CONFORMED COPY


















                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                                      Among


                        CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION,


                                CCG HOLDINGS INC.


                                       and


                          CLEARVIEW CINEMA GROUP, INC.





                           Dated as of August 12, 1998





                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


            AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER  (hereinafter called this "AGREEMENT"),
dated as of August 12, 1998, among Cablevision Systems  Corporation,  a Delaware
corporation  ("PARENT"),   CCG  Holdings  Inc,  a  Delaware  corporation  and  a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of Parent ("MERGER SUB"),  and Clearview  Cinema Group,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY" the Company and Merger Sub sometimes
being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS")


                                    RECITALS

            WHEREAS,  the  respective  boards of  directors  of each of  Parent,
Merger Sub and the Company  have  approved the merger of the Company with Merger
Sub (the "MERGER") and approved and declared advisable the Merger upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;

            WHEREAS, provided that the Average Parent Share Price (as defined in
Section  4.1(a))  is  greater  than or equal to the Floor  Price (as  defined in
Section 1.1), it is intended that,  for federal income tax purposes,  the Merger
will qualify as a  reorganization  under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the
Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as  amended,  and the  rules  and  regulations
promulgated thereunder (the "Code");

            WHEREAS,  contemporaneously  with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement,  and as a  condition  and  inducement  to Parent's  and Merger  Sub's
willingness to enter into this  Agreement,  certain  stockholders of the Company
(the  "SELLING  STOCKHOLDERS")  who own or control  the right to vote Shares and
other Company  Securities  (each as defined in Section  4.1(a))  representing  a
majority of the  outstanding  Shares on a fully  diluted basis are entering into
one  or  more  voting  and  option  agreements  with  Parent  (the  "STOCKHOLDER
AGREEMENTS"),  pursuant to which each of the Selling  Stockholders has agreed to
vote all of the Shares and other Company Securities currently beneficially owned
and  hereinafter  acquired  by him,  her or it in favor of the  Merger  (and has
agreed,  if so requested by Parent,  to exercise any warrants to purchase Shares
so that he, she or it may vote such Shares together with other holders of Shares
at the Stockholders Meeting);

            WHEREAS,  contemporaneously  with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement,  and as a  condition  and  inducement  to Parent's  and Merger  Sub's
willingness  to  enter  into  this  Agreement,   Midmark   Capital,   L.P.  (the
"WARRANTHOLDER"),  the holder of a warrant  (the "CLASS A WARRANT")  to purchase
282,600  Shares,  is entering into an agreement with the Company and Parent (the
"WARRANTHOLDER AGREEMENT"),  pursuant to which the Warrantholder and the Company
have agreed that immediately  prior to the Effective Time (as defined in Section
1.3) the  Warrantholder  shall  surrender its Class A Warrant to the Company for
cancellation in exchange for payment by the Company of $1.00; and


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

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

                                    ARTICLE I

                   The Merger; Closing; Effective Time

            I.1. THE MERGER.  Upon the terms and subject to the  conditions  set
forth in this Agreement, at the Effective Time, the Company shall be merged with
and into Merger Sub and the separate  corporate  existence of the Company  shall
thereupon  cease.  Merger Sub shall be the surviving  corporation  in the Merger
(sometimes  hereinafter  referred to as the  "SURVIVING  CORPORATION"),  and the
separate  corporate  existence  of Merger Sub with all its  rights,  privileges,
immunities,  powers and franchises shall continue  unaffected by the Merger. The
Merger shall have the effects specified in the Delaware General Corporation Law,
as amended (the "DGCL");  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that if the Average  Parent Share
Price is less than  $72.00  (the "FLOOR  PRICE"),  at  Parent's  sole option and
discretion,  at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.3),  Merger Sub will
be merged with and into the Company,  the separate corporate existence of Merger
Sub shall cease, the Company shall be the Surviving Corporation and the separate
corporate existence of the Company shall continue unaffected by the Merger.

            I.2.  CLOSING.  The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall take
place (i) at the offices of Sullivan & Cromwell, 125 Broad Street, New York, New
York at 9:00 A.M. on the first business day on which the last to be fulfilled or
waived of the conditions  set forth in Article VII (other than those  conditions
that by their  nature are to be  satisfied  at the  Closing,  but subject to the
fulfillment  or  waiver of those  conditions)  shall be  satisfied  or waived in
accordance  with this  Agreement  or (ii) at such other place and time and/or on
such other date as the  Company  and Parent may agree in writing  (the  "CLOSING
DATE").

            I.3.  EFFECTIVE TIME. As soon as practicable  following the Closing,
the  Company  and  Parent  will cause a  Certificate  of Merger  (the  "DELAWARE
CERTIFICATE  OF  MERGER")  to be  executed,  acknowledged  and  filed  with  the
Secretary  of State of Delaware  as  provided  in Section  251 of the DGCL.  The
Merger shall  become  effective  at the time when the  Delaware  Certificate  of
Merger  has been  duly  filed  with the  Secretary  of  State 


                                      -2-


of Delaware (the "EFFECTIVE TIME").


                                   ARTICLE II

                Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws
                          of the Surviving Corporation

            II.1.  THE   CERTIFICATE  OF   INCORPORATION.   The  certificate  of
incorporation of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be the  certificate of  incorporation  of the Surviving  Corporation  (the
"CHARTER"),  until  duly  amended as  provided  therein  or by  applicable  law;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Average Parent Share Price is less than the Floor
Price and Parent  shall elect that Merger Sub merge with and into the Company at
the Effective Time, the Charter shall be amended and restated to be identical to
the  certificate of  incorporation  of Merger Sub until duly amended as provided
therein or by applicable law.

            II.2.  THE  BY-LAWS.  The  by-laws  of  Merger  Sub in effect at the
Effective  Time  shall  be  the  by-laws  of  the  Surviving   Corporation  (the
"BY-LAWS"), until thereafter amended as provided therein or by applicable law.


                                   ARTICLE III

                             Officers and Directors
                          of the Surviving Corporation

            III.1. DIRECTORS.  The directors of Merger Sub at the Effective Time
shall,  from and after the  Effective  Time,  be the  directors of the Surviving
Corporation  until their  successors  have been duly  elected or  appointed  and
qualified or until their  earlier  death,  resignation  or removal in accordance
with the Charter and the By-Laws.

            III.2.  OFFICERS.  The officers of the Company at the Effective Time
shall,  from and after the  Effective  Time,  be the  officers of the  Surviving
Corporation  until their  successors  have been duly  elected or  appointed  and
qualified or until their  earlier  death,  resignation  or removal in accordance
with the Charter and the By-Laws.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                 Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock;
                            Exchange of Certificates


                                      -3-


            IV.1.    EFFECT ON CAPITAL STOCK.  At the Effective Time,
as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of the
holder of any capital stock of the Company:

            (a)      MERGER CONSIDERATION.  Subject to Section 4.1(b)
and Section 4.2,

            (i) each share of the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
      Company (the "SHARES") issued and outstanding at the Effective Time (other
      than (A)  Shares  owned by  Parent,  Merger  Sub or any  other  direct  or
      indirect subsidiary of Parent (collectively, the "PARENT COMPANIES") or by
      the  Company  or  any  direct  or  indirect   subsidiary  of  the  Company
      (collectively, the "COMPANY ENTITIES") and in each case not held on behalf
      of third  parties and (B) Shares  ("DISSENTING  SHARES")  that are held by
      stockholders   ("DISSENTING  COMMON  STOCKHOLDERS")  exercising  appraisal
      rights  pursuant  to  Section  262 of the  DGCL  (collectively,  "EXCLUDED
      SHARES"))  shall be converted  into, and become  exchangeable  for, at the
      option of the holder  thereof  (the  "SHARE  MERGER  CONSIDERATION"),  (A)
      $24.25 in cash (the  "SHARE  CASH  CONSIDERATION")  or (B) that  number of
      shares  of Class A Common  Stock,  par  value  $.01 per  share,  of Parent
      ("PARENT  COMMON  STOCK") (the "SHARE STOCK  CONSIDERATION")  equal to the
      amount (rounded to four decimal  places)(the  "SHARE  CONVERSION  NUMBER")
      derived by dividing $24.25 by the average (rounded to four decimal places)
      of the average of the daily per share high and low sales  prices,  regular
      way (the "AVERAGE  PARENT SHARE PRICE") of Parent Common Stock as reported
      on the American Stock Exchange,  Inc. (the "ASE")  composite  transactions
      reporting  system (as  reported  in the New York City  edition of THE WALL
      STREET JOURNAL or, if not reported therein,  another authoritative source)
      on each of the ten (10) trading days (the  "AVERAGING  PERIOD")  ending on
      and including  the third trading day prior to the Closing Date;  PROVIDED,
      however,  that,  if the Average  Parent Share Price is less than the Floor
      Price,   the  Share   Merger   Consideration   shall  be  the  Share  Cash
      Consideration  and no holder of Shares  shall  have the option or right to
      elect to receive  (and Parent  shall have no  obligation  to issue)  Share
      Stock Consideration;

            (ii) each  share of the Class A  Convertible  Preferred  Stock,  par
      value $.01 per share,  of the Company  (the  "CLASS A  PREFERRED  SHARES")
      issued and  outstanding  at the  Effective  Time  (other  than (A) Class A
      Preferred  Shares owned by the Parent Companies or by the Company Entities
      and in each  case not held on  behalf  of third  parties  and (B)  Class A
      Preferred Shares  ("DISSENTING CLASS A PREFERRED SHARES") that are held by
      stockholders  ("DISSENTING  CLASS A  PREFERRED  STOCKHOLDERS")  exercising
      appraisal  rights  pursuant  to  Section  262 of the  DGCL  (collectively,
      "EXCLUDED  CLASS A PREFERRED  SHARES") shall be converted into, and 

                                      -4-


      become exchangeable for, at the option of the holder thereof (the "CLASS A
      PREFERRED SHARE MERGER CONSIDERATION"),(A) the amount, in cash (the "CLASS
      A PREFERRED  SHARE CASH  CONSIDERATION"),  derived by multiplying  (x) the
      number of Shares  issuable upon  conversion  of a Class A Preferred  Share
      immediately prior to the Effective Time (the "CLASS A CONVERSION  NUMBER")
      by (y) the Share Cash  Consideration or (B) the number of shares of Parent
      Common Stock (the "CLASS A PREFERRED SHARE STOCK  CONSIDERATION") equal to
      the amount  (rounded to four decimal  places)  derived by multiplying  the
      Class A  Conversion  Number  and the Share  Conversion  Number;  PROVIDED,
      however,  that,  if the Average  Parent Share Price is less than the Floor
      Price, the Class A Preferred Share Merger Consideration shall be the Class
      A Preferred  Share Cash  Consideration  and no holder of Class A Preferred
      Shares  shall  have the right or option to elect to  receive  (and  Parent
      shall  have  no  obligation  to  issue)  Class  A  Preferred  Share  Stock
      Consideration;

            (iii)  each  share of the Class B  Nonvoting  Cumulative  Redeemable
      Preferred  Stock,  par value $.01 per share,  of the Company (the "CLASS B
      PREFERRED  SHARES")  issued and  outstanding  at the Effective Time (other
      than (A) Class B Preferred  Shares owned by the Parent Companies or by the
      Company  Entities and in each case not held on behalf of third parties and
      (B) Class B Preferred Shares  ("DISSENTING CLASS B PREFERRED SHARES") that
      are held by  stockholders  ("DISSENTING  CLASS B PREFERRED  Stockholders")
      exercising   appraisal   rights  pursuant  to  Section  262  of  the  DGCL
      (collectively,  "EXCLUDED  CLASS B PREFERRED  Shares")  shall be converted
      into,  and become  exchangeable  for (the "CLASS B PREFERRED  SHARE MERGER
      CONSIDERATION"),  the amount,  in cash (the "CLASS B PREFERRED  SHARE CASH
      CONSIDERATION"), equal to the redemption price per Class B Preferred Share
      that would be payable by the Company in accordance with the Certificate of
      Designation of the Class B Preferred  Shares if the Company were to redeem
      the Class B Preferred Shares immediately prior to the Effective Time; and

            (iv) each  share of the Class C  Convertible  Preferred  Stock,  par
      value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "CLASS C PREFERRED  SHARES" and,
      together  with the Class A  Preferred  Shares  and the  Class B  Preferred
      Shares, the "PREFERRED SHARES" and, the Preferred Shares together with the
      Shares, the "COMPANY  Securities") issued and outstanding at the Effective
      Time  (other  than  (A)  Class C  Preferred  Shares  owned  by the  Parent
      Companies  or by the Company  Entities and in each case not held on behalf
      of third  parties and (B) Class C Preferred  Shares  ("DISSENTING  CLASS C
      PREFERRED SHARES" and, together with the Dissenting Shares, the Dissenting
      Class A Preferred Shares and the Dissenting Class B Preferred Shares,  the
      "DISSENTING SECURITIES") that are held by stockholders  ("DISSENTING CLASS
      C  PREFERRED  STOCKHOLDERS"  and,  together  with  the  Dissenting  Common
      Stockholders,  the  Dissenting  Class  A  Preferred  Stockholders  and the
      Dissenting

                                      -5-


      Class  B  Preferred   Stockholders,   the  "DISSENTING   SECURITYHOLDERS")
      exercising   appraisal   rights  pursuant  to  Section  262  of  the  DGCL
      (collectively,  "EXCLUDED CLASS C PREFERRED SHARES" and, together with the
      Excluded  Shares,  the Excluded Class A Preferred  Shares and the Excluded
      Class B Preferred Shares,  the "EXCLUDED  SECURITIES")  shall be converted
      into,  and become  exchangeable  for, at the option of the holder  thereof
      (the "CLASS C PREFERRED SHARE MERGER CONSIDERATION" and, together with the
      Share   Merger   Consideration,   the  Class  A  Preferred   Share  Merger
      Consideration  and the Class B Preferred Stock Merger  Consideration,  the
      "MERGER  CONSIDERATION")  (A) the amount,  in cash (the "CLASS C PREFERRED
      SHARE CASH CONSIDERATION" and, together with the Share Cash Consideration,
      the Class A Preferred Share Cash  Consideration  and the Class B Preferred
      Share Cash Consideration,  the "SECURITY CASH CONSIDERATION"),  derived by
      multiplying (x) the number of Shares issuable upon conversion of a Class C
      Preferred  Share  based on an  exchange  ratio of 51  Shares  per  Class C
      Preferred  Share (the "CLASS C CONVERSION  NUMBER" and,  together with the
      Conversion  Number  and  the  Class A  Conversion  Number,  the  "SECURITY
      CONVERSION NUMBER") by (y) the Share Cash Consideration and adding to such
      amount the  accrued  but unpaid  dividends  on a Class C  Preferred  Share
      through the  Effective  Time or (B) the number of shares of Parent  Common
      Stock (the "CLASS C PREFERRED  SHARE STOCK  CONSIDERATION"  and,  together
      with the Share Stock  Consideration  and the Class A Preferred Share Stock
      Consideration,  the "SECURITY  STOCK  CONSIDERATION")  equal to the amount
      (rounded  to four  decimal  places)  derived  by  multiplying  the Class C
      Conversion  Number  and the Share  Conversion  Number  and  adding to such
      number of shares of Parent  Common  Stock,  the number of shares of Parent
      Common  Stock  derived  by  dividing  the  amount of  accrued  but  unpaid
      dividends on a Class C Preferred  Share through the Effective  Time by the
      Average Parent Share Price; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if the Average Parent
      Share  Price is less than the Floor  Price,  the Class C  Preferred  Share
      Merger   Consideration   shall  be  the  Class  C  Preferred   Share  Cash
      Consideration  and no holder of Class C  Preferred  Shares  shall have the
      right or option to elect to receive (and Parent  shall have no  obligation
      to issue) Class C Preferred Share Stock Consideration.

            (b) CANCELLATION OF COMPANY  SECURITIES.  Each  Excluded    Security
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall, by virtue
of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, cease to
be  outstanding,   shall  be  cancelled  and  retired  without  payment  of  any
consideration  therefor  and shall  cease to exist  subject to the rights of the
holder thereof, if such holder is a Dissenting Securityholder, under Section 262
of the DGCL. At the Effective  Time, all Company  Securities  shall no longer be
outstanding  and shall be  cancelled  and retired and shall cease to exist,  and
each certificate  formerly  representing any of such Company  Securities  (other
than Excluded Securities) (a "CERTIFICATE") shall, subject to the terms and upon
the

                                      -6-


conditions of this Agreement, thereafter represent only the right to receive the
applicable  Merger  Consideration  and the right, if any, to receive pursuant to
Section  4.2(e) cash in lieu of any  fractional  shares into which such  Company
Securities  otherwise  would have been converted  pursuant to Section 4.1(a) and
any distribution or dividend pursuant to Section 4.2(c).

            (c) MERGER SUB. At the Effective  Time,  each share of Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share (the  "Merger  Sub  Shares"),  of Merger Sub issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain outstanding and
certificates evidencing any such shares of Merger Sub shall continue to evidence
shares of Common Stock of the Surviving Corporation;  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if
the Average  Parent  Share  Price is less than the Floor Price and Parent  shall
elect that Merger Sub be merged with and into the Company at the Effective Time,
each Merger Sub Share outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
be converted into one share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.

            IV.2. ALLOCATION OF MERGER CONSIDERATION;  ELECTION PROCEDURES.  For
purposes of this Agreement  "SHARE  EQUIVALENTS"  shall mean (i) with respect to
Shares, the number of outstanding Shares, (ii) with respect to Class B Preferred
Shares,  the amount derived by multiplying (A) the number of outstanding Class B
Preferred  Shares by (B) the amount  derived by  dividing  the Class B Preferred
Share Cash Consideration by the Share Cash Consideration, and (iii) with respect
to the  Class  A  Preferred  Shares  and  the  Class  C  Preferred  Shares  (the
"CONVERTIBLE   PREFERRED  SHARES"),   the  number  of  Shares  into  which  such
outstanding Convertible Preferred Shares could be converted immediately prior to
the Effective Time.

            (a)   ALLOCATION.(i)  If  the  holders  of  Shares  and  Convertible
Preferred  Shares  have the  option  to elect  Security  Cash  Consideration  or
Security Stock  Consideration,  the number of Shares and  Convertible  Preferred
Shares to be converted into the right to receive the  applicable  Security Stock
Consideration and the applicable Security Cash Consideration in the Merger shall
be determined as follows:

            (ii) Subject to Section 4.2(a)(iv), notwithstanding anything in this
      Agreement to the contrary,  the aggregate number of Share Equivalents (the
      "STOCK  ELECTION  NUMBER")  represented  by  the  Shares  and  Convertible
      Preferred  Shares to be converted into the right to receive the applicable
      Security Stock Consideration shall be equal, as closely as practicable, to
      forty-five  percent (45%) of the sum of (A) the aggregate  number of Share
      Equivalents  represented by outstanding  Company Securities  (treating any
      Company Securities to be cancelled pursuant to Section 4.1(b) as not being
      outstanding for this purpose)  immediately prior to the Effective Time and
      (B) the aggregate number of Share  Equivalents  represented by any Class B
      Preferred Shares redeemed by the Company prior to the Effective

                                      -7-


      Time.

            (iii)  Subject to Section  4.2(a)(iv),  notwithstanding  anything in
      this Agreement to the contrary,  the aggregate number of Share Equivalents
      (the "CASH ELECTION  NUMBER")  represented  by the Shares and  Convertible
      Preferred  Shares to be converted into the right to receive the applicable
      Security Cash  Consideration  shall equal, as closely as practicable,  the
      number of Share Equivalents  represented by the difference between (A) the
      aggregate number of Share Equivalents  represented by outstanding  Company
      Securities  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time  and (B) the  Stock
      Election Number.

            (iv)  Notwithstanding  anything in this  Agreement to the  contrary,
      unless the Average  Parent Share Price is less than the Floor  Price,  if,
      absent this Section  4.2(a)(iv),  as of the  Effective  Time the aggregate
      value of the  Security  Stock  Consideration  (calculated  using  the most
      recent  available  price for Parent Common Stock on the ASE) would be less
      than  45% of the sum of (x)  the  aggregate  value  of the  Security  Cash
      Consideration   and  (y)  the  aggregate   value  of  the  Security  Stock
      Consideration (calculated using the most recent available price for Parent
      Common  Stock on the ASE),  then the Stock  Election  Number  and the Cash
      Election  Number  (but  not the  Security  Conversion  Numbers)  shall  be
      adjusted as necessary so that,  as of the  Effective  Time,  the aggregate
      value of the  Security  Stock  Consideration  (calculated  using  the most
      recent available price for Parent Common Stock on the ASE) shall equal, as
      closely  as  possible,  45% of the sum of (x) the  aggregate  value of the
      Security Cash  Consideration  and (y) the aggregate  value of the Security
      Stock Consideration  (calculated using the most recent available price for
      Parent  Common  Stock on the ASE);  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that if the Stock
      Election Number  resulting from such adjustment  would be greater than the
      Stock  Election  Number  that  would  have  resulted  pursuant  to Section
      4.2(a)(ii)  (without  regard to this  Section  4.2(a)(iv))  if the Average
      Parent Share Price had been equal to the Floor Price,  then Parent, at its
      sole  discretion,  shall have the option of either (i) adjusting the Stock
      Election  Number and the Cash  Election  Number as set forth above in this
      Section  4.2(a)(iv)  or (ii)  treating  the Average  Parent Share Price as
      being  less  than the  Floor  Price for all  purposes  of this  Agreement,
      including  the  availability  of the election set forth in Section 1.1 and
      the concomitant change in the form of the Merger Consideration to all cash
      as set forth in the provisos to Sections 4.1(a)(i), (ii) and (iv).

            (b)      ELECTION AND PRORATION PROCEDURES.

            (i) As of the Effective Time,  Parent shall deposit,  or shall cause
      to be  deposited,  with an exchange  agent  selected  by Parent,  with the
      Company's

                                      -8-


      prior approval,  which shall not be unreasonably  withheld or delayed (the
      "EXCHANGE  AGENT"),  for  the  benefit  of  the  holders  of  Certificates
      representing  Company Securities issued and outstanding  immediately prior
      to the Effective  Time,  the shares of Parent  Common Stock,  cash and any
      dividends or other  distributions  with respect to the Parent Common Stock
      to be issued or paid  pursuant  to  Section  4.1 and this  Section  4.2 in
      exchange  for  such  Company   Securities   upon  due  surrender  of  such
      Certificates  pursuant to the provisions of this Article IV (such cash and
      certificates representing shares of Parent Common Stock, together with any
      dividends  or other  distributions  payable with  respect  thereto,  being
      hereinafter referred to as the "EXCHANGE FUND").

            (ii)  Provided  the Average  Parent  Share Price is greater  than or
      equal to the Floor  Price,  and subject to  allocation  and  proration  in
      accordance  with the provisions of this Section 4.2, each record holder of
      Shares and Convertible  Preferred Shares (other than Excluded  Securities)
      issued and  outstanding  immediately  prior to the  Election  Deadline (as
      defined  below)  shall be  entitled  (A) to elect to receive in respect of
      each such Company Security (x) the applicable  Security Cash Consideration
      (a "CASH ELECTION") or (y) the applicable  Security Stock Consideration (a
      "STOCK  ELECTION")  or (B) to  indicate  that such  record  holder  has no
      preference as to the receipt of the applicable Security Cash Consideration
      or  the  applicable  Security  Stock  Consideration  for  such  Shares  or
      Convertible  Preferred Shares (a  "NON-ELECTION").  Shares and Convertible
      Preferred  Shares in respect of which a  Non-Election  is made  (including
      Shares  and  Convertible  Preferred  Shares  in  respect  of which  such a
      Non-Election  is deemed to have been made pursuant to this Section 4.2 and
      Section 4.3 (collectively,  "NON-ELECTION  SECURITIES") shall be deemed by
      Parent,  in  its  sole  and  absolute  discretion,   subject  to  Sections
      4.2(b)(v)-(vii),  to be,  in  whole  or in part,  Shares  and  Convertible
      Preferred  Shares in respect of which Cash  Elections  or Stock  Elections
      have been made.

            (iii) Elections  pursuant to Section  4.2(b)(ii)  shall be made on a
      form with such provisions as may be reasonably  agreed upon by the Company
      and Parent (a "FORM OF ELECTION") to be provided by the Exchange Agent for
      that purpose to record holders of Shares and Convertible  Preferred Shares
      (other than holders of Excluded  Securities),  together  with  appropriate
      transmittal  materials,  at the time of  mailing  to  holders of record of
      Company  Securities  of the  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement  (as  defined  in
      Section 6.3) in connection with the  Stockholders  Meeting  referred to in
      Section 6.4.  Elections  shall be made by mailing to the Exchange  Agent a
      duly completed Form of Election. To be effective,  a Form of Election must
      be (x) properly  completed,  signed and submitted to the Exchange Agent at
      its designated office by 5:00 p.m. on the business day that is two trading
      days prior to the Closing Date (which date shall be publicly  announced by
      Parent as

                                      -9-


      soon as  practicable  but in no event less than ten trading  days prior to
      the Closing Date) (the  "ELECTION  DEADLINE")  and (y)  accompanied by the
      Certificate(s) representing the Shares and Convertible Preferred Shares as
      to which the  election is being made (or by an  appropriate  guarantee  of
      delivery of such  Certificate(s)  by a commercial bank or trust company in
      the United States or a member of a registered  national  security exchange
      or of the National Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc., PROVIDED that
      such  Certificates are in fact delivered to the Exchange Agent within five
      trading days after the date of execution of such  guarantee of  delivery).
      The  Company  shall  use its  best  efforts  to  make a Form  of  Election
      available  to all  Persons  who  become  holders  of  record  of Shares or
      Convertible  Preferred Shares (other than Excluded Securities) between the
      date  of  mailing   described  in  the  first  sentence  of  this  Section
      4.2(b)(iii) and the Election Deadline. Parent shall determine, in its sole
      and absolute  discretion,  which  authority it may delegate in whole or in
      part to the Exchange  Agent,  whether Forms of Election have been properly
      completed, signed and submitted or revoked. The decision of Parent (or the
      Exchange  Agent,  as the case may be) in such matters  shall be conclusive
      and  binding.  Neither  Parent  nor the  Exchange  Agent will be under any
      obligation  to  notify  any  Person of any  defect  in a Form of  Election
      submitted  to the  Exchange  Agent.  A holder  of  Shares  or  Convertible
      Preferred  Shares that does not submit an effective Form of Election prior
      to the Election Deadline shall be deemed to have made a Non-Election.

            (iv) An election pursuant to Section 4.2(b)(ii) may be revoked,  but
      only by  written  notice  received  by the  Exchange  Agent  prior  to the
      Election Deadline. Any Certificate(s) representing Company Securities that
      have been submitted to the Exchange  Agent in connection  with an election
      shall be returned  without  charge to the holder thereof in the event such
      election is revoked as aforesaid  and such holder  requests in writing the
      return of such  Certificate(s).  Upon any such  revocation,  unless a duly
      completed Form of Election is thereafter  submitted  prior to the Election
      Deadline  in  accordance   with  paragraph   (b)(iii),   such  Shares  and
      Convertible Preferred Shares shall be deemed Non-Election  Securities.  In
      the event that this  Agreement is  terminated  pursuant to the  provisions
      hereof and any Company  Securities  have been  transmitted to the Exchange
      Agent pursuant to the provisions  hereof,  such Company  Securities  shall
      promptly  be  returned  without  charge to the Person (as  defined  below)
      submitting the same.

            (v) In the event  that the  aggregate  number  of Share  Equivalents
      represented by the outstanding Shares and Convertible  Preferred Shares in
      respect of which Cash  Elections  have been made exceeds the Cash Election
      Number,  (a) all Shares  and  Convertible  Preferred  Shares in respect of
      which Stock  Elections have been made or are deemed to have been made (the
      "STOCK ELECTION  SECURITIES") shall be converted into the right to receive
      the applicable  Securities

                                      -10-


      Stock  Consideration,  and (b) all Non-Election  Securities and Shares and
      Convertible  Preferred Shares in respect of which Cash Elections have been
      made  shall  be  converted  into  the  right  to  receive  the  respective
      applicable  Security Stock Consideration or Security Cash Consideration in
      the following order and manner:

                     (A) first, all  Non-Election  Securities shall be deemed to
            be Shares and Convertible Preferred Shares in respect of which Stock
            Elections have been made and treated as Stock Election Securities;

                     (B) second, if necessary, an aggregate number of shares and
            Convertible Preferred Shares in respect of which Cash Elections have
            been  made  shall be  deemed  converted  into and  treated  as Stock
            Election  Securities,  (such  aggregate  number  to  be  apportioned
            pro-rata  among  record  holders  of  such  Shares  and  Convertible
            Preferred   Shares,   based  on  the  number  of  Share  Equivalents
            represented  thereby),  so that  the  number  of  Share  Equivalents
            represented  by the  Shares  and  Convertible  Preferred  Shares  so
            converted,  when added to the Share  Equivalents  represented by all
            other Stock Election Securities (including  Non-Election  Securities
            deemed to be Stock Election  Securities),  shall equal as closely as
            practicable, the Stock Election Number; and

                     (C) third, any remaining  Shares and Convertible  Preferred
            Shares in  respect of which  Cash  Elections  have been made and all
            Class B  Preferred  Shares  shall be  converted  into  the  right to
            receive the applicable Security Cash Consideration.

            (vi) In the event  that the  aggregate  number of Share  Equivalents
      represented by the outstanding Shares and Convertible  Preferred Shares in
      respect of which Stock Elections have been made exceeds the Stock Election
      Number,  (a) all Shares  and  Convertible  Preferred  Shares in respect of
      which Cash  Elections  have been made or are deemed to have been made (the
      "CASH  ELECTION  SECURITIES")  and all Class B Preferred  Shares  shall be
      converted  into the  right  to  receive  the  applicable  Securities  Cash
      Consideration,   and  (b)  all  Non-Election  Securities  and  Shares  and
      Convertible Preferred Shares in respect of which Stock Elections have been
      made  shall  be  converted  into  the  right  to  receive  the  respective
      applicable Security Cash Consideration and Security Stock Consideration in
      the following order and manner:

                     (A) first, all  Non-Election  Securities shall be deemed to
            be Shares and Convertible  Preferred Shares in respect of which Cash
            Elections have been made and treated as Cash Election Securities;


                                      -11-

                     (B) second, if necessary, an aggregate number of shares and
            Convertible  Preferred  Shares in respect of which  Stock  Elections
            have been made shall be deemed  converted  into and  treated as Cash
            Election  Securities,   such  aggregate  number  to  be  apportioned
            pro-rata  among  record  holders  of  such  Shares  and  Convertible
            Preferred   Shares,   based  on  the  number  of  Share  Equivalents
            represented  thereby),  so that  the  number  of  Share  Equivalents
            represented  by the  Shares  and  Convertible  Preferred  Shares  so
            converted,  when added to the Share  Equivalents  represented by all
            Class B  Preferred  Shares  and all other Cash  Election  Securities
            (including  Non-Election  Securities  to  be  deemed  Cash  Election
            Securities), shall equal as closely as practicable the Cash Election
            Number; and

                     (C) third, any remaining  Shares and Convertible  Preferred
            Shares in respect of which Stock  Elections  have been made shall be
            converted  into the right to receive the  applicable  Security Stock
            Consideration.

            (vii) In the event that clauses (v) and (vi) of this Section  4.2(b)
      are not applicable, all Non-Election Securities shall be deemed by Parent,
      in its sole and absolute discretion,  subject to Section 4.2(a), to be, in
      whole or in part,  Shares and Convertible  Preferred  Shares in respect of
      which Cash Elections or Stock Elections have been made, as applicable.

            (viii) The  Exchange  Agent,  in  consultation  with  Parent and the
      Company, shall make all computations to give effect to this Section 4.2.

            (ix)  Subject  to this  Section  4.2(b)  and  Section  4.2(h),  upon
      surrender of a Certificate  representing  Stock  Election  Securities  for
      cancellation  to the Exchange Agent together with a duly completed Form of
      Election,  the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive (a)
      a  certificate  representing  that number of whole shares of Parent Common
      Stock that such holder is entitled to receive pursuant to this Article IV,
      (b) a check  in the  amount  (after  giving  effect  to any  required  tax
      withholdings)  of (x) any cash in lieu of  fractional  shares plus (y) any
      unpaid non-stock  dividends and any other dividends or other distributions
      that such holder has the right to receive  pursuant to the  provisions  of
      this Article IV, and the  Certificate  so surrendered  shall  forthwith be
      cancelled.  No interest will be paid or accrued on any amount payable upon
      due surrender of the Certificates  representing Stock Election Securities.
      In the event of a transfer of ownership of Company  Securities that is not
      registered in the transfer  records of the Company,  the applicable  Stock
      Merger Consideration  payable in respect of such Company

                                      -12-


      Securities  may  be  issued  and/or  paid  to  such  a  transferee  if the
      Certificate formerly  representing such Company Securities is presented to
      the Exchange Agent,  accompanied by all documents required to evidence and
      effect such transfer and to evidence that any  applicable  stock  transfer
      taxes have been paid. If any certificate for shares of Parent Common Stock
      is to be  issued  in a name  other  than  that in  which  the  Certificate
      surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it shall be a condition of
      such exchange that the Person (as defined below)  requesting such exchange
      shall pay any  transfer or other taxes  required by reason of the issuance
      of  certificates  for shares of Parent  Common  Stock in a name other than
      that of the registered  holder of the  Certificate  surrendered,  or shall
      establish to the  satisfaction  of Parent or the Exchange  Agent that such
      tax has been paid or is not applicable.

            (x)  Subject  to  this  Section  4.2(b)  and  Section  4.2(h),  upon
      surrender of a Certificate  representing Cash Election  Securities (or, if
      the  Average  Parent  Share  Price is less than (or  pursuant  to  Section
      4.2(a)(iv),  is, at Parent's option, treated as being less than) the Floor
      Price,  any Company  Securities)  for  cancellation  to the Exchange Agent
      together  with a duly  completed  Form of  Election,  the  holder  of such
      Certificate shall be entitled to receive a check in the amount such holder
      is entitled to receive pursuant to this Article IV, and the Certificate so
      surrendered  shall  forthwith be cancelled.  In the event of a transfer of
      ownership of Company  Securities  that is not  registered  in the transfer
      records of the Company, the applicable Cash Merger  Consideration  payable
      in respect of such Company  Securities may be issued and/or paid to such a
      transferee  if  the  Certificate   formerly   representing   such  Company
      Securities  is  presented  to  the  Exchange  Agent,  accompanied  by  all
      documents  required to evidence  and effect such  transfer and to evidence
      that any applicable stock transfer taxes have been paid.

            For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "PERSON" shall mean any
individual,  corporation (including  not-for-profit entity),  general or limited
partnership,   limited  liability  company,   joint  venture,   estate,   trust,
association, organization,  Governmental Entity (as defined in Section 5.1(d) or
other entity of any kind or nature.

            (c) DISTRIBUTIONS  WITH RESPECT TO UNEXCHANGED  COMPANY  SECURITIES;
VOTING.  (i) All  shares of Parent  Common  Stock to be issued  pursuant  to the
Merger  shall be deemed  issued and  outstanding  as of the  Effective  Time and
whenever a dividend  or other  distribution  is declared by Parent in respect of
the Parent Common Stock,  the record date for which is at or after the Effective
Time, that declaration shall include dividends or other distributions in respect
of all  shares  issuable  pursuant  to this  Agreement.  No  dividends  or other
distributions  in respect of Parent  Common Stock shall be paid to any holder of
any unsurrendered  Certificate representing Stock Election Securities until such
Certificate  is  surrendered  for exchange in  accordance  with this

                                      -13-


Article IV. Subject to the effect of applicable laws, following surrender of any
such  Certificate,  there  shall be  issued  and/or  paid to the  holder  of the
certificates representing whole shares of Parent Common Stock issued in exchange
therefor,  without interest, (A) at the time of such surrender, the dividends or
other  distributions  with a record date after the  Effective  Time  theretofore
payable with  respect to such whole  shares of Parent  Common Stock and not paid
and (B) at the  appropriate  payment date, the dividends or other  distributions
payable with  respect to such whole shares of Parent  Common Stock with a record
date  after  the  Effective  Time but with a  payment  date  subsequent  to such
surrender.

            (ii)  Holders  of  unsurrendered   Certificates  representing  Stock
      Election  Securities shall be entitled to vote after the Effective Time at
      any meeting of Parent  stockholders  the number of whole  shares of Parent
      Common Stock represented by such Certificates,  regardless of whether such
      holders have exchanged their Certificates.

            (d) TRANSFERS. After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers
on the stock transfer books of the Company of the Company  Securities  that were
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

            (e) FRACTIONAL SHARES.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this
Agreement,  no  fractional  shares of Parent Common Stock will be issued and any
holder of Company  Securities  entitled to receive a fractional  share of Parent
Common  Stock but for this  Section  4.2(e)  shall be entitled to receive a cash
payment  in  lieu  thereof,   which  payment  shall   represent   such  holder's
proportionate  interest in a share of Parent  Common  Stock based on the Average
Parent Share Price.

            (f)  TERMINATION  OF EXCHANGE FUND. Any portion of the Exchange Fund
(including the proceeds of any investments  thereof and any Parent Common Stock)
that remains unclaimed by the stockholders of the Company for 180 days after the
Effective Time shall be paid to Parent. Any stockholders of the Company who have
not  theretofore  complied  with this Article IV shall  thereafter  look only to
Parent  for  payment of their  shares of Parent  Common  Stock  and/or any cash,
dividends and other  distributions  in respect  thereof  payable and/or issuable
pursuant  to  Section  4.1 and this  Section  4.2 upon  due  surrender  of their
Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof),  in each case, without any
interest thereon.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  none of Parent, the Surviving
Corporation,  the  Exchange  Agent or any  other  Person  shall be liable to any
former  holder of Company  Securities  for any amount  properly  delivered  to a
public official pursuant to applicable  abandoned  property,  escheat or similar
laws.

            (g) LOST,  STOLEN OR DESTROYED.  In the event any Certificate  shall
have been lost,  stolen or  destroyed,  upon the making of an  affidavit of that
fact by the

                                      -14-


Person  claiming  such  Certificate  to be lost,  stolen or  destroyed  and,  if
required by Parent,  the posting by such Person of a bond in customary amount as
indemnity  against  any claim that may be made  against it with  respect to such
Certificate,  the Exchange Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or
destroyed  Certificate the shares of Parent Common Stock and/or any cash payable
and any unpaid  dividends or other  distributions in respect thereof pursuant to
Sections  4.1 and this 4.2  deliverable  in  respect of the  Company  Securities
represented by such Certificate pursuant to this Agreement.

            (h)  AFFILIATES.  Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the contrary,
Certificates surrendered for exchange by any "affiliate" (as determined pursuant
to Section 6.8) of the Company shall not be exchanged  until Parent has received
a written agreement from such Person as provided in Section 6.8.

            IV.3.  DISSENTERS'  RIGHTS.  No Dissenting  Securityholder  shall be
entitled  to any Merger  Consideration  pursuant  to this  Article IV unless and
until such Person thereof shall have failed to perfect or shall have effectively
withdrawn or lost such Person's right to dissent from the Merger under the DGCL,
and any Dissenting  Securityholder shall be entitled to receive only the payment
provided by Section 262 of the DGCL with respect to Company  Securities owned by
such  Dissenting  Securityholder.  If any Person who otherwise would be deemed a
Dissenting Securityholder shall have failed to perfect or shall have effectively
withdrawn or lost the right to dissent  with respect to any Company  Securities,
such Company  Securities  shall  immediately  become  Non-Election  Shares.  The
Company  shall  give  Parent  (i)  prompt  notice  of any  written  demands  for
appraisal,  attempted  withdrawals  of such demands,  and any other  instruments
served  pursuant  to  applicable  law  received  by  the  Company   relating  to
stockholders'  rights  of  appraisal  and (ii) the  opportunity  to  direct  all
negotiations  and  proceedings  with respect to demands for appraisal  under the
DGCL.  The Company shall not,  except with the prior written  consent of Parent,
voluntarily  make any  payment  with  respect to any demands  for  appraisal  of
Dissenting Securities, offer to settle or settle any such demands or approve any
withdrawal of any such demands.

            IV.4.  ADJUSTMENTS TO PREVENT. In the event that the Company changes
the number of Company Securities or securities  convertible or exchangeable into
or exercisable for Company Securities, or Parent changes the number of shares of
Parent  Common  Stock  or  securities   convertible  or  exchangeable   into  or
exercisable for shares of Parent Common Stock,  issued and outstanding  prior to
the Effective Time as a result of a  reclassification,  stock split  (including,
without limitation,  the Parent's publicly announced  two-for-one stock split or
any reverse split),  stock dividend or distribution,  recapitalization,  merger,
subdivision,  issuer tender or exchange offer or other similar transaction,  the
Merger Consideration and the Floor Price shall be equitably adjusted.


                                      -15-


                                    ARTICLE V

                         Representations and Warranties

            V.1.  REPRESENTATIONS  AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.  Except as set
forth in the  corresponding  sections or subsections  of the  disclosure  letter
delivered to Parent by the Company on or prior to entering  into this  Agreement
(the "COMPANY DISCLOSURE LETTER"), the Company hereby represents and warrants to
Parent and Merger Sub that:

            (a)  ORGANIZATION,  GOOD  STANDING  AND  QUALIFICATION.  Each of the
Company and its Subsidiaries is a corporation  duly organized,  validly existing
and  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of  its  respective  jurisdiction  of
organization  and has all requisite  corporate or similar power and authority to
own and  operate  its  properties  and  assets and to carry on its  business  as
presently conducted and is qualified to do business and is in good standing as a
foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the ownership or operation of its
properties or conduct of its business requires such qualification,  except where
the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, when taken together with all
other such failures, is not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect (as defined  below).  The Company has made available to Parent a complete
and  correct  copy  of the  Company's  and  its  Subsidiaries'  certificates  of
incorporation  and  by-laws,  each as amended  to date.  The  Company's  and its
Subsidiaries' certificates of incorporation and by-laws as so made available are
in full  force and  effect.  Section  5.1(a) of the  Company  Disclosure  Letter
contains a correct and complete list of each jurisdiction  where the Company and
each of its Subsidiaries is organized and qualified to do business.

            As used in this Agreement,  the term (i)  "SUBSIDIARY"  means,  with
respect to the  Company,  Parent or Merger  Sub, as the case may be, any entity,
whether  incorporated  or  unincorporated,  of which at least a majority  of the
securities or ownership interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons  performing  similar
functions is directly or indirectly  owned or controlled by such party or by one
or more of its respective  Subsidiaries  or by such party and any one or more of
its respective  Subsidiaries and (ii) "COMPANY  MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means a
material  adverse  effect on the financial  condition,  properties,  business or
results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries  taken as a whole or a
material condition,  restriction or other limitation on Parent's ability to own,
operate  or  otherwise  control  the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  or  their
respective assets and businesses,  taken as a whole;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that a
Company  Material Adverse Effect shall not include any effect upon the financial
condition,  properties, business or results of operations of the Company, or any
of its Subsidiaries,  resulting or arising from (A) changes in national economic
or  business  conditions  generally  or  affecting  the movie  theater  industry
specifically,  or (B) the public  announcement  of the  execution  of the Merger
Agreement

                                      -16-


and the transactions contemplated thereby.

            (b) CAPITAL  STRUCTURE.  The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists  of  12,500,000  shares  consisting  of  10,000,000  Shares,  of  which
2,304,802  Shares  were  outstanding  as of the close of  business on August 11,
1998,  and 2,500,000  shares of Preferred  Stock,  par value $.01 per share,  of
which 779 Class A Preferred Shares, 750 Class B Preferred Shares and 3,000 Class
C Preferred  Shares were  outstanding  as of the close of business on August 11,
1998.  All of the  outstanding  Shares  and  Preferred  Shares  have  been  duly
authorized  and are validly  issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable.  Other than
467,400 Shares reserved for issuance upon  conversion of the outstanding  Shares
of Class A Preferred  Shares and  367,347  Shares  reserved  for  issuance  upon
conversion of the outstanding  Shares of Class C Preferred  Shares,  the Company
has no Shares or  Preferred  Shares  reserved for  issuance,  except for 450,000
Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to options outstanding under the Company's
1997 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on April 28, 1998 (the "STOCK
PLAN"),  100,000  Shares  reserved for issuance  pursuant to warrants  (the "IPO
WARRANTS")  held by Prime Charter Ltd. and 282,600 Shares  reserved for issuance
pursuant  to the Class A  Warrant.  The  Company  Disclosure  Letter  contains a
correct and complete list of each  outstanding  option to purchase  Shares under
the Stock Plan (each a "COMPANY OPTION"),  including the holder,  date of grant,
exercise price and number of Shares  subject  thereto.  Each of the  outstanding
shares  of  capital  stock  or  other   securities  of  each  of  the  Company's
Subsidiaries is duly authorized,  validly issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable
and owned by a direct or indirect  wholly-owned  subsidiary of the Company, free
and clear of any lien,  pledge,  security  interest,  claim or other encumbrance
("LIENS").  Except  as set  forth  above,  there  are  no  preemptive  or  other
outstanding rights,  options,  warrants,  conversion rights,  stock appreciation
rights,  agreements,  arrangements or commitments to issue or sell any shares of
capital stock or other  securities of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries or
any securities or obligations  convertible or  exchangeable  into or exercisable
for, or giving any Person a right to subscribe for or acquire, any securities of
the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries,  and  no  securities  or  obligations
evidencing such rights are authorized,  issued or outstanding.  The Company does
not have  outstanding  any bonds,  debentures,  notes or other  obligations  the
holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible  into or exercisable for
securities having the right to vote) with the stockholders of the Company on any
matter  ("VOTING  DEBT").   The  Securities  (as  defined  in  the  Stockholders
Agreement)  represent a majority of the  outstanding  Shares on a fully  diluted
basis,  excluding  Options not scheduled to vest and become  exercisable  before
June 30, 1999.

            (c) CORPORATE AUTHORITY;  APPROVAL AND OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
(i) The Company has all  requisite  corporate  power and authority and has taken
all  corporate  action  necessary  in order to execute,  deliver and perform its
obligations  under this Agreement and to consummate the Merger,  subject only to
approval  of this  Agreement  by the  holders of a majority  of the  outstanding
Shares and Class A Preferred

                                      -17-


Shares,  voting together as a single class (the "COMPANY REQUISITE VOTE").  This
Agreement is a valid and binding  agreement of the Company  enforceable  against
the Company in accordance  with its terms,  subject to  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
fraudulent  transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium  and similar  laws of general
applicability  relating to or affecting  creditors' rights and to general equity
principles (the "BANKRUPTCY AND EQUITY EXCEPTION").

            (ii) The  Board of  Directors  of the  Company  (A) has  unanimously
      approved  and declared  advisable  this  Agreement  and the Merger and the
      other transactions contemplated hereby and (B) has received the opinion of
      its financial advisors,  Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation  ("CSFB"),
      to the effect  that,  as of the date of this  Agreement,  the Share Merger
      Consideration  to be  received  by the  holders of Shares in the Merger is
      fair to such holders from a financial point of view, a copy of the written
      opinion  of which  will be  delivered  to Parent  promptly  after  receipt
      thereof by the Company.  It is agreed and understood  that such opinion is
      for the benefit of the Company's  Board of Directors and may not be relied
      on by Parent or Merger Sub.

            (d) GOVERNMENTAL FILINGS; NO VIOLATIONS.  (i) Other than the filings
and/or  notices (A)  pursuant to Section  1.3,  (B) under the  Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR ACT"), the Exchange Act
and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), (C) to comply
with state  securities or "blue-sky"  laws, and (D) required to be made with the
ASE, no notices, reports or other filings are required to be made by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries with, nor are any consents, registrations, approvals,
permits or  authorizations  required to be obtained by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries from, any governmental or regulatory authority, agency, commission,
body or other governmental entity  ("GOVERNMENTAL  ENTITY"),  in connection with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation
by the  Company of the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby,
except those that the failure to make or obtain are not,  individually or in the
aggregate,  reasonably  likely  to have a  Company  Material  Adverse  Effect or
prevent the Company from  consummating  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement.

            (ii) The execution,  delivery and  performance of (A) this Agreement
      by the  Company  and  (B)  the  Stockholders  Agreements  by  the  Selling
      Stockholders do not, and the consummation (x) by the Company of the Merger
      and the  other  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  (y)  the  Selling
      Stockholders  of  the  transactions   contemplated   thereby,   will  not,
      constitute or result in (A) a breach or violation of, or a default  under,
      the  certificate  of  incorporation  or  by-laws  of  the  Company  or the
      comparable governing instruments of any of its Subsidiaries,  (B) a breach
      or violation of, a default under,  or the  acceleration of

                                      -18-


      any  obligations or the creation of a Lien on the assets of the Company or
      any of its  Subsidiaries  (with or without notice,  lapse of time or both)
      pursuant to, any agreement,  lease, contract,  note, mortgage,  indenture,
      arrangement or other obligation  ("CONTRACTS") binding upon the Company or
      any of its  Subsidiaries  or any Law (as  defined  in  Section  5.1(i)  or
      governmental or non-governmental permit or license to which the Company or
      any of its  Subsidiaries  is  subject  or (C) any  change in the rights or
      obligations of any party under any of the Contracts,  except,  in the case
      of  clause  (B)  or  (C)  above,  for  any  breach,  violation,   default,
      acceleration,  creation or change that,  individually or in the aggregate,
      is not  reasonably  likely to have a Company  Material  Adverse  Effect or
      prevent the Company from  consummating  the  transactions  contemplated by
      this Agreement and the Stockholders Agreements.

            (e) COMPANY REPORTS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Company has delivered
to Parent and Merger Sub each registration statement, report, proxy statement or
information statement prepared by it since December 31, 1997 (the "AUDIT DATE"),
including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December
31, 1997, and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the period ended
March 31, 1998, each in the form (including exhibits, annexes and any amendments
thereto)  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange   Commission  (the  "SEC")
(collectively,  including any such reports  filed  subsequent to the date hereof
and as amended,  the "COMPANY  REPORTS").  As of their respective dates, (or, if
amended,  as of the date of the latest of such  amendments)  the Company Reports
did not,  and any  Company  Reports  filed with the SEC  subsequent  to the date
hereof will not,  contain  any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to
state a material  fact  required to be stated  therein or  necessary to make the
statements made therein,  in light of the circumstances in which they were made,
not  misleading.  Each  of  the  consolidated  balance  sheets  included  in  or
incorporated by reference into the Company Reports  (including the related notes
and  schedules)  fairly  presents,  or will  fairly  present,  the  consolidated
financial  position of the Company and its  Subsidiaries as of its date and each
of the  consolidated  statements of income and of changes in financial  position
included in or incorporated by reference into the Company Reports (including any
related  notes and  schedules)  fairly  presents,  or will fairly  present,  the
results of operations,  retained earnings and changes in financial position,  as
the case may be, of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  for the periods set forth
therein  (subject,  in the case of  unaudited  statements,  to notes and  normal
year-end audit  adjustments  that will not be material in amount or effect),  in
each case in accordance with generally accepted  accounting  principles ("GAAP")
consistently  applied  during  the  periods  involved,  except  as may be  noted
therein.

            (f) ABSENCE OF CERTAIN  CHANGES.  Except as disclosed in the Company
Reports filed prior to the date hereof, since the Audit Date the Company and its
Subsidiaries  have conducted their  respective  businesses only in, and have not
engaged in

                                      -19-


any material  transaction other than according to, the ordinary and usual course
of such businesses (other than the capital  expenditures and transactions listed
in and permitted by Section  6.1(c)(iii) of the Company  Disclosure  Letter) and
there  has not been  (i) any  change  in the  financial  condition,  properties,
business or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole or any development or combination of developments that, individually or in
the  aggregate,  has had or is  reasonably  likely  to have a  Company  Material
Adverse Effect; (ii) any damage, destruction or other casualty loss with respect
to any asset or property  owned,  leased or otherwise used by the Company or any
of its  Subsidiaries,  whether or not covered by  insurance  other than any such
damage,  destruction or casualty loss that, individually or in the aggregate has
not had or is not reasonably  likely to have a Company  Material Adverse Effect;
(iii)  any  declaration,  setting  aside or  payment  of any  dividend  or other
distribution in respect of the capital stock of the Company;  or (iv) any change
by the Company in accounting principles, practices or methods. Section 5.1(f) of
the Company  Disclosure Letter contains a list of the executive  officers of the
Company and the annual compensation payable to each.

            (g) LITIGATION AND  LIABILITIES.  Except as disclosed in the Company
Reports  filed  prior to the date  hereof,  there are no (i) civil,  criminal or
administrative actions, suits, claims,  hearings,  investigations or proceedings
pending  or,  to  the  knowledge  of the  executive  officers  of  the  Company,
threatened  against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii)  liabilities,
whether or not accrued,  contingent  or otherwise and whether or not required to
be  disclosed,  or any  other  facts or  circumstances  of which  the  executive
officers of the Company have knowledge that could result in any claims  against,
or liabilities of, the Company or any of its Affiliates,  except for those that,
would not,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  be reasonably  likely to have a
Company  Material  Adverse Effect or prevent the Company from  consummating  the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement.  For purposes of this  Agreement
"knowledge" shall mean actual knowledge without investigation.

            (h)      EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

            (i)  A  copy  of  each  bonus,   deferred   compensation,   pension,
      retirement,  profit-sharing,  thrift,  savings,  employee stock ownership,
      stock bonus, stock purchase,  restricted stock, stock option,  employment,
      termination,  severance,  compensation,  medical,  health  or other  plan,
      agreement,  policy  or  arrangement  that  covers  employees,   directors,
      consultants,  former employees,  former directors or former consultants of
      the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  and under  which the  Company and its
      Subsidiaries may have liability (the "COMPENSATION AND BENEFIT PLANS") and
      any  trust  agreement  or  insurance  contract  forming  a  part  of  such
      Compensation  and Benefit Plans has been made available to Parent prior to
      the date hereof.  The Compensation and Benefit Plans are listed

                                      -20-


      in Section  5.1(h) of the  Company  Disclosure  Letter and any  "change of
      control" or similar  provisions  therein are  specifically  identified  in
      Section 5.1(h) of the Company Disclosure Letter.

            (ii) All  Compensation  and  Benefit  Plans  comply in all  material
      respects with all  applicable  law,  including but not limited to the Code
      and the  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of 1974,  as  amended
      ("ERISA"). Each Compensation and Benefit Plan that is an "employee pension
      benefit  plan"  within the  meaning of Section  3(2) of ERISA (a  "PENSION
      PLAN") and that is intended to be qualified  under  Section  401(a) of the
      Code  has  received  a  favorable   determination   letter   (including  a
      determination  that the related trust under such  Compensation and Benefit
      Plan is exempt  from tax  under  Code  Section  501(a)  from the  Internal
      Revenue  Service (the "IRS") for "TRA" (as defined in Rev.  Proc.  93-39),
      and the  Company  is not  aware of any  circumstances  likely to result in
      revocation of any such favorable determination letter. There is no pending
      or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company,  threatened
      litigation  relating  to the  Compensation  and  Benefit  Plans other than
      routine  claims  for  benefits.   Neither  the  Company  nor  any  of  its
      Subsidiaries has engaged in a transaction with respect to any Compensation
      and Benefit  Plan that,  assuming the taxable  period of such  transaction
      expired as of the date  hereof,  would  subject  the Company or any of its
      Subsidiaries  to a material tax or penalty  imposed by either Section 4975
      of the Code or Section 502 of ERISA.

            (iii)  Neither  the  Company  nor any  Subsidiary  or any entity (an
      "ERISA AFFILIATE") which is considered one employer with the Company under
      Section  4001(b) of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code (an "ERISA  AFFILIATE
      PLAN") currently  maintains a "single employer plan" within the meaning of
      Section  4001(a)(15)  of ERISA.  Except  as  scheduled  in the list  under
      Section 5.1(h)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, none of the Company,
      any of its  Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has  contributed,  or been
      obligated to contribute,  to a  multiemployer  plan (within the meaning of
      Section 3(37) of ERISA) under  Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA at any time
      since September 26, 1980. There is no pending investigation or enforcement
      action by the Department of Labor or IRS or any other governmental  agency
      with respect to any Compensation and Benefit Plan.

            (iv) All  contributions  required  to be made under the terms of any
      Compensation and Benefit Plan,  including any  multiemployer  plan (within
      the  meaning of Section  3(37) of ERISA),  as of the date hereof have been
      timely made or have been reflected on the Company's financial statements.

            (v) Neither the Company nor its  Subsidiaries  have any  obligations

                                      -21-



      for retiree  health and life benefits under any  Compensation  and Benefit
      Plan, other than benefits mandated by Section 4980 B of the Code except as
      set  forth  in  the  Company   Disclosure   Letter.  The  Company  or  its
      Subsidiaries  may amend or terminate any such plan under the terms of such
      plan at any time without incurring any material liability thereunder.

            (vi) The  consummation  of the  Merger  and the  other  transactions
      contemplated by this Agreement and the  Stockholders  Agreements will not,
      directly or indirectly (including,  without limitation, as a result of any
      termination  of employment  following the Effective  Time) (x) entitle any
      employees,  consultants or directors of the Company or its Subsidiaries to
      any  payment  (including  severance  pay or similar  compensation)  or any
      increase in compensation, (y) accelerate the time of payment or vesting or
      trigger any payment of compensation or benefits under, increase the amount
      payable or trigger any other material  obligation  pursuant to, any of the
      Compensation  and Benefit Plans other than the Stock Plan or (z) result in
      any breach or violation of, or a default  under,  any of the  Compensation
      and Benefit Plans.

            (vii)  The  Company  and  its   Subsidiaries  do  not  maintain  any
      Compensation and Benefit Plans covering foreign Employees.

            (viii)  With  respect to each  Compensation  and  Benefit  Plan,  if
      applicable,  the  Company  has  provided,  made  available,  or will  make
      available  upon  request,  to  Purchaser,  true  and  complete  copies  of
      existing:  (A) two most  recent  Forms 5500  filed with the IRS;  (B) most
      recent  actuarial  report and  financial  statement;  (C) the most  recent
      summary plan description;  (D) most recent  determination letter issued by
      the IRS;  (E) any Form 5310 or Form 5330 filed with the IRS;  and (F) most
      recent   nondiscrimination  tests  performed  under  ERISA  and  the  Code
      (including 401(k) and 401(m) tests).

            (ix) Neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  maintains any
      compensation  plans,  programs or  arrangements  the payments  under which
      would not  reasonably  be  expected  to be  deductible  as a result of the
      limitations  under Section 162(m) of the Code and the  regulations  issued
      thereunder.

            (x) With respect to the Company's Deferred  Compensation Plan listed
      as item  #2 of the  Compensation  and  Benefit  Plans  listed  in  Section
      5.1(h)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no liability,  vested
      or unvested, to any individual under said plan of deferred compensation.

            (i)  COMPLIANCE  WITH  LAWS;  PERMITS.  Except  as set  forth in the
Company  Reports filed prior to the date hereof,  the  businesses of each of the
Company

                                      -22-


and its Subsidiaries have not been, and are not being, conducted in violation of
any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute,  ordinance, rule, regulation,
judgment,  order,  injunction,  decree,  arbitration award,  agency requirement,
license or permit (other than "Environmental Laws" as defined in Section 5.1(k))
of any Governmental Entity (collectively,  "LAWS"),  except for violations that,
individually  or in the aggregate,  are not reasonably  likely to have a Company
Material   Adverse  Effect  or  prevent  the  Company  from   consummating   the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Except as set forth in the Company
Reports  filed  prior to the date  hereof,  no  investigation  or  review by any
Governmental  Entity with respect to the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  is
pending  or,  to  the  knowledge  of the  executive  officers  of  the  Company,
threatened except for those the outcome of which are not, individually or in the
aggregate,  reasonably  likely  to have a  Company  Material  Adverse  Effect or
prevent the Company from  consummating  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement.  No  material  change  is  required  in the  Company's  or any of its
Subsidiaries'  processes,  properties or procedures in connection  with any such
Laws  except  for such  changes  the  failure  to make,  individually  or in the
aggregate,  would not be reasonably be likely to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect;  and the Company has not  received  any notice or  communication  of any
material noncompliance with any such Laws that has not been cured as of the date
hereof.  The  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  each  has all  permits,  licenses,
franchises, variances, exemptions, orders and other governmental authorizations,
consents and approvals  necessary to conduct its business as presently conducted
other than those the absence of which has not had and is not  reasonably  likely
to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

            (j) TAKEOVER STATUTES. No "fair price," "moratorium," "control share
acquisition"  or other similar  anti-takeover  statute or regulation  (including
Section  203 of the  DGCL)  (each a  "TAKEOVER  Statute")  or any  anti-takeover
provision in the Company's  certificate of  incorporation  and by-laws is, or at
the Effective Time will be, applicable to the Company,  the Company  Securities,
the Merger or the other  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  and the
Stockholders  Agreements.  Assuming the accuracy of Parent's representations and
warranties  contained  in Section  5.2(j)  (Ownership  of Shares),  the Board of
Directors  of the  Company  has taken  all  action  so that  Parent  will not be
prohibited  from entering into a "business  combination"  with the Company as an
"interested  stockholder"  (in each case as such term is used in Section  203 of
the DGCL) as a result  of the  execution  of this  Agreement,  the  Stockholders
Agreements  or the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  or
thereby.

            (k)  ENVIRONMENTAL  MATTERS.  Except  as  disclosed  in the  Company
Reports prior to the date hereof and except for such matters  that,  alone or in
the  aggregate,  are not  reasonably  likely to have  Company  Material  Adverse
Effect;  (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with, and to the
knowledge  of the  executive  officers of the Company  have at all times been in
compliance  with, all

                                      -23-


applicable  Environmental  Laws; (ii) the Company and its  Subsidiaries  are not
responsible  or liable for the release or  threatened  release of any  Regulated
Substance  into  the  environment  (including  indoor  and  outdoor  air,  soil,
subsurface  strata,  surface water or groundwater) at any property  currently or
formerly owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, where such
release may reasonably be expected to give rise to claims, costs or requirements
under  applicable   Environmental  Laws  for  the  investigation,   removal,  or
remediation  of  such  Regulated  Substances  by  the  Company  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries,  or claims for personal injury or property  damage;  (iii) neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice, demand, letter,
claim  or  request  for  information  alleging  that the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries  are in  violation  of any  applicable  Environmental  Law,  or are
subject to liability under any  Environmental  Law for the release or threatened
release  of,  or  exposure  to,  any   Regulated   Substance   at,  or  for  the
investigation,  removal  or  remediation  of any  Regulated  Substance  at,  any
property  currently  or  formerly  owned  or  operated  by  the  Company  or its
Subsidiaries or at any facility owned or operated by a third party;  (iv) to the
knowledge of the executive officers of the Company,  neither the Company nor any
of its  Subsidiaries are liable under any  Environmental  Law for the release or
threatened  release of any  Regulated  Substance  at any  property  currently or
formerly owned or operated by the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  or at any
facility owned or operated by a third party;  (v) neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries is subject to any order, decree,  injunction,  consent order or
agreement  with  any  Governmental   Entity  relating  to  liability  under  any
Environmental  Law;  (vi)  neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has
entered into any agreement  with a third party under which the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries  is obligated to  indemnify  such third party for  liabilities
arising under applicable  Environmental  Laws or relating to the  investigation,
removal or  remediation of Regulated  Substances;  (vii) to the knowledge of the
executive  officers of the Company,  none of the properties  currently  owned or
leased  by the  Company  or any of its  Subsidiaries  contains  any  underground
storage tanks or friable asbestos-containing  materials requiring abatement, and
none  of  such  properties  contain  any  equipment  containing  polychlorinated
biphenyls  for which the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  are  responsible;
(viii) to the knowledge of the executive  officers of the Company,  there are no
other  circumstances  or  conditions   involving  the  Company  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  that  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  result  in  any  claim,
liability, investigation, cost or restriction on the ownership, use, or transfer
of  any  property  currently  owned  or  lease  by  the  Company  or  any of its
Subsidiaries  pursuant  to any  Environmental  Law;  and  (ix) the  Company  has
delivered to Parent copies of all environmental reports,  studies,  assessments,
sampling  data,  permits  and other  governmental  approvals  in its  possession
relating to  environmental  conditions at the  properties  currently or formerly
owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,  or to the compliance
of  the  operations  of  the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries   with  applicable
Environmental Laws.

            As used herein,  the term  "ENVIRONMENTAL  LAW" means any applicable

                                      -24-


federal,  state, local or foreign statute,  law, ordinance,  regulation,  order,
common law or  published  policy  having the force of law  relating  to: (A) the
protection,  investigation or restoration of the environment, health, safety, or
natural resources or (B) the generation,  use, storage,  treatment,  processing,
disposal, release or threatened release of any Regulated Substance.

            As  used  herein,  the  term  "REGULATED  SUBSTANCE"  means  (A) any
substance,  hazardous material, pollutant,  contaminant,  toxic substance, toxic
pollutant,  solid waste,  municipal  waste,  industrial waste or hazardous waste
that is  regulated  or defined as such or  otherwise  regulated  pursuant to any
applicable  Environmental  Law;  and (B) any  petroleum  product or  by-product,
asbestos-containing   material,   polychlorinated   biphenyls,   or  radioactive
material.

            (l) TAX MATTERS. As of the date hereof,  neither the Company nor any
of its Affiliates  has taken or agreed to take any action,  nor do the executive
officers of the Company  have any  knowledge of any fact or  circumstance,  that
would  prevent  the  Merger  and the  other  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement from  qualifying as a  "reorganization"  within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code.

            (m)  TAXES.  Except  as  provided  in  Section  5.1(m)  the  Company
Disclosure Letter:

            (i) the  Company  and each of its  Subsidiaries  have  filed all Tax
      Returns (as defined below) which are required by all applicable laws to be
      filed by them and  such Tax  Returns  were  complete  and  correct  in all
      material  respects,  and have paid,  or made  adequate  provision  for the
      payment of, all material Taxes (as defined below) which have or may become
      due and payable  pursuant to said Tax Returns and all other Taxes  imposed
      to date other than those Taxes being contested in good faith and for which
      adequate provision has been made on the most recent balance sheet included
      in the Company Reports;


            (ii) all Taxes which the Company and its  Subsidiaries  are required
      by law to withhold and collect have been duly withheld and collected,  and
      have been paid over, in a timely manner, to the proper Taxing  Authorities
      (as defined below) to the extent due and payable;

            (iii) neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has executed
      any waiver to extend, or otherwise taken or failed to take any action that
      would have the effect of extending,  the applicable statute of limitations
      in respect of any Tax liabilities of the Company or its  Subsidiaries  for
      the fiscal years prior to and including the most recent fiscal year;

                                      -25-


            (iv)  the  Company  is not a  "consenting  corporation"  within  the
      meaning of Section  341(f) of the Code.  The Company has at all times been
      taxable as a Subchapter C corporation under the Code;

            (v) the  Company has never been a member of any  consolidated  group
      (other than with its Subsidiaries) for Tax purposes.  The Company is not a
      party to any tax sharing  agreement  or  arrangement,  other than with its
      Subsidiaries;

            (vi) no material  liens for Taxes  exist with  respect to any of the
      assets or  properties  of the  Company  or its  Subsidiaries,  except  for
      statutory  liens  for  Taxes  not yet due or  payable  or that  are  being
      contested in good faith;

            (vii) all of the U.S.  federal  income  Tax  Returns  filed by or on
      behalf of each of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  have been examined by
      and  settled  with  the  Internal  Revenue  Service,  or  the  statute  of
      limitations  with respect to the relevant Tax liability  has expired,  for
      all taxable periods through and including the period ending on the date on
      which the Effective Time occurs;

            (viii)  all Taxes due with  respect  to any  completed  and  settled
      audit, examination or deficiency litigation with any Taxing Authority have
      been paid in full;

            (ix)  there  is  no  audit,   examination,   deficiency,  or  refund
      litigation  pending  with  respect  to any Taxes and during the past three
      years no Taxing  Authority has given written notice of the commencement of
      any audit, examination,  deficiency or refund litigation,  with respect to
      any Taxes;

            (x) the  Company  is not bound by any  currently  effective  private
      ruling,  closing  agreement or similar agreement with any Taxing Authority
      with respect to any material amount of Tax;

            (xi) the  Company  shall not be  required  to  include  in a taxable
      period ending after the Effective Time any taxable income  attributable to
      income that economically  accrued in a prior taxable period as a result of
      Section  481 of the Code,  the  installment  method of  accounting  or any
      comparable provision of state or local Tax law;

            (xii)  immediately  following the Merger,  the Company will not have
      any  material  amount  of  income  or gain  that has been  deferred  under
      Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-13, or any material excess loss account
      in a Subsidiary

                                      -26-


      under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-19.

            As used in this  Agreement,  (i) the  term  "TAX"  (including,  with
correlative  meaning,  the terms "TAXES" and "TAXABLE") shall mean, with respect
to any Person, (a) all taxes, domestic or foreign,  including without limitation
any income (net,  gross or other,  including  recapture of any tax items such as
investment tax credits),  alternative or add-on minimum tax, gross income, gross
receipts,  gains,  sales,  use,  leasing,  lease,  user,  ad valorem,  transfer,
recording,   franchise,   profits,  property  (real  or  personal,  tangible  or
intangible),  fuel,  license,  withholding on amounts paid to or by such Person,
payroll,  employment,  unemployment,  social security, excise, severance, stamp,
occupation, premium, environmental or windfall profit tax, custom, duty or other
tax, or other like  assessment or charge of any kind  whatsoever,  together with
any  interest,  levies,  assessments,  charges,  penalties,  additions to tax or
additional  amounts  imposed by any Taxing  Authority,  (b) any joint or several
liability of such Person with any other Person for the payment of any amounts of
the type  described  in (a) of this  definition  and (c) any  liability  of such
Person for the payment of any amounts of the type  described  in (a) as a result
of any express or implied  obligation to indemnify  any other  Person;  (ii) the
term  "TAX  RETURN(S)"  shall  mean  all  returns,   consolidated  or  otherwise
(including without limitation informational returns),  required to be filed with
any  Taxing  Authority;  and (iii) the term  "TAXING  AUTHORITY"  shall mean any
authority responsible for the imposition or collection of any Tax.

            (n) LABOR MATTERS.  Neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries
is a  party  to or  otherwise  bound  by any  collective  bargaining  agreement,
contract  or  other  agreement  or  understanding  with a labor  union  or labor
organization,  nor,  as of  the  date  hereof,  is  the  Company  or  any of its
Subsidiaries the subject of any material  proceeding  asserting that the Company
or any of its  Subsidiaries has committed an unfair labor practice or is seeking
to compel it to bargain with any labor union or labor  organization nor is there
pending  or,  to  the  knowledge  of the  executive  officers  of  the  Company,
threatened,  nor has there  been for the past  five  years,  any  labor  strike,
dispute, walk-out, work stoppage,  slow-down or lockout involving the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries.

            (o) INSURANCE. All material fire and casualty, director and officer,
general  liability,  and business  interruption,  and sprinkler and water damage
insurance  policies  maintained by the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  have
been issued by companies  reasonably  believed by the executive  officers of the
Company to be reputable. Such policies insure the Company or such Subsidiary and
the directors and officers of the Company and its  Subsidiaries (as the case may
be) for losses  customarily  insured against by other Persons engaged in similar
lines of business and are  reasonable in both scope and amount,  in light of the
risks attendant to the businesses  conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries
and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,  be reasonably likely
to  have  a  Company  Material  Adverse  Effect  or  prevent  the  Company

                                      -27-


from  consummating  the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  are in
compliance  with  all  requirements   under  any  leases,   mortgages  or  other
contractual  obligations  of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  pertaining  to
insurance matters.

            (p)      INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

            (i) The Company and/or each of its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed
      or  otherwise  possesses  legally  enforceable  rights to use all patents,
      trademarks,  trade names, service marks, copyrights,  and any applications
      therefor,   technology,    know-how,   computer   software   programs   or
      applications,  and  tangible  or  intangible  proprietary  information  or
      materials   that  are  used  in  the  business  of  the  Company  and  its
      Subsidiaries,  except for any such failures to own, be licensed or possess
      that, individually or in the aggregate,  are not reasonably likely to have
      a Company Material Adverse Effect.

            (ii) Except as disclosed in Company  Reports filed prior to the date
      hereof or as is not reasonably  likely to have a Company  Material Adverse
      Effect:

                     (A) the  Company is not,  nor will it be as a result of the
            execution and delivery of this  Agreement or the  performance of its
            obligations hereunder, in violation of any licenses, sublicenses and
            other  agreements as to which the Company is a party and pursuant to
            which the  Company is  authorized  to use any  third-party  patents,
            trademarks,  service  marks,  copyrights,  trade secrets or computer
            software (collectively, "THIRD-PARTY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS");

                     (B) no claims with respect to (I) the  patents,  registered
            and material unregistered  trademarks and service marks,  registered
            copyrights,  trade  names,  and  any  applications  therefor,  trade
            secrets  or  computer  software  owned by the  Company or any of its
            Subsidiaries  (collectively,   the  "COMPANY  INTELLECTUAL  PROPERTY
            RIGHTS");  or (II)  Third-Party  Intellectual  Property  Rights  are
            currently pending or, to the knowledge of the executive  officers of
            the Company, are threatened by any Person;

                     (C) the  executive  officers  of the Company do not know of
            any valid  grounds  for any bona fide  claims (I) to the effect that
            the sale,  licensing  or use of any  product  as now  used,  sold or
            licensed or proposed for use,  sale or license by the Company or any
            of its Subsidiaries,  infringes on any copyright, patent, trademark,
            service mark or trade secret of any Person;  (II) against the use by
            the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries of any Company  Intellectual
            Property  Right or Third-Party  Intellectual  Property Right used in
            the business of the Company or any of its

                                      -28-


            Subsidiaries as currently  conducted or as proposed to be conducted;
            (III)  challenging the ownership,  validity or enforceability of any
            of the Company Intellectual Property Rights; or (IV) challenging the
            license  or  legally  enforceable  right  to use of the  Third-Party
            Intellectual Rights by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and

                     (D)  to the  knowledge  of the  executive  officers  of the
            Company,   there   is   no   unauthorized   use,   infringement   or
            misappropriation of any of the Company Intellectual  Property Rights
            by any third party, including any employee or former employee of the
            Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

            (q)      RIGHTS PLAN.  The Company has not adopted or
otherwise implemented a stockholder rights plan or other similar
agreement or instrument.

            (r)  BROKERS  AND  FINDERS.  Neither  the  Company  nor  any  of its
officers, directors (with respect to officers and directors, in such capacity as
officers  or  directors)  or  employees  has  employed  any  broker or finder or
incurred any liability for any brokerage fees,  commissions or finders,  fees in
connection  with the  Merger  or the  other  transactions  contemplated  in this
Agreement except that the Company has engaged CSFB as its financial advisor, the
arrangements with which have been disclosed to Parent prior to the date hereof.

            (s)  INTERESTED  TRANSACTIONS.  To the  knowledge  of the  executive
officers of the Company and except as set forth in the Company  Reports prior to
the date hereof,  no director or officer of the Company or any  Subsidiary,  (a)
owns,  directly or indirectly,  any 5% or greater interest in, or is a director,
officer,   substantial  stockholder  or  employee  of,  or  consultant  to,  any
competitor  or  supplier  of the  Company  or any  Subsidiary,  or is in any way
associated with or involved in the business  conducted by the Company other than
in such  capacity as a director or officer of the Company or a  Subsidiary  or a
stockholder of the Company, or (b) owns, directly or indirectly,  in whole or in
part, any property, asset or right, tangible or intangible,  which is associated
with any property,  asset or right owned by the Company or a Subsidiary or which
the Company or a Subsidiary is presently operating.

            (t) CONTRACTS.  Except as set forth in Section 5.1(t) of the Company
Disclosure  Letter,  neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has or is
bound by:

            (i) except for  Compensation  and Benefit Plans and leases  covering
      the  Company  Leased Real  Property  (as  defined in Section  5.1(u),  any
      agreement,  contract or commitment  that involves the payment of an amount
      or value in excess of $50,000  annually,  unless terminable by the Company
      or its relevant
                                      -29-

      Subsidiary on not more than 90 days notice;

            (ii) any  agreement,  indenture or other  instrument  which contains
      restrictions   with   respect  to  payment  of   dividends  or  any  other
      distribution in respect of its capital stock;

            (iii) any agreement, contract or commitment to be performed relating
      to capital  expenditures in excess of $50,000  individually or $500,000 in
      the aggregate;

            (iv) any agreement, indenture or instrument relating to indebtedness
      for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property;

            (v) any loan or advance to (other than  advances to employees in the
      ordinary  course  of  business  in  amounts  of  $20,000  or  less  to any
      individual  and $50,000 in the  aggregate),  or  investment in (other than
      investments in subsidiaries),  any Person,  or any agreement,  contract or
      commitment  relating to the making of any such loan, advance or investment
      or any  agreement,  contract or commitment  involving a sharing of profits
      (except for bonus arrangements with employees entered into in the ordinary
      course of business consistent with past practice);

            (vi) except for guarantees of Subsidiary obligations by the Company,
      any guarantee or other contingent liability in respect of any indebtedness
      or obligation of any Person;

            (vii) any management  service,  consulting or any other similar type
      of  contract,  involving  payments of more than $25,000  annually,  unless
      terminable by the Company on not more than 90 days notice,

            (viii) any agreement, contract or commitment limiting the ability of
      the Company or any of its  subsidiaries  to engage in any line of business
      or to compete with any Person;

            (ix) any  warranty,  guaranty  or  other  similar  undertaking  with
      respect to a contractual performance extended by the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries other than in the ordinary course of business; or

            (x) any material amendment, modification or supplement in respect of
      any of the foregoing.

            Except as  otherwise  set  forth in  Section  5.1(t) of the  Company
Disclosure
                                      -30-


Letter,  each contract or agreement  set forth in Section  5.1(t) of the Company
Disclosure Letter is in full force and effect and (A) there exists no default or
event of default or event, occurrence,  condition or act (including consummation
of the  Merger) on the part of the  Company or any  Subsidiary  which,  with the
giving of notice,  the lapse of time or both, would become a default or event of
default  thereunder  and (B) no approval or consent of, or notice to, any person
is needed in order that each such contract or agreement  shall  continue in full
force and effect in accordance with its terms without  penalty,  acceleration or
rights of early  termination by reason of the consummation of the Merger and the
other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  except, in the case of each
of (A) and (B), such defaults or required  approvals or consents (i) as to which
requisite  waivers,  consents or approvals  have been obtained or (ii) which are
curable and are cured within the applicable period for cure permitted under such
contracts or agreements.

            (u) REAL PROPERTY.  (i) Section 5.1(u)(i) of the Company  Disclosure
Letter  lists  all real  property  leased,  licensed  or  occupied  under  other
occupancy  agreements  or  concession  agreements  by the  Company or any of its
Subsidiaries  (the "COMPANY LEASED REAL Properties") and all real property owned
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  (the "COMPANY OWNED REAL PROPERTIES,"
and  together  with the  Company  Leased  Real  Properties,  the  "COMPANY  REAL
PROPERTIES").  For each Company Leased Real Property,  Section  5.1(u)(i) of the
Company Disclosure Letter sets forth the following information:  (A) the address
of the property; (B) the name of the landlord, manager or payee, as appropriate;
(C) the  name of the  tenant;  (D) the  date  of the  lease  and all  amendments
thereto;  (E) the  current  expiration  date of such  lease;  (F) any options to
extend the term of such lease;  (G) if a theater site,  the number of screens at
such  theater;   (H)  whether  the  theaters  on  such  site  are  operating  or
non-operating; (I) whether the landlord's consent is required as a result of the
Merger; (J) any landlord right to terminate the lease (other than arising from a
default,  casualty,  or  condemnation);  (K) any tenant radius  restrictions set
forth in such  lease;  (L)  whether  the  landlord or the tenant has sent to the
other party under such lease a notice of default or a notice of  termination  of
such lease which remains uncured and, if so, specifying the alleged default; (M)
whether the tenant under such lease is obligated to purchase such property;  (N)
whether such lease is required to be accounted  for under GAAP as a  capitalized
lease; (O) whether there are any leasehold  mortgages  secured by such lease and
whether the consent of the mortgagee is required in connection  with the Merger;
and (P) whether the rent, common area charges, taxes or other payments due under
such lease are in arrears in excess of 30 days;  (Q) the amount of any  security
deposit  posted with the  landlord;  (R) any  existing  guarantees  given by the
Company in connection with such lease or any leasehold mortgage; (S) whether the
showing  of  movies  is a  permitted  use under  the  lease;  (T) any  expansion
obligations  of the  tenant  under the lease;  (U) the  amount of any  brokerage
commissions  owed  by  the  tenant  in  connection  with  such  lease;  (V)  any
obligations  of the  tenants  under the leases to  construct,  remodel or expand
theaters; or (W) any material construction expected or
      
                                      -31-


budgeted to be undertaken by the Company or any  Subsidiary  with respect to any
Company  Leased  Property  within the next twelve  months (for  purposes of this
item,   Parent  and  Merger  Sub  are   referred  to  Sections   5.1(u)(i)   and
6.1(c)(iii)(B) of the Company Disclosure Letter); (X) material violations of law
known to the  executive  officers  of the  Company  after  inquiry  of  District
Managers  (exclusive of  Environmental  Laws whare are exclusively  addressed in
Section  5.1(k)  hereof)  which the  tenant is  obligated  to cure;  and (Z) any
permits  required for use or occupancy of the leased  premises  which are not in
full force and effect.  For each Company Owned Real Property,  Section 5.1(u)(i)
of the Company  Disclosure  Letter lists: (a) the address for each such property
and (b) whether the consent of any  mortgage or lien holder of such  property is
required as a result of the Merger. Except for such exceptions as would not have
a Company  Material  Adverse  Effect  and  except for (I) the items set forth in
Section  5.1(u)(i) of the Company  Disclosure  Letter;  (II) zoning and planning
restrictions, easements, permits and other restrictions or limitations of public
record affecting the use of such properties;  provided, that individually and in
the aggregate, such restrictions, easements and permits do not materially impair
the use of such properties as motion picture theaters or for such other purposes
as such properties are currently  being used;  (III)  mechanic's  liens or other
similar  encumbrances  arising in the  ordinary  course of business and securing
obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries not yet due and payable; and (IV)
other  encumbrances  on the  assets  of the  Company  or its  Subsidiaries  that
individually  and in the aggregate do not  materially  impair the ability of the
owner to obtain financing by using such assets as collateral, (x) the Company or
one of its Subsidiaries has good,  marketable and insurable title to the Company
Owned Real Properties,  (y) the Company Owned Real Properties are free and clear
of all mortgages,  liens,  leases,  tenancies,  security  interests,  options to
purchase or lease or rights of first  refusal  and  material  violations  of law
(exclusive  of  Environmental  Laws whare are  exclusively  addressed in Section
5.1(k) hereof) and reasonably expected by the Company to require the expenditure
of in excess of $25,000  per matter to resolve  and (z) except for any matter of
public record affecting the use of such properties, such properties are free and
clear of all covenants, conditions, encumbrances,  restrictions,  rights-of-way,
easements,  servitudes,  judgments or other  imperfections  of title.  The items
listed in  subsections  (I)  through  (IV)  above are  hereinafter  collectively
referred to as the "COMPANY PERMITTED ENCUMBRANCES." With respect to the Company
Leased  Real  Properties,  to the  knowledge  of the  executive  officers of the
Company as at the date  hereof,  all such  leases are in full force and  effect.
Except for such exceptions as would not have a Company  Material Adverse Effect,
(a) all such  leases  are the  result  of bona  fide  arm's-length  negotiations
between the parties  and (b)  Company  and the Company  Subsidiaries  are not in
arrears in the payment of rents, common area charges, real estate taxes or other
amounts due under any such leases in excess of 10 days.  As at the date  hereof,
except for such exceptions as would not have a Company  Material Adverse Effect,
with respect to each Company  Leased Real Property or as otherwise  disclosed in
the  Company  Disclosure  Letter,  so long  as the  tenant  performs  all of its
obligations under

                                      -32-


such lease within applicable notice and grace periods, (a) the rights of Company
or any Company  Subsidiary under such lease cannot be legally  terminated by the
landlord  thereof and (b)  Company's  or such  Subsidiary's  possession  of such
Company Leased Real Property and the use and enjoyment thereof cannot be legally
disturbed  by any  landlord.  Except  for such  exceptions  as would  not have a
Company  Material  Adverse Effect,  the Company is not obligated to purchase any
Company Leased Real Property, and no Company Leased Real Property is required to
be accounted  for under GAAP as a  capitalized  lease.  To the  knowledge of the
executive officers of the Company,  except for such exceptions as would not have
a Company  Material  Adverse Effect,  there are no intended public  improvements
that will result in any material charge being levied against, or in the creation
of any  encumbrances  upon the  Company  Owned Real  Properties  or any  portion
thereof,  and there are no  options,  rights of first  refusal,  rights of first
offer or other similar rights with respect to the Company Owned Real Properties.
Section 5.1(u)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists all mortgages affecting
the Company Owned Real Properties,  indicates whether the transaction  hereunder
would be an event of  default  or result  in any  acceleration  of  indebtedness
thereunder, and sets forth any uncured events of default thereunder or events or
conditions  which may  become  events of default  thereunder  with the giving of
notice, lapse of time or both.

            (ii) Except for such exceptions as would not, individually or in the
      aggregate, be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

                     (A) the  Company or a Company  Subsidiary  is the owner of,
            and no other person,  firm or corporation  has any interest as owner
            in or to, or any right to  occupancy  in,  any  Company  Owned  Real
            Property;

                     (B) the  Company or a Company  Subsidiary  is the tenant or
            lessee with respect to, and no other person, firm or corporation has
            any interest as tenant or lessee in or to, or any right to occupancy
            in, any Company Leased Real Property;

                     (C) there are no Persons  currently  in  possession  of the
            Company Real Properties other than Company and its Subsidiaries, nor
            are there any  leases,  subleases,  licenses,  concessions  or other
            agreements   permitting   anyone   other   than   Company   and  its
            Subsidiaries,  to use,  manage,  occupy or possess any Company  Real
            Property  or any part  thereof  other than as  disclosed  in Section
            5.1(u)(ii)  which lists all the leases  affecting  the Company Owned
            Real  Properties,  and (I) all  rent  and  additional  rent  payable
            thereunder, (II) all security deposits held by the Company or any of
            its Subsidiaries thereunder,  and (III) any notices of default given
            or received by the landlord thereunder which remain uncured;

                                      -33-


                     (D) (I)  neither  Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has
            received any written notices or notices of violation of law or local
            or municipal  ordinances or orders, or regulations,  presently noted
            in or issued  by  federal,  state,  local or  municipal  departments
            having  jurisdiction  against or  affecting  any of the Company Real
            Properties  that  remain  uncured and (II) to the  knowledge  of the
            executive   officers  of  the   Company  the  current   maintenance,
            operation, use and occupancy of the Company Real Properties does not
            violate any building, zoning, health, environmental, fire or similar
            law,  ordinance,  order or regulation  (including the Americans with
            Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. (S)12183, as amended (the "ADA")
            and comparable  state and municipal  legislation),  or the terms and
            conditions of any of the applicable leases;

                     (E) (I)  neither  Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has
            received  written  notice of its  failure  to obtain  any  necessary
            certificate of occupancy (or similar  permit) for use of each of the
            theaters  located on the Company Real Properties as a motion picture
            theater,  (II) to the  knowledge  of the  executive  officers of the
            Company,  either  Company or one of its  Subsidiaries  possesses the
            certificate  of  occupancy  and all other  certificates,  approvals,
            permits  and   licenses   from  any   Governmental   Entity   having
            jurisdiction  over such  theaters  that are  necessary to permit the
            lawful use and operation of such theaters as motion picture theaters
            (the "COMPANY  Permits"),  and all of the same are valid and in full
            force and effect,  and (III) to the knowledge of executive  officers
            of  the  Company,  there  exists  no  threatened  revocation  of any
            certificate of occupancy or any of the Company Permits;

                     (F)  neither  Company  nor  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  has
            received  any  written  notice  that it has  failed  to  obtain  any
            necessary  sign  permits,  illuminated  sign  permits,  and  marquee
            permits from the appropriate Governmental Entity having jurisdiction
            over  existing  signs and marquees at the Company  Real  Properties,
            and, to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company, such
            permits  are valid and in full force and effect and there  exists no
            threatened revocation of any such permits;

                     (G)  to the  knowledge  of the  executive  officers  of the
            Company  there are no actions  pending or  threatened  to change the
            zoning or building  ordinances  affecting  any of the  Company  Real
            Properties,  or of any pending or threatened  condemnation of any of
            the Company Real Properties nor has there been any material casualty
            damage  to  any  of  the  Company  Real  Properties   which  remains
            unrestored;
                                      -34-


                    (H) neither the  Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has
            received any written  notice from any insurance  carrier of any work
            required to be performed at any theater  located on the Company Real
            Properties  or the  Company  Leased  Properties  (each,  a  "COMPANY
            THEATER")  that has not been  performed  as of the date hereof or of
            any defects or  inadequacies  in any such theater that have not been
            corrected  as of the date  hereof and which if not  corrected  could
            result in termination of insurance  coverage or a material  increase
            in the cost thereof;

                     (I) with respect to all Company Theaters, all water, sewer,
            gas,  electricity,  telephone and other  utilities  required for the
            operation of each such theater are  installed  and operating and all
            installations  and connection  charges  charged to Company or any of
            its  Subsidiaries  pursuant to applicable  invoices that are not the
            subject  of a good  faith  dispute  have  been  paid in full and any
            installation  and  connection  charges that are properly  charges to
            Company or its  Subsidiaries  after the date hereof and prior to the
            Closing  Date  shall  be paid in full,  except,  in each  case,  for
            payments that are current and will be paid in the ordinary course of
            business;

                     (J) Section  5.1(u)(iii) of the Company  Disclosure  Letter
            lists all radius restrictions or other non-competition agreements to
            which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject.

            (v) OPERATING ASSETS. Except for such exceptions as would not have a
Company  Material  Adverse Effect,  (i) Company has good and marketable title or
leasehold title or a valid license to all of the personal property used, or held
for use, in connection with the theaters operated on the Company Real Properties
(other  than  gaming  and  vending  machines  used  in the  ordinary  course  of
business),   subject  to  no  encumbrance   other  than  the  Company  Permitted
Encumbrances;  (ii) no financing  statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or
under the personal  property  securities laws and regulations of any province or
territory  of Canada or any  similar  applicable  statute  has been filed in any
jurisdiction,  and neither  Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has signed any
such financing statement or any security agreement authorizing any secured party
thereunder to file any such financing  statement,  except in connection with the
Company  Permitted  Encumbrances;  (iii) each theater  located on a Company Real
Property and each of the items of personal  property used or held for use in, or
in connection with, each such theater,  including without  limitation,  seating,
projection equipment and screens,  are in good operating  condition,  subject to
normal wear and tear, and are fit for the use for which they are intended and to
which they are presently  devoted;  (iv) each theater  located on a Company Real
Property,  together with the related items of personal property located therein,
constitutes a fully operable  motion picture

                                      -35-


theater and is sufficient to permit Company to operate the business as currently
being conducted therein; and (v) except as contemplated by this Agreement, since
the Audit  Date,  neither  the  Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has sold,
removed or transferred  any equipment or property from any theater  located on a
Company Real Property,  except in the ordinary course of business and so long as
such equipment or property has been replaced prior to the date hereof.

            V.2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB. Except
as set forth in the  corresponding  sections or  subsections  of the  disclosure
letter  delivered  to the  Company by Parent on or prior to  entering  into this
Agreement (the "PARENT  DISCLOSURE  LETTER"),  Parent and Merger Sub each hereby
represent and warrant to the Company that:

            (a)  CAPITALIZATION  OF MERGER SUB. The authorized  capital stock of
Merger Sub  consists of 1000 shares of Common  Stock,  par value $.01 per share,
all  of  which  are  outstanding   and  are  validly  issued,   fully  paid  and
unassessable.  All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Merger Sub is,
and at the Effective  Time will be, owned by Parent,  and there are (i) no other
shares of capital  stock or voting  securities of Merger Sub, (ii) no securities
of Merger Sub convertible  into or  exchangeable  for shares of capital stock or
voting  securities of Merger Sub and (iii) no options,  warrants or other rights
to acquire  from  Merger Sub,  and no  obligations  of Merger Sub to issue,  any
capital stock, voting securities or securities  convertible into or exchangeable
for  capital  stock or voting  securities  of  Merger  Sub.  Merger  Sub has not
conducted  any  business  prior to the date  hereof and has no, and prior to the
Effective  Time will have no,  assets,  liabilities or obligations of any nature
other than those  incident to its formation  and pursuant to this  Agreement and
the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

            (b) ORGANIZATION,  GOOD STANDING AND  QUALIFICATION.  Each of Parent
and its "SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES" (as defined in Rule 1.02(w) of Regulation S-X
promulgated  pursuant to the  Exchange  Act) is a  corporation  duly  organized,
validly  existing  and in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of  its  respective
jurisdiction  of organization  and has all requisite  corporate or similar power
and authority to own and operate its  properties  and assets and to carry on its
business as presently  conducted  and is qualified to do business and is in good
standing as a foreign  corporation in each  jurisdiction  where the ownership or
operation  of  its   properties  or  conduct  of  its  business   requires  such
qualification,  except  where the  failure  to be so  qualified  or in such good
standing,  when taken together with all other such  failures,  is not reasonably
likely to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect (as defined below).

            As used in this Agreement, the term "PARENT MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT"
means a material adverse effect on the financial condition, properties, business
or results of  operations  of the Parent and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole
provided,  however,  that a 

                                      -36-


Parent  Material  Adverse Effect shall not include any effect upon the financial
condition,  properties, business or results of operations of the Company, or any
of its  Subsidiaries  resulting from national  economic or business  conditions,
generally or the public  announcement  of the execution of the Merger  Agreement
and the transactions contemplated thereby.

            (c)  CAPITAL  STRUCTURE.  The  authorized  capital  stock of  Parent
consists of  200,000,000  shares of Parent  Common  Stock,  of which  53,694,331
shares  were  outstanding  as of the  close of  business  on  August  10,  1998,
80,000,000  shares  of Class B Common  Stock , par  value  $.01 per  share  (the
"PARENT CLASS B COMMON STOCK") of which 21,613,418 shares were outstanding as of
the close of business on August  10,1998,  and  10,000,000  shares of  Preferred
Stock par value $.01 per share (the "PARENT PREFERRED SHARES",  and collectively
with the Parent  Common  Stock,  the Parent  Class B Common  Stock,  the "PARENT
SECURITIES"),  none of which were  outstanding  as of the close of  business  on
August  10,1998.  All  of the  outstanding  Parent  Securities  have  been  duly
authorized and are validly issued,  fully paid and nonassessable.  Parent has no
Parent  Securities  reserved for  issuance,  except that, as of August 10, 1998,
there  were  6,045,940  shares of Parent  Common  Stock  reserved  for  issuance
pursuant to the CSC 1998 Employee  Stock Plan,  453,150  shares of Parent Common
Stock  reserved for issuance  pursuant to the CSC Amended and Restated  Employee
Stock Plan and 120,000  shares of Parent  Common  Stock  reserved  for  issuance
pursuant to the CSC 1996 Non-Employee  Director Stock Option Plan (collectively,
the "PARENT STOCK PLANS"),  the 21,613,418 shares of Parent Common Stock subject
to issuance upon conversion of the  outstanding  shares of Parent Class B Common
Stock,  10,231,320  shares of Parent  Common  Stock  subject  to  issuance  upon
conversion of the 8 1/2% Series I Cumulative Convertible  Exchangeable Preferred
Stock of CSC Holdings,  Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.  In addition,
in connection with a pending  two-for-one stock split of Parent Common Stock and
Parent Class B Common Stock,  payable on August 21, 1998 to holders of record as
of August 10,1998,  Parent has, as of the date hereof,  reserved for issuance an
additional  92,158,160  shares of Parent Common Stock and  21,613,418  shares of
Parent  Class B  Common  Stock.  Parent  does not have  outstanding  any  bonds,
debentures,  notes or other  obligations  the holders of which have the right to
vote (or  convertible  into or exercisable  for  securities  having the right to
vote) with the stockholders of Parent on any matter ("PARENT VOTING DEBT").

            (d)  CORPORATE AUTHORITY.

            (i) No vote of holders of capital  stock of Parent is  necessary  to
      approve  this  Agreement  and  the  Merger  and  the  other   transactions
      contemplated  hereby.  Each of the Parent and Merger Sub has all requisite
      corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate action necessary
      in order to  execute,  deliver  and  perform  its  obligations  under this
      Agreement  and to  consummate  the Merger.

                                      -37-


      This Agreement is a valid and binding  agreement of Parent and Merger Sub,
      enforceable  against each of Parent and Merger Sub in accordance  with its
      terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.

            (ii)  Prior to the  Effective  Time,  Parent  will  have  taken  all
      necessary  action to  permit  it to issue  the  number of shares of Parent
      Common  Stock  required  to be issued  pursuant  to Article IV. The Parent
      Common  Stock,  when  issued,  will be  validly  issued,  fully  paid  and
      nonassessable, and no stockholder of Parent will have any preemptive right
      of subscription or purchase in respect  thereof.  The Parent Common Stock,
      when issued,  will be registered under the Securities Act and Exchange Act
      and  registered or exempt from  registration  under any  applicable  state
      securities or "blue sky" laws.

            (e) GOVERNMENTAL FILINGS; NO VIOLATIONS.  (i) Other than the filings
and/or  notices  (A)  pursuant  to  Section  1.3,  (B)  under  the HSR Act,  the
Securities  Act and the  Exchange  Act, (C) to comply with state  securities  or
"blue sky" laws,  and (D) required to be made with the ASE, no notices,  reports
or other  filings are required to be made by Parent or Merger Sub with,  nor are
any consents, registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations required to be
obtained by Parent or Merger Sub from, any  Governmental  Entity,  in connection
with the execution  and delivery of this  Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and
the  consummation  by  Parent  and  Merger  Sub  of the  Merger  and  the  other
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  except  those  that the  failure to make or
obtain are not,  individually or in the aggregate,  reasonably  likely to have a
Parent Material Adverse Effect or prevent Parent or Merger Sub from consummating
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

            (ii) The  execution,  delivery and  performance of this Agreement by
      Parent and Merger Sub do not,  and the  consummation  by Parent and Merger
      Sub of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby will not,
      constitute or result in (A) a breach or violation of, or a default  under,
      the  certificate  or  by-laws  of Parent or Merger  Sub or the  comparable
      governing instruments of any of its Significant Subsidiaries, (B) a breach
      or  violation  of,  or  a  default  under,  or  the  acceleration  of  any
      obligations  or the  creation  of a Lien on the assets of Parent or any of
      its Subsidiaries (with or without notice,  lapse of time or both) pursuant
      to, any Contracts  binding upon Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any
      Law or governmental or non-governmental  permit or license to which Parent
      or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is subject or (C) any change in the
      rights or obligations of any party under any of the Contracts,  except, in
      the case of clause  (B) or (C)  above,  for  breach,  violation,  default,
      acceleration,  creation or change that,  individually or in the aggregate,
      is not  reasonably  likely  to have a Parent  Material  Adverse  Effect or
      prevent  Parent  or  Merger  Sub  from   consummating   the   transactions
      contemplated by this Agreement.


                                      -38-


            (f) PARENT REPORTS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  Parent has made available
to  the  Company  each  registration  statement,   report,  proxy  statement  or
information  statement prepared by it since December 31, 1997 (the "PARENT AUDIT
DATE"),  including  (i) Parent's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997 and (ii) Parent's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period
ended March 31,  1998,  each in the form  (including  exhibits,  annexes and any
amendments thereto) filed with the SEC (collectively, including any such reports
filed  subsequent  to the  date  hereof,  the  "PARENT  REPORTS").  As of  their
respective dates, (or, if amended, as of the date of the latest such amendments)
the Parent Reports did not, and any Parent Reports filed with the SEC subsequent
to the date hereof will not,  contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements made therein,  in light of the  circumstances  in which they were
made, not  misleading.  Each of the  consolidated  balance sheets included in or
incorporated  by reference into the Parent Reports  (including the related notes
and  schedules)  fairly  presents,  or will  fairly  present,  the  consolidated
financial position of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of its date and each of the
consolidated  statements of income and of changes in financial position included
in or incorporated  by reference into the Parent Reports  (including any related
notes and schedules)  fairly  presents,  or will fairly present,  the results of
operations, retained earnings and changes in financial position, as the case may
be, of Parent and its Subsidiaries  for the periods set forth therein  (subject,
in the  case of  unaudited  statements,  to  notes  and  normal  year-end  audit
adjustments  that will not be  material  in amount or  effect),  in each case in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except as
may be noted therein.

            (g) ABSENCE OF CERTAIN  CHANGES.  Except as  disclosed in the Parent
Reports  filed prior to the date hereof,  since the Parent Audit Date Parent and
its Subsidiaries  have conducted their  respective  businesses only in, and have
not engaged in any material  transaction  other than  according to, the ordinary
and usual course of such businesses and there has not been (i) any change in the
financial condition, properties, business or results of operations of Parent and
its  Subsidiaries  taken  as a  whole  or  any  development  or  combination  of
developments,  individually or in the aggregate, has had or is reasonably likely
to result in a Parent Material Adverse Effect;  (ii) any damage,  destruction or
other  casualty  loss with  respect to any asset or  property  owned,  leased or
otherwise used by Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries,  whether or not covered by
insurance  other  than any such  damage,  destruction  or  casualty  loss  that,
individually or in the aggregate has not had or is not reasonably likely to have
a Parent Material  Adverse  Effect;  or (iii) any change by Parent in accounting
principles,  practices  or  methods.  Since the  Parent  Audit  Date,  except as
provided  for herein or as disclosed  in the Parent  Reports  filed prior to the
date hereof, there has not been any increase in the compensation payable or that
could become payable by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to officers or key
employees or any amendment of any of the Parent  Compensation  and Benefit Plans
other

                                      -39-


than increases or amendments in the ordinary course.

            (h)  LITIGATION AND  LIABILITIES.  Except as disclosed in the Parent
Reports  filed  prior to the date  hereof,  there are no (i) civil,  criminal or
administrative actions, suits, claims,  hearings,  investigations or proceedings
pending or, to the  knowledge of the  executive  officers of Parent,  threatened
against  Parent or any of its  Affiliates  or (ii)  liabilities,  whether or not
accrued,  contingent  or otherwise  and whether or not required to be disclosed,
including those relating to  environmental  and  occupational  safety and health
matters,  or any other facts or circumstances of which the executive officers of
Parent has knowledge that could result in any claims against,  or obligations or
liabilities  of,  Parent or any of its  Affiliates,  except for those  that,  if
adversely  determined,  would not be reasonably likely to have a Parent Material
Adverse  Effect  or  prevent  Parent  or  Merger  Sub  from   consummating   the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

            (i) COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS.  Except as set forth in the Parent Reports
filed  prior  to the date  hereof,  the  businesses  of each of  Parent  and its
Subsidiaries  have not been,  and are not being,  conducted  in violation of any
Laws,  except for violations  that,  individually  or in the aggregate,  are not
reasonably  likely to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect or prevent Parent or
Merger Sub from  consummating the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement.
Except as set forth in the Parent  Reports  filed prior to the date  hereof,  no
investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with respect to Parent or any
of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of
Parent, threatened,  except for those the outcome of which are not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect
or prevent Parent or Merger Sub from consummating the transactions  contemplated
by this Agreement.

            (j)  OWNERSHIP  OF SHARES.  Except as to Company  Securities  deemed
beneficially  owned by Parent pursuant to the  Stockholders  Agreement,  neither
Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries beneficially owns (within the meaning of such
term under Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) any Company Securities.

            (k) BROKERS AND  FINDERS.  Neither  Parent nor any of its  officers,
directors  or  employees  has  employed  any  broker or finder or  incurred  any
liability for any brokerage fees, commissions or finders fees in connection with
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except that
Parent has engaged Gemini Associates Inc. ("GEMINI") as its financial advisor.

            (l)  AVAILABLE  FUNDS.  Parent has or will have  available to it all
funds  necessary to satisfy all of its  obligations  hereunder and in connection
with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.


                                      -40-


                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    Covenants

            VI.1.  INTERIM  OPERATIONS.  The Company  covenants and agrees as to
itself and its Subsidiaries that, after the date hereof and prior to the earlier
of the  termination  of this  Agreement  in  accordance  with its  terms and the
Effective Time (unless Parent shall otherwise approve in writing,  and except as
otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement):

            (a) the  business of it and its  Subsidiaries  shall be conducted in
the ordinary and usual course and, to the extent  consistent  therewith,  it and
its  Subsidiaries  shall use their  respective  best  efforts  to  preserve  its
business  organization  intact and maintain its existing  relations and goodwill
with  customers,  suppliers,  distributors,  creditors,  lessors,  employees and
business associates;

            (b) it shall not (i) issue, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber any
capital stock owned by it in any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) amend its certificate
of incorporation or by-laws;  (iii) split, combine or reclassify its outstanding
shares of capital stock; (iv) declare,  set aside or pay any dividend payable in
cash,  stock or property in respect of any  capital  stock other than  dividends
from its direct or  indirect  wholly-owned  Subsidiaries;  or (v) except for the
repurchase of the Class A Warrant  contemplated by the  Warrantholder  Agreement
and the repurchase of outstanding Class B Preferred Shares,  repurchase,  redeem
or otherwise acquire, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to purchase or otherwise
acquire,  any shares of its capital stock or any securities  convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock;

            (c) except as set forth in Section 6.1(c) of the Company  Disclosure
Letter,  neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries  shall (i) issue,  sell, pledge,
dispose  of or  encumber  any  shares  of,  or  securities  convertible  into or
exchangeable or exercisable  for, or options,  warrants,  calls,  commitments or
rights of any kind to acquire,  any shares of its capital  stock of any class or
any other  property or assets  (other than Shares  issuable  pursuant to options
outstanding  on the date hereof under the Stock Plan or upon  conversion  of the
Class A Preferred Shares and Class C Preferred  Shares);  (ii) transfer,  lease,
license,  guarantee, sell, mortgage, pledge, dispose of or encumber any material
property or assets (including capital stock of any of its Subsidiaries) or incur
or modify any material  indebtedness or other liability;  or (iii) except as set
forth in Section 6.1(c)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, make or authorize
or commit for any capital  expenditures  other than in amounts less than $25,000
individually  and  $100,000  in  the  aggregate  or,  by  any  means,  make  any
acquisition  of, or investment in, assets or stock of any other Person or entity
in excess of $25,000;


                                      -41-


            (d)  neither  it  nor  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  shall  terminate,
establish,  adopt,  enter into,  make any new grants or awards  under,  amend or
otherwise  modify,  any  Compensation  and Benefit Plans or increase the salary,
wage,  bonus  or  other  compensation  of any  employees  except  increases  for
non-executive  employees  occurring in the ordinary and usual course of business
(which  shall  include   normal   periodic   performance   reviews  and  related
compensation and benefit increases);

            (e)  neither  it  nor  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  shall  settle  or
compromise  any material  claims or  litigation  or,  except in the ordinary and
usual  course  of  business,  modify,  amend or  terminate  any of its  material
Contracts or waive, release or assign any material rights or claims;

            (f)  neither  it nor  any of its  Subsidiaries  shall  make  any Tax
election  or  permit  any  insurance  policy  naming  it  as  a  beneficiary  or
loss-payable  payee to be  cancelled  or  terminated  except in the ordinary and
usual course of business; and

            (g) neither it nor any of its  Subsidiaries  will authorize or enter
into an agreement to do any of the foregoing.

            VI.2. ACQUISITION PROPOSALS.  The Company agrees that after the date
hereof  and  prior  to the  earlier  of the  termination  of this  Agreement  in
accordance  with its terms and the  Effective  Time,  neither  it nor any of its
Subsidiaries  nor any of the  officers and  directors of it or its  Subsidiaries
shall,  and that it shall  direct and use its best  efforts to cause its and its
Subsidiaries'  employees,  agents and representatives  (including any investment
banker,  attorney or accountant  retained by it or any of its  Subsidiaries) not
to,  directly  or  indirectly,  initiate  or  solicit,  encourage  or  otherwise
knowingly  facilitate  any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer with
respect to a merger,  reorganization,  share exchange,  consolidation or similar
transaction  involving,  or any  purchase of all or 15% or more of the assets or
any equity  securities of, it or any of its  Subsidiaries  (any such proposal or
offer being hereinafter referred to as an "ACQUISITION  PROPOSAL").  The Company
further  agrees  that  neither  it nor  any of its  Subsidiaries  nor any of the
officers and directors of it or its Subsidiaries shall, and that it shall direct
and use its best efforts to cause its and its  Subsidiaries'  employees,  agents
and  representatives  (including any investment  banker,  attorney or accountant
retained  by it or any of its  Subsidiaries)  not to,  directly  or  indirectly,
engage in any negotiations  concerning,  or provide any confidential information
or data to, or have any discussions with, any Person other than Parent or Merger
Sub relating to an Acquisition  Proposal,  or otherwise facilitate any effort or
attempt to make or implement an Acquisition  Proposal;  PROVIDED,  however, that
nothing  contained in this  Agreement  shall prevent the Company or its Board of
Directors from (A) complying with Rule 14e-2  promulgated under the Exchange Act
with regard to an Acquisition Proposal; (B) providing information in response to
a request  therefor by a

                                      -42-


Person who has made an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal if the
Board of Directors  receives from the Person so requesting  such  information an
executed a customary  form of  confidentiality  agreement;  (C)  engaging in any
negotiations  or discussions  with any Person who has made an  unsolicited  bona
fide written Acquisition Proposal; or (D) withdrawing, modifying or changing, in
a manner  adverse to  Parent,  its  recommendation  to the  stockholders  of the
Company with respect to this Agreement or the Merger,  if and only to the extent
that,  (i) in each such case  referred to in clause (B),  (C) or (D) above,  the
Board of Directors of the Company  determines  in good faith by a majority  vote
after  consultation  with outside legal counsel that failing to take such action
would be reasonably likely to result in a breach of their fiduciary duties under
applicable law and (ii) in each case referred to in clause (C) or (D) above, the
Board of Directors of the Company  determines in good faith (after  consultation
with its financial  advisor) that such  Acquisition  Proposal,  if accepted,  is
reasonably  likely to be consummated,  taking into account all legal,  financial
and  regulatory  aspects of the proposal and the Person  making the proposal and
would, if consummated,  result in a transaction  more favorable to the Company's
stockholders from a financial point of view than the transaction contemplated by
this Agreement (any such more favorable  Acquisition  Proposal being referred to
in this  Agreement as a "SUPERIOR  PROPOSAL").  The Company  agrees that it will
immediately   cease  and  cause  to  be  terminated  any  existing   activities,
discussions  or  negotiations  with any parties  other than Parent or Merger Sub
conducted  heretofore  with respect to any  Acquisitions  Proposal.  The Company
agrees that it will take the necessary  steps to promptly inform any individuals
or entities  referred to in the  preceding  sentence  hereof of the  obligations
undertaken  in this Section 6.2. The Company  agrees that it will notify  Parent
immediately if any such inquiries, proposals or offers are received by, any such
information  is requested  from, or any such  discussions  or  negotiations  are
sought to be initiated or continued with, any of its representatives indicating,
in connection  with such notice,  the name of such Person and the material terms
and  conditions  of any  proposals  or offers and  thereafter  shall keep Parent
informed,  on a current basis,  on the status and terms of any such proposals or
offers and the status of any such discussions or negotiations.  The Company also
agrees that it will promptly  request any Person that has heretofore  executed a
confidentiality  agreement in connection with its  consideration of acquiring it
or any of its  Subsidiaries to return all  confidential  information  heretofore
furnished to such Person by or on behalf of it or any of its Subsidiaries.

            VI.3.  INFORMATION SUPPLIED.  The Company and Parent each agrees, as
to itself and its Subsidiaries,  that none of the information  supplied or to be
supplied by it or its  Subsidiaries  for inclusion or incorporation by reference
in (i) the Registration Statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the SEC by Parent
in  connection  with the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock in the Merger
(including the proxy statement and prospectus (the "PROSPECTUS/PROXY STATEMENT")
constituting  a part thereof) (the "S-4  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT")  will, at the
time the S-4 Registration  Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act,
contain any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit

                                      -43-


to state any material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to make
the  statements  therein,  in light of the  circumstances  under which they were
made, not misleading,  and (ii) the Prospectus/Proxy Statement and any amendment
or supplement  thereto will, at the date of mailing to  stockholders  and at the
times of the meetings of  stockholders  of the Company to be held in  connection
with the Merger,  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.

            VI.4.  STOCKHOLDERS MEETING.  Subject to their fiduciary obligations
under  applicable  law, the  Company's  Board of Directors  shall  recommend the
adoption  of the Merger  Agreement  by  holders of Shares and Class A  Preferred
Shares at the  meeting of such  stockholders  called to  consider  and vote upon
adoption of the Merger Agreement (the "Stockholders Meeting") and shall take all
lawful action to solicit such adoption. Whether or not the Board of Directors of
the Company  determines at any time after the date hereof that this Agreement is
no longer  advisable  and  recommends  that the  holders  of Shares  and Class A
Preferred  Shares  reject it,  the  Company is  required  to, and will take,  in
accordance  with  applicable  law and its  certificate  and by-laws,  all action
necessary to convene the Stockholders  Meeting as promptly as practicable  after
the S-4 Registration  Statement is declared  effective to consider and vote upon
the adoption of this Agreement.

            VI.5. FILINGS;  OTHER ACTIONS;  NOTIFICATION.  (a) The Company shall
promptly  prepare  and file  with the SEC the  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement,  and
Parent  shall  prepare and file with the SEC the S-4  Registration  Statement as
promptly as  practicable.  Parent and the Company each shall use all  reasonable
efforts to have the S-4  Registration  Statement  declared  effective  under the
Securities  Act as promptly  as  practicable  after such  filing,  and  promptly
thereafter  mail  the  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement  to the  stockholders  of the
Company.  Parent  shall also use all  reasonable  efforts to obtain prior to the
effective date of the S-4 Registration  Statement all necessary state securities
law or "blue sky" permits and approvals  required in connection  with the Merger
and to consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and will
pay all expenses incident thereto.

            (b) The Company and Parent shall  cooperate  with each other and use
(and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to use) all reasonable efforts to
take or cause to be taken all  actions,  and do or cause to be done all  things,
necessary,  proper or advisable on its part under this  Agreement and applicable
Laws to  consummate  and make  effective  the Merger and the other  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement as soon as practicable,  including  preparing and
filing as promptly as  practicable  all  documentation  to effect all  necessary
notices,  reports and other filings and to obtain as promptly as practicable all
consents,  registrations,  approvals,  permits and  authorizations  necessary or


                                      -44-


advisable to be obtained from any third party and/or any Governmental  Entity in
order to consummate the Merger or any of the other transactions  contemplated by
this  Agreement;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that  nothing in this  Section  6.5 shall
require, or be construed to require,  Parent to proffer to, or agree to, sell or
hold separate and agree to sell, before or after the Effective Time, any assets,
businesses,  or interest in any assets or businesses  of Parent,  the Company or
any of their  respective  Affiliates (or to consent to any sale, or agreement to
sell,  by the  Company  of any of its assets or  businesses)  or to agree to any
material  changes  or  restriction  in the  operations  of any  such  assets  or
businesses.  Subject to applicable laws relating to the exchange of information,
Parent and the  Company  shall have the right to review in  advance,  and to the
extent practicable each will consult the other on, all the information  relating
to  Parent  or the  Company,  as the  case may be,  and any of their  respective
Subsidiaries,  that  appear  in any  filing  made  with,  or  written  materials
submitted to, any third party and/or any Governmental  Entity in connection with
the  Merger  and the  other  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement.  In
exercising  the  foregoing  right,  each of the  Company  and  Parent  shall act
reasonably and as promptly as practicable.

            (c) The Company and Parent  each shall,  upon  request by the other,
furnish the other with all  information  concerning  itself,  its  Subsidiaries,
directors, officers and stockholders and such other matters as may be reasonably
necessary or advisable in connection with the  Prospectus/Proxy  Statement,  the
S-4 Registration Statement or any other statement, filing, notice or application
made  by or on  behalf  of  Parent,  the  Company  or  any of  their  respective
Subsidiaries  to any third party and/or any  Governmental  Entity in  connection
with the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

            (d) The Company and Parent each shall keep the other apprised of the
status of  matters  relating  to  completion  of the  transactions  contemplated
hereby,  including promptly furnishing the other with copies of notices or other
communications  received by Parent or the Company, as the case may be, or any of
its  Subsidiaries,  from any third  party  and/or any  Governmental  Entity with
respect to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

            VI.6.  TAXATION.  Subject to  Section  6.2,  neither  Parent nor the
Company shall take or cause to be taken any action,  whether before or after the
Effective Time, that would  disqualify the Merger as a  "reorganization"  within
the meaning of Section  368(a) of the Code if the Average  Parent Share Price is
greater than or equal to the Floor Price.

            VI.7. ACCESS. Upon reasonable notice, and except as may otherwise be
required by applicable law, the Company shall (and shall cause its  Subsidiaries
to) afford the Parent's  officers,  employees,  counsel,  accountants  and other
authorized representatives  ("REPRESENTATIVES") reasonable access, during normal
business hours throughout the period prior to the earlier of termination of this
Agreement  in  accordance

                                      -45-


with its terms and the Effective Time, to its properties,  books,  contracts and
records and,  during such period,  each shall (and shall cause its  Subsidiaries
to)  furnish  promptly to the other all  information  concerning  its  business,
properties  and  personnel as may  reasonably  be  requested,  PROVIDED  that no
investigation  pursuant to this Section  shall affect or be deemed to modify any
representation or warranty made by the Company, and PROVIDED,  FURTHER, that the
foregoing shall not require the Company to permit any inspection, or to disclose
any  information,  that would result in the  disclosure  of any trade secrets of
third parties or violate any of its obligations with respect to  confidentiality
if the Company shall have used its  reasonable  efforts to obtain the consent of
such third party to such inspection or disclosure.  All requests for information
made pursuant to this Section  shall be directed to an executive  officer of the
Company, or such Person as may be designated by its executive officers. All such
information shall be governed by the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement.

            VI.8.  AFFILIATES.  At  least  30  days  prior  to the  Stockholders
Meeting,  the Company  shall  deliver to Parent a list of names and addresses of
those Persons who will be, in the opinion of the Company,  as of the time of the
Stockholders Meeting, "affiliates" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 145
under  the  Securities  Act.  There  shall be added to such  list the  names and
addresses of any other Person  subsequently  identified  by either Parent or the
Company as a Person who may be deemed to be such an  affiliate of the Company at
such time; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that no such Person identified by Parent shall be
added to the list of  affiliates of the Company if Parent shall receive from the
Company,  on or before  the date of the  Stockholders  Meeting,  an  opinion  of
counsel reasonably  satisfactory to Parent to the effect that such Person is not
such an  affiliate.  The Company  shall  exercise its best efforts to deliver or
cause to be delivered to Parent, prior to the date of the Stockholders  Meeting,
from each affiliate of the Company who makes a Stock Election  identified in the
foregoing list (as the same may be supplemented as aforesaid), a letter dated as
of the  Closing  Date  substantially  in the form  attached  as Exhibit A-1 (the
"AFFILIATES LETTER"). Parent shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness
of the S-4 Registration  Statement or any other registration statement under the
Securities  Act for the  purposes  of  resale  of  Parent  Common  Stock by such
affiliates  received  in the Merger  and the  certificates  representing  Parent
Common Stock received by such affiliates shall bear a customary legend regarding
applicable Securities Act restrictions and the provisions of this Section.

            VI.9.  STOCK EXCHANGE  LISTING AND DE-LISTING.  Parent shall use its
best  efforts  to cause the  shares of Parent  Common  Stock to be issued in the
Merger to be  approved  for  listing on the ASE  subject to  official  notice of
issuance,  prior to the Closing Date.  The Surviving  Corporation  shall use its
best efforts to cause the Shares to be de-listed from the ASE and  de-registered
under the Exchange Act as soon as practicable following the Effective Time.


                                      -46-


            VI.10.  PUBLICITY.  The initial press release shall be a joint press
release and thereafter the Company and Parent each shall consult with each other
prior to issuing any press  releases or otherwise  making  public  announcements
with  respect  to the  Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement  and prior to making  any  filings  with any third  party  and/or  any
Governmental  Entity (including any national  securities  exchange) with respect
thereto,  except as may be  required  by law or by  obligations  pursuant to any
listing agreement with or rules of any national securities exchange.

            VI.11.  Benefits.

            (a) STOCK  OPTIONS.  At the Effective  Time,  each then  outstanding
option to purchase  Shares  ("OPTION")  under the Stock Plan,  whether vested or
unvested, shall be cancelled and the holder thereof shall be entitled to receive
an amount of cash equal to the product of (x) the  amount,  if any, by which the
Share Cash Merger Consideration  exceeds the exercise price per Share under such
Option and (y) the number of Shares issuable pursuant to the unexercised portion
of such  Option,  less any  required  withholding  of taxes (such  amount  being
hereinafter referred to as the "OPTION CONSIDERATION"). The Option Consideration
shall be paid as soon as practicable  following the Effective Time. Prior to the
Effective  Time,  the Company  shall take such  actions as may be  necessary  to
effectuate the foregoing,  including without limitation obtaining all applicable
consents. The cancellation of an Option in exchange for the Option Consideration
shall be deemed a release  of any and all  rights the holder had or may have had
in respect of such  Option,  and any  required  consents  received  from  Option
holders shall so provide.

            (b)  EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

            (i) Each of Parent and Merger  Sub  agrees  that,  during the period
      commencing  at the  Effective  Time and  ending on the  first  anniversary
      thereof,  the employees of the Surviving  Corporation and its Subsidiaries
      will continue to be provided with benefits  under  employee  benefit plans
      (other than plans involving the issuance of Shares) that are substantially
      similar in the  aggregate to those  currently  provided by the Company and
      its  Subsidiaries  to such  employees.  Parent shall,  and shall cause the
      Surviving  Corporation  to,  honor all  employee  benefit  obligations  to
      current and former  employees under the Compensation and Benefit Plans and
      all employee severance plans (or policies) in existence on the date hereof
      and all employment or severance  agreements entered into by the Company or
      adopted by the board of directors of the Company prior to the date hereof.
      Parent agrees to offer or cause Merger Sub to offer  employment  contracts
      with  the  persons  and on the  terms  set  forth  on  Schedule  I to this
      Agreement  immediately  prior to the Effective Time.  Nothing herein shall
      prevent Parent from terminating any Compensation and Benefit Plan.

                                      -47-



            (ii) Each of Parent and Merger Sub agrees that the  employees of the
      Surviving   Corporation   shall   receive  full  credit  for  purposes  of
      eligibility  and vesting under the employee  benefit plans or arrangements
      maintained by the Surviving  Corporation for such employees'  service with
      the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  to the same extent  recognized by
      the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time.

            VI.12. EXPENSES. The Surviving Corporation shall pay all charges and
expenses,  including  those  of the  Exchange  Agent,  in  connection  with  the
transactions  contemplated  in  Article  IV,  and  Parent  shall  reimburse  the
Surviving  Corporation  for such  charges  and  expenses.  Except  as  otherwise
provided in Section 8.5(b), whether or not the Merger is consummated,  all costs
and expenses  incurred in connection  with this Agreement and the Merger and the
other  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement  shall be paid by the party
incurring  such expense,  except that expenses  incurred in connection  with the
filing fee for the S-4  Registration  Statement  and  printing  and  mailing the
Prospectus/Proxy  Statement and the S-4  Registration  Statement shall be shared
equally by Parent and the Company.

            VI.13. INDEMNIFICATION; DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' Insurance. (a) From
and after  the  Effective  Time,  Parent  and the  Surviving  Corporation  shall
indemnify and hold harmless each present and former  director and officer of the
Company,  (when  acting in such  capacity or when  serving at the request of the
Company  as  a  director  or  officer  of  a  Subsidiary  or  a  fiduciary  of a
Compensation  and  Benefits  Plan)  determined  as of the  Effective  Time  (the
"INDEMNIFIED  PARTIES"),  against  any costs or expenses  (including  reasonable
attorneys'  fees),  judgments,  fines,  losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities
(collectively,  "COSTS")  incurred in connection with any claim,  action,  suit,
proceeding  or  investigation,   whether  civil,  criminal,   administrative  or
investigative,  resulting from matters  existing or occurring at or prior to the
Effective  Time  (including,   without  limitation,  any  claim,  action,  suit,
proceeding or investigation resulting from the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement),  whether  asserted  or claimed  prior to, at or after the  Effective
Time,  to the fullest  extent that the Company would have been  permitted  under
Delaware law and its  certificate of  incorporation  or by-laws in effect on the
date hereof to indemnify  such Person (and Parent or the  Surviving  Corporation
shall also advance  expenses as incurred to the fullest extent  permitted  under
applicable law,  PROVIDED,  the Person to whom expenses are advanced provides an
undertaking  to repay such  advances if it is  ultimately  determined  that such
Person is not entitled to  indemnification),  and  PROVIDED,  FURTHER,  that any
determination  required  to be made with  respect  to whether  an  officer's  or
director's  conduct complies with the standards set forth under Delaware law and
the  Company's  certificate  of  incorporation  and  by-laws  shall  be  made by
independent counsel selected by the Surviving Corporation.

            (b) Any  Indemnified  Party wishing to claim  indemnification  under


                                      -48-


paragraph  (a) of this Section 6.13,  upon  learning of any such claim,  action,
suit,  proceeding  or  investigation,  shall  promptly  notify  Parent  and  the
Surviving  Corporation  thereof,  but the failure to so notify shall not relieve
Parent  or the  Surviving  Corporation  of any  liability  it may  have  to such
Indemnified Party if such failure does not materially prejudice the indemnifying
party. In the event of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation
(whether  arising  before  or after  the  Effective  Time),  (i)  Parent  or the
Surviving  Corporation  shall have the right to assume the  defense  thereof and
Parent shall not be liable to such Indemnified Parties for any legal expenses of
other counsel or any other expenses  subsequently  incurred by such  Indemnified
Parties in  connection  with the defense  thereof,  (ii) Parent,  the  Surviving
Corporation  and the  Indemnified  Parties will  cooperate in the defense of any
such matter and (iii) Parent and the Surviving  Corporation  shall not be liable
for any  settlement  effected  without its prior written  consent (which consent
will not be unreasonably withheld);  and PROVIDED,  FURTHER, that Parent and the
Surviving Corporation shall not have any obligation hereunder to any Indemnified
Party if and when a court of competent  jurisdiction shall ultimately determine,
and such determination shall have become final, that the indemnification of such
Indemnified Party in the manner  contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable
law.

            (c)  Parent  shall and  shall  cause the  Surviving  Corporation  to
maintain the Company's  existing  officers' and directors'  liability  insurance
("D&O  INSURANCE") for a period of six years after the Effective Time so long as
the annual premium  therefor is not in excess of 200% of the last annual premium
paid prior to the date hereof (the "CURRENT PREMIUM");  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that
if the existing D&O Insurance  expires,  is terminated or cancelled  during such
six-year period,  Parent shall and shall cause the Surviving  Corporation to use
all  reasonable  efforts to obtain as much D&O  Insurance as can be obtained for
the  remainder  of such  period for a premium  not in excess  (on an  annualized
basis) of 200% of the  Current  Premium.  The  Company  will use all  reasonable
efforts to obtain officers and directors liability insurance to become effective
at the Effective Time with coverage  amounts and a term reasonably  satisfactory
to Parent.

            (d)  If  Parent  or  the  Surviving  Corporation  or  any  of  their
respective  successors or assigns (i) shall  consolidate  with or merge into any
other  corporation  or  entity  and  shall not be the  continuing  or  surviving
corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) shall transfer all
or substantially all of its properties and assets to any individual, corporation
or other entity, then, and in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so
that the successors and assigns of Parent or the Surviving  Corporation,  as the
case may be, shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section.

            (e) The provisions of this Section 6.13 shall survive the closing of
the transactions contemplated hereby, and are intended to be for the benefit of,
and shall be enforceable  by, each of the Indemnified  Parties,  their heirs and
their representatives.


                                      -49-


            VI.14. OTHER ACTIONS BY THE COMPANY;  TAKEOVER  STATUTES;  CHANGE OF
CONTROL  OFFER.  The Company shall  repurchase the  outstanding  Class A Warrant
immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time for $1.00.  The Company shall use all
reasonable efforts to obtain such waivers, consents and estoppel certificates as
Parent  shall  reasonably  request,  upon  terms  and  conditions  and in a form
reasonably  satisfactory to Parent with respect to any material Contracts of the
Company or its  Subsidiaries,  it being  understood  and agreed that the Company
shall not amend or agree to amend such Contracts or make any additional payments
or incur any additional  obligations or grant any additional  rights in order to
obtain such waivers,  consents and  certificates  without Parent's prior written
consent.  If any Takeover  Statute is or may become  applicable to the Merger or
the  other  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or the  Stockholders
Agreements,  the Company and its Board of Directors  shall grant such  approvals
and  take  such  actions  as are  necessary  so that  such  transactions  may be
consummated  as  promptly  as  practicable  on the  terms  contemplated  by this
Agreement and the Stockholders  Agreements or by the Merger and otherwise act to
eliminate  or  minimize  the  effects  of such  statute  or  regulation  on such
transactions.  The Company  agrees that it will mail a notice with  respect to a
Change of Control Offer (as defined in the Indenture,  dated as of June 12, 1998
(the  "INDENTURE"),  between the  Company and The Bank of New York,  as Trustee,
relating to the  Company's  outstanding  10 7/8% Senior  Notes due June 12, 2008
(the "NOTES"))  pursuant to Section 4.19 of the Indenture,  within five business
days of the date  hereof and shall  provide  that the Change of Control  Payment
Date (as defined in the Indenture)  with respect to such Change of Control Offer
shall not, without  Parent's written consent,  be more than thirty days from the
date such notice is mailed. If the Company complies with preceding sentence and,
prior to the Change of Control Payment Date, there has been no public disclosure
of any  events,  conditions,  circumstances  or other  matters  relating  to the
Company or its Subsidiaries the subject matter of which represents, individually
or in the  aggregate  (and without  giving  effect to any  qualifications  as to
"Company Material Adverse Effect," "material" or other similar  qualifications),
a breach of the  representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
Agreement  as of the date  hereof,  which  breaches  have had or are  reasonably
likely to have, a Company  Material  Adverse Effect or are reasonably  likely to
prevent the Company from  consummating  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement, on the Change of Control Payment Date, Parent will purchase any Notes
required  to be  purchased  by the  Company  pursuant  to such Change of Control
Offer.

            6.15. PARENT VOTE. Parent shall vote (or consent with respect to) or
cause  to be voted  (or a  consent  to be given  with  respect  to) any  Company
Securities  entitled  to vote and any  shares  of  common  stock of  Merger  Sub
beneficially owned by it or any of its Affiliates or with respect to which it or
any of its Affiliates has the power (by agreement,  proxy or otherwise) to cause
to be voted (or to provide a consent),  in favor of the adoption and approval of
this  Agreement  at any  meeting of  stockholders  of the Company or Merger Sub,
respectively,  at which this  Agreement  shall be  submitted  for

                                      -50-


adoption and approval and at all adjournments or  postponements  thereof (or, if
applicable, by any action of stockholders of either the Company or Merger Sub by
consent in lieu of a  meeting),  and shall  cause a meeting of  stockholders  of
Merger Sub to be called for such purpose  unless such action is taken by consent
in lieu thereof.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                   Conditions

            VII.1.  CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S  OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE MERGER.
The  respective  obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject to the
satisfaction  or  waiver  at or  prior  to the  Effective  Time  of  each of the
following conditions:

            (a)  STOCKHOLDER  APPROVAL.  This  Agreement  shall  have  been duly
adopted by holders of Company Securities constituting the Company Requisite Vote
and shall  have been  duly  adopted  by the sole  stockholder  of Merger  Sub in
accordance  with  applicable  law and the  certificate  and by-laws of each such
corporation.

            (b) ASE LISTING.  The shares of Parent Common Stock  issuable to the
Company  stockholders  pursuant to this Agreement shall have been authorized for
listing on the ASE upon official notice of issuance.

            (c)  REGULATORY  CONSENTS.  The  waiting  period  applicable  to the
consummation  of the  Merger  under  the  HSR Act  shall  have  expired  or been
terminated  and, other than the filing provided for in Section 1.3, all notices,
reports and other filings required to be made prior to the Effective Time by the
Company  or  Parent  or any of  their  respective  Subsidiaries  with,  and  all
consents,  registrations,  approvals,  permits and authorizations required to be
obtained  prior to the  Effective  Time by the Company or Parent or any of their
respective   Subsidiaries   from,   any   Governmental   Entity   (collectively,
"GOVERNMENTAL  CONSENTS") in connection  with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement  and  the  consummation  of the  Merger  and  the  other  transactions
contemplated  hereby by the Company,  Parent and Merger Sub shall have been made
or obtained (as the case may be).

            (d)  LITIGATION.  No  court  or  Governmental  Entity  of  competent
jurisdiction shall have enacted,  issued,  promulgated,  enforced or entered any
statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction or other
order  (whether  temporary,  preliminary  or  permanent)  that is in effect  and
restrains,  enjoins or  otherwise  prohibits  consummation  of the Merger or the
other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement  (collectively,  an "ORDER"),
and no Governmental Entity shall have instituted any proceeding or threatened to
institute any proceeding seeking any such Order.


                                      -51-


            (e) S-4. The S-4 Registration  Statement shall have become effective
under the Securities Act. No stop order suspending the  effectiveness of the S-4
Registration  Statement  shall have been  issued,  and no  proceedings  for that
purpose shall have been initiated or be threatened, by the SEC.

            VII.2.  CONDITIONS  TO  OBLIGATIONS  OF PARENT AND MERGER  Sub.  The
obligations  of Parent and  Merger Sub to effect the Merger are also  subject to
the  satisfaction  or waiver by Parent at or prior to the Effective  Time of the
following conditions:

            (a)   REPRESENTATIONS   AND  WARRANTIES.   The  representations  and
warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement  shall be true and correct
as of the date of this  Agreement  and as of the Closing  Date as though made on
and as of the  Closing  Date  (except to the extent any such  representation  or
warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date), and Parent shall have received
a certificate  signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer of
the Company to such effect;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that notwithstanding  anything
herein  to the  contrary,  this  Section  7.2(a)  shall be  deemed  to have been
satisfied even if such  representations or warranties  (without giving effect to
any  qualifications  as to "Company  Material  Adverse  Effect,"  "material"  or
similar  qualifications)  are not so true and correct unless the failure of such
representations or warranties (without giving effect to any qualifications as to
"Company Material Adverse Effect,"  "material" or similar  qualifications) to be
so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, has had, or is reasonably
likely to have, a Company  Material  Adverse  Effect or is reasonably  likely to
prevent the Company from  consummating  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement.

            (b)  PERFORMANCE OF  OBLIGATIONS  OF THE COMPANY.  The Company shall
have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed
by it under this  Agreement  at or prior to the Closing  Date,  and Parent shall
have  received  a  certificate  signed  on behalf  of the  Company  by the Chief
Executive of the Company to such effect.

            (c) CONSENTS UNDER  AGREEMENTS.  The Company shall have obtained the
consent or approval of each Person whose  consent or approval  shall be required
under the Contracts listed in Section 7.2(c) of the Parent Disclosure Letter and
all other  consents or approvals  from each Person whose  consent or approval is
required under any Contract except for such consents or approvals the failure to
obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to have
a Company Material Adverse Effect or be reasonably likely to prevent the Company
from consummating the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

            (d) TAX OPINION.  If, and only if, the Average Parent Share Price is
greater

                                      -52-


than or equal to the Floor Price (and treated as being  greater than or equal to
the Floor Price after giving  effect to Section  4.2(a)(iv)),  Parent shall have
received  the  opinion of  Sullivan  &  Cromwell,  counsel to Parent,  dated the
Closing Date,  to the effect that the Merger will be treated for federal  income
tax  purposes as a  reorganization  within the meaning of Section  368(a) of the
Code,  and that each of Parent,  Merger Sub and the  Company  will be a party to
that reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code.

            (e)  RESIGNATIONS.  Parent shall have received the  resignations  of
each director of the Company.

            (f)  EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENTS.  Parent  and/or  Merger  Sub shall have
entered into an  Employment  Agreement  with A. Dale Mayo,  in the form attached
hereto as Schedule II.

            (g)  AFFILIATES  LETTERS.  Parent shall have  received an Affiliates
Letter from each Person  identified  as an affiliate of the Company  pursuant to
Section 6.8.

            VII.3.  CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY.  The  obligation of
the Company to effect the Merger is also subject to the  satisfaction  or waiver
by the Company at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

            (a)   REPRESENTATIONS   AND  WARRANTIES.   The  representations  and
warranties  of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in this  Agreement  shall be true
and correct as of the date of this  Agreement and as of the Closing Date (except
that the  representations  and  warranties of Parent and Merger Sub contained in
Sections  5.2(c),  (g),  (h) and (i)  shall  not be  required  to be so true and
correct  as of such  dates if the  Average  Parent  Price is less than the Floor
Price,  and in  which  event  neither  Parent  nor  Merger  Sub  shall  have any
obligation  or liability  (and the Company shall have no rights) in respect of a
breach of such  representations  and warranties) as though made on and as of the
Closing  Date,  (except  to the  extent  any such  representation  and  warranty
expressly  speaks as of an earlier  date) and the Company  shall have received a
certificate  signed on behalf of Parent by an executive officer of Parent and an
executive  officer  of  Merger  Sub to  such  effect;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that
notwithstanding  anything  herein to the contrary,  this Section 7.3(a) shall be
deemed  to  have  been  satisfied  even if such  representations  or  warranties
(without  giving effect to any  qualifications  as to "Parent  Material  Adverse
Effect,"  "material"  or  similar  qualifications)  are not so true and  correct
unless the failure of such  representations or warranties (without giving effect
to any  qualifications  as to "Parent Material  Adverse  Effect,"  "material" or
similar  qualifications)  to be so  true  and  correct,  individually  or in the
aggregate,  has had, or is reasonably  likely to have, a Parent Material Adverse
Effect  or  is  reasonably  likely  to  prevent  Parent  from  consummating  the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.


                                      -53-


            (b)  PERFORMANCE  OF  OBLIGATIONS  OF PARENT AND MERGER Sub. Each of
Parent  and  Merger  Sub shall  have  performed  in all  material  respects  all
obligations  required to be performed by it under this  Agreement at or prior to
the Closing Date,  and the Company  shall have received a certificate  signed on
behalf of  Parent  and  Merger  Sub by an  executive  officer  of Parent  and an
executive officer of Merger Sub to such effect.

            (c) TAX OPINION.  If, and only if, the Average Parent Share Price is
greater than or equal to Floor Price (and treated as being greater than or equal
to the Floor Price after giving effect to Section 4.2(a)(iv)), the Company shall
have  received the opinion of  Kirkpatrick  & Lockhart,  counsel to the Company,
dated the  Closing  Date,  to the  effect  that the Merger  will be treated  for
federal  income tax purposes as a  reorganization  within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code, and that each of Parent,  Merger Sub and the Company will be
a party to that reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   Termination

            VIII.1.  TERMINATION  BY  MUTUAL  CONSENT.  This  Agreement  may  be
terminated  and the Merger may be abandoned  at any time prior to the  Effective
Time,  whether before or after the approval by  stockholders  of the Company and
Parent referred to in Section  7.1(a),  by mutual written consent of the Company
and Parent by action of their respective Boards of Directors.

            VIII.2.  TERMINATION BY EITHER PARENT OR THE COMPANY. This Agreement
may be  terminated  and the  Merger  may be  abandoned  at any time prior to the
Effective  Time by  action  of the Board of  Directors  of either  Parent or the
Company if (i) the Merger shall not have been  consummated by February 28, 1999,
whether such date is before or after the date of approval by the stockholders of
the Company;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that if Parent determines that additional time
is necessary in order to  forestall  any action to restrain,  enjoin or prohibit
the Merger by any Government  Entity,  the  Termination  Date may be extended by
Parent to a date not beyond April 30, 1999 (the  "TERMINATION  DATE"),  (ii) the
adoption of this Agreement by Company's  stockholders required by Section 7.1(a)
shall not have been  obtained  at a meeting  duly  convened  therefor  or at any
adjournment or postponement thereof, or (iii) any Order permanently restraining,
enjoining or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger shall become final
and non-appealable  (whether before or after the approval by the stockholders of
the Company;  PROVIDED,  that the right to terminate this Agreement  pursuant to
clause (i) above shall not be  available  to any party that has  breached in any
material  respect its

                                      -54-


obligations  under  this  Agreement  in any manner  that shall have  proximately
caused the event that would  otherwise  give rise to a right to  terminate  this
Agreement.

            VIII.3. TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY. This Agreement may be terminated
and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether
before or after the  approval  by  stockholders  of the  Company  referred to in
Section 7.1(a),  by action of the Board of Directors of the Company if there has
been a material breach by Parent or Merger Sub of any representation,  warranty,
covenant or  agreement  contained in this  Agreement  that is not curable or, if
curable,  is not cured  within 30 days after  written  notice of such  breach is
given by the Company to the party committing such breach.

            VIII.4.  TERMINATION BY PARENT. This Agreement may be terminated and
the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by action of
the Board of  Directors  of Parent if (i) the Board of  Directors of the Company
shall have  withdrawn or adversely  modified its approval or  recommendation  of
this Agreement or approved or recommended a Superior  Proposal or (ii) there has
been a material breach by the Company of any representation,  warranty, covenant
or agreement  contained in this Agreement that is not curable or, if curable, is
not cured within 30 days after written  notice of such breach is given by Parent
to the party committing such breach.

            VIII.5.  EFFECT OF TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT.  (a) In the event of
termination of this Agreement and the abandonment of the Merger pursuant to this
Article  VIII,  this  Agreement  (other than as set forth in Section  9.1) shall
become void and of no effect with no  liability  on the part of any party hereto
(or of any of its directors,  officers,  employees,  agents, legal and financial
advisors  or other  representatives);  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  except as  otherwise
provided  herein,  no such  termination  shall  relieve any party  hereto of any
liability or damages resulting from any breach of this Agreement.

            (b) In the event that (i) an  Acquisition  Proposal  shall have been
made to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its stockholders or any
Person shall have publicly  announced an intention  (whether or not conditional)
to make an  Acquisition  Proposal  with  respect  to the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries and thereafter this Agreement is terminated by either Parent or the
Company  pursuant to Section  8.2(ii)or  (ii) this  Agreement is  terminated  by
Parent  pursuant to Section 8.4(i),  then the Company shall promptly,  but in no
event  later  than two days  after the date of such  termination,  pay  Parent a
termination fee of $1,600,000 and shall promptly, but in no event later than two
days  after  being  notified  of such by  Parent,  pay  all of the  charges  and
expenses,  including those of the Exchange  Agent,  incurred by Parent or Merger
Sub in connection with this Agreement and the transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement  up to a maximum  amount of  $400,000,  in each case  payable  by wire
transfer  of same day  funds.  The  Company  acknowledges  that  the  agreements
contained  in this  Section  8.5(b)  are an

                                      -55-


integral part of the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  and that,
without  these  agreements,  Parent  and  Merger  Sub would not enter  into this
Agreement;  accordingly,  if the Company  fails to  promptly  pay the amount due
pursuant to this Section 8.5(b), and, in order to obtain such payment, Parent or
Merger Sub commences a suit which results in a judgment  against the Company for
the fee set forth in this  paragraph  (b),  the  Company  shall pay to Parent or
Merger Sub its costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees) in connection with
such suit,  together with interest on the amount of the fee at the prime rate of
The Chase  Manhattan  Bank, N.A. in effect on the date such payment was required
to be made.



                                   ARTICLE IX

                            Miscellaneous and General

            IX.1.  SURVIVAL.  This Article IX and the agreements of the Company,
Parent and Merger Sub contained in Sections 6.6 (Taxation),  6.9 (Stock Exchange
Listing  and   De-listing),   6.11   (Benefits),   6.12   (Expenses)   and  6.13
(Indemnification;   Directors'  and  Officers'   Insurance)  shall  survive  the
consummation  of the Merger.  This  Article IX, the  agreements  of the Company,
Parent and Merger Sub contained in Section 6.12 (Expenses),  Section 8.5 (Effect
of Termination and Abandonment) shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
All  other  representations,   warranties,  covenants  and  agreements  in  this
Agreement shall not survive the consummation of the Merger or the termination of
this Agreement.

            IX.2.  MODIFICATION  OR  AMENDMENT.  Subject  to the  provisions  of
applicable  law, at any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties hereto may
modify or amend this Agreement,  by written agreement  executed and delivered by
duly authorized officers of the respective parties.

            IX.3.  WAIVER OF CONDITIONS.  The conditions to each of the parties'
obligations  to consummate the Merger are for the sole benefit of such party and
may be  waived  by such  party in whole or in part to the  extent  permitted  by
applicable law.

            IX.4.    COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an
original instrument, and all such counterparts shall together
constitute the same agreement.

            IX.5.  GOVERNING  LAW AND  VENUE;  WAIVER  OF JURY  TRIAL.  (A) THIS
AGREEMENT  SHALL  BE  DEEMED  TO BE  MADE  IN  AND  IN  ALL  RESPECTS  SHALL  BE
INTERPRETED,  CONSTRUED

                                      -56-


AND GOVERNED BY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE  WITHOUT
REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF. The parties hereby irrevocably
submit  to the  jurisdiction  of the  courts of the  State of  Delaware  and the
Federal courts of the United States of America  located in the State of Delaware
solely in respect of the  interpretation  and  enforcement  of the provisions of
this  Agreement  and of the  documents  referred  to in this  Agreement,  and in
respect of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby waive, and agree not
to assert, as a defense in any action, suit or proceeding for the interpretation
or enforcement hereof or of any such document, that it is not subject thereto or
that such action,  suit or proceeding may not be brought or is not  maintainable
in said  courts or that the venue  thereof may not be  appropriate  or that this
Agreement or any such document may not be enforced in or by such courts, and the
parties hereto  irrevocably agree that all claims with respect to such action or
proceeding  shall be heard and  determined  in such a Delaware  State or Federal
court. The parties hereby consent to and grant any such court  jurisdiction over
the person of such parties and over the subject matter of such dispute and agree
that  mailing of process or other papers in  connection  with any such action or
proceeding in the manner  provided in Section 9.6 or in such other manner as may
be permitted by law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.

            (b) EACH PARTY  ACKNOWLEDGES  AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY  WHICH
MAY ARISE UNDER THIS  AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE  COMPLICATED  AND DIFFICULT
ISSUES,  AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY  IRREVOCABLY  AND  UNCONDITIONALLY
WAIVES  ANY  RIGHT  SUCH  PARTY  MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN  RESPECT  OF ANY
LITIGATION  DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT,
OR THE  TRANSACTIONS  CONTEMPLATED BY THIS  AGREEMENT.  EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND
ACKNOWLEDGES  THAT (i) NO  REPRESENTATIVE,  AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY
HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE
EVENT OF  LITIGATION,  SEEK TO ENFORCE  THE  FOREGOING  WAIVER,  (ii) EACH PARTY
UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) EACH PARTY
MAKES THIS  WAIVER  VOLUNTARILY,  AND (iv) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN  INDUCED TO ENTER
INTO  THIS   AGREEMENT   BY,  AMONG  OTHER  THINGS,   THE  MUTUAL   WAIVERS  AND
CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.5.

            IX.6. NOTICES. Any notice, request, instruction or other document to
be given  hereunder by any party to the others shall be in writing and delivered
personally or sent by  registered  or certified  mail,  postage  prepaid,  or by
facsimile:

            IF TO PARENT OR MERGER SUB:

                                      -57-


            Cablevision Systems Corporation,
            One Media Crossways,
            Woodbury, New York 11797.
            Attention:  General Counsel
            fax:  (516) 364-8501.

            (with copies to:

            John P. Mead, Esq.
            Duncan C. McCurrach, Esq.
            Sullivan & Cromwell,
            125 Broad Street,
            New York, New York  10004
            fax:  (212) 558-3588.)

            IF TO THE COMPANY:

            Clearview Cinema Group, Inc.
            97 Main Street,
            Chatham, New Jersey 07928.
            Attention:  Chief Executive Officer
            fax:  (973) 377-4303

            (with a copies to:

            Warren Colodner, Esq.,
            Janice C. Hartman, Esq.
            Kirkpatrick & Lockhart,
            1251 Sixth Avenue, 45th Floor,
            New York, New York 10022
            fax: (212) 536-3901.)

or to such other  persons or  addresses as may be  designated  in writing by the
party to receive such notice as provided above.

            IX.7. ENTIRE.  This Agreement  (including any exhibits hereto),  the
Company  Disclosure  Letter,  the Parent Disclosure Letter constitute the entire
agreement,   and   supersede   all  other  prior   agreements,   understandings,
representations  and warranties both written and oral,  among the parties,  with
respect to the subject matter hereof.

            IX.8. NO THIRD PARTY  BENEFICIARIES.  Except as provided in Sections


                                      -58-


6.13  (Indemnification;  Directors' and Officers' Insurance),  this Agreement is
not intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties  hereto any rights
or remedies hereunder.

            IX.9.  OBLIGATIONS  OF  PARENT  AND OF THE  COMPANY.  Whenever  this
Agreement  requires a Subsidiary of Parent to take any action,  such requirement
shall be deemed to  include an  undertaking  on the part of Parent to cause such
Subsidiary to take such action. Whenever this Agreement requires a Subsidiary of
the Company to take any action,  such requirement  shall be deemed to include an
undertaking  on the part of the  Company to cause such  Subsidiary  to take such
action and, after the Effective  Time, on the part of the Surviving  Corporation
to cause such Subsidiary to take such action.

            IX.10.  TRANSFER  TAXES.  Any liability  arising out of the New York
City Real Property  Gains Tax, if applicable and due with respect to the Merger,
shall be borne by the Company,  as well as real property transfer taxes, if any,
payable in any other  jurisdiction  where any of the Company Real  Properties is
situated. The parties shall cooperate in the allocation of the purchase price in
a fair and reasonable manner so as to determine what, if any value is being paid
for each of the  Company  Real  Properties  which may be  subject to such a real
estate  transfer tax, and the parties shall  complete and file all required real
property transfer tax forms. All other transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp,
registration  and other such Taxes and fees  (including  penalties and interest)
incurred in  connection  with the Merger  shall be paid by Parent and Merger Sub
when due, and Parent and Merger Sub will indemnify the Company against liability
for any such taxes.

            IX.11.  SEVERABILITY.  The  provisions  of this  Agreement  shall be
deemed severable and the invalidity or  unenforceability  of any provision shall
not affect the validity or enforceability or the other provisions hereof. If any
provision of this  Agreement,  or the  application  thereof to any Person or any
circumstance,  is  invalid  or  unenforceable,  (a)  a  suitable  and  equitable
provision shall be substituted  therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be
valid and  enforceable,  the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable
provision and (b) the remainder of this  Agreement and the  application  of such
provision  to other  Persons  or  circumstances  shall not be  affected  by such
invalidity or  unenforceability,  nor shall such invalidity or  unenforceability
affect the validity or  enforceability  of such  provision,  or the  application
thereof, in any other jurisdiction.

            IX.12. INTERPRETATION. The table of contents and headings herein are
for  convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and
shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise  affect any of the provisions  hereof.
Where a  reference  in this  Agreement  is made to a Section  or  Exhibit,  such
reference shall be to a Section of or Exhibit to this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated.  Whenever the words "include,"  "includes" or "including" are used in
this  Agreement,  they  shall be deemed  to be  followed  by the words  "without
limitation."

                                      -59-


            IX.13.  ASSIGNMENT.  This  Agreement  shall  not  be  assignable  by
operation of law or otherwise;  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Parent may designate, by
written  notice  to  the  Company,   another  wholly-owned  direct  or  indirect
subsidiary to be a Constituent Corporation in lieu of Merger Sub, in which event
all  references  herein to Merger Sub shall be deemed  references  to such other
subsidiary,  except that all  representations  and  warranties  made herein with
respect  to  Merger  Sub as of the  date  of  this  Agreement  shall  be  deemed
representations  and warranties made with respect to such other subsidiary as of
the date of such designation.




            IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  this  Agreement  has been duly  executed  and
delivered by the duly  authorized  officers of the parties hereto as of the date
first written above.


                              CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION



                              By: /s/ ANDREW B. ROSENGARD
                                  ----------------------- 
                                  Name: Andrew B. Rosengard
                                  Title: Executive Vice President


                              CCG HOLDINGS INC.



                              By: /s/ ANDREW B. ROSENGARD
                                  -----------------------                       
                                  Name: Andrew B. Rosengard
                                  Title: Executive Vice President


                              CLEARVIEW CINEMA GROUP, INC.



                              By: /s/ A. DALE MAYO
                                  -----------------                             
                                  Name: A. Dale Mayo
                                  Title: President


                                     A-i-1