EXHIBIT 2.1


                                 NOTARIAL DEED

                               AGREEMENT ON THE
                         SALE AND ASSIGNMENT OF SHARES


Today, this sixteenth day of February twothousandone appeared before me, the
undersigning notary public

                                 Stephan Cueni

with his official seat in Basel/Switzerland at his office in Aeschenvorstadt 55,
CH-4010 Basel, Switzerland

1.   Dr. Simon Preisenberger, born 24 October 1968, attorney-at-law, German
     -----------------------
     citizen, with business address in D-80539 Munich/Germany, MaximilianstraBe
     35, resident in D-85570 Markt Schwaben/Germany, HeilmaierstraBe 19, proving
     his identity by presenting his German identity card, according to his
     declarations (but without taking any personal liability) here acting for
     and on behalf of

     a)   Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus, born February 16, 1957, German citizen,
          ----------------------
          resident at BergstraBe 25, D-82152 Krailling/Germany, presenting an
          uncertified power of attorney dated 10 February 2001, a hereby
          certified copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 A, according
                                                        ------------
          to the declarations of the attorney in fact Dr. Madaus here acting on
          behalf of Madaus Vermogensverwaltung GbR, a German civil law
                    ------------------------------
          partnership with its seat in Krailling/Germany, the partners of which
          are listed in Exhibit 1 A (1) hereto, by virtue of powers of attorney
                        ---------------
          granted to him by all the partners,


     b)   Mr. Harald Vogele, born October 12, 1953, German citizen, resident at
          -----------------
          Waldpromenade 45b, D-82131 Gauting/Germany, presenting an uncertified
          power of attorney dated 10 February 2001, a hereby certified copy of
          which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 B, according to the declarations
                                      -----------
          of the attorney in fact Mr. Harald Vogele here acting on behalf of
          Vogele GbR, a German civil law partnership with its seat in
          ----------
          Gauting/Germany, the partners of which are listed in Exhibit 1 B (1)
                                                               ---------------
          hereto, by virtue of powers of attorney granted to him by all the
          partners,

     c)   Mrs. Jutta Griebel, born February 29, 1956, German citizen, resident
          ------------------
          at Oberrusselbach 14, D-91338 Igensdorf/Germany, presenting an
          uncertified power of attorney dated 5 February 2001, a hereby
          certified copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 C,
                                                        -----------

     d)   Mr. Peter Griebel, born February 27, 1941, German citizen, resident at
          -----------------
          Oberrusselbach 14, D-91338 Igensdorf/Germany, presenting an
          uncertified power of attorney dated 5 February 2001, a hereby
          certified copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 D,
                                                        -----------

     e)   Mr. Peter Nicolas Ludwig, born October 23, 1969, German citizen,
          ------------------------
          resident at BelgradstraBe 49, D-80796 Munich/Germany, presenting an
          uncertified power of attorney dated 6 February 2001, a hereby
          certified copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 E,
                                                        -----------

     f)   German Equity Partners B.V., a company according to Duth law, with its
          ---------------------------
          seat in NL-1012 KK Amsterdam/Netherlands, Rokin 55, registered with
          the commercial register (Kamer van Koophandel) of Amsterdam under no.
          33220336, presenting an uncertified power of attorney dated 12
          February 2001, a hereby certified copy of which is attached hereto as
          Exhibit 1 F, and with the promise (but without assuming any personal
          -----------
          liability herefor) to submit to the Notary as soon as possible an
          additional power of attorney with notarially certified signatures and
          Apostille as well as a certified extract from the commercial register
          (Kamer van Koophandel), which then shall be attached to this deed as
          Exhibits 1 F(1) and 1 F(2),
          --------------------------


    g)    Banc Boston Investments Inc., with its seat in Boston/U.S.A., 175
          ----------------------------
          Federal Street, presenting a notarially certified power of attorney
          dated 12 February 2001 with an apostille attached, a hereby certified
          copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 G, and with the promise
                                              -----------
          (but without assuming any personal liability herefor) to submit to the
          Notary as soon as possible a Secretary's Certificate, which then shall
          be attached to this deed as Exhibit 1 G(1),
                                      -------------

    h)    Kleinwort Benson European Mezzanine Fund II, an English partnership
          -------------------------------------------
          with its seat in London/UK (postal address c/o Indigo Capital Ltd., 25
          Watling Street, London EC4M 9BR), presenting a notarially certified
          power of attorney dated 12 February 2001 with an apostille attached,
          the notary public certifying the power of the undersigning person to
          act on behalf of Kleinwort Benson European Mezzanine Fund II, a hereby
          certified copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 H,
                                                        -----------

                                              - the persons a) to h) hereinafter

                                          collectively referred to as "Vendor" -

2.  Andreas C. Peters, born 25 March 1968, German citizen, attorney-at-law, with
    -----------------
    business address in D-20354 Hamburg, WarburgstraBe 50, resident in D-22081
    Hamburg, Weizenkamp 2, proving his identity by presenting his German
    identity card, according to his declarations (but without taking any
    personal liability) here acting for and on behalf of

    a)    ResMed Beteiligungs GmbH i.G., a German limited liability company in
          -----------------------------
          process of incorporation, with its seat in D-20354 Hamburg/Germany,
          Warburgstrasse 50,

                                          - hereinafter referred to as "Buyer" -

          presenting a certified power of attorney dated 8 February 2001, a
          hereby certified copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2 A(1),
                                                               -------------
          proving the power of representation of the undersigned person by
          presenting Buyer's Articles of Incorporation ["Grundungsurkunde"]
          including its By-laws ["Satzung"] (deed no. 226/2001 of the notary
          public Dr. Ascan Pinckernelle in Hamburg dated 8 February 2001), a
          copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2 A(2),
                                              --------------


     b)   ResMed Inc., a Delaware corporation with its seat in 14040 Danielson
          -----------
          Street, Poway, California 92064, U.S.A.

                                         - hereinafter referred to as "ResMed" -

          presenting a fax-copy of a power of attorney with the signature of the
          undersigned person being certified by a notary, with the promise (but
          without assuming any personal liability herefor) to submit to the
          Notary as soon as possible the original of this power of attorney
          (with Apostille) as well as a Secretary's Certificate, which then
          shall be attached to this deed as Exhibits 2 B and 2 B(1).
                                            ----------------------



The acting Notary Public advised the persons appearing that unless the powers of
attorney presented to him have notarially certified signatures and notarial
confirmations (or equivalent evidence, e.g. by means of a certified extract from
an official Commercial Register, is provided) of the existing of and the
representation power for legal entities purported to be represented, the Notary
cannot examine neither the authenticity of the signatures nor the representative
capacity of the persons who purported to have signed the powers of attorney. The
Notary does not assume any liability as to the validity and scope of the powers
of attorney presented, which do not conform with the requirements mentioned
above, and of the powers of attorney, which are only alledged (powers of
attorney of the other partners in Madaus Vermogensverwaltung GbR and Vogele
GbR).

Nevertheless the persons appearing insisted on the immediate notarization and,
unless stated otherwise above, released each party from submitting subsequently
certified powers of attorney or other documents evidencing or supporting the
representative capacity.

The acting Notary advised the persons appearing that a notary who or whose
partners in the law firm have formerly acted as legal advisors to one of the
parties involved in the matter to be notarized would not be entitled to take
office as a notary in the matter at hand pursuant to (S) 233 Sect. 1(4) of the
Introductory Act of the Canton Basel-City relating to the Swiss Civil Code which
provision corresponds with the so-called "Vorbefassungsverbot" under the German
Act of Notarization ((S) 3 Sect. 1(7)). The acting Notary states that he himself
and his firm have not been involved in the matter at hand in the meaning of said
provisions. By approving the present Agreement, the Parties hereto shall confirm
such statement of the acting Notary.


The persons appearing requested this Deed including its Exhibits to be recorded
in the English language. The acting Notary Public who is in sufficient command
of the English language ascertained that the persons appearing are also in
command of the English language. After having been instructed by the acting
Notary, the persons appearing waived the right to obtain the assistance of a
sworn interpreter and to obtain a certified translation of this Deed including
the Exhibits hereto.


The persons appearing, acting as indicated declared with request for
notarisation the following:

                        SALE AND ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT:

                                    Sec. 1

                           Corporate Legal Relations

1.   Vendor holds all shares in

                         MAP Medizin-Technologie GmbH

                     with its seat in Martinsried/Germany

                   - hereinafter referred to as "Company" -

     registered with the commercial register of the local court of Munich under
     HRB 122291. The share capital of the Company amounts to a total of DM
     100,000. All contributions are fully paid in and have not been repaid.

2.   In detail, shares in the Company are held as set out in Exhibit 4 A.
                                                            ------------

3.   The Company is the sole limited partner ["Kommanditist"] with a fixed
     capital interest of DM 199,500 of MAP Medizintechnik fur Arzt und Patient
     GmbH & Co. KG, a limited liability partnership ["Kommanditgesellschaft"]
     with its seat in Martinsried, registered with the commercial register of
     the local court of Munich under HRA 73312 (hereinafter referred to as "MAP
     KG") and holds directly or indirectly, as the case may be, participations
     in other companies as set out in Exhibit 4 B.
                                      -----------

     The Company, MAP KG and MAP Beteiligungs GmbH are hereinafter collectively
     referred to as "German Companies"; MAP Medizintechnik fur Arzt und Patient
     (Schweiz) GmbH, MAP Medische Techniek voor Arts en Patient BV, MAP France,


     Blue Medic and MAP Hirsch Medizintechnik fur Arzt und Patient GmbH are
     hereinafter collectively referred to as "Foreign Subsidiaries"; MAP KG, MAP
     Beteiligungs GmbH and the Foreign Subsidiaries, are hereinafter
     collectively referred to as "Affiliates"; the Company and the Affiliates
     hereinafter collectively referred to as "Group Companies".

4.  Upon Buyer's and ResMed's explicit request, the Company will sell today by
    separate agreement and will latest on 23 February 2001 assign all of its
    shares in MAP Medische Techniek voor Arts en Patient B.V. with its seat in
    's-Hertogenbosch/Netherlands to Buyer (hereinafter referred to as the "Dutch
    Transaction").

    Buyer hereby undertakes to indemnify Vendor and/or, in case that the
    assignment of the Shares (as defined in Sec. 2 para. 1 below) is for
    whatever reason legally or economically rewound ["ruckabgewickelt"], any of
    the Group Companies (insofar, Buyer's undertaking shall constitute a
    contract for the benefit of a third party in the sense of Sec. 328 para. 1
    of the German Civil Code ["echter Vertrag zu Gunsten Dritter"]), for any and
    all damages and losses incurred in connection with the Dutch Transaction.

                                    Sec. 2

                              Sale and Assignment

1.  Subject to para. 2, Vendor sells all shares specified in Sec. 1 para. 2 and
    Exhibit 4 A (hereinafter referred to as "Shares") to the Buyer with effect
    as of the date hereof (hereinafter referred to as "Effective Date")
    including any and all profits not yet distributed and assigns them to the
    Buyer who accepts such sale and assignment.

2.  Those statements of approval required by law or by Buyer's and/or ResMed's
    Articles of Association or By-laws for the effective acquisition of the
    Shares and for the effective power of representation of the persons acting
    on behalf of ResMed, in particular the approval of ResMed's Board of
    Directors, have been made and copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibit
                                                                         -------
    4 C.
    ---


                                    Sec. 3

                        Purchase Price, Payment, Pledge

1.   The purchase price for the sale and assignment of the Shares amounts to DM
     114,508,000 (in words: German marks onehundredfourteen million
     fivehundredeightthousand) (hereinafter referred to as "Initial Purchase
     Price") and shall be payable by transfer to the joint account of Dr. Stefan
     Rolf Madaus and German Equity Partners B.V. (account number 37291 with BHF-
     BANK AG in Frankfurt am Main/Germany, bank routing no. 500 202 00), as
     follows:

     a)   DM 28,627,000 (in words: German Marks twentyeight million
          sixhundredtwentyseventhousand) within five (5) banking days upon the
          date hereof and

     b)   the remainder in the amount of DM 85,881,000 (in words: German Marks
          eightyfive million eighthundredeightyonethousand) within ninety (90)
          days upon the date hereof.

2.   The Initial Purchase Price shall increase by DM 3,000,000 (in words: German
     Marks three millions) (hereinafter referred to as "Additional Purchase
     Price", the Initial Purchase Price and the Additional Purchase Price
     hereinafter collectively referred to as "Purchase Price") if the relevant
     rules change, becoming effective before 1 July 2002, whereby goodwill from
     a transaction as contemplated in this Agreement is no longer mandatorily
     required to be amortized under U.S. GAAP.

     The Additional Purchase Price shall be payable within five (5) banking days
     after the aforementioned event has occurred by transfer to the account as
     indicated in para. 1 above.

3.   The individual vendors as listed in Exhibit 4 A hereto are entitled to any
     parts of the Purchase Price as joint and several creditors
     ["Gesamtglaubiger"].

4.   With regard to the Purchase Price, Buyer waives any right to set-off
     ["Aufrechnung"] as well as any right of retention ["Zuruckbehaltung"]
     whatsoever.

5.   As security for the Initial Purchase Price in its entirety, Buyer hereby
     pledges the Shares as well as - subject to the Dutch Transaction becoming
     effective - all shares in MAP Medische Techniek voor Arts en Patient B.V.
     with its seat in 's-Hertogenbosch/Netherlands (together with the Shares
     hereinafter collectively referred


     to as "Pledged Shares") to Vendor who accepts such pledge. The pledge shall
     include any and all pecuniary claims of Buyer arising from or in connection
     with the Pledged Shares, in particular but not limited to rights to the
     distribution of profits or liquidation proceeds, provided, however that
     non-pecuniary rights, in particular voting rights remain with Buyer. Buyer
     undertakes to refrain from all actions which might harm the value of such
     pledge. In particular, Buyer shall not sell, assign, charge or otherwise
     encumber or grant any option or other rights to any person to acquire all
     or any part of the Pledged Shares or any rights or interests thereto until
     the Initial Purchase Price has been fully paid in accordance with para. 1
     above. Moreover, until such point of time, Buyer shall without Vendor's,
     represented by Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus, prior consent

     -    not take any measures which might substantially affect the legal,
          financial or business situation of the Group Companies;

     -    not change the corporate legal relations of the Group Companies,
          except for the Dutch Transaction;

     -    continue to operate the business of the Group Companies as usual and
          use its best efforts to preserve their business organisation intact,
          to retain the services of their present employees and to preserve the
          goodwill of their customers and suppliers;

     -    not dispose of any assets or licence or transfer ownership of any of
          their intellectual property outside of the ordinary course without
          Vendors's consent; and

     -    do any intercompany transactions on an arm's length basis.

     After signing of the present Agreement, Buyer shall resolve on the
     reformation of the advisory boards ["Beirate"] of the Company and MAP KG
     (hereinafter referred to as "Advisory Boards") to the extent that both
     Advisory Boards shall then, until the Initial Purchase Price will have been
     fully paid, identically consist of four persons, i.e. Dr. Christopher G.
     Roberts, Mr. Adrian Smith, Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr. Stefan Rebmann.

     This para. 5 shall terminate if and as soon as Buyer submits to Vendor an
     unconditional Letter of Guarantee ["unbedingte Bankgarantie"] which is
     payable on first demand ["zahlbar auf erste Anforderung"], issued by a bank
     with good international


    reputation in favour of Vendor, provided that this guarantee is without any
    limitation securing the payment of the Initial Purchase Price.


                                    Sec. 4

                   Vendors's Representations and Warranties

Vendor represents and warrants that the statements made under Sec. 1 including
Exhibits 4 A and 4 B and the following declarations are correct:

1.  The Company is a legally effective existing company with limited liability
    according to the provisions of the German Code for Companies with Limited
    Liability ["Gesetz betreffend Gesellschaften mit beschrankter Haftung"]
    entitled to run its business in the present form.

    A current version of its valid Articles of Association of the Company (as
    amended on 14 August 1998) is attached hereto as Exhibit 5 for
                                                     ---------
    identification purposes only.

    The extract from the commercial register as attached hereto as Exhibit 6
                                                                   ---------
    reproduces the current legal position of the Company completely and
    correctly except that Mrs. Jutta Griebel is no longer managing director and
    Caspar Graf von Stauffenberg has been appointed managing director.

    The other Group Companies are legally effective existing companies in the
    legal form as indicated in Sec. 1 para. 3 and Exhibit 4 B.

2.  The individual vendors as listed under Sec. 1 para. 2 and Exhibit 4 A hold
    their shares in the Company as sole proprietors in their own name and on
    their own account. The Shares are not subject to any rights of third
    parties, and there are no claims to the granting of such rights or to the
    transfer of shares. In particular, the Shares are not attached or pledged
    (except for a pledge granted to Dresdner Bank AG on the basis of a Loan
    Agreement dated 14 August 1998 (and the Attachments 4-8 thereto) (the Loan
    Agreement and its Attachments 4-8 hereinafter collectively referred to as
    "Dresdner Bank Loan Agreement") (a copy of the Dresdner Bank Loan Agreement
    is attached hereto as Exhibit 7 for identification purposes only), provided
                          ---------
    that such pledge does not constitute a security for loans other than those
    loans shown or otherwise referred to in the Annual Financial Statements as
    defined under para. 4 below) or charged with a sub-participation or
    otherwise. The Shares are not subject to execution of a last will or to the
    conditions of an estate of prior and succeeding heirs.


    The Company and MAP KG respectively hold their shares in the Affiliates as
    indicated in Sec. 1 para. 3 above and Exhibit 4 B as sole proprietors in
    their own name and on their own account. These shares are not subject to any
    rights of third parties, and there are no claims to the granting of such
    rights or to the transfer of shares. In particular, these shares are not
    attached or pledged, (except for the Dresdner Bank Loan Agreement, provided
    that such pledge does not constitute a security for loans other than those
    loans shown or otherwise referred to in the Annual Financial Statements as
    defined under para. 4 below) or charged with a sub-participation or
    otherwise.

3.  Silent participations or loans with profit participation regarding the Group
    Companies' profit do not exist and no shares, stock options (except as
    provided on behalf of Kleinwort Benson European Mezzanine Fund II by
    agreement dated 14 August 1998 and on behalf of Caspar Graf von Stauffenberg
    in his employment agreement, which options, however, have both been
    terminated before the date hereof) warrants or derivative securites, no
    other equity securities and no debt or convertible securities have been
    issued with regard to the Group Companies, except as listed in Exhibit 8 or
                                                                   ---------
    in Sec. 8 below.

4.  The consolidated annual financial statements ["JahresabschluB"] of the
    Company as of 31 December 1999 (hereinafter referred to as "Annual Financial
    Statements" and "balance sheet date" respectively) which have been audited
    by Haarmann, Hemmelrath & Partner GmbH Wirtschaftsprufungsgesellschaft
    Steuerberatungsgesellschaft, Munich, on 14 April 2000 have been prepared
    with the diligence of a prudent businessman on the basis of proper
    accounting and in accordance with International Accounting Standards
    ("IAS"). These regulations and principles were applied unchanged and
    consequently as of 31 December 1998 when consolidated annual financial
    statements according to IAS had been prepared for the first time. All risks,
    decreases in value and losses recognized when preparing the Annual Financial
    Statements were considered by applying adequate depreciations, value
    adjustments and reserves. The Annual Financial Statements are complete,
    correct and present a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, profits
    and losses of the Company and the Group Companies as of the balance sheet
    date and during the financial year ending on the balance sheet date. To the
    best knowledge of Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr. Harald Vogele, neither the
    Company nor the Group Companies had any contingent liabilities as at the
    balance sheet date that were not disclosed in the Annual Financial
    Statements.


5.  As of 31 December 2000, the "liabilities due to banks" minus "cash" of the
    Group Companies as defined in Exhibit 9 A did not exceed DM 30,200,000 (in
                                  -----------
    words: German Marks thirty million twohundredthousand). Since then, the
    Group Companies have not incurred any bank liabilities outside the ordinary
    course of business and substantially outside the budget in Exhibit 9 B (i.e.
                                                               -----------
    not exceeding the budgeted amount by more than 5 %).

6.  The Group Companies have been continued since the balance sheet date in the
    scope of the normal and proper course of business. Since then, there have
    not occurred or been carried out any extraordinary business or legal
    transactions. Neither has there occured any event which solely or together
    with other events has had a material adverse effect on the profit situation
    of the Group Companies. To the best knowledge of Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and
    Mr. Harald Vogele, since the balance sheet date, defects or losses which -
    in contrast to the current consolidated forecast for the Company's business
    year ending on 31 December 2000 as enclosed as Exhibit 9 B -, solely or
    cumulative, considerably negatively affect the Group Companies or their
    financial standing have not occurred.

7.  Vendor and/or employees and/or consultants of the German Companies do not
    own any protection rights on the basis of which the German Companies may be
    required to pay licence fees or the worldwide business of the German
    Companies may be hindered or prohibited, except for such protection rights,
    if any, of present or former employees of the Company based on the German
    Act on Employees' Inventions ["Arbeitnehmererfindungsgesetz"]. All
    intellectual property rights or licences to such rights necessary to run the
    German Companies' business in its present form are held by the Group
    Companies, however, provided that MAP KG (formerly: MAP Medizintechnik fur
    Arzt und Patient GmbH) has entered into a license agreement with Mr. Peter
    Griebel dated 14 August 1998 with regard to various inventions and know-how
    related to out-patient diagnostics of sleep disorder ("MESAM"/"POLYMESAM").
    A copy of this license agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10 for
                                                           ----------
    identification purposes only.

8.  Except as set out in Sec. 1 para. 3 and Exhibit 4 B the Company does not
    hold an interest in any other business organisation.

9.  To the best knowledge of Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr. Harald Vogele, the
    Company is in possession of all permits necessary for the conduct of its
    business and has fully complied with all material terms thereof.


10. Except as disclosed in Exhibit 11 or provided for in the Dresdner Bank Loan
                           ----------
    Agreement the Company has full and unencumbered title to all movable assets
    employed in its business, and, to the best knowledge of Dr. Stefan Rolf
    Madaus and Mr. Harald Vogele, all such assets are, beyond normal wear and
    tear, in good repair and full working order. To the best knowledge of Dr.
    Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr. Harald Vogele, all stocks held by or on behalf of
    the Company are stored in suitable conditions, and none of them have become
    unusable or are of an age or condition to reduce their value below book-
    value.

11. To the best knowledge of Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr. Harald Vogele, all
    material contracts to which the Company is a party are in full force and
    effect, and no party thereto is in default of its performance thereunder,
    except that at explicit request of ResMed, Dresdner Bank has up to now been
    informed neither about the transaction consummated by this Agreement nor
    about the Dutch Transaction. The conclusion or performance of this Agreement
    do not constitute a breach of, and will not entitle any third party to
    terminate, any such contract, except as provided for in the Dresdner Bank
    Loan Agreement.

12. The Company has not received any investment grants or other subsidies from
    any public authority which may become repayable as a consequence of the
    conclusion or performance of this Agreement.

13. To the best knowledge of Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr. Harald Vogele, all
    of the assets of the Company have been kept fully insured at all times in
    accordance with sound commercial principles. All premiums in respect thereof
    have been fully and timely paid. There are no outstanding claims by the
    Company against any insurer.

14. The Company is not a party to and has, to the best knowledge of Dr. Stefan
    Rolf Madaus and Mr. Harald Vogele, not been threatened with any legal,
    administrative or arbitral proceedings in any jurisdiction, except the
    lawsuit with Hoffrichter Medizintechnik GmbH with regard to the infringement
    of intellectual property rights by Hoffrichter, whereby Hoffrichter has
    threatened the Company and/or MAP KG with a counterclaim regarding an
    alleged infringement of intellectual property rights by the Company and/or
    MAP KG. No product liability claims against the Company are pending or have
    been raised and resolved other than by a rejection of such claims during the
    previous three years.


15. To the best knowledge of Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr. Harald Vogele, the
    Company has at all times complied with all environmental legislation and
    administrative rulings applicable to its business. To the best knowledge of
    Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr. Harald Vogele, all assets, including all
    premises, used by the Company in the conduct of its business are free of
    environmental pollution.

16. Exhibit 12 sets out accurately relevant particulars of officers, directors,
    ----------
    managers and key employees currently employed or contracted to be employed
    by the Company; the Company has no works council ["Betriebsrat"] and the
    Company is not a party to collective bargaining agreements. The Company has
    not granted any pension benefits to any person. The Company has fully paid
    all social security contributions as and when they were required to be paid.

17. To the best knowledge of Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr. Harald Vogele, all
    contracts and other transactions between the Company on the one hand and any
    of the Group Companies, any of its shareholders or any person who is a
    member of the immediate family of such shareholder on the other hand have
    been concluded and carried out on terms appropriate to contracts or
    transactions with unrelated parties on an arm's length basis.

18. The Company has fully paid all taxes and duties payable by it and has, to
    the best knowledge of Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr. Harald Vogele, made
    full provision for all such taxes not yet assessed and due. The Company has
    punctually filed all tax and customs returns when due, and the contents of
    such returns are to the best knowledge of Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr.
    Harald Vogele complete and accurate. No fiscal or customs authority has
    notified the Company of any alleged inaccuracy of such returns or has
    threatened the Company with legal or administrative proceedings in respect
    thereof.

It is clarified that Vendor neither represents or warrants nor assumes any
liability for

- -   the future development of the financial or business situation of the Group
    Companies,

- -   the ability of Buyer to achieve certain tax structures or to apply certain
    accounting principles with regard to the transaction contemplated herein
    under tax and/or commercial law, in particular to achieve a "step-up" for
    German tax purposes or to apply the "Pooling" or "Purchase" method under
    U.S. GAAP, and


- -   any consequences arising from the Dutch Transaction.

                                    Sec. 5

                           Performance and Liability

1.  In the event that one of the statements or declarations made by Vendor in
    Sec. 4 above or elsewhere in this Agreement and its Exhibits should be
    totally or partially incorrect, Vendor shall put the Company in a position
    as if such incorrect statements were true ["Naturalrestitution"] or, at
    Vendor's option, pay the amount in cash to the Company or, at Buyer's
    option, to Buyer which corresponds to the loss of the Company in respect of
    the incorrect statement. If Vendor fails to make the incorrect statement
    true within a period of three (3) months following receipt of written notice
    of such claim, Vendor shall pay the amount in cash to the Company or, at
    Buyer's option, to Buyer which corresponds to the loss of the Company in
    respect of the incorrect statement; reference is made to para. 5 below.
    Reduction of the purchase price ["Kaufpreisminderung"], Rescission
    ["Wandelung"] - except for the event that the declarations of Vendor in Sec.
    4 para. 2 are incorrect -, withdrawal ["Rucktritt"] from the present
    Agreement as well as damage claims ["Schadensersatz"] - except as provided
    for in the previous sentence - shall be excluded. Secs. 439 and 460 of the
    German Civil Code ["Burgerliches Gesetzbuch"] shall apply mutatis mutandis.

    Vendor and ResMed had agreed on a three step due diligence process, however,
    ResMed and Buyer have waived their right to perform the third step of this
    due diligence process.

2.  Claims may only be brought by Buyer in regard to Sec. 4 above if and to the
    extent ["Freibetrag"] that (i) an individual claim exceeds DM 50,000 and
    (ii) the aggregate claims exceed DM 100,000.

3.  The total liability of Vendor under Sec. 4 above shall in no event exceed 25
    % of the Purchase Price.

4.  Possible claims in connection with Sec. 4 para. 1 and 2 are subject to a
    limitation period of ten (10) years after the date hereof; all other claims
    of the Buyer and the Company due to this Agreement are subject to a
    limitation period of twelve (12) months after the date hereof. Any claim
    brought in respect of Sec. 4 para. 18 above shall terminate and expire six
    (6) months after the non-appealable and final assessments for the periods
    concerned.


5.  The individual vendors as specified under Sec. 1 para. 2 and Exhibit 4 A are
    severally liable ["teilschuldnerische Haftung"] for the performance of this
    Agreement and for all claims of the Buyer arising from this Agreement in
    relation of their respective shareholdings.

6.  Buyer accepts that in accordance with the respective Articles of
    Organization ["Gesellschaftsvertrge"], liabilities of Madaus
    Vermogensverwaltungs GbR and Vogele GbR as well as their respective partners
    arising from this Agreement shall be limited to the respective partnership
    assets. On the other hand, Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr. Harald Vogele
    hereby assume the obligations of Madaus Vermogensverwaltungs GbR and Vogele
    GbR respectively resulting from this Sec. 5, if any, by way of a collateral
    promise ["Schuldmitubernahme"/"Schuldbeitritt"].

                                    Sec. 6

                    Buyer's Representations and Warranties

Buyer and ResMed represent and warrant that the statements made under Sec. 2
para. 2 as well as the following declarations are correct:

1.  Buyer has been founded on 8 February 2001 and will upon registration with
    the commercial register of the local court of Hamburg be a legally effective
    existing limited liability company ["Gesellschaft mit beschrnkter Haftung"]
    duly established under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany; ResMed
    is a legally effective existing corporation duly established under the laws
    of the State of Delaware, U.S.A..

2.  Buyer, ResMed and the person acting on their behalf have all requisite
    corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the present Agreement,
    to perform Buyer's and ResMed's obligations respectively under this
    Agreement and to consummate the transaction contemplated herein.

3.  All shares in Buyer are held by Mr. Norman DeWitt in trust for ResMed and
    will be transferred to ResMed without undue delay after execution of this
    Agreement.

                                    Sec. 7

Ongoing Services by Dr. Madaus and Mr. Vogele, Competition Clause

1.  Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr. Harald Vogele undertake to continue, at
    Buyer's discretion, to serve as the Company's Managing Directors on the
    basis of their re-


    spective present employment agreements for a period of nine (9) months from
    the date hereof, provided that either Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus or Mr. Harald
    Vogele shall be obliged to serve for an additional period of three (3)
    months. After completion of such periods, the Parties shall procure that the
    respective employment contracts are terminated without any obligation of the
    Company to settlement payments and that Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr.
    Harald Vogele are discharged ["entlastet"] as managing directors.

2.  For a period of five (5) years hereafter, Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and Mr.
    Harald Vogele undertake not to produce and distribute products or perform
    services worldwide, which are comparable or competitive products or services
    that are produced, distributed or performed by MAP KG, nor shall they assist
    any third parties directly or indirectly in the production and distribution
    of such products or in performing such services, nor shall they participate
    directly or indirectly in or advise or work in any other way in a company
    which produces or distributes such products or renders such services.

    Excluded from the above prohibition to compete is the purchase and
    possession of stocks or securities (i) in ResMed or (ii) quoted at any
    renowned stock exchange of a company that produces or distributes such
    products or performs such services, for the purpose of capital investment to
    the extent that Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus and/or Mr. Harald Vogele neither
    directly nor indirectly acquire stocks or securities exceeding a total of 5
    % of the share capital of the company concerned or which could be converted
    into more than 5 % of the share capital.

                                    Sec. 8

                               Other Obligations

1.  Buyer shall procure that the Company and/or MAP KG, as the case may be,
    makes all the payments as set out in Exhibit 13 within five (5) banking days
                                         ----------
    after the date hereof.

2.  Referring to Sec. 1 Para. 3 of this Agreement and Exhibit 4 B hereto,

    a)  Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus shall assign his 5 % share in MAP Medizintechnik
        fur Arzt und Patient (Schweiz) GmbH to MAP KG and do everything that is
        required under Swiss law to put such assignment into effect without
        undue delay;


    b)  Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus, Mr. Harald Vogele, Mrs. Jutta Griebel, Mr. Peter
        Griebel and Mr. Peter Nicolas Ludwig shall assign their respective
        shares in MAP France to the Company and do everything that is required
        under French law to put such assignment into effect without undue delay;

    c)  Mr. Peter Nicolas Ludwig shall assign his share in Blue Medic to MAP
        France and do everything that is required under French law to put such
        assignment into effect without undue delay;

    d)  Vendor shall procure that the remaining shareholders of Blue Medic (i.e.
        Mr. Michael Albert, Mr. Dirk Meyer-Hoke, Mrs. Chantal Danseux, Mr.
        Bertrand Coste and Mr. Dominique Payet) assign their respective shares
        in Blue Medic to MAP France and do everything that is required under
        French law to put such assignment into effect without undue delay.

    Buyer may require that the current shareholders as nominated in a) to d)
    above assign their respective shares to third persons as designated by
    Buyer.

3.  Buyer shall procure that Mr. Peter Nicolas Ludwig will be released from his
    duties as a President Directeur General of Blue Medic and discharged in
    accordance with French law without undue delay.

    Buyer shall further procure that (i) Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus, Mr. Harald
    Vogele and Caspar Graf von Stauffenberg as managing directors of any Group
    Companies, as the case may be, and (ii) Dr. Stefan Rolf Madaus, Mr. Stefan
    Rebmann and Mr. Kurt Muller as Members of the Advisory Board of the Company
    as well as of MAP KG will be discharged for the business year having ended
    on 31 December 2000 without undue delay.

                                    Sec. 9

                         Collateral Promise by ResMed

ResMed hereby unconditionally assumes any obligation of Buyer under the present
Agreement by way of a collateral promise
["Schuldmitubernahme"/"Schuldbeitritt"].


                                    Sec. 10

                               Final Provisions

1.  All costs related to the execution and performance of this Agreement shall
    be borne by Buyer. As for the rest, each of the contracting parties shall
    bear its own costs and taxes as well as the costs of its advisors and
    auditors. In particular, the costs relating to the transaction contemplated
    by this Agreement arising from the consultation of ING Barings and Haarmann,
    Hemmelrath & Partner shall be borne by Vendor.

2.  Any modifications and amendments to this Agreement including this para. 2
    require the written form in order to be valid, unless notarization is
    mandatory.

3.  If any provision of this Agreement should be or become invalid, or if the
    Agreement does not include a provision which is necessary, the remaining
    provisions of this Agreement remain unaffected. Instead of the ineffective
    provision or for filling the gap, such effective provision shall apply which
    corresponds most closely to the intention of the contracting parties or
    which would have been the intention according to the meaning and purpose of
    this Agreement if they had been aware of the invalidity of the provision
    concerned or of the gap respectively.

4.  The Exhibits to this Agreement (unless attached for identification purposes
    only) form an essential part of same. The section titles used in this
    Agreement are meant solely for convenience and are of no significance for
    its contents and interpretation. Declarations made in any provision or
    Exhibit of this Agreement shall be deemed included also in all other
    provisions or Exhibits of this Agreement to the same effect.

5.  This Agreement and its performance shall to the extent permissible be
    governed by the law of the Federal Republic of Germany without reference to
    its conflict of law principles.

6.  Exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from or in
    connection with this Agreement, including such concerning its effectiveness,
    shall be the seat of the Company, as far as permissable under law.

                                                        (continued on next page)


IN WITNESS THEREOF this Notarial Deed including the Exhibits hereto

    with the exception of the powers of attorney and similar documents
    supporting the evidence of representation power (Exhibits 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D,
    1F, 1F(1), 1F(2), 1G, 1G(1), 1H, 2A(1), 2A(2), 2B and 2B(1)),

    with the further exception of the graphical presentation contained in
    Exhibit 12, which was presented to the persons appearing for inspection and
    which were discussed with the persons appearing, and

    with the further exception of certain balance sheets and profit and loss
    statements, lists of items, titles, rights and obligations contained in
    Exhibits 9B and 12, in respect of which the persons appearing waived the
    right to have them read aloud and which instead have been presented to the
    persons appearing, were acknowledged and signed on each page by the persons
    appearing, and

    with the further exception of the Exhibits 5, 7 and 10, which are attached
    hereto for identification purposes only and the content of which does not
    form part of the parties declarations,

has been read aloud to the persons appearing and was confirmed and approved by
the persons appearing. The persons appearing then signed this Deed. All this was
done at the day herebelow written in the presence of me, the Notary Public, who
also signed this Deed and affixed my official Seal.

Basel, this 16th (sixteenth) day of February 2001 (two thousand and one)