Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                               VOTING AGREEMENT

          VOTING AGREEMENT (this "Voting Agreement"), dated as of May 15, 2000
by and among E*OFFERING CORP., a corporation organized under the laws of the
State of California (the "Company"), and certain stockholders of WIT CAPITAL
GROUP, INC. ("Parent") set forth on the signature pages hereof (each
individually a "Securityholder," and collectively, the "Securityholders").

                             W I T N E S S E T H:
                             -------------------

          WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Voting
Agreement, an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") is being
entered into by and among Parent, Wit SoundView Corporation, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("Merger Sub"), and the
Company, pursuant to which the Company will be merged with and into Merger Sub
(the "Merger"); and

          WHEREAS, as a condition to, and in consideration for the Company's
willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated thereby, the Company has required that the
Securityholders enter into this Voting Agreement.

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

          1.   Definitions.  For purposes of this Voting Agreement:
               -----------

               (a)  "Beneficially Own" or "Beneficial ownership" with respect to
any securities shall mean having "beneficial ownership" of such securities (as
determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act")), including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement
or understanding, whether or not in writing; provided that such beneficial
ownership shall be limited to securities (not including those that the Person
(as defined in the Exchange Act) has a right to acquire within 60 days unless so
acquired) over which such Person has sole or shared voting power. Without
duplicative counting of the same securities by the same holder, securities
Beneficially Owned by a Person shall include securities Beneficially Owned by
all other Persons with whom such Person
<PAGE>

would constitute a "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the
Exchange Act and over which such Person has sole or shared voting power.

               (b)  Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement.

          2.   Agreements
               ----------

               (a)  Voting Agreement.  Each Securityholder shall, at any meeting
                    ----------------
of the Securityholders of Parent, however such meeting is called and regardless
of whether such meeting is a special or annual meeting of the Securityholders of
Parent, or in connection with any written consent of the Securityholders of
Parent, vote all shares of Parent Capital Stock Beneficially Owned by such
Securityholder: (i) to approve the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby and the taking of any actions proposed by
Parent's Board of Directors necessary or appropriate in furtherance thereof; and
(ii) against any action, proposal or agreement that would delay, impede,
frustrate, prevent or nullify this Voting Agreement or the Merger Agreement, or
result in a breach in any material respect of any covenant, representation or
warranty or any other obligation or agreement of Parent under the Merger
Agreement or which would delay, impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify the
fulfillment of any of the conditions set forth in Article IX of the Merger
Agreement or result in any change in the composition of Parent Board of
Directors without the prior written consent of the Company.

               (b)  No Inconsistent Arrangements.  Each Securityholder hereby
                    ----------------------------
covenants and agrees that it shall not (i) transfer (which term shall include,
without limitation, any sale, gift, pledge or other disposition), or consent to
any transfer of, any or all of such Securityholder's shares of Parent Capital
Stock, or any interest therein in a manner inconsistent with the continued
validity of this Voting Agreement and the irrevocable proxy granted pursuant
hereto, unless each Person to which any such shares of Parent Capital Stock, or
any interest therein, is or may be transferred shall have (A) executed a
counterpart of this Voting Agreement; and (B) agreed to hold such shares of
Capital Stock (or interest in such shares) subject to all terms and provisions
of this Voting Agreement; (ii) enter into any contract, option or other
agreement or understanding with respect to any transfer of any or all of such
shares of Parent Capital Stock or any interest therein in a manner inconsistent
with

                                       2
<PAGE>

the continued validity of this Voting Agreement and the irrevocable proxy
granted pursuant hereto, unless each Person to which any such shares of Parent
Capital Stock, or any interest therein, is or may be transferred shall have (A)
executed a counterpart of this Voting Agreement; and (B) agreed to hold such
shares of Parent Capital Stock (or interest in such shares) subject to all terms
and provisions of this Voting Agreement, (iii) grant any proxy, power-of-
attorney or other authorization in or with respect to such shares of Parent
Capital Stock in a manner inconsistent with the continued validity of this
Voting Agreement and the irrevocable proxy granted pursuant hereto, (iv) deposit
such shares of Parent Capital Stock into a voting trust or enter into a voting
agreement or arrangement with respect to such shares of Parent Capital Stock in
a manner inconsistent with the continued validity of this Voting Agreement and
the irrevocable proxy granted pursuant hereto, or (v) take any other action that
would in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of such
Securityholder's obligations hereunder or the transactions contemplated hereby
or by the Merger Agreement; provided that this subsection 2(b)(v) does not apply
to a Securityholder acting in his or her capacity as a director of Parent.

               (c)  Grant of Irrevocable Proxy; Appointment of Proxies. (i) Each
                    --------------------------------------------------
Securityholder hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints, Steven King and
Thomas Bevilacqua, or either of them, in their respective capacities as officers
of the Company, and any individual who shall hereafter succeed to any such
office of the Company and each of them individually, such Securityholder's proxy
and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution), for and in the name,
place and stead of such Securityholder, to vote or give written consent with
respect to all of such Securityholder's shares of Parent Capital Stock (A) in
favor of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement, and (B) in favor of the taking by Parent of all other actions
proposed by Parent's Board of Directors necessary or appropriate to give effect
to the intent of this Section 2(c), (C) against any action, proposal or
agreement that would have the effect of delaying, impeding, frustrating,
preventing or nullifying this Voting Agreement or the Merger Agreement, or
result in a breach in any material respect of any covenant, agreement,
representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of Parent under
the Merger Agreement or which would delay, impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify
the fulfillment of any of the conditions set forth in Article IX of the Merger
Agreement or result in change in the composition of Parent Board of Directors
without the prior written consent of the Company.

                    (i)  Each Securityholder represents that any proxies
heretofore given in respect of such Securityholder's shares of Parent Capital
Stock

                                       3
<PAGE>

are not irrevocable, and that any such proxies inconsistent with paragraph (c)
above are, to the extent of such inconsistency, hereby revoked.

                    (ii)   Each Securityholder understands and acknowledges that
the Company is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such
Securityholder's execution and delivery of this Voting Agreement.  Each
Securityholder hereby affirms that the irrevocable proxy set forth in this
Section 2(c) is given in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement,
and that such irrevocable proxy is given to secure the performance of the duties
of such Securityholder under this Voting Agreement.  Each Securityholder hereby
further affirms that the irrevocable proxy granted hereby is coupled with an
interest and may under no circumstances be revoked.  Each Securityholder hereby
affirms that such irrevocable proxy shall survive such Securityholder's death,
incapacity or incompetence.  Each Securityholder hereby ratifies and confirms
all that each such proxy may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Such irrevocable proxy is executed and intended to be irrevocable in accordance
with Delaware Law and California Law.

               (d)  No Solicitation.  Each Securityholder hereby agrees, in such
                    ---------------
Securityholder's capacity as a stockholder of Parent, that neither such
Securityholder nor any of such Securityholder's Affiliates shall (and such
Securityholder shall use such Securityholder's reasonable best efforts to
instruct its officers, directors and employees, if any, and its representatives
and agents not to, and to permit any of them to), directly or indirectly,
knowingly encourage, solicit, participate in or initiate discussions or
negotiations with, or knowingly provide any non-public information to, any
Person (other than Parent, any of its Affiliates or representatives) concerning
any Acquisition Proposal.

          3.   Representations and Warranties of the Securityholder.  Each
               ----------------------------------------------------
Securityholder, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to the
Company as follows, except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule, if any,
prepared and signed by the such Securityholder and delivered to Parent prior to
the execution hereof:

               (a)  Ownership of Securities.  Such Securityholder is the record
                    -----------------------
and Beneficial Owner of the number of shares of Parent Common Stock and Series B
Preferred Stock set forth opposite such Securityholder's name on Schedule B
attached (the "Existing Securities").  On the date hereof, the Existing
Securities (i) assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties made
by Parent in

                                       4
<PAGE>

Section 7.3 of the Merger Agreement, constitute the percentage of the total
number of shares of Parent Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock issued and
outstanding as of the date hereof as set forth opposite such Securityholder's
name on Schedule B attached, and (ii) constitute all of the shares of Parent
Common Stock, Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock held of
record or Beneficially Owned by such Securityholder. Each Securityholder has
sole voting power and sole power to issue instructions with respect to the
matters set forth in Section 2 hereof, sole power of disposition, sole power of
conversion, sole power (if any) to demand appraisal rights and sole power to
agree to all of the matters set forth in this Voting Agreement, in each case
with respect to all of the Existing Securities with no limitations,
qualifications or restrictions on such rights, subject to applicable securities
laws and the terms of this Voting Agreement.

               (b)  Power; Binding Agreement.  Such Securityholder has the legal
                    ------------------------
capacity, power and authority to enter into and perform all of such
Securityholder's obligations under this Voting Agreement. The execution,
delivery and performance of this Voting Agreement by such Securityholder will
not violate any other agreement to which such Securityholder is a party
including, without limitation, any voting agreement, proxy arrangement, pledge
agreement, shareholders agreement, transfer restriction agreement, sale
agreement or voting trust. This Voting Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by such Securityholder and constitutes a valid and
binding agreement of such Securityholder, enforceable against such
Securityholder in accordance with its terms. There is no beneficiary or holder
of a voting trust certificate or other interest of any trust of which such
Securityholder is a trustee whose consent is required for the execution and
delivery of this Voting Agreement or the consummation by such Securityholder of
the transactions contemplated hereby.

          4.   Stop Transfer.   Each Securityholder shall not request that
               --------------
Parent register the transfer (book-entry or otherwise) of any certificate or
uncertificated interest representing any of its, his or her Existing Securities,
unless such transfer is made in compliance with this Voting Agreement.  In the
event of any conversion of any Class 1 Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, Class 2 Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Series B
Preferred Stock included in any Securityholder's Existing Securities into Parent
Common Stock, such shares of Parent Common Stock shall also constitute Existing
Securities of such Securityholder.  In the event any Securityholder exercises
any options or other rights to acquire Parent Capital Stock, such Parent Capital
Stock shall be added to such Securityholders' Existing Securities.  In the event
of any dividend or distribution

                                       5
<PAGE>

consisting of securities, or any change in the capital structure of Parent by
reason of any non-cash dividend, split-up, recapitalization, combination,
exchange of securities or the like, the term "Existing Securities" shall refer
to and include the Existing Securities as well as all such dividends and
distributions of securities and any securities into which or for which any or
all of the Existing Securities may be changed or exchanged.

          5.   Termination.  The representations, warranties, covenants,
               -----------
agreements and proxy contained herein shall terminate upon the earlier to occur
of (i) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with Article XI
thereof or (ii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement.

          6.   Miscellaneous.
               -------------

               (a)  Specific Performance.  Each Securityholder recognizes and
                    --------------------
agrees that if for any reason any of the provisions of this Voting Agreement are
not performed by such Securityholder in accordance with their specific terms or
are otherwise breached, immediate and irreparable harm or injury would be caused
to for which money damages would not be an adequate remedy. Accordingly, the
Securityholder agrees that, in addition to any other available remedies, the
Company shall be entitled to an injunction restraining any violation or
threatened violation of the provisions of this Voting Agreement without the
necessity of the Company posting a bond or other form of security. In the event
that any action should be brought in equity to enforce the provisions of this
Voting Agreement, such Securityholder will not allege, and the Securityholder
hereby waives the defense, that there is an adequate remedy at law.

               (b)  Severability. Any term or provision of this Voting Agreement
                    ------------
which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or
unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms
and provisions of this Voting Agreement or affecting the validity or
enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Voting Agreement in any
other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing, with respect to any
provision of this Voting Agreement, if it is determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be excessive as to duration or scope, it is the parties
intention that such provision nevertheless be enforced to the fullest extent
which it may be enforced.

                                       6
<PAGE>

               (c)  Attorneys' Fees.  If any action at law or equity, including
                    ---------------
an action for declaratory relief, is brought to enforce or interpret any
provision of this Voting Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to
recover reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses from the other party, which fees
and expenses shall be in addition to any other relief which may be awarded.

               (d)  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS VOTING AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
                    -------------
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, REGARDLESS
OF THE LAWS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE GOVERN UNDER APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS
OF LAWS THEREOF.

               (e)  Entire Agreement.  This Voting Agreement constitutes the
                    ----------------
entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter of this
Voting Agreement and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings,
both written and oral, among the parties or any of them with respect to the
subject matter hereof.

               (f)  Consent to Jurisdiction, Etc.  Each of the parties hereto
                    ----------------------------
irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the Northern
District of California or in any New York or California State Court sitting in
such district and having subject matter jurisdiction over such matters, and each
of the parties hereto consents and agrees to personal jurisdiction and waives
any objection as to the venue of such courts for purposes of such action.   The
parties to this Voting Agreement agree to waive any right to jury trial as to
all disputes and any right to seek punitive or consequential damages.

               (g)  Notices.  All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
                    -------
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be
deemed to have been duly given upon receipt by delivery in person, by facsimile
(which is confirmed), or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid,
return receipt requested):

     If to a Securityholder, see Schedule A attached.

                                       7
<PAGE>

     If to the Company:

               E*OFFERING Corp.
               Steuart Street Tower, 4th Floor
               One Market Street
               San Francisco, California 94105
               Facsimile: (415) 618-6202
               Attention: Steven R. King
                          President

               with copies to:

               Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
               650 Page Mill Road
               Palo Alto, CA 94304
               Facsimile: (650) 461-5380
               Attention: Alan K. Austin, Esq.

               and

               Brobeck Phleger & Harrison LLP
               Two Embarcadero Place
               2200 Geng Road
               Palo Alto, California 94303
               Facsimile: (650) 466-2885
               Attention: Curtis L. Mo, Esq.

          If to Parent, to:

               Wit Capital Group, Inc.
               826 Broadway
               New York, New York 10003
               Facsimile: (212) 253-5289
               Attention: Ronald Readmond
                          Vice Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer and
                          President

                                       8
<PAGE>

               with copies to:

               Wit Capital Group, Inc.
               826 Broadway
               New York, New York 10003
               Facsimile: (212) 253-5289
               Attention: Lloyd H. Feller, Esq.
                          Senior Vice-President and Co-General Counsel

               and

               Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
               Four Times Square
               New York, New York 10036
               Facsimile: (212) 735-2000
               Attn:  Richard T. Prins, Esq.

               and

               Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
               525 University Avenue, Suite 220
               Palo Alto, California 94301
               Facsimile: (650) 470-4570
               Attention: Kenton J. King, Esq.

or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.

               (h)  Descriptive Headings; Interpretation.  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 Voting
Agreement.

               (i)  Assignment; Binding Agreement.  This Voting Agreement shall
                    -----------------------------
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and the
respective heirs, legal representatives, estates, executors, successors and
permitted assigns of the parties and such persons. Nothing in this Voting
Agreement is intended or shall be construed to confer upon any entity or person
other than the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives,
estates, executors, successors and permitted assigns any right, remedy or claim
under or by reason of

                                       9
<PAGE>

their Voting Agreement or any part hereof. Neither this Voting Agreement nor any
of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any
Securityholder without the prior written consent of the Company or by the
Company without the prior written consent of each Securityholder party hereto.

               (j)  Amendment, Modification and Waiver.  This Voting Agreement
                    ----------------------------------
may not be amended, modified or waived except by an instrument or instruments in
writing signed and delivered on behalf of the party hereto against whom such
amendment, modification or waiver is sought to be entered.

               (k)  Counterparts.  This Voting Agreement may be executed in two
                    ------------
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all
of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto executed this
Voting Agreement as of May 15, 2000.

                              E*OFFERING CORP.

                              By: /s/ Steven R. King
                                 ------------------------
                              Name:  Steven R. King
                              Title: President

                                       10
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE A

                           Securityholder Addresses
                           ------------------------

Russell Crabs                           Capital Z Financial Services
Private Fund                            Private Fund II
22 Gatehouse Road                       54 Thompson Street
Stamford, Connecticut 06902             New York, New York 10012

Andrew Klein
826 Broadway
7th Floor
New York, New York 10003

Bob Lessin
826 Broadway
7th Floor
New York, New York 10003

Ronald Readmond
826 Broadway
7th Floor
New York, New York 10003

Mark Loehr
826 Broadway
7th Floor
New York, New York 10003

Capital Z Financial Fund II Ltd.
54 Thompson Street
New York, New York 10012
<PAGE>

                                SECURITYHOLDERS

                                             /s/ Russell Crabs
                                             ---------------------------
                                                 Russell Crabs

                                             /s/ Andrew Klein
                                             ---------------------------
                                                 Andrew Klein

                                             /s/ Bob Lessin
                                             ---------------------------
                                                 Bob Lessin

                                             /s/ Ronald Readmond
                                             ---------------------------
                                                 Ronald Readmond

                                             /s/ Mark Loehr
                                             ---------------------------
                                                 Mark Loehr

                                             /s/ Steven Gluckstern
                                             ---------------------------
                                                 Steven Gluckstern

                                             /s/ Steven Gluckstern
                                             ---------------------------
                                                 Steven Gluckstern

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE B

                              Existing Securities
                              -------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  (A)                                               Options
                           Beneficial Stock          (B)                            Vesting
          Holder                 Owned           Vested Options      (A) + (B)     6/30/2000
------------------------   ----------------    -------------------   ----------   ------------
<S>                        <C>                 <C>                   <C>          <C>
Crabs, Russell                 1,634,707             237,120          1,871,827      37,248

Klein, Andrew                  4,179,537                   -          4,179,537           -

Lessin, Bob                    4,741,865              12,500          4,754,365      12,500

Readmond, Ron                  1,682,000             140,000          1,822,000     158,334

Loehr, Mark                      885,000               6,250            891,250       6,250

Capital Z Financial           11,616,549                   -         11,616,549           -
 Services Fund II

Capital Z Financial               50,117                   -             50,117           -
 Services Private Fund II
</TABLE><PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.2

                         AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                  by and among

                            WIT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

                           WIT SOUNDVIEW CORPORATION

                                      AND

                                E*OFFERING CORP.

                           Dated as of: May 15, 2000

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
<PAGE>

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                           Page
                                                                                                           ----
<S>                                                                                                        <C>
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER...........................................................................     1
ARTICLE I The Merger; Closing; Effective Time..........................................................     1
     1.1   The Merger..................................................................................     1
     1.2   Closing.....................................................................................     2
     1.3   Effective Time..............................................................................     2
ARTICLE II Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation...........................     2
     2.1   Articles of Incorporation...................................................................     2
     2.2   Bylaws......................................................................................     2
ARTICLE III Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation........................................     3
     3.1   Directors...................................................................................     3
     3.2   Officers....................................................................................     3
ARTICLE IV Merger Consideration; Conversion or Cancellation of Shares in the Merger....................     3
     4.1   Share Consideration for the Merger; Conversion or Cancellation of Shares in the Merger......     3
     4.2   Exchange of Shares in the Merger............................................................     7
     4.3   Fractional Shares...........................................................................    10
ARTICLE V Other Agreements.............................................................................    10
     5.1   Certain Company Shareholder Actions and Agreements..........................................    10
     5.2   Certain Parent Stockholder Actions and Agreements...........................................    10
     5.3   Employment Agreements.......................................................................    10
     5.4   Strategic Alliance Agreement................................................................    10
     5.5   Retention Pool..............................................................................    10
     5.6   Standstill Agreement........................................................................    12
     5.7   The Company Stock and Option Arrangements...................................................    12
     5.8   Indemnification of Company Directors and Officers...........................................    12
     5.9   Employee Benefit Plans......................................................................    13
     5.10  Technical Support...........................................................................    13
     5.11  Consent of the Company......................................................................    13
ARTICLE VI Representations and Warranties of the Company...............................................    13
     6.1   Organization; Qualification.................................................................    14
     6.2   Subsidiaries and Affiliates.................................................................    14
     6.3   Capitalization..............................................................................    14
     6.4   Authorization; Validity of Agreement; The Company Action....................................    15
     6.5   Board Approvals Regarding Transactions......................................................    16
     6.6   Vote Required...............................................................................    16
     6.7   Consents and Approvals; No Violations.......................................................    16
     6.8   Governmental Documents and Financial Statements.............................................    17
</TABLE>

                                       i

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                               <C>
     6.9    Compliance with Applicable Law....................................................    17
     6.10   Books and Records.................................................................    18
     6.11   Ineligible Persons................................................................    19
     6.12   No Undisclosed Liabilities........................................................    19
     6.13   Interim Operations................................................................    19
     6.14   Absence of Certain Changes........................................................    19
     6.15   Technology and Intellectual Property..............................................    20
     6.16   Legal Proceedings.................................................................    21
     6.17   Employee Benefit Plans............................................................    21
     6.18   Tax Matters; Government Benefits..................................................    23
     6.19   Labor and Employment Matters......................................................    24
     6.20   Contracts and Commitments.........................................................    24
     6.21   Insurance.........................................................................    25
     6.22   Personnel.........................................................................    25
     6.23   Insider Interests.................................................................    25
     6.24   Brokers or Finders................................................................    25
     6.25   Information Supplied..............................................................    25
ARTICLE VII Representations and Warranties of Parent..........................................    26
     7.1    Organization; Qualification.......................................................    26
     7.2    Subsidiaries and Affiliates.......................................................    26
     7.3    Capitalization....................................................................    27
     7.4    Authorization; Validity of Agreement; Parent Action...............................    27
     7.5    Board Approvals Regarding Transactions............................................    28
     7.6    Vote Required.....................................................................    28
     7.7    Consents and Approvals; No Violations.............................................    28
     7.8    Governmental Documents and Financial Statements...................................    29
     7.9    Compliance with Applicable Law....................................................    29
     7.10   Books and Records.................................................................    30
     7.11   Ineligible Persons................................................................    31
     7.12   No Undisclosed Liabilities........................................................    31
     7.13   Interim Operations................................................................    31
     7.14   Absence of Certain Changes........................................................    31
     7.15   Technology and Intellectual Property..............................................    32
     7.16   Legal Proceedings.................................................................    33
     7.17   Employee Benefit Plans............................................................    33
     7.18   Tax Matters; Government Benefits..................................................    35
     7.19   Labor and Employment Matters......................................................    36
     7.20   Contracts and Commitments.........................................................    37
     7.21   Insurance.........................................................................    37
     7.22   Insider Interests.................................................................    37
     7.23   Brokers or Finders................................................................    37
</TABLE>

                                       ii

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                               <C>
     7.24   Information Supplied.............................................................     37
ARTICLE VIII Covenants.......................................................................     38
     8.1    Interim Operations of the Company................................................     38
     8.2    Interim Operations of Parent.....................................................     40
     8.3    Access; Confidentiality..........................................................     42
     8.4    Reasonable Best Efforts..........................................................     42
     8.5    Shareholders Meeting; Proxy Statement/Registration Statement.....................     43
     8.6    No Solicitation of Competing Transaction.........................................     44
     8.7    Publicity........................................................................     44
     8.8    Notification of Certain Matters..................................................     44
     8.9    State Takeover Laws..............................................................     45
     8.10   Merger Sub Compliance............................................................     45
     8.11   Expenses.........................................................................     45
     8.12   Tax-Free Reorganization..........................................................     45
ARTICLE IX Conditions........................................................................     45
     9.1    Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub...........................     45
     9.2    Conditions to the Obligations of the Company.....................................     47
ARTICLE X Escrow and Indemnification.........................................................     48
     10.1   Escrow Fund......................................................................     48
     10.2   Parent's Indemnification Rights..................................................     48
     10.3   Escrow Period....................................................................     49
     10.4   Claims upon Escrow Fund..........................................................     49
     10.5   Objections to Claims.............................................................     50
     10.6   Resolution of Conflicts; Arbitration.............................................     50
     10.7   Shareholders' Agent..............................................................     51
     10.8   Actions of the Shareholders' Agent...............................................     52
     10.9   Third-Party Claims...............................................................     52
     10.10  Shareholders' Indemnification Rights.............................................     52
     10.11  Claims against Parent............................................................     53
     10.12  Objections to Claims Against Parent..............................................     54
     10.13  Resolution of Conflicts; Arbitration.............................................     54
     10.14  Third Party Claims...............................................................     54
     10.15  Survival.........................................................................     55
ARTICLE XI Termination/Survival..............................................................     55
     11.1   Termination......................................................................     55
     11.2   Effect of Termination............................................................     56
     11.3   No Survival of Representations and Warranties and Covenants......................     57
ARTICLE XII Definitions......................................................................     57
     12.1   Definitions......................................................................     57
     12.2   Additional Definitions...........................................................     62
</TABLE>

                                       iii

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                <C>
ARTICLE XIII Miscellaneous......................................................................   63
     13.1   Disputes............................................................................   63
     13.2   mendments; Extension; Waiver........................................................   64
     13.3   Entire Agreement....................................................................   64
     13.4   Specific Performance; Injunctive Relief.............................................   64
     13.5   Interpretation......................................................................   64
     13.6   Severability........................................................................   65
     13.7   Related Agreements..................................................................   65
     13.8   Notices.............................................................................   65
     13.9   Binding Effect; Persons Benefiting; No Assignment...................................   66
     13.10  Counterparts........................................................................   67
     13.11  Governing Law.......................................................................   67
     13.12  Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial and Certain Damages..............................   67
</TABLE>

                                       iv

<PAGE>

                         AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

     AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement"), dated as of May 15, 2000,
among Wit Capital Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), Wit Soundview
Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent ("Merger Sub"), and E*OFFERING Corp., a California corporation (the
"Company").

                                   RECITALS

     WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company each
have determined that it is in the best interests of their respective
stockholders for the Company to merge with and into Merger Sub subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of each of Parent, Merger Sub, and the
Company have approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement in accordance with the provisions of the California General
Corporation Law ("California Law") and the Delaware General Corporation Law
("Delaware Law"); and

     WHEREAS, Parent's Board of Directors has resolved to recommend to its
shareholders the approval of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
and

     WHEREAS, Parent has approved this Agreement as the sole stockholder of
Merger Sub; and

     WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger
(as defined in Section 1.1) qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code");
and

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

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and
agreements set forth in this Agreement, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company agree
as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                      The Merger; Closing; Effective Time

     1.1  The Merger.

     At the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.3) and subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement and the applicable provisions of California Law
and Delaware Law, the Company shall be merged with and into Merger Sub, the
separate corporate existence of the Company shall cease and Merger Sub shall
continue as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.
Merger Sub, as the surviving corporation after the Merger, is sometimes referred
to in this Agreement as the "Surviving Corporation."

                                       1
<PAGE>

     1.2  Closing.

     The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall take place (a) at the
offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 525 University Avenue, Palo
Alto, CA 94301, at 10:00 a.m. on the first business day following the date on
which the last of the conditions set forth in Article IX are fulfilled or waived
in accordance with this Agreement or (b) at such other place, time and date as
Parent and the Company may agree.

     1.3  Effective Time.

     Subject to the terms and conditions of Article IX, the parties shall file
an Agreement of Merger, together at the Closing with the related officers'
certificates required by section 1103 of California Law, each in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to each of the parties hereto, with the
Secretary of State of the State of California, whereupon Merger Sub shall be
merged with and into the Company pursuant to Sections 1100 et seq. of California
Law.  Concurrently with the filing of the Agreement of Merger with the Secretary
of State of the State of California and subject to the terms and conditions set
forth in Article IX of this Agreement, the parties shall file a Certificate of
Merger in form and substance reasonably acceptable to each of the parties hereto
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with Delaware
Law.  The parties shall make all other filings, recordings or publications
required by California Law and Delaware Law in connection with the Merger.  The
Merger shall become effective at the time specified in the Agreement of Merger
and Certificate of Merger, which specified time shall be a time on the Closing
Date and shall be the same in each of the Agreement of Merger and Certificate of
Merger (the time at which the Merger becomes effective being the "Effective
Time").

                                  ARTICLE II

                     Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
                         of the Surviving Corporation

     2.1  Articles of Incorporation.

     At the Effective Time, the Articles of Incorporation of the Merger Sub
shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.

     2.2  Bylaws.

     At the Effective Time, and without any further action on the part of the
Company, Merger Sub or the Surviving Corporation, the Bylaws of Merger Sub shall
be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

                                       2
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE III

              Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation

     3.1  Directors.

     Ronald Readmond, Mark Loehr and Russell Crabs shall be, from and after the
Effective Time, the directors of the Surviving Corporation until their
successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified.

     3.2  Officers.

     The officers of Merger Sub at the Effective Time shall be, from and after
the Effective Time, the officers of the Surviving Corporation until their
successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified.

                                  ARTICLE IV

    Merger Consideration; Conversion or Cancellation of Shares in the Merger

     4.1  Share Consideration for the Merger; Conversion or Cancellation of
          Shares in the Merger

          (a)  Conversion of Company Capital Stock. The maximum number of shares
of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of Parent ("Parent Common Stock")
together with the associated rights (the "Parent Rights") to purchase shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Parent issued pursuant to the
Rights Agreement dated June 7, 1999 between Parent and American Stock Transfer
Company as Rights Agent (the "Parent Rights Agreement") (the shares of Parent
Common Stock together with the Parent Rights being referred to herein as the
"Parent Shares") to be issued in exchange for the acquisition by Parent of the
Company Capital Stock and to be reserved for issuance upon exercise of all
unexpired and unexercised outstanding options, warrants and other rights
(whether vested, unvested or contingent) to acquire Company Capital Stock shall
be 27,986,247 (the "Aggregate Consideration").

     For purposes of this Agreement, "Company Capital Stock" means,
collectively, all Company Common Stock; all shares of Series A Preferred Stock,
no par value per share, Series B Preferred Stock, no par value per share, and
Series C Preferred Stock, no par value per share of the Company (collectively
"Company Preferred Stock"), and shares of Common Stock, no par value, per share,
of the Company ("Company Common Stock").

     Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Certificate of
Merger, the Agreement of Merger, and the Escrow Agreement referenced in Article
X, as of the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on
the part of the holder of any shares of Company Common Stock or Company
Preferred Stock:

               (i)  each share of Series C Preferred Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than such shares, if
any, which are Dissenting Shares) shall be converted into and exchanged for the
right to receive the sum of (A) the number

                                       3
<PAGE>

of fully paid and unassessable Parent Shares, rounded to the nearest thousandth
of a share (with "5" being rounded upward), equal to the quotient derived by
dividing the sum of $3.481280502 plus any accrued but unpaid dividends in
respect of such share since the date of issuance thereof, by $10.25 (the "Stock
Price") plus (B) the Exchange Ratio (as defined below).

               (ii)   each share of Series B Preferred Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than such shares, if
any, which are Dissenting Shares) shall be converted into and exchanged for the
right to receive the number of fully paid and nonassessable Parent Shares,
rounded to the nearest thousandth of a share (with "5" being rounded upward),
equal to the sum of (A) the quotient derived by dividing the sum of $4.00 plus
any declared but unpaid dividends in respect of such share by the Stock Price
plus (B) the Exchange Ratio (as defined below).

               (iii)  each share of Series A Preferred Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than such shares, if
any, which are Dissenting Shares) shall be converted into and exchanged for the
right to receive the number of fully paid and nonassessable Parent Shares,
rounded to the nearest thousandth of a share (with "5" being rounded upward),
equal to the sum of (A) the quotient derived by dividing the sum of $1.00 plus
any declared but unpaid dividends in respect of such share by the Stock Price
plus (B) the Exchange Ratio.

               (iv)   each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than such shares, if any, which
are Dissenting Shares) shall be converted into and exchanged for the right to
receive the number of fully paid and nonassessable Parent Shares, rounded to the
nearest thousandth of a share (with "5" being rounded upward), equal to
 .674237515 (as modified to take into account the additional accrued but unpaid
dividends with respect to Series C Preferred Stock between the date hereof and
the Effective Time) (the "Exchange Ratio"), which is the quotient derived by
dividing (A) the excess of (1) the number of Parent Shares constituting the
Aggregate Consideration over (2) the sum of the number of Parent Shares that
would be exchanged pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) above if none
of the shares of Company Capital Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time are Dissenting Shares by (B) the sum of (1) the number of shares
of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time plus (2) the number of shares of Company Common Stock that would
be issuable at that time upon the conversion of all shares of Series A Preferred
Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time plus (3) the number of shares of Company
Common Stock that would be issuable at that time upon the exercise of all
options, warrants and other rights to acquire shares of Company Common Stock
from the Company (other than the Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred
Stock and Series C Preferred Stock) if all such options, warrants and other
rights were fully exercisable at such time. Each share of Company Common Stock
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that is
restricted or not fully vested shall, except as provided for herein, upon such
conversion and exchange have the same restrictions or vesting arrangements
applicable to those shares prior to the conversion.

     Attached as Exhibit A is a schedule (the "Preliminary Allocation Schedule")
showing an allocation of Aggregate Consideration among holders of Company
Capital Stock and Stock

                                       4
<PAGE>

Equivalents, including the number of Parent Shares to be deposited in the Escrow
Fund (defined in Section 10.1), as of the execution of this Agreement as if the
Effective Time and the issuance and deposit of Parent Shares pursuant to the
Transactions had occurred as of the date of the execution of this Agreement. Two
(2) days prior to the scheduled Closing, the Company shall prepare an updated
allocation schedule based on an allocation of Aggregate Consideration as of that
date. As soon as practicable after Closing, the Shareholders' Agent shall
prepare a final allocation as of the Effective Time. (This final allocation as
of the Effective Time is referred to as the "Final Allocation Schedule.")

          (b)  Dissenters' Rights. "Dissenting Shares" means any shares of
Company Common Stock or Company Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time and held by a holder who has not voted in favor of the Merger
or consented to the Merger in writing, and who has demanded appraisal for the
shares of Company Common Stock or Company Preferred Stock in accordance with
Section 1300 of California Law, if Section 1300 provides for appraisal rights
for the Shares in the Merger.

               (i)    Subject to (ii) below, notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, Dissenting Shares shall not be converted into or
represent a right to receive the applicable consideration set forth for such
shares in Section 4.1(a), or cash in lieu of fractional shares of Parent Common
Stock pursuant to Section 4.3, but the holder of the Shares shall be entitled to
only those rights granted by California Law.

               (ii)   Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.1(a)(i), if
any holder of shares of Company Common Stock or Company Preferred Stock who
demands appraisal of the holder's shares of Company Common Stock or Company
Preferred Stock under California Law effectively withdraws or loses (through
failure to perfect or otherwise) his right to appraisal, then as of the
Effective Time or the occurrence of the event that causes such effective
withdrawal or loss, whichever earlier occurs, that holder's shares of Company
Common Stock or Company Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into
and represent only the right to receive the applicable consideration set forth
for such shares in Section 4.1(a), and cash in lieu of fractional shares of
Parent Common Stock as provided in Section 4.3, without interest, upon surrender
of the certificate or certificates representing the shares of Company Common
Stock or Company Preferred Stock (each such certificate, a "Company
Certificate").

               (iii)  The Company shall give Parent (A) prompt notice of any
written demands for appraisal or payment of the fair value of any shares of
Company Common Stock or Company Preferred Stock, withdrawals of such demands,
and any other instruments served on the Company pursuant to California Law
received by the Company, and (B) from and after the Effective Time, the
opportunity to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands
for appraisal under California Law. Except with the prior written consent of
Parent, the Company shall not voluntarily make any payment with respect to any
demands for appraisal or settle, or offer to settle, any such demands.

          (c)  Parent Holdings. At the Effective Time, each share of Company
Capital Stock issued and outstanding and owned by Parent or any Parent
Subsidiary immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of the holder,

                                       5
<PAGE>

cease to be outstanding and be canceled and retired without payment of any
consideration for the Share.

          (d)  Merger Sub Shares. At the Effective Time, each share of Common
Stock of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Merger
Sub or the holder of the share remain outstanding.

          (e)  Company Stock Options and Warrants. Except as set forth below,
the terms and provisions of the Company Stock Option Plan (as defined below)
shall continue in full force and effect and shall govern each option (or portion
of the option, as the case may be) outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time under the Company Stock Option Plan, whether vested, unvested,
exercisable or unexercisable (a "Company Stock Option"). At the Effective Time,
each Company Stock Option then outstanding and each warrant or other right
(other than the Company Preferred Stock) to receive Company Common Stock then
outstanding (together with Company Stock Options, "Company Rights") shall be
automatically converted, without any further action, into an option, warrant or
right to purchase or acquire Parent Shares (a "Parent Common Stock Right"). The
number of Parent Shares for which each Company Right shall be exercisable shall
be equal to the number of shares of Company Common Stock that were subject to
the Company Right immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the
Exchange Ratio rounded down to the nearest whole number of Parent Shares, at an
exercise price per Parent Share equal to the per share exercise price of each
Company Right immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by the Exchange
Ratio rounded up to the nearest whole cent, subject to the receipt of consent
from each holder of Company Options. Any Company Stock Options converted into
options to purchase Parent Shares, other than Company Stock Options held by
persons who are not employees of the Company as of the date of this Agreement
and who are identified on Schedule 4.1(e), together with the number of options
held by each such person (the "Non-Employee Company Stock Options"), shall be
adjusted to vest in sixteen (16) equal quarterly installments at the end of each
calendar quarter over forty-eight (48) months from date of grant to the extent
the optionee has been continuously employed by Parent until such vesting date,
subject, in the case of each such Company Stock Option, to the receipt of
consent from its holder. All Non-Employee Company Stock Options shall accelerate
and become fully vested immediately upon the Effective Time, subject, in the
case of each such Non-Employee Company Stock Option, to the receipt of consent
from its holder. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Company Stock Option
Plan" means the Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan and the Company's 2000 Stock
Option Plan. Parent shall use all reasonable efforts to cause to be reserved for
issuance the number of Parent Shares issuable upon exercise of the Parent Common
Stock Options and rights to acquire Parent Common Stock issued in exchange for
Company Rights referred to in this Section 4.1(e) and, Parent shall cause to be
filed, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time but in no
event later than sixty (60) days after the Effective Time, a registration
statement on Form S-8 (or any successor or other appropriate form) under the
Securities Act, or an amendment to an existing registration statement of Form S-
8, to register the Parent Shares issuable upon exercise of the Parent Common
Stock Options.

          (f)  Changes in Capitalization. If between the date of this Agreement
and the Effective Time, the outstanding Parent Shares or Company Capital Stock
shall be changed into a different number of shares or a different class by
reason of any reclassification, reorganization,

                                       6
<PAGE>

consolidation, merger, recapitalization, split-up, combination or exchange of
shares or if a stock dividend is declared with a record date within that period,
the number of Parent Shares to be issued in the Merger shall be appropriately
adjusted. Nothing in this Section 4.1(f) shall be deemed to constitute a waiver
by the Company of the provisions of Section 8.2 hereof.

     4.2  Exchange of Shares in the Merger.

     The manner of making exchange of shares in the Merger shall be as follows:

          (a)  Promptly upon receipt of the Final Allocation Schedule, Parent
shall make available to American Stock Transfer Company or another exchange
agent selected by Parent (the "Exchange Agent") for the benefit of the holders
of shares of Company Capital Stock, a sufficient number of certificates
representing the aggregate number of Parent Shares issuable pursuant to Section
4.1 (the certificates representing such aggregate number of Parent Shares being
hereinafter referred to as the "Stock Merger Exchange Fund"). The Exchange Agent
shall, pursuant to irrevocable written instructions, deliver the Parent Shares
contemplated to be issued pursuant to Section 4.1 out of the Stock Merger
Exchange Fund. The Stock Merger Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other
purpose.

          (b)  Promptly upon receipt of the Final Allocation Schedule, the
Exchange Agent shall mail and make available to each holder of record of a
certificate or certificates which immediately prior to the Effective Time
represented outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock (the "Certificates") (i)
a form of letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be
effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon
proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent) and (ii) instructions
for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates for payment in exchange.
All Parent Shares received by Company shareholders in respect of the Retention
Pool Shares shall, in addition to the forfeiture provisions of the grant of such
Retention Pool Shares, be subject to prohibitions on transfer for twelve (12)
months as to one-third of such Retention Pool Shares, for twenty-four (24)
months as to one-third of such Retention Pool and for thirty-six (36) months as
to the remaining one-third of such Retention Pool Shares. All Parent Shares
received by E*TRADE Group, Inc. ("E*TRADE") and its Subsidiaries, General
Atlantic Partners, LLC, and entities controlled by it, and SOFTBANK Corp., and
entities controlled by it, including the portion thereof to be deposited in the
Special Escrow Fund established pursuant to Section 4.2(d), shall be, to the
extent each such shareholder agrees thereto, subject to prohibitions on transfer
for a three (3)-year period from the Effective Time (the "Strategic Investor
Lock-up Period"). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain
the consent of the shareholders to the restrictions described in the preceding
sentence. Parent Shares subject to the Strategic Investor Lock-up Period are
referred to as the "Strategic Investor Lock-up Shares." All Parent Shares
received in the Merger by each Company shareholder listed on Schedule 4.2(b)
shall be, to the extent such shareholder agrees thereto, subject to prohibitions
on transfer until one hundred eighty (180) days following the Effective Time.
The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the consent of the
shareholders to the restrictions described in the preceding sentence. Parent
Shares subject to such 180-day restriction on transfer are referred to as the
"Base Lock-up Shares." Upon surrender of Certificates for cancellation to the
Exchange Agent, together with such letter of transmittal duly executed and any
other required documents, the holder of such Certificates shall be entitled to
receive for the shares represented by such Certificates the consideration
applicable

                                       7
<PAGE>

to such shares and the Certificates so surrendered shall be canceled. Upon such
surrender, the Exchange Agent shall issue to each holder of Retention Pool
Shares three certificates for the Parent Shares issuable to such holder, one of
which shall be for a number of Parent Shares as nearly as practicable to one-
third of such Parent Shares and shall be subject to a restrictive legend
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B providing for a twelve (12)-
month prohibition on transfer, the second of which shall be for a number of
Parent Shares as nearly as practicable to one-third of such Parent Shares and
shall be subject to a restrictive legend substantially in the form set forth in
Exhibit B providing for a twenty-four (24) month prohibition on transfer and the
other of which shall be for the remainder of such Parent Shares and shall be
subject to a restrictive legend substantially in the form of Exhibit B providing
for a thirty-six (36) month restriction on transfer. Upon such surrender, the
Exchange Agent shall issue to each holder entitled to receive Base Lock-up
Shares a certificate for the Parent Shares issuable to such holder, which shall
be subject to a restrictive legend substantially in the form set forth in
Exhibit B providing for a one hundred eighty (180)-day prohibition on transfer.
Upon such surrender, the Exchange Agent shall issue to each holder entitled to
receive Strategic Investor Lock-up Shares a certificate for the Parent Shares
issuable to such holder, net of the number of shares to be deposited into the
Special Escrow Fund described in Section 4.2(d), subject to a restrictive legend
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B providing for a three(3)-year
prohibition on transfer.

               (c)  The transfer restrictions on the Strategic Investor Lock-up
Shares and Base Lock-up Shares pursuant to Section 4.2(b) shall cease upon a
Change in Control with respect to Parent. For purposes of this Section, a Change
in Control with respect to Parent has the same meaning as a Change in Control of
Wit in the Strategic Alliance Agreement dated as of the date of this Agreement
between Parent and E*TRADE (the "Strategic Alliance Agreement"). Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary, at any time upon written notice, affiliates of General
Atlantic Partners 61, L.P., may designate other shares of Parent Stock (the
"Substitute Shares") as being subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth
herein, and upon receipt of such notice and deposit of such Substitute Shares,
Parent shall release an equal number of shares of Parent Stock (the "Released
Shares") held by General Atlantic Partners 61, L.P., and Capital GAP Co-
Investment Partners II, L.P. (as specified in such written notice) from the
restrictions on transfer set forth herein.

               (d)  Within five (5) business days after the Effective Time, the
Parent Shares comprising the Special Escrow Fund (as defined below) shall be
registered in the name of, and deposited with an escrow agent selected by Parent
with the reasonable consent of the Company (the "Special Escrow Fund Agent"),
such deposit (together with interest and other income thereon) to constitute the
special escrow fund (the "Special Escrow Fund") and to be governed by the terms
set forth in this Section 4.2(d) and an escrow agreement, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the parties, embodying the terms hereof, and except
as the terms set forth in this Section 4.2(d) may differ, substantially in the
form of the Escrow Agreement attached as Exhibit H. The Special Escrow Fund
shall consist of twenty-five percent (25%) of the Strategic Investor Lock-up
Shares (the "Special Escrow Shares"). One thirty-sixth of the Special Escrow
Shares shall be released from the Special Escrow Fund on the last business day
of each calendar month following the month in which the Effective Time occurs;
provided, however, that in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the
--------  -------
Strategic Alliance Agreement) with respect to E*TRADE and a non-assumption of
the Strategic Alliance

                                       8
<PAGE>

Agreement by the acquiring or successor entity, all Special Escrow
Shares then remaining in the Special Escrow Fund shall be surrendered to Parent
for cancellation; and provided further, however, that in the event of a Change
in Control (as defined in the Strategic Alliance Agreement) with respect to Wit,
all Special Escrow Shares then remaining in the Special Escrow Fund shall be
released to the Company shareholders that originally contributed such shares to
the Special Escrow Fund. Any Parent Shares released from the Special Escrow Fund
shall continue to bear the legend on prohibition of transfer pursuant to Section
4.2(b).

               (e)  Until surrendered, such Certificates shall represent solely
the right to receive the consideration applicable to such Share. No dividends or
other distributions that are declared after the Effective Time on Parent Shares
and payable to the holders of record thereof after the Effective Time will be
paid to Persons entitled by reason of the Merger to receive Parent Shares until
Certificates representing the right to receive such Parent Shares are
surrendered in appropriate form. Upon such surrender, there shall be paid to the
Person in whose name the Parent Shares are issued any dividends or other
distributions having a record date after the Effective Time and a payment date
prior to the time of such surrender. After such surrender there shall be paid to
the Person in whose name the Parent Shares are issued any dividends or other
distributions on such Parent Shares which shall have a record date after the
Effective Time and prior to such surrender and a payment date after such
surrender. In no event shall the Persons entitled to receive such dividends or
other distributions be entitled to receive interest on such dividends or other
distributions. If any certificate representing Parent Shares is to be issued or
cash payment in lieu of fractional share interests is to be made to a Person
other than the one in whose name the Certificate surrendered in exchange
therefor is registered, it shall be a condition of such exchange that the
Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed and otherwise in proper
form for transfer and that the Person requesting such exchange shall pay to the
Exchange Agent any applicable transfer or other similar taxes, or shall
establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that any 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 Shares for any Parent
Shares or dividends thereon, or, in accordance with Section 4.3, cash in lieu of
fractional Parent Shares, delivered to a public official when and if required by
applicable law. The Exchange Agent shall not be entitled to vote or exercise any
rights of ownership with respect to the Parent Shares held by it from time to
time hereunder, except that the Exchange Agent shall receive and hold all
dividends or other distributions paid or distributed with respect to such Parent
Shares for the account of the Persons entitled to the dividends or
distributions. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed,
Parent may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance of
any certificate representing Parent Shares or the payment of cash in lieu of
fractional shares, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed Stock
Certificate to provide an appropriate affidavit and to indemnify Parent against
any claim that may be made against Parent or the Surviving Corporation with
respect to such Certificate.

               (f)  Any portion of the Stock Merger Exchange Fund and the
Fractional Securities Fund (as hereinafter defined in Section 4.3) which remains
unclaimed by the former stockholders of the Company for six (6) months after the
Effective Time shall be delivered to Parent, upon demand of Parent, and any
former stockholders of the Company shall thereafter look only to Parent for
payment of their claim for the consideration for the Shares, including any cash
in lieu of fractional Parent Shares.

                                       9
<PAGE>

     4.3  Fractional Shares.

     No fractional Parent Shares shall be issued in the Merger.  In lieu of any
fractional securities, each holder of Shares of Company Capital Stock who would
otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a Parent Share upon surrender of
Certificates for exchange pursuant to this Article IV shall be paid an amount in
cash (without interest) determined by multiplying (i) the Stock Price by (ii)
the fraction of a Parent Share to which the holder would otherwise be entitled.
Parent shall make available to the Exchange Agent sufficient funds (referred to
as the "Fractional Securities Fund") as and when necessary to enable the
Exchange Agent to make the cash payments contemplated by Section 4.3.  In no
event shall interest be paid or accrued on any cash payments.

                                   ARTICLE V

                               Other Agreements

     5.1  Certain Company Shareholder Actions and Agreements.

     On the date of this Agreement, each of the holders of shares named on
Schedule 5.1, (a) has executed and delivered to the Company and Parent a written
consent with respect to all of his or her shares of Company Common Stock, Series
A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock
approving the Merger and this Agreement and each of the matters set forth
herein; and (b) has executed and delivered to Parent a Voting Agreement
(including an irrevocable proxy) in the form set forth as Exhibit C.  The
Company and each such holder hereby consent and agree to the giving of each such
consent and the entering into of each such Voting Agreement and granting of each
such irrevocable proxy.

     5.2  Certain Parent Stockholder Actions and Agreements.

     On the date of this Agreement, each of the holders of Parent Common Stock
named on Schedule 5.2 has executed and delivered to the Company a Voting
Agreement (including an irrevocable proxy) in the form set forth as Exhibit D.

     5.3  Employment Agreements.

     The parties intend that each of the individuals named on Schedule 5.3 has
entered or will enter, on or about the date of this Agreement, into an
Employment Agreement with Parent in substantially the form attached as Exhibit
E, the term of which shall commence at the Effective Time.

     5.4  Strategic Alliance Agreement.

     Simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, Parent and E*TRADE
shall execute and deliver the Strategic Alliance Agreement attached as Exhibit
F.

     5.5  Retention Pool.

          (a)  At the Effective Time, Parent shall establish a stock option pool
to purchase an aggregate of not less than 500,000 Parent Shares to retain
Company employees

                                       10
<PAGE>

following the Closing. As soon as practicable after Closing, Parent shall issue
to the employees of the Company named on a retention schedule (the "Retention
Schedule") to be determined by Parent and the Company as soon as practicable,
but in no event later than twenty (20) days from the date of this Agreement,
options to purchase all of the Parent Shares reserved pursuant to the preceding
sentence at a per share exercise price equal to the market price of the Parent
Shares on the date of the grant for purposes of Parent's stock option plan (the
"Retention Parent Stock Options"). Each Retention Parent Stock Option shall vest
in sixteen (16) equal quarterly installments at the end of each calendar quarter
over forty-eight (48) months from the date of grant.

          (b)  At the Effective Time, Parent shall establish a cash bonus
pool of $5,000,000 (the "Retention Cash") to retain Company employees following
the Closing. At a time or times to be mutually agreed between the Company and
Parent, but in no event later than March 31, 2001, Parent shall pay the
Retention Cash to the Company employees named on the Retention Schedule, in the
respective amounts set forth on the Retention Schedule. If the employment of any
such employee ceases as a result of a termination without Cause by Parent or one
of its Subsidiaries or if there is a Change in Control of Parent, all of the
Retention Cash allocated for such employee shall immediately vest and be paid to
such employee.

          (c)  Prior to the Effective Time, pursuant to a restricted stock plan
reasonably acceptable to Parent, the Company shall issue to employees of the
Company and its Subsidiaries named on the Retention Schedule to be agreed upon
by the Company and Parent in writing prior to the Effective Time an aggregate
number of shares of Company Common Stock (the "Retention Pool Shares") equal to
the quotient obtained by dividing 500,000 by the Exchange Ratio. The Retention
Pool Shares shall be allocated among the employees listed on the Retention
Schedule in the amounts set forth in the Retention Schedule for each such
employee. The restricted stock plan governing the Retention Pool Shares shall
provide for vesting of share awards in equal installments at the end of the
twelfth (12th), twenty-fourth (24th), and thirty-sixth (36th) months after the
later of the date of award or the Effective Time of the Merger, for forfeiture
if the employee seeks to exercise dissenter's rights with respect to any Company
Capital Stock owned by such employee or if the employment of such employee
ceases for any reason other than a result of termination without Cause by the
Company or any successor, for immediate vesting in the event of termination
without Cause and for other normal provisions of restricted stock plans. Subject
to applicable income tax withholding requirements, one-third of the Parent
Shares issued in respect of the Retention Pool Shares allocated for an employee
who is, other than as a result of termination without Cause by Parent or one of
its Subsidiaries, continuously employed by Parent and its Subsidiaries
(including the Company and its subsidiaries) from the Effective Time through the
end of the twelfth (12th) month after and including the month in which the
Effective Time occurs, shall, on the last day of such twelfth (12th) month, be
vested in and released for such employee, one-third of the Parent Shares issued
in respect of the Retention Pool Shares allocated for an employee who is, other
than as a result of termination without Cause by Parent or one of its
Subsidiaries, continuously employed by Parent and its Subsidiaries (including
the Company and its subsidiaries) from the Effective Time through the end of the
twenty-fourth (24th) month after and including the month in which the Effective
Time occurs, shall, on the last day of such twenty-fourth (24th) month, be
vested in and released for such employee, and the remaining one-third of the
Parent Shares issued in respect of the Retention Pool Shares allocated to an
employee who is continuously so employed, other than

                                       11
<PAGE>

as a result of termination without Cause by Parent or one of its Subsidiaries,
from the Effective Time through the end of the thirty-sixth (36th) month after
and including the month in which the Effective Time occurs shall, on the last
day of such thirty-sixth (36th) month, be vested in and released to such
employee. If the employment by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of an employee
to whom any Retention Pool Shares have been allocated ceases for any reason
other than termination by Parent or such Subsidiary without Cause, all of the
Parent Shares issued in respect of the Retention Pool Shares allocated to such
employee that have not vested as of the date of such cessation shall be
forfeited and become treasury stock of Parent. If the employment of any such
employee ceases as a result of termination without Cause by Parent or one of its
Subsidiaries or if there is a Change in Control of Parent, all of the Parent
Shares issued in respect of the Retention Pool Shares allocated to such employee
shall immediately vest and be released to such employee.

     5.6  Standstill Agreement.

     On the date of this Agreement, E*TRADE and Parent shall enter into the
Standstill Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit G.

     5.7  The Company Stock and Option Arrangements.

     The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to complete each of the
following actions at the earliest practicable date:  (a) to amend, effective
immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company Stock Option Plan to
implement the matters set forth in Section 4.1(e) of this Agreement; and (b) to
amend, effective immediately prior to the Effective Time, each Company Stock
Option outstanding at that time (other than Non-Employee Stock Options) to
adjust the vesting schedule to vest quarterly over forty-eight (48) months from
the date of grant.  In addition, subject, in the case of each Non-Employee Stock
Option, to the Company's receipt of consent from its holder, the Company shall
cause the amendment of each such Non-Employee Stock Option to provide for
acceleration of vesting upon the Effective Time of the Merger so that the
holders of Non-Employee Company Stock Options may exercise all options covered
thereby (including theretofore unvested options) at any time during the original
term of such options, irrespective of their term of service with the Company and
irrespective of whether or not they continue to provide services to the Company
in any capacity.

     5.8  Indemnification of Company Directors and Officers.

     From and after the Effective Time, Parent will, or will cause the Surviving
Corporation to, fulfill and honor in all respects the obligations of the Company
pursuant to its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.

          (a)  From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation
will, to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware Law, indemnify and hold
harmless each current and former director or officer of the Company
(collectively, the "Indemnified D&Os") against any costs or expenses (including
reasonable attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any claim, action,
suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, to the extent

                                       12
<PAGE>

arising out of or pertaining to any action or omission in his or her capacity as
a director or officer of the Company on or prior to the date hereof for a period
of six (6) years after the date hereof.

     This Section 5.8 will survive the consummation of the Merger at the
Effective Time, is intended to benefit Parent, the Surviving Corporation and the
Indemnified D&Os, and will be binding on all successors and assign of the
Surviving Corporation.  Nothing contained in this Section 5.8 shall be construed
as or have the effect of impeding Parent's ability to proceed against the Escrow
Fund in the event of a breach of any of the Company's representations,
warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement in accordance with Article X
hereof.

     5.9   Employee Benefit Plans.

     Immediately following the Effective Time, it  is anticipated that each
employee of the Company will continue to participate in the Plans described in
the Company Disclosure Schedule pursuant to Section 6.17(a) until December 31,
2000.  Following such date, it is anticipated that employees of the Company who
become or remain employees of Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall become
entitled to participate in Plans sponsored by, maintained by or contributed to
by Parent (or its applicable Subsidiary).  The benefits to be provided to such
employees pursuant the first sentence of this paragraph, including, without
limitation, credit for any co-payments, deductibles, and offsets (or similar
payments) made by each of them prior to the Effective Time for purposes of
satisfying any applicable deductible, out-of-pocket, or similar requirements,
shall be no less favorable than the benefits currently provided to employees of
the Company as of the date hereof.

     5.10  Technical Support.

     Parent will provide E*TRADE with all technical support necessary for it to
satisfy the Vostock(SM) condition referenced in Section 9.1(k).

     5.11  Consent of the Company.

     The Company consents to the transactions between E*TRADE and Wit Group (as
defined in the Strategic Alliance Agreement) as if the parties had entered into
the Strategic Alliance Agreement on a non-exclusive basis.

                                  ARTICLE VI

                 Representations and Warranties of the Company

     Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule prepared and signed by the
Company and delivered to Parent prior to the execution hereof (provided that the
listing of an item in one section of the Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed to
be a listing in another section of such Disclosure Schedule and apply to any
other representation and warranty of such party in this Agreement but only to
the extent that it is reasonably apparent from a reading of such disclosure
item), the Company represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub that all of
the statements contained in this Article VI are true and correct as of the date
of this Agreement (or, if made as of a specified date, as of such date).

                                       13
<PAGE>

     6.1  Organization; Qualification.

     The Company (i) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of California; (ii) has full corporate
power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to
own, lease or operate the properties and assets it now owns, leases or operates;
and (iii) is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation
in good standing in every jurisdiction in which ownership of property or the
conduct of its business requires such licensing or qualification or, if the
Company is not so licensed or qualified in any such jurisdiction, it can become
so qualified in such jurisdiction without any material adverse effect upon its
business and properties.  The Company has heretofore delivered to Parent
complete and correct copies of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Company, as presently in effect.

     6.2  Subsidiaries and Affiliates.

     Schedule 6.2 sets forth the name, jurisdiction of incorporation and
authorized and outstanding capital stock of each Company Subsidiary and the
jurisdictions in which each Company Subsidiary is licensed or qualified to do
business.  The Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock
or other equity securities of any corporation or have any direct or indirect
equity or ownership interest in any business other than securities constituting
less than five percent (5%) of the outstanding equity of the issuing entity.
All the outstanding capital stock of each Company Subsidiary is owned directly
or indirectly by the Company free and clear of all liens, options or
encumbrances of any kind and all material claims or charges of any kind, and is
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and there are no outstanding
options, rights or agreements of any kind relating to the issuance, sale or
transfer of any capital stock or other equity securities of any such Company
Subsidiary to any person except the Company or another Company Subsidiary.  Each
Company Subsidiary (i) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation; (ii) has full
corporate power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being
conducted and to own, lease or operate the properties and assets it now owns,
leases or operates; and (iii) is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a
foreign corporation in good standing in every jurisdiction in which ownership of
property or the conduct of its business requires such licensing or qualification
or, if a Company Subsidiary is not so licensed or qualified in any such
jurisdiction, it can become so licensed or qualified in such jurisdiction
without any material adverse effect upon its business and properties.  The
Company has heretofore delivered to Parent complete and correct copies of the
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of each Company Subsidiary, as presently in
effect.

     6.3  Capitalization.

     The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 41,078,347 shares
of Common Stock, no par value per share, 1,600,000 shares of Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock, 5,800,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred
Stock and 14,968,442 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock.  As of the
date hereof, (i) 3,724,603 shares of Common Stock are issued and outstanding,
(ii) 1,600,000 shares of Series A Preferred are issued and outstanding, (iii)
2,500,000 shares of Series B Preferred are issued and outstanding, (iv)
14,968,442 shares of Series C Preferred are issued and outstanding, and (v)
32,394,335 shares of Company Common

                                       14
<PAGE>

Stock are reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Company Stock Options and
warrants and other rights to acquire Company Common Stock. All the outstanding
shares of Company Capital Stock are, and all shares which may be issued pursuant
to the exercise of outstanding Company Stock Options shall be, when issued in
accordance with the respective terms thereof, duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable. There is no Voting Debt of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary issued and outstanding. Except as set forth above and except
for the Transactions, as of the date of this Agreement, (i) there are no shares
of capital stock of the Company authorized, issued or outstanding; (ii) there
are no existing options, warrants, calls, pre-emptive rights, subscriptions or
other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character, relating
to the issued or unissued capital stock of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary, obligating the Company or any Company Subsidiary to issue, transfer
or sell or cause to be issued, transferred or sold any shares of capital stock
or Voting Debt of, or other equity interest in, the Company or any Company
Subsidiary or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or
equity interests, or obligating the Company or any Company Subsidiary to grant,
extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call, subscription or other
right, agreement, arrangement or commitment and (iii) there are no outstanding
contractual obligations of the Company or any Company Subsidiary to repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any shares or any of the Capital Stock of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary or to provide funds to make any investment (in
the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any the Company
Subsidiary or any other entity. Schedule 6.3 sets forth a complete list of each
Company Stock Option, warrant or other right (other than the conversion rights
of the Company Preferred Stock) to acquire Company Common Stock or any security
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any such warrants or other
right outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, including the name of the
optionee, number of shares, exercise price, date of grant and vesting schedule.

          (a)  There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings
to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party with respect to the
voting of the Capital Stock of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries.

          (b)  No Indebtedness of the Company or any Company Subsidiary contains
any restriction upon (i) the prepayment of any Indebtedness of the Company or
any Company Subsidiary, (ii) the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company or
any Company Subsidiary or (iii) the ability of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary to grant any lien on the properties or assets of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary.

     6.4  Authorization; Validity of Agreement; The Company Action.

     The Company has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement and the Related Agreements to which it is a party, and to
consummate the Transactions.  The execution, delivery and performance by the
Company of this Agreement and the Related Agreements to which it is a party, and
the consummation by it of the Transactions have been duly authorized by the
Company Board of Directors and by written consent of holders of the Company
Capital Stock representing the Required Shareholder Approval (as defined in
Section 6.6) and no other corporate action on the part of the Company or any of
its shareholders is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by the
Company of this Agreement and the Related Agreements to which it is a party or
the consummation by the Company of the

                                       15
<PAGE>

Transactions. This Agreement and the Related Agreements to which the Company is
a party have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due
and valid authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the other parties
thereto, this Agreement and the Related Agreements to which the Company is a
party are valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the
Company in accordance with their terms.

     6.5  Board Approvals Regarding Transactions.

     The Company's Board of Directors, at a meeting duly called and held, has
(i) unanimously determined that each of this Agreement, the Related Agreements
to which it is a party, and the Merger are fair to and in the best interests of
the shareholders of the Company and (ii) approved the Transactions, and none of
the aforesaid actions by the Company's Board of Directors has been amended,
rescinded or modified.  The action taken by the Company's Board of Directors
constitutes approval of the Merger Agreement, the Related Agreements to which
the Company is a party, the Merger, and the other Transactions by the Company's
Board of Directors under California Law.

     6.6  Vote Required.

     The affirmative vote of shareholders of the Company required to approve
this Agreement and the Merger in accordance with California Law and the Company
Articles consists of the approval of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock, voting together as a single class
on an as-converted basis, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Company Common Stock, voting as a separate class, the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of each of the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series B
Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock, each voting as a separate
series, and the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of
Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock, voting together as a
single class on an as-converted basis ("the Required Shareholder Approval").

     6.7  Consents and Approvals; No Violations.

     Except for the filings, permits, authorizations, consents and approvals as
may be required under, and other applicable requirements of, the Advisers Act,
the Exchange Act, the Securities Act, the rules and regulations of the NASD, the
HSR Act, state securities or Blue Sky laws, Delaware Law and California Law,
none of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company,
the consummation by the Company of the Transactions or compliance by the Company
with any of the provisions hereof shall (i) conflict with or result in any
breach of any provision of the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws or similar
organizational documents of the Company or any the Company Subsidiary, (ii)
require any filing with, or permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any
Governmental Entity, (iii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute
(with or without due notice or the passage of time or both) a default (or give
rise to any right of termination, amendment, cancellation or acceleration) under
any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any of the Company Agreements, or
(iv) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation
applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary, any to which the Company or
any the Company Subsidiary is a party or by which any of the assets of any of
them is bound, excluding from the foregoing clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) such
violations, breaches or defaults which would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a

                                       16
<PAGE>

material adverse effect on the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole. There are no third party consents or approvals required to be obtained
under any of the Company Agreements prior to the consummation of the
Transactions, except for such consents and approvals the failure of which to be
obtained would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse
effect on the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     6.8  Governmental Documents and Financial Statements.

     The Company and each Company Subsidiary has filed with the appropriate
Governmental Entity, and has heretofore made available to Parent, true and
complete copies of, the Governmental Documents of the Company and each Company
Subsidiary. As of their respective dates or, if amended, as of the date of the
last such amendment filed prior to the date hereof, the Governmental Documents
of the Company and each Company Subsidiary, including, without limitation, any
financial statements or schedules included therein (a) did not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and
(b) complied in all material respects with the requirements of applicable law.
The Company has previously delivered to Parent copies of the audited
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries as of the
fiscal year ended September 30, 1999, and the related audited statements of
income, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1999, together with the related notes thereto, accompanied by the
audit report of the independent public accountants with respect thereto, and the
unaudited balance sheets of each of them as of March 31, 2000 and the related
unaudited statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows
for the period then ended (collectively, the balance sheets and the statements
above being referred to as "the Company Financial Statements" and the March 31,
2000 balance sheet as "the Company Balance Sheet"). The audited balance sheets
of the Company as of September 30, 1999 (including the related notes) fairly
present in accordance with GAAP the consolidated financial position of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof, and the other
Company Financial Statements fairly present in accordance with GAAP (subject, in
the case of the unaudited statements, to adjustments normal in nature and amount
and the addition of footnotes) the consolidated results of the operations, cash
flows and changes in shareholders' equity of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries for the respective fiscal periods therein set forth; and such
balance sheets and statements (including the related notes, where applicable)
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the
periods involved except as noted therein.

     6.9  Compliance with Applicable Law.

          (a)  The Company and each Company Subsidiary is duly registered with
the SEC as a broker-dealer.

          (b)  The Company and each Company Subsidiary and each employee of each
of them holds, and has at all pertinent times held, all material licenses,
franchises, permits, qualifications and authorizations (collectively, the
"Company Permits") necessary for the lawful ownership and use of the respective
properties and assets of the Company, the Company Subsidiaries and the conduct
of their respective businesses under and pursuant to every, and have

                                       17
<PAGE>

complied with each, and are not in default in any material respect under any,
applicable law relating to any of them or any of their respective assets,
properties or operations, and the Company does not know of any violations of any
of the above and has not received notice asserting any such violation. To the
Company's knowledge, all such Company Permits are valid and in good standing and
are not subject to any proceeding for the suspension, modification or revocation
thereof.

           (c)  Except for normal examinations conducted by any Governmental
Entity in the regular course of the business of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries, no Governmental Entity has at any time initiated or, to the
Company's knowledge, threatened any proceeding or investigation into the
business or operations of any of them or any of their officers, directors or
employees or equity holders in their capacity as such. There is no unresolved
violation, criticism, or exception by any Governmental Entity with respect to
any examination of the Company, the Company Subsidiaries.

           (d)  The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries has at all
times since December 31, 1996 or its date of formation, whichever is later,
rendered investment advisory services to investment advisory clients with whom
such entity is or was a party to an investment advisory agreement or similar
arrangement in material compliance with all applicable requirements as to
portfolio composition and portfolio management including, but not limited to,
the terms of such investment advisory agreements, written instructions from such
investment advisory clients, prospectuses or other offering materials, board of
director or trustee directives and applicable law.

           (e)  Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries has timely
filed all reports, registration statements and other documents, together with
any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, that it was required to
file with any Governmental Entity, in a form which was accurate in all material
respects and has paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection
therewith.

           (f)  As of their respective dates, the Governmental Documents of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries complied in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Laws applicable to such Governmental Documents.
The Company has previously delivered or made available to the Parent a complete
copy of each Governmental Document filed by any of the foregoing entities or any
of their employees since April 9, 1999 and prior to the date hereof and shall
deliver or by notice make available to the Parent at the same time as the filing
thereof a complete copy of each Governmental Document filed after the date
hereof and prior to the Closing Date by or on behalf of any of them.

           (g)  Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has any Pooled
Products.

     6.10  Books and Records.

     Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries has at all times since
formation maintained Records which accurately reflect its material transactions
in reasonable detail, and have at all times maintained accounting controls,
policies and procedures reasonably designed to

                                       18
<PAGE>

provide that such transactions are executed in accordance with its management's
general or specific authorization, as applicable, and recorded in a manner which
permits the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and
applicable regulatory accounting requirements and other account and financial
data, and the documentation pertaining thereto is retained, protected and
duplicated in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

     6.11  Ineligible Persons.

     None of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or any "associated person"
(as defined in the Advisers Act or the Exchange Act) of any thereof, is
ineligible pursuant to Section 203 of the Advisers Act or Section 15(b) of the
Exchange Act to serve as a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer or as
an associated person of a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer.

     6.12  No Undisclosed Liabilities.

     Except for liabilities and obligations (a) disclosed in the Financial
Statements, (b) incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practice since the Balance Sheet Date or (c) incurred in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement or with the prior written consent of Parent, neither
the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has, to the best of the Company's
knowledge, any liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether or not accrued,
contingent or otherwise, that have, or would be reasonably likely to have,
material adverse effect on the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole. The reserves reflected in the Financial Statements are adequate,
appropriate and reasonable and have been calculated in a consistent manner.

     6.13  Interim Operations.

     Since the Company Balance Sheet Date, the business of the Company and each
Company Subsidiary has been conducted only in the ordinary and usual course
consistent with past practice.  Since the Company Balance Sheet Date, there have
not been any material adverse changes in the financial condition, assets or
results of operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.  Since the Company Balance Sheet Date such assets have not been affected
in any way as a result of flood, fire, explosion or other casualty (whether or
not covered by insurance).  The Company is not aware of any circumstances which
may cause it or any of the Company Subsidiaries to suffer any material adverse
change in the business  or operations of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     6.14  Absence of Certain Changes.

     Since the Balance Sheet Date, except as contemplated by this Agreement or
the Related Agreements, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has:

           (a)  suffered any material adverse change in its working capital,
financial condition, assets, liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent or
otherwise), reserves, business or operations;

                                       19
<PAGE>

           (b)  incurred any liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued,
contingent or otherwise) except in the ordinary course of business, or
increased, or experienced any change in any assumptions underlying or methods of
calculating, any bad debt, contingency or other reserves;

           (c)  paid, discharged or satisfied any claim, liability or obligation
(whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) other than the payment,
discharge or satisfaction in the ordinary course of business and of liabilities
and obligations reflected or reserved against in the Company Balance Sheet or
incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice
since the Balance Sheet Date;

           (d)  permitted or allowed any of its property or assets (real,
personal or mixed, tangible or intangible) to be subjected to any mortgage,
pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, restriction or charge of any kind,
other than in the ordinary course of its business and except for liens for
current taxes not yet due;

           (e)  sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of any of its
properties or assets (real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible), except
in the ordinary course of business;

           (f)  disposed of or permitted to lapse any rights to the use of any
Intellectual Property, or disposed of or disclosed (except as necessary in the
conduct of its business) to any person other than representatives of Parent any
trade secret, formula, process, know-how or other Intellectual Property not
theretofore a matter of public knowledge;

           (g)  granted any general increase in the compensation of officers or
employees (including any such increase pursuant to any bonus, pension, profit-
sharing or other plan or commitment) or any increase in the compensation payable
or to become payable to any officer or employee, except in the ordinary course
of business;

           (h)  declared, paid or set aside for payment any dividend or other
distribution in respect of its capital stock or redeemed, purchased or otherwise
acquired, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock or other
securities of the Company or any Company Subsidiary;

           (i)  made any change in any method of accounting or accounting
practice; or

           (j)  agreed, whether in writing or otherwise, to take any action
described in this section.

     6.15  Technology and Intellectual Property.

           (a)  The electronic data processing, information, record keeping,
communications, telecommunications, portfolio trading and computer systems and
Intellectual Property (including Software) which are used by the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries in their businesses (collectively, the "Technology
Systems") are adequate for the operation of the business of the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries as currently operated. The Company owns or has the right to
use all components of the Company Technology Systems that are reasonably
necessary to the normal operations of the business of the Company as currently

                                       20
<PAGE>

conducted by it. The Company has good title to all the Company Technology
Systems owned by it. There has not been any material malfunction with respect to
any of the Company Technology Systems since December 31, 1998 that has not been
remedied or replaced in all material respects, in each case without material
disruption to the businesses of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries. The
completion of the Transactions shall not materially alter or impair the right of
the Company and the Company Subsidiaries to use each of the components of the
Company Technology Systems. No database included in the Intellectual Property of
the Company and the Company Subsidiaries has been disclosed or authorized to be
disclosed to any third-party other than pursuant to a confidentiality or non-
disclosure agreement that reasonably protects the Company's and the Company
Subsidiaries' interest in and to such database.

           (b)  The conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries
does not infringe upon any intellectual property right owned or controlled by
any third-party. There are no claims, proceedings or actions pending or, to the
Company's knowledge, threatened in writing, and the Company has not received any
notice of any claim or suit (i) alleging that the Company's or any Company
Subsidiary's activities infringes upon or constitutes the unauthorized use of
the proprietary rights of any third-party or (ii) challenging the ownership,
use, validity or enforceability of any Intellectual Property owned or controlled
by the Company or any Company Subsidiary, nor is there a valid basis for any
such claim or suit. No third-party is, to the Company's knowledge, infringing
upon any Intellectual Property owned or controlled by the Company or any the
Company Subsidiary, and no such claims have been made by the Company or any the
Company Subsidiary.

     6.16  Legal Proceedings.

     Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary nor, to the Company's
knowledge, the directors, officers or employees of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary is a party to any, and there are no, legal, administrative, arbitral
or other proceedings, claims, actions or governmental or regulatory
investigations of any nature pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened
in writing against any of them or any of their respective properties or assets
relating to the business of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any Company
Pooled Product, or that challenges any of the Transactions, and there is no
injunction, order, judgment, decree, or regulatory restriction imposed
specifically upon any of them or any of their respective properties, assets,
directors, officers or employees relating to the business of the Company, any
Company Subsidiary or any Company Pooled Product, in each case, that would have
a material adverse effect on the Company's assets, financial condition, business
or operations if such proceeding, claim, action or investigation is determined
adversely to the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any Company Pooled Product
business or properties.

     6.17  Employee Benefit Plans.

           (a)  Schedule 6.17 contains a true and complete list of each deferred
compensation and each incentive compensation, stock purchase, stock option and
other equity compensation plan, program, agreement or arrangement; each
severance or termination pay, medical, surgical, hospitalization, life insurance
and other "welfare" plan, fund or program (within the meaning of Section 3(1) of
ERISA); each profit-sharing, stock bonus or other "pension" plan, fund or
program (within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA); each

                                       21
<PAGE>

employment, termination or severance agreement; and each other employee benefit
plan, fund, program, agreement or arrangement, in each case, that is sponsored,
maintained or contributed to or required to be contributed to by the Company or
by any ERISA Affiliate of the Company, or to which the Company or an ERISA
Affiliate of the Company is party, whether written or oral, for the benefit of
any director, former director, employee or former employee of the Company or any
Company Subsidiary. None of the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any ERISA
Affiliate of the Company has any commitment or formal plan, whether legally
binding or not, to create any additional employee benefit plan or modify or
change any existing Plan that would affect any employee or former employee of
the Company or any Company Subsidiary.

          (b)  The Company has heretofore delivered to Parent true and complete
copies of each Plan and any amendments thereto (or if a Plan is not a written
Plan, a description thereof), any related trust or other funding vehicle, any
reports or summaries required under ERISA or the Code and the most recent
determination letter received from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to
each Plan intended to qualify under Section 401 of the Code.

          (c)  No Plan is a Title IV Plan.

          (d)  Neither the Company, any Company Subsidiary, any Plan or any
trust created thereunder, nor any trustee or administrator of any thereof, has
engaged in a transaction in connection with which the Company, any Company
Subsidiary, any Plan, any such trust, or any trustee or administrator thereof,
or any party dealing with any Plan or any such trust could be subject to either
a civil penalty assessed pursuant to Section 409 or 502(i) of ERISA or a tax
imposed pursuant to Section 4975 or 4976 of the Code.

          (e)  Each Plan has been operated and administered in all material
respects in accordance with its terms and applicable law, including but not
limited to ERISA and the Code.

          (f)  Each Plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA intended to
be "qualified" within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code are so
qualified, and the trusts maintained thereunder are exempt from taxation under
Section 501(a) of the Code. Each Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of
Section 501(c)(9) has satisfied such requirements.

          (g)  No Plan provides medical, surgical or hospitalization, death or
similar benefits (whether or not insured) for employees or former employees of
the Company or any Company Subsidiary for periods extending beyond their
retirement or other termination of service, other than (i) coverage mandated by
applicable law, (ii) death benefits under any life insurance plan or "pension
plan," or (iii) benefits the full cost of which is borne by the current or
former employee (or his beneficiary).

          (h)  No amounts payable under the Plans shall fail to be deductible by
Parent or the Surviving Corporation for federal income tax purposes by virtue of
Section 280G of the Code.

          (i)  The consummation of the Transactions shall not, either alone or
in combination with another event, (i) entitle any current or former employee or
officer of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of the Company to severance pay,
unemployment compensation or any other payment, except as expressly provided in
this Agreement, or (ii)

                                       22
<PAGE>

accelerate the time of payment or vesting other than as a result of partial or
full termination of a tax qualified plan by the Surviving Corporation after the
Effective Time, or increase the amount of compensation due any such employee or
officer.

           (j)  There are no pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened or anticipated claims by or on behalf of any Plan, by any employee or
beneficiary covered under any such Plan, or otherwise involving any such Plan
(other than routine claims for benefits).

     6.18  Tax Matters; Government Benefits.

           (a)  The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have duly filed all Tax
Returns that are required to be filed excluding only such Tax Returns as to
which any failure to file shall not have a material adverse effect on the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and have duly paid or
caused to be duly paid in full or made provision in accordance with GAAP (or
there has been paid or provision has been made on their behalf) for the payment
of all Taxes (as hereinafter defined) for all periods or portions thereof ending
through the date hereof. All such Tax Returns are correct and complete in all
material respects and accurately reflect all liability for Taxes for the periods
covered thereby. All Taxes owed and due by the Company and all the Company
Subsidiaries relating to operations on or prior to the Balance Sheet Date
(whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid or have been adequately
reflected on the Financial Statements. Since the Balance Sheet Date, the Company
has not incurred liability for any Taxes other than in the ordinary course of
business. Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received written
notice of any claim made by an authority in a jurisdiction where neither the
Company nor any the Company Subsidiary file Tax Returns, that the Company or any
such Company Subsidiary is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.

           (b)  The federal income Tax Returns of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries have not been examined by the Internal Revenue Service. Neither the
Company nor any Company Subsidiary has waived any statute of limitations in any
jurisdiction in respect of Taxes or Tax Returns or agreed to any extension of
time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency.

           (c)  No federal, state, local or foreign audits, examinations or
other administrative proceedings have been commenced or, to the Company's
knowledge, are pending with regard to any Taxes or Tax Returns of the Company or
of any Company Subsidiary. No written notification has been received by the
Company or by any Company Subsidiary that such an audit, examination or other
proceeding is pending or threatened with respect to any Taxes due from or with
respect to or attributable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any Tax
Return filed by or with respect to the Company or any Company Subsidiary. To the
Company's knowledge, there is no dispute or claim concerning any Tax liability
of the Company, or any Company Subsidiary either claimed or raised by any taxing
authority in writing.

           (d)  Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to any
agreement, plan, contract or arrangement that could result, separately or in the
aggregate, in a payment of any "excess parachute payments" within the meaning of
Section 280G of the Code.

                                       23
<PAGE>

           (e)  Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has filed a
consent pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Code (or any predecessor provision)
concerning collapsible corporations, or agreed to have Section 341(f)(2) of the
Code apply to any disposition of a "subsection (f) asset" (as such term is
defined in Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by the Company or any the
Company Subsidiary.

           (f)  No taxing authority is asserting or threatening to assert a
claim against the Company or any the Company Subsidiary under or as a result of
Section 482 of the Code or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law.

           (g)  Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to any
tax sharing, tax indemnity or other agreement or arrangement with any entity not
included in the Company's Financial Statements which could result in a material
liability.

           (h)  None of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has been a member
of any affiliated group within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code, or
any similar affiliated or consolidated group for tax purposes under state, local
or foreign law (other than a group the common parent of which is the Company),
or has any liability for Taxes of any person (other than the Company and its
Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any similar
provision of state, local or foreign law as a transferee or successor, by
contract or otherwise.

     6.19  Labor and Employment Matters.

     (a)   Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is delinquent in any
material respect in payments to any of its current or former officers,
directors, employees, consultants, or agents for any wages, salaries,
commissions, bonuses, benefits, expenses or other compensation for any services
performed by them or amounts required to be reimbursed to them; and in the event
of termination of the employment of any employee of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall be liable to
any such employee under any agreement in effect at the Closing (other than any
agreement that will be superseded by an agreement entered into between Parent
and such employee at or prior to the Effective Time) for so-called "severance
pay," incentive pay, liquidated damages or any other payments or benefits,
including, without limitation, post-employment health care, pension or insurance
benefits.

     (b)   Since its inception, the Company has not had any claim made against
it or any Company Subsidiary by any Person before any Governmental Entity in
respect of employment with the Company for discrimination or harassment on
account of sex, race and other characteristic protected by law and there are no
pending or threatened proceedings in relation thereto.

     6.20  Contracts and Commitments.

           (a)  Schedule 6.20 sets forth a list of all agreements, contracts or
commitments which are material to the Company and its Company Subsidiaries'
business or operations.

                                       24
<PAGE>

           (b)  Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is in default,
nor is there any known basis for any valid claim of default, under any contract
made or obligation owed by it which are material to its business or operations.

     6.21  Insurance.

     The Company maintains with reputable insurers the worker's compensation,
comprehensive property and casualty, liability, fidelity and other insurance
policies described on Schedule 6.21, which insurance is, in the reasonable
opinion of the Company, sufficient for the operation of the businesses operated
by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries.

     6.22  Personnel.

     Schedule 6.22 sets forth a true and complete list of: the names and current
salaries of all directors and elected and appointed officers of each of the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries, the number of shares owned beneficially or
of record, or both, by each such person and the family relationships, if any,
among such persons; and, in response to Section 6.17, all group insurance
programs in effect for employees of each of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries.  The Company has made available to Parent true and accurate
information relating to the wage rates for non-salaried and non-executive
salaried employees of each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and all
labor union contracts.

     6.23  Insider Interests.

     No officer or director of the Company or any Company Subsidiary has any
material interest in any property, real or personal, tangible or intangible,
including without limitation, office space, fixtures, equipment, inventions,
patents, trademarks or trade names, used in or pertaining to the business of the
Company or any Company Subsidiary.

     6.24  Brokers or Finders.

     No agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other firm or
person is or shall be entitled to any brokers or finders fee or any other
commission or similar fee in connection with any of the Transactions.

     6.25  Information Supplied.

     None of the information supplied by the Company for inclusion or
incorporation by reference in the S-4 Registration Statement will, at the time
the S-4 Registration Statement is filed with the SEC, at any time it is amended
or supplemented or at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act,
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary, to make the statements therein not
misleading.

                                       25
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE VII

                   Representations and Warranties of Parent

     Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule prepared and signed by
Parent and delivered to the Company prior to the execution hereof (provided that
the listing of an item in one section of the Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed
to be a listing in another section of such Disclosure Schedule and apply to any
other representation and warranty of such party in this Agreement but only to
the extent that it is reasonably apparent from a reading of such disclosure
item), Parent represents and warrants to the Company that all of the statements
contained in this Article VII are true and correct as of the date of this
Agreement (or, if made as of a specified date, as of such date).

     7.1  Organization; Qualification.

     Parent (i) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; (ii) has full corporate power
and authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to own,
lease or operate the properties and assets it now owns, leases or operates; and
(iii) is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation in
good standing in every jurisdiction in which ownership of property or the
conduct of its business requires such licensing or qualification or, if Parent
is not so licensed or qualified in any such jurisdiction, it can become so
qualified in such jurisdiction without any material adverse effect (including
assessment of state taxes for prior years) upon its business and properties.
Parent has heretofore delivered to the Company complete and correct copies of
the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Parent, as presently in effect.

     7.2  Subsidiaries and Affiliates.

     Other than the Parent Subsidiaries, Parent does not own, directly or
indirectly, any capital stock or other equity securities of any corporation or
have any direct or indirect equity or ownership interest in any business other
than securities constituting less than five percent (5%)of the outstanding
equity of the issuing entity.  All the outstanding capital stock of each Parent
Subsidiary is owned directly or indirectly by Parent free and clear of all
liens, options or encumbrances of any kind and all material claims or charges of
any kind, and is validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and there are no
outstanding options, rights or agreements of any kind relating to the issuance,
sale or transfer of any capital stock or other equity securities of any such
Parent Subsidiary to any person except Parent or another Parent Subsidiary.
Each Parent Subsidiary (i) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation; (ii) has full
corporate power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being
conducted and to own, lease or operate the properties and assets it now owns,
leases or operates; and (iii) is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a
foreign corporation in good standing in every jurisdiction in which ownership of
property or the conduct of its business requires such licensing or qualification
or, if a Parent Subsidiary is not so licensed or qualified in any such
jurisdiction, it can become so licensed or qualified in such jurisdiction
without any material adverse effect upon its business and properties.  Parent
has heretofore delivered to the Company complete and correct copies of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of each Parent Subsidiary, as presently
in effect.

                                       26
<PAGE>

     7.3  Capitalization.

          (a)  The authorized capital stock of Parent consists of 500,000,000
shares of Parent Common Stock, 75,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par
value. $.01 per share ("Class B Shares"), 159,000,000 shares of Class C Common
Stock, par value $.01 per share ("Class C Shares") and 30,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, par value $.001 per share. As of the date of this Agreement,
(i) 78,408,001 shares of Parent Common Stock, 11,666,666 Class B Shares and no
Class C Shares are issued and outstanding, (ii) no Parent Shares, no Class B
Shares and no Class C Shares are held in the treasury of Parent, (iii)
30,000,000 shares of preferred stock are designated as Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, none of which are issued and outstanding, and
(iv) 18,145,018 shares of Parent Common Stock are reserved for issuance upon
exercise of Parent Stock Options. All the outstanding shares of Parent's capital
stock are, and all Parent Shares which may be issued pursuant to the exercise of
outstanding Parent Stock Options shall be, when issued in accordance with the
respective terms thereof, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable. There is no Voting Debt of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary issued
and outstanding. Except as set forth above and except for the Transactions, as
of the date of this Agreement, (i) there are no shares of capital stock of
Parent authorized, issued or outstanding; (ii) there are no existing options,
warrants, calls, pre-emptive rights, subscriptions or other rights, agreements,
arrangements or commitments of any character, relating to the issued or unissued
capital stock of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, obligating Parent or any
Parent Subsidiary to issue, transfer or sell or cause to be issued, transferred
or sold any shares of capital stock or Voting Debt of, or other equity interest
in, Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or securities convertible into or exchange-
able for such shares or equity interests, or obligating Parent or any Parent
Subsidiary to grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call,
subscription or other right, agreement, arrangement or commitment and (iii)
there are no outstanding contractual obligations of Parent or any Parent
Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of the capital
stock of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or to provide funds to make any
investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any
Parent Subsidiary or any other entity.

          (b)  There are no voting trusts or other agreements or understandings
to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is a party with respect to the voting
of the capital stock of Parent or any of the Parent Subsidiaries.

     7.4  Authorization; Validity of Agreement; Parent Action.

     Each of Parent and Merger Sub has full corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and the Related Agreements to which it is a
party, and to consummate the Transactions.  The execution, delivery and
performance by each of Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement and the Related
Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation by it of the Transactions
have been duly authorized by its respective Board of Directors and by written
consent of the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, and except for obtaining the
approval of Parent's stockholders as contemplated by Section 9.2(b), no other
corporate action on its part is necessary to authorize its execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the Related Agreements to which it is a party or
the consummation by it of the Transactions.  This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by each of Parent and Merger Sub, and the Related
Agreements to which Parent and/or Merger Sub are parties have been duly executed
and delivered by Parent and/or

                                       27
<PAGE>

Merger sub, as applicable, and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution
and delivery thereof by the other parties hereto and thereto, this Agreement and
such Related Agreements are a valid and binding obligations of Parent and/or
Merger Sub, as applicable, enforceable against Parent and/or Merger Sub, as
applicable, in accordance with their terms.

     7.5  Board Approvals Regarding Transactions.

     Each of Parent's and Merger Sub's Board of Directors, at a meeting duly
called and held, has (i) unanimously determined that each of this Agreement and
the Merger and the Transactions are fair to and in the best interests of the
shareholders of Parent and (ii) approved the Transactions, and none of the
aforesaid actions by its Board of Directors has been amended, rescinded or
modified.  The action taken by each of Parent's and Merger Subs' Board of
Directors constitutes approval of the Merger, the Related Agreements to which
Parent and/or Merger Sub are parties and the Transactions by Parent's and Merger
Sub's Boards of Directors under Delaware Law.  In addition, Parent has approved
the Merger Agreement as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub.

     7.6  Vote Required.

     Except for the requirement of the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the shares of Parent Common Stock voting thereon under the
shareholder voting policy of the NASD (the "Parent Required Stockholder
Consent"), no action by the holders of any class or series of Parent's capital
stock is necessary to approve the Merger or any of the other Transactions.

     7.7  Consents and Approvals; No Violations.

     Except for the filings, permits, authorizations, consents and approvals as
may be required under, and other applicable requirements of, the Exchange Act,
the Securities Act, the rules and regulations of the NASD, the HSR Act, state
securities or Blue Sky laws and California Law and Delaware Law, none of the
execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by each of Parent and
Merger Sub, the consummation by each of Parent and Merger Sub of the
Transactions or compliance by each of Parent and Merger Sub with any of the
provisions hereof shall (i) conflict with or result in any breach of any
provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or similar
organizational documents of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, (ii) require any
filing with, or permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental
Entity, (iii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without
due notice or the passage of time or both) any default (or give rise to any
right of termination or amendment or result in the creation of a lien on the
properties or assets of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary) under any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any Parent Agreement, or (iv) violate any order,
writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to Parent or
any Parent Subsidiary, any to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is a party
or by which any of the assets of any of them is bound, excluding from the
foregoing clauses, (ii), (iii) and (iv) such violations, breaches or defaults
(or rights or liens) which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole
or on the ability of Parent to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the
Related Agreements or the ability of Parent to consummate the Merger and the
other Transactions.  There are no third party consents or approvals required to
be obtained under any Parent Agreement prior to the consummation of the

                                       28
<PAGE>

Transactions, except for such consents and approvals the failure of which to be
obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse
effect on Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     7.8  Governmental Documents and Financial Statements.

     Parent and each Parent Subsidiary has filed with the appropriate
Governmental Entity, and has heretofore made available to the Company, true and
complete copies of, the Governmental Documents of Parent and each Parent
Subsidiary.  As of their respective dates or, if amended, as of the date of the
last such amendment filed prior to the date hereof, the Governmental Documents
of Parent and each Parent Subsidiary, including, without limitation, any
financial statements or schedules included therein (a) did not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and
(b) complied in all material respects with the requirements of applicable law.
Parent's audited consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1999 (the "Parent
Balance Sheet"), and the related audited consolidated statements of income,
changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows for the year ended December 31,
1999 and the related notes (the Parent Balance Sheet and such other statements
and notes, the "Financial Statements") have been prepared from, and are in
accordance with, the books and records of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries,
comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with
the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the period
involved (except as may be stated in the notes thereto) and fairly present in
accordance with GAAP the consolidated financial position and the consolidated
results of operations and cash flows (and changes in financial position, if any)
and changes in stockholders' equity of Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries
(subject, in the case of the unaudited statements, to recurring adjustments
normal in nature and amount and the addition of footnotes) as of the times and
for the periods referred to therein.

     7.9  Compliance with Applicable Law.

          (a)  Parent and each Parent Subsidiary is, if so required by the
nature of its business or assets, duly registered with the SEC as a broker-
dealer and to be duly registered with the SEC as an investment adviser or with
the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a commodity pool operator or
commodity trading adviser.

          (b)  Parent, each Parent Subsidiary, each Parent Pooled Product and
each employee of each of them holds, and has at all pertinent times held, all
material licenses, franchises, permits, qualifications and authorizations
(collectively, "Parent Permits") necessary for the lawful ownership and use of
the respective properties and assets of Parent, the Parent Subsidiaries and the
Parent Pooled Products and the conduct of their respective businesses under and
pursuant to every, and have complied with each, and are not in default in any
material respect under any applicable law relating to any of them or any of
their respective assets, properties or operations, and Parent does not know of
any violations of any of the above and has not received notice asserting any
such violation. To Parent's knowledge, all such Parent Permits

                                       29
<PAGE>

are valid and in good standing and are not subject to any proceeding for the
suspension, modification or revocation thereof.

           (c)  Except for normal examinations conducted by any Governmental
Entity in the regular course of the business of Parent, the Parent Subsidiaries
and the Parent Pooled Products, no Governmental Entity has at any time initiated
or, to Parent's knowledge, threatened any proceeding or investigation into the
business or operations of any of them or any of their officers, directors or
employees or (other than Parent Pooled Products) equityholders in their capacity
as such. There is no unresolved violation, criticism, or exception by any
Governmental Entity with respect to any examination of Parent, the Parent
Subsidiaries or the Parent Pooled Products.

           (d)  Parent and each of the Parent Subsidiaries has at all times
since December 31, 1996 or its date of formation, whichever is later, rendered
investment advisory services to investment advisory clients, including Parent
Pooled Products, with whom such entity is or was a party to an investment
advisory agreement or similar arrangement in material compliance with all
applicable requirements as to portfolio composition and portfolio management
including, but not limited to, the terms of such investment advisory agreements,
written instructions from such investment advisory clients, the organizational
documents of such investment advisory clients that are Parent Pooled Products,
prospectuses or other offering materials, board of director or trustee
directives and applicable law.

           (e)  Each of Parent, the Parent Subsidiaries and the Parent Pooled
Products has timely filed all reports, registration statements and other
documents, together with any amendments required to be made with respect
thereto, that it was required to file with any Governmental Entity, in a form
which was accurate in all material respects and has paid all fees and
assessments due and payable in connection therewith.

           (f)  As of their respective dates, the Governmental Documents of
Parent, the Parent Subsidiaries and the Parent Pooled Products complied in all
material respects with the requirements of the Securities Laws applicable to
such Governmental Documents. Parent has previously delivered or made available
to the Company a complete copy of each Governmental Document filed by any of the
foregoing entities or any of their employees since December 31, 1998 and prior
to the date hereof and shall deliver or by notice make available to the Company
at the same time as the filing thereof a complete copy of each Governmental
Document filed after the date hereof and prior to the Closing Date by or on
behalf of any of them.

           (g)  Since inception, each Parent Pooled Product has been excluded
from the definition of an investment company under the Investment Company Act by
virtue of Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) thereof.

     7.10  Books and Records.

     Each of Parent, the Parent Subsidiaries and the Parent Pooled Products has
at all times since formation maintained records which accurately reflect all its
material transactions in reasonable detail, and have at all times maintained
accounting controls, policies and procedures reasonably designed to provide that
such transactions are executed in accordance with its

                                       30
<PAGE>

management's general or specific authorization, as applicable, and recorded in a
manner which permits the preparation of financial statements in accordance with
GAAP and applicable regulatory accounting requirements and other account and
financial data, and the documentation pertaining thereto is retained, protected
and duplicated in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

     7.11  Ineligible Persons.

     None of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, or any "associated person" (as
defined in the Advisers Act or the Exchange Act) of any thereof, is ineligible
pursuant to Section 203 of the Advisers Act or Section 15(b) of the Exchange Act
to serve as a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer or as an associated
person of a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer.

     7.12  No Undisclosed Liabilities.

     Except for liabilities and obligations (a) disclosed in the Parent
Financial Statements, (b) incurred in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice since the date of the Parent Balance Sheet (the
"Parent Balance Sheet Date") or (c) incurred in accordance with the  terms of
this Agreement or with the prior written consent of the Company, neither Parent
nor any Parent Subsidiary has, to the best of Parent's knowledge, any
liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether or not accrued, contingent or
otherwise, that have, or would be reasonably likely to have, a material adverse
effect on Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The reserves
reflected in the Parent Financial Statements are adequate, appropriate and
reasonable and have been calculated in a consistent manner.

     7.13  Interim Operations.

     Since the Parent Balance Sheet Date, the business of Parent and each Parent
Subsidiary has been conducted only in the ordinary and usual course consistent
with past practice.  Since the Parent Balance Sheet Date, there have not been
any material adverse changes in the financial condition, assets or results of
operations of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.  Since the
Parent Balance Sheet Date such assets have not been affected in any way as a
result of flood, fire, explosion or other casualty (whether or not covered by
insurance).  Parent is not aware of any circumstances which may cause it or any
of the Parent Subsidiaries to suffer any material adverse change in the business
or operations of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

     7.14  Absence of Certain Changes.

     Since the Parent Balance Sheet Date, except as contemplated by this
Agreement, neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has:

           (a)  suffered any material adverse change in its working capital,
financial condition, assets, liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent or
otherwise), reserves, business or operations;

          (b)  incurred any liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued,
contingent or otherwise) except in the ordinary course of business, or
increased, or experienced any change in

                                       31
<PAGE>

any assumptions underlying or methods of calculating, any bad debt, contingency
or other reserves;

           (c)  paid, discharged or satisfied any claim, liability or obligation
(whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) other than the payment,
discharge or satisfaction in the ordinary course of business of liabilities and
obligations reflected or reserved against in the Parent Balance Sheet or
incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice
since the date of the Parent Balance Sheet;

           (d)  sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of any of its
properties or assets (real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible), except
in the ordinary course of business;

           (e)  disposed of or permitted to lapse any rights to the use of any
Intellectual Property, or disposed of or disclosed (except as necessary in the
conduct of its business) to any person other than representatives of the Company
any trade secret, formula, process, know-how or other Intellectual Property not
theretofore a matter of public knowledge;

           (f)  granted any general increase in the compensation of officers or
employees (including any such increase pursuant to any bonus, pension, profit-
sharing or other plan or commitment) or any increase in the compensation payable
or to become payable to any officer or employee, except in the ordinary course
of business;

           (g)  declared, paid or set aside for payment any dividend or other
distribution in respect of its capital stock or redeemed, purchased or otherwise
acquired, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock or other
securities of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary;

           (h)  made any change in any method of accounting or accounting
practice; or

           (i)  agreed, whether in writing or otherwise, to take any action
described in this section.

     7.15  Technology and Intellectual Property.

           (a)  The electronic data processing, information, record keeping,
communications, telecommunications, portfolio trading and computer systems and
Intellectual Property (including Software) which are used by Parent and the
Parent Subsidiaries in their businesses (collectively, the "Parent Technology
Systems") are adequate for the operation of the business of Parent and the
Parent Subsidiaries as currently operated. Parent owns or has the right to use
all components of the Parent Technology Systems that are reasonably necessary to
the normal operations of the business of Parent as currently conducted by it.
Parent has good title to all Parent Technology Systems owned by it. There has
not been any material malfunction with respect to any of the Parent Technology
Systems since December 31, 1998 that has not been remedied or replaced in all
material respects, in each case without material disruption to the businesses of
Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries. The completion of the Transactions shall not
materially alter or impair the right of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries to
use each of the components of the Parent Technology Systems. No database
included in the Intellectual Property of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries has
been disclosed or authorized to be disclosed to

                                       32
<PAGE>

any third-party other than pursuant to a confidentiality or non-disclosure
agreement that reasonably protects Parent's and the Parent Subsidiaries'
interest in and to such database.

           (b) The conduct of the business of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries
does not infringe upon any intellectual property right owned or controlled by
any third-party. There are no claims, proceedings or actions pending or, to
Parent's knowledge, threatened in writing, and Parent has not received any
notice of any claim or suit (i) alleging that Parent's or any Parent
Subsidiary's activities infringes upon or constitutes the unauthorized use of
the proprietary rights of any third-party or (ii) challenging the ownership,
use, validity or enforceability of any Intellectual Property owned or controlled
by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, nor is there a valid basis for any such
claim or suit. No third-party is, to Parent's knowledge, infringing upon any
Intellectual Property owned or controlled by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary,
and no such claims have been made by Parent or any Parent Subsidiary.

     7.16  Legal Proceedings.

     Neither Parent, any Parent Subsidiary, any Pooled Product, or the
directors, officers or employees of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is a party
to any, and there are no, legal, administrative, arbitration or other
proceedings, claims, actions or governmental or regulatory investigations of any
nature pending or, to Parent's knowledge, threatened in writing against any of
them or any of their respective properties or assets relating to the business of
Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or any Parent Pooled Product, or that challenges
any of the Transactions, and there is no injunction, order, judgment, decree, or
regulatory restriction imposed specifically upon any of them or any of their
respective properties, assets, directors, officers or employees relating to the
business of Parent, any Parent Subsidiary or any Parent Pooled Product, in each
case, that would have a material adverse effect on Parent's assets, financial
condition, business or operations if such proceeding, claim, action or
investigation, is determined adversely to Parent, any Parent Subsidiary or any
Parent Pooled Product.

     7.17  Employee Benefit Plans.

           (a) Schedule 7.17 contains a true and complete list of each deferred
compensation and each incentive compensation, stock purchase, stock option and
other equity compensation plan, program, agreement or arrangement; each
severance or termination pay, medical, surgical, hospitalization, life insurance
and other "welfare" plan, fund or program (within the meaning of Section 3(1) of
ERISA); each profit-sharing, stock bonus or other "pension" plan, fund or
program (within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA); each employment,
termination or severance agreement; and each other employee benefit plan, fund,
program, agreement or arrangement, in each case, that is sponsored, maintained
or contributed to or required to be contributed to by Parent or by any ERISA
Affiliate of Parent, or to which Parent or an ERISA Affiliate of Parent is
party, whether written or oral, for the benefit of any director, former
director, employee or former employee of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary. None
of Parent, any Parent Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of Parent has any
commitment or formal plan, whether legally binding or not, to create any
additional employee benefit plan or modify or change any existing Plan that
would affect any employee or former employee of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary.
Schedule 7.17 indicates each Plan that is Title IV Plan.

                                       33
<PAGE>

          (b)  Parent has heretofore delivered to the Company true and complete
copies of each Plan and any amendments thereto (or if a Plan is not a written
Plan, a description thereof), any related trust or other funding vehicle, any
reports or summaries required under ERISA or the Code and the most recent
determination letter received from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to
each Plan intended to qualify under Section 401 of the Code (including but not
limited to the forms 5500 and related reports for the two most recently
completed plan years).

          (c)  No liability under Title IV or Section 302 of ERISA has been
incurred by Parent or any ERISA Affiliate of Parent that has not been satisfied
in full, and no condition exists that presents a material risk to Parent or any
ERISA Affiliate of Parent of incurring any such liability, other than liability
for premiums due the PBGC (which premiums have been paid when due). Insofar as
the representation made in this Section 3.16(c) applies to Sections 4064, 4069
or 4204 of Title IV of ERISA, it is made with respect to any employee benefit
plan, program, agreement or arrangement subject to Title IV of ERISA to which
Parent or any ERISA Affiliate of Parent made, or was required to make,
contributions during the five (5) year period ending on the last day of the most
recent plan year ended prior to the Closing Date.

          (d)  The PBGC has not instituted proceedings to terminate any Title IV
Plan and no condition exists that presents a material risk that such proceedings
shall be instituted.

          (e)  With respect to each Title IV Plan, the present value of accrued
benefits under such plan, based upon the actuarial assumptions used for funding
purposes in the most recent actuarial report prepared by such plan's actuary
with respect to such plan did not exceed, as of its latest valuation date, then
current value of the assets of such plan allocable to such accrued benefits.

          (f)  No Title IV Plan or any trust established thereunder has incurred
any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA and
Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, as of the last day of the most
recent fiscal year of each Title IV Plan ended prior to the Closing Date. All
contributions required to be made with respect to any Plan on or prior to the
Closing Date have been timely made.

          (g)  No Title IV Plan is a "multi-employer pension plan," as defined
in Section 3(37) of ERISA, nor is any Title IV Plan a plan described in Section
4063(a) of ERISA. Neither Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate of Parent has made or
suffered a "complete withdrawal" or a "partial withdrawal," as such terms are
respectively defined in Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA (or any liability
resulting therefrom has been satisfied in full).

          (h)  Neither Parent, any Parent Subsidiary, any Plan or any trust
created thereunder, nor any trustee or administrator of any thereof, has engaged
in a transaction in connection with which Parent, any Parent Subsidiary, any
Plan, any such trust, or any trustee or administrator thereof, or any party
dealing with any Plan or any such trust could be subject to either a civil
penalty assessed pursuant to Section 409 or 502(i) of ERISA or a tax imposed
pursuant to Section 4975 or 4976 of the Code.

                                       34
<PAGE>

           (i)  Each Plan has been operated and administered in all material
respects in accordance with its terms and applicable law, including but not
limited to ERISA and the Code.

           (j)  Each Plan intended to be "qualified" within the meaning of
Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, and the trusts maintained thereunder
are exempt from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code. Each Plan intended to
satisfy the requirements of Section 501(c)(9) has satisfied such requirements.

           (k)  No Plan provides medical, surgical, hospitalization, death or
similar benefits (whether or not insured) for employees or former employees of
Parent or any Parent Subsidiary for periods extending beyond their retirement or
other termination of service, other than (i) coverage mandated by applicable
law, (ii) death benefits under any "pension plan," or (iii) benefits the full
cost of which is borne by the current or former employee (or his beneficiary).

           (l)  No amounts payable under the Plans shall fail to be deductible
for federal income tax purposes by virtue of Section 280G of the Code.

           (m)  The consummation of the Transactions shall not, either alone or
in combination with another event, (i) entitle any current or former employee or
officer of Parent or any ERISA Affiliate of Parent to severance pay,
unemployment compensation or any other payment, except as expressly provided in
this Agreement, or (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase
the amount of compensation due any such employee or officer.

           (n)  There are no pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened
or anticipated claims by or on behalf of any Plan, by any employee or
beneficiary covered under any such Plan, or otherwise involving any such Plan
(other than routine claims for benefits).

     7.18  Tax Matters; Government Benefits.

           (a)  Parent and each of its Subsidiaries have duly filed all Tax
Returns that are required to be filed excluding only such Tax Returns as to
which any failure to file shall not have a material adverse effect on Parent and
the Parent Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and have duly paid or caused to be
duly paid in full or made provision in accordance with GAAP (or there has been
paid or provision has been made on their behalf) for the payment of all Taxes
(as hereinafter defined) for all periods or portions thereof ending through the
date hereof. All such Tax Returns are correct, complete and accurately reflect
all liability for Taxes for the periods covered thereby, except to the extent
that any such failure to file or any inaccuracies in any filed Tax Return would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse affect on Parent.
All Taxes owed and due by Parent and all Parent Subsidiaries relating to
operations on or prior to the Balance Sheet Date (whether or not shown on any
Tax Return) have been paid or have been adequately reflected on the Financial
Statements. Since the Balance Sheet Date, Parent has not incurred liability for
any Taxes other than in the ordinary course of business. Neither Parent nor any
Parent Subsidiary has received notice of any claim made by an authority in a
jurisdiction where neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary file Tax Returns,
that Parent or any such Parent Subsidiary is or may be subject to taxation by
that jurisdiction.

                                       35
<PAGE>

           (b)  Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary has waived any statute
of limitations in any jurisdiction in respect of Taxes or Tax Returns or agreed
to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency.

           (c)  No federal, state, local or foreign audits, examinations or
other administrative proceedings have ever been commenced or, to Parent's
knowledge, are pending with regard to any Taxes or Tax Returns of Parent or of
any Parent Subsidiary. No notification has been received by Parent or by any
Parent Subsidiary that such an audit, examination or other proceeding is pending
or threatened with respect to any Taxes due from or with respect to or
attributable to Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or any Tax Return filed by or
with respect to Parent or any Parent Subsidiary. To Parent's knowledge, there is
no dispute or claim concerning any Tax liability of Parent, or any Parent
Subsidiary either claimed or raised by any taxing authority in writing.

           (d)  Neither Parent nor any of the Parent Subsidiaries is a party to
any agreement, plan, contract or arrangement that could result, separately or in
the aggregate, in a payment of any "excess parachute payments" within the
meaning of Section 280G of the Code.

           (e)  Neither Parent nor any of the Parent Subsidiaries has filed a
consent pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Code (or any predecessor provision)
concerning collapsible corporations, or agreed to have Section 341(f)(2) of the
Code apply to any disposition of a "subsection (f) asset" (as such term is
defined in Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by Parent or any Parent
Subsidiary.

           (f)  No taxing authority is asserting or threatening to assert a
claim against Parent or any Parent Subsidiary under or as a result of Section
482 of the Code or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law.

           (g)  Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any tax
sharing, tax indemnity or other agreement or arrangement with any entity not
included in Parent's consolidated financial statements most recently filed by
Parent with the SEC which could result in a material liability.

           (h)  Parent has no reason to believe that any conditions exist that
could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

           (i)  None of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary has been a member of any
affiliated group within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code, or any
similar affiliated or consolidated group for tax purposes under state, local or
foreign law (other than a group the common parent of which is Parent), or has
any liability for Taxes of any person (other than Parent and its Subsidiaries)
under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any similar provision of state,
local or foreign law as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.

     7.19  Labor and Employment Matters.

           (a)  Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary is delinquent in any
material respect in payments to any of its current or former officers,
directors, employees, consultants, or

                                       36
<PAGE>

agents for any wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, benefits, expenses or
other compensation for any services performed by them or amounts required to be
reimbursed to them; and in the event of termination of the employment of any
employee of Parent or any Parent Subsidiaries, neither Parent nor any Parent
Subsidiary shall be liable to any such employee under any agreement in effect at
the Closing for so-called "severance pay," incentive pay, liquidated damages or
any other payments or benefits, including, without limitation, post-employment
health care, pension or insurance benefits.

           (b)  Since December 31, 1996, Parent has not had any claim made
against it or any Parent Subsidiary by any Person before any Governmental Entity
in respect of employment with Parent for discrimination or harassment on account
of sex, race and other characteristic protected by law and there are no pending
or threatened proceedings in relation thereto.

     7.20  Contracts and Commitments.

           (a)  Schedule 7.20 sets forth a complete list of all agreements,
contracts or commitments which are material to Parent or its Parent
Subsidiaries' business or operations.

           (b)  Neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary is in default, nor is
there any known basis for any valid claim of default, under any contract made or
obligation owed by it which are material to its business or operations.

     7.21  Insurance.

     Parent maintains with reputable insurers the worker's compensation,
comprehensive property and casualty, liability, errors and omissions, fidelity
and other insurance policies described on Schedule 7.21 hereto, which insurance
is sufficient for the operation of the businesses operated by Parent and the
Parent Subsidiaries.

     7.22  Insider Interests.

     No officer or director of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary has any material
interest in any property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, including
without limitation, office space, fixtures, equipment, inventions, patents,
trademarks or trade names, used in or pertaining to the business of Parent or
any Parent Subsidiary.

     7.23  Brokers or Finders.

     No agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other firm or
person is or shall be entitled to any brokers or finders fee or any other
commission or similar fee in connection with any of the Transactions except for
Goldman Sachs & Co., the fees and expenses of which will be paid by Parent.

     7.24  Information Supplied.

     None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Parent or Merger Sub
for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the S-4 Registration Statement
will, at the time the S-4 Registration Statement is filed with the SEC, at any
time it is amended or supplemented or at the

                                       37
<PAGE>

time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain an untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary, to make the statements therein not misleading.

                                 ARTICLE VIII

                                   Covenants

     8.1  Interim Operations of the Company.

     The Company covenants and agrees that prior to the Effective Date, except
(i) as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Related Agreements, (ii)
as set forth in Section 8.1 of the Disclosure Schedule, or (iii) as agreed in
writing by Parent after the date of this Agreement:

          (a)  the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries shall be
conducted only in the usual, regular and ordinary course and substantially in
the same manner as previously conducted, and each of the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to preserve its
business organization intact, keep available the services of its current
officers and employees and maintain its existing relations with Persons having
business dealings with it, to the end that the goodwill and ongoing business of
each of them shall be unimpaired at the Effective Time;

          (b)  neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall: (i) amend
its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or similar organizational documents,
(ii) issue, sell, transfer, pledge, dispose of or encumber any shares of any
class or series of its capital stock or Voting Debt, or securities convertible
into or exchangeable for, or options, warrants, calls, commitments or rights of
any kind to acquire, any shares of any class or series of its capital stock or
any Voting Debt, other than Shares reserved for issuance on the date of this
Agreement pursuant to the exercise of Company Stock Options outstanding on the
date hereof or the conversion of Company Preferred Stock outstanding on the date
hereof, (iii) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution
payable in cash, stock or property with respect to any shares of any class or
series of its capital stock except in connection with the conversion of Company
Preferred Stock outstanding on the date hereof; (iv) split, combine or
reclassify any shares of any class or series of its stock; or (v) redeem,
purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any shares of any class or
series of its capital stock, or any instrument or security which consists of or
includes a right to acquire such shares except in connection with the conversion
of Company Preferred Stock outstanding on the date hereof;

          (c)  neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall: (i) incur
or modify any indebtedness or other liability, other than in the ordinary and
usual course of business and consistent with past practice; or (ii) modify,
amend or terminate any of its material contracts or waive, release or assign any
material rights or claims, except in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice;

          (d)  neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall: (i) incur
or assume any long-term debt, or except in the ordinary course of business,
incur or assume any

                                       38
<PAGE>

short-term indebtedness in amounts not consistent with past practice; (ii)
modify the terms of any indebtedness or other liability, other than
modifications of short term debt in the ordinary and usual course of business
and consistent with past practice; (iii) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise
become liable or responsible (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for
the obligations of any other person, except in the ordinary course of business
and consistent with past practice; (iv) make any loans, advances or capital
contributions to, or investments in, any other person (other than to or in
wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company) except in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past practice; or (v) enter into any material
commitment or transaction (including, but not limited to, any capital
expenditure or purchase, sale or lease of assets or real estate) except in the
ordinary course of business;

          (e)  neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall transfer,
lease, license, sell, mortgage, pledge, dispose of, or encumber any assets other
than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

          (f)  neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall make any
change in the compensation payable or to become payable to any of its officers,
directors, employees, agents or consultants or to Persons providing management
services (other than normal increases or decreases reflecting the performance of
the Company and the Company Subsidiaries and of such Persons in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice), or enter into or amend any
employment, severance, consulting, termination or other agreement or employee
benefit plan (other than an amendment required to conform such plan to changes
that have occurred or may be made under applicable law, or to reflect increases
or decreases referred to in the preceding parenthetical) or make any loans to
any of its officers, directors, employees, Affiliates, agents or consultants or
make any change in its existing borrowing or lending arrangements for or on
behalf of any of such Persons pursuant to an employee benefit plan or otherwise
(except for loans to facilitate exercises of the Company Stock Options);

          (g)  neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall pay or make
any accrual or arrangement for payment of any pension, retirement allowance or
other employee benefit pursuant to any existing plan, agreement or arrangement
to any officer, director, employee or Affiliate or pay or agree to pay or make
any accrual or arrangement for payment to any officers, directors, employees or
Affiliates of the Company of any amount relating to unused vacation days, except
payments and accruals made in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice or as required by an existing Plan, adopt or pay, grant, issue,
accelerate or accrue salary or other payments or benefits pursuant to any
pension, profit-sharing, bonus, extra compensation, incentive, deferred
compensation, stock purchase, stock option, stock appreciation right, group
insurance, severance pay, retirement or other employee benefit plan, agreement
or arrangement, or any employment or consulting agreement with or for the
benefit of any director, officer, employee, agent or consultant, whether past or
present except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
or as required by an existing Plan, or amend in any material respect any such
existing plan, agreement or arrangement in a manner inconsistent with the
foregoing;

          (h)  neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall permit any
insurance policy naming it as a beneficiary or a loss payable payee to be
cancelled or terminated without notice to Parent, except policies providing
coverage for losses not in excess of $200,000;

                                       39
<PAGE>

          (i)  neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall enter into
any contract or transaction relating to the purchase of assets other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with prior practices;

          (j)  neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall pay,
repurchase, discharge or satisfy any of its claims, liabilities or obligations
(absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than
the payment, discharge or satisfaction in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice, of claims, liabilities or obligations reflected
or reserved against in, or contemplated by, the consolidated financial
statements (or the notes thereto) of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries;

          (k)  neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall adopt a plan
of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation,
restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or any
the Company Subsidiary;

          (l)  neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall (i) change
any of the accounting methods used by it unless required by GAAP or (ii) make
any material election relating to Taxes, change any material election relating
to Taxes already made, adopt any material accounting method relating to Taxes,
change any material accounting method relating to Taxes unless required by GAAP,
enter into any closing agreement relating to Taxes, settle any claim or
assessment relating to Taxes or consent to any claim or assessment relating to
Taxes or any waiver of the statute of limitations for any such claim or
assessment;

          (m)  neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall take, or
agree or commit to take, any action that would or is reasonably likely to result
in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Section 9.1 not being
satisfied, or would make any representation or warranty of the Company contained
in this Agreement materially inaccurate in any respect at, or as of any time
prior to the Effective Time, or that would materially impair the ability of the
Company, Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Merger in accordance with the
terms hereof or materially delay such consummation; and

          (n)  neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiary shall enter
into an agreement, contract, commitment or arrangement to do any of the
foregoing, or to authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to do
any of the foregoing.

     8.2  Interim Operations of Parent.

     Parent covenants and agrees that prior to the Effective Date, except (i) as
expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Related Agreements, (ii) as set
forth in Section 8.2 of the Disclosure Schedule, or (iii) as agreed in writing
by the Company after the date of this Agreement:

          (a)  the business of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries shall be
conducted only in the usual, regular and ordinary course and substantially in
the same manner as previously conducted, and each of Parent and the Parent
Subsidiaries shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to preserve its
business organization intact, keep available the services of its current
officers and employees and maintain its existing relations with Persons having
business dealings

                                       40
<PAGE>

with it, to the end that the goodwill and ongoing business of each of them shall
be unimpaired at the Effective Time;

          (b)  neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary shall declare, set aside
or pay any dividend or other distribution payable in cash, stock or property
with respect to any shares of any class or series of its capital stock;

          (c)  neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary shall (i) incur or
modify any indebtedness or other liability, other than in the ordinary and usual
course of business and consistent with past practice; or (ii) modify, amend or
terminate any of its material contracts or waive, release or assign any material
rights or claims, except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practice;

          (d)  neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary shall pay, repurchase,
discharge or satisfy any of its claims, liabilities or obligations (absolute,
accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than the
payment, discharge or satisfaction in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice, of claims, liabilities or obligations reflected
or reserved against in, or contemplated by, the consolidated financial
statements (or the notes thereto) of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries;

          (e)  neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary shall take, or agree or
commit to take, any action that would or is reasonably likely to result in any
of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Section 9.2 not being satisfied, or
would make any representation or warranty of Parent contained in this Agreement
materially inaccurate in any respect at, or as of any time prior to, the
Effective Time, or that would materially impair the ability of Parent, the
Company, Merger Sub to consummate the Merger or materially delay consummation;

          (f)  Parent shall not issue any equity securities of Parent or rights
to acquire equity securities of Parent other than (i) Parent Common Stock in an
underwritten or institutional secondary offering, in grants or sales to
employees under Parent's stock plans in the ordinary course of business, in
connection with an acquisition permitted under clause (g) below or in connection
with exercises of rights to acquire Parent Common Stock outstanding on the date
hereof or granted in compliance with clause (ii) of this Section 8.2(f) or (ii)
rights to acquire Parent Common Stock in connection with stock option grants
under Parent's stock option plans in the ordinary course of business;

          (g)  Parent shall not acquire, or permit any Subsidiary to acquire,
any business or assets, whether by merger, consolidation, tender offer, exchange
offer, stock purchase, purchase of assets or otherwise, the aggregate assets or
revenues of which would exceed ten percent (10%) of the assets or revenues, as
the case may be, of Parent on a consolidated basis as of the end of the most
recent fiscal quarter of Parent in the case of assets and on an annualized basis
(including pro forma for the SoundView acquisition for periods prior to the
closing thereof) since January 1, 2000 in the case of revenues; and

          (h)  neither Parent nor any Parent Subsidiary shall enter into an
agreement, contract, commitment or arrangement to do any of the foregoing, or to
authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to do any of the
foregoing.

                                       41
<PAGE>

     8.3  Access; Confidentiality.

     Each of the Company and Parent shall afford to the officers, employees,
accountants, counsel and other representatives of the other full access to all
properties, books, contracts, commitments and records of itself and its
subsidiaries and each of Parent and the Company shall furnish promptly to the
other (a) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and other
document filed or received by it during such period pursuant to the requirements
of Securities Laws and (b) all other information concerning its business,
properties and personnel as the other may reasonably request.  Unless otherwise
required by law, the party receiving such information shall hold any such
information which is nonpublic in confidence in accordance with the provisions
of the Confidentiality Agreement to which the party is subject.

     8.4  Reasonable Best Efforts.

          (a)  Prior to the Closing, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company agree to use their respective
reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do,
or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable (subject to any
applicable laws) to consummate and make effective the Merger and the other
Transactions as promptly as practicable including, but not limited to (i) the
preparation and filing of all forms, registrations and notices required to be
filed to consummate the Merger and the other Transactions and the taking of such
actions as are necessary to obtain any requisite approvals, consents, orders,
exemptions or waivers by any third party or Governmental Entity including
notification by Parent to the NASD regarding the issuance of additional Parent
Shares in the Merger, and (ii) the satisfaction of the other parties' conditions
to Closing. In addition, no party hereto shall take any action after the date of
this Agreement that would reasonably be expected to materially delay the
obtaining of, or result in not obtaining, any permission, approval or consent
from any Governmental Entity necessary to be obtained prior to Closing.

          (b)  Prior to the Closing, each party shall promptly consult with the
other parties hereto with respect to, provide any necessary information with
respect to, and provide the other parties (or their respective counsel) with
copies of, all filings made by the party with any Governmental Entity or any
other information supplied by such party to a Governmental Entity in connection
with this Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions. Each party shall
promptly inform the other of any communication from any Governmental Entity
regarding any of the Transactions. If any party or Affiliate receives a request
for additional information or documentary material from any such Governmental
Entity with respect to any of the Transactions, then the party shall endeavor in
good faith to make, or cause to be made, as soon as reasonably practicable and
after consultation with the other parties, an appropriate response in compliance
with such request. To the extent that transfers, amendments or modifications of
permits (including environmental permits) are required as a result of the
execution of this Agreement or consummation of any of the Transactions, the
Company and Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such
transfers, amendments or modifications. The Company, Parent and Merger Sub shall
make, subject to the condition that the transactions contemplated herein
actually occur, any undertakings (including undertakings to make divestitures,
provided, in any case, that such divestitures need not themselves be effective
or made until after the transactions contemplated hereby actually occur)
required in order to comply with the antitrust

                                       42
<PAGE>

requirements or laws of any Governmental Entity, including the HSR Act, in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

          (c)  The Company and Parent shall file as soon as practicable
notifications under the HSR Act and respond as promptly as practicable to any
inquiries received from the Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division
of the Department of Justice for additional information or documentation and
respond as promptly as practicable to all inquiries and requests received from
any State Attorney General or other Governmental Entity in connection with
antitrust matters. Concurrently with the filing of notifications under the HSR
Act or as soon thereafter as practicable, the Company and Parent shall each
request early termination of the HSR Act waiting period.

          (d)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall be
deemed to require the Company, Parent or Merger Sub to commence any litigation
against any entity in order to facilitate the consummation of any of the
Transactions or to defend against any litigation brought by any Governmental
Entity seeking to prevent the consummation of any of the Transactions.

     8.5  Shareholders Meeting; Proxy Statement/Registration Statement.

          (a)  Parent, acting through its Board of Directors, shall, in
accordance with applicable law: (i) duly call, give notice of, convene and hold
a special meeting of its stockholders as promptly as practicable for the purpose
of obtaining the Required Parent Stockholder Approval; and (ii) use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain the Required Parent Stockholder Approval and
to take all other action necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of Parent,
advisable to secure any vote or consent of stockholders required under
applicable law.

          (b)  Parent and the Company shall promptly prepare and file with the
SEC under the Act, a Registration Statement on Form S-4 or other appropriate
form (the "S-4 Registration Statement") with respect to the Parent Shares to be
issued in the Merger and will use their reasonable best efforts to have such S-4
Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as promptly as practicable.
Each of the Company and E*TRADE shall have the right to approve the content of
the S-4 Registration Statement insofar as it relates to the Company, E*TRADE,
either of their Affiliates or the Transactions and any amendment of such
content, provided that such parties shall not unreasonably withhold such
approval. Parent shall provide drafts of the S-4 Registration Statement and
copies of all SEC correspondence, comment letters and amendments to both the
Company and E*TRADE and their counsel, and shall obtain the approval of each
such party before submitting or filing any of the foregoing, which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall furnish Parent with all
information and shall take any other action as may reasonably be requested in
connection with the S-4 Registration Statement and shall cooperate with Parent
in preparing and filing the S-4 Registration and any amendment or supplement
thereto.

          (c)  If, at any time prior to the Parent shareholders meeting, any
event should occur relating to or affecting the Company or Parent, or their
respective officers or directors, which event should be described in an
amendment or supplement to the S-4 Registration Statement, the parties shall
promptly prepare, file and clear with the SEC and, if required by

                                       43
<PAGE>

applicable law, mail to the shareholders of the Company or Parent such amendment
or supplement.

     8.6  No Solicitation of Competing Transaction.

          (a)  Neither the Company nor any the Company Subsidiary or Affiliate
of the Company shall (and the Company shall instruct its officers, directors,
employees, representatives and agents of the Company, each Company Subsidiary
and each Affiliate of the Company, including, but not limited to, investment
bankers, attorneys and accountants, not to, and shall not permit any of them
to), directly or indirectly, encourage, solicit, participate in or initiate
discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to, any Person or
group (other than Parent, any of its Affiliates or representatives) concerning
any Acquisition Proposal. The Company shall immediately notify Parent of the
existence of any proposal, discussion, negotiation or inquiry received by the
Company or any of its Affiliates, and the Company shall immediately communicate
to Parent the terms of any proposal, discussion, negotiation or inquiry which it
may receive (and shall immediately provide to Parent copies of any written
materials received by the Company in connection with such proposal, discussion,
negotiation or inquiry) and the identity of the party making such proposal or
inquiry or engaging in such discussion or negotiation. The Company shall
promptly provide to Parent any non-public information concerning the Company
provided to any other party which was not previously provided to Parent.

          (b)  The Company's Board of Directors shall not (i) withdraw or
modify, or propose to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent or
Merger Sub, the approval or recommendation by such Board of Directors of this
Agreement or the Merger, (ii) approve or recommend or propose to approve or
recommend, any Acquisition Proposal or (iii) enter into any agreement with
respect to any Acquisition Proposal.

     8.7  Publicity.

     The initial press release with respect to the execution of this Agreement
shall be a joint press release acceptable to both Parent and the Company.
Thereafter, until the Closing, or the date the Transactions are terminated or
abandoned pursuant to Article XI, neither the Company, Parent nor any of their
respective Affiliates shall issue or cause the publication of any press release
or other announcement with respect to the Merger, this Agreement or the other
Transactions without prior consultation with the other party, except as may be
required by law or by any listing agreement with a national securities exchange
or trading market.

     8.8  Notification of Certain Matters.

     Each of the Company and Parent shall give prompt notice to the other, of
(i) the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or non-
occurrence of which would cause any representation or warranty contained in this
Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect at or prior to the
Effective Time and (ii) any material failure of it to comply with or satisfy any
covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under
this Agreement.  However, the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section
8.8 shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available to the party
receiving such notice.

                                       44
<PAGE>

     8.9  State Takeover Laws.

     If any state takeover statute becomes or is deemed to become applicable to
the Agreement, the acquisition of Shares pursuant to the Merger or the other
Transactions, the Company shall take all action necessary to render such statute
inapplicable to all of the foregoing.

     8.10  Merger Sub Compliance.

     Parent shall cause Merger Sub to comply with all of its obligations under
or related to this Agreement.

     8.11  Expenses.

     Except as provided elsewhere herein, the Company shall bear the direct and
indirect expenses of the Company and Parent shall bear the direct and indirect
expenses of Parent, incurred in connection with the negotiation and preparation
of this Agreement and the Related Agreements and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

     8.12  Tax-Free Reorganization.

     Neither the Company nor Parent shall take any action prior to or after the
Effective Time which is likely to cause the Merger to fail to qualify as a
reorganization within the meaning of the Code.

                                  ARTICLE IX

                                  Conditions

     9.1  Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub.

     The respective obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the
Merger are subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of the
following conditions, any or all of which may be waived in whole or in part by
Parent or Merger Sub, as the case may be, to the extent permitted by applicable
law.

          (a)  Certificate. The representations and warranties of the Company
set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in material respects on
and as of the Effective Time with the same force and effect as though the same
has been made on and as of the Effective Time (except to the extent they relate
to a particular date), except to the extent that all such failures in the
aggregate do not have a material adverse effect on the working capital,
financial condition, assets, liabilities, reserves, business or operations of
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, the Company shall have
performed in all material respects all of its obligations to be performed under
this Agreement, and Parent shall have received at the Effective Time a
certificate to that effect dated the Effective Time and executed by the
President of the Company.

                                       45
<PAGE>

          (b)  Injunction, Regulatory Action. There shall be in effect no
preliminary or permanent injunction or other order of a court or governmental or
regulatory agency of competent jurisdiction directing that the transactions
contemplated not be consummated.

          (c)  S-4 Registration Statement. The S-4 Registration Statement shall
have become effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the S-4
Registration Statement shall have been issued and remain in effect and no
proceedings for such purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC
and any amendment or supplement to the S-4 Registration Statement required to be
prepared, filed and cleared pursuant to Section 8.5 above shall have been so
prepared, filed and cleared.

          (d)  Government Filings and Consents. The governmental filings and
governmental consents set forth on Schedule 9.1(d) shall have been made or
obtained, and any waiting periods or extensions thereof under HSR Act shall have
expired or been terminated.

          (e)  Rule 145. Each Affiliate of the Company shall have executed and
delivered to Parent an Affiliate Letter, together with such other documents and
instruments as Parent may reasonably request related to compliance with the
Securities Act.

          (f)  Opinions of Counsel for the Company. Parent shall have received
the opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, counsel to the Company,
addressed to Parent and dated the Closing Date, as to the organization and
qualification of the Company and the authorization, due execution, validity and
enforceability of the Merger Agreement in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Parent.

          (g)  Tax Opinion. Parent shall have received an opinion of Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, dated on or about the date that is either two
(2) business days prior to the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to
Parent stockholders if a meeting of Parent stockholders is required, and the
date of the Closing, to the effect that (i) the Merger shall be treated for
Federal income tax purposes as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(9) of the Code, and (ii) each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company shall be
a party to the reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code.
In rendering such opinion, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP shall be
entitled to rely upon, among other things, representations contained in
certificates of the Company, Merger Sub and Parent in such form as is reasonably
satisfactory to such counsel.

          (h)  Parent Stockholder Approval. The Required Parent Stockholder
Approval shall have been duly obtained.

          (i)  Dissenting Shares. The Dissenting Shares immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the sum of the issued and
outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock immediately prior to the Effective
Time.

          (j)  Strategic Alliance Agreement. E*TRADE shall not have terminated
the Strategic Alliance Agreement attached as Exhibit F.

          (k)  Readiness to Conduct Business. E*TRADE shall have completed all
procedures necessary, including development of the technical interface, so that
former Parent

                                       46
<PAGE>

brokerage account holders whose accounts have been transferred to E*TRADE can
place bids through the Internet to the Vostock(SM) website and participate in
secondary offerings through the Vostock(SM) auction process.

     9.2  Conditions to the Obligations of the Company.

     The obligation of the Company to consummate the Merger is subject to the
fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions, any
or all of which may be waived in whole or in part by the Company to the extent
permitted by applicable law.

          (a)  Certificate. The representations and warranties of Parent and
Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material
respects on and as of the Effective Time with the same force and effect as
though the same had been made on and as of the Effective Time (except to the
extent they relate to a particular date), except to the extent that all such
failures in the aggregate do not have a material adverse effect on the working
capital, financial condition, assets, liabilities, reserves, business or
operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, Parent and Merger
Sub shall have performed in all material respects all of their respective
obligations to be performed under this Agreement, and the Company shall have
received at the Effective Time a certificate to that effect dated the Effective
Time and executed by the President of Parent.

          (b)  Parent Stockholder Approval. The Required Parent Stockholder
Approval shall have been duly obtained.

          (c)  Injunction, Regulatory Action. There shall be in effect no
preliminary or permanent injunction or other order of a court or governmental or
regulatory agency of competent jurisdiction directing that the transactions
contemplated herein not be consummated.

          (d)  S-4 Registration Statement. The S-4 Registration Statement shall
have become effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the S-4
Registration Statement shall have been issued and remain in effect and no
proceedings for such purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC
and any amendment or supplement to the S-4 Registration Statement required to be
prepared, filed and cleared pursuant to Section 8.5 above shall have been so
prepared, filed and cleared.

          (e)  Governmental Filings and Consents. The governmental filings and
governmental consents set forth on Schedule 9.2(e) shall have been made or
obtained, and any waiting periods or extensions thereof under HSR Act shall have
expired or been terminated.

          (f)  Opinions of Counsel for Parent. The Company shall have received
the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel to Parent,
addressed to the Company and dated the Closing Date as to the organization and
qualification of Parent; authorization, issuance, full payment and
nonassessability of the Parent Shares issuable in the Merger; and the
authorization, due execution, validity and enforceability of the Merger
Agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company.

          (g)  Tax Opinion. The Company shall have received an opinion of Wilson
Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, dated the date of the Closing, to the effect that (i)
the Merger shall

                                       47
<PAGE>

be treated for federal income tax purposes as a reorganization with the meaning
of Section 368(a) of the Code, and (ii) each of Parent, Merger Sub and the
Company shall be a party to the reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(b) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
shall be entitled to rely, among other things, upon representations contained in
certificates of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub in such form as is reasonably
satisfactory to such counsel.

           (h)  Strategic Alliance Agreement. Parent shall not have terminated
the Strategic Alliance Agreement attached as Exhibit F.

                                   ARTICLE X

                          Escrow and Indemnification

     10.1  Escrow Fund.

     Within five (5) business days after the Effective Time, the Parent Shares
comprising the Escrow Fund (as defined below) shall be registered in the name
of, and be deposited with an escrow agent selected by Parent with the reasonable
consent of the Company (the "Escrow Agent"), such deposit (together with
interest and other income thereon) to constitute the escrow fund (the "Escrow
Fund") and to be governed by the terms of the Escrow Agreement in substantially
the form attached as Exhibit H.  The Escrow Fund shall consist of ten percent
(10%) of the Parent Shares issued in the Merger to compensate Parent pursuant to
the indemnification obligations of the Company for Damages (as defined below).
Except for Damages in respect of fraud, the Escrow Fund shall constitute the
exclusive remedy against the Company or any shareholder with respect to any
misrepresentation or breach of, or default in connection with, any of the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements given or made by the
Company in this Agreement, the Company Disclosure Schedule or any exhibit or
Schedule to this Agreement. Escrow Shares means the Parent Shares placed in the
Escrow Fund in accordance with this Section 10.1.

     10.2  Parent's Indemnification Rights.

           (a)  Subject to the limitations set forth in this Article X, from and
after the Effective Time, the shareholders of the Company, jointly and
severally, shall indemnify and hold harmless Parent and its officers, directors,
agents and employees, and each person, if any, who controls or may control the
Parent within the meaning of the Securities Act (referred to individually as an
"Indemnified Person" and collectively as "Indemnified Persons") from and against
any and all losses, costs, damages, liabilities and expenses arising from
claims, demands, actions, causes of action, including, without limitation,
reasonable legal fees, (collectively, "Damages") arising out of any
misrepresentation or breach of, or default in connection with, any of the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements given or made by the
Company in this Agreement, the Company Disclosure Schedule or any exhibit or
Schedule to this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnification
obligations of the Company shareholders for Damages in respect of fraud shall be
several and not joint, and such obligations shall be distributed among the
Company shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Parent Shares
issued to each such shareholder in the Merger.

                                       48
<PAGE>

           (b)  Parent and the Company each acknowledge that such Damages, if
any, would relate to unresolved contingencies existing at the Effective Time,
which if resolved at the Effective Time would have led to a reduction in the
total number of Parent Shares that Parent would have agreed to issue in
connection with the Merger.

           (c)  Parent may not receive any Parent Shares from the Escrow Fund
unless and until one or more Officer's Certificates identifying Damages, the
aggregate amount of which exceeds $3,000,000 (the "Indemnity Threshold"), have
been delivered to the Escrow Agent as provided in Section 10.2 and such amount
is determined pursuant to this Article X to be payable, in which case, Parent
shall receive Parent Shares equal in value to the full amount of Damages. In
determining the amount of any Damage attributable to a breach, any materiality
standard contained in a representation, warranty or covenant of the Company
shall be disregarded.

           (d)  Prior to asserting any claim for indemnification under this
Agreement, Parent must first seek reimbursement for any and all Damages from any
applicable insurance coverage. The parties agree that any indemnification
provided by this Agreement is not to be deemed insurance (whether primary,
excess, or otherwise) for purposes of seeking reimbursement from the applicable
insurance coverage. Nothing in this Agreement shall in any way diminish the
obligation of Parent and/or the Surviving Corporation under applicable law to
attempt to mitigate Damages.

           (e)  The parties agree that there shall not be any multiple recovery
for any Damage.

     10.3  Escrow Period.

     The escrow period (the "Escrow Period") shall terminate at 11:59 p.m.
Pacific Standard Time twelve (12) months following the Closing Date except that
a portion of the Escrow Fund which may be reasonably necessary to satisfy any
unsatisfied claims specified in any Officer's Certificate delivered to the
Escrow Agent prior to termination of the Escrow Period, with respect to facts
and circumstances existing prior to expiration of the Escrow Period, shall
remain in the Escrow Fund until those claims have been resolved.  Parent shall
deliver to the Escrow Agent a certificate specifying the Closing Date.

     10.4  Claims upon Escrow Fund.

           (a)  The Escrow Agent shall set aside such Parent Shares or other
assets held in the Escrow Fund as applicable in an amount equal to the potential
Damages for each claim upon receipt by the Escrow Agent on or before the last
day of the Escrow Period of a certificate signed by any officer of Parent (an
"Officer's Certificate"):

                (i)  stating that actual or potential Damages exist from
unreimbursed claims in an aggregate amount greater than the Indemnity Threshold
for claims against the Escrow Fund; and

                (ii) specifying in reasonable detail the individual items
included in the amount of Damages in such claim, the date each such item was
paid, properly accrued or arose

                                       49
<PAGE>

and the nature of the misrepresentation, breach of warranty or claim to which
such item is related.

           (b)  Upon the earliest of: (i) receipt of written authorization from
the Shareholders' Agent or from the Shareholders' Agent jointly with Parent to
make such delivery, (ii) receipt of written notice of a final decision in
arbitration of the claim, or (iii) in the event the claim set forth in the
Officer's Certificate is uncontested by the Shareholders' Agent as of the close
of business on the next business day following the twentieth (20th) day
following receipt by the Shareholders' Agent of the Officer's Certificate; on
the next business day the Escrow Agent shall deliver Parent Shares or other
assets from the Escrow Fund to Parent having a value equivalent to the Damages.

           (c)  For the purpose of compensating Parent for its Damages pursuant
to this Agreement, the Parent Shares in the Escrow Fund shall have a deemed
value equal to the average of the mean between the closing bid and ask prices as
reported for the primary trading session (currently ending at 4:00 p.m. on the
NNM) during the period comprised of ten (10) consecutive trading days ending on
the second trading day immediately preceding receipt of such Parent Shares by
Parent in satisfaction of such Claim.

           (d)  No Indemnified Person shall have the right to pursue a claim for
Damages against the Escrow Fund or the Company shareholders other than through
Parent.

     10.5  Objections to Claims.

     At the time of delivery of any Officer's Certificate to the Escrow Agent, a
duplicate copy of such Officer's Certificate shall be delivered to the
Shareholders' Agent and for a period of twenty (20) days after such delivery to
the Escrow Agent of such Officer's Certificate, the Escrow Agent shall make no
delivery of Parent Shares pursuant to Section 10.4 unless the Escrow Agent shall
have received written authorization from the Shareholders' Agent to make such
delivery.  After the expiration of such twenty (20) day period, the Escrow Agent
shall make delivery of Parent Shares then in the Escrow Fund in accordance with
Section 10.6, provided that no such payment or delivery may be made if the
Shareholders' Agent shall object in a written statement to the claim made in the
Officer's Certificate, and such statement shall have been delivered to the
Escrow Agent and to Parent prior to the expiration of the twenty (20) day
period.

     10.6  Resolution of Conflicts; Arbitration.

           (a)  In case the Shareholders' Agent shall so object in writing to
any claim or claims by Parent made in any Officer's Certificate, Parent shall
have twenty (20) days after receipt by the Escrow Agent of an objection by the
Shareholders' Agent to respond in a written statement to the objection of the
Shareholders' Agent. If after the twenty (20) day period there remains a dispute
as to any claims, the Shareholders' Agent and Parent shall attempt in good faith
for thirty (30) days to agree upon the rights of the respective parties with
respect to each of such claims. If the Shareholders' Agent and Parent should so
agree, a memorandum setting forth such agreement shall be prepared and signed by
both parties and shall be furnished to the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall
be entitled to rely on any such memorandum and shall distribute the Parent
Shares from the Escrow Fund in accordance with the terms of the memorandum.

                                       50
<PAGE>

           (b)  If no such agreement can be reached after good faith
negotiation, either Parent or the Shareholders' Agent may, by written notice to
the other, demand arbitration of the matter unless the amount of the damage or
loss is at issue in pending litigation with a third party, in which event
arbitration shall not be commenced until such amount is ascertained or both
parties agree to arbitration; and in either such event the matter shall be
settled by arbitration in accordance with Section 13.1. The decision of the
arbitrator as to the validity and amount of any claim in such Officer's
Certificate shall be binding and conclusive upon the parties to this Agreement,
and notwithstanding anything in this Section 10.6, the Escrow Agent shall be
entitled to act in accordance with such decision and make or withhold payments
out of the Escrow Fund in accordance therewith.

           (c)  Parent, on the one hand, and the Company shareholders, on the
other hand, shall each bear their respective expenses (including, attorneys'
fees and expenses) incurred in connection with any such arbitration. The Company
shareholders' expenses and reasonable attorney's fees shall be paid by the
Shareholders' Agent from the Escrow Fund. If the arbitrator or arbitrators find
in favor of Parent as to the claim in dispute, all fees, costs, and the
reasonable expenses of legal counsel incurred by Parent shall be charged against
the Escrow Fund in addition to the amount of the disputed claim. If the
arbitrator or arbitrators find in favor of the Company shareholders as to the
claim in dispute, all fees, costs and the reasonable expenses of legal counsel
incurred by Shareholders' Agent on behalf of the Company shareholders shall be
paid into the Escrow Fund by Parent for the benefit of the Company shareholders.
The fees and expenses of each arbitrator and the administrative fee of the
American Arbitration Association shall be allocated by the arbitrator or
arbitrators, as the case may be (or, if not so allocated, shall be borne equally
by Parent, on the one hand, and the Company shareholders, out of the Escrow Fund
on the other hand).

     10.7  Shareholders' Agent.

           (a)  E*TRADE shall be constituted and appointed as Shareholders'
Agent for and on behalf of the shareholders of the Company to give and receive
notices and communications, to authorize delivery to Parent of the Parent Shares
from the Escrow Fund in satisfaction of claims by Parent, to object to such
deliveries, to agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of,
and demand arbitration and comply with orders of courts and awards of
arbitrators with respect to such claims, and to take all actions necessary or
appropriate in the judgment of the Shareholders' Agent for the accomplishment of
the foregoing. This agency may be changed by the holders of a majority in
interest of the Escrow Fund from time to time upon not less than ten (10) days'
prior written notice to all of the Company shareholders and to Parent. No bond
shall be required of the Shareholders' Agent, and the Shareholders' Agent shall
receive no compensation for his services. Notices or communications to or from
the Shareholders' Agent shall constitute notice to or from each of the Company
shareholders.

           (b)  The Shareholders' Agent is hereby expressly authorized to take
any and all actions in accordance with the direction of a majority of interest
of the Company shareholders. The Shareholders' Agent shall not be liable for any
act done or omitted hereunder as Shareholders' Agent while acting in good faith
and in the exercise of reasonable judgment, and any act done or omitted pursuant
to the advice of counsel or at the direction of a majority in interest of the
Company shareholders shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith. The

                                       51
<PAGE>

Company shareholders shall severally indemnify the Shareholders' Agent and hold
him harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred without gross
negligence or bad faith on the part of the Shareholders' Agent and arising out
of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of his duties.

           (c)  The Shareholders' Agent shall serve without compensation but
shall be reimbursed from the Escrow Fund for all out of pocket expenses
reasonably incurred, including expenses for lawyers and accountants employed on
behalf of the Company shareholders' interests in the Escrow Fund. The
Shareholders' Agent may cause the Escrow Agent, at his request, to exchange
shares of Parent Shares held, with Parent, for cash for each reimbursement.
Parent shall deliver such cash at a per share price equal to the price of such
shares at the close of market on the next trading day preceding such exchange.
In no event shall the Shareholders' Agent be entitled to incur expenses
reimbursable by the Escrow Fund in excess of $500,000 without first obtaining
the written consent of the holders of a majority in interest of the Escrow Fund.

     10.8  Actions of the Shareholders' Agent.

     A decision, act, consent or instruction of the Shareholders' Agent shall
constitute a decision of all of the Company shareholders and shall be final,
binding and conclusive upon each and every Company shareholder, and the Escrow
Agent and Parent may rely upon any decision, act, consent or instruction of the
Shareholders' Agent as being the decision, act, consent or instruction of each
and every Company shareholder.  The Escrow Agent and Parent are hereby relieved
from any liability to any person for any acts done by them in accordance with
such decision, act, consent or instruction of the Shareholders' Agent.

     10.9  Third-Party Claims.

     If Parent becomes aware of a third-party claim which Parent believes may
result in a demand against the Escrow Fund, Parent shall promptly notify the
Shareholders' Agent of that claim, and the Shareholders' Agent and the Company
shareholders shall be entitled, at their expense, to participate in any defense
of that claim.  Parent shall have the right in its sole discretion to settle any
claim.  However, Parent may not effect the settlement of any  claim without the
consent of the Shareholders' Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.  In the event that the Shareholders' Agent has consented to any such
settlement, the Shareholders' Agent shall have no power or authority to object
under Section 10.5 or any other provision of this Article X to any claim by
Parent against the Escrow Fund for indemnity in the amount of such settlement.

     10.10 Shareholders' Indemnification Rights.

           (a)  Subject to the limitations set forth in this Article X, Parent
shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company shareholders, officers, directors,
agents and employees of the Company, and each person, if any, who controls or
may control the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, (referred to
individually as a "Company Indemnified Person" and together as "Company
Indemnified Persons") from and against any and all Damages arising out of any
misrepresentation or breach of, or default in connection with, any of the
representations,

                                       52
<PAGE>

warranties, covenants and agreements given or made by Parent in this Agreement,
the Parent Disclosure Schedule or any exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement.

            (b)  The Company Indemnified Persons may not receive any
compensation for Damages unless and until one or more Shareholder's Certificates
identifying Damages, the aggregate amount of which exceeds the Indemnity
Threshold, have been delivered to Parent Representative as provided in Section
10.11 and such amount is determined pursuant to this Article X to be payable, in
which case, the Company Indemnified Persons shall be entitled to receive funds
equal in value to the full amount of such Damages. In determining the amount of
any Damage attributable to a breach, any materiality standard contained in a
representation, warranty or covenant of the Company shall be disregarded.

            (c)  Prior to asserting any claim for indemnification under this
Agreement, the Company Indemnified Persons must first seek reimbursement for any
and all Damages from any applicable insurance coverage. The parties agree that
any indemnification provided by this Agreement is not to be deemed insurance
(whether primary, excess, or otherwise) for purposes of seeking reimbursement
from the applicable insurance coverage. Nothing in this Agreement shall in any
way diminish the obligation of the Company Indemnified Persons under applicable
law to attempt to mitigate Damages.

            (d)  The parties agree that there shall not be any multiple recovery
for any Damage.

     10.11  Claims against Parent.

            (a)  To register a claim against Parent, the Shareholders' Agent
shall deliver to Parent on or before the last day of the Escrow Period a
certificate signed by the Shareholders' Agent (a "Shareholders' Certificate"):

                 (i)   stating that actual or potential Damages exist from
unrealized claims in an aggregate amount greater than the Indemnity Threshold
for claims against Parent; and

                 (ii)  specifying in reasonable detail the individual items
included in the amount of Damages in such claim, the date each such item was
paid, properly accrued or arose and the nature of the misrepresentation, breach
of warranty or claim to which such item is related.

            (b)  Upon the earliest of: (i) receipt of written notice of a final
decision in arbitration of the claim, or (ii) in the event Parent and the
Shareholders' Agent sign a memorandum in resolution of a conflict in accordance
with Section 10.13, or (iii) in the event the claim set forth in the
Shareholders' Certificate is uncontested by Parent as of the close of business
on the next business day following the twentieth (20th) day following receipt by
Parent of the Shareholders' Certificate; on the next business day Parent shall
deliver funds to the Shareholders' Agent having a value equivalent to the
Damages.

            (c)  No Company Indemnified Person shall have the right to pursue
any claim for Damages against Parent other than through the Shareholders' Agent.
The Escrow Agent may

                                       53
<PAGE>

rely upon any decision, act, consent or instruction of the Shareholders' Agent
as the decision act, consent, or instruction of each and every Company
Indemnified Person.

     10.12  Objections to Claims Against Parent.

     At the time of delivery of any Shareholders' Certificate, Parent shall have
a period of twenty (20) days after such delivery to confer with the appropriate
officers of Parent regarding the claims on the Shareholders' Certificate.  After
the expiration of such twenty (20) day period, Parent shall either make delivery
of funds in accordance with Section 10.11 or object in a written statement to
the claim made in the Shareholders' Certificate.

     10.13  Resolution of Conflicts; Arbitration.

            (a)  In case Parent shall so object in writing to any claim or
claims by the Company Indemnified Persons made in any Shareholders' Certificate,
the Shareholders' Agent shall have twenty (20) days after receipt by Parent to
respond in a written statement to the objection of Parent. If after the twenty
(20) day period there remains a dispute as to any claims, Parent and the
Shareholders' Agent shall attempt in good faith for thirty (30) days to agree
upon the rights of the respective parties with respect to each of such claims.
If Parent and the Shareholders' Agent should so agree, a memorandum setting
forth such agreement shall be prepared and signed by both parties. Parent shall
promptly make delivery of funds to the Company Indemnified Persons in accordance
with the terms of such memorandum.

            (b)  If no such agreement can be reached after good faith
negotiation, either the Shareholders' Agent or Parent may, by written notice to
the other, demand arbitration of the matter unless the amount of the damage or
loss is at issue in pending litigation with a third party, in which event
arbitration shall not be commenced until such amount is ascertained or both
parties agree to arbitration; and in either such event the matter shall be
settled by arbitration in accordance with Section 13.1. The decision of the
arbitrator as to the validity and amount of any claim in such Officer's
Certificate shall be binding and conclusive upon the parties to this Agreement.

            (c)  The allocation of expenses incurred in connection with any such
arbitration shall be as set forth in Section 10.6(c).

     10.14  Third Party Claims.

     If the Company Indemnified Persons become aware of a third-party claim
which the Company Indemnified Persons believe may result in a demand against
Parent, the Shareholders' Agent shall promptly notify Parent of that claim, and
Parent and the Company Indemnified Persons shall be entitled, at their expense,
to participate in any defense of that claim.  However, the Shareholders' Agent
may not effect the settlement of any claim without the consent of Parent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.  In the event that Parent has
consented to any such settlement, Parent shall have no power or authority to
object under Section 10.12 or any other provision of this Article X to any claim
by Company Indemnified Persons for indemnification against Damages in the amount
of such settlement.

                                       54
<PAGE>

     10.15  Survival.

     The representations and warranties of the Company and Parent contained in
this Agreement shall survive until the termination of the Escrow Period.

                                  ARTICLE XI

                             Termination/Survival

     11.1  Termination.

            (a)  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the
Closing as follows:

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

                 (ii)  by Parent or the Company if it has become impossible that
one or more of the conditions to the other party's obligation to close the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be satisfied on or prior to
the date set forth in Section 11.1(a)(vii) below and such condition or
conditions has not been waived promptly after such impossibility has become
known;

                 (iii) by Parent, on the one hand, or by the Company, on the
other hand, if there shall have been a breach of any of the representations and
warranties set forth in this Agreement on the part of the other, which breach
would, under Section 9.1(a) (in the case of a breach of representation or
warranty by the Company) or Section 9.2(a) (in the case of a breach of
representation or warranty by Parent), entitle the party receiving such
representations and warranties not to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby and which breach by its nature cannot be cured prior to the date set
forth in Section 11.1(a)(vii) below;

                 (iv)  by the Company, on the one hand, or by Parent, on the
other hand, if there shall have been a material breach of any of the covenants
or agreements set forth in this Agreement on the part of the Company (in the
case of termination by Parent) or on the part of Parent (in the case of
termination by the Company), which breach shall not have been cured within
twenty (20) business days following receipt by the breaching party of written
notice of such breach from the other; and

                 (v)   at the election of Parent or the Company, if the Closing
shall not occur on or before October 31, 2000.

     Notwithstanding Section 11.1(a)(ii)-(v) hereof, a party who is in material
breach of any of its obligations or representations and warranties hereunder
shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
11.1(a)(ii)-(v).

            (b)  The termination of this Agreement shall be effectuated by the
delivery by the party terminating this Agreement to the other party of a written
notice of such termination. If this Agreement so terminates, it shall become
null and void and have no further force or effect, except as provided in Section
11.2.

                                       55
<PAGE>

            (c)  If this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to
Section 11.1 (a)(iii) or Section 11.1 (a)(iv), Parent shall pay to the Company,
promptly upon receiving from the Company a written accounting of all direct and
indirect expenses incurred by it in connection with the negotiation and
preparation of this Agreement and the Related Agreements and its preparation to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby ("Company
Expenses"), a cash amount equal to the aggregate amount of such Company
Expenses.

            (d)  If this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section
11.1(a)(iii) or Section 11.1 (a)(iv), the Company shall pay to Parent, promptly
upon receiving from Parent a written accounting of all direct and indirect
expenses incurred by it in connection with the negotiation and preparation of
this Agreement and the Related Agreements and its preparation to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby ("Parent Expenses"), a cash amount
equal to the aggregate amount of such Parent Expenses.

            (e)  If:

                 (i)   this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to
Section 11.1 (a)(ii) on the grounds that it has become impossible that the
condition set forth in Section 9.2(b) will be satisfied on or prior to the date
set forth in Section 11.1 (a)(v);

                 (ii)  this Agreement is terminated by either party pursuant to
Section 11.1 (a)(v) and the condition set forth in Section 9.2(b) shall not have
been satisfied on or prior to the date set forth in Section 11.1(a)(v);

                 (iii) the Board of Directors of Parent or Merger Sub withdraws
or modifies its approval or recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger; or

                 (iv)  the Required Parent Stockholder Approval is not obtained
at the meeting of the stockholders of Parent convened for the purpose of
obtaining such approval (or any adjournment or postponement thereof),

then in any such case, Parent shall pay to the Company, upon the earlier of any
such event or Parent's receipt of notice from the Company that any such event
shall have occurred, a cash penalty in the amount of $13,330,000, and shall
thereupon be entitled to terminate this Agreement without further liability by
Parent or Merger Sub to the Company or any of its shareholders, except for
Company Expenses described in the following sentence arising through the date of
termination.  In addition, Parent shall pay to the Company, promptly upon
receiving from the Company a written accounting of its Company Expenses, a cash
amount equal to the aggregate amount of such Company Expenses.

     11.2  Effect of Termination.

     In the event of termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 11.1,
this Agreement (other than Section 8.3) shall become void and have no effect
except that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, no party shall be relieved or released from any liabilities or
damages arising out of its breach of any provision of this Agreement.  In the
event of termination of this Agreement, Parent and the Company shall continue to
honor the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, including the return of all
confidential materials.

                                       56
<PAGE>

     11.3  No Survival of Representations and Warranties and Covenants.

     In the event of termination of this Agreement by a party without a breach
by such party, the respective representations and warranties of such party
contained herein and in the certificates of such party to be delivered at the
Closing shall expire.

                                  ARTICLE XII

                                  Definitions

     12.1  Definitions.

     For all purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided
or unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

     "Acquisition Proposal" shall mean any proposal or offer to acquire all or a
substantial part of the business or properties of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary or any capital stock of the Company or any Company Subsidiary,
whether by merger, tender offer, exchange offer, stock purchase, purchase, of
assets or similar transactions involving the Company or any Subsidiary, division
or operating or principal business unit of the Company.

     "Advisers Act" means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and
all rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

     "Affiliate" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act.

     "Affiliate Letter" shall mean a letter for use with respect to sales of
stock by Affiliates of the Company who become Affiliates of Parent which is
executed and delivered by each Affiliate of the Company and delivered to Parent
pursuant to Section 9.1(f) hereof and which complies as to form with the
requirements of SEC Rule 145.

     "Agreement" or "this Agreement" shall mean this Agreement and Plan of
Merger, together with the Exhibits and Schedules attached and the Disclosure
Schedule.

     "Agreement of Merger" shall mean the Agreement of Merger to be filed with
the Secretary of State of the State of California at the Closing.

     "Balance Sheet Date" shall mean the date of the Company Balance Sheet.

     "California Law" shall mean the general Corporation Law of the State of
California, as amended.

     "Cause" shall mean the relevant employee's (i) neglect, failure or refusal
to timely perform the duties of his employment (other than by reason of a
physical or mental illness or impairment), or his gross negligence in the
performance of his duties, (ii) material breach of any agreements, covenants and
representations made in any employment agreement or other agreement with Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) violation of any law, rule, regulation or by-
law of any governmental authority (state, federal or foreign), any securities
exchange or

                                       57
<PAGE>

association or other regulatory or self-regulatory body or agency applicable to
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any material general policy or directive of
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries applicable to such employee, (iv) conviction
of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a crime involving moral turpitude,
dishonesty, fraud or unethical business conduct, or a felony, (v) giving or
accepting undisclosed material commissions or other payments in cash or in kind
in connection with the affairs of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or their
clients, (vi) failure to obtain or maintain any registration, license or other
authorization or approval that Parent reasonably believes is required in order
for the employee to perform his duties; or (vii) habitual abuse of alcohol or
drugs.

     "Certificate of Merger" shall mean the Certificate of Merger to be filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware at Closing.

     "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     "Company Agreement" shall mean any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease,
license, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which the
Company or any the Company Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them or any
of their properties or assets may be bound.

     "Company Board of Directors" shall mean the board of directors of the
Company.

     "Company Financial Statements" shall have the meaning given in Section 6.8.

     "Company's knowledge" or "best knowledge of the Company" shall mean the
actual knowledge of the President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial
Officer or Controller of the Company.

     "Company Subsidiary" shall mean each Person which is a Subsidiary of the
Company.

     "Confidentiality Agreement" shall mean the letter agreement regarding
confidentiality between the Company and Parent.

     "Delaware Law" shall mean the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, as amended.

     "Disclosure Schedule" shall mean the disclosure schedule dated the same
date as this Agreement prepared and signed by the Company or Parent, as the case
may be, and delivered to the other simultaneously with the execution hereof.

     "Employment Agreement" means an employment agreement and non-disclosure,
non-competition and assignment of inventions agreement substantially in the form
of Exhibit E.

     "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.

     "ERISA Affiliate" shall mean any trade or business, whether or not
incorporated, that together with the Company or Parent, as applicable, would be
deemed a "single employer" within the meaning of Section 4001(b) of ERISA.

                                       58
<PAGE>

     "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

     "GAAP" shall mean United States generally accepted accounting principles.

     "Governmental Documents" means all reports and registration statements
filed, or required to be filed, by law, by contract or otherwise, by an entity
pursuant to the authority of any Governmental Entity.

     "Governmental Entity" shall mean any nation, state, territory, province,
county, city or other unit or subdivision thereof or any entity, authority,
agency, department, board, commission, instrumentality, court or other judicial
body authorized on behalf of any of the foregoing to exercise legislative,
judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government
and, in the case of the Company, any governmental or non-governmental self-
regulatory organization of which the Company or any the Company Subsidiary was
or is a member or to whose regulations any thereof was or is subject or, in the
case of Parent, any governmental or non-governmental self-regulatory
organization of which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary was or is a member or to
whose regulations any thereof was or is subject.

     "HSR Act" shall mean the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended.

     "Indebtedness" shall mean any loan, promissory note, or other evidence of
debt.

     "Intellectual Property" means all domestic and foreign copyrights, patents,
proprietary models, databases, service marks, software, trade names, trademarks
and trade secrets, and all registrations or applications for registration of any
of the foregoing.

     "Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

     For purposes of this Agreement, the terms "material adverse effect" and
"material adverse change" shall exclude effects attributable to (a) declines in
the U.S. stock market, (b) the announcement or pendency of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, (c) declines in economic activity in the U.S.,
or (d) changes in the industry generally in which the Company operates.

     "Merger Sub" shall mean Wit SoundView Corporation, a Delaware corporation
which is a direct wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent.

     "Merger Sub Common Stock" shall mean common stock, par value $.01 per
share, of Merger Sub.

     "NNM" shall mean the Nasdaq National Market.

     "NASD" shall mean the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
NASD Regulation, Inc. or The Nasdaq National Market, Inc., as the context may
require.

                                       59
<PAGE>

     "Parent Agreement" shall mean any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease,
license, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Parent
or any Parent Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them or any of their
properties or assets may be bound.

     "Parent Balance Sheet" shall mean the most recent balance sheet of Parent
and its consolidated subsidiaries included in the Financial Statements.

     "Parent Board of Directors" shall mean the board of directors of Parent.

     "Parent Common Stock" shall mean shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01
per share, of Parent.

     "Parent Financial Statements" shall mean the financial statements of Parent
included in the Governmental Documents.

     "Parent Pooled Products" means each vehicle for collective investment (in
whatever form of organization, including in the form of a corporation, company,
limited liability company, partnership (limited or general), association, trust
or other entity and including each separate portfolio of any of the foregoing)
but only during the period with respect to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary
has acted or acts as the sponsor, general partner, managing member, trustee,
investment manager, investment adviser (but excluding for all purposes other
than its investment advisory services any Parent Pooled Product as to which
Parent or such Parent Subsidiary has acted or acts solely in a subadvisory
capacity) or in a similar capacity.

     "Parent Subsidiary" shall mean each Person which is a Subsidiary of Parent.

     "Parent's knowledge" or "best knowledge of Parent" shall mean the actual
knowledge of the Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, the Vice Chairman, Co-
Chief Executive Officer and President, the Vice Chairman, Founder and Chief
Strategist, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Director
of Investment Banking or either of the Co-General Counsels.

     "Person" shall mean a natural person, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
association, joint venture, Governmental Entity or other entity or organization.

     "Plan" shall mean, with respect to the Company, a plan, program, agreement,
arrangement or program required to be included in the Disclosure Schedule of the
Company pursuant to Section 6.17(a) and with respect to Parent, a plan, program,
agreement, management or program required to be included in the Disclosure
Schedule of the Company pursuant to Section 7.17(a).

     "Proxy Statement" shall mean the proxy statement to be filed by Parent with
the SEC, together with all amendments and supplements thereto and including the
exhibits thereto.

     "Records" means all records and original documents in the possession of the
Company or any the Company Subsidiary or Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, as the
case may be, which pertain to or have been or are utilized by the Company or any
the Company Subsidiary or Parent

                                       60
<PAGE>

or any Parent Subsidiary, as the case may be, to administer, reflect, monitor,
evidence or record information respecting the business or conduct of the Company
or any the Company Subsidiary including, without limitation, (1) all such
records maintained on electronic or magnetic media, or in an electronic database
system, and (2) all such records as necessary to comply with any applicable law,
including, without limitation, any and all records kept in accordance with, or
documents filed pursuant to, any Securities Laws.

     "Related Agreements" shall mean the Account Transfer Agreement, the
Confidentiality Agreement, the Employment Agreements, the Standstill Agreement,
the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Strategic Alliance Agreement, the Voting
Agreements, and the Warrant.

     "S-4 Registration Statement" shall mean the registration statement on Form
S-4 or other appropriate form of Parent contemplated by Article VIII of this
Agreement.

     "SEC" shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

     "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

     "Securities Laws" means the Securities Act; the Exchange Act; the
Investment Company Act; the Advisers Act; the securities or "blue sky" laws of
any state or territory of the United States; the rules and regulations of the
NASD; the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, and the published rules and
regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission promulgated thereunder;
and the comparable laws, rules and regulations in effect in any other country.

     "Software" means (i) any and all computer software programs, including all
source and object code, (ii) databases and compilations, including any and all
data and collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise, (iii) all
descriptions, flow-charts and other work product used to design, plan, organize
and develop any of the foregoing, (iv) all domain names and the content
contained on the respective Internet site(s), and (v) all documentation,
including user manuals and training materials, relating to any of the foregoing.

     "Standstill Agreement" shall mean the Standstill Agreement to be executed
by E*TRADE and Parent simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement.

     "Stock Equivalent" shall mean any stock option, warrant, or convertible
debt instrument which may be converted into capital stock.

     "Subsidiary" shall mean, with respect to any party, any corporation or
other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which (a) at
least a majority of the securities or other interests having by their terms
ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors or others
performing similar functions with respect to such corporation or other
organization is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such party or by
any one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such party and one or more of its
Subsidiaries or (b) such party or any other Subsidiary of such party is a
general partner, managing member or Person performing similar functions
(excluding any such partnership or other entity where such party or any
Subsidiary of such party does not have general primary decisional authority in
such partnership

                                       61
<PAGE>

or other entity). "Subsidiary" excludes any investment fund owned by E*TRADE
unless E*TRADE owns at least a majority of the securities or voting interests of
the investment fund.

     "Surviving Corporation" shall have the meaning given in Section 1.1.

     "Tax" or "Taxes" shall mean all taxes, charges, fees, duties, levies,
penalties or other assessments imposed by any federal, state, local or foreign
governmental authority, including, but not limited to, income, gross receipts,
excise, property, sales, gain, use, license, custom duty, unemployment, capital
stock, transfer, franchise, payroll, withholding, social security, minimum
estimated, and other taxes, and shall include interest, penalties or additions
attributable thereto;

     "Tax Return" shall mean any return, declaration, report, claim for refund,
or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or
attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

     "Title IV Plan" shall mean a Plan that is subject to Section 302 or Title
IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.

     "Transactions" shall mean the transactions provided for or contemplated by
this Agreement and the Related Agreements.

     "Voting Debt" shall mean indebtedness having general voting rights and debt
convertible into securities having such rights.

     12.2  Additional Definitions.

     The following terms shall have the meaning specified in the indicated
section of this Agreement.

                          Term                                      Section
                          ----                                      -------

Agreement................................................  Preamble
Certificates.............................................  Section 4.2(b)
Closing..................................................  Section 1.2
Code.....................................................  Recitals
Company..................................................  Preamble
Company Balance Sheet....................................  Section 6.8
Company Capital Stock....................................  Section 4.2(a)
Company Common Stock.....................................  Section 4.1(a)
Company Financial Statements.............................  Section 6.8
Company Permits..........................................  Section 6.9(b)
Company Stock Options....................................  Section 4.1(e)
Company Stock Option Plan(s).............................  Section 4.1(e)

                                       62
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             Term                         Section
                             ----                         -------
       <S>                                             <C>
       Company Technology Systems....................  Section 6.15(a)
       Damages.......................................  Section 10.2
       Dissenting Shares.............................  Section 4.1(b)
       Effective Time................................  Section 1.3
       Exchange Agent................................  Section 4.2(a)
       Exchange Ratio................................  Section 4.1(a)
       Fractional Securities Fund....................  Section 4.3
       Indemnified D&Os..............................  Section 5.8
       Merger........................................  Section 1.1
       Merger Sub....................................  Preamble
       Parent........................................  Preamble
       Parent Common Stock...........................  Section 4.1(e)
       Parent Common Stock Options...................  Section 4.1(e)
       Parent Permits................................  Section 7.9(b)
       Parent Rights.................................  Section 4.1(a)
       Parent Rights Agreement.......................  Section 4.1(a)
       Parent Shares.................................  Section 4.1(a)
       Parent Technology Systems.....................  Section 7.15
       Retention Options.............................  Section 5.5
       S-4 Registration Statement....................  Section 8.5(a)
       Stock Price...................................  Section 4.1
       Stock Merger Exchange Fund....................  Section 4.2(a)
       Surviving Corporation.........................  Section 1.1
</TABLE>

                                 ARTICLE XIII

                                 Miscellaneous

     13.1  Disputes.

     Except for requests for injunctive relief, specific performance or
enforcement of the award of an arbitrator, all disputes arising in connection
with this Agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with
the applicable rules of the American Arbitration Association.  The arbitration
shall be held in the State of Illinois before a single arbitrator selected in
accordance with Section 12 of the American Arbitration Association Commercial

                                       63
<PAGE>

Arbitration Rules who shall have substantial business experience in the
investment banking industry, and shall otherwise be conducted in accordance with
such association's Commercial Arbitration Rules.  The award of such arbitrator
shall be enforceable in any court having jurisdiction over the parties to such
arbitration.

     13.2  Amendments; Extension; Waiver.

     Subject to compliance with applicable law this Agreement may be amended,
altered or modified by written instrument executed by E*TRADE and each of the
parties to this Agreement without any requirement that the shareholders of any
party approve any amendment that does not materially decrease the consideration
provided by this Agreement to the shareholders.  However, the Company may waive
in writing the performance by Parent of any of its representations, warranties,
covenants or other agreements and that Parent may waive in writing the
performance by the Company of any of its representations, warranties covenants
or other agreements.

     13.3  Entire Agreement.

     This Agreement (including Exhibits, Schedules, certificates and lists
referred to in this Agreement, and any documents executed by the parties
simultaneously or pursuant to this Agreement) and the Related Agreements
constitute the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto, except
as provided herein, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings,
written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

     13.4  Specific Performance; Injunctive Relief.

     Each party understands and agrees that it shall be irreparably damaged in
the event this Agreement is not specifically enforced.  Each party, therefore,
agrees that in the event of a breach of any material provision of this
Agreement, the aggrieved party may elect to institute and prosecute proceedings
in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce specific performance or to
enjoin the continuing breach of this Agreement.  Such remedies shall, however,
be cumulative and not exclusive, and shall be in addition to any other remedy
which a party may have.

     13.5  Interpretation.

     When a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, Exhibit, Annex or
Schedule, such reference shall be to a Section of or Exhibit, Annex or Schedule
to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  The table of contents and
headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall
not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  Whenever
the words "include," "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they
shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation."  Whenever the
context may require, any pronouns used in this Agreement shall include the
corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms and the singular form of nouns
and pronouns shall include the plural and vice versa.  The phrases "the date of
this Agreement," "the date hereof" and terms of similar import, unless the
context otherwise requires, shall be deemed to refer to the date set forth in
the first paragraph of this Agreement.

                                       64
<PAGE>

     13.6  Severability.

     Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable
in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent
of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or
unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting
the validity or enforce ability of any of the terms or provisions of this
Agreement in any other jurisdiction.  If any provision of this Agreement is so
broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only so
broad as is enforceable.

     13.7  Related Agreements.

     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the parties hereto agree
that the transactions contemplated by each of this Agreement, the Account
Transfer Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement and the Strategic Alliance
Agreement shall not be consummated, and that each such Agreement shall
immediately be terminated, unless either (a) each of the foregoing agreements is
in full force and effect immediately prior to the Closing of the Merger, or (b)
each of the Company, Parent and E*TRADE shall have consented in writing to the
Closing of the Merger notwithstanding the failure of one or more of such
agreements to be in full force and effect immediately prior thereto.  In
addition, each of the parties hereto agrees that each of the Account Transfer
Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement and the Strategic Alliance Agreement
shall be terminated immediately upon termination of this Agreement, unless
otherwise agreed in writing by the Company, Parent and E*TRADE.

     13.8  Notices.

     All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed given if (a) delivered in person, (b) transmitted by facsimile
(with confirmation), (c) mailed by certified or registered mail (return receipt
requested) or (d) delivered by an express courier (with confirmation) to the
parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as
shall be specified by like notice):

     If to Parent:

                        Wit Capital Group, Inc.
                        826 Broadway
                        New York, New York 10003
                        Facsimile: (212) 253-5289
                        Attention: Ronald Readmond
                                   Vice Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer
                                   and President
     With copies to:
                        Wit Capital Group, Inc.
                        826 Broadway
                        New York, New York 10003
                        Facsimile: (212) 253-5289
                        Attention: Lloyd H. Feller, Esq.
                                   Senior Vice President and Co-General Counsel
     And

                                       65
<PAGE>

                          Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
                          Four Times Square, 30th Floor
                          New York, New York  10036
                          Facsimile: (212) 735-2000
                          Attention: Richard T. Prins, Esq.
     And
                          Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
                          525 University Avenue, Suite 220
                          Palo Alto, California  94301
                          Facsimile:  (650) 470-4570
                          Attention:  Kenton J. King, Esq.
If to the Company:
                          E*OFFERING Corp.
                          Steuart Street Tower, 4th Floor
                          One Market Street
                          San Francisco, California  94105
                          Facsimile: (415) 618-6202
                          Attention: Steven R. King, President
     With copies to:
                          Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
                          650 Page Mill Road
                          Palo Alto, CA  94304
                          Facsimile: (650) 461-5380
                          Attention: Alan K. Austin, Esq.
     And
                          Brobeck Phleger & Harrison LLP
                          Two Embarcadero Place
                          2200 Geng Road
                          Palo Alto, CA  94303
                          Facsimile: (650) 496-2885
                          Attention: Curtis L. Mo, Esq.

     13.9  Binding Effect; Persons Benefiting; No Assignment.

     This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties hereto and the respective heirs, legal representatives, estates,
executors, successors and permitted assigns of the parties and such persons.
Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, nothing in this Agreement is
intended or shall be construed to confer upon any entity or person other than
the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, estates,
executors, successors and permitted assigns any right, remedy or claim under or
by reason of their Agreement or any part hereof.  Without the prior written
consent of each of the other parties hereto, this Agreement and the rights
hereunder may not be assigned by any of the parties hereto.

                                       66
<PAGE>

     13.10  Counterparts.

     This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute
one and the same agreement, it being understood that all of the parties need not
sign the same counterpart.

     13.11  Governing Law.

     THIS AGREEMENT, THE LEGAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND THE
ADJUDICATION AND THE ENFORCEMENT THEREOF, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND INTERPRETED
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE,
WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW THEREOF.

     13.12  Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial and Certain Damages.

     Subject to the arbitration requirements of Section 12.1 hereof, all actions
arising under or relating to this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the
Federal District Court for Delaware, the Southern District of New York, the
Northern District of California, or in any Delaware, New York or California
State Court sitting in such district and having subject matter jurisdiction over
such matters, and each of the parties hereto consents and agrees to personal
jurisdiction, and waives any objection as to the venue, of such courts for
purposes of such action.  The parties to this Agreement agree to waive any right
to a jury trial as to all disputes and any right to seek punitive or
consequential damages.

                                       67
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement and Plan
of Merger to be executed as of the date first written above.

                                    WIT CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

                                    By:  /s/ Ronald Readmond
                                        --------------------------------------
                                    Name:   Ronald Readmond
                                    Title:  Vice Chairman, Co-Chief Executive
                                            Officer and President

                                    E*OFFERING CORP.

                                    By:  /s/ Steven R. King
                                        --------------------------------------
                                    Name:   Steven R. King
                                    Title:  President

                                    WIT SOUNDVIEW CORPORATION

                                    By:  /s/ Ronald Readmond
                                        --------------------------------------
                                    Name:   Ronald Readmond
                                    Title:  President

                                       68
<PAGE>

EXHIBITS
--------

Exhibit A           Preliminary Allocation Schedule
Exhibit B           Restrictive Legend
Exhibit C           Voting Agreement (Company Shareholders)
Exhibit D           Voting Agreement (Parent Stockholders)
Exhibit E           Form of Employment Agreement
Exhibit F           Strategic Alliance Agreement
Exhibit G           Standstill Agreement
Exhibit H           Form of Escrow Agreement

SCHEDULES
---------

Schedule 4.1(e)     Non-Employee Company Stock Options
Schedule 4.2(b)     Base Lock-up Shares
Schedule 5.1        List of Certain Shareholders
Schedule 5.2        List of Certain Stockholders
Schedule 5.3        List of Employees
Schedule 5.5        Retention Schedule
Schedule 6.2        Company Subsidiaries and Affiliates
Schedule 6.3        Company Stock Options
Schedule 6.17       Company Employee Benefit Plans
Schedule 6.20       Company Contracts and Commitments
Schedule 6.21       Company Insurance
Schedule 6.22       Company Personnel
Schedule 7.2        Subsidiaries, Affiliates and Investments in Non-Public
                    Entities
Schedule 7.3        Parent Stock Options
Schedule 7.16       Litigation, Arbitration and Mediation
Schedule 7.17       Parent Employee Benefit Plans
Schedule 7.20       Parent Contracts and Commitments
Schedule 7.21       Parent Insurance
Schedule 8.2        Interim Operations of Parent
Schedule 9.1(d)     Company Governmental Filings and Consents

                                       69

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