<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 2.1

 
                         AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT
                      AND PLAN OF CONTRIBUTION AND MERGER
 
                          DATED AS OF OCTOBER 28, 1998
 
                                  BY AND AMONG
 
                              PROTECTION ONE, INC.
                            (A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
 
                 PROTECTION ONE ACQUISITION HOLDING CORPORATION
                            (A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
 
                              P-1 MERGER SUB, INC.
                         (A MASSACHUSETTS CORPORATION)
 
                              P-1 MERGER SUB, INC.
                            (A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
 
                                      AND
 
                             LIFELINE SYSTEMS, INC.
                         (A MASSACHUSETTS CORPORATION)
<PAGE>   2
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
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                                                                        PAGE
                                                                        ----
<S>       <C>                                                           <C>
ARTICLE 1
     THE MERGERS......................................................
     1.1  The Mergers.................................................
     1.2  Effective Time..............................................
     1.3  Effect of the Merger........................................
     1.4  Further Actions.............................................
     1.5  Articles of Organization; By-Laws; Directors and Officers...
     1.6  Corporate Identity..........................................
ARTICLE 2
     CONVERSION OF SECURITIES.........................................
     2.1  Conversion of Securities....................................
     2.2  Conversion of Securities -- The Parent Merger...............
     2.3  Cancellation of Certain New Parent Stock; Other Matters
          Affecting New Parent Common Stock...........................
     2.4  Exchange of Certificates....................................
ARTICLE 3
     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...................................
     3.1  Organization and Qualification..............................
     3.2  Capitalization..............................................
     3.3  Authority...................................................
     3.4  Compliance..................................................
     3.5  Commission Filings..........................................
     3.6  Litigation..................................................
     3.7  Changes.....................................................
     3.8  Environmental Matters.......................................
     3.9  Compliance with Laws; Permits...............................
    3.10  No Undisclosed Material Liabilities.........................
    3.11  Interim Operations of Merger Subs...........................
    3.12  Broker's Fees...............................................
    3.13  Financing...................................................
ARTICLE 4
     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY....................
     4.1  Organization and Qualification..............................
     4.2  Subsidiaries................................................
     4.3  Capitalization..............................................
     4.4  Authority...................................................
     4.5  Compliance..................................................
     4.6  Commission Filings..........................................
     4.7  Litigation..................................................
     4.8  Changes.....................................................
     4.9  Transactions with Affiliates................................
    4.10  Environmental Matters.......................................
    4.11  Employee Benefits and Contracts.............................
    4.12  Liens on Assets.............................................
    4.13  Rights Agreement............................................
    4.14  Taxes.......................................................
    4.15  Compliance with Laws; Permits...............................
    4.16  Intellectual Property.......................................
    4.17  No Undisclosed Material Liabilities.........................
</TABLE>
 
                                       (i)
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<TABLE>
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                                                                        PAGE
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<S>       <C>                                                           <C>
    4.18  Brokers.....................................................
    4.19  Prepayment of Indebtedness..................................
    4.20  Provisions Inapplicable.....................................
    4.21  No Existing Discussions.....................................
ARTICLE 5
     CONDUCT OF BUSINESS..............................................
     5.1  Company Conduct Prior to Effective Time.....................
     5.2  Parent Conduct Prior to Effective Time......................
     5.3  Commission Filings..........................................
     5.4  Joint Proxy Statement/Information Statement; Registration
          Statement...................................................
     5.5  Employee Stock Options and Benefit Plans....................
     5.6  Further Assurances..........................................
     5.7  Accountants' "Comfort" Letters..............................
ARTICLE 6
     ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS............................................
     6.1  Access to Information.......................................
     6.2  Notification of Certain Matters.............................
     6.3  Fees and Expenses...........................................
     6.4  Additional Agreements.......................................
     6.5  No Solicitation.............................................
     6.6  Employee Stock Purchase Plan................................
     6.7  Indemnification and Insurance...............................
     6.8  Fair Price Structure........................................
     6.9  Guaranty....................................................
    6.10  Certain Tax Related Representations.........................
ARTICLE 7
     CONDITIONS.......................................................
     7.1  Conditions to Obligation of Each Party to Effect the
          Mergers.....................................................
     7.2  Conditions to Obligation of the Company to Effect the
          Company Merger..............................................
     7.3  Conditions to Obligation of the Parent, New Parent and the
          Merger Subsidiaries to Effect the Mergers...................
ARTICLE 8
     TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER................................
     8.1  Termination.................................................
     8.2  Effect of Termination.......................................
     8.3  Amendment...................................................
     8.4  Waiver......................................................
ARTICLE 9
     GENERAL PROVISIONS...............................................
     9.1  Closing.....................................................
     9.2  Publicity...................................................
     9.3  Notices.....................................................
     9.4  Interpretation..............................................
     9.5  Representations and Warranties; etc.........................
     9.6  Miscellaneous...............................................
     9.7  Validity....................................................
     9.8  Descriptive Headings........................................
</TABLE>
 
                                      (ii)
<PAGE>   4
 
                             TABLE OF DEFINED TERMS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
Acquiring Person............................................  4.13
Acquisition Proposal........................................  6.5(a)
Affiliates..................................................  9.4
Agreement...................................................  Recital
Average Closing Price.......................................  2.1(a)(i)
Cash Consideration..........................................  2.1(a)
Certificate of Merger.......................................  1.2
Certificates................................................  2.4(a)
Closing.....................................................  9.1
Closing Date................................................  9.1
Code........................................................  Recital
Company.....................................................  Recital
Commission..................................................  3.5(a)
Company 1998 Commission Filings.............................  4.6(a)
Company 1997 10-K...........................................  4.2
Company 1997 Balance Sheet..................................  4.12
Company Applicable Laws.....................................  4.15
Company Assets..............................................  4.12
Company Commission Filings..................................  4.6(a)
Company Disclosure Schedule.................................  Article 4 Introduction
Company Material Adverse Effect.............................  4.1
Company Merger..............................................  Recital
Company Merger Consideration................................  2.1(a)
Company Option..............................................  4.3
Company Option Plan.........................................  4.3
Company Shares..............................................  2.1(a)(i)
Company Subsidiary..........................................  4.2
Delaware Law................................................  1.1
Dissenting Shares...........................................  2.1(b)
Effective Time..............................................  1.2
Election Form...............................................  2.1(c)
Election Deadline...........................................  2.1(d)
ESPP........................................................  4.3(vi)
Environmental Law...........................................  3.8(a)
Environmental Reports.......................................  4.10(c)
ERISA.......................................................  4.11(b)
Exchange Act................................................  3.4(b)
Exchange Agent..............................................  2.4(a)
Exchange Fund...............................................  2.4(a)
Exchange Ratio..............................................  2.1(a)(i)
Financial Advisor...........................................  6.5(a)
Governmental Entity.........................................  4.10(a)
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.......................................  3.4(b)
Hazardous Materials.........................................  3.8(a)
Indemnified Parties.........................................  6.7
Information Statement.......................................  5.4(a)(i)
Joint Proxy/Information Statement...........................  5.4(a)(i)
Massachusetts Law...........................................  1.1
Merger......................................................  1.1
Merger Sub I................................................  Recital
Merger Sub II...............................................  Recital
</TABLE>
 
                                      (iii)
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
Merger Subsidiary...........................................  1.1
New Parent..................................................  Recital
New Parent Common Stock.....................................  2.1(a)(i)
Notice of Qualified Acquisition Proposal....................  6.5(c)
Option Exchange Ratio.......................................  5.5(a)
Parent......................................................  Recital
Parent Applicable Laws......................................  3.9
Parent Commission Filings...................................  3.5(a)
Parent Common Stock.........................................  2.1(a)(i)
Parent Disclosure Schedule..................................  Article 3 Introduction
Parent Material Adverse Effect..............................  3.1
Parent Merger...............................................  Recital
Parent Merger Consideration.................................  2.2
Parent Option...............................................  3.2(a)
Parent Option Plan..........................................  3.2(a)
Parent Preferred Shares.....................................  3.2(a)
Parent Shares...............................................  2.2
Parent Subsidiaries.........................................  3.1
Party.......................................................  1.1
Proxy Statement.............................................  5.4(a)(i)
Qualified Acquisition Proposal..............................  6.5(a)
Qualified Commercial Bank...................................  2.4(d)
Registration Statement......................................  5.4(a)(i)
Rights Agreement............................................  4.13
Securities Act..............................................  3.4(b)
Special Meeting.............................................  2.1(b)
Stock Election..............................................  2.1(a)
Stock Option Agreement......................................  Recital
Substitute Option...........................................  5.5(a)
Surviving Corporation.......................................  1.1
Tax.........................................................  4.14
Tax Returns.................................................  4.14
Third Party.................................................  6.5(a)
Trigger Event...............................................  6.3(d)
Voting Agreement............................................  4.13
Western Resources Voting Agreement..........................  Recital
1994 Plan...................................................  3.2
1991 Directors Plan.........................................  4.3
1991 Plan...................................................  4.3
</TABLE>
 
                                      (iv)
<PAGE>   6
 
                         AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT
                      AND PLAN OF CONTRIBUTION AND MERGER
 
     THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF CONTRIBUTION AND MERGER
(this "Agreement"), dated as of October 28, 1998, is by and among Protection
One, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the
"Parent"), Protection One Acquisition Holding Corporation, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and a wholly owned subsidiary
of Parent (the "New Parent"), P-1 Merger Sub, Inc., a corporation organized
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a wholly owned
subsidiary of New Parent (the "Merger Sub I"), P-1 Merger Sub, Inc., a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and a wholly owned
subsidiary of New Parent (the "Merger Sub II"), and Lifeline Systems, Inc., a
corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the
"Company").
 
                                   BACKGROUND
 
     A. The Parent, New Parent, Merger Sub I, Merger Sub II and the Company are
parties to an Agreement and Plan of Contribution and Merger dated as of October
18, 1998 (the "Initial Merger Agreement") and wish to amend and restate the
Initial Merger Agreement in its entirety by executing this Agreement to permit
holders of Company Shares (as defined below) to make the Stock Election (as
defined below).
 
     B. The respective Boards of Directors of the Company and Merger Sub I have
each duly approved the merger of Merger Sub I and the Company on the terms and
subject to the conditions of this Agreement (the "Company Merger"), as a result
of which the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of New Parent. New
Parent, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub I has duly approved the Company
Merger and the Board of Directors of the Company has duly resolved to recommend
approval of the Company Merger by its stockholders.
 
     C. The respective Boards of Directors of Parent and Merger Sub II have each
duly approved the merger of Merger Sub II and Parent on the terms and subject to
the conditions of this Agreement (the "Parent Merger"), as a result of which
Parent will become a wholly owned subsidiary of New Parent. New Parent, as the
sole stockholder of Merger Sub II has duly approved the Parent Merger and the
Board of Directors of Parent has duly resolved to recommend approval of the
Parent Merger by its stockholders.
 
     D. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Initial Merger
Agreement and as a condition to Parent's willingness to enter into the Initial
Merger Agreement and this Agreement, Parent and the Company entered into a Stock
Option Agreement (the "Stock Option Agreement") attached as Annex A hereto.
 
     E. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Initial Merger
Agreement, and as a condition to Parent's willingness to enter into the Initial
Merger Agreement and this Agreement, Parent and each director and executive
officer of the Company entered into a Voting Agreement (the "Voting Agreement")
in the form attached as Annex B hereto.
 
     F. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Initial Merger
Agreement, and as a condition to the Company's willingness to enter into the
Initial Merger Agreement and this Agreement, the Company and Westar Capital,
Inc., the controlling stockholder of Parent, entered into a Voting Agreement
(the "Western Resources Voting Agreement") attached as Annex C hereto.
 
     G. For United States federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the
formation of New Parent and the Mergers to effectuate the contribution of all of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company and Parent to New Parent
constitute an exchange under Section 351 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"), and that the Parent Merger also constitute a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code.
 
                                       1
<PAGE>   7
 
     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and
adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, Parent, New Parent, Merger Sub I,
Merger Sub II and the Company hereby agree as follows:
 
                                   ARTICLE 1
 
                                  THE MERGERS
 
     1.1  The Mergers. Subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, at the Effective Time (as hereinafter defined) (i) Merger Sub I shall
be merged with and into the Company in accordance with this Agreement and the
applicable provisions of the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law (the
"Massachusetts Law"), the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub I shall
cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation and as a
wholly owned subsidiary of New Parent, and (ii) Merger Sub II shall be merged
with and into Parent in accordance with this Agreement and the applicable
provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
"Delaware Law"), the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub II shall cease
and Parent shall continue as the surviving corporation and as a wholly owned
subsidiary of New Parent. The Company Merger and the Parent Merger are herein
collectively referred to as the "Mergers" and each individually as a "Merger".
The Company and Parent, as the surviving corporations after the Mergers, are
herein sometimes collectively referred to as the "Surviving Corporations" and
each individually as a "Surviving Corporation". Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II
are herein sometimes collectively referred to as the "Merger Subsidiaries" and
each individually as a "Merger Subsidiary". Parent, New Parent, the Company,
Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II are herein referred to collectively as the
"Parties" and each individually as a "Party."
 
     1.2  Effective Time. As promptly as practicable after the satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions set forth in Article 7 hereof, the Parties shall cause
the Mergers to be consummated concurrently by (a) delivering to the Secretary of
State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Articles of Merger with respect to
the Company Merger, in such form as required by, and executed and acknowledged
in accordance with, the relevant provisions of Massachusetts Law and (b) filing
a Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
with respect to the Parent Merger, in such form as required by, and executed in
accordance with, the relevant provisions of Delaware Law (the time of the later
of such filings to occur being the "Effective Time").
 
     1.3  Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, (i) the Company shall
continue its corporate existence under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and the Company Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section
80 of Chapter 156B of the Massachusetts Law and (ii) Parent shall continue its
corporate existence under the laws of the State of Delaware and the Parent
Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section 259 of the Delaware Law.
 
     1.4  Further Actions. If, at any time after the Effective Time, either of
the Surviving Corporations shall consider or be advised that any deeds, bills of
sale, assignments, assurances or any other actions or things are necessary or
desirable to continue in, vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in
such Surviving Corporation its right, title or interest in, to or under any of
the rights, properties, privileges, franchises or assets of either of its
constituent corporations or otherwise to carry out this Agreement, the officers
and directors of such Surviving Corporation shall be directed and authorized to
execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of any of such constituent
corporations or the Merger Subsidiaries, all such deeds, bills of sale,
assignments and assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of each
of such 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, privileges, franchises or
assets in such Surviving Corporation or otherwise to carry out this Agreement.
 
     1.5  Articles of Organization; By-Laws; Directors and Officers. Unless
otherwise agreed by Parent and Company before the Effective Time, at the
Effective Time:
 
          (i) The Articles of Organization of the Company as in effect
     immediately prior to the Effective Time (including the purposes of the
     Surviving Corporation and the total number of shares and the


                                       2
<PAGE>   8
 
par value, if any, of each class of stock which the Surviving Corporation is
authorized to issue) shall be the Articles of Organization of the Company as a
Surviving Corporation, and the Certificate of Incorporation of Parent as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Certificate of
Incorporation of Parent as a Surviving Corporation (except that the Certificate
of Incorporation of Parent shall be amended by virtue of the Parent Merger to
change the name of Parent to "Protection One Holding Corporation"), in each case
until thereafter amended as provided by law and such Articles of Organization or
Certificate of Incorporation, as the case may be.
 
          (ii) The respective Bylaws of each of Company and Parent in each case
     as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Bylaws
     of Company and Parent, respectively, as a Surviving Corporation in each
     case until thereafter amended as provided by law and the Articles of
     Organization or Certificate of Incorporation, as the case may be, of such
     Surviving Corporation and such Bylaws; and
 
          (iii) (x) The directors of Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II immediately
     prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors of Company and Parent,
     respectively, as the respective Surviving Corporations from and after the
     Effective Time, in each case until their successors are elected or
     appointed and qualified or until their resignation or removal; and (y) the
     officers of Parent and Company immediately prior to the Effective Time
     shall be the officers of Parent and Company, respectively, as the
     respective Surviving Corporations from and after the Effective Time, in
     each case until their successors are elected or appointed and qualified or
     until their resignation or removal.
 
     1.6  Corporate Identity. The Company and Parent agree that immediately
after the Effective Time, the corporate name of New Parent shall be changed to
"Protection One, Inc." (and the Company and Parent agree that they shall take
such actions in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement as may be necessary to ensure that such name
change may be effected without further action by the stockholders of New Parent
immediately following the consummation of the Mergers).
 
                                   ARTICLE 2
 
                            CONVERSION OF SECURITIES
 
     2.1  Conversion of Securities -- The Company Merger
 
     (a) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Company Merger and without any
action on the part of Merger Sub I, the Company, the Surviving Corporation of
the Company Merger or the holder of any of the following securities:
 
          (i) subject to Section 2.1(b), each share of Common Stock, $0.02 par
     value per share, of the Company (the "Company Shares") issued and
     outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Company
     Shares to be cancelled pursuant to clause (ii) below and any Dissenting
     Shares (as defined below)) together with the associated Right (hereafter
     defined) issued or issuable pursuant to the Rights Agreement (hereafter
     defined) shall be cancelled and extinguished and be converted into and
     become a right to receive (without interest thereon) (x) (subject to the
     proviso set forth below) $14.50 in cash (the "Cash Consideration"), (y) the
     number of shares of New Parent Common Stock, $.01 par value per share ("New
     Parent Common Stock") equal to the Exchange Ratio (as defined below) and
     (z) cash in lieu of fractional shares as contemplated by Section 2.4(b);
     provided, however, that each holder of Company Shares shall be entitled to
     elect (the "Stock Election") to receive, in lieu of all or any portion of
     the Cash Consideration, additional shares of New Parent Common Stock in an
     amount equal to the portion of the Cash Consideration with respect to which
     the Stock Election is made divided by the greater of (1) the Average
     Closing Price (as defined below) and (2) $9.50 (the consideration referred
     to in clauses (x), (y) and (z) being collectively referred to as the
     "Company Merger Consideration").
 
                                       3
<PAGE>   9
 
          The term "Exchange Ratio" means:
 
             (A) 1.7857 if the Average Closing Price is less than $7.00;
 
             (B) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) $12.50 by (y) the Average
        Closing Price, if the Average Closing Price is equal to or greater than
        $7.00 but less than $8.19;
 
             (C) 1.5263 if the Average Closing Price is equal to or greater than
        $8.19 but less than $9.50;
 
             (D) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) $14.50 by (y) the Average
        Closing Price, if the Average Closing Price is equal to or greater than
        $9.50 but less than $11.00; and
 
             (E) 1.3182 if the Average Closing Price is equal to or greater than
        $11.00.
 
     The term "Average Closing Price" means the average of the closing prices of
     the Parent Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Parent Common
     Stock") on the Nasdaq National Market or the New York Stock Exchange (as
     reported in The Wall Street Journal or, if not reported thereby, any other
     authoritative source) during the ten most recent trading days on which
     shares of Parent Common Stock actually traded ending three trading days
     prior to the date on which stockholders of the Company approve the Merger;
 
          (ii) each Company Share that is issued and outstanding immediately
     prior to the Effective Time and owned by New Parent, the Merger
     Subsidiaries or the Company shall be cancelled and retired, and no payment
     shall be made with respect thereto; and
 
          (iii) each share of Merger Sub I's capital stock issued and
     outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into
     and become one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common
     stock of the Surviving Corporation of the Company Merger.
 
     (b) Notwithstanding Section 2.1(a), Company Shares outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder who, acting in accordance with
Sections 86 to 98 of Chapter 156B of the Massachusetts Law, (i) prior to the
special meeting at which the Company's stockholders vote to approve the Company
Merger (the "Special Meeting") has delivered to the Company written notice of
such holder's intention to demand payment for his Company Shares if the Company
Merger is effectuated and (ii) has not voted in favor of the Merger ("Dissenting
Shares"), shall not be converted into a right to receive the Company Merger
Consideration, unless such holder withdraws or otherwise loses his right to
demand payment for his Company Shares. If after the Effective Time such holder
withdraws or loses his right to demand payment for his Company Shares, such
Company Shares shall be treated as if they had been converted as of the
Effective Time into the right to receive the Company Merger Consideration
payable in respect of such Company Shares pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(i).
 
     (c) Subject to paragraph (d) below, each person who is a record holder of
Company Shares (other than holders of shares of Company Shares to be cancelled
as set forth in Section 2.1(a)(ii) or Dissenting Shares) shall have the right to
submit an election form (the "Election Form") specifying the portion of the Cash
Consideration, if any, that such person desires to have converted into the right
to receive New Parent Common Stock pursuant to the proviso set forth in Section
2.1(a)(i) above.
 
     (d) Stock Elections shall be made by record holders of Company Shares by
mailing to the Exchange Agent an Election Form. Parent, New Parent and the
Company shall each use its reasonable best efforts to mail the Election Form
(which shall be part of an appropriate letter of transmittal), with a Proxy
Statement (as defined in Section 5.4), to the record holders of the Company
Shares for the Special Meeting, and to all persons who become record holders of
Company Shares during the period between the record date for the Special Meeting
and 10:00 a.m. New York City time, on the date five calendar days prior to the
Special Meeting. The Election Form will be available upon request to any person
who becomes a record holder of Company Shares after such date and prior to the
close of business on the business day prior to the Special Meeting. Any Stock
Election shall have been validly made only if the Exchange Agent shall have
received by 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the date of the Special Meeting

                                       4
<PAGE>   10
 
(the "Election Deadline"), an Election Form properly completed and signed (with
the signature or signatures thereof guaranteed to the extent required by the
Election Form) by such holder accompanied by such holder's Certificates
representing Company Shares, or by an appropriate guarantee of delivery of such
Certificates representing Company Shares from a member of any registered
national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States or such
other person acceptable to New Parent, as set forth in such Election Form. Any
holder of Company Shares who has made an election by submitting an Election Form
to the Exchange Agent may at any time prior to the Election Deadline change such
holder's election by submitting a revised Election Form, properly completed and
signed that is received by the Exchange Agent prior to the Election Deadline.
Any holder of Company Shares may at any time prior to the Election Deadline
revoke his election and withdraw his Company Certificates deposited with the
Exchange Agent by written notice to the Exchange Agent received prior to the
Election Deadline. New Parent will have the discretion, which it may delegate in
whole or in part to the Exchange Agent, to determine whether Election Forms have
been properly completed, signed and submitted or revoked and to disregard
immaterial defects in the Election Forms. The decision of New Parent (or the
Exchange Agent) in such matters shall be conclusive and binding. Neither New
Parent or the Exchange Agent will be under any obligation to notify any person
of any defect in an Election Form submitted to the Exchange Agent. The Exchange
Agent shall also make all computations contemplated by this Section 2.1 and all
such computations shall be conclusive and binding on the holders of Company
Shares. As of the Election Deadline, all holders of Company Shares at the
Election Deadline that shall not have submitted to the Exchange Agent or shall
have properly revoked an effective, properly completed Election Form, shall be
deemed not to have made a Stock Election. If New Parent or the Exchange Agent
shall determine that any purported Stock Election was not properly made, such
purported Stock Election shall be of no force and effect.
 
     (e) Parent (with the consent of the Company which shall not be unreasonably
withheld) shall have the right to make rules, not inconsistent with the terms of
this Agreement, governing the validity of the Election Forms, the issuance and
delivery of certificates for New Parent Common Stock into which shares of
Company Shares are converted in the Company Merger, and the payment of cash for
shares of Company Shares converted into the right to receive cash in the Company
Merger.
 
     (f) The Company shall give the New Parent and Merger Sub I prompt notice of
any demands for payment, or notices of intent to demand payment, received by the
Company with respect to Company Shares, and New Parent and Merger Sub I shall
have the right to participate in (and control) all negotiations and proceedings
with respect to such demands. The Company shall not, except with the prior
written consent of New Parent or as otherwise required by law, make any payment
with respect to, or settle, or offer to settle, any such demands.
 
     2.2  Conversion of Securities -- The Parent Merger
 
     At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Parent Merger and without any
action on the part of Merger Sub II, Parent, the Surviving Corporation of the
Parent Merger or the holder of any of the following securities:
 
          (i) each share of Parent Common Stock ("Parent Shares"), issued and
     outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Parent
     Shares to be cancelled pursuant to clause (ii) below) shall be converted
     into and become one fully paid and nonassessable share of New Parent Common
     Stock (the "Parent Merger Consideration");
 
          (ii) each Parent Share that is issued and outstanding and owned by
     Parent, New Parent, or Merger Sub II shall be cancelled and retired, and no
     shares of New Parent Common Stock shall be issued with respect thereto; and
 
          (iii) each share of Merger Sub II's capital stock issued and
     outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into
     and become one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common
     stock of the Surviving Corporation of the Parent Merger.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>   11
 
     2.3  Cancellation of Certain New Parent Stock; Other Matters Affecting New
Parent Common Stock.
 
     (a) At the Effective Time, the shares of New Parent Common Stock held by
Parent shall be cancelled and retired and all consideration paid by Parent in
respect thereof shall be returned. No shares of stock or other securities of New
Parent or any other corporation shall be issuable, and no other payment or
consideration shall be made, with respect to such shares of New Parent Common
Stock.
 
     (b) At the Effective Time, New Parent shall assume all stock options and
warrants of Parent issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time and such assumed options and warrants will be exercisable for the same
exercise price and for the same number of shares of New Parent Common Stock as
previously applied to Parent Common Stock. The adjustments provided herein with
respect to any options which are "incentive stock options" (as defined in
Section 422 of the Code) shall be effected in a manner consistent with Section
424(a) of the Code.
 
     2.4  Exchange of Certificates.
 
     (a) As of the Effective Time, a bank or trust company to be designated by
the Parent or the New Parent prior to the record date for the Special Meeting
and consented to by the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed) (the "Exchange Agent") shall act as exchange agent in effecting the
exchange, for the Company Merger Consideration, of certificates (the
"Certificates") that, prior to the Effective Time, represented Company Shares
entitled to exchange pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(i). The New Parent shall deposit
with the Exchange Agent in trust for the benefit of the holders of Certificates
formerly representing Company Shares, cash together with certificates for such
number of shares of New Parent Common Stock into which the Company Shares are
converted pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(i)(together with any dividends or
distributions with respect thereto with a record date after the Effective Time,
the "Exchange Fund"). Promptly after the Effective Time (but in any event within
three business days thereof), the New Parent shall cause to be mailed to each
record holder of Certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time
represented Company Shares (and which shall not previously have been surrendered
in connection with a Stock Election) a form of letter of transmittal and
instructions for use in surrendering such Certificates and receiving the Company
Merger Consideration therefor. Subject to any applicable withholding tax
requirements, upon the surrender of each such Certificate together with a duly
completed and executed letter of transmittal, the Exchange Agent shall (x) pay
to the holder of such Certificate formerly representing Company Shares cash
equal to the amount of cash due such holder after giving effect to any Stock
Election made by such holder and (y) issue to the holder of such Certificate a
certificate for that number of shares of the New Parent Common Stock equal to
the number of shares of New Parent Common Stock due under the Company Merger
Consideration elected by such holder, and such Certificate shall forthwith be
cancelled. Only certificates for whole shares of New Parent Common Stock shall
be issued, with cash paid in lieu of fractional shares as provided in Section
2.4(b) below. Until so surrendered and exchanged, each such Certificate (other
than Certificates representing Company Shares held by New Parent or the Company
or Dissenting Shares) shall represent solely the right to receive the Company
Merger Consideration therefor. If any certificates for New Parent Common Stock
are to be issued to a person other than the holder in whose name the Certificate
formerly representing Company Shares surrendered in exchange therefor is
registered, it shall be a condition to such issuance that the person requesting
such issuance shall pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other taxes
required by reason of the issuance of such certificates for New Parent Common
Stock to a person other than the registered holder of the Certificate
surrendered, or such person shall establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange
Agent that such tax has been paid or is not applicable. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, neither the Exchange Agent nor any party hereto shall be liable to a
holder of Company Shares for any Company Merger Consideration delivered to a
public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat and similar
laws.
 
     (b) No fractional shares of New Parent Common Stock shall be issued upon
the surrender for exchange of Certificates, no dividend or distribution of the
New Parent shall relate to such fractional share interests and such fractional
share interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a
stockholder of the New Parent. As promptly as practicable following the
Effective Time, the New Parent
 
                                       6
<PAGE>   12
 
shall pay to each record holder of Company Shares an amount in cash, if any,
equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the fractional share interest
to which such holder (after taking into account all Company Shares held at the
Effective Time by such holder) would otherwise be entitled by (ii) the Average
Closing Price. As soon as practicable after the determination of the amount of
cash, if any, to be paid to holders of Company Shares with respect to any
fractional share interests, the Exchange Agent will make available such amounts
to such holders subject to the terms of Section 2.4(c).
 
     (c) No dividends or other distributions with respect to New Parent Common
Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder of
any unsurrendered Certificate formerly representing Company Shares with respect
to the shares of New Parent Common Stock represented thereby, and no cash
payment in lieu of fractional shares shall be paid to any such holder pursuant
to Section 2.4(b), and all such dividends, other distributions and cash in lieu
of fractional shares of New Parent Common Stock shall be paid by New Parent to
the Exchange Agent and shall be included in the Exchange Fund, in each case
until the due and valid surrender of such Certificate in accordance with this
Article 2. Subject to the effect of applicable abandoned property, escheat or
similar laws and laws with respect to the withholding of taxes, following the
due and valid surrender of any such Certificate there shall be paid to the
holder of the Certificate representing whole shares of New Parent Common Stock
issued in the exchange therefor, without interest, (i) at the time of such
surrender, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date
after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such whole shares of
New Parent Common Stock and the amount of any cash payable in lieu of a
fractional share of New Parent Common Stock to which such holder is entitled
pursuant to Section 2.4(b) and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount
of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time
but prior to such surrender and with a payment date subsequent to such surrender
payable with respect to such whole shares of New Parent Common Stock. The New
Parent shall make available to the Exchange Agent cash (or the other property so
distributed) for these purposes.
 
     (d) To the extent not immediately required for payment for fractional
shares or dividends, the Exchange Fund (excluding shares of New Parent Common
Stock) shall be invested by the Exchange Agent, as directed by the New Parent
(so long as such directions do not impair the rights of holders of Company
Shares), in direct obligations of the United States of America, obligations for
which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged to
provide for the payment of principal and interest, commercial paper rated of the
highest quality by Moody's Investors Services, Inc. or Standard & Poor's
Corporation, or certificates of deposit issued by a commercial bank having at
least $300,000,000 in assets (a "Qualified Commercial Bank"); and any net
earnings with respect thereto shall be paid to the New Parent as and when
requested by the New Parent.
 
     (e) Promptly following the date that is one year after the Effective Time,
the Exchange Agent shall deliver to the New Parent all shares of New Parent
Common Stock, cash, certificates and other documents in its possession relating
to the transactions described in this Agreement, and the Exchange Agent's duties
shall terminate. Thereafter, each holder of a Certificate formerly representing
a Company Share may surrender such Certificate to the New Parent and receive
(subject to applicable abandoned property, escheat and similar laws) in exchange
therefor (subject to any applicable withholding tax requirements) the Company
Merger Consideration therefor, together with payment for any fractional shares
or dividends pursuant to Sections 2.4(b) and (c) without any interest thereon
but such holders shall have no greater rights against any Surviving Corporation
or the New Parent than may be accorded to general creditors of any Surviving
Corporation or the New Parent under applicable law.
 
     (f) After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock
transfer books of the Company, the Parent or the Surviving Corporations of any
Company Shares or Parent Shares. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates
formerly representing Company Shares are presented to the Surviving Corporation
of the Company Merger or the Exchange Agent, they shall be cancelled and
exchanged (subject to any applicable withholding tax requirements) for the
Company Merger Consideration, as provided in this Article 2, subject to
applicable law in the case of Dissenting Shares.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>   13
 
     (g) From and after the Effective Time, holders of Certificates theretofore
evidencing Company Shares shall cease to have any rights as stockholders of the
Company, except as provided herein or by law. From and after the Effective Time,
holders of Certificates theretofore evidencing Parent Shares shall cease to have
any rights as stockholders of the Parent except as provided herein or by law,
but shall have all rights as stockholders of New Parent with respect to the
number of shares of New Parent Common Stock into which such Parent Shares were
converted in the Parent Merger. After the Effective Time, Certificates formerly
representing Parent Shares automatically shall be deemed to represent an
equivalent number of shares of New Parent Common Stock.
 
     (h) If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the
making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Certificate to
be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by the Surviving Corporation, the
posting by such person of a bond in such reasonable amount as the Surviving
Corporation may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against
it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue in exchange
for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Company Merger Consideration
or the Parent Merger Consideration, as appropriate, and, if applicable, any cash
in lieu of fractional shares, and unpaid dividends and distributions on shares
of New Parent Common Stock deliverable in respect thereof, pursuant to this
Agreement.
 
     (i) If at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and
the Effective Time, (A) any change in the outstanding shares of capital stock of
Parent shall occur as a result of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock
split (including a reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or readjustment
of shares, or any stock dividend or stock distribution with a record date during
such period, (B) Parent pays or declares an extraordinary dividend with a record
date prior to the Effective Time, or (C) Parent issues Parent Common Stock at
prices below the current market price thereof (as reasonably determined by
Parent and excluding issuance of shares upon exercise of existing options or
warrants or upon conversion of outstanding securities convertible into shares of
Parent Common Stock), the Exchange Ratio shall be equitably adjusted.
 
     (j) If the New Parent or the Exchange Agent is required by applicable
withholding tax requirements to withhold amounts from the Company Merger
Consideration, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this
Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Company Shares in respect of
which such deductions and holdings were made by New Parent or the Exchange
Agent.
 
                                   ARTICLE 3
 
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
             OF THE PARENT, NEW PARENT AND THE MERGER SUBSIDIARIES
 
     The Parent, New Parent, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II each represents and
warrants to the Company, except as set forth on a Disclosure Schedule previously
delivered to the Company the ("Parent Disclosure Schedule") with respect to any
representation or warranty set forth below, as follows:
 
     3.1  Organization and Qualification. Each of the Parent, New Parent, Merger
Sub I and Merger Sub II is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation and has all requisite
corporate power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being
conducted. Each of the Parent, New Parent, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II is
duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business, and is in good standing,
in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or leased or
the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for
failures to be so qualified or in good standing which would not, in the
aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
the business, properties, assets, financial condition or results of operations
of the Parent and its subsidiaries ("the Parent Subsidiaries") taken as a whole
(but excluding any change, effect, condition, event or circumstance arising out
of or attributable to (i) changes, effects, conditions, events or circumstances
that generally affect the industries in which the Parent or Parent Subsidiaries
operate (including legal and regulatory changes) or (ii) changes arising from
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or the announcement of
the execution of this
 
                                       8
<PAGE>   14
 
Agreement) (a "Parent Material Adverse Effect"). Copies of the charter documents
and by-laws of the Parent, New Parent, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II have
heretofore been delivered to the Company and such copies are accurate and
complete as of the date hereof.
 
     3.2  Capitalization.
 
     (a) The authorized capital stock of the Parent consists of (a) 150,000,000
Parent Shares and (b) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.10 par value per
share (the "Parent Preferred Shares"). As of the date of this Agreement:
 
          (i) 126,825,441 Parent Shares were validly issued and outstanding,
     fully paid and nonassessable and no Parent Preferred Shares were issued or
     outstanding;
 
          (ii) No Parent Shares and no Parent Preferred Shares were held in the
     treasury of the Parent;
 
          (iii) 9,245,529 Parent Shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to
     the Convertible Notes.
 
          (iv) 4,200,000 Parent Shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to the
     Parent's 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "1997 LTIP");
 
          (v) 2,750,238 Parent Shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to an
     option issued to Western Resources, Inc., the parent company of Westar
     Capital, Inc.;
 
          (vi) 1,214,678 Parent Shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to
     certain warrants issued in 1993 and 1995;
 
          (vii) 973,165 Parent Shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to the
     Parent's 1994 Stock Option Plan (the "1994 Plan");
 
          (viii) 560,134 Parent Shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to the
     Parent's employee stock purchase plan;
 
          (ix) 347,800 Parent Shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to the
     Parent's 401(k) plan; and
 
          (x) 103,697 Parent Shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to a
     warrant held by a bank.
 
The 1997 LTIP and the 1994 Plan are sometimes hereinafter referred to
collectively as the "Parent Option Plans" and individually as a "Parent Option
Plan," and the options granted thereunder are hereinafter referred to
collectively as the "Parent Options" and individually as a "Parent Option."
Except as set forth above in this Section 3.2, as of the date hereof, there are
no other shares of capital stock or other equity securities of the Parent
outstanding and no other outstanding options, warrants, rights to subscribe to
(including any preemptive rights), calls or commitments of any character
whatsoever to which the Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries is a party or
may be bound requiring the issuance, transfer or sale of any shares of capital
stock or other securities of the Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries or any
securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any
such shares or securities, and, as of the date hereof, there are no contracts,
commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Parent or any of the
Parent Subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional shares of their
capital stock or options, warrants or rights to purchase or acquire any
additional shares of their capital stock or securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for any such shares. All of the outstanding Parent
Shares have been validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
 
     (b) The authorized capital stock of the New Parent consists of (a)
250,000,000 shares of New Parent Common Stock of which 1,000 shares are issued
and outstanding and owned beneficially and of record by Parent and (b)
50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.10 par value per share, none of which
are issued or outstanding. All of the outstanding shares of New Parent Common
Stock have been validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
 
     3.3  Authority. Each of the Parent, New Parent, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub
II has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement
and to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
 
                                       9
<PAGE>   15
 
Parent, New Parent, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II and the consummation by the
Parent, New Parent, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the respective Boards of
Directors of the Parent, New Parent, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II and by the
Parent as the sole stockholder of New Parent and by New Parent as the sole
stockholder of the Merger Subsidiaries and no other corporate proceedings on the
part of the Parent, New Parent or the Merger Subsidiaries are necessary to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby by the Parent, New Parent or the Merger
Subsidiaries except for the approval of the Parent Merger by holders of Parent
Common Stock. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Parent,
New Parent, Merger Sub I and Merger Sub II and constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of each of them, enforceable against each of them in accordance with
its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws
pertaining to creditors' rights in general.
 
     3.4  Compliance.
 
     (a) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Parent, New
Parent and the Merger Subsidiaries nor the consummation by them of the
transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by the Parent, New Parent and
the Merger Subsidiaries with any of the provisions hereof will (i) violate,
conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision of, or constitute a
default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute a default) under, or result in the termination of, or accelerate the
performance required by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration
under, or result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or
encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of the Parent, New Parent or
the Merger Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (x)
the charter or by-laws of the Parent, New Parent or the Merger Subsidiaries or
(y) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, or any
other agreement or instrument or obligation to which the Parent, New Parent or
the Merger Subsidiaries is a party, or to which any of them, or any of their
respective properties or assets, may be subject, or (ii) subject to compliance
with the statutes and regulations referred to in the next paragraph, violate any
Parent Applicable Law (as defined in Section 3.9 below); except, in the case of
each of clauses (i)(y) and (ii) above, for such violations, conflicts, breaches,
defaults, terminations, accelerations or creations of liens, security interests,
charges or encumbrances that, would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect
and would not materially adversely affect the ability of the Parent, New Parent
and the Merger Subsidiaries to perform their obligations under this Agreement.
 
     (b) Other than in connection with or in compliance with the provisions of
the Massachusetts Law, Delaware Law, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), the "blue sky" laws of various states and the Hart-Scott-
Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and the rules and regulations
thereunder (the "Hart-Scott-Rodino Act"), no notice to, filing with, or
authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity (as defined in
Section 4.10(a)) is necessary for the consummation by the Parent, New Parent or
the Merger Subsidiaries of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
unless the failure to give such notices, make such filings, or obtain such
authorizations, consents or approvals would not, in the aggregate, materially
impair the ability of the Parent, New Parent and the Merger Subsidiaries to
perform their obligations hereunder and would not have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect.
 
     3.5  Commission Filings.
 
     (a) The Parent has filed with the Commission all required reports,
schedules, forms, statements and other documents from January 1, 1994 through
the date hereof. All documents filed by the Parent with the Commission pursuant
to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act since January 1, 1994 are referred to
herein as the "Parent Commission Filings." The Parent Commission Filings (i)
were prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, (ii) did not at the time they were filed (or, if filed
and amended prior to the date of this Agreement, at the time they were amended
prior to the date hereof, or, if first filed after the date of this Agreement
and amended, at the time they were amended) contain any untrue statement of
material fact, and (iii) did not at the time they were filed (or, if filed and
amended
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   16
 
prior to the date of this Agreement, at the time they were amended prior to the
date hereof, or, if first filed after the date of this Agreement and amended, at
the time they were amended) omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not
misleading.
 
     Each of the audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited interim
consolidated financial statements (including any related notes or schedules)
included in the Parent Commission Filings was prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis, except
as may be indicated therein or in the notes or schedules thereto, and fairly
presented in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the
Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the consolidated
results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject,
in the case of the unaudited interim financial statements, to normal year-end
audit adjustments and the absence of complete notes.
 
     (b) None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Parent, New
Parent or the Merger Subsidiaries for inclusion or incorporation by reference in
(i) the Registration Statement (as defined herein) will, at the time the
Registration Statement is filed with the Commission and at the time it becomes
effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) the Joint Proxy
Statement/Information Statement (as defined herein) will, at the date mailed to
stockholders of the Company and Parent and at the time of the meeting of
stockholders of the Company to be held in connection with the Company Merger,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. If at any time prior to the Effective Time, any event with respect
to the Parent, New Parent, the Merger Subsidiaries, their respective officers
and directors or any of their subsidiaries should occur which is required to be
described in an amendment of, or a supplement to, the Registration Statement or
the Joint Proxy Statement/Information Statement, Parent shall promptly so advise
the Company and such event shall be so described, and such amendment or
supplement (which the Company shall have a reasonable opportunity to review)
shall be promptly filed with the Commission and, as and to the extent required
by law, disseminated to the stockholders of Parent. The Registration Statement
will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the Joint Proxy
Statement/Information Statement will comply as to form in all material respects
with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, except that no representation or warranty is made with respect to
statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information
supplied by the Company specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference
in such documents.
 
     3.6  Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings or
investigations pending or, to the best knowledge of the Parent, threatened
against the Parent, New Parent, the Merger Subsidiaries or any of the Parent
Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect or to materially adversely affect the Parent's, New Parent's, Merger Sub
I's or Merger Sub II's ability to perform its respective obligations under this
Agreement.
 
     3.7  Changes.  Except as contemplated by this Agreement or as disclosed in
the Parent Disclosure Schedule or in the Parent Commission Filings, since June
30, 1998, the Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, have
conducted their business only in the ordinary and usual course, and there has
not occurred any change, effect, condition, event or circumstance which has a
Parent Material Adverse Effect.
 
     3.8  Environmental Matters.
 
     (a) The Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries have complied in all respects
with all applicable Environmental Laws (as defined below), except for such
noncompliance which would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Environmental Law" means any foreign, U.S. federal,
provincial, state or local law, statute, ordinance, rule or regulation or the
common law relating to

                                       11
<PAGE>   17
 
the environment or occupational health and safety, including without limitation,
any statute, ordinance, regulation or order pertaining to (i) release,
manufacture, use, processing, distribution, treatment, storage, disposal,
handling, generation or transportation of Hazardous Materials (as defined
below); (ii) air, water and noise pollution; (iii) groundwater and soil
contamination; (iv) the release or threatened release into the environment of
Hazardous Materials, including without limitation emissions, discharges,
injections, spills, escapes or dumping of Hazardous Materials; (v) the
protection of wild life, marine sanctuaries and wetlands, including without
limitation all endangered and threatened species; (vi) storage tanks, vessels
and containers; (vii) underground and other storage tanks or vessels, abandoned,
disposed or discarded barrels, containers and other closed receptacles; and
(viii) health and safety of employees and other persons. As used herein the term
"Environmental Laws" shall include, without limitation, the Clean Water Act,
also known as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. sec.sec. 1251,
et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. sec.sec. 7401, et seq.; the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C. sec. 136; the
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), 30 U.S.C. sec.sec.
1201, et seq.; the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. sec.sec. 9601, et seq. (CERCLA); the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-499, 100 Stat. 1613;
the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (CEPCRA), 42
U.S.C. sec.sec. 11001, et seq.; the Resource Conversation and Recovery Act of
1976 (OSHA) as amended, 29 U.S.C. sec.sec. 655 and 657; the
Carpenter-Presley-Tanner Hazardous Substances Account Act; the California Health
& Safety Code sec.sec. 25300, et seq., the Massachusetts Hazardous Waste
Management Act, M.G.L. c. 21C; the Massachusetts Oil and Hazardous Materials
Release, Prevention and Response Act, M.G.L. c. 21E; the Massachusetts Toxics
Use Reduction Act, M.G.L. c. 211; the Massachusetts Air Pollution Control Act,
M.G.L. c. 111, sec.sec. 142A-142M; and the Massachusetts Water Pollution Control
Act, M.G.L. c. 21, together, in each case, with any amendment thereto, and the
regulations and rules adopted and the official publications promulgated
thereunder and all substitutions thereof. As used herein the term "Hazardous
Materials" shall mean (i) any chemical, compound, material, mixture or substance
that is defined or listed in, or otherwise classified pursuant to, any
Environmental Laws as a "hazardous substance," "hazardous material," "hazardous
waste," "extremely hazardous waste," "infectious waste," "toxic substance,"
"toxic pollutant" or any other formulation intended to define, list, or classify
substances by reason of deleterious properties such as ignitability,
corrosivity, reactivity, carcinogenicity, toxicity, reproductive toxicity, or
"EP toxicity" and (ii) any petroleum, natural gas, natural gas liquid, liquefied
natural gas, synthetic gas usable for fuel (or mixtures of natural gas and such
synthetic gas), ash produced by a resource recovery facility utilizing a
governmental solid waste stream, and drilling fluids, produced waters, and other
wastes associated with the exploration, development or production of crude oil,
natural gas, or geothermal resources.
 
     (b) There have been no releases of any Hazardous Materials into the
environment by the Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, or, to the knowledge of the
Parent by any other party at any parcel of real property or any facility
formerly or currently owned, operated or controlled by the Parent or any Parent
Subsidiary which had a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
 
     3.9  Compliance with Laws; Permits.  Neither the Parent nor any Parent
Subsidiary (a) is in violation of, or has violated, any Parent Applicable Laws
(as defined below) or (b) has received any notice from any Governmental Entity
or any other person that either the Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is in
violation of, or has violated, any Parent Applicable Laws, except for violations
which, individually or in the aggregate, do not have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect. The Parent or each Parent Subsidiary have all permits, licenses and
franchises from Governmental Entities required to conduct their businesses as
now being conducted, except for such permits, licenses and franchises the
absence of which would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. As used herein
the term "Parent Applicable Laws" means all applicable provisions of any laws,
statutes, ordinance, codes, rules, regulations or any agency requirements,
permits, licenses, judgments, orders, injunctions, decrees or arbitration awards
of any Governmental Entities applicable to the Parent or any Parent Subsidiary
and material to the conduct of the businesses of the Parent or any Parent
Subsidiary as those businesses are now being conducted and the ownership and
operation of any of the assets, properties or facilities of the Parent or any
Parent Subsidiary, provided, however, that the term Parent Applicable Laws shall
not include any Environmental Laws.

                                       12
<PAGE>   18
 
     3.10  No Undisclosed Material Liabilities. Except as disclosed in the
Parent Commission Filings or on the Parent Disclosure Schedule, and except for
liabilities arising since June 30, 1998 in the ordinary course of business,
there are no liabilities of the Parent or any of its subsidiaries of any kind
whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or
otherwise, that would have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
 
     3.11  Interim Operations of Merger Subs. Each of the Merger Subsidiaries
was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, has engaged in no other business activities and has conducted
its operations only as contemplated by this Agreement.
 
     3.12  Broker's Fees. Except for Barnes Associates, Inc., no agent, broker,
person or firm acting on behalf of the Parent, New Parent, Merger Sub I or
Merger Sub II is or will be entitled to any advisory, commission or broker's or
finder's fee from any of the parties hereto in connection with any of the
transactions contemplated herein.
 
     3.13  Financing. The Parent has, and will have at the Effective Time, funds
and financing arrangements available to it sufficient to provide the funds
necessary to pay the cash portion of the Company Merger Consideration and to
consummate the Company Merger.
 
                                   ARTICLE 4
 
                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
 
     The Company represents and warrants to the Parent, New Parent and the
Merger Subsidiaries, except as set forth on a Disclosure Schedule previously
delivered to the Parent (the "Company Disclosure Schedule") with respect to any
representation or warranty set forth below, as follows:
 
     4.1  Organization and Qualification. The Company is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has all requisite corporate power and
authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. The Company is
duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business, and is in good standing,
in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned or leased or
the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for
failures to be so qualified or in good standing which would not, in the
aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
the business, properties, assets, financial condition or results of operations
of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 4.2) taken as
a whole (but excluding any change, effect, condition, event or circumstance
arising out of or attributable to (i) changes, effects, conditions, events or
circumstances that generally affect the industries in which the Company operates
(including legal and regulatory changes) or (ii) changes arising from the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or the announcement of the
execution of this Agreement) (a "Company Material Adverse Effect"). Copies of
the charter documents and by-laws of the Company and its Subsidiaries have
heretofore been delivered to the Parent and such copies are accurate and
complete as of the date hereof.
 
     4.2  Subsidiaries. The only direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company
(collectively, the "Company Subsidiaries" and, individually, a "Company
Subsidiary") are those named in Exhibit 21 to the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 1997 as filed with the
Commission (the "Company 1997 10-K") and heretofore delivered to the Parent, as
amended.
 
     The Company is, directly or indirectly, the record and beneficial owner of
all of the outstanding shares of capital stock in each of the Company
Subsidiaries, there are no irrevocable proxies or voting agreements or voting
trusts with respect to such shares, and no securities of any of the Company
Subsidiaries are or may become required to be issued by reason of any options,
warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character
whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights, exercisable for, convertible
into or exchangeable for, shares of any capital stock of any Company Subsidiary,
and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which
any Company Subsidiary is bound to issue or sell additional shares or purchase
shares of its capital stock or securities convertible into or
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   19
 
exchangeable for such shares. All of such shares so owned by the Company are
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company free
and clear of any security interest, claim, lien, encumbrance or agreement of any
kind with respect thereto.
 
     Each Company Subsidiary is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has
the requisite power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being
conducted. Each Company Subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character
of its properties owned or leased or the nature of its activities makes such
qualification necessary, except for failures to be so qualified or in good
standing that would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Copies of the
charter documents and by-laws of each Company Subsidiary have heretofore been
made available to the Parent and are accurate and complete as of the date
hereof.
 
     Except as disclosed in the Company Disclosure Schedule referred to above or
the Company 1997 10-K, the Company does not directly or indirectly own any
equity or similar interest in, or any interest convertible into or exchangeable
or exercisable for, any equity or similar interest in, any other corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other business
association or entity.
 
     4.3  Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company consists
of 20,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $.02 par value. As of the date of this
Agreement:
 
          (i) 5,826,181 Shares were validly issued and outstanding, fully paid
     and nonassessable;
 
          (ii) 592,548 Shares were held in the treasury of the Company;
 
          (iii) 473,534 Shares were reserved for issuance pursuant to
     outstanding options heretofore granted under the Company's 1994 Stock
     Option Plan (the "1994 Plan"), and 106,206 Shares were reserved for future
     issuances of Company Options pursuant to the 1994 Plan;
 
          (iv) 344,266 Shares were reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding
     options heretofore granted under the Company's 1991 Stock Option Plan (the
     "1991 Plan"), and 109,541 Shares were reserved for future issuances of
     Company Options pursuant to the 1991 Plan;
 
          (v) 107,000 Shares were reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding
     options heretofore granted under the Company's 1991 Director Stock Option
     Plan (the "1991 Director Plan"), and 26,000 Shares were reserved for future
     issuances of Company Options pursuant to the 1991 Director Plan;
 
          (vi) 43,499 Shares were reserved for issuance in connection with the
     offering expiring on October 31, 1998 under the Company's Employee Stock
     Purchase Plan (the "ESPP"); and
 
          (vii) 7,500,000 shares of Common Stock have been reserved for issuance
     under the Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 4.13).
 
The 1994 Plan, the 1991 Plan and the 1991 Director Plan are sometimes
hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Company Option Plans" and
individually as a "Company Option Plan," and the options granted thereunder are
hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Company Options" and individually
as a "Company Option." True and complete copies of all of the Company Option
Plans and the ESPP have heretofore been made available to the Parent. The
Disclosure Schedule sets forth, with respect to each Company Option, the number
of Company Shares that may be purchased upon exercise of such Company Option and
the exercise price thereof. Except as set forth above in this Section 4.3, there
are no other shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company
outstanding and no other outstanding options, warrants, rights to subscribe to
(including any preemptive rights), calls or commitments of any character
whatsoever to which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party or
may be bound requiring the issuance, transfer or sale of any shares of capital
stock or other securities of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries or
any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any
such shares or securities, and there are no contracts, commitments,
understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries is or may
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   20
 
become bound to issue additional shares of their capital stock or options,
warrants or rights to purchase or acquire any additional shares of their capital
stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any such
shares. Except for the Voting Agreements and as set forth on the Company
Disclosure Schedule, to the best of the Company's knowledge, none of the Company
Shares is subject to any voting trust, transfer restrictions or other similar
arrangements, except for vesting arrangements pursuant to agreements with the
Company or restrictions on transfer imposed by the Securities Act and state
securities laws. All of the outstanding Company Shares have been validly and
legally issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
 
     4.4  Authority. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement, to perform its
obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the Stock Option Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by the
Company's Directors and, except for the approval of the Company Merger by its
stockholders, no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are
necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of
this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby. This Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement have been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
their respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other
laws pertaining to creditors' rights in general.
 
     4.5  Compliance.
 
     (a) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Stock
Option Agreement by the Company, nor the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, nor compliance by the Company with
any of the provisions hereof or thereof will (i) violate, conflict with, or
result in a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or an event
that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under,
or result in the termination of, or accelerate the performance or payment
required by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration under, or
result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance
upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries,
under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (x) the charter or by-laws
of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries, or (y) any note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, distribution agreement, joint venture
agreement or any other agreement or instrument or obligation to which the
Company or any Company Subsidiaries is a party, or to which any of them or any
of their respective properties or assets, may be subject, or (ii) subject to
compliance with the statutes and regulations referred to in the next paragraph,
violate any Company Applicable Laws (as defined in Section 4.15 below); except,
in the case of each of clauses (i)(y) and (ii) above, for such violations,
conflicts, breaches, defaults, terminations, accelerations or creations of
liens, security interests, charges or encumbrances that would not have a Company
Material Adverse Effect and would not materially adversely affect the Company's
ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Stock Option
Agreement.
 
     (b) Other than in connection with or in compliance with the provisions of
the Massachusetts Law, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the "takeover" or
"blue sky" laws of various states and the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, no notice to,
filing with, or authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity
is necessary for the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement, unless the
failure to give such notices, make such filings, or obtain such authorizations,
consents or approvals would not, in the aggregate, materially impair the ability
of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and would not
have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
 
     4.6  Commission Filings.
 
     (a) The Company has filed with the Commission all required reports,
schedules, forms, statements and other documents from January 1, 1994 through
the date hereof. All documents filed by the Company


                                       15
<PAGE>   21
 
with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act since
January 1, 1994 are referred to herein as the "Company Commission Filings;" the
Company 1997 10-K, the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods
ended March 31, 1998 and June 30, 1998 and any Report on Form 8-K filed by the
Company since January 1, 1998 and prior to the date hereof are collectively
referred to as the "Company 1998 Commission Filings." The Company Commission
Filings (i) were prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the
applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations thereunder, (ii) did not at the time they were filed contain any
untrue statement of material fact, and (iii) did not at the time they were filed
omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light
of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
 
     Each of the audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited interim
consolidated financial statements (including any related notes or schedules)
included in the Company Commission Filings was prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis, except
as may be indicated therein or in the notes or schedules thereto, and fairly
presented in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the
consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then
ended, subject, in the case of the unaudited interim financial statements, to
normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of complete notes.
 
     (b) None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company for
inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Registration Statement will,
at the time the Registration Statement is filed with the Commission and at the
time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) the
Joint Proxy Statement/Information Statement will, at the date mailed to
stockholders of the Company and Parent and at the time of the meeting of
stockholders of the Company to be held in connection with the Company Merger,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. If at any time prior to the Effective Time, any event with respect
to the Company, its officers and directors or any of its subsidiaries should
occur which is required to be described in an amendment of, or a supplement to,
the Registration Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement/Information Statement,
the Company shall promptly so advise Parent and such event shall be so
described, and such amendment or supplement (which Parent shall have a
reasonable opportunity to review) shall be promptly filed with the Commission
and, as and to the extent required by law, disseminated to the stockholders of
the Company. The Joint Proxy Statement/Information Statement, insofar as it
relates to the meeting of the Company's stockholders to vote on the Company
Merger, will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, except that no
representation or warranty is made with respect to statements made or
incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by Parent
specifically for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein.
 
     4.7  Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations
pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company
or any Company Subsidiary, nor is the Company or any Company Subsidiary subject
to any order, judgment, writ, injunction or decree, except in either case for
matters that could not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect or to materially adversely affect the Company's ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.
 
     4.8  Changes. Except as contemplated by this Agreement or as disclosed in
the Company Disclosure Schedule or in the 1998 Commission Filings, since June
30, 1998, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, have
conducted their business only in the ordinary and usual course, and none of the
following has occurred:
 
          (a) any change, effect, condition, event or circumstance which has a
     Company Material Adverse Effect;
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   22
 
          (b) any change in accounting methods, principles or practices by the
     Company materially affecting its assets, liabilities or business, except
     insofar as may have been required by a change in generally accepted
     accounting principles;
 
          (c) any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by
     insurance, having a Company Material Adverse Effect;
 
          (d) any declaration, setting aside or payment of dividends or
     distributions in respect of the Company Shares, or any redemption, purchase
     or other acquisition of any of its securities;
 
          (e) any issuance by the Company of, or commitment of the Company to
     issue, any shares of capital stock or securities convertible into or
     exchangeable or exercisable for shares of capital stock other than pursuant
     to the Company Option Plans, the ESPP or the Stock Option Agreement;
 
          (f) any evaluation by the Company or any Company Subsidiary of any of
     its respective assets, including, without limitation, writing down the
     value of inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivables other than
     in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;
 
          (g) any action taken by the Company or any Company Subsidiary which is
     prohibited by Section 5.1; or
 
          (h) any agreement by the Company to do any of the things described in
     the preceding clauses (a) through (g) other than as expressly contemplated
     or provided for herein.
 
     4.9  Transactions with Affiliates. Except as disclosed in the Company
Commission Filings filed and publicly available prior to the date of this
Agreement or on the Company Disclosure Schedule, since January 1, 1994, neither
the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has entered into any transaction with any
current director or officer of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any
transaction which would be subject to proxy statement disclosure under the
Exchange Act pursuant to the requirements of Item 404 of Regulation S-K.
 
     4.10  Environmental Matters.
 
     (a) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have complied in all material
respects with all applicable Environmental Laws. There is no pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened civil or criminal litigation, written
notice of violation, formal administrative proceeding or investigation, inquiry
or information request by any court, arbitration tribunal, administrative agency
or commission, political subdivision or other governmental or regulatory
authority or agency of the United States of America, Canada, any other foreign
country, or any state, province, county or other municipality thereof (a
"Governmental Entity"), relating to any Environmental Law involving the Company
or any Company Subsidiary.
 
     (b) There have been no releases of any Hazardous Materials into the
environment by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or, to the knowledge of
the Company, by any other party at any parcel of real property or any facility
formerly or currently owned, operated or controlled by the Company or any
Company Subsidiary which would have a Company Material Adverse Effect. With
respect to any such releases of Hazardous Materials, the Company has given all
notices required to be given by the Company or any Company Subsidiaries to
Governmental Entities (copies of which have been provided to the Parent). The
Company is not aware of any releases of Hazardous Materials at parcels of real
property or facilities other than those owned, operated or controlled by the
Company or any Company Subsidiaries that would have a Company Material Adverse
Effect on the real property or facilities owned, operated or controlled by the
Company or the Company Subsidiaries.
 
     (c) The Company Disclosure Schedule describes all environmental reports,
investigations and audits ("Environmental Reports") conducted by or on behalf of
the Company or any Company Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company,
conducted by or on behalf of a third party (whether done at the initiative of
the Company or directed by a Governmental Entity or other third party) issued or
conducted during the past five years relating to premises currently or
previously owned or operated by the Company or any
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   23
 
Company Subsidiary. Complete and accurate copies of each such Environmental
Report conducted by or on behalf of the Company, has been provided to the Parent
and complete and accurate copies of all other Environmental Reports conducted by
or on behalf of any third party have been provided to the Parent if in the
possession or control of the Company.
 
     4.11  Employee Benefits and Contracts.
 
     (a) The Company Disclosure Schedule lists all employment agreements,
compensation agreements, deferred compensation agreements, severance plans,
stay-bonus plans, and describes all other employee benefit plans, including
without limitation, pension or retirement plans, profit sharing plans, stock
purchase or stock option plans, medical insurance, and bonus plans, to which the
Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party. Neither the Company nor any
Company Subsidiary is a party or otherwise subject to any collective bargaining
agreement governing the wages, hours and terms of employment of its employees,
is subject to any actual, or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with,
any material labor dispute involving employees of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary, and is not subject to any actual, or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened demand by its employees for a collective bargaining
agreement or recognition by any labor organization. None of the key management
employees has indicated to the Company in writing any intention to terminate his
or her employment with the Company.
 
     (b) The Company Disclosure Schedule lists all employee benefit plans (as
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA maintained by the Company or any affiliate
thereof. Each of such employee benefit plans complies in all material respects
with all applicable requirements of ERISA, and no "reportable event" or
"prohibited transaction" (as such terms are defined in ERISA or any applicable
foreign law, statute, ordinance, code, rule or regulation) has occurred with
respect to any such plan, and no termination, if it has occurred or were to
occur before the Effective Time, would present a risk of liability to any
Governmental Entity or other persons that would have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. The Company has made available to the Parent true and complete copies
of: (i) all plan texts and agreements relating to each employee benefit plan;
and (ii) all summary plan descriptions (whether or not required to be furnished
pursuant to ERISA or any applicable foreign law, statute, ordinance, code, rule
or regulation), the most recent annual report (including all schedules thereto)
and the most recent annual and periodic accounting of related plan assets.
 
     Neither the Company nor any affiliate thereof has ever maintained an
employee benefit plan subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA.
Each employee benefit plan of the Company or any affiliate intended to be
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service confirming such
qualification and nothing has occurred that would cause such qualified status to
be jeopardized. Neither the Company nor any affiliate has ever had an obligation
to contribute to a "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of
ERISA. There are no unfunded obligations under any employee benefit plan of the
Company or any affiliate providing benefits after termination of employment to
any employee or former employee, including but not limited to retiree health
coverage and deferred compensation, but excluding continuation of health
coverage required to be continued under Section 4980(B) of the Code. Each
employee benefit plan of the Company or any affiliate may be amended or
terminated by the Company or such affiliate without the consent or approval of
any other person. Except as set forth herein or in the Company Disclosure
Schedule, there is no employee benefit plan, stock option plan, stock
appreciation right plan, restricted stock plan, stock purchase plan, or
severance benefit plan of the Company or any affiliate, any of the benefits of
which will be increased or the vesting of the benefits under which will be
accelerated by the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the benefits under which will be calculated on the basis of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
     (c) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is obligated to make any
parachute payment, as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, nor will any
parachute payment be deemed to have occurred as a result of or arising out of
any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except for acceleration
of vesting of Company Options under the Option Plans or as set forth in the
Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has no contract, agreement, obligation
or arrangement with any employee or other
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   24
 
person, any of the payments or other benefits of which will be increased or the
vesting of the benefits under which will be accelerated by any change of control
of the Company or the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the benefits under which will be calculated on the basis of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
     4.12  Liens on Assets. The assets, including any real property in which the
Company or any Company Subsidiary has an interest, reflected in the balance
sheet of the Company for the year ended December 31, 1997 included in the
Company 1997 10-K (the "Company 1997 Balance Sheet") or acquired in the ordinary
course of business since December 31, 1997 (the "Company Assets") (except those
Company Assets sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business for full
and fair consideration), are free and clear of all mortgages, security
interests, pledges, liens and encumbrances (collectively, "Encumbrances") other
than (a) as set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedule, (b) as reflected in
the Company 1997 Balance Sheet, (c) "mechanics" liens or similar statutory liens
on assets which, in the aggregate, are not material to the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (d) liens for state and local
property taxes not in arrears and liens arising by operation of law.
 
     4.13  Rights Agreement. The Company has amended (the "Rights Agreement
Amendment") its Rights Agreement dated as of July 24, 1998 between the Company
and State Street Bank and Trust Company (the "Rights Agreement"), so that (w)
neither the Parent, New Parent or the Merger Subsidiaries (nor any entity
acquiring of record or beneficially Company Shares as contemplated by this
Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement or the Voting Agreements (as defined
below)) shall constitute an "Acquiring Person" as defined in Section 1(a) of the
Rights Agreement, (x) the acquisition of Company Shares by the Parent or the New
Parent (or any affiliate of the Parent's or the New Parent's) shall not cause
the Parent or the New Parent or any of their respective affiliates to become an
"Acquiring Person" as a result of the Company Merger and/or the entering into of
one or more Voting Agreements, of even date herewith, between the Parent and the
directors and executive officers of the Company (collectively, the "Voting
Agreements") and/or as a result of the entering into or exercise of the Stock
Option Agreement, (y) no Distribution Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement)
shall occur as a result of the Company Merger, and/or the entering into of the
Voting Agreements and/or as a result of the entering into or exercise of the
Stock Option Agreement, and (z) no Stock Acquisition Date (as defined in the
Rights Agreement) shall occur as a result of the Company Merger and/or the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, and/or the consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated hereby, and/or the entering into of the Voting
Agreements and/or as a result of the entering into or exercise of the Stock
Option Agreement.
 
     4.14  Taxes. (a) The Company and each Company Subsidiary have timely filed
all material tax returns, statements, reports and forms required to be filed
with any Tax (as defined below) authority, including without limitation filings
required under ERISA (collectively, "Tax Returns"), and have paid when due all
Taxes owed by the Company and each Company Subsidiary (whether or not shown on
any such Tax Returns). Except as otherwise provided in Clause (d) of Section
4.12 hereof, there are no liens on any of the assets of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary that arose in connection with any failure (or alleged
failure) to pay any Tax except for liens that would in the aggregate not have a
Company Material Adverse Effect. As used herein the term "Tax" and "Taxes" means
all income, gross receipts, franchise, excise, transfer, severance, value added,
sales, use, wage, payroll, workers' compensation, employment, occupation,
intangibles, and real and personal property taxes; taxes measured by or imposed
on capital; levies, imposts, duties, licenses, legislation fees; other taxes
imposed by a U.S. federal, Canadian, other foreign, provincial, state,
municipal, local or other governmental authority or agency, including
assessments in the nature of taxes, including interest, penalties, fines,
assessments and deficiencies relating to any tax or taxes; and including any
transferee or secondary liability for taxes and any liability in respect of
taxes as a result of being a member of any affiliated, consolidated, combined or
unitary group or any liability in respect of taxes under a tax sharing, tax
allocation, tax indemnity or other agreement.
 
     (b) No dispute or claim concerning any Tax liability of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary has been claimed or raised by any authority in writing.


                                       19
<PAGE>   25
 
     (c) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has waived any statute
of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with
respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency.
 
     (d) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has filed a consent
under Section 341(f) of the Code concerning collapsible corporations. Neither
the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any liability for the Taxes of any
person (other than the Company and any Company Subsidiary) under Treas. Reg.
Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a
transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
 
     4.15.  Compliance with Laws; Permits. Neither the Company nor any Company
Subsidiary (a) is in violation of, or has violated, any Company Applicable Laws
(as defined below) or (b) has received any notice from any Governmental Entity
or any other person that either the Company or any Company Subsidiary is in
violation of, or has violated, any Company Applicable Laws, except for
violations which, individually or in the aggregate, do not have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each Company Subsidiary have all
permits, licenses and franchises from Governmental Entities required to conduct
their businesses as now being conducted, except for such permits, licenses and
franchises the absence of which would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. As used herein the term "Company Applicable Laws" means all applicable
provisions of any laws, statutes, ordinance, codes, rules, regulations or any
agency requirements, permits, licenses, judgments, orders, injunctions, decrees
or arbitration awards of any Governmental Entities applicable to the Company or
any Company Subsidiary and material to the conduct of the businesses of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary as those businesses are now being conducted
and the ownership and operation of any of the assets, properties or facilities
of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, including, without limitation, the
Medicare/Medicaid "anti-kickback" laws (42 U.S.C. sec.sec. 1320a, et seq.), the
Immigration Reform and Control Act (8 U.S.C. sec.sec. 1324, et seq.), applicable
anti-trust laws, applicable labor laws, including, without limitation,
applicable anti-discrimination laws and laws prohibiting sexual harassment,
applicable consumer protection laws and applicable product liability laws;
provided, however, that the term Company Applicable Laws shall not include any
Environmental Laws.
 
     4.16  Intellectual Property. The Company, together with the Company
Subsidiaries, own or have all necessary rights to use each patent, patent
application, trademark (whether or not registered), trademark application, trade
name, service mark, copyright and other trade secret or proprietary intellectual
property (collectively, "Intellectual Property") used in and material to the
business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and none
of the previous or current development, manufacture, marketing or distribution
of products or services of or by the Company or any Company Subsidiary infringes
the right of any other person, except for any such infringements that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except
as disclosed in the Company Disclosure Schedule, to the knowledge of the
Company, no other person is infringing the rights of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary in any such Intellectual Property, except for any such infringements
that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
 
     4.17  No Undisclosed Material Liabilities. Except as disclosed in the
Company 1998 Commission Filings or on the Company Disclosure Schedule, and
except for liabilities arising since June 30, 1998 in the ordinary course of
business, there are no liabilities of the Company or any Company Subsidiary of
any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined,
determinable or otherwise, that would have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
 
     4.18  Brokers. Except for the Financial Advisor, no agent, broker, person
or firm acting on behalf of the Company is or will be entitled to any advisory
commission or broker's or finder's fee from any of the parties hereto in
connection with any of the transactions contemplated herein. The Company has
made available to Parent a complete and correct copy of the Company's engagement
letter with the Financial Advisor, which has not been amended or modified. The
Financial Advisor has delivered to the Board of Directors of the Company its
opinion, dated the date of this Agreement, to the effect that, on the basis of
and subject to the assumptions set forth therein, the Company Merger
Consideration is fair to the holders of Company Shares, from a financial point
of view.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   26
 
     4.19  Prepayment of Indebtedness. All of the outstanding indebtedness
(whether secured or unsecured) for borrowed money of the Company and each of the
Company Subsidiaries may be prepaid by the Company or its Subsidiaries without
the consent or approval of, or prior notice to, any other person, and without
payment of any premium or penalty.
 
     4.20  Provisions Inapplicable. The Company's Board of Directors has taken
all action necessary or advisable to render inapplicable to the Company Merger,
the Voting Agreements and the execution and exercise of the Stock Option
Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Voting
Agreements and the Stock Option Agreement the provisions of Chapters 110C, 110D
and 110F of the Massachusetts Law. There are no additional "anti-takeover" or
similar provisions of Massachusetts Law applicable to the Company Merger, the
Voting Agreements or the Stock Option Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
 
     4.21  No Existing Discussions. As of the date hereof, the Company has
terminated any and all discussions or negotiations with any Third Party (as
defined below) with respect to any Acquisition Proposal (as defined below).
 
                                   ARTICLE 5
 
                              CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
 
     5.1  Company Conduct Prior to Effective Time. Except as specifically
contemplated hereby or as disclosed in Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company covenants and agrees that, unless the Parent shall
otherwise consent in writing, prior to the Effective Time, the business of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries shall be conducted only in, and the Company
and the Company Subsidiaries shall not take any action except in, the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practices of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries, and the Company shall use all reasonable efforts, to maintain and
preserve its and each Company Subsidiary's business organization, assets,
employees and advantageous business relationships. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, without the Parent's consent, neither the Company nor any of the
Company Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly do any of the following:
 
          (i) other than upon exercise (provided that any "cashless exercise"
     shall be effected only through a broker's transaction in accordance with
     Regulation T of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) of
     Company Options outstanding on the date hereof pursuant to the Company
     Option Plans or stock purchase rights granted under the ESPP, issue, sell,
     pledge, dispose of, grant pursuant to the Company Option Plans or
     otherwise, or encumber, or authorize, propose or agree to the issuance,
     sale, pledge, disposition, grant pursuant to the Company Option Plans or
     otherwise, any shares of, or any options, warrants or rights of any kind to
     acquire any shares of, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
     or exercisable for any shares of, capital stock of any class of the Company
     or any of the Company Subsidiaries or any other securities in respect of,
     in lieu of, or in substitution for Company Shares outstanding as of the
     date hereof;
 
          (ii) pledge or encumber any assets of the Company or of any Company
     Subsidiaries;
 
          (iii) sell or dispose of any assets (including, without limitation,
     any accounts, leases, contracts or intellectual property or any assets or
     the stock of any Company Subsidiaries, but excluding the sale of products
     in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the
     Company and the Company Subsidiaries);
 
          (iv) amend its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents
     or alter or further amend the Rights Agreement or the Rights in a manner
     inconsistent with the Rights Agreement Amendment or directly or indirectly
     cause the Rights Agreement and the Rights to be applicable to or effective
     with respect to the Company Merger and/or the transactions contemplated by
     this Agreement, including the execution or exercise of the Stock Option
     Agreement and/or the Voting Agreements;
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   27
 
          (v) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock or
     declare, set aside for payment or pay any dividend or distribution, payable
     in cash, stock, property or otherwise, with respect to any of its capital
     stock other than, with respect to dividends or distributions, cash
     dividends and distributions by a wholly owned Company Subsidiary to the
     Company or to another wholly owned Company Subsidiary;
 
          (vi) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to redeem,
     purchase or otherwise acquire any of its capital stock or rights to acquire
     capital stock;
 
          (vii) except pursuant to Section 6.5, enter into an agreement with
     respect to any merger, consolidation, liquidation or business combination,
     or any acquisition or disposition of assets or securities of the Company,
     or acquire (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets) any
     corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business
     organization or division thereof or make any investment either by purchase
     of stock or securities, contributions to capital (other than to wholly
     owned Company Subsidiaries), property transfer or purchase of any property
     or assets of any other individual or entity;
 
          (viii) transfer the stock of any Company Subsidiary to any other
     Company Subsidiary or any assets or liabilities to any new or existing
     Company Subsidiary;
 
          (ix) enter into an agreement with respect to the release or
     relinquishment of any material contract right or any comparable event;
 
          (x) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any debt
     securities or assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation
     become responsible for, the obligations of any other individual or entity
     (other than as a result of the endorsement of checks for collection in the
     ordinary course of business) or make any loans or advances (other than
     advances for travel expenses in the ordinary course of business consistent
     with past practices of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries;
 
          (xi) make or commit to make any capital expenditures which,
     individually or in the aggregate, exceeds $500,000;
 
          (xii) except as may be required by a change in law or generally
     accepted accounting principles, change any accounting principles or
     practices used by it, including any change in assumptions underlying, or
     method of calculating, any bad debt, contingency or other reserve;
 
          (xiii) pay, discharge, satisfy or settle any material litigation,
     claims, liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, contingent or
     otherwise), other than required payments, discharges or satisfactions of
     accounts payable and other similar liabilities in the ordinary course of
     business consistent with past practices of the Company and the Company
     Subsidiaries;
 
          (xiv) waive, release, grant or transfer any material rights of value
     or modify or change in any material respect any existing license, lease,
     contract or other document;
 
          (xv) adopt or amend (except as may be required by law or under this
     Agreement) any bonus, profit sharing, compensation, stock option, stock
     purchase, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, employment or other
     employee benefit plan, agreement, trust, fund or other arrangement for the
     benefit or welfare of any employee or former employee or, except in the
     ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the Company
     and the Company Subsidiaries, increase the compensation or fringe benefits
     of any employee or former employee or pay any benefit not required by any
     existing plan, arrangement, or agreement;
 
          (xvi) take any action with respect to the grant of any severance or
     termination pay benefits or with respect to any increase of benefits
     payable under its severance or termination pay policies in effect on the
     date hereof;
 
          (xvii) make or revoke any tax election or settle or compromise any
     U.S. federal, Canadian federal, other foreign, state, provincial, or local
     Tax liability;

                                       22
<PAGE>   28
 
          (xviii) cause or permit a new Plan Period (as defined in the ESPP) to
     commence, for purposes of the ESPP, upon the expiration or termination of
     the current Plan Period; or
 
          (xix) authorize or agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the
     foregoing actions or any action which would make any representation or
     warranty in Article 4 hereof untrue or incorrect in any material respect,
     or would materially impair or prevent the occurrence of any condition in
     Article 7 hereof.
 
The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to maintain (on a consolidated
basis) cash and cash equivalents of at least $8 million at the Effective Time
and the Company will notify the Parent if it believes the cash and cash
equivalents at the Effective Time will be below $8 million.
 
     5.2  Parent Conduct Prior to Effective Time. Except as otherwise
contemplated hereby or as disclosed in the Parent Disclosure Schedule, the
Parent covenants and agrees that, unless the Company shall otherwise consent in
writing prior to the Effective Time, the Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries will
not, directly or indirectly, take or knowingly permit any act or omission that
is reasonably likely to materially hinder, delay, impair or inhibit consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
     5.3  Commission Filings. The Company shall promptly provide the Parent (or
its counsel) with copies of all filings made by the Company with the Commission
or any other Governmental Entity in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby. The Parent, New Parent and the Merger
Subsidiaries shall promptly provide the Company (or its counsel) with copies of
all filings made by the Parent, New Parent or the Merger Subsidiaries with the
Commission or any other Governmental Entity in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
     5.4  Joint Proxy Statement/Information Statement; Registration Statement.
 
     (a) The Company and the Parent shall together, or pursuant to an allocation
of responsibility to be agreed upon between them:
 
          (i) prepare and file with the Commission as soon as is reasonably
     practicable a proxy statement (the "Proxy Statement") for the Special
     Meeting, an information statement relating to the Parent Stockholder
     Approval (the "Information Statement" and, together with the Proxy
     Statement, the "Joint Proxy Statement/Information Statement") and a
     registration statement on Form S-4 under the Securities Act (the
     "Registration Statement") with respect to the New Parent Common Stock
     issuable in the Mergers, and shall use their reasonable best efforts to
     have the Joint Proxy Statement/ Information Statement cleared by the
     Commission under the Exchange Act and the Registration Statement declared
     effective by the Commission under the Securities Act;
 
          (ii) as soon as is reasonably practicable take all such reasonable
     action as may be required under state blue sky or securities laws in
     connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
 
          (iii) promptly prepare and file with the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. or
     the New York Stock Exchange, as determined by the Parent, listing
     applications covering the shares of New Parent Common Stock issuable in the
     Mergers and use their reasonable best efforts to obtain, prior to the
     Effective Time, approval for the listing of such shares of New Parent
     Common Stock, subject only to official notice of issuance;
 
          (iv) subject to Section 6.4, cooperate with one another in order to
     lift any injunctions or remove any other impediment to the consummation of
     the transactions contemplated herein; and
 
          (v) cooperate with one another in obtaining the opinions of Hale and
     Dorr LLP, counsel to the Company, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, counsel
     to the Parent, dated as of the Effective Time, referenced in Sections
     7.2(b) and 7.3(b). In connection therewith, each of the Parties and Westar
     Capital, Inc. shall deliver to Hale and Dorr LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges
     LLP, respectively, customary representation letters in form and substance
     reasonably satisfactory to such tax counsel.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   29
 
     (b) The Company shall cause the Joint Proxy Statement/Information Statement
to be mailed to its stockholders, as promptly as practicable after the
Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act; provided,
however, that at the request of Parent, the Company shall defer the mailing of
the Proxy Statement for such period of time (not to exceed ten business days)
specified by Parent to permit Westar Capital, Inc. or an affiliate thereof to
purchase additional shares of Parent Common Stock in open market transactions or
directly from the Parent. Promptly after the Company mails the Joint Proxy
Statement/Information Statement to the Company's stockholders, the Parent shall
(i) take all actions necessary to obtain stockholder approval of the Parent
Merger and (ii) cause the Joint Proxy Statement/Information Statement to be
mailed to its stockholders.
 
     (c) The Company shall, as soon as practicable following the date of this
Agreement, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Special Meeting for
the purpose of obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval and shall, through its
Board of Directors, recommend to its stockholders the adoption of this
Agreement, the Company Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby;
provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph (c) shall prevent the Board of
Directors of the Company from withdrawing or modifying its recommendation of the
adoption of this Agreement, the Company Merger and the other transactions
contemplated hereby to the extent permitted by Section 6.5; provided further,
however, that, unless this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8.1(a),
8.1(b)(iii), 8.1(b)(iv), 8.1(c)(ii) or 8.1(c)(vi), no such withdrawal or
modification shall relieve the Board of Directors of the Company from its
obligation to call, give notice of, convene and hold the Special Meeting.
 
     (d) Each party agrees to cooperate, as reasonably requested, in connection
with filings by the other party (or any affiliate of the other party) with the
Commission (including registration statements and proxy statements) and shall
use all reasonable efforts to obtain all required financial information and
related accountants' consents for inclusion in the other party's (or any of
their affiliates') Commission filings.
 
     5.5  Employee Stock Options and Benefit Plans.
 
     (a) As of the Effective Time, (i) each outstanding Company Option shall be
converted into an option (a "Substitute Option") to purchase the number of
shares of New Parent Common Stock (rounded upward to the next whole share) equal
to the product of (x) the Option Exchange Ratio and (y) the number of Company
Shares which could have been obtained immediately prior to the Effective Time
upon the exercise of each such Company Option (assuming such Company Option was
exercisable in full but after giving effect to any election made pursuant to
Section 5.5(b)), at an exercise price per share (rounded downward to the next
whole cent) equal to the exercise price per share payable immediately prior to
the Effective Time pursuant to such Company Option divided by the Option
Exchange Ratio, and all references in each such Company Option to the Company
shall be deemed to refer to New Parent, where appropriate, and (ii) New Parent
shall assume the obligations of the Company under the Company Option Plans. The
other terms of each such Substitute Option and the plans under which they were
issued, shall continue to apply in accordance with their terms, it being agreed
and acknowledged that all such Substitute Options shall be immediately
exercisable in full from and after the Effective Time. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Option Exchange Ratio" means the result obtained by dividing (A) the
sum of (x) $14.50 plus (y) the product of (i) the Exchange Ratio and (ii) the
Average Closing Price, by (B) the Average Closing Price.
 
     (b) The holder of any Company Option who has not exercised any Company
Option during the period from the date of this Agreement until the Effective
Time may make an election pursuant to this Section to receive a cash payment
with respect to up to 25% of the number of Company Shares subject to such
Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, such cash payment to be
in lieu of receiving a Substitute Option with respect to such Company Shares as
to which an election has been made. Such election shall be made by the holder of
any Company Option by filing an election (in a form to be provided by the Parent
at least 30 days in advance of the Effective Time) with the Company on or before
the Effective Time. As part of such election, the electing holder shall certify
that he or she has not exercised any Company Option during the period from the
date of this Agreement until the date of such
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   30
 
election and will covenant not to exercise any Company Option during the period
from the date of the election until the Effective Time, unless he or she first
notifies the Company in writing, which notification shall have the effect of
rescinding the election under this Section previously made by such holder.
Promptly after the Effective Time, New Parent shall exchange any Company Option
as to which an election pursuant to this Section has been made (and not
rescinded) for (i) an amount of cash equal to the Option Spread (as defined
below) multiplied by the number of Common Shares subject to such Company Option
immediately prior to the Effective Time as to which such election has been made
(it being understood that such number may not exceed 25% of the number of
Company Shares subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective
Time) and (ii) a Substitute Option in accordance with Section 5.5(a) with
respect to the remaining Company Shares subject to such Company Option
immediately prior to the Effective Time. For purposes of this agreement, "Option
Spread" means (A) the sum of (x) $14.50 plus (y) the product of (i) the Exchange
Ratio and (ii) the Average Closing Price minus (B) the exercise price per share
payable immediately prior to the Effective Time pursuant to the applicable
Company Option.
 
     (c) As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, New Parent shall
deliver to each holder of a Company Option assumed by New Parent in accordance
with Section 5.5(a) and (b), an appropriate notice setting forth such holder's
rights pursuant to such Substitute Option and the agreements evidencing such
Company Options shall continue in effect on the same terms and conditions
(subject to the amendments provided for in this Section 5.5 and such notice).
 
     (d) Prior to the Effective Time, the New Parent shall take all corporate
action necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of New
Parent Common Stock for delivery upon exercise of the Company Options assumed in
accordance with Section 5.5(a) and (b). Prior to the Effective Time, the New
Parent shall, with respect to all shares of New Parent Common Stock subject to
such options (i) either (x) file a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any
successor form) under the Securities Act or (y) file any necessary amendments to
the Company's previously filed Registration Statements on Form S-8 in order that
the New Parent will be deemed a "successor registrant" thereunder, and, in
either event, shall use all reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of
such registration statement for so long as the Substitute Options remain
outstanding and (ii) take all actions necessary to have such shares of New
Parent Common Stock approved for listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market or The New
York Stock Exchange, as the case may be, subject to official notice of issuance.
 
     5.6  Further Assurances. In case at any time after the Effective Time any
further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this
Agreement, the proper officers of the Parties shall take all such necessary
action.
 
     5.7  Accountants' "Comfort" Letters. The Company and the Parent will each
use reasonable best efforts to cause to be delivered to each other letters from
their respective independent accountants, dated as of a date within two business
days before the effective date of the Registration Statement, in form reasonably
satisfactory to the recipient and customary in scope for comfort letters
delivered by independent accountants in connection with registration statements
on Form S-4 under the Securities Act.
 
                                   ARTICLE 6
 
                             ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
 
     6.1  Access to Information. Except as prohibited under applicable law, the
Company shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries, and its and its subsidiaries'
respective officers, directors, employees and agents to, afford to the Parent
and to the officers, employees and agents of the Parent complete access at all
reasonable times, from the date hereof to the Effective Time, to its and its
subsidiaries, officers, employees, agents, properties, books, records and
contracts, and shall furnish the other party all financial, operating and other
data and information as the Parent, through its officers, employees or agents,
may reasonably request.
 
                                      25
<PAGE>   31
 
     6.2  Notification of Certain Matters.
 
     (a) The Company shall give prompt notice to the Parent, of (i) the
obtaining by it of actual knowledge as to the matters set forth in clauses (x)
and (y) of clause (ii) of this sentence, or (ii) the occurrence, or failure to
occur, of any event which occurrence or failure to occur causes (x) any
representation or warranty made by the Company and contained in this Agreement
to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect at any time from the date
hereof to the Effective Time, or (y) any material failure of the Company or of
any officer, director, employee or agent thereof, to comply with or satisfy any
covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under
this Agreement; provided, however, that no such notification shall be deemed to
cure any breach or otherwise affect the representations or warranties of the
Company or the conditions to the obligations of the parties hereunder.
 
     (b) Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company of (i) the obtaining by
it of actual knowledge as to the matters set forth in clauses (x) and (y) of
clause (ii) of this sentence, or (ii) the occurrence, or failure to occur, of
any event which occurrence or failure to occur causes (x) any representation or
warranty made by Parent, New Parent, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II contained in
this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect at any time
from the date hereof to the Effective Time, or (y) any material failure of
Parent, New Parent, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II, or of any officer, director,
employee or agent thereof, to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or
agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement; provided,
however, that no such notification shall be deemed to cure any breach or
otherwise affect the representations or warranties of Parent, New Parent, Merger
Sub I or Merger Sub II or the conditions to the obligations of the parties
hereunder.
 
     6.3  Fees and Expenses.
 
     (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6.3 or the proviso in
Section 8.2, each party shall bear all of the fees and expenses incurred by it
in connection with the negotiation and performance of this Agreement, and no
party may recover any such fees and expenses from any other party upon any
termination of this Agreement.
 
     (b) The Company shall immediately pay to the Parent $5,500,000 in cash if:
 
          (i) the Trigger Event specified in Section 6.3(d) shall have occurred;
 
          (ii) the Company shall have elected to terminate this Agreement
     pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(iii); or
 
          (iii) the Parent shall have elected to terminate this Agreement
     pursuant to subsections (ii) or (iv) of Section 8.1(c) hereof (but if such
     termination is pursuant to subsection 8.1(c)(ii)(A), only if an Acquisition
     Proposal shall have been made prior to the failure to recommend or
     withdrawal giving rise to such termination or if such failure to recommend
     or withdrawal is otherwise not in compliance with Section 6.5(c)).
 
     (c) The provisions contained in this Section 6.3 shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
 
     (d) As used in this Agreement, the term "Trigger Event" shall mean there
shall have been publicly announced or proposed or commenced prior to the
termination of this Agreement any Acquisition Proposal which is not publicly
withdrawn prior to the Special Meeting, this Agreement is terminated (other than
as a result of a material breach of this Agreement by Parent, New Parent, Merger
Sub I or Merger Sub II) and, within 12 months after such termination, the
Company consummates an Acquisition Proposal.
 
     (e) The Company shall immediately pay to the Parent $1,000,000 in cash if
the Parent shall have elected to terminate this Agreement pursuant to subsection
8.1(c)(ii)(A) and no Acquisition Proposal shall have been made prior to the
Company's Directors failure to recommend, or withdraw its approval or the
recommendation of the Company Merger or this Agreement. Any fee paid under this
Section 6.3(e) shall be credited towards any fee payable under Section 6.3(b).
 
     6.4  Additional Agreements. Subject to the terms and conditions herein
provided, each of the parties hereto agrees to use its reasonable best efforts
to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause


                                      26
<PAGE>   32
 
to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make
effective as promptly as practicable the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and to cooperate with each of the other parties hereto in connection
with the foregoing, including using its reasonable best efforts: (A) to obtain
all necessary waivers, consents and approvals from other parties to loan
agreements, leases and other contracts; (B) to obtain all necessary consents,
approvals and authorizations as are required to be obtained under any U.S.
federal, foreign, state or provincial laws or regulations; (C) to lift or
rescind any injunction or restraining order or other order adversely affecting
the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;
(D) to effect all necessary registrations and filings, including, but not
limited to, filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and submissions of
information requested by Governmental Entities; and (E) to fulfill all
conditions to this Agreement. Each of the Parties further covenants and agrees
that, it shall use its respective reasonable best efforts to prevent, with
respect to a threatened or pending preliminary or permanent injunction or the
entry thereof the effect of which would be to prevent consummation of the Merger
and, if entered, shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to have such
injunction stayed or vacated. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts
to keep available to New Parent and the Surviving Corporation the present key
officers and employees of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and to
preserve for New Parent and the Surviving Corporation the present relationships
and good will of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries with their respective
lenders, suppliers, customers and other third parties having business relations
with them. For purposes of the foregoing, the obligation of the Parties to use
"reasonable best efforts" to obtain waivers, consents and approvals to loan
agreements, leases and other contracts and by Governmental Entities shall not
include any obligation to agree to a modification of the terms of such
documents, or to dispose of or restrict the operation or ownership of any
portion of the businesses, assets or properties of the Parties, except as
expressly contemplated hereby, or to make any guaranty or monetary payment in
consideration of such waiver, consent or approval.
 
     6.5  No Solicitation.
 
     (a) Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries shall, and the
Company shall use its best efforts to cause its affiliates, and each of its and
the Company Subsidiaries' officers, directors, employees, representatives and
agents (including, without limitation, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated (the
"Financial Advisor")) not to, directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate,
knowingly encourage, knowingly facilitate, engage or participate in discussions
or negotiations with, or provide any non-public information to, any corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, person or other entity or group other
than the Parent, New Parent, Merger Subsidiaries or another affiliate of the
Parent (a "Third Party") and other than in connection with this Agreement,
concerning (or concerning the business of the Company or any Subsidiary in
connection with) (i) any tender offer or exchange offer for more than 20% of the
Company Shares on a fully-diluted basis (in calculating the number of
fully-diluted Shares for this purpose, only (A) Company Shares covered by
Company Options, and (B) 43,499 Company Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to
the ESPP, being considered dilutive), (ii) any merger, consolidation, sale of
20% or more of the assets of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, recapitalization, accumulation of Shares or proxy solicitation or other
business combination involving the Company or any Company Subsidiary or (iii)
any public announcement of a proposal, plan or intention to do any of the
foregoing or any agreement to engage in any of the foregoing (any such proposed
tender offer, exchange offer, merger, consolidation, sale of material assets,
recapitalization, accumulation of Company Shares or proxy solicitation or other
business combination being referred to herein as an "Acquisition Proposal").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to the date on which
stockholders of the Company vote to approve the Company Merger, the Company, its
Subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, employees,
representatives and agents (i) may, in the case of a Qualified Acquisition
Proposal (as hereinafter defined), furnish or cause to be furnished information
concerning the Company's business, properties or assets to a Third Party
(subject to such Third Party executing a confidentiality agreement on terms no
more favorable to the Third Party than those applicable to Parent in the
Confidentiality Agreement between the Parent and the Financial Advisor dated
July 13, 1998), (ii) may, in the case of a Qualified Acquisition Proposal only,
enter into, participate in, conduct or engage in discussions or negotiations
with such Third Party, (iii) may take any position with respect to an
Acquisition Proposal in
                                      

                                      27
<PAGE>   33
 
accordance with Rules 14a-9 and 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, and
(iv) may, in the case of a Qualified Acquisition Proposal only and in compliance
with the provisions of this Section 6.5, enter into an agreement to consummate a
Qualified Acquisition Proposal. As used herein, "Qualified Acquisition Proposal"
means a bona fide, unsolicited, written Acquisition Proposal at a price per
Company Share and on terms and conditions that the Board of Directors of the
Company (after consultation with the Financial Advisor or another independent
financial advisor of national reputation) determines to be superior to the
Merger and to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders
including, as part of the Board of Director's determination, that as to any cash
consideration to be paid pursuant to the Qualified Acquisition Proposal, the
Third Party making the Qualified Acquisition Proposal has all requisite funds on
hand or is reasonably capable of obtaining any requisite funds.
 
     (b) The Company will promptly notify the Parent if it receives any
Acquisition Proposal and shall promptly provide to the Parent copies of all
written Acquisition Proposals or a written summary of any oral Acquisition
Proposals, and all material amendments or modifications thereto. Nothing in this
paragraph (b) shall be construed as interfering with the Company's obligations
to its stockholders under Rule 14e-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
 
     (c) Except as set forth in this Section 6.5(c), the Board of Directors of
the Company shall not (i) withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw or
modify, in a manner adverse to Parent, or New Parent, the approval or
recommendation of the Company Merger and this Agreement by the Board of
Directors of the Company, (ii) approve or recommend, or propose publicly to
approve or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal, or (iii) cause the Company to
enter into any agreement (including, without limitation, any letter of intent
but excluding any confidentiality agreement) with respect to any Acquisition
Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Directors of the
Company, after consultation with outside legal counsel, determines in good faith
that it is more likely than not necessary to do so in order to comply with its
fiduciary duties under applicable law, the Company's Board of Directors may (x)
withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify, in a manner
adverse to Parent, or New Parent, the approval and recommendation of the Company
Merger and this Agreement by the Board of Directors of the Company, (y) approve
or recommend, or propose publicly to approve or recommend, a Qualified
Acquisition Proposal, or (z) cause the Company to enter into an agreement with
respect to a Qualified Acquisition Proposal, but in the case of the foregoing
clauses (y) and (z) only after the expiration of three business days after the
date on which the Company provides written notice to Parent (a "Notice of
Qualified Acquisition Proposal") advising Parent that the Company's Board of
Directors has received a Qualifying Acquisition Proposal, specifying the terms
and conditions of such Qualifying Acquisition Proposal and identifying the
person making such Qualifying Acquisition Proposal; provided, that prior to or
concurrently with entering into an agreement (including a letter of intent) with
respect to a Qualifying Acquisition Proposal, the Company shall terminate this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(iii) below and shall pay the fee specified
in Section 6.3(b).
 
     6.6  Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Each participant in the ESPP on the
Effective Time shall have the rights specified in Sections 16 and 17 of the
Plan, after which no further rights to purchase Company Shares under the ESPP
shall exist and the ESPP shall terminate.
 
     6.7  Indemnification and Insurance. The Parent, New Parent and Merger
Subsidiaries agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses,
exculpation, limitation of liability and any and all similar rights now existing
in favor of the employees, agents, directors or officers of the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries (the "Indemnified Parties") as provided in their respective
charters or by-laws in effect on the date hereof, shall survive the Company
Merger and shall continue in full force and effect for a period of six years
from the Effective Time; provided, however, that in the event any claim or
claims are asserted or made within such six-year period, all rights to
indemnification in respect to any such claim or claims shall continue until the
disposition of any and all such claims. The New Parent agrees to provide each
individual who served as a director or officer of the Company at any time prior
to the date hereof with liability insurance for a period of six years after the
Effective Time no less favorable in coverage and amount than any applicable
insurance in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided, however,
that New Parent shall not be obligated to provide such insurance if it is
generally not available and New

                                      28
<PAGE>   34
 
Parent may reduce the coverage and amount of liability insurance to the extent
that the cost thereof would exceed 200% of the cost of any such insurance in
effect immediately prior to the date hereof. The Indemnified Parties shall be
deemed third party beneficiaries of this provision and shall be entitled to
bring actions to enforce the obligations of the Parent, New Parent and the
Merger Subsidiaries under this Section 6.7 and Section 6.9.
 
     6.8  Fair Price Structure. If any "fair price" or "control share
acquisition" or "anti-takeover" statute, or other similar statute or regulation
or any state "blue sky" statute shall become applicable to the transactions
contemplated hereby, including the execution or exercise of the Stock Option
Agreement, and the Voting Agreements, the Company and the members or the Board
of Directors of the Company shall grant such approvals and take such actions as
are reasonably necessary so that the transactions contemplated hereby including
the execution or exercise of the Stock Option Agreement, and the Voting
Agreements may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms
contemplated hereby, or by the Stock Option Agreement and the Voting Agreements
and otherwise act to minimize the effects of such statute or regulation on the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
 
     6.9  Guaranty. The Parent and New Parent hereby unconditionally guarantee
Merger Sub I's obligations under this Agreement and, if the Company Merger is
consummated, the indemnification obligations set forth in Section 6.7, and agree
to be liable for any breach of this Agreement by the Parties hereto (other than
the Company) (or a breach of Section 6.7).
 
     6.10  Certain Tax Related Representations. Each of Parent and New Parent
has no present intention to merge or liquidate the New Parent, Parent or the
Company with or into any other person or transfer any of the assets thereof
other than in the ordinary course of business and, in the case of Parent, other
than pursuant to a transaction described in Section 368(a)(2)(C) of the Code or
Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-1(d)(4) or 1.368-2(k).
 
                                   ARTICLE 7
 
                                   CONDITIONS
 
     7.1  Conditions to Obligation of Each Party to Effect the Mergers. The
respective obligations of each party to effect the Mergers shall be subject to
the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following
conditions:
 
          (a) The Company Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained in
     accordance with applicable law and the Company's Articles of Organization
     and By-Laws and the applicable rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.;
 
          (b) The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective in
     accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act and no stop order
     suspending such effectiveness shall have been issued and remain in effect;
 
          (c) The shares of New Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Mergers
     shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq National Market or the
     New York Stock Exchange;
 
          (d) any waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the
     consummation of the Company Merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act shall
     have expired or been terminated; and
 
          (e) no preliminary or permanent injunction or other order, decree or
     ruling issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a governmental,
     regulatory or administrative agency or commission nor any statute, rule,
     regulation or executive order promulgated or enacted by any governmental
     authority shall be in effect, which would prevent the consummation of the
     Mergers.
 
                                      29
<PAGE>   35
 
     7.2  Conditions to Obligation of the Company to Effect the Company
Merger. The obligation of the Company to effect the Company Merger is further
subject to fulfillment of the following conditions:
 
          (a)(i) The representations and warranties of the Parent, New Parent
     and the Merger Subsidiaries contained herein shall be true and correct in
     all respects (but without regard to any materiality qualifications or
     references to Parent Material Adverse Effect contained in any specific
     representation or warranty) as of the Effective Time with the same effect
     as though made as of the Effective Time except (x) for changes specifically
     permitted by the terms of this Agreement, (y) that the accuracy of
     representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of the date of
     this Agreement or some other date will be determined as of such date and
     (z) where any such failure of the representations and warranties in the
     aggregate to be true and correct in all respects would not have a Parent
     Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Parent, New Parent and the Merger
     Subsidiaries shall have performed in all material respects all obligations
     and complied with all covenants required by this Agreement to be performed
     or complied with by any of them prior to the Effective Time and (iii) the
     Parent and New Parent shall have delivered to the Company a certificate,
     dated the Effective Time and signed by their respective Chief Executive
     Officer or Chief Financial Officer certifying to both such effects; and
 
          (b) The Company shall have received an opinion of Hale and Dorr LLP,
     tax counsel to the Company, dated as of the Effective Time, substantially
     to the effect that the Company Merger will qualify as an exchange within
     the meaning of Section 351 of the Code. The issuance of such opinion shall
     be conditioned upon the receipt by such tax counsel of reasonable and
     customary representation letters from each of the Parties and Westar
     Capital, Inc., in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
     to such tax counsel. The specific provisions of each such representation
     letter shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such tax
     counsel, and each such representation letter shall be dated on or before
     the date of such opinion and shall not have been withdrawn or modified in
     any material respect; and
 
          (c) The Parent Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained in
     accordance with applicable law and Parent's Certificate of Incorporation
     and Bylaws and the applicable rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (or,
     if Parent shall have become listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the
     rules of the New York Stock Exchange);
 
     7.3  Conditions to Obligation of the Parent, New Parent and the Merger
Subsidiaries to Effect the Mergers. The obligation of the Parent, New Parent and
the Merger Subsidiaries to effect the Mergers is further subject to the
fulfillment of the following conditions:
 
          (a)(i) The representations and warranties of the Company contained
     herein shall be true and correct in all respects (but without regard to any
     materiality qualifications or references to Company Material Adverse Effect
     contained in any specific representation or warranty) as of the Effective
     Time with the same effect as though made as of the Effective Time except
     (x) for changes specifically permitted by the terms of this Agreement, (y)
     that the accuracy of representations and warranties that by their terms
     speak as of the date of this Agreement or some other date will be
     determined as of such date and (z) where any such failure of the
     representations and warranties in the aggregate to be true and correct in
     all respects would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (ii) the
     Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and
     complied with all covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or
     complied with by it prior to the Effective Time; and (iii) the Company
     shall have delivered to the Parent a certificate, dated the Effective Time
     and signed by its Chief Executive Officer certifying to both such effects.
 
          (b) The Parent and New Parent shall have received an opinion of Weil,
     Gotshal & Manges LLP, tax counsel to Parent and New Parent, dated as of the
     Effective Time, substantially to the effect that the Parent Merger will
     qualify as an exchange within the meaning of Section 351 of the Code and a
     reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. The
     issuance of such opinion shall be conditioned upon the receipt by such tax
     counsel of reasonable and customary
 
                                      30
<PAGE>   36
 
representation letters from each of the Parties and Westar Capital, Inc., in
each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such tax counsel. The
specific provisions of each such representation letter shall be in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to such tax counsel, and each such
representation letter shall be dated on or before the date of such opinions and
shall not have been withdrawn or modified in any material effect.
 
                                   ARTICLE 8
 
                       TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
 
     8.1  Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the
Effective Time, whether prior to or after approval by the stockholders of the
Company or the Parent, as follows:
 
          (a) By mutual written consent of the Boards of Directors of the Parent
     and the Company; or
 
          (b) By the Company:
 
             (i) if the Effective Time shall not have occurred on or before
        April 30, 1999 due to a failure of any of the conditions to the
        obligation of the Company to effect the Merger set forth in Sections 7.1
        and 7.2; or
 
             (ii) if, prior to the Effective Time, the Parent, New Parent,
        Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II fails to perform in any material respect
        any of their respective obligations under this Agreement; or
 
             (iii) in order for the Company to enter into an agreement with a
        Third Party to consummate a Qualified Acquisition Proposal (provided
        that no such termination shall be effective until the Company has
        complied with its obligation to pay the fee specified in Section
        6.3(b)); or
 
             (iv) if there shall be a nonappealable order issued by a court of
        competent jurisdiction enjoining the consummation of one or both of the
        Mergers.
 
          (c) By the Parent:
 
             (i) if the Effective Time shall not have occurred on or before
        April 30, 1999 due to a failure of any of the conditions to the
        obligations of the Parent, New Parent and the Merger Subsidiaries to
        effect the Merger set forth in Sections 7.1 and 7.3; or
 
             (ii) if, prior to the Effective Time, the Company's Directors,
        whether or not in the exercise of their fiduciary or other legal duties,
        either (A) shall have failed to recommend, or shall have withdrawn its
        approval or recommendation of, the Company Merger or this Agreement or
        (B) take any action (other than as permitted under clauses (i) and (ii)
        of the second sentence of Section 6.5(a)) with respect to any
        Acquisition Proposal other than to recommend rejection of the
        Acquisition Proposal (including taking a position of neutrality or
        failing to take any position within 10 business days after the making or
        commencement of a Acquisition Proposal); or
 
             (iii) if, prior to the Effective Time, the Company fails to perform
        in any material respect any of its obligations under this Agreement; or
 
             (iv) if, prior to the Effective Time, the Company alters or amends
        the Rights Agreement or the Rights in a manner that adversely affects
        the Parties' (other than the Company) ability to consummate the
        transactions contemplated hereby); or
 
             (v) if the Company's stockholders shall have voted against this
        Agreement and the Company Merger at the Special Meeting; or
 
             (vi) if there shall be a nonappealable order issued by a court of
        competent jurisdiction enjoining the consummation of one or both of the
        Mergers.
 
                                      31
<PAGE>   37
 
     8.2  Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this
Agreement as provided in Section 8.1, all obligations and agreements of the
Parties set forth in this Agreement shall forthwith terminate and be of no
further force or effect, and there shall be no liability on the part of the
Parties hereunder, except as set forth in Section 6.3; provided that the
foregoing shall not relieve any Party for liability for damages actually
incurred as a result of any breach of this Agreement.
 
     8.3  Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended except by action of the
Board of Directors of each of the Parties hereto set forth in an instrument in
writing signed on behalf of each of the Parties hereto; provided, however, that
after approval of the Merger by the stockholders of the Company or the Parent,
no amendment may be made without the further approval of the stockholders of the
Company or the Parent to the extent such further approval would be required
under the Massachusetts Law, with respect to the Company Merger, or the Delaware
Law, with respect to the Parent Merger.
 
     8.4  Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or
after the Company Meeting, any Party hereto by action taken by its Board of
Directors, may (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations
or other acts of any other Party hereto or (ii) subject to the proviso contained
in Section 8.3, waive compliance with any of the agreements of any other Party
or with any conditions to its own obligations. Any agreement on the part of a
Party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in
an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party by a duly authorized
officer.
 
                                   ARTICLE 9
 
                               GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
     9.1  Closing. Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated and the
transactions herein contemplated shall have been abandoned pursuant to the
provisions of Article 8, and subject to the provisions of Article 7 hereof, the
closing of the Merger pursuant to this Agreement (the "Closing") shall take
place at the offices of Hale and Dorr LLP, 60 State Street, Boston,
Massachusetts, within three business days following the Company Meeting, or at
such other place, time and date as the parties may mutually agree. The date and
time of such Closing are hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date."
 
     9.2  Publicity. So long as this Agreement is in effect each of Parent, New
Parent, the Company and the Merger Subsidiaries will consult with one another
before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statements with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the Mergers, and shall not issue any such press release or make any
such public statement prior to such consultation, except to the extent that the
party making such announcement determines that it must do so in order to comply
with applicable law or its obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with
the Nasdaq Stock Market or the NYSE and it is impracticable under the
circumstances to consult with the other parties hereto prior to making such
announcement.
 
     9.3  Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been fully given if (i) delivered
personally, (ii) sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
(iii) sent by overnight courier for delivery on the next business day or (iv)
sent by confirmed telecopy, provided that a hard copy of all such telecopied
materials is thereafter sent within 24 hours in the manner described in clauses
(i), (ii) or (iii), to the Parties at the following addresses or at such other
addresses as shall be specified by the Parties by like notice:
 
          (a) If to the Parent, New Parent, Merger Sub I or Merger Sub II:
 
           Protection One, Inc.
           6001 Bristol Parkway
           Culver City, California 90230
           Attention: John E. Mack, III
           Telecopy No.: (310) 649-3855
 

                                      32
<PAGE>   38
 
           with a copy to:
 
           Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
           100 Crescent Court
           Suite 1300
           Dallas, Texas 75201
           Attention: Jeremy W. Dickens, Esq.
           Telecopy No.: (214) 746-7777
 
           with a copy to:
 
           Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp LLP
           Trident Center
           11377 West Olympic Boulevard
           Los Angeles, California 90084
           Attention: Anthony A. Adler, Esq.
           Telecopy No.: (310) 312-3785
 
          (b) If to the Company:
 
           Lifeline Systems, Inc.
           640 Memorial Drive
           Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4851
           Attention: Ronald Feinstein
           Telecopy No.: (617) 679-1386
 
           with a copy to:
 
           Hale and Dorr LLP
           60 State Street
           Boston, MA 02109
           Attention: Jay E. Bothwick, Esq.
           Telecopy No.: (617) 526-5000
 
     Notices provided in accordance with this Section 9.3 shall be deemed
delivered (i) on the date of personal delivery, (ii) four business days after
deposit in the mail, (iii) one business day after delivery to an overnight
courier, or (iv) on the date of confirmation of the telecopy transmission, as
the case may be.
 
     9.4  Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to
subsidiaries of a Party, the word "subsidiaries" means any corporation more than
50 percent of whose outstanding voting securities, or any partnership, joint
venture, limited liability company or other entity more than 50 percent of whose
total equity interest, is directly or indirectly owned by such Party and the
word "affiliates" shall have the meaning assigned to such term under Rule 405 of
the Securities Act. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall not be
deemed to be an affiliate or subsidiary of the Parent, New Parent or the Merger
Subsidiaries. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement. Inclusion of information in the Company Disclosure Schedule or
the Parent Disclosure Schedule does not constitute an admission or
acknowledgment of the materiality of such information.
 
     9.5  Representations and Warranties; etc. The respective representations
and warranties of the Parties contained herein shall expire with, and be
terminated and extinguished upon, consummation of the Mergers. This Section 9.5
shall have no effect upon any other obligation of the Parties hereto, whether to
be performed before or after the consummation of the Mergers.
 
     9.6  Miscellaneous. This Agreement together with the Confidentiality
Agreement between the Parent and the Financial Advisor dated July 13, 1998, the
Stock Option Agreement and the Voting Agreements constitute the entire agreement
and supersede all other prior agreements and undertakings, both written
 
                                      33
<PAGE>   39
 
and oral, among the Parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter
hereof (including without limitation the Initial Merger Agreement. This
Agreement (i) is not intended to confer upon any other person any rights or
remedies hereunder, create any agreement of employment with any person or
otherwise create any third-party beneficiary hereto; (ii) shall not be assigned,
except that each Merger Subsidiary may assign its rights and obligations to a
direct wholly owned subsidiary of the New Parent which in a written instrument
shall make all the representations and warranties of such Merger Subsidiary set
forth herein and shall agree to assume all of such Merger Subsidiary's
obligations hereunder and be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this
Agreement; provided, however, that no such assignment shall relieve the Parent,
New Parent or the Merger Subsidiaries of their obligations hereunder; and (iii)
shall be governed in all respects, including validity, interpretation and
effect, by the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without
giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws thereof. This Agreement may
be executed in one or more counterparts which together shall constitute a single
agreement.
 
     9.7  Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
 
     9.8  Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings herein are inserted for
convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or to affect
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
 
                                      34
<PAGE>   40
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parent, New Parent, Merger Sub I, Merger
Sub II and the Company have caused this Agreement to be executed and its
corporate seal to be thereto affixed as of the date first written above by its
respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
 
[SEAL]                                    PROTECTION ONE, INC.
 
                                          By: /s/ JOHN E. MACK, III
                                            ------------------------------------
                                              Name: John E. Mack, III
                                              Title: Executive Vice President
 
[SEAL]                                    PROTECTION ONE ACQUISITION
                                            HOLDING CORPORATION
 
                                          By: /s/ JOHN E. MACK, III
                                            ------------------------------------
                                              Name: John E. Mack, III
                                              Title: President
 
[SEAL]                                    P-1 MERGER SUB, INC.
                                            (a Massachusetts corporation)
 
                                          By: /s/ JOHN E. MACK, III
                                            ------------------------------------
                                              Name: John E. Mack, III
                                              Title: President
 
                                          By: /s/ JOHN HESSE
                                            ------------------------------------
                                              Name: John Hesse
                                              Title: Treasurer
 
[SEAL]                                    P-1 MERGER SUB, INC.
                                            (a Delaware corporation)
 
                                          By: /s/ JOHN E. MACK, III
                                            ------------------------------------
                                              Name: John E. Mack, III
                                              Title: President
 
[SEAL]                                    LIFELINE SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                                          By: /s/ RONALD FEINSTEIN
                                            ------------------------------------
                                              Name: Ronald Feinstein
                                              Title: President
 
                                          By: /s/ DENNIS M. HURLEY
                                            ------------------------------------
                                              Name: Dennis M. Hurley
                                              Title: Treasurer
 
                                      35