================================================================================




                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                                  by and among


                               PROGNOSTICS CORP.,


                                  PROGNOSTICS,


                               NFO RESEARCH, INC.


                                       and


                         THE SHAREHOLDERS OF PROGNOSTICS






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

                                 March 20, 1997
                               ------------------





================================================================================



<PAGE>




                            TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                    PAGE

ARTICLE 1

      THE MERGER
       ................................................................2
      1.1   The Merger.................................................2
      1.2   Effective Time.............................................3
      1.3   Name; Certificate of Incorporation.........................3
      1.4   By-laws....................................................3
      1.5   Directors and Officers.....................................3
      1.6   Additional Actions.........................................4

ARTICLE 2
      CONVERSION OF SECURITIES
       ................................................................5
      2.1   Common Stock and Preferred Stock...........................5
      2.2   Merger Sub Capital Stock...................................6
      2.3   Surrender of Common Stock and Preferred Stock..............6
      2.4   Escrow Fund................................................7
      2.5   Fractional Shares..........................................7
      2.6   Adjustments................................................7

ARTICLE 3

      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

      OF NFO AND MERGER SUB
       ................................................................8
      3.1   Organization and Good Standing.............................8
      3.2   Authorization; Binding Agreement...........................8
      3.3   Absence of Breach..........................................9
      3.4   Governmental Approvals.....................................9
      3.5   Litigation................................................10
      3.6   Full Disclosure...........................................10
      3.7   No Material Adverse Change................................10
      3.8   Accounting Matters........................................10
      3.9   Pooling Letter............................................11
      3.10  Status of NFO Shares......................................11
      3.11  Taxes.....................................................11

ARTICLE 4

      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THECOMPANY AND THE
      SHAREHOLD.......................................................13





                                   i

<PAGE>








      4.1   Organization..............................................13
      4.2   Capitalization............................................14
      4.3   Subsidiaries..............................................14
      4.4   Authority Relative to this Agreement......................15
      4.5   Consents and Approvals; No Violations.....................15
      4.6   Financial Statements......................................16
      4.7   Litigation................................................17
      4.8   No Material Adverse Change................................17
      4.9   Governmental Authorization and Compliance with Laws.......17
      4.10  Finders and Investment Bankers............................18
      4.11  Prohibited Actions........................................18
      4.12  Taxes.....................................................18
      4.13  ERISA; Employee Benefits..................................22
      4.14  Environmental Matters.....................................26
      4.15  Contracts.................................................27
      4.16  Intangible Property.......................................29
      4.17  Accounts Receivable; Accounts Payable.....................32
      4.18  Real Estate...............................................33
      4.19  Officers, Directors and Employees.........................34
      4.20  Litigation Involving Shareholders.........................34
      4.21  Tangible Property.........................................34
      4.22  Purchase for Investment...................................35
      4.23  Full Disclosure...........................................36
      4.24  Liabilities...............................................36
      4.25  Budget....................................................36
      4.26  Liens.....................................................37
      4.27  Insurance.................................................37
      4.28  Potential Conflicts of Interest...........................38
      4.29  Accounting Matters........................................39
      4.30  Pooling Letter............................................39
      4.31  Total Revenues or Net Assets..............................39

ARTICLE 5
      COVENANTS
       ...............................................................39
      5.1   Conduct of Business of the Company........................39
      5.2   Notification of Certain Matters...........................41
      5.3   Access and Information....................................42
      5.4   Best Efforts..............................................43
      5.5   Public Announcements......................................44
      5.6   No Inconsistent Activities................................44
      5.7   Employment Agreements.....................................45
      5.8   Indemnification of Brokerage..............................45
      5.9   NFO Common Stock..........................................46





                                   ii

<PAGE>








      5.10  Tax Matters...............................................46
      5.11  Insurance.................................................46
      5.12  Non-Competition/Non-Solicitation Covenant of James B. Wood
             .........................................................47
            (a)   Non-Compete/Non-Solicitation........................47
            (b)   Rights and Remedies Upon Breach.....................48
            (c)   Severability of Covenants...........................49
            (d)   Blue-Pencilling.....................................49
            (e)   Enforceability in Jurisdictions.....................49
      5.13  Non-Competition/Non-Solicitation Covenant of Walter P. Smith
             .........................................................50
            (a)   Non-Compete/Non-Solicitation........................50
            (b)   Rights and Remedies Upon Breach.....................51
            (c)   Severability of Covenants...........................52
            (d)   Blue-Pencilling.....................................52
            (e)   Enforceability in Jurisdictions.....................52
      5.14  Non-Competition/Non-Solicitation Covenant of Jay H. Friedman
             .........................................................53
            (a)   Non-Compete/Non-Solicitation........................53
            (b)   Rights and Remedies Upon Breach.....................54
            (c)   Severability of Covenants...........................55
            (d)   Blue-Pencilling.....................................55
            (e)   Enforceability in Jurisdictions.....................55
      5.15  Non-Competition/Non-Solicitation Covenant of Thomas Rich..56
            (a)   Non-Compete/Non-Solicitation........................56
            (b)   Rights and Remedies Upon Breach.....................57
            (c)   Severability of Covenants...........................58
            (d)   Blue-Pencilling.....................................58
            (e)   Enforceability in Jurisdictions.....................58
      5.16  Accounting Treatment......................................59
      5.17  Stock Options.............................................59
      5.18  Notification of certain matters...........................60
      5.19  Withholding...............................................60

ARTICLE 6
      CONDITIONS
       ...............................................................62
      6.1   Conditions to Obligation of NFO and Merger Sub............62
      6.2   Conditions to Obligation of the Company and the Shareholders
             .........................................................65

ARTICLE 7
      CLOSING.........................................................67
      7.1   Time and Place of Closing.................................67





                                  iii

<PAGE>








      7.2   Filing of Certificate of Merger...........................68

ARTICLE 8
      TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT.....................................68
      8.1   Termination...............................................68
      8.2   Procedure and Effect of Termination.......................68

ARTICLE 9

      SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS & WARRANTIES;
      INDEMNIFICATION.................................................69
      9.1   Survival..................................................69
      9.2   Indemnification...........................................70

ARTICLE 10
      MISCELLANEOUS...................................................70
      10.1  Amendment and Modification................................70
      10.2  Waiver of Compliance; Consents............................70
      10.3  Notices...................................................71
      10.4  Assignment................................................73
      10.5  Expenses..................................................74
      10.6  Governing Law.............................................75
      10.7  Counterparts..............................................75
      10.8  Interpretation............................................75
      10.9  Entire Agreement..........................................76
      10.10 No Third Party Beneficiaries..............................76

      Exhibits

         A  Form of Indemnification and Escrow Agreement
         B  Form of James B. Wood Employment Agreement
         C  Form of Jay H. Friedman Employment Agreement
         D  Form of Steven K. Schloss Employment Agreement
         E  Form of Greg Doudna Employment Agreement
         F  Form of Walter Smith Consulting Agreement
         G  List of California Counties
         H  Form of Legal Opinion of Tomlinson, Zisko, Morosoli & Maser LLP
         I  Form of Release of Claims
         J  Form of Legal Opinion of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
         K  Form of Registration Rights Agreement

      Schedules

      2.1(a)Allocation of Merger Consideration





                                   iv

<PAGE>








      4.1   Company - Qualifications
      4.2   Capitalization
      4.5   Consents and Approvals
      4.10  Finders and Investment Bankers
      4.11  Prohibited Actions
      4.12  Taxes
      4.13  ERISA
      4.15  Contracts
      4.16  Intangible Property
      4.17  Accounts Receivable
      4.18  Real Property
      4.19  Officers, Directors and Employees
      4.23  Full Disclosure
      4.24  Liabilities
      4.25  Budget
      4.26  Liens
      4.27  Insurance
      4.28  Potential Conflicts of Interest
      5.17  Stock Options





                                   v

<PAGE>




                      AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

            AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of March 20, 1997 (the
"Agreement"), by and among PROGNOSTICS, a California corporation (the
"Company"), NFO RESEARCH, INC., a Delaware corporation ("NFO"), Prognostics
Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of NFO ("Merger Sub"),
and the shareholders of the Company (the "Shareholders"), who are James B. Wood,
The Walter P. Smith Trust (2/20/86), Jay H. Friedman and Thomas Rich. The
Company and Merger Sub are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the
"Constituent Corporations."

            WHEREAS, NFO is entering into this Agreement to facilitate the
acquisition of the Company by Merger Sub, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NFO.

            WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of the Company and
Merger Sub each have adopted resolutions approving this Agreement pursuant to
which, among other things, the Company will be merged with and into Merger Sub
(the "Merger") on the terms and conditions contained herein and in accordance
with the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") and the Corporation Code
of the State of California (the "California Code").

            WHEREAS, it is intended that the Merger shall be accounted for as a
"pooling of interests" for accounting purposes.

            NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
representations, warranties and covenants contained herein, and intending to be
legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:






<PAGE>


                                                                    2





                                ARTICLE 1

                               THE MERGER

            1.1 THE MERGER. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined below) and in accordance with the
DGCL and the California Code, the Company shall be merged with and into Merger
Sub, which shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger (hereinafter
sometimes referred to as the "Surviving Corporation") and shall continue its
corporate existence under the laws of the State of Delaware. At the Effective
Time, the separate existence of the Company shall cease.

            For Federal income tax purposes, the parties intend that the
transactions herein consummated shall be treated as a tax-free reorganization
within the meaning of Sections 368(a)(1)(A) and 368(a)(2)(D) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The parties hereto further agree
that in connection with the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock and the Merger
Consideration, as those terms are defined in Section 2.1 of the Agreement, that
the Merger Consideration represents full and complete consideration for the
Common Stock, the Preferred Stock and the Company's Tangible and Intangible
Assets (as hereinafter defined) and that no portion of the Merger Consideration
has been paid for any other intangibles such as employment agreements or
non-compete agreements. It is further agreed that the rights under any
non-compete agreement among the parties hereto (whether in this Agreement or
under separate agreement) have no economic significance separate from the
Company's goodwill. Each party






<PAGE>


                                                                    3




shall not take a position on any return or report filed with any Tax (as defined
in Section 4.12(m)) authority which is inconsistent with this Section 1.1, and
shall use their reasonable efforts to sustain such reporting. Each party shall
give the other prompt notice of any challenges or investigations undertaken by
any Tax authority in connection with such reporting, and shall keep such other
party fully informed of all aspects of such ongoing challenge or investigation.

            1.2 EFFECTIVE TIME. The Merger shall become effective as of the date
and time (the "Effective Time") of filing with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware and with the Secretary of State of the State of California a
certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger") in such form as required by,
and executed in accordance with, the DGCL and the California Code, respectively.

            1.3 NAME; CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION. The name of the Surviving
Corporation shall be Prognostics Corp. 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 until thereafter
amended in accordance with applicable law.

            1.4 BY-LAWS. The By-laws of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately
prior to the Effective Time, shall be the By-laws of the Surviving Corporation
until thereafter amended as provided therein and in accordance with applicable
law.

            1.5 DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The directors of Merger Sub immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation.
The officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
officers of the Surviving Corporation. Each director and officer of the






<PAGE>


                                                                    4




Surviving Corporation shall hold office in accordance with the Certificate of
Incorporation and By-laws of the Surviving Corporation.

            1.6 ADDITIONAL ACTIONS. If, at any time after the Effective Time,
the Surviving Corporation shall determine or be advised that any deeds, bills of
sale, assignments (including, without limitation, assignments of trademarks,
service marks and other intellectual property), assurances or any other actions
or things are neces sary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or
otherwise in the Surviving Corporation its right, title or interest in, to or
under any of the rights, properties or assets of either of the Constituent
Corporations acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result
of, or in connection with, the Merger or otherwise to carry out this Agreement,
the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to
execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of each of the Constituent
Corporations or otherwise, all such deeds, bills of sale, assignments and
assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of each of the
Constituent Corporations or otherwise, all such other actions and things as may
be necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm any and all right, title
and interest in, to and under such rights, properties or assets in the Surviving
Corporation or otherwise to carry out this Agreement.







<PAGE>


                                                                    5




                                ARTICLE 2
                        CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

            2.1 COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK.

                  (a) Each share of Non-Voting Common Stock, par value $.001 per
share ("Common Stock"), of the Company 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, be converted into the right to receive 59.99477
shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share ("NFO Common Stock"), of NFO,
and each share of Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share ("Preferred
Stock"), of the Company 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, be converted into the right to receive 4.72813 shares of
NFO Common Stock. (The shares of NFO Common Stock into which the Common Stock
and Preferred Stock are converted into a right to receive, together with any
cash in lieu of fractional shares of NFO Common Stock, is referred to herein as
the "Merger Consideration"). The Merger Consideration shall be payable to the
holders of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock, without interest thereon, upon
surrender of the certificate representing such share of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock, as the case may be. Subject to Section 2.4, the Merger
Consideration shall be paid by Merger Sub to the Shareholders on the Effective
Time and shall be allocated in accordance with Schedule 2.1(a) hereto and,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Merger Consideration
received by each Stockholder shall be






<PAGE>


                                                                    6




treated as received in exchange for the shares of Common Stock or Preferred
Stock, as the case may be, specifically designated in Schedule 2.1(a).

                  (b) Each share of Common Stock and Preferred Stock held in the
Company's treasury immediately prior to the Effective Time, if any, shall, by
virtue of the Merger, be canceled and retired and cease to exist, without any
conversion thereof or payment of any consideration therefor.

                  (c) From and after the Effective Time, the holders of
certificates representing shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock shall cease
to have any rights with respect to such certificates, except the right to
receive the Merger Consideration.

            2.2 MERGER SUB CAPITAL STOCK. Each share of common stock, par value
$.01 per share, of Merger Sub 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, be converted into one share of common stock, par value
$.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

            2.3 SURRENDER OF COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK. At the Closing
(as defined below), upon receipt of the Merger Consideration (less any amounts
placed in escrow pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof), each Shareholder shall deliver
or cause to be delivered to Merger Sub stock certificates evidencing the shares
of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, owned beneficially and
of record by him or her (such shares being referred to herein as the
"Surrendered Shares").






<PAGE>


                                                                    7




            2.4 ESCROW FUND. At the Effective Time, NFO shall deposit with a
bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company (the "Escrow Agent"),
under the Indemnification and Escrow Agreement to be entered into on the Closing
Date among NFO, the Shareholders and the Escrow Agent (the "Indemnification and
Escrow Agreement"), the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A, shares
representing five percent of the aggregate Merger Consideration issuable to the
Shareholders in the Merger as determined pursuant to this Article 2. Such shares
shall be held and disbursed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
Indemnification and Escrow Agreement.

            2.5 FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of NFO Common Stock
shall be issued in the Merger, but in lieu thereof each holder of Common Stock
or Preferred Stock otherwise entitled to a fractional share of NFO Common Stock
will be entitled to receive a cash payment in lieu of such fractional shares of
NFO Common Stock.

            2.6 ADJUSTMENTS. In the event of any dividend, split, combination or
reclassification of the outstanding NFO Common Stock or any issuance of any
other securities in exchange or in substitution for outstanding shares of NFO
Common Stock at any time during the period from the date of this Agreement to
the Effective Time, NFO shall make such adjustment to the Merger Consideration
as NFO and the Shareholders shall mutually agree so as to preserve the economic
benefits that NFO and the Shareholders each reasonably expected on the date of
this Agreement to receive as a result of the consummation of the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.






<PAGE>


                                                                    8





                                ARTICLE 3

                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                          OF NFO AND MERGER SUB


            Each of NFO and Merger Sub, jointly and severally, represent and
warrant to the Company and the Shareholders as follows:

            3.1 ORGANIZATION AND GOOD STANDING. Each of NFO and Merger Sub is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Delaware and has all requisite power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
Merger Sub is newly formed and, except for activities incident to the
acquisition of the Company, Merger Sub has not engaged in any business
activities of any type or kind whatsoever. NFO owns beneficially and of record
all the outstanding shares of capital stock of Merger Sub.

            3.2 AUTHORIZATION; BINDING AGREEMENT. Each of NFO and Merger Sub has
full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly and validly authorized by the Board of Directors of NFO and each of
the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Merger Sub and no other corporate
proceedings on the part of either NFO or Merger Sub are necessary to authorize
the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to consummate the transactions
so contemplated. This Agreement has been duly and validly






<PAGE>


                                                                    9




authorized, executed and delivered by each of NFO and Merger Sub and constitutes
a legal, valid and binding agreement of each of NFO and Merger Sub, enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms.

            3.3 ABSENCE OF BREACH. The execution and delivery by each of NFO and
Merger Sub of this Agreement, and the performance thereby of its obligations
hereunder, will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the
provisions of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws thereof, (ii) require
any consent, approval or notice under or conflict with or result in a violation
or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a
default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration)
under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any material note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, license, agreement or other instrument or obligation to
which NFO or Merger Sub is a party or by which any of them or any of their
properties or assets may be bound, or (iii) subject to the obtaining of the
governmental and other consents referred to in Section 3.4, contravene any law,
rule or regulation of any state or of the United States or any political
subdivision thereof or therein, or any order, writ, judgment, injunction,
decree, determination or award currently in effect, which, singly or in the
aggregate, would have a material adverse effect thereon.

            3.4 GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS. No consent, approval or authoriza tion
of or declaration or filing with any governmental agency or regulatory authority
on the part of either NFO or Merger Sub which has not been made is required in
connection with the execution or delivery thereby of this Agreement or the
consummation thereby of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than the
filing






<PAGE>


                                                                    10




of the Certificates of Merger with the Secretary of State of Delaware and the
Secretary of State of California.

            3.5 LITIGATION. There is no action or proceeding or investigation
pending or, to the best knowledge of NFO or Merger Sub, threatened against or
involving either NFO or Merger Sub, which, if determined adversely, would
materially and adversely affect the financial condition, business, assets or
results of operations thereof or the ability thereof to perform its obligations
hereunder.

            3.6 FULL DISCLOSURE. The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the "Form
10-Q") of NFO for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 1996 (which has been
delivered or made available by NFO to each Shareholder), as of the date thereof,
neither contained any untrue statement of a material fact nor omitted to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

            3.7 NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. Since the date of the filing of the
Form 10-Q, (i) there has been no material adverse change in the business,
assets, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations
(the "Condition") of NFO, (ii) to the knowledge of NFO there is no condition or
state of facts or any change that is threatened that if it were to occur could
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Condition of
NFO, and (iii) there has not been any damage, destruction or loss materially
adversely affecting the Condition of NFO, whether or not covered by insurance.

            3.8   ACCOUNTING MATTERS.  Neither NFO nor, to its best knowledge,
any of its subsidiaries has taken or agreed to take any action that would
prevent






<PAGE>


                                                                    11




NFO from accounting for the business combination to be effected by the Merger as
a "pooling of interests."

            3.9 POOLING LETTER. NFO has caused NFO's independent auditors, to
deliver to NFO on or prior to the date hereof a draft letter setting forth the
preliminary conclusion of Arthur Andersen LLP that, assuming the Company is a
corporation eligible to be party to a transaction seeking pooling of interests
accounting treatment and that the participation of the Company in the Merger
will not, in and of itself, disqualify the Merger from qualifying for pooling of
interests accounting treatment if consummated in accordance with this Agreement,
and NFO has delivered a true and complete copy of such letter to the
Shareholders.

            3.10 STATUS OF NFO SHARES. The shares of NFO Common Stock to be
issued to the Shareholders will, when so issued, be duly and validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.

            3.11  TAXES.

                  (a) At all times prior to the Effective Time, NFO will be in
control of Merger Sub. As used in this Agreement, "Control" shall have the
meaning found in Section 368(c) of the Code ("Control").

                  (b) NFO has no present plan or intention to cause Merger Sub
to issue additional shares of its stock, or to take any other action that would
result in NFO losing Control of Merger Sub.

                  (c) NFO has no present plan or intention to reacquire any of
the NFO Common Stock issued pursuant to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.






<PAGE>


                                                                    12




                  (d) NFO has no present plan or intention to liquidate Merger
Sub, to merge Merger Sub with or into another corporation (other than the
Company); to sell or otherwise dispose of the stock of Merger Sub; or to cause
Merger Sub to sell or otherwise dispose of any of its assets or of any of the
assets acquired from Company in the reorganization, except for dispositions made
in the ordinary course of business or transfers of assets to a corporation
controlled by Merger Sub, as described in Section 368(a)(2)(C) of the Code.

                  (e) Neither NFO nor Merger Sub is, or will be on the Effective
Time, an investment company within the meaning of Code Section 368(a)(2)(F)(iii)
and (iv).

                  (f) Neither NFO nor Merger Sub is, or will be on the Effective
Time, under the jurisdiction of a court in a Title 11 or similar case within the
meaning of Section 368(a)(3)(A) of the Code.

                  (g) On the Effective Time, and at all times thereafter, the
NFO Common Shares held by the Escrow Agent will appear as issued and outstanding
on NFO's balance sheet and will be duly and validly issued and outstanding under
Delaware law.

                  (h) Following the Effective Time, NFO will cause the Merger
Sub to continue the historic business of Company or the use of a significant
portion of Company's historic business assets in a business.

                  (i) NFO and Merger Sub will pay their own respective expenses,
if any, incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.






<PAGE>


                                                                    13






                                ARTICLE 4

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
                      COMPANY AND THE SHAREHOLDERS


            The Company and James B. Wood, The Walter P. Smith Trust
(2/20/86), Jay H. Friedman and Thomas Rich, severally and not jointly, each as
to himself and as to the Company represent and warrant to each of NFO and Merger
Sub as follows:

            4.1 ORGANIZATION. The Company is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of California
and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate
its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. The Company
is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing to do business in each
jurisdiction in which the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature
of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary,
except where the failure to be so duly qualified or licensed and in good
standing would not individually or in the aggregate affect materially and
adversely the business, assets, properties, condition (financial or otherwise)
or the results of operations thereof. The jurisdictions in which qualification
of the Company has been considered and accomplished are listed on Schedule 4.1.
The Company has heretofore delivered to NFO or Merger Sub accurate and complete
copies of the articles of incorporation






<PAGE>


                                                                    14




and by-laws, or equivalent governing instruments, as currently in effect, of the
Company.

            4.2 CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of 100,000 shares of Common Stock and 50,000 shares of Preferred Stock.
As of the date hereof, 27,595 shares of Common Stock are issued and outstanding
and 15,000 shares of Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding. Each
Shareholder owns beneficially and of record that number of shares of Common
Stock and Preferred Stock set forth opposite his or her name on Schedule 4.2
free and clear, other than as set forth on Schedule 4.2, of any Lien (as defined
in Section 4.26) and will surrender such shares pursuant to Section 2.3 free and
clear of any lien or other encumbrance. No other capital stock of the Company is
authorized or issued. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.2, all issued and out
standing shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and
are validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive rights.
There are not, and at the Effective Time there will not be, any existing Liens
with respect to, or any existing options, warrants, calls, subscriptions, stock
appreciation rights, or other rights or other agreements, arrangements or
commitments obligating the Company to issue, transfer or sell, or securities or
rights convertible or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock of the
Company.

            4.3 SUBSIDIARIES. Schedule 4.3 sets forth a complete and accurate
list of all of the subsidiaries of the Company, together with their respective
jurisdictions of incorporation or organization. Each such subsidiary is directly
wholly-owned by the Company. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.3, as of the date
hereof,






<PAGE>


                                                                    15




the Company does not own, and as of the Closing Date, the Company will not own,
any direct or indirect equity interest in any corporation, partnership, joint
venture or other entity.

            4.4 AUTHORITY RELATIVE TO THIS AGREEMENT. Each of the Company and
the Shareholders has full power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by the Board of
Directors and Shareholders of the Company and no other corporate proceedings on
the part of the Company are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of
this Agreement or to consummate the transactions so contemplated. This Agreement
has been duly and validly executed and delivered by each of the Company and the
Shareholders, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the
Company and the Shareholders, enforceable against each of them in accordance
with its terms.

            4.5 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS; NO VIOLATIONS. Except for the filing and
recordation of appropriate merger documents (including, without imitation, a Tax
Clearance Certificate from the California Franchise Tax Board) as required by
the DGCL and the California Code, no filing with, and no permit, authorization,
consent or approval of, any public body, domestic or foreign, is necessary for
the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company or the
Shareholders or the consummation by the Company or the Shareholders of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither the execution and delivery
of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
nor compliance by the Company or the Shareholders with any of the provisions
hereof






<PAGE>


                                                                    16




will (i) conflict with or result in any breach of any provision of the articles
of incorporation or by-laws or other governing instruments of the Company, (ii)
except as set forth on Schedule 4.5, require any consent, approval or notice
under or conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or constitute
(with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any
right of termination, cancella tion or acceleration) under any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
license, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which the Company or any
Shareholder is a party or by which any of them or any of their properties or
assets may be bound or (iii) violate any order, writ, injunction, determination,
award, decree, law, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any
Shareholder or any of their properties or assets.

            4.6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Company has previously furnished to
NFO or Merger Sub a copy of the audited consolidated financial statements of the
Company for the years ended August 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994. The Company has also
previously furnished to NFO or Merger Sub copies of the unaudited consolidated
balance sheet of the Company as at January 31, 1997 and the related income
statement for the five months then ended. These financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied ("GAAP"), and disclose all liabilities, direct or
contingent, of the Company and its subsidiaries as of their respective dates,
required to be disclosed, and fairly present the consolidated financial
condition and results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries on and
as of the dates thereof (subject, where applicable, to normal year-end audit
adjustments and do not include footnotes). The






<PAGE>


                                                                    17




unaudited consolidated balance sheet as at January 31, 1997 is referred to
herein as the "Balance Sheet" and the date January 31, 1997 is referred to
herein as the "Balance Sheet Date."

            4.7 LITIGATION. As of the date hereof there are no claims, actions,
proceedings or, to the best knowledge of any Shareholder or the Company,
investigations pending or threatened against the Company or its subsidiaries, or
any properties or rights of the Company or its subsidiaries, before any court,
administrative, governmental or regulatory authority or body. As of the date
hereof, neither the Company, its subsidiaries nor any of their properties is
subject to any such order, judgment, injunction or decree.

            4.8 NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. Since the Balance Sheet Date, (i)
there has been no material adverse change in the Condition of the Company and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) to the knowledge of any Shareholder or
the Company there is no condition or state of facts or any change that is
threatened that if it were to occur could reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the Condition of the Company or its subsidiaries
taken as a whole, and (iii) there has not been any damage, destruction or loss
materially adversely affecting the Condition of the Company or its subsidiaries
taken as a whole, whether or not covered by insurance.

            4.9 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION AND COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. The
business of the Company and its subsidiaries has been operated in compliance
with all laws, ordinances, regulations and orders of all governmental entities,
domestic or foreign, except for violations which do not affect and will not
affect materially and






<PAGE>


                                                                    18




adversely the Condition of the Company or its subsidiaries taken as a whole. (i)
The Company and its subsidiaries have all permits, certificates, licenses,
approvals and other authorizations (collectively, "Permits") required in
connection with the operation of their business, (ii) neither the Company nor
its subsidiaries is in violation of any Permit applicable to the operation of
its business, and (iii) no proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of any
Shareholder or the Company, threatened to revoke any Permit, except those the
absence or possible violation of which does not affect and will not affect
materially and adversely the Condition of the Company or its subsidiaries taken
as a whole.

            4.10 FINDERS AND INVESTMENT BANKERS. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.10, none of the Company, any of its officers or directors or any Shareholder
has employed any broker, finder, agent or similar intermediary or incurred any
liability for any brokerage fees, commissions or finders' or similar fees in
connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

            4.11  PROHIBITED ACTIONS.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.11,
since the Balance Sheet Date neither the Company nor its subsidiaries have taken
any of the actions prohibited by Section 5.1.

            4.12  TAXES.

                  (a) The Company and its subsidiaries have timely filed all Tax
returns required to be filed through the date hereof or extensions therefor, and
shall prepare and timely file, in a manner consistent with prior years and
applicable law and regulations, all Tax returns required to be filed on or
before the Closing Date, and all such Tax returns are or will be true and
complete in all material






<PAGE>


                                                                    19




respects. The Company and its subsidiaries have timely paid all Taxes that are
due, or claimed or asserted by any taxing authority to be due, from or with
respect to any of them through the date hereof and shall timely pay any Taxes
required to be paid by any of them on or before the Closing Date, except for
those that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with
respect to which appropriate reserves have been reflected in the Balance Sheet.
With respect to any period for which Tax returns have not yet been filed, or for
which Taxes are not yet due or owing, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries
have any liability for Taxes other than Taxes incurred in the ordinary course of
business or for which accruals were reflected in the Balance Sheet. The Company
and its subsidiaries have made all required current estimated Tax payments
sufficient to avoid any underpayment penalties.

                  (b) Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries have any
liability for Taxes of any person or entity other than the Company or its
subsidiaries.

                  (c) The unused "net operating losses" (as defined in Section
172 of the Code) of the Company are not, and will not be immediately prior to
the Merger, subject to any limitations under Sections 382 and 384 of the Code.

                  (d) There are no liens with respect to Taxes upon any of the
assets of the Company or its subsidiaries, other than liens with respect to
Taxes not yet due or being contested in good faith through appropriate
proceedings.

                  (e) None of the federal, state, local and foreign income Tax
returns of the Company or its subsidiaries have been audited by the Internal
Revenue Service ("IRS") or other taxing authority. There are no outstanding






<PAGE>


                                                                    20




agreements, waivers or arrangements extending the statutory period of limitation
applicable to any claim for, or the period for the collection or assessment of,
Taxes due from or with respect to the Company or its subsidiaries for any
taxable period. No closing agreement that could affect the Taxes of the Company
or its subsidiaries for periods ending after the Effective Time pursuant to
Section 7121 of the Code (or any predecessor provision) or any similar provision
of any state, local or foreign law has been entered into by or with respect to
the Company or its subsidiaries. The Company has delivered to NFO or Merger Sub
true and complete copies of the federal, state, local and foreign income Tax
returns for the taxable year of the Company ended August 31, 1996 and for the
most recently completed taxable years of its subsidiaries.

                  (f) To the best knowledge of any Shareholder or the Company,
no audit or other proceeding by any court, taxing authority, or similar person
is pending or, to the knowledge any Shareholder or the Company or its
subsidiaries, threatened with respect to any Taxes due from or with respect to
the Company or any Tax return filed by or with respect to the Company or its
subsidiaries. To the best knowledge of any Shareholder or the Company, no
assessment of Taxes is proposed against the Company, its subsidiaries or their
assets.

                  (g) No elections have been made or filed by or with respect to
the Company or its subsidiaries. No consent to the application of Section
341(f)(2) of the Code (or any predecessor provision) has been made or filed by
or with respect to any of the properties of the Company. None of the properties
of the






<PAGE>


                                                                    21




Company is an asset or property that is or will be required to be treated as
being (i) owned by any person other than the Company pursuant to the provisions
of Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended and in
effect immediately before the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, or (ii)
tax-exempt use property within the meaning of Section 168(h)(1) of the Code.

                  (h) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.12(h), the Company has
not agreed to and is not required to make any adjustment pursuant to Section
481(a) of the Code (or any predecessor provision) by reason of any change in any
accounting method, and there is no application by the Company or its
subsidiaries pending with any taxing authority requesting permission for any
changes in any accounting method of the Company or its subsidiaries. The IRS (or
any foreign equivalent thereto) has not proposed any adjustment or change in
accounting method.

                  (i) Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries have been and are
not in violation (and, with notice or lapse of time or both, would not be in
violation) of any applicable law relating to the payment or withholding of Taxes
relating to employment and has duly and timely withheld from employee salaries,
wages and other compensation and paid over to the appropriate taxing authorities
all material amounts required to be so withheld and paid over for all periods
under all applicable laws.

                  (j) Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries is a party to, is
bound by, and has any obligation under, any Tax sharing agreement or similar
contract.






<PAGE>


                                                                    22




                  (k)   None of the Shareholders is a "foreign person," within
the meaning of Section 1445(b)(2) of the Code.

                  (l) There is no contract, agreement, plan or arrangement
covering any person that, individually or collectively, could give rise to the
payment of any amount that would not be deductible by the Company by reason of
Section 280G of the Code, except for such amounts the nondeductibility of which
would not have a material adverse effect on the Condition of the Company.

                  (m) For purposes of this Agreement, "Tax" or "Taxes" means all
federal, state, county, local, foreign and other taxes (including, without
limitation, income, profits, premium, estimated, excise, sales, use, occupancy,
gross receipts, franchise, ad valorem, VAT, severance, capital levy, production,
transfer, withholding, employment, unemployment compensation, payroll-related
and property taxes, import duties and other governmental charges and
assessments), whether or not measured in whole or in part by net income, and
including deficiencies, interest, additions to tax or interest, and penalties
with respect thereto, and including expenses associated with any proposed
adjustment related to any of the foregoing (including advice in connection with
contesting such adjustment).

            4.13  ERISA; EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

                  (a) Schedule 4.13 identifies each employment, severance or
similar contract or arrangement (whether or not written) and each plan, policy,
fund, program or contract or arrangement (whether or not written) providing for
compensation, bonus, profit-sharing, stock option, or other stock related rights
or other forms of incentive or deferred compensation, vacation benefits,
insurance






<PAGE>


                                                                    23




coverage (including any self-insured arrangements) health or medical benefits,
disability benefits, worker's compensation, supplemental unemployment benefits,
severance benefits and post-employment or retirement benefits (including
compensation, pension, health, medical or life insurance or other benefits)
under which the Company or its subsidiaries have or in the future could have any
liability ("Benefit Plans"). Schedule 4.13(a) further identifies each Benefit
Plan which (i) is a multiemployer plan (within the meaning of Section 3(37) of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), (ii)
is a plan, other than a multiemployer plan, subject to Title IV of ERISA (a
"Title IV Plan") or (iii) is maintained in connection with any trust described
in Section 501(c)(9) of the Code.

                  (b) The Company has furnished to NFO or Merger Sub copies of
the Benefit Plans (and, if applicable, related trust agreements) and all
amendments thereto and written interpretations thereof together with the most
recent annual report (Form 5500 including, if applicable, Schedule B thereto),
the most recent actuarial valuation report prepared in connection with any
Benefit Plan, and the most recent IRS determination letter received with respect
to any Benefit Plan.

                  (c) As of the Effective Time, the fair market value of the
assets of each Title IV Plan (excluding for these purposes any accrued but
unpaid contributions) including, without limitation, the Prognostics Defined
Benefit Pension Plan (the "PDBPP"), exceeded the present value of all benefits
accrued under such Title IV Plan determined on a termination basis using the
assumptions established by the Pension Benefits Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC") as
in effect on such date.






<PAGE>


                                                                    24




As of the Effective Time, the aggregate unfunded liability of the Company or its
subsidiaries in respect of all Benefit Plans described under Sections 4(b)(5) or
401(a)(1) of ERISA, computed using reasonable actuarial assumptions and
determined as if all benefits under such plans were vested and payable as of
such date, did not exceed $0.00.

                  (d) No transaction prohibited by Section 406 of ERISA or
Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any employee benefit plan
or arrangement which is covered by Title I of ERISA which transaction has or
will cause the Company to incur any liability under ERISA, the Code or
otherwise, excluding transactions effected pursuant to and in compliance with a
statutory or administrative exemption. Neither the Company nor any affiliate of
the Company has (i) engaged in, or is a successor or parent corporation to an
entity that has engaged in, a transaction described in Sections 4069 or 4212(c)
of ERISA or (ii) incurred, or reasonably expects to (A) any liability under
Title IV of ERISA arising in connection with the termination of, or a complete
or partial withdrawal from, any plan covered or previously covered by Title IV
of ERISA or (B) any liability under Section 4971 of the Code that in either case
could become a liability of the Company or NFO, Merger Sub or any of their ERISA
affiliates. No condition exists that (i) could constitute grounds for
termination by the PBGC of any employee benefit plan that is subject to Title IV
of ERISA that is maintained by the Company or any of its ERISA affiliates or
(ii) presents a material risk of complete or partial withdrawal from any
multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA, which could result in
the Company, NFO or Merger Sub or any ERISA affiliate of any of them






<PAGE>


                                                                    25




incurring a withdrawal liability within the meaning of Section 4201 of ERISA.
The assets of the Company are not now, nor will they after the passage of time
be, subject to any lien imposed under code Section 412(m) by reason of a failure
of any of the Company or its affiliates, the Company to make timely installments
or other payments required under Code Section 412. If a "complete withdrawal" by
the Company and all of its ERISA affiliates were to occur as of the Closing Date
with respect to all Multiemployer Plans, neither the Company nor any of its
ERISA affiliates would incur any material withdrawal liability under Title IV of
ERISA.

                  (e) Each Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and has been so qualified during the
period since its adoption; each trust created under any such Plan is exempt from
tax under Section 501(a) of the Code and has been so exempt since its creation.
Each Benefit Plan has been maintained in substantial compliance with its terms
and with the requirements prescribed by any and all applicable statutes, orders,
rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code.

                  (f) The Company does not have any current or projected
liability in respect of post-employment or post-retirement health or medical or
life insurance benefits for retired, former or current employees of the Company,
except as required to avoid excise tax under Section 4980B of the Code.

                  (g) There is no contract, plan or arrangement (written or
otherwise) covering any employee or former employee of the Company that,
individually or collectively, could give rise to the payment of any amount that
would not be deductible pursuant to the terms of Section 280G of the Code.






<PAGE>


                                                                    26




                  (h) There has been no failure of a group health plan (as
defined in Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code) to meet the requirements of Code
Section 4980B(f) with respect to a qualified beneficiary (as defined in Section
4980(g)). The Company has not contributed to a nonconforming group health plan
(as defined in Section 5000(c)) and no affiliate of the Company has incurred a
tax under Section 5000(a) which is or could become a liability of the Company.

                  (i) No employee or former employee of the Company will become
entitled to any bonus, retirement, severance, job security or similar benefit or
enhanced such benefit (including acceleration of vesting or exercise of an
incentive award) as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby.

            4.14  ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.

                  (a) The Company and its subsidiaries have obtained all Permits
which are required under federal, state, local and foreign laws, ordinances,
codes, regulations, rules, orders, decrees and principles of common law in
existence as of the date hereof relating to pollution, protection of the
environment or health and safety (collectively, "Environmental Laws"), and no
action to revoke or modify any of such Permits is pending.

                  (b) The Company and its subsidiaries have been in the past and
are now in full compliance in all material respects with all terms and
conditions of the required Permits and were or are, as the case may be, also in
full compliance in all material respects with all other limitations,
restrictions, conditions, standards, prohibitions, requirements, obligations,
schedules and timetables contained in






<PAGE>


                                                                    27




Environmental Laws or contained in any plan, judgment, injunction, notice or
demand letter issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder.

                  (c) There is no civil, criminal or administrative action,
suit, demand, claim, hearing, notice or demand letter, notice of violation,
investigation, or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of any Shareholder or
the Company, threatened against the Company or its subsidiaries relating in any
way to Envi ronmental Laws.

            4.15 CONTRACTS. Schedule 4.15 sets forth a list of all of the
following contracts and other agreements to which the Company or its
subsidiaries are a party or by or to which the Company, its subsidiaries or any
of their assets or properties are bound or subject: (i) contracts, severance
agreements and other agreements with any current or former holder of at least 5%
of the Common Stock, officer, director, employee, consultant, agent or other
representative; (ii) contracts and other agreements with any labor union or
association representing any employee of the Company or its subsidiaries are;
(iii) contracts, agreements or other arrangements relating to the Company or its
subsidiaries between the Company or its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any
Shareholder or any of his or her affiliates (other than the Company or its
subsidiaries) on the other hand; (iv) joint venture agreements; (v) contracts
and other agreements under which the Company or its subsidiaries agree to
indemnify any party; (vi) contracts and other agreements relating to the
borrowing of money; (vii) contracts and other agreements relating to the
licensing of any trademark, service mark, trade name or copyright; or (viii) any
other material contract or other agreement whether or not made in the ordinary
course of business






<PAGE>


                                                                    28




other than any contract or agreement that has a term of less than six (6) months
and does not contemplate payments by or to the Company or its subsidiaries which
will exceed, over the remaining term of the contract, $20,000 in the aggregate
(collectively, the "Material Contracts"). There have been delivered or made
available to NFO or Merger Sub true and complete copies of the Material
Contracts. All of such Material Contracts are in full force and effect and
neither the Company nor its subsidiaries is in default under any of them, nor,
to the knowledge of any Shareholder or the Company, is any other party to any
such Material Contract in default thereunder, nor does any condition exist that
with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a default thereunder by
the Company or its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of any Shareholder or the
Company, by any other party to any such Material Contract. Except as set forth
on Schedule 4.15, no approval or consent of any person is or was needed in order
that any Material Contracts to which the Company or its subsidiaries is a party
or by or to which the Company or its subsidiaries or any of their assets or
properties are bound or subject, continue in full force and effect following the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. None of the
Company or its subsidiaries are, or to the knowledge of any Shareholder or the
Company, any affiliate of the Company or its subsidiaries, is a party to or
bound by any contract or agreement which, singly or in the aggregate, has or may
have a material adverse effect on the Condition of the Company or its
subsidiaries taken as a whole. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.15, to the best
knowledge of any Shareholder or the Company, neither the Merger nor the
transactions contemplated hereby will have a material adverse effect on the






<PAGE>


                                                                    29




relationship between the Company or its subsidiaries and any of their suppliers
or customers or will otherwise materially and adversely affect the right or
interests of the Company under any Material Contract. Set forth on Schedule 4.15
are the Company's twenty largest customers based upon orders for the 12 month
period ended December 31, 1996. Neither the Company nor the Shareholders has
reason to believe that any client or customer of the Company or its
subsidiaries, or other person having a business relationship with the Company or
its subsidiaries intends to terminate its business relationship with the Company
or its subsidiaries.

            4.16  INTANGIBLE PROPERTY.

                  (a) Schedule 4.16 sets forth a complete and accurate list of
all intellectual property, including, without limitation (i) computer software,
computer programs, source code data and documentation (other than with respect
to software and programs that are commercially available to the public), (ii)
user manuals, administrator or director guides, flow charts and programmers'
notes relating to computer software and programs developed by or on behalf of
the Company or its subsidiaries, (iii) patents and patent applications
(including divisions, continuations, continuations in part, substitutions or
reissues thereof, whether or not patents are issued on such applications and
whether or not such applications are modified, withdrawn or resubmitted),
inventions (whether or not patentable and whether or not reduced to practice),
invention disclosures and improvements thereto, designs and plans, (iv)
trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, brand names, logos,
corporate names and registrations and applications for registration thereof, (v)
copyright registrations and applications for registration thereof, (vi) mask
works






<PAGE>


                                                                    30




and registrations and applications for registration thereof, (vii) any other
similar intellectual property rights, and (viii) any other information
concerning the Company or its subsidiaries that is not generally available to
the public and which is treated as confidential or proprietary by the Company or
its subsidiaries (collectively, the "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY") owned, used, or
licensed to or by the Company or its subsidiaries.

                  (b) Except for those items set forth on Schedule 4.16, no
Intellectual Property is necessary to the conduct of the business of the Company
or its subsidiaries as it is currently conducted or are otherwise related to the
business of the Company or its subsidiaries.

                  (c) None of the materials used by the Company or its
subsidiaries is the subject of any claim for infringement of any trademark,
trade name, trade secret, copyright, or other proprietary right of anyone and,
to the best knowledge of the Company and the Shareholders after due inquiry, no
basis for any such claim which has a reasonable likelihood of being determined
adversely to the Company or its subsidiaries exists. Neither the Company nor its
subsidiaries has agreed to indemnify any person against any charge of
interference, infringement, misappropriation or other conflict with respect to
any Intellectual Property.

                  (d) Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries is making use of
any confidential information or trade secret of any person that is material to
the conduct of the business of the Company or its subsidiaries as currently
conducted, except with permission or as a result of the acquisition by the
Company or its subsidiaries of the business of such person.






<PAGE>


                                                                    31




                  (e) Except as noted on Schedule 4.16, the Intellectual
Property is (i) owned by the Company or its subsidiaries free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances, or other impediments to title being vested absolutely in
the Company or its subsidiaries; or (ii) licensed to the Company or its
subsidiaries under an agreement which (A) permits NFO and its sublicensees to
use the Intellectual Property without further payment to any party, (B) does not
prohibit NFO from sublicensing the Intellectual Property to third parties, and
(C) does not prohibit the Company from entering into and performing this
Agreement.

                  (f) Each item of Intellectual Property owned or used by the
Company or its subsidiaries immediately prior to the Closing hereunder will be
owned or available for use by the Surviving Corporation or its subsidiaries on
identical terms and conditions immediately subsequent to the Closing hereunder.

                  (g) To the knowledge of the Company and the Shareholders after
due inquiry, none of the Intellectual Property, the value of which is contingent
upon maintenance of confidentiality thereof, has been disclosed to any person
other than employees, representatives and agents of the Company or its
subsidiaries, except as required pursuant to the filing of a patent application
by the Company or its subsidiaries.

                  (h) All trade secrets are protected against the use of such
trade secrets by other persons to an extent and in a manner customary in the
industry in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate.






<PAGE>


                                                                    32




            4.17  ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE; ACCOUNTS PAYABLE.

                  (a) All accounts receivable reflected on the Balance Sheet,
and all accounts receivable arising subsequent to the Balance Sheet Date, have
arisen in the ordinary course of business, and, to the best knowledge of any
Shareholder or the Company, represent valid obligations and are enforceable,
subject to applicable laws affecting creditors' rights generally. All items
which are required by GAAP to be reflected as accounts receivable on the Balance
Sheet and on the books of the Company or its subsidiaries are so reflected and
any reserve accounts relating thereto have been established in accordance with
GAAP applied in a manner consistent with past practices of the Company. The
amounts set forth on the Balance Sheet as reserves for bad debts, as increased
by an amount equal to no more than $50,000, are sufficient. Except for an amount
equal to no more than $50,000, the accounts receivable reflected on the Balance
Sheet and all accounts receivable arising subsequent to the Balance Sheet Date
are fully collectible in the ordinary course of business, except to the extent
of the reserve for bad debts set forth on the Balance Sheet and, with respect to
accounts receivable arising after the Balance Sheet Date, to the extent of any
reserve account relating thereto that has been established in accordance with
GAAP applied in a manner consistent with past practices of the Company.

                  (b) All accounts payable (including, without limitation, Taxes
payable) reflected on the Balance Sheet, and all accounts payable (including,
without limitation, Taxes payable) of the Company or its subsidiaries arising
subsequent to the Balance Sheet Date, have been and are being paid in the






<PAGE>


                                                                    33




ordinary course of the Company's or its subsidiaries business and consistent
with past practices.

            4.18 REAL ESTATE. Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries own any
real property or any buildings or other structures located on real property.
Schedule 4.18 sets forth: (i) all leases, subleases or other agreements under
which the Company or its subsidiaries is a lessee of any real property; (ii) all
options held by the Company or its subsidiaries or contractual obligations on
their part to purchase or acquire any interest in real property; and (iii) all
options granted by the Company or its subsidiaries or contractual obligations on
their part to sell or dispose of any interest in real property. The Company or
its subsidiaries are the lessee under the leases or holder of the options, as
the case may be, of each of the items set forth on such Schedule (except as set
forth in the response to item (iii)). Such leases, subleases and other
agreements are in full force and effect and neither the Company nor its
subsidiaries has received any notice of default thereunder. To the best
knowledge of the Company and the Shareholders, the leasehold interests of the
Company and its subsidiaries are subject to no lien or other encumbrance, except
for such liens and encumbrances, if any, which are not substantial in character,
amount or extent, and which do not materially detract from the value, or
interfere with the present use of the property subject thereto or affected
thereby. Each of the options, if any, as set forth on Schedule 4.18 is in full
force and effect subject to no lien or other encumbrance, except for such liens
and encumbrances, if any, which are not substantial in character, amount or
extent, and which do not materially detract from the value of such option.






<PAGE>


                                                                    34




            4.19 OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES. The Company has provided to
NFO a list that sets forth the name and total compensation of each officer and
director of the Company and its subsidiaries and each employee of the Company or
its subsidiaries with a current annual rate of compensation (including bonuses
and commissions) exceeding $75,000. No officer, director or employee of the
Company or its subsidiaries has made a written threat to the Company or its
subsidiaries or to any of the officers or directors of the Company or its
subsidiaries to cancel or otherwise terminate such person's employment. Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.19, there are no outstanding loans by the Company or
its subsidiaries to any current or former officers, directors or employees. The
amount of all bonuses and distributions paid by the Company and its subsidiaries
to all officers, directors and employees since the Balance Sheet Date is not
more than $0.

            4.20 LITIGATION INVOLVING SHAREHOLDERS. No Shareholder is a party
to, or to its knowledge, has been threatened with, any litigation or judicial,
administrative or arbitration proceeding which is likely to delay materially or
prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or have a
material adverse effect upon the ability of such Shareholder to perform its
obligations hereunder.

            4.21 TANGIBLE PROPERTY. The facilities, machinery, equipment,
furniture, leasehold improvements, fixtures, vehicles, structures, any related
capitalized items and other tangible property material to the business of the
Company and its subsidiaries (the "Tangible Property") are in good operating
condition and repair, subject to ordinary course wear and tear. During the past
three






<PAGE>


                                                                    35




years there has not been any significant interruption of the operations of the
Company or its subsidiaries due to inadequate maintenance of the Tangible
Property.

            4.22 PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT. Each Shareholder: (i) has been given
full access to all material information concerning the Condition of NFO to which
he has requested access; (ii) has had an opportunity to ask questions of, and to
receive information from, NFO and persons acting on its behalf concerning the
Condition of NFO; (iii) has been provided with a copy of the Form 10-K and has
conducted an independent investigation of the business affairs and financial or
other conditions of NFO; (iv) is an "accredited investor" (as that term is
defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act")) or
if not an accredited investor is being advised by a "purchaser representative"
(as that term is defined in Rule 501 under the Act) and has such knowledge and
experience in financial and business matters that he is capable of using the
information that is available to him concerning NFO to evaluate the risks of
investment in NFO and acknowledges that he is in no way relying upon any
representation, warranty or other assurance (whether written or oral) of NFO or
Merger Sub or any affiliate thereof with respect to the value of the shares of
NFO Common Stock being acquired by him; (v) acknowledges that he has been
advised that the shares of NFO Common Stock being acquired by him have not been
registered under the Act and that NFO has no current intention, except pursuant
to the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 6.2(g)), to register
such shares under the Act; and






<PAGE>


                                                                    36




(vi) is acquiring the shares of NFO Common Stock being acquired by him for his
own account for investment and not for resale or distribution.

            4.23 FULL DISCLOSURE. None of the documents set forth on Schedule
4.23 contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits
or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
herein or therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.

            4.24 LIABILITIES. Except as disclosed in the Balance Sheet or as set
forth on Schedule 4.24, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries has any
material direct or indirect indebtedness, liability, claim, loss, damage,
deficiency, obligation or responsibility, fixed or unfixed, choate or inchoate,
liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, accrued, absolute, contingent
or otherwise, whether or not of a kind required by GAAP to be set forth in a
financial statement, other than (i) liabilities fully and adequately reflected
or reserved against in the Balance Sheet, (ii) liabilities incurred in the
ordinary course of business and not required under GAAP to be reflected on the
Balance Sheet, or (iii) incurred since the date of the Balance Sheet in the
ordinary course of business and as consistent with past practice, and
liabilities incurred in connection with this Agreement not in excess of
$750,000.

            4.25 BUDGET. The three-year budget of the Company and its
subsidiaries attached hereto as Schedule 4.25 (the "Budget") is an estimate
prepared by the Company in good faith on a reasonable basis. The assumptions on
which the Budget is based are consistent with normal budgeting practices






<PAGE>


                                                                    37




(including, without limitation, accounting practices) of the Company and with
historical conditions applicable to the business of the Company and its
subsidiaries. Nothing has come to the attention of any Shareholder or the
Company to indicate that the Budget or the assumptions upon which it is based
are not reasonable.

            4.26 LIENS. The Company and its subsidiaries own outright and have
good and marketable title to all of their assets and properties, including,
without limitation, all of the assets and properties reflected on the Balance
Sheet, in each case, except as set forth on Schedule 4.26, free and clear of any
lien, pledge, mortgage, security interest, claim, lease, charge, option, right
of first refusal, easement or any other encumbrance whatsoever (collectively,
"Liens"), except for (i) immaterial assets and properties; (ii) assets and
properties disposed of in the ordinary course of business since the Balance
Sheet Date; (iii) Liens securing taxes, assessments, governmental charges or
levies, or the claims of the materialmen, carriers, landlords and like persons,
which are not yet due and payable; or (iv) minor Liens of a character which do
not substantially impair the assets or properties of the Company or its
subsidiaries or materially detract from their business.

            4.27 INSURANCE. Schedule 4.27 sets forth all policies or binders of
fire, liability, workmen's compensation, vehicular or other insurance held by or
on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries (specifying the insurer, the policy
number or covering note number with respect to binders, and describing each
pending claim thereunder of more than $5,000). Such policies and binders are in
full force and effect. Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries is in default
with respect to any provision contained in any such policy or binder and has
failed to give any notice or






<PAGE>


                                                                    38




present any claim under any such policy or binder in due and timely fashion.
Except for claims set forth on Schedule 4.27, there are no outstanding unpaid
claims under any such policy or binder. Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries
has received a notice of cancellation or non-renewal of any such policy or
binder. Neither the Company nor any Shareholders has any knowledge of any
inaccuracy in any application for such policies or binders, any failure to pay
premiums when due or any similar state of facts which might form the basis for
termination of any such insurance.

            4.28 POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.28, no officer or director of the Company or its subsidiaries (i)
owns, directly or indirectly, any interest in (excepting not more than 1% stock
holdings for investment purposes in securities of publicly held and traded
companies) or is an officer, director, employee or consultant of any person
which is a competitor, lessor, lessee, customer or supplier of the Company or
its subsidiaries; (ii) owns, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any
copyright, trademark, trade name, service mark, franchise, patent, invention,
permit, license or secret or confidential information which the Company or its
subsidiaries is using or the use of which is necessary for the business of the
Company or its subsidiaries; or (iii) has any cause of action or other claim
whatsoever against, or owes any amount to, the Company or its subsidiaries,
except for claims in the ordinary course of business, such as for accrued
vacation pay, accrued benefits under Benefit Plans and similar matters and
agreements existing on the date hereof.






<PAGE>


                                                                    39




            4.29  ACCOUNTING MATTERS.  None of the Company, its subsidiaries or
the Shareholders has taken or agreed to take any action that would interfere
with Merger Sub and NFO accounting for the business combination to be effected
by the Merger as a "pooling of interests."

            4.30 POOLING LETTER. The Company has caused the Company's
independent auditors, to deliver to the Company on or prior to the date hereof a
draft letter setting forth the preliminary conclusion of Price Waterhouse LP.
that, assuming NFO is a corporation eligible to be a party to a transaction
seeking pooling of interests accounting treatment and that the participation of
NFO in the Merger will not, in and of itself, disqualify the Merger from
qualifying for pooling of interests accounting treatment, the Merger will
qualify for pooling of interests accounting treatment if consummated in
accordance with this Agreement, and the Company has delivered a true and
complete copy of such letter to NFO.

            4.31 TOTAL REVENUES OR NET ASSETS. The Company, together with its
ultimate parent entity (as defined in the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder (the
"HSR Act")), does not have net assets, as determined in accordance with the HSR
Act, equal to or in excess of $10 million.

                                ARTICLE 5

                                COVENANTS

            5.1   CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES.
Except as contemplated by this Agreement, during the period from the date of
this






<PAGE>


                                                                    40




Agreement to the Effective Time, the Company and its subsidiaries shall, and the
Shareholders shall cause the Company and its subsidiaries to, conduct their
operations according to their ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practice, and the Company and its subsidiaries shall, and the Shareholders
shall cause the Company and its subsidiaries to, use their best efforts to
preserve intact their business organization, to keep available the services of
their officers and employees and to maintain satisfactory relationships with
licensors, licensees, suppliers, customers and others having business
relationships with them. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, prior
to the Effective Time, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries will, without
the prior written consent of Merger Sub:

                  (a)   amend or propose to amend its articles of incorporation
or by-laws (or comparable governing instruments);

                  (b) authorize for issuance, issue, sell, pledge, deliver or
agree or commit to issue, sell, pledge or deliver (whether through the issuance
or granting of any options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions, rights to
purchase, awards or otherwise) any stock of any class or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of stock of any class of the Company
or its subsidiaries;

                  (c) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital
stock or declare, pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether
in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its capital
stock, or redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to acquire any shares
of its own capital stock;

                  (d)   (i) increase in any manner the compensation of any of
its directors or officers; (ii) increase in any manner the compensation of any
of its






<PAGE>


                                                                    41




employees that are not directors or officers other than in the ordinary course
of business consistent with the past practices of the Company and its
subsidiaries, as the case may be; (iii) make, or agree to make, any loans or
advances to any of its officers, directors or employees (other than normal
travel advances paid to such persons in a manner consistent with the past
practices of the Company and its subsidiaries); (iv) pay or agree to pay any
pension, retirement allowance or other employee benefit not required by any
existing plan, agreement or arrangement to any such director, officer or
employee, whether past or present; (v) commit itself to any additional pension,
profit-sharing, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, stock purchase, stock
option, stock appreciation right, group insurance, severance pay, retirement or
other employee benefit plan, agreement or arrangement, or to any employment or
consulting agreement with or for the benefit of any person, or to amend any of
such plans or any of such agreements in existence on the date hereof; or (vi)
make any payment or award under any executive compensation plan of the Company
or its subsidiaries; or

                  (e)   agree, commit or arrange to do any of the foregoing.

            5.2   NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS.  The Company shall give
prompt notice to Merger Sub of: (i) any notice of, or other communication
relating to, a default or event which, with notice or lapse of time or both,
would become a default, received by the Company or its subsidiaries subsequent
to the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time, under any
agreement, indenture or instrument material to the business, assets, property,
condition (financial or otherwise) or the results of operations of the Company
or its subsidiaries to which






<PAGE>


                                                                    42




the Company is a party or is subject; (ii) any notice or other communication
from any third party alleging that the consent of such third party is or may be
required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including the Merger); (iii) any notice or other communication from any
regulatory authority in con nection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; (iv) any material adverse change that becomes known to the Company or
any Shareholder in the Condition of the Company or its subsidiaries taken as a
whole, or the occurrence of an event that becomes known to the Company or any
Shareholder which, so far as reasonably can be foreseen at the time of its
occurrence, would result in any such change; and (v) any claims, actions,
proceedings or investigations commenced or, to the best knowledge of any
Shareholder or the Company, threatened, involving or affecting the Company or
its subsidiaries or any of their property or assets, or, to the best knowledge
of any Shareholder or the Company, any employee, consultant, director or
officer, in his capacity as such, of the Company or its subsidiaries which, if
pending on the date hereof, would have been required to have been disclosed in
writing pursuant to Section 4.7 or which relates to the consummation of the
Merger.

            5.3 ACCESS AND INFORMATION. Between the date of this Agreement and
the Effective Time, the Company and its subsidiaries will give Merger Sub and
NFO and their authorized representatives (including their accountants and legal
counsel) at all reasonable times access to all their offices and other
facilities and to all contracts, agreements, commitments, books and records
(including Tax returns), will permit Merger Sub and NFO to make such
investigations and examinations as it may reasonably require and will cause
their officers promptly to furnish Merger






<PAGE>


                                                                    43




Sub and NFO with such financial and operating data and other information with
respect to the business and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries as
Merger Sub or NFO may from time to time reasonably request. Any such
investigation and examination shall be conducted upon reasonable notice and the
Company and its subsidiaries shall cooperate fully therein. No investigation by
Merger Sub or NFO shall, however, diminish or obviate in any way any of the
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the Company or any
Shareholder under this Agreement.

            5.4 BEST EFFORTS. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereof, each of the parties hereto agrees to use its best efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, all action, and to do, or cause to be done, all things
necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective as promptly as
practicable the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including using its
best efforts (i) to obtain all necessary consents, amendments to or waivers
under the terms of any of the Company's or its subsidiaries', borrowing or other
contractual arrangements required by the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (ii) to promptly effect all necessary or appropriate registrations
and filings, including, without limitation, filings and submissions pursuant to
the DGCL and the California Code, (iii) subject to Article 9 and the
Indemnification and Escrow Agreement, to defend and to cooperate with each other
in defending any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or
administrative, challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) to fulfill or cause the fulfillment of
the conditions to Closing.






<PAGE>


                                                                    44




            5.5 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. So long as this Agreement is in effect,
NFO and Merger Sub, on the one hand, and the Company and the Shareholders, on
the other hand, shall not, and shall cause their affiliates not to, issue or
cause the publication of any press release or any other announcement with
respect to the Merger or this Agreement without the consent of the other party;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that NFO may make any announcement required by applicable law
or regulation with prior written notice (including a copy of the proposed
announcement) to the Company.

            5.6 NO INCONSISTENT ACTIVITIES. The Company and the Shareholders
will not, and the Company will direct its subsidiaries and the Company's and its
subsidiaries' officers, directors and other representatives not to, directly or
indirectly, solicit, encourage, or participate in any way in discussions or
negotiations with, or provide any information or assistance to, any third party
(other than Merger Sub, NFO and their attorneys and accountants) concerning any
acquisition of shares of capital stock of the Company or its subsidiaries or any
significant portion of the total assets of the Company or its subsidiaries
(whether by merger, purchase of assets or otherwise). The Company will promptly
notify Merger Sub of the terms of any proposal or contact it or its subsidiaries
may receive in respect of any such transaction, (i) setting forth the identity
of such third party and the nature and terms, if any, of such proposal or
expression of interest and (ii) confirming that neither the Company nor its
subsidiaries or the Shareholders nor any of their respective affiliates have had
any discussions or negotiations with, or provided any information or assistance
to, such third party. The Company agrees that neither it nor any of its






<PAGE>


                                                                    45




subsidiaries shall release any third party from any confidentiality or
standstill agreements to which the Company or its subsidiaries are a party.

            5.7 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS. The Company and each Shareholder shall
each use all reasonable commercial efforts to cause (i) each of James B. Wood,
Jay H. Friedman, Steven K. Schloss and Greg Doudna to enter into employment
agreements with the Surviving Corporation and (ii) Walter P. Smith to enter into
a consulting agreement with the Surviving Corporation, in the forms attached
hereto as Exhibits B to F, respectively (collectively, the "Employment and
Consulting Agreements"), in all cases on the Closing Date.

            5.8   INDEMNIFICATION OF BROKERAGE.

                  (a) NFO and Merger Sub jointly and severally, agree to
indemnify and save the Shareholders harmless from any claim or demand for
commission or other compensation by any broker, finder, agent or similar
intermediary claiming to have been employed by or on behalf of NFO or Merger Sub
or its affiliates, and to bear the cost of legal expenses incurred in defending
any such claim.

                  (b) The Shareholders, jointly and severally, agree to
indemnify and save the Company, Merger Sub and NFO harmless from any claim or
demand for commission or other compensation by any broker, finder, agent or
similar intermediary claiming to have been employed by or on behalf of the
Company or any Shareholder or any of their respective affiliates, and to bear
the cost of legal expenses incurred in defending any such claim.






<PAGE>


                                                                    46




            5.9 NFO COMMON STOCK. Each Shareholder agrees that, without the
Surviving Corporation's prior written consent, it will not offer, sell, contract
to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of NFO Common Stock acquired
hereunder except in compliance with the Act, the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder and any applicable state securities laws. Each
Shareholder further agrees that the certificate or certificates issued to him to
evidence the shares of NFO Common Stock acquired thereby shall bear a legend
stating as follows:

      The shares evidenced by this certificate have not been registered under
      the Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the "1933 Act") or any state
      securities laws and may not be sold or transferred except in transactions
      exempt from registration under the 1933 Act or any applicable state
      securities laws or pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under
      the 1933 Act. The shares represented by this certificate are subject to
      certain transfer restrictions pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan
      of Merger, dated as of March 20, 1997, among Prognostics, Prognostics
      Corp., the issuer of these shares and certain other parties thereto.

            5.10  TAX MATTERS.
                  The Surviving Corporation shall prepare and file any federal,
state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed after the Closing Date
with respect to the Surviving Corporation and its predecessors, and the
Surviving Corporation shall pay all Taxes shown as due on any such return.

            5.11 INSURANCE. From the date hereof through the Closing Date, the
Company and its subsidiaries shall maintain in force (including necessary
renewals thereof) the insurance policies listed on any Schedule hereto, except
to the extent that they may be replaced with equivalent policies appropriate to
insure the assets, properties and business of the Company and its subsidiaries
to the same extent as currently insured at the same or lower rates or at rates
approved by NFO.






<PAGE>


                                                                    47




            5.12  NON-COMPETITION/NON-SOLICITATION COVENANT OF JAMES B. WOOD.

                  (a)   NON-COMPETE/NON-SOLICITATION.  During the Employment
Period (as defined in the employment agreement entered into between the
Surviving Corporation and James B. Wood on the Closing Date) and continuing for
a period of sixty months following the later of the date (the "Wood Noncompete
Trigger Date") on which James B. Wood (i) ceases to be entitled to receive his
Base Salary (as defined in the employment agreement entered into between the
Surviving Corporation and James B. Wood on the Closing Date) and (ii) ceases for
any reason, to be an employee of the Surviving Corporation, he shall not,
directly or indirectly, in any geographical area (including within California in
the counties specified on Exhibit G hereto) or in any foreign country in which
NFO, the Surviving Corporation or their respective subsidiaries engage or plan
to engage in business on the Wood Noncompete Trigger Date, in any form or
manner:

                        (i)   own, manage, control, participate in, consult
with, render services for, or in any manner engage in any business competing
with the businesses of NFO, the Surviving Corporation or their respective
subsidiaries as such businesses exist or are in process on the Wood Noncompete
Trigger Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that James B. Wood may be a passive owner of
not more than 5% of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is
publicly traded, so long as James B. Wood has no active participation in the
business of such corporation; or

                        (ii)(a) induce or attempt to induce any employee of NFO,
the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries to leave the
employ






<PAGE>


                                                                    48




thereof, (b) hire any person who was an employee of NFO, the Surviving
Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries while James B. Wood was an
employee of the Surviving Corporation or (c) induce or attempt to induce any
customer, supplier, licensee or other business relation of NFO, the Surviving
Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries to cease doing business with
NFO, the Surviving Corporation or any such subsidiary, or in any way interfere
with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or business
relation and NFO, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective
subsidiaries.

                  (b) RIGHTS AND REMEDIES UPON BREACH. If James B. Wood
breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of Section
5.12(a) (the "Wood Restrictive Covenants"), the Surviving Corporation shall have
the following rights and remedies, each of which rights and remedies shall be
independent of the other and severally enforceable, and all of which rights and
remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and
remedies available to the Surviving Corporation under law or in equity:

                        (i)   SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.  The right and remedy to
have the Wood Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced by any court having
equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or
threatened breach will cause irreparable injury to NFO and the Surviving
Corporation and that money damages will not provide adequate remedy to NFO and
the Surviving Corporation; and

                        (ii)  ACCOUNTING.  The right and remedy to require
James B. Wood to account for and pay over to the Surviving Corporation all






<PAGE>


                                                                    49




compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments or other benefits derived or
received by James B. Wood as the result of any transactions constituting a
breach of any of the Wood Restrictive Covenants, and James B. Wood shall account
for and pay over such benefits to the Surviving Corporation.

                  (c) SEVERABILITY OF COVENANTS. If any court determines that
any of the Wood Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of the Wood Restrictive Covenants shall not thereby
be affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid
portions.

                  (d) BLUE-PENCILLING. If any court determines that any of the
Wood Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is unenforceable because of the
duration of such provision or the area covered thereby, such court shall have
the power to reduce the duration or area of such provision and, in its reduced
form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

                  (e) ENFORCEABILITY IN JURISDICTIONS. The parties intend to and
hereby confer jurisdiction to enforce the Wood Restrictive Covenants upon the
courts of any jurisdiction within the geographical scope of such covenants. If
the courts of any one or more of such jurisdictions hold the Wood Restrictive
Covenants wholly unenforceable by reason of the breadth of such scope or
otherwise, it is the intention of the parties that such determination not bar or
in any way affect the Surviving Corporation's right to the relief provided above
in the courts of any other jurisdiction within the geographical scope of such
covenants, as to breaches of such covenants in such other respective
jurisdictions, such covenants as they relate to






<PAGE>


                                                                    50




each jurisdiction being, for this purpose, severable into diverse and
independent covenants.

            5.13  NON-COMPETITION/NON-SOLICITATION COVENANT OF WALTER P. SMITH.

                  (a)   NON-COMPETE/NON-SOLICITATION.  During the Initial Term
and any Renewal Term (each as defined in the consulting agreement entered into
between the Surviving Corporation and Walter P. Smith on the Closing Date) and
continuing for a period of sixty months following the later of the date (the
"Smith Noncompete Trigger Date") on which Walter P. Smith (i) ceases to provide
consulting services to the Surviving Corporation and (ii) ceases to receive
payment for consulting services rendered to the Surviving Corporation, he shall
not, directly or indirectly, in any geographical area (including within
California in the counties specified on Exhibit G hereto) or in any foreign
country in which NFO, the Surviving Corporation or their respective subsidiaries
engage or plan to engage in business on the Smith Noncompete Trigger Date, in
any form or manner:

                        (i)  own, manage, control, participate in, consult with,
render services for, or in any manner engage in any business competing with the
businesses of NFO, the Surviving Corporation or their respective subsidiaries as
such businesses exist or are in process on the Smith Noncompete Trigger Date;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Walter P. Smith may be a passive owner of not more than
5% of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly
traded, so long as Walter P. Smith has no active participation in the business
of such corporation; or






<PAGE>


                                                                    51




                        (ii)(a) induce or attempt to induce any employee of NFO,
the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries to leave the
employ thereof, (b) hire any person who was an employee of NFO, the Surviving
Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries while Walter P. Smith was a
consultant to the Surviving Corporation or (c) induce or attempt to induce any
customer, supplier, licensee or other business relation of NFO, the Surviving
Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries to cease doing business with
NFO, the Surviving Corporation or any such subsidiary, or in any way interfere
with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or business
relation and NFO, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective
subsidiaries.

                  (b) RIGHTS AND REMEDIES UPON BREACH. If Walter P. Smith
breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of Section
5.13(a) (the "Smith Restrictive Covenants"), the Surviving Corporation shall
have the following rights and remedies, each of which rights and remedies shall
be independent of the other and severally enforceable, and all of which rights
and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and
remedies available to the Surviving Corporation under law or in equity:

                        (i)   SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.  The right and remedy to
have the Smith Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced by any court having
equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or
threatened breach will cause irreparable injury to NFO and the Surviving
Corporation and that money damages will not provide adequate remedy to NFO and
the Surviving Corporation; and






<PAGE>


                                                                    52




                        (ii)  ACCOUNTING.  The right and remedy to require
Walter P. Smith to account for and pay over to the Surviving Corporation all
compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments or other benefits derived or
received by Walter P. Smith as the result of any transactions constituting a
breach of any of the Smith Restrictive Covenants, and Walter Smith shall account
for and pay over such benefits to the Surviving Corporation.

                  (c) SEVERABILITY OF COVENANTS. If any court determines that
any of the Smith Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of the Smith Restrictive Covenants shall not
thereby be affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the
invalid portions.

                  (d) BLUE-PENCILLING. If any court determines that any of the
Smith Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is unenforceable because of
the duration of such provision or the area covered thereby, such court shall
have the power to reduce the duration or area of such provision and, in its
reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

                  (e) ENFORCEABILITY IN JURISDICTIONS. The parties intend to and
hereby confer jurisdiction to enforce the Smith Restrictive Covenants upon the
courts of any jurisdiction within the geographical scope of such covenants. If
the courts of any one or more of such jurisdictions hold the Smith Restrictive
Covenants wholly unenforceable by reason of the breadth of such scope or
otherwise, it is the intention of the parties that such determination not bar or
in any way affect the Surviving Corporation's right to the relief provided above
in the courts of any other jurisdiction within the geographical scope of such
covenants, as to breaches of such






<PAGE>


                                                                    53




covenants in such other respective jurisdictions, such covenants as they relate
to each jurisdiction being, for this purpose, severable into diverse and
independent covenants.

            5.14  NON-COMPETITION/NON-SOLICITATION COVENANT OF JAY H. FRIEDMAN.

                  (a)   NON-COMPETE/NON-SOLICITATION.  During the Employment
Period (as defined in the employment agreement entered into between the
Surviving Corporation and Jay H. Friedman on the Closing Date) and continuing
for a period of twenty-four months following the later of the date (the
"Friedman Noncompete Trigger Date") on which Jay H. Friedman (i) ceases to be
entitled to receive his Base Salary (as defined in the employment agreement
entered into between the Surviving Corporation and Jay H. Friedman on the
Closing Date) and (ii) ceases for any reason, to be an employee of the Surviving
Corporation, he shall not, directly or indirectly, in any geographical area
(including within California in the counties specified on Exhibit G hereto) or
in any foreign country in which NFO, the Surviving Corporation or their
respective subsidiaries engage or plan to engage in business on the Friedman
Noncompete Trigger Date, in any form or manner:

                        (i)  own, manage, control, participate in, consult with,
render services for, or in any manner engage in any business competing with the
businesses of NFO, the Surviving Corporation or their respective subsidiaries as
such businesses exist or are in process on the Friedman Noncompete Trigger Date;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Jay H. Friedman may be a passive owner of not more than
5% of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly
traded,






<PAGE>


                                                                    54




so long as Jay H. Friedman has no active participation in the business of such
corporation; or

                        (ii)  (a) induce or attempt to induce any employee of
NFO, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries to leave
the employ thereof, (b) hire any person who was an employee of NFO, the
Surviving Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries while Jay H.
Friedman was an employee of the Surviving Corporation or (c) induce or attempt
to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or other business relation of NFO,
the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries to cease doing
business with NFO, the Surviving Corporation or any such subsidiary, or in any
way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier,
licensee or business relation and NFO, the Surviving Corporation or any of their
respective subsidiaries.

                  (b) RIGHTS AND REMEDIES UPON BREACH. If Jay H. Friedman
breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of Section
5.14(a) (the "Friedman Restrictive Covenants"), the Surviving Corporation shall
have the following rights and remedies, each of which rights and remedies shall
be independent of the other and severally enforceable, and all of which rights
and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and
remedies available to the Surviving Corporation under law or in equity:

                        (i)   SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.  The right and remedy to
have the Friedman Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced by any court
having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such
breach or threatened breach will cause irreparable injury to NFO and the
Surviving






<PAGE>


                                                                    55




Corporation and that money damages will not provide adequate remedy to NFO and
the Surviving Corporation; and

                        (ii)  ACCOUNTING.  The right and remedy to require
Jay H. Friedman to account for and pay over to the Surviving Corporation all
compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments or other benefits derived or
received by Jay H. Friedman as the result of any transactions constituting a
breach of any of the Friedman Restrictive Covenants, and Jay H. Friedman shall
account for and pay over such benefits to the Surviving Corporation.

                  (c) SEVERABILITY OF COVENANTS. If any court determines that
any of the Friedman Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of the Friedman Restrictive Covenants shall not
thereby be affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the
invalid portions.

                  (d) BLUE-PENCILLING. If any court determines that any of the
Friedman Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is unenforceable because of
the duration of such provision or the area covered thereby, such court shall
have the power to reduce the duration or area of such provision and, in its
reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

                  (e) ENFORCEABILITY IN JURISDICTIONS. The parties intend to and
hereby confer jurisdiction to enforce the Friedman Restrictive Covenants upon
the courts of any jurisdiction within the geographical scope of such covenants.
If the courts of any one or more of such jurisdictions hold the Friedman
Restrictive Covenants wholly unenforceable by reason of the breadth of such
scope or






<PAGE>


                                                                    56




otherwise, it is the intention of the parties that such determination not bar or
in any way affect the Surviving Corporation's right to the relief provided above
in the courts of any other jurisdiction within the geographical scope of such
covenants, as to breaches of such covenants in such other respective
jurisdictions, such covenants as they relate to each jurisdiction being, for
this purpose, severable into diverse and independent covenants.

            5.15  NON-COMPETITION/NON-SOLICITATION COVENANT OF THOMAS RICH.

                  (a)   NON-COMPETE/NON-SOLICITATION.  During the period in
which Thomas Rich is employed by the Surviving Corporation and continuing for a
period of twenty-four months following the date (the "Rich Noncompete Trigger
Date") on which Thomas Rich ceases for any reason, to be an employee of the
Surviving Corporation, he shall not, directly or indirectly, in any geographical
area (including within California in the counties specified on Exhibit G hereto)
or in any foreign country in which NFO, the Surviving Corporation or their
respective subsidiaries engage or plan to engage in business on the Rich
Noncompete Trigger Date, in any form or manner:

                        (i)  own, manage, control, participate in, consult with,
render services for, or in any manner engage in any business competing with the
businesses of NFO, the Surviving Corporation or their respective subsidiaries as
such businesses exist or are in process on the Rich Noncompete Trigger Date;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Thomas Rich may be a passive owner of not more than 5%
of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded,
so






<PAGE>


                                                                    57




long as Thomas Rich has no active participation in the business of such
corporation; or

                        (ii)  (a) induce or attempt to induce any employee of
NFO, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries to leave
the employ thereof, (b) hire any person who was an employee of NFO, the
Surviving Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries while Thomas Rich
was an employee of the Surviving Corporation or (c) induce or attempt to induce
any customer, supplier, licensee or other business relation of NFO, the
Surviving Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries to cease doing
business with NFO, the Surviving Corporation or any such subsidiary, or in any
way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier,
licensee or business relation and NFO, the Surviving Corporation or any of their
respective subsidiaries.

                  (b) RIGHTS AND REMEDIES UPON BREACH. If Thomas Rich breaches,
or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of Section 5.15(a)
(the "Rich Restrictive Covenants"), the Surviving Corporation shall have the
following rights and remedies, each of which rights and remedies shall be
independent of the other and severally enforceable, and all of which rights and
remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and
remedies available to the Surviving Corporation under law or in equity:

                        (i)   SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.  The right and remedy to
have the Rich Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced by any court having
equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or
threatened breach will cause irreparable injury to NFO and the Surviving
Corporation and that






<PAGE>


                                                                    58




money damages will not provide adequate remedy to NFO and the Surviving
Corporation; and

                        (ii)  ACCOUNTING.  The right and remedy to require
Thomas Rich to account for and pay over to the Surviving Corporation all
compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments or other benefits derived or
received by Thomas Rich as the result of any transactions constituting a breach
of any of the Rich Restrictive Covenants, and Thomas Rich shall account for and
pay over such benefits to the Surviving Corporation.

                  (c) SEVERABILITY OF COVENANTS. If any court determines that
any of the Rich Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of the Rich Restrictive Covenants shall not thereby
be affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid
portions.

                  (d) BLUE-PENCILLING. If any court determines that any of the
Rich Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is unenforceable because of the
duration of such provision or the area covered thereby, such court shall have
the power to reduce the duration or area of such provision and, in its reduced
form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

                  (e) ENFORCEABILITY IN JURISDICTIONS. The parties intend to and
hereby confer jurisdiction to enforce the Rich Restrictive Covenants upon the
courts of any jurisdiction within the geographical scope of such covenants. If
the courts of any one or more of such jurisdictions hold the Rich Restrictive
Covenants wholly unenforceable by reason of the breadth of such scope or
otherwise, it is the intention of the parties that such determination not bar or
in any way affect the






<PAGE>


                                                                    59




Surviving Corporation's right to the relief provided above in the courts of any
other jurisdiction within the geographical scope of such covenants, as to
breaches of such covenants in such other respective jurisdictions, such
covenants as they relate to each jurisdiction being, for this purpose, severable
into diverse and independent covenants.

            5.16 ACCOUNTING TREATMENT. Each of the Company, NFO, Merger Sub and
the Shareholders shall not take any action and shall not fail to take any
action, which action or failure to act would prevent, or would be reasonably
likely to prevent, the Merger from qualifying for pooling of interests
accounting treatment.

            5.17 STOCK OPTIONS. On or prior to December 31, 1997, NFO shall
grant options for a total of 25,000 shares of NFO Common Stock, exercisable at a
price per share equal to the fair market value of NFO Common Stock on the date
of such grant, in the amounts and to the employees of the Surviving Corporation
specified on Schedule 5.17 hereto; PROVIDED, that any of such options not
designated for receipt on Schedule 5.17 shall be designated on or prior to
December 21, 1997 by the Chief Executive Officer of the Surviving Corporation.
The grant of such options shall be registered under the Securities Act of 1993,
as amended. It is understood that if and to the extent any such options are
granted pursuant to the NFO Research, Inc. Stock Option Plan, the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors of NFO has the sole authority to determine
and designate to whom options are to be granted, the timing and pricing of
grants, and the number of shares to be granted to each recipient.






<PAGE>


                                                                    60




            5.18 NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS. The Company and the
Shareholders shall give prompt notice to NFO and the Merger Sub, and NFO and the
Merger Sub shall give prompt notice to the Company and the Shareholders, of (i)
the occurrence, or non-occurrence, of any event the occurrence, or
non-occurrence, of which would be likely to cause any representation or warranty
of any party contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate and (ii) any
failure of the Company, the Shareholders, NFO or Merger Sub, as the case may be,
to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied
with or satisfied by it hereunder.

            5.19  WITHHOLDING.

                  (a) James B. Wood hereby covenants and agrees that upon the
earlier of the (i) repayment of all or a portion or (ii) maturity (if James B.
Wood has not surrendered shares of NFO Common Stock collateralizing such
promissory note) of the Promissory Note, dated December 19, 1994, in the
original principal amount of $40,000, made by James B. Wood in favor of the
Company, he shall promptly remit to the Surviving Corporation the funds
necessary for withholding of any taxes required by any governmental authority in
connection with each such repayment or the maturity, as the case may be, of such
promissory note. James B. Wood hereby covenants and agrees that upon the earlier
of the (i) repayment of all or a portion or (ii) maturity (if James B. Wood has
not surrendered shares of NFO Common Stock collateralizing such promissory note)
of the Promissory Note, dated August 31, 1995, in the original principal of
$3,460, made by James B. Wood in favor of the Company, he shall promptly remit
to the Surviving Corporation the funds






<PAGE>


                                                                    61




necessary for withholding of any taxes required by any governmental authority in
connection with each such repayment or the maturity, as the case may be, of such
promissory note.

                  (b) Thomas Rich hereby covenants and agrees that upon the
earlier of the (i) repayment of all or a portion or (ii) maturity (if Thomas
Rich has not surrendered shares of NFO Common Stock collateralizing such
promissory note) of the Promissory Note, dated August 31, 1995, in the original
principal amount of $3,460, made by Thomas Rich in favor of the Company, he
shall promptly remit to the Surviving Corporation the funds necessary for
withholding of any taxes required by any governmental authority in connection
with each such repayment or the maturity, as the case may be, of such promissory
note.

                  (c) Jay H. Friedman hereby covenants and agrees that upon the
earlier of the (i) repayment of all or a portion or (ii) maturity (if Jay H.
Friedman has not surrendered shares of NFO Common Stock collateralizing such
promissory note) of the Promissory Note, dated August 31, 1995, in the original
principal amount of $3,460, made by Jay H. Friedman in favor of the Company, he
shall promptly remit to the Surviving Corporation the funds necessary for
withholding of any taxes required by any governmental authority in connection
with each such repayment or the maturity, as the case may be, of such promissory
note.







<PAGE>


                                                                    62




                                ARTICLE 6

                               CONDITIONS

            6.1 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF NFO AND MERGER SUB. The obliga tion
of NFO and Merger Sub to effect the Merger shall be subject to the fulfillment
at or prior to the Effective Time of the following additional conditions, any
one or more of which may be waived by NFO and Merger Sub:

                  (a) All requisite approvals of the Shareholders of the Company
under the DGCL, the California Code and the Company's articles of incorporation
shall have been obtained for this Agreement, the Merger and the transactions
contemplated hereby;

                  (b) Those Shareholders and other persons who are named in the
Employment and Consulting Agreements shall have entered into the Employment and
Consulting Agreements;

                  (c) The Company and the Shareholders each shall have performed
and complied with all covenants and agreements required by this Agreement to be
performed or complied with by each of them on or prior to the Effective Time
pursuant to the terms hereof;

                  (d) The representations and warranties of the Company and the
Shareholders contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of
the Effective Time as if made on and as of such date except for representations
and warranties expressly made as of a specific date, which shall be true and
correct as of such date;






<PAGE>


                                                                    63




                  (e) The Company and each Shareholder shall have delivered to
NFO and Merger Sub a certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to NFO and Merger Sub, dated the Closing Date, certifying as to the matters set
forth in Sections 6.1(c) and (d);

                  (f) NFO and Merger Sub shall have received the opinion of
Tomlinson, Zisko, Morosoli & Maser LLP, counsel to the Company and the
Shareholders, dated the date of the Closing, addressed to NFO and Merger Sub,
substantially in the form of Exhibit H and with customary assumptions,
exceptions and qualifications;

                  (g) There shall not have occurred after the date hereof any
material adverse change in the Condition of the Company or its subsidiaries
taken as a whole;

                  (h) No order, statute, rule, regulation, executive order,
stay, decree, judgment or injunction shall have been enacted, entered,
promulgated or enforced by any court or governmental authority which prohibits
or prevents the consummation of the Merger;

                  (i) The Company shall have delivered to NFO and Merger Sub
certificates, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to NFO and Merger
Sub, signed by an executive officer thereof, dated the Closing Date, certifying
that full and complete copies of the following are attached thereto: minutes of
the Board of Directors and shareholders of the Company (or unanimous written
consents of the Board of Directors and shareholders of the Company) authorizing
and approving this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, copies of
the articles of






<PAGE>


                                                                    64




incorporation and by-laws of the Company as in effect on the date thereof, and
such other documents or instruments as Merger Sub may reasonably request in
writing not less than two days prior to the Closing Date to carry out the intent
and purpose of this Agreement;

                  (j) Any and all permits and approvals from any govern mental
or regulatory body required for the lawful consummation of the Closing shall
have been obtained;

                  (k) All consents, permits and approvals from parties to any
contracts or other agreements with the Company which may be required in
connection with the performance by the Company of its obligations under this
Agreement or the continuance of such contracts or other agreements after the
Closing shall have been obtained;

                  (l) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.1(l), the Shareholders
and each affiliate of the Company shall have paid to the Company any amounts
owed by such person to the Company;

                  (m) No action, suit or proceeding shall have been instituted
before any court or governmental body or instituted or threatened by any
governmental agency or body to restrain or prevent the carrying out of the trans
actions contemplated hereby, or which has or may have, in the opinion of NFO or
Merger Sub, a materially adverse effect on the Condition of the Company;

                  (n)   Each of the Shareholders and the Escrow Agent shall
have executed and delivered the Indemnification and Escrow Agreement;






<PAGE>


                                                                    65




                  (o) NFO shall have received a copy of the unaudited
consolidated balance sheet of the Company for the month ended February 28, 1997
and such balance sheet shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP and consistent
with past practice of the Company and shall fairly present the consolidated
financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries on and as of the date thereof, and such financial condition and
results of operations shall be reasonably consistent with the expectations of
the Company in all material respects as it relates to the month of February,
1997;

                  (p)   Each of James B. Wood, Jay H. Friedman and Thomas
Rich shall have executed and delivered the Release of Claims, substantially in
the form of Exhibit I; and

                  (q) NFO shall have received a final copy of the letter of
Price Waterhouse LP. referred to in Section 4.30 of this Agreement, which letter
shall be identical in all material respects to the draft of such letter
previously provided to NFO.

            6.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY AND THE SHAREHOLDERS.
The obligation of the Company and the Shareholders to effect the Merger shall be
subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of the following
additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by the Company and
the Shareholders:

                  (a) NFO and Merger Sub shall each have performed and complied
with all covenants and agreements required by this Agreement to be






<PAGE>


                                                                    66




performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Effective Time pursuant to
the terms hereof;

                  (b) The representations and warranties of NFO and Merger Sub
contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Effective
Time as if made on and as of such date except for representations and warranties
expressly made as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such
date;

                  (c) NFO and Merger Sub shall have delivered to the Company and
each Shareholder a certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
them, dated the Closing Date, certifying as to the matters set forth in Sections
6.2(a) and (b);

                  (d) The Company and the Shareholders shall have received the
opinion of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, counsel to NFO and Merger
Sub, dated the date of the Closing, addressed to the Company and the
Shareholders, substantially in the form of Exhibit J attached hereto and with
customary assumptions, exceptions and qualifications;

                  (e) No order, statute, rule, regulation, executive order,
stay, decree, judgment or injunction shall have been enacted, entered,
promulgated or enforced by any court or governmental authority which prohibits
or prevents the consummation of the Merger;






<PAGE>


                                                                    67




                  (f) NFO and Merger Sub shall each have delivered to the
Company certificates, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Company, signed by an executive officer thereof, dated the Closing Date,
certifying that full and complete copies of the following are attached thereto:
minutes of the Board of Directors thereof and, in the case of Merger Sub, the
Shareholders thereof (or unanimous written consents in lieu thereof) authorizing
and approving this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, copies of
the certificate of incorporation and by-laws thereof as in effect on the date
thereof, and such other documents or instruments as the Company may reasonably
request in writing not less than two days prior to the Closing Date to carry out
the intent and purpose of this Agreement;

                  (g) NFO shall have executed and delivered the Registration
Rights Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, between NFO and the
Shareholders, substantially in the form of Exhibit K attached hereto; and

                  (h) The Shareholders shall have received a final copy of the
letter of Arthur Andersen LLP referred to in Section 3.9 of this Agreement,
which letter shall be identical in all material respects to the draft of such
letter previously provided to the Shareholders.

                                ARTICLE 7

                                 CLOSING

            7.1   TIME AND PLACE OF CLOSING.  Subject to the provisions of
Article 6, the closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall take place (i) at the
offices






<PAGE>


                                                                    68




of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New
York, NY 10019, at 5:30 P.M., local time, as of April 1, 1997, or (ii) at such
other place, at such other time or on such other date as the Constituent
Corporations may mutually agree (the date of the Closing is herein referred to
as the "Closing Date").

            7.2 FILING OF CERTIFICATE OF MERGER. At the Closing, Merger Sub and
the Company shall cause the Certificate of Merger to be executed and filed with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the Secretary of State of
the State of California as provided in the DGCL and the California Code,
respectively, and shall take any and all other lawful actions and do any and all
other lawful things to cause the Merger to become effective.

                                ARTICLE 8

                       TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT

            8.1 TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger
contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time,
whether before or after approval by the Shareholders of the Company, by (a)
mutual agreement of Merger Sub and the Company, or (b) by either the Merger Sub
or the Company if the Effective Time shall not have occurred on or before June
1, 1997.

            8.2 PROCEDURE AND EFFECT OF TERMINATION. In the event of termina
tion and abandonment of the Merger by Merger Sub and the Company pursuant to
Section 8.1(a) or by either the Merger Sub or the Company pursuant to Section
8.1(b), written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other parties and
this






<PAGE>


                                                                    69




Agreement shall terminate and the Merger shall be abandoned without further
action by any of the parties hereto. Any termination of this Agreement shall be
without prejudice to the rights of any party on account of the non-satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Article 6 resulting from the intentional or
willful breach or violation of the representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements of another party under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary, Sections 5.5, 5.8, 10.5 and 10.9 shall survive
any termination of this Agreement.

                                ARTICLE 9

                SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS & WARRANTIES;
                             INDEMNIFICATION

            9.1 SURVIVAL. Notwithstanding any right of the parties hereto fully
to investigate the affairs of the Company and Merger Sub and notwithstanding any
knowledge of facts determined or determinable by any party hereto pursuant to
such investigation or right of investigation, each party hereto shall have the
right to rely fully upon the representations and warranties of the other parties
contained in this Agreement. The representations and warranties and covenants
and agreements of the parties hereto shall survive the execution and delivery
hereof and the Closing hereunder. The representations and warranties shall
thereafter terminate and expire on the earlier of (i) one year from the
Effective Time, or (ii) the date on which Arthur Andersen LLP (or its successor)
delivers to NFO its final audit opinion on the consolidated financial statements
of NFO for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1997.






<PAGE>


                                                                    70




            9.2 INDEMNIFICATION. Indemnification hereunder shall be governed by
the Indemnification and Escrow Agreement. The rights of NFO to indemnification
under the Indemnification and Escrow Agreement shall constitute the sole and
exclusive remedies of NFO from and after the Closing Date with respect to the
matters in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, nothing in the Indemnification and Escrow Agreement shall be deemed to
preclude NFO from seeking equitable or other relief for any failure of any party
to this Agreement to perform any covenant or agreement required to be performed
by such party.

                               ARTICLE 10

                              MISCELLANEOUS

            10.1 AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION. Subject to applicable law, this
Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented only by a written agree ment
signed by the parties hereto.

            10.2 WAIVER OF COMPLIANCE; CONSENTS. Any failure of NFO or Merger
Sub, on the one hand, or the Company or the Shareholders, on the other hand, to
comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be
waived by Merger Sub or the Company, respectively, only by a written instrument
signed by the party granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist
upon strict compliance with such obligation, covenant, agreement or condition
shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or
other failure. Whenever this Agreement requires or permits consent by or on
behalf of any party






<PAGE>


                                                                    71




hereto, such consent shall be given in writing in a manner consistent with the
requirements for a waiver of compliance as set forth in this Section 10.2.

            10.3 NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in
person, by telecopier (with a confirmed receipt thereof) or registered or
certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective
parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as
shall be specified by like notice):

                (a)   if to Merger Sub, to:
                      Prognostics Corp.
                      2 Pickwick Plaza
                      Suite 400
                      Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
                      Telecopy No.:  (203) 629-8885
                      Attention: Chief Financial Officer

                      with a copy to:

                      Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton &
                        Garrison
                      1285 Avenue of the Americas
                      New York, New York 10019-6064
                      Telecopy No.:  (212) 757-3990
                      Attention:  James M. Dubin, Esq.

                (b)  if to NFO, to:

                      NFO Research, Inc.
                      2 Pickwick Plaza
                      Suite 400
                      Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
                      Telecopy No.:  (203) 629-8885
                      Attention: Chief Financial Officer







<PAGE>


                                                                  72




                      with a copy to:

                      Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton &
                        Garrison
                      1285 Avenue of the Americas
                      New York, New York 10019-6064
                      Telecopy No.:  (212) 757-3990
                      Attention:  James M. Dubin, Esq.

                (c)   if to the Company, to:

                      Prognostics
                      Stanford Research Park
                      900 Hansen Way
                      Palo Alto, CA 94304-1060
                      Telecopy No.: (415) 812-3920
                      Attention: James B. Wood

                      with a copy to:

                      Tomlinson, Zisko, Morosoli & Maser LLP
                      200 Page Mill Road
                      Second Floor
                      Palo Alto, CA 94306
                      Telecopy No: (415) 324-1808
                      Attention: Timothy Tomlinson, Esq.

                (d)   if to any Shareholder prior to the Effective Time, to him:

                      c/o Prognostics
                      Stanford Research Park
                      900 Hansen Way
                      Palo Alto, CA  94304-1060
                      Telecopy No.: (415) 812-3920

                      if to any Shareholder subsequent to the Effective Time,
                      to him:

                      c/o Prognostics Corp.
                      Stanford Research Park
                      900 Hansen Way
                      Palo Alto, CA  94304-1060
                      Telecopy No.: (415) 812-3920








<PAGE>


                                                                  73




                      in either case with a copy to:

                      Tomlinson, Zisko, Morosoli & Maser LLP
                      200 Page Mill Road
                      Second Floor
                      Palo Alto, CA 94306
                      Telecopy No: (415) 324-1808
                      Attention: Timothy Tomlinson, Esq.

                (e)   if to the Surviving Corporation, to:

                      c/o Prognostics Corp.
                      Stanford Research Park
                      900 Hansen Way
                      Palo Alto, CA  94304-1060
                      Telecopy No.: (415) 812-3920
                      Attention: James B. Wood


                      with copies to:

                      NFO Research, Inc.
                      2 Pickwick Plaza
                      Suite 400
                      Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
                      Telecopy No.:  (203) 629-8885
                      Attention:  Chief Financial Officer

                      and

                      Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
                      1285 Avenue of the Americas
                      New York, New York 10019-6064
                      Telecopy No. (212) 757-3990
                      Attention:  James M. Dubin, Esq.


            10.4 ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and permitted assigns, but neither this Agreement nor any
of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of
the






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parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties, nor is
this Agreement intended to confer upon any other person except the parties
hereto any rights or remedies hereunder; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the rights of
NFO and Merger Sub may be transferred in whole or in part to any affiliate
thereof.

            10.5  EXPENSES.

                  (a) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all
costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby by NFO or Merger Sub shall be paid by NFO or
Merger Sub and all such costs and expenses, in an amount not in excess of
$150,000, but excluding all costs and expenses of Robertson Stephens & Company,
incurred by the Company and the Shareholders shall be paid by the Company. Any
costs and expenses incurred by the Company and the Shareholders in excess of
$150,000, as well as all costs and expenses of Robertson Stephens & Company,
shall be paid by the Shareholders.

                  (b) If the Company or any Shareholder, on the one hand, or NFO
or Merger Sub, on the other hand (in any case, the "Refusing Party"), shall
intentionally or willfully (i) refuse to consummate the Merger on the Closing
Date, (ii) cause a material breach of any covenant contained herein which
directly results in the consummation of the Merger NOT going forward on the
Closing Date, subject to applicable cure periods, or (iii) fails to satisfy any
of the conditions to closing contained herein, then, so long as the parties that
are not the Refusing Parties are ready, willing and able to consummate the
Merger and have satisfied in all material respects the conditions set forth in
Article 6 applicable to them, the Refusing Parties






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shall promptly pay an amount equal to $1,000,000 to the parties that are not the
Refusing Parties.

            10.6 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely
within such State, except that any provisions required to be governed by the
laws of the State of California, as well as Sections 5.12, 5.13, 5.14 and 5.15,
shall be governed thereby.

            10.7 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

            10.8 INTERPRETATION. The article and section headings contained in
this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the
agreement of the parties and shall not in any way affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, (i) the term
"person" shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a company, a joint
venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government
or any department or agency thereof; (ii) the term "affiliate," with respect to
any person, shall mean and include any person controlling, controlled by or
under common control with such person; and (iii) the term "subsidiary" of any
specified person shall mean any corporation 50% or more of the outstanding
voting power of which, or any partnership, company, joint venture or other
entity 50% or more of the total equity interest of which, is directly or
indirectly owned by such specified person. For






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purposes of this Agreement, all references to "subsidiaries" of a person shall
be deemed to mean "subsidiary" if such person has only one subsidiary.

            10.9 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, including the documents or
instruments referred to herein, embodies the entire agreement and understanding
of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There
are no restrictions, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or
undertakings, other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein. This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings whether oral or
written between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

            10.10 NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES.  This Agreement is not intended
to, and does not, create any rights or benefits of any party other than the
parties hereto.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Merger Sub, NFO, the Shareholders and the
Company have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective duly
authorized officers as of the 20th day of March, 1997.

                                    PROGNOSTICS CORP.


                                    By:  /s/ Patrick G. Healy
                                       ------------------------------------
                                       Name:  Patrick G. Healy
                                       Title: Executive Vice President








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                                                                    77





                                    NFO RESEARCH, INC.


                                    By: /s/ William E. Lipner
                                       ------------------------------------
                                       Name:  William E. Lipner
                                       Title: President and Chief Executive
                                              Officer


                                    PROGNOSTICS



                                    By: /s/ James B. Wood
                                       ------------------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:


                                             /s/ James B. Wood
                                       ------------------------------------
                                             James B. Wood


                                             /s/ Walter P. Smith
                                       ------------------------------------
                                             Walter P. Smith *


                                             /s/ Jay H. Friedman
                                       ------------------------------------
                                             Jay H. Friedman


                                             /s/ Thomas Rich
                                       ------------------------------------
                                             Thomas Rich




*  As Trustee of the Walter P. Smith Trust (2/20/86), and for purposes
   of covenanting and agreeing to personally be bound by Section 5.13 hereof.