal counsel, that such action is required in order for the
      directors of the Company to comply with their fiduciary duties to those
      Persons to whom the Board of Directors of the Company owes fiduciary
      duties under Applicable Laws.

            (c) Conduct of the Company's Operations. Until such time as Parent's
designees shall constitute a majority of the members of the Board of Directors
of the Company, the Company shall conduct its operations in the ordinary course
consistent with past practice, and shall use all commercially reasonable efforts
to maintain and preserve its business organization and its material rights and
to retain the services of its officers and key employees and maintain
relationships with customers, suppliers, lessees, licensees and other third
parties, and to maintain all of its operating assets in their current


                                      -39-

condition (normal wear and tear excepted), to the end that their goodwill and
ongoing business shall not be impaired in any material respect (except as a
result of the implementation of FAS142 as required by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during the
period from the date of this Agreement until such time as Parent's designees
shall constitute a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the
Company, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall not, except as otherwise
expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth in the Company SEC
Documents filed prior to the date hereof or in the Company Letter, without the
prior written consent of Parent:

            (i) do or effect any of the following actions with respect to its
      securities: (A) adjust, split, combine or reclassify its capital stock,
      (B) make, declare or pay any dividend or distribution on, or directly or
      indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of its
      capital stock (other than dividends or distributions from any directly or
      indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company to the Company or
      another directly or indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) or
      any securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for any
      shares of its capital stock, (C) grant any person any right or option to
      acquire any shares of its capital stock, (D) issue, deliver or sell or
      agree to issue, deliver or sell any additional shares of its capital stock
      or any securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable or
      exercisable for any shares of its capital stock or such securities (except
      pursuant to the exercise of Company Options that are outstanding as of the
      date hereof), or (E) enter into any agreement, understanding or
      arrangement with respect to the sale, voting, registration or repurchase
      of the Company capital stock;

            (ii) directly or indirectly sell, transfer, lease, pledge, mortgage,
      encumber or otherwise dispose of any non-de minimis portion of its
      property or assets other than in the ordinary course of business
      consistent with past practice;

            (iii) make or propose any changes in its certificate of
      incorporation, by-laws or other similar governing documents;

            (iv) merge or consolidate with any other Person or dissolve,
      liquidate, restructure or otherwise alter the corporate structure of the
      Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

            (v) acquire a material amount of assets or capital stock of any
      other Person;

            (vi) incur, create, assume or otherwise become liable for any
      indebtedness for borrowed money or assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise
      as an accommodation become responsible or liable for the obligations of
      any other Person other than trade payables in the ordinary course of
      business, consistent with past practice;

            (vii) create any Subsidiaries;



                                      -40-

            (viii) enter into or modify any employment, severance, termination
      or similar agreements or arrangements with, or grant any bonuses, salary
      increases, severance or termination pay to, any officer, director,
      consultant or employee other than in the ordinary course of business
      consistent with past practice with respect to non-officer employees of the
      Company (except for severance agreements, which, in all cases, shall
      require the prior written consent of Parent), or otherwise increase the
      compensation or benefits provided to any officer, director, consultant or
      employee, except as may be required by Applicable Laws or existing
      contractual arrangements disclosed to Parent prior to the date hereof, or
      grant, reprice, or accelerate the exercise or payment of any Company
      Options or other equity-based awards;

            (ix) enter into, adopt or amend any Plan, except as shall be
      required by Applicable Laws;

            (x) take any action that could give rise to severance benefits
      (including payments under any employment, consulting, severance, salary
      continuation, change in control, parachute or similar agreements or
      Plans), including taking any action that could give rise to a claim of
      "Good Reason" termination or similar claim by any such Person;

            (xi) change any material method or principle of Tax or financial
      accounting, except to the extent required by Applicable Laws or GAAP as
      advised by the Company's regular independent accountants;

            (xii) settle any Actions, whether now pending or made or brought
      after the date of this Agreement involving, individually or in the
      aggregate, an amount in excess of $250,000;

            (xiii) modify, amend or terminate, or waive, release or assign any
      material rights or claims, or fail to exercise a right of renewal, with
      respect to, any Company Agreements, any other material contract to which
      the Company or a Subsidiary is a party or any confidentiality agreement to
      which the Company or a Subsidiary is a party;

            (xiv) enter into any confidentiality agreements or arrangements
      other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
      practice (other than as permitted, in each case, by Section 6.3(d) of this
      Agreement);

            (xv) make any change to the terms of payment or payment practices
      that, individually or in the aggregate, amounts to a material change to
      the terms of payment or payment practices with respect to a non-de minimis
      portion (by dollar value or number of customers or number of suppliers) of
      the Company's accounts receivable or accounts payable;

            (xvi) incur, make or commit to any capital expenditures not provided
      for in the Company's annual capital expenditures budget, which has been
      approved by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the date of
      this Agreement;


                                      -41-

            (xvii) fail to use all commercially reasonable efforts to collect
      the Company's outstanding receivables;

            (xviii) generate, create or allow any receivables other than in the
      ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

            (xix) other than with respect to transactions between the Company
      and its directly or indirectly wholly-owned Subsidiaries or between two or
      more of the Company's directly or indirectly wholly-owned Subsidiaries,
      make any payments in respect of policies of directors' and officers'
      liability insurance (premiums or otherwise) other than premiums paid in
      respect of its current policies not in excess of the amount paid prior to
      the date of this Agreement;

            (xx) make any payment to, or engage in any transaction with, or
      guarantee or assume any obligation or indebtedness of, or relieve any
      obligation to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of, any Affiliate of
      the Company, or any affiliate of any such Affiliate of the Company, other
      than pursuant to Plans (to the extent permissible in light of clause
      (viii) of this Section 6.3(c)) and other than reimbursement for or
      advancement of routine expenses;

            (xxi) incur, make or commit to any fees related to this Agreement
      and the transactions contemplated hereby (including fees of attorneys,
      accountants and investment bankers, including regular fees and any
      success-based fees or fees contingent upon such transactions) such that
      the aggregate of such fees that are incurred, made or committed during the
      period from the date of this Agreement until such time as Parent's
      designees shall constitute a majority of the members of the Board of
      Directors of the Company and are payable as of the Closing Date or,
      thereafter, as a result of the Closing exceeds $2,000,000.

            (xxii) enter into or carry out any other material transaction other
      than in the ordinary and usual course of business;

            (xxiii) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with
      past practice (A) make, revoke or amend any material Tax election, (B)
      settle or compromise any material claim or assessment with respect to
      Taxes, but only if such settlement or compromise would either individually
      result in a Tax liability in excess of $250,000 or in combination with all
      other material Tax claims or assessments settled or compromised since the
      date of this Agreement result in aggregate Tax liabilities in excess of
      $250,000, (C) execute any consent to any waivers extending the statutory
      period of limitations with respect to the collection or assessment of any
      material Taxes, or (D) amend any material Tax Returns except in connection
      with the settlement or compromise of a claim or assessment that would not
      either individually result in a Tax liability in excess of $250,000 or in
      combination with all other material Tax claims or assessments settled or
      compromised since the date of this Agreement result in aggregate Tax
      liabilities in excess of $250,000;


                                      -42-

            (xxiv) other than pursuant to this Agreement, adopt a plan of
      complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation,
      restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or
      any of its Subsidiaries that is inconsistent with the prompt consummation
      of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or otherwise would not
      reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
      Material Adverse Effect on the Company;

            (xxv) make any payment or distribution to, on or in respect of, or
      set aside any funds or establish any "sinking" or similar fund for or in
      respect of the Notes, whether in respect of interest, repayment of
      principal or otherwise;

            (xxvi) take any action that could reasonably be expected to result
      in the representations and warranties set forth in Article V of this
      Agreement becoming false or inaccurate in any material respect;

            (xxvii) permit or cause any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the
      foregoing or agree or commit to do any of the foregoing; or

            (xxviii) agree in writing or otherwise to take any of the foregoing
      actions.

            (d) Acquisition Proposals.

            (i) From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of
      the time at which Parent's designees shall constitute a majority of the
      members of the Board of Directors of the Company or the termination of
      this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Company shall not, nor
      shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, nor shall the Company
      authorize or permit any of its officers, directors or employees to, and
      shall use all reasonable efforts to cause any investment banker, financial
      advisor, attorney, accountant, or other representatives retained by them
      or any of their respective Subsidiaries not to: (i) solicit, initiate,
      encourage (including by way of furnishing information), knowingly
      facilitate or induce (directly or indirectly) any inquiry with respect to,
      or the making, submission or announcement of, any proposal that
      constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a proposal or
      offer for an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) participate in any discussions or
      negotiations regarding, or furnish to any Person any nonpublic information
      with respect to, or take any other action to knowingly facilitate any
      inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes or may reasonably
      be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) approve, endorse
      or, subject to Section 6.3(b)(ii) of this Agreement, recommend any
      Acquisition Proposal, or (iv) enter into any letter of intent or similar
      document or any contract, agreement or commitment contemplating or
      otherwise relating to any Acquisition Proposal or transaction contemplated
      thereby.

            (ii) Within two Business Days after receipt of an Acquisition
      Proposal or any request for nonpublic information or inquiry that the
      Company reasonably


                                      -43-

      believes could lead to an Acquisition Proposal, the Company shall provide
      Parent with oral and written notice of the material terms and conditions
      of such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry, and the identity of the
      Person making any such Acquisition Proposal, request or inquiry and a copy
      of all written materials provided in connection with such Acquisition
      Proposal, request or inquiry. After the notification provided for in the
      preceding sentence, the Company shall thereafter provide Parent, as
      promptly as practicable, with oral and written notice setting forth all
      such information as is reasonably necessary to keep Parent informed in all
      material respects of the status and details (including material amendments
      or proposed material amendments) of any such Acquisition Proposal, request
      or inquiry, and shall promptly provide to Parent a copy of all written
      materials subsequently provided in connection with such Acquisition
      Proposal, request or inquiry.

            (iii) The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to,
      immediately cease and cause to be terminated, and cause its officers,
      directors, employees, investment bankers, consultants, attorneys,
      accountants, agents and other representatives to, immediately cease and
      cause to be terminated, all discussions and negotiations, if any, that
      have taken place prior to the date hereof with any Persons with respect to
      any Acquisition Proposal and, upon request by Parent, shall request the
      return or destruction of all confidential information provided to any such
      Person.

            (iv) The foregoing notwithstanding, the Company and Board of
      Directors of the Company may, (A) prior to the Acceptance Date, furnish
      nonpublic information to, or enter into discussions with, any Person in
      connection with an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal by
      such Person if and only to the extent that (I) the Company is not then in
      breach of its obligations under this Section 6.3(d); (II) the Company
      Board of Directors believes in good faith (after consultation with its
      legal and financial advisors) that such Acquisition Proposal is, or is
      likely to result in, a Superior Proposal and (III) prior to furnishing
      such nonpublic information to, or entering into discussions or
      negotiations with, such Person, such Board of Directors receives from such
      Person an executed confidentiality agreement or (B) comply with Rules
      14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to an
      Acquisition Proposal.

            (v) The Company (A) agrees not to release any Person from, or waive
      any provision of, or fail to enforce, any standstill agreement or similar
      agreement to which it is a party related to, or that could affect, an
      Acquisition Proposal and (B) acknowledges that the provisions of clause
      (A) are an important and integral part of this Agreement.

            (vi) "ACQUISITION PROPOSAL" means any offer or proposal for, or any
      indication of interest in, any (A) direct or indirect acquisition or
      purchase of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that constitutes 10% or
      more of the net revenues, net income or assets of the Company and its
      Subsidiaries, taken as a


                                      -44-

      whole; (B) direct or indirect acquisition or purchase of 10% or more of
      any class of equity securities, or 10% of the voting power, of the Company
      or any of its Subsidiaries whose business constitutes 10% or more of the
      net revenues, net income or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
      taken as a whole, or 40% or more of the face value of the Notes; (C)
      tender offer or note exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in
      any Person beneficially owning 10% or more of any class of equity
      securities, or 10% of the voting power, of the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries whose business constitutes 10% or more of the net revenues,
      net income or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
      whole; (D) the direct or indirect repurchase, retirement, exchange,
      refinancing or restructuring of 10% or more of the Company's outstanding
      Notes; or (E) merger, consolidation, business combination,
      recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction
      involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose business
      constitutes 10% or more of the net revenue, net income or assets of the
      Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than the
      transactions contemplated by this Agreement. "SUPERIOR PROPOSAL" means any
      bona fide written Acquisition Proposal obtained not in breach of this
      Section 6.3(d) for or in respect of all of the outstanding Company capital
      stock and all of the outstanding Notes, on terms that the Board of
      Directors of the Company determines in its good faith judgment (after
      consultation with its financial advisors and taking into account all the
      terms and conditions of the Acquisition Proposal and this Agreement deemed
      relevant by such Board of Directors, including any break-up fees, expense
      reimbursement provisions, conditions to and expected timing and risks of
      consummation, and the ability of the party making such proposal to obtain
      financing for such Acquisition Proposal and taking into account all other
      legal, financial, regulatory and all other aspects of such proposal) are
      more favorable to the persons to whom it owes fiduciary duties under
      Applicable Laws than the Offer and the Merger.

            (e) Access. From the date hereof until the time at which Parent's
designees shall constitute a majority of the members of the Board of Directors
of the Company and subject to contractual restrictions existing as of the date
hereof and legal restrictions (including, without limitation, under Antitrust
Laws), upon reasonable notice, the Company shall permit representatives of
Parent to have full access during normal business hours to the Company's
premises, properties, personnel (including senior executives), books, records,
contracts and documents; provided, however, that such access shall be conducted
in such a manner as to not unreasonably interfere with the Company's business.
Parent will keep the information obtained pursuant to this Section 6.3(e)
confidential and shall cause its directors, officers and employees and
representatives or advisors who receive any portion thereof to keep all such
information confidential. No investigation conducted pursuant to this Section
6.3(e) shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty made
in this Agreement.

            (f) Subsequent Financial Statements. From the date hereof until the
time at which Parent's designees shall constitute a majority of the members of
the Board of Directors of the Company, the Company shall provide Parent with its
financial results for


                                      -45-

any period after the date of this Agreement and prior to filing any Company SEC
Documents after the date of this Agreement.

            (g) Disposal of Illinois Sub. If requested in writing by Parent, the
Company shall use all reasonable efforts to (and, if necessary, shall use all
reasonable efforts to cause any relevant Subsidiary to) sell or dispose of all
of its right, title and interest in NCS Healthcare of Illinois, Inc. (the
"ILLINOIS SUB"), including all shares of the capital stock and any other debt or
equity interests in the Illinois Sub, on such terms and conditions as Parent may
so specify in writing, including as to the retention of liability, it being
understood that, for purposes of this Section 6.3(g), the concept of all
reasonable efforts shall be understood in light of the terms and conditions
imposed by Parent and the time available between the date Parent delivers its
written request and the time at which Parent's designees shall constitute a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company.

            (h) Lease Consents. Prior to the time at which Parent's designees
shall constitute a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the
Company, the Company or its relevant Subsidiary shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain any consent necessary as a result of the execution,
delivery, performance or consummation of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby with respect to leases to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which the assets or properties of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is bound.

            (i) FIRPTA Certification. Upon expiration of the Offer and
immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall provide to Parent a
certification that stock in the Company is not a U.S. real property interest
because the Company is not, and has not been, a "United States real property
holding corporation" within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during
the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code. Such
certification shall be in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section
1.1445-2(c)(3)(i). The Company shall timely deliver to the Internal Revenue
Service the notification required under Treasury Regulation Section
1.897-(2)(h)(2).

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                   CONDITIONS

            Section 7.1. Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The
obligations of the Company, Parent and Sub to consummate the Merger and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction
(or to the extent legally permissible, waiver) of the following conditions:

            (a) If required by applicable law, the Company Stockholders Approval
shall have been obtained.

            (b) No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued,
promulgated, enforced or entered any statute, rule, regulation, executive order,
decree, injunction or


                                      -46-

other Order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and
which has the effect of prohibiting or making illegal consummation of the
Merger.

            (c) Sub shall have purchased shares of Company Common Stock pursuant
to the Offer; provided, however, that this condition shall not be applicable to
the obligations of Parent or Sub under this Agreement if, notwithstanding the
satisfaction of each of the conditions of the Offer set forth the Annex A
hereof, Sub fails to accept for payment and pay for any shares of Company Common
Stock validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                            TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

            Section 8.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the
Offer and Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time
(notwithstanding any approval of this Agreement by the Company Stockholders):

            (a) by mutual written consent of Parent and the Company;

            (b) by either Parent or the Company, if there shall be any law or
regulation that makes consummation of the Offer or the Merger illegal or
otherwise prohibited, or if any Order of a court or other competent Governmental
Authority enjoining Parent or the Company from consummating the Offer or the
Merger shall have been entered and such Order shall have become a Final Order;

            (c) by either Parent or the Company, if the Acceptance Date shall
not have occurred on or before February 28, 2003 (the "OUTSIDE DATE"); provided,
however, that, if the Offer and the Merger shall not have been consummated by
such date solely due to any Required Governmental Approval not having been
received, then such date shall be extended to April 30, 2003; provided, further,
that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(c) shall not
be available to any party to this Agreement whose failure or whose Affiliate's
failure to perform any material covenant or obligation under this Agreement has
been the cause of or resulted in the failure of the Offer and the Merger to
occur on or before such date;

            (d) by the Company, if, prior to the Acceptance Date, Parent shall
have breached in any material respect any of its representations or warranties
or failed to perform in any material respect any of its covenants or other
agreements contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i)
is incapable of being cured or (ii) if capable of being cured, is not cured
prior to the earlier of (A) the Business Day prior to the Outside Date or (B)
the date that is 30 days from the date that the Company is notified of such
breach;

            (e) by the Parent, if, prior to the Acceptance Date, the Company
shall have breached in any respect any of its representations or warranties
(without regard to any "materiality," "Material Adverse Effect" or similar
qualifier contained therein) or failed to perform in any respect any of its
covenants or other agreements contained in this


                                      -47-

Agreement (without regard to any "materiality," "Material Adverse Effect" or
similar qualifier contained therein), which breach or failure to perform would
render unsatisfied any condition contained in clauses (a) or (b) of Annex A
hereof or Section 7.1 of this Agreement; provided that with respect to a failure
to perform a covenant that would render unsatisfied Section 7.1 of this
Agreement, the Company shall have failed to perform in all material respects
such covenant, and which breach or failure (i) is incapable of being cured or
(ii) if capable of being cured, is not cured, prior to the earlier of (A) the
Business Day prior to the Outside Date or (B) the date that is 30 days from the
date that Parent is notified of such breach;

            (f) by the Company or Parent, upon written notice to the other
party, if a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued
an Order or taken any other action (which Order or other action the party
seeking to terminate shall have used all reasonable efforts to resist, resolve
or lift, as applicable, subject to the provisions of Section 6.1(a) of this
Agreement) enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Order shall have become a
Final Order;

            (g) by Parent, if (i) the Board of Directors of the Company shall
have withdrawn or changed or modified the Company Board Recommendation in a
manner adverse to Parent or (ii) the Board of Directors of the Company shall
have approved, or determined to recommend to the Company Stockholders that they
approve an Acquisition Proposal other than that contemplated by this Agreement;
or

            (h) by the Company, if, prior to the Acceptance Date, (i) the Board
of Directors of the Company has received a Superior Proposal, (ii) the Board of
Directors of the Company determines in good faith, after consultation with
outside legal counsel, that such action is consistent with the fiduciary duties
of the Board of Directors of the Company to the persons to whom it owes
fiduciary duties under Applicable Laws and (iii) the Company has otherwise
complied with Section 6.3(d) of this Agreement; provided, however, that the
Board of Directors of the Company shall only be able to terminate this Agreement
pursuant to this Section 8.1(h) (A) after three Business Days following Parent's
receipt of written notice advising Parent that the Board of Directors of the
Company is prepared to do so, and only if, during such three Business Day
period, the Company and its advisors will have negotiated in good faith with
Parent to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement as
would enable the parties to proceed with the transactions contemplated herein on
such adjusted terms and (B) if, concurrent with such termination, the Company
refunds the Genesis Payment to Parent pursuant to Section 6.2(d) of this
Agreement and pays to Parent the Termination Fee pursuant to Section 8.2(b) of
this Agreement.

            Section 8.2. Effect of Termination.

            (a) In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.1 of this Agreement, this Agreement, except for the provisions of this
Section 8.2 and Section 9.11 of this Agreement, shall become void and have no
effect, without any liability on the part of any party to this Agreement or
their respective directors, officers,


                                      -48-

or stockholders or shareholders, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing in this Section 8.2 shall relieve any party to this Agreement
of liability for willful breach; provided, however, that, if it shall be
judicially determined that termination of this Agreement was caused by a willful
breach of this Agreement, then, in addition to other remedies at law or equity
for breach of this Agreement, the party to this Agreement found to have
intentionally breached this Agreement shall indemnify and hold harmless the
other parties to this Agreement for their respective out-of-pocket costs, fees
and expenses of their counsel, accountants, financial advisors and other experts
and advisors as well as fees and expenses incident to negotiation, preparation
and execution of this Agreement and related documentation and stockholders'
meetings and consents. In the event that this Agreement is terminated prior to
the Acceptance Date, other than pursuant to Sections 8.1(e), (g) or (h) of this
Agreement, then for a period of two years from the date of such termination,
Parent and its Affiliates shall not purchase shares of Company Common Stock
unless such purchases are (i) at a price per share at least equal to the Offer
Price (taking into account any dividends, reclassifications, recapitalizations,
splits or combinations or any similar actions affecting the Company Common
Stock) or (ii) approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
Non-Employee Directors then in office.

            (b) If:

            (i) Parent shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
      8.1(g);

            (ii) the Company shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
      8.1(h); or

            (iii) either Parent or the Company shall terminate this Agreement
      pursuant to Section 8.1(c), or Parent shall terminate this Agreement
      pursuant to Section 8.1(e);

then, (x) in the case of a termination under clause (i) above, the Company shall
pay in cash to Parent, not later than the close of business on the business day
following such termination, a termination fee in an amount equal to $8,800,000
(the "Termination Fee"); (y) in the case of a termination under clause (ii)
above, the Company shall pay in cash to Parent, concurrently with such
termination, an amount equal to the Termination Fee; and (z) in the case of a
termination under clause (iii) above, if within 12 months after the termination
of this Agreement, the Company enters into an agreement with respect to an
Acquisition Proposal with any Person (other than Parent or its Subsidiaries) or
an Acquisition Proposal is consummated (it being understood that in the event
that the Board of Directors of the Company recommends the acceptance by the
Company Stockholders of a tender offer or note exchange offer with respect to an
Acquisition Proposal, such recommendation shall be treated as though an
agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal had been entered into on such
date), the Company shall pay in cash to Parent, not later than the date such
agreement is entered into (or, if no agreement is entered into, the date such
transaction is consummated), an amount equal to the Termination Fee. All
payments and reimbursements made under this Section 8.2 shall be made by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by Parent.


                                      -49-

For purposes of this Section 8.2(b) only, the term "Acquisition Proposal" shall
have the meaning otherwise assigned to such term in Section 6.3(d)(vi) of this
Agreement, except that all references to "10%" in such definition shall be
deemed to be a reference to "25%."

            (c) Parent acknowledges and agrees that in the event Parent is
entitled to receive the Termination Fee, the right of Parent to receive such
amount shall constitute Parent's sole and exclusive remedy for, and such amount
shall constitute liquidated damages in respect of, any termination of this
Agreement regardless of the circumstances giving rise to such termination;
provided, however, that nothing herein shall relieve the Company from liability
for the willful breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or
agreement set forth in this Agreement.

            Section 8.3. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties
to this Agreement, by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of
Directors, at any time before or after approval of this Agreement by the Company
Stockholders, if required, but, after any such approval, no amendment shall be
made that by law requires further approval or authorization by the Company
Stockholders without such further approval or authorization. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Agreement may not be amended, except by an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of each of the parties to this Agreement.

            Section 8.4. Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective
Time, Parent (with respect to the Company) and the Company (with respect to
Parent and Sub) by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of
Directors, may, to the extent legally allowed, (a) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of such party to this
Agreement, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties
contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to this
Agreement and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions
contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a party to this
Agreement to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a
written instrument signed on behalf of such party to this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

            Section 9.1. Survival of Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties made in this Agreement by the parties to this
Agreement shall not survive the Acceptance Date. This Section 9.1 shall not
limit any covenant or agreement of the parties to this Agreement, which by its
terms contemplates performance after the Effective Time or after the termination
of this Agreement.

            Section 9.2. Notices. All notices and other communications under
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered
personally, telecopied (which is confirmed) or dispatched by a nationally
recognized overnight


                                      -50-

courier service to the parties to this Agreement at the following addresses (or
at such other address for a party to this Agreement as shall be specified by
like notice):

            (a) if to Parent or Sub:

            Omnicare, Inc.
            100 East RiverCenter Blvd.
            Covington, Kentucky 41011
            Telecopy No.:  (859) 392-3360
            Attention:  Joel F. Gemunder

            with a copy to

            Dewey Ballantine LLP
            1301 Avenue of the Americas
            New York, New York  10019
            Telecopy No.:  (212) 259-6333
            Attention:  Morton A. Pierce, Esq.

            (b) if to the Company:

            NCS HealthCare, Inc.
            3201 Enterprise Parkway, Suite 220
            Beachwood, Ohio  44122
            Telecopy No.:  (216) 464-1194
            Attention:  Jon H. Outcalt

            with a copy to

            Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP
            2300 BP Tower
            200 Public Square
            Cleveland, Ohio  44114
            Telecopy No.:  (216) 363-4588
            Attention:  H. Jeffrey Schwartz, Esq.

            and

            Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
            One Rodney Square
            P.O. Box 636
            Wilmington, Delaware 19899
            Telecopy No.:  (302) 651-3001
            Attention:  Robert B. Pincus, Esq.

            Section 9.3. Interpretation. When a reference is made in this
Agreement to an Article or Section, such reference shall be to an Article or
Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The headings, the table of
contents and the index


                                      -51-

of defined terms contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and
shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Whenever the words "include," "includes," or "including" are used in this
Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation." When a reference is made in this Agreement to the Company, such
reference shall be deemed to include any and all of the Company's Subsidiaries,
individually and in the aggregate. If the end date for any time period or
deadline set in this Agreement shall fall on a weekend or legal holiday, then
such end date or deadline shall be deemed to fall on the next Business Day
following such weekend or holiday.

            Section 9.4. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. The
parties to this Agreement may execute more than one copy of this Agreement, each
of which shall constitute an original.

            Section 9.5. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the
documents and the instruments relating to the Merger referred to in this
Agreement) constitutes the entire agreement among the parties to this Agreement
and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, agreements or
representations by or among the parties to this Agreement, written and oral,
with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and thereof.

            Section 9.6. Third-Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement,
express or implied, is intended or shall be construed to create any third-party
beneficiaries.

            Section 9.7. Governing Law. Except to the extent that the laws of
the jurisdiction of organization of any party to this Agreement, or any other
jurisdiction, are mandatorily applicable to the Offer or the Merger or to
matters arising under or in connection with this Agreement, this Agreement shall
be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any
choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of
Delaware or any other jurisdictions) that would cause application of the laws of
any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. All actions and proceedings
arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined in
any state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware.

            Section 9.8. Consent to Jurisdiction; Venue.

            (a) Each of the parties to this Agreement irrevocably submits to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the state courts of Delaware and to the jurisdiction
of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, for the
purpose of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement
and each of the parties to this Agreement irrevocably agrees that all claims in
respect to such action or proceeding may be heard and determined exclusively in
any Delaware state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware. Each of
the parties to this Agreement agrees that a final judgment in any action or
proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by
suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.


                                      -52-

            (b) Each of the parties to this Agreement irrevocably consents to
the service of any summons and complaint and any other process in any other
action or proceeding relating to the Merger, on behalf of itself or its
property, by the personal delivery of copies of such process to such party to
this Agreement. Nothing in this Section 9.8 shall affect the right of any party
to this Agreement to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law.

            Section 9.9. Specific Performance. The transactions contemplated by
this Agreement are unique. Accordingly, each of the parties to this Agreement
acknowledges and agrees that, in addition to all other remedies to which it may
be entitled, each of the parties to this Agreement is entitled to a decree of
specific performance, provided that such party to this Agreement is not in
material default hereunder.

            Section 9.10. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned by any
of the parties to this Agreement (whether by operation of law or otherwise)
without the prior written consent of the other parties to this Agreement.
Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure
to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties to this Agreement and their
respective successors and assigns.

            Section 9.11. Expenses. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.2 of
this Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by
the party to this Agreement incurring such costs and expenses.

            Section 9.12. Certain Definitions. The following terms have the
definitions given below:

            (a) "AFFILIATE" means a Person that, directly or indirectly, through
one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, the first-mentioned Person, and shall, without limitation, include
any director or officer of the relevant Person;

            (b) "FINAL ORDER" means an Order that has been granted by the
relevant Governmental Authority as to which (i) no request for a stay or similar
request is pending, no stay is in effect, the Order has not been vacated,
reversed, set aside, annulled or suspended and any deadline for filing such
request that may be designated by statute or regulation has passed, (ii) no
petition for rehearing or reconsideration or application for review is pending
and the time for the filing of any such petition or application has passed,
(iii) the relevant Governmental Authority does not have the Order under
reconsideration on its own motion and the time within which it may effect such
reconsideration has passed and (iv) no appeal is pending, including other
administrative or judicial review, or in effect and any deadline for filing any
such appeal that may be designated by statute or rule has passed;


                                      -53-

            (c) "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means any nation or government, any
state or other political subdivision thereof or any entity (including a court)
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative
functions of or pertaining to government;

            (d) "KNOWLEDGE OF PARENT" means the actual knowledge of the
executive officers of the Parent;

            (e) "KNOWLEDGE OF THE COMPANY" means the actual knowledge of the
executive officers of the Company;

            (f) "LIEN" means any mortgage, pledge, security interest,
attachment, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), option, conditional sale
agreement, right of first refusal, first offer, termination, participation or
purchase or charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the
foregoing); provided, however, that the term "Lien" shall not include (i)
statutory liens for Taxes that are not yet due and payable or are being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (ii) statutory or common law
liens to secure landlords, lessors or renters under leases or rental agreements
confined to the premises rented, (iii) deposits or pledges made in connection
with, or to secure payment of, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance,
old age pension or other social security programs mandated under Applicable
Laws, (iv) statutory or common law liens in favor of carriers, warehousemen,
mechanics and materialmen, to secure claims for labor, materials or supplies and
other like liens, and (v) restrictions on transfer of securities imposed by
applicable federal and state securities laws;

            (g) "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means, (i) with respect to the
Company, any change, event, occurrence, effect or state of facts that,
individually or aggregated with other such matters, (A) is materially adverse to
the business, assets (including intangible assets), properties, financial
condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, or (B) materially impairs the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under this Agreement or ability to consummate the Offer or the
Merger or otherwise materially delay consummation of the Offer or the Merger or
(ii) with respect to Parent, any change, event, occurrence, effect or state of
facts that, individually or aggregated with other such matters, materially
impairs the ability of Parent to perform its respective obligations under this
Agreement or ability to consummate the Offer or the Merger or otherwise
materially delay consummation of the Offer or the Merger; provided, however,
that none of the following shall be considered in determining whether a Material
Adverse Effect has occurred (A) with respect to the Company, any adverse change
in the stock price of Company, and with respect to Parent, any adverse change in
the stock price of Parent; (B) with respect to either party, any adverse change,
event, circumstance, development or effect resulting from a change in general
economic, industry or financial market conditions (including a change in general
economic, industry or financial market conditions resulting from any acts of
terrorism or war) to the extent that such adverse change, event, circumstance,
development or effect does not disproportionately affect the relevant party and
its Subsidiaries; (C) with respect to either party, any adverse change, event,
circumstance, development or effect resulting from a breach of this Agreement by
the other party and (D) with respect to either party,



                                      -54-


any adverse change, event, circumstance, development or effect directly
resulting from the announcement or pendency of the Offer and the Merger,
including the loss by such party or any of its Subsidiaries of any of such
party's customers or employees.

            (h) "ORDER" means, as to any Person, any judgment, order, writ,
injunction, ruling or decree of, or any settlement under the jurisdiction of,
any arbitrator, court or Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or
binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any
of its property or assets is subject;

            (i) "PERSON" includes an individual, corporation, partnership,
association, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company,
other entity or group (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act); and

            (j) "SUBSIDIARY" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation,
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other legal entity of
which such Person (either alone or through or together with any other
Subsidiary) owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the economic interests
in, or voting rights with respect to the election of the board of directors or
other governing body of, such corporation or other legal entity.


                                      -55-

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub and the Company have signed this
Agreement as of the date first written above.

                                           OMNICARE, INC.


                                           By:
                                              --------------------------
                                              Name:  Joel F. Gemunder
                                              Title: President and Chief
                                                       Executive Officer


                                           NCS ACQUISITION CORP.


                                           By:
                                              --------------------------
                                              Name:  David W. Froesel, Jr.
                                              Title: Vice President and Chief
                                                        Financial Officer


                                           NCS HEALTHCARE, INC.


                                           By:
                                              --------------------------
                                              Name:  Jon H. Outcalt
                                              Title: Chairman of the Board

                                                                         ANNEX A

                             Conditions of the Offer

Notwithstanding any other term of the Offer, Sub shall not be required to accept
for payment or, subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission, including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act (relating to Sub's
obligation to pay for or return tendered shares of Company Common Stock after
the termination or withdrawal of the Offer), to pay for any shares of Company
Common Stock tendered pursuant to the Offer unless prior to the Expiration Date
(as defined in the Offer) there shall have been validly tendered and not
withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer that number of shares of Company
Common Stock which, after giving effect to the consummation of the Offer,
represent at least a majority of the total voting power of the outstanding
securities of the Company entitled to vote in the election of directors or in a
merger (determined on a fully diluted basis) (the "MINIMUM CONDITION").
Furthermore, notwithstanding any other term of the Offer or this Agreement, Sub
shall not be required to accept for payment or, subject as aforesaid, to pay for
any shares of Company Common Stock not theretofore accepted for payment or paid
for, and may terminate the Offer if, at any time on or after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Expiration Date, any of the following conditions has
not been satisfied (or to the extent legally permissible, waived):

            (a) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, each of the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Article V of this
Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects (without regard to any
"materiality," "Material Adverse Effect" or similar qualifier contained therein)
on the date of this Agreement and on or before the Expiration Date as though
made on and as of the Expiration Date (except for representations and warranties
made as of a specified date, the accuracy of which will be determined only as of
the specified date);

            (b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, the Company shall
have performed or complied with in all respects each obligation, agreement and
covenant to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement at or prior
to the Expiration Date;

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

            (d) There shall not be pending any Action by a Governmental
Authority (i) challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of
the Offer or the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (ii) seeking to impose any prohibition or limitation, or to require
any divestiture, disposal or other action, that Parent would not be required to
accept or do under Section 6.1(a)(iv) of this Agreement, (iii) seeking to impose
limitations on the ability of Parent to acquire or hold, or exercise full rights
of ownership of, any shares of the Surviving Corporation capital


                                       A-1

stock or (iv) seeking to prohibit Parent or any of its subsidiaries from
effectively controlling in any material respect the business or operations of
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries;

            (e) Parent, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries, as
applicable, shall have obtained the consent or approval of any Person (excluding
any Governmental Authority) whose consent or approval shall be required under
any agreement or instrument in order to permit the consummation of the Offer and
the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
except those that the failure to obtain, would not reasonably be expected to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company
if the Closing were to occur; or

            (f) All Required Governmental Approvals shall have been obtained
pursuant to Final Orders, free of any conditions that Parent would not be
required to accept pursuant to Section 6.1(a) of this Agreement, and all other
consents, approval, authorizations or filings the absence of which would
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company if the Closing were to occur, shall have been
obtained or made.

The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and Sub and may,
subject to the terms of this Agreement, be waived by Parent and Sub in whole or
in part at any time and from time to time in their sole discretion. The failure
by Parent or Sub at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not
be deemed a waiver of any such right, the waiver of any such right with respect
to particular facts and circumstances shall not be deemed a waiver with respect
to any other facts and circumstances and each such right shall be deemed an
ongoing right that may be asserted at any time and from time to time.

Terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms
in the Agreement to which this Annex A is a part.


                                      A-2