Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18

                       Joint Commercialization Agreement

                                    Between

                              Dendreon Corporation

                                      And

                             Kirin Brewery Co. Ltd.

[ * ] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
<PAGE>

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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<S>          <C>                                                                      <C>
 ARTICLE 1   DEFINITIONS...........................................................    1
       1.1   "Active Party"........................................................    1
       1.2   "Affiliate"...........................................................    1
       1.3   "Allowable Expenses"..................................................    1
       1.4   "Collaboration Discoveries"...........................................    2
       1.5   "Collaboration Patent"................................................    2
       1.6   "Collaboration Product"...............................................    2
       1.7   "Collaboration Technology"............................................    2
       1.8   "Commercialization Budget"............................................    2
       1.9   "Commercialization Plan"..............................................    2
      1.10   "Controlled"..........................................................    2
      1.11   "Dendreon Antigen"....................................................    2
      1.12   "Dendreon Improvement"................................................    2
      1.13   "Dendreon Know-How"...................................................    2
      1.14   "Dendreon Patents"....................................................    2
      1.15   "Dendreon Product"....................................................    3
      1.16   "Dendritic Cell"......................................................    3
      1.17   "Development Budget"..................................................    3
      1.18   "Development Plan"....................................................    3
      1.19   "Drug Approval Application"...........................................    3
      1.20   "Field"...............................................................    3
      1.21   "Inactive Party"......................................................    3
      1.22   "Information".........................................................    3
      1.23   "Joint Commercialization Committee" or "JCC"..........................    3
      1.24   "Joint Development Committee" or "JDC"................................    3
      1.25   "Joint Territory".....................................................    4
      1.26   "Kirin Antigen".......................................................    4
      1.27   "Kirin Improvements"..................................................    4
      1.28   "Kirin Know-How"......................................................    4
      1.29   "Kirin Patents".......................................................    4
</TABLE>

[ * ] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked
by brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

                                       i
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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

<TABLE>
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<S>          <C>                                                                      <C>

      1.30   "Kirin Product".......................................................    4
      1.31   "Marketing Profits"...................................................    4
      1.32   "Net Revenue".........................................................    4
      1.33   "Patent"..............................................................    4
      1.34   "Patent Costs"........................................................    5
      1.35   "Pre-Reconciliation Profit"...........................................    5
      1.36   "Product".............................................................    5
      1.37   "Reasonable Efforts"..................................................    5
      1.38   "Regulatory Approval".................................................    5
      1.39   "Separation Devices"..................................................    5
      1.40   "Sublicensee".........................................................    5
      1.41   "Sublicense Revenues".................................................    5
      1.42   "Third Party".........................................................    5
      1.43   "Third Party Royalties"...............................................    5
 ARTICLE 2   JOINT DEVELOPMENT.....................................................    6
       2.1   Overview..............................................................    6
       2.2   Joint Development Committee...........................................    6
       2.3   JDC Meetings..........................................................    6
       2.4   Decision-Making and Issue Resolution..................................    6
       2.5   Joint Development.....................................................    6
       2.6   Development Plans and Budgets.........................................    7
       2.7   Costs of Joint Development............................................    7
       2.8   Reimbursement of Development Costs....................................    8
       2.9   Audit Rights..........................................................    8
      2.10   Manufacture and Supply................................................    8
 ARTICLE 3   JOINT COMMERCIALIZATION...............................................    8
       3.1   Overview..............................................................    8
       3.2   Joint Commercialization Committee.....................................    9
       3.3   JCC Meetings..........................................................    9
       3.4   Decision-Making and Issue Resolution..................................    9
</TABLE>

[ * ] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked
by brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

                                       ii
<PAGE>

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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<S>          <C>                                                                      <C>

       3.5   Commercialization Program.............................................    9
       3.6   Sublicensees..........................................................    9
 ARTICLE 4   RIGHTS AND LICENSES...................................................   10
       4.1   Commercial License to Dendreon........................................   10
       4.2   Commercial License to Kirin...........................................   10
       4.3   License Limitations and Covenants.....................................   10
       4.4   Restrictions on Sale..................................................   10
       4.5   Use of Separation Devices by Kirin Collaborators......................   10
 ARTICLE 5   PROFIT SHARING........................................................   11
       5.1   Share of Marketing Profits............................................   11
       5.2   Calculation of Marketing Profits......................................   11
       5.3   Reconciliation Payments...............................................   12
       5.4   Term of Profit Sharing................................................   12
 ARTICLE 6   SINGLE PARTY DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION........................   13
       6.1   Single Party Development and Commercialization........................   13
       6.2   Royalties.............................................................   13
       6.3   Recovery of Investments...............................................   13
       6.4   Royalty Reduction.....................................................   14
       6.5   Payment of Royalties..................................................   14
       6.6   Manner of Payment.....................................................   14
       6.7   Reports...............................................................   14
       6.8   Withholding of Taxes..................................................   14
 ARTICLE 7   CONFIDENTIALITY.......................................................   15
       7.1   Confidentiality; Exceptions...........................................   15
       7.2   Authorized Disclosure.................................................   15
       7.3   Survival..............................................................   15
 ARTICLE 8   INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.................................................   16
       8.1   Ownership and Patent Prosecution......................................   16
       8.2   Patent Infringement in the Joint Territory............................   16
       8.3   Defense and Settlement of Third Party Claims in the Joint Territory...   16
</TABLE>

[ * ] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked
by brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

                                      iii
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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (CONTINUED)

<TABLE>
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<S>          <C>                                                                      <C>

ARTICLE 9    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES........................................   17
ARTICLE 10   REPORTS, RECORDS AND SAMPLES..........................................   17
      10.1   Sharing of Information................................................   17
      10.2   Records and Audit.....................................................   17
      10.3   Materials.............................................................   18
      10.4   Publicity Review......................................................   18
      10.5   Publications..........................................................   18
ARTICLE 11   TERM AND TERMINATION..................................................   19
      11.1   Term..................................................................   19
      11.2   Termination of Joint Development and/or Joint Commercialization.......   19
      11.3   Termination for Breach................................................   19
      11.4   Surviving Rights......................................................   19
ARTICLE 12   INDEMNIFICATION.......................................................   19
      12.1   Indemnification by Kirin..............................................   19
      12.2   Indemnification by Dendreon...........................................   19
ARTICLE 13   MISCELLANEOUS.........................................................   20
      13.1   Assignment............................................................   20
      13.2   Retained Rights.......................................................   20
      13.3   Force Majeure.........................................................   20
      13.4   Further Actions.......................................................   20
      13.5   No Trademark Rights...................................................   20
      13.6   Notices...............................................................   20
      13.7   Dispute Resolution....................................................   21
      13.8   Waiver................................................................   22
      13.9   Severability..........................................................   22
     13.10   Ambiguities...........................................................   22
     13.11   Entire Agreement......................................................   22
     13.12   Headings..............................................................   22
</TABLE>

[ * ] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked
by brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

                                       iv
<PAGE>

Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by brackets,
has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                                                   Exhibit 10.18
                       JOINT COMMERCIALIZATION AGREEMENT

     This Joint Commercialization Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into effective as of February 1, 2000 (the "Effective Date") by and
between Dendreon Corporation, a Delaware corporation having its principal place
of business at 3005 1st Avenue, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. ("Dendreon"), and
Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under Japanese laws having its
principal place of business at 10-1, Shinkawa 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
("Kirin").  Dendreon and Kirin may be referred to herein collectively as the
"Parties" or individually as a "Party."

                                    Recitals

     A.  Kirin and Dendreon entered into a Collaborative License Agreement on
December 10, 1998 (hereinafter defined as the "License Agreement").

     B.  Kirin and Dendreon entered into a Research and License Agreement on
February 1, 1999 (hereinafter defined as the "Research and License Agreement"),
pursuant to which the Parties agreed to conduct collaborative research to create
improvements to Dendreon's dendritic cell technology and develop new dendritic
cell-based immunotherapy products.

     C.  Pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement and the Research and
License Agreement, the Parties desire to collaborate in the joint clinical
development and commercialization of Kirin Products and Collaboration Products
(as defined below) in the European Union.

     Now, Therefore, the Parties agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1

                                  DEFINITIONS

     The following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings when used
in this Agreement:

     1.1   "Active Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

     1.2   "Affiliate" means, with respect to a particular Party, a person,
corporation or other entity that, directly or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such
Party. For the purposes of this definition, "control" means the direct or
indirect ownership by a Party of at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding
voting securities of the controlled entity; provided, that in any country where
the law does not permit foreign equity ownership of at least fifty percent
(50%), then with respect to corporations organized under such country's laws,
"control" shall mean the direct or indirect

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       1
<PAGE>

ownership by a Party of outstanding voting securities of such corporation at the
maximum amount permitted by the law of such country.

     1.3   "Allowable Expenses" means, with respect to a particular Kirin
Product or Collaboration Product sold in the Joint Territory, the costs and
expenses associated with such Product that the Parties have agreed in either the
applicable Development Budget or the applicable Commercialization Budget shall
be deducted from Net Revenue for the purposes of calculating the Marketing
Profits for such Product.

     1.4   "Collaboration Discoveries" means any Information that is created,
developed or discovered pursuant to a Party's activities under the Research
Program (as defined in the Research and License Agreement). It is agreed that
all Dendreon Technology and Kirin Technology are excluded from the definition of
"Collaboration Discoveries."

     1.5   "Collaboration Patent" means any Patent or application for a Patent
that claims an invention in Collaboration Discoveries, which Patents shall be
listed on Exhibit A promptly after filing, and Kirin shall use reasonable
efforts to amend such Exhibit A from time to time to reflect any changes.

     1.6   "Collaboration Product" means any commercial product that comprises
or contains, or is developed or manufactured based on or utilizing or is derived
from, the Collaboration Technology or any part thereof, but excluding all Kirin
Products and Dendreon Products (as such terms are defined in the License
Agreement).

     1.7   "Collaboration Technology" means the Collaboration Discoveries and
Collaboration Patents, either collectively or any part thereof.

     1.8   "Commercialization Budget" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.5.

     1.9   "Commercialization Plan" means, with respect to a particular
Collaboration Product or Kirin Product, the plan prepared by the JCC and
approved by the Parties, pursuant to Section 3.5, setting forth the detailed
plan and Commercialization Budget for the Parties' joint efforts to market,
promote and sell such product in the Joint Territory.

     1.10  "Controlled" means, with respect to a particular item, material, or
intellectual property right, that a Party owns or has a license under such item,
material or intellectual property right and has the ability to grant to the
other Party access to and/or a license or sublicense under such item, material
or intellectual property right as provided for herein without violating the
terms of any agreement or other arrangement with, or the rights of, any Third
Party.

     1.11   "Dendreon Antigen" means an antigen that is claimed by a patent or
is otherwise covered by intellectual property rights that are Controlled by
Dendreon.

     1.12   "Dendreon Improvement" shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in the License Agreement.

     1.13   "Dendreon Know-How" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
the License Agreement.

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       2
<PAGE>

     1.14   "Dendreon Patents" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
the License Agreement.

     1.15   "Dendreon Product" means: (a) any therapeutic product comprising
Dendritic Cells that have been activated or loaded with a specific antigen,
engineered antigen or antigen gene, (including without limitation Dendreon
Antigen), for use in human therapy by infusion into a patient, which product has
been developed by Dendreon based on the Dendreon Technology; or (b) any service
provided by or on behalf of Dendreon to a patient that utilizes the Dendreon
Technology and involves isolation or preparation of Dendritic Cells, activation
or loading with specific antigen, engineered antigen or antigen gene, (including
without limitation Dendreon Antigen), and infusion of such activated or antigen
loaded Dendritic Cells into a patient.

     1.16   "Dendritic Cell" means a human dendritic cell or other antigen-
presenting cell or other cells from which dendritic cells can be derived.

     1.17   "Development Budget" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.6.

     1.18   "Development Plan" means, with respect to a particular Collaboration
Product or Kirin Product, the plan prepared by the JDC and approved by the
Parties, pursuant to Section 3.6, setting forth the detailed plan, Development
Budget and process for the Parties' collaborative and joint efforts to conduct
clinical development of, and seek Regulatory Approval for, such Product in the
Joint Territory.

     1.19   "Drug Approval Application" means an application for Regulatory
Approval required before commercial sale or use of a Product as a drug in a
regulatory jurisdiction.

     1.20   "Field" means the development, manufacture, use and sale of products
that generally utilize dendritic cell separation, antigen engineering, and
antigen delivery to dendritic cells, for use in human therapies and that are
based on, comprise, utilize or are derived from the Kirin Technology or the
Collaboration Technology.

     1.21   "Inactive Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

     1.22   "Information" means any and all information and data of any kind,
including without limitation techniques, inventions, practices, methods,
knowledge, know-how, skill, experience, test data (including pharmacological,
toxicological and clinical test data), analytical and quality control data,
marketing, cost, sales and manufacturing data and descriptions, compositions,
and assays.

     1.23   "Joint Commercialization Committee" or "JCC" means the committee
established by the Parties pursuant to Section 3.3 to manage, direct and oversee
the joint commercialization by the Parties of Collaboration Products and Kirin
Products in the Joint Territory.

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       3
<PAGE>

     1.24   "Joint Development Committee" or "JDC" means the committee
established by the Parties pursuant to Section 2.2 to manage, direct and oversee
the joint development by the Parties of Collaboration Products and Kirin
Products in the Joint Territory.

     1.25   "Joint Territory" means the countries that are members of the
European Union, as such union is constituted at the applicable time.

     1.26   "Kirin Antigen" means an antigen that is claimed by a patent or is
otherwise covered by intellectual property rights that are Controlled by Kirin.

     1.27   "Kirin Improvements" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
the License Agreement.

     1.28   "Kirin Know-How" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
License Agreement.

     1.29   "Kirin Patents" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
License Agreement.

     1.30   "Kirin Product" means: (a) any therapeutic product developed by or
on behalf of Kirin based on, derived from or incorporating the Dendreon
Technology that comprises Dendritic Cells that have been activated or loaded
with a specific antigen, engineered antigen or antigen gene, (including without
limitation a Kirin Antigen), for use in human therapy by infusion into a
patient; or (b) any service provided by or on behalf of Kirin to a patient that
involves isolation or preparation of Dendritic Cells, activation or loading of a
specific antigen, engineered antigen or antigen gene, (including without
limitation a Kirin Antigen), and infusion of such activated or antigen loaded
Dendritic Cells into a patient, wherein such service is based on, utilizes,
comprises or is derived from the Dendreon Technology.

     1.31   "Marketing Profits" means, with respect to a particular Kirin
Product or Collaboration Product sold in the Joint Territory, an amount equal
to: (i) the Net Revenue for such Kirin Product or Collaboration Product in the
Joint Territory less all Allowable Expenses incurred by the Parties with respect
to such Kirin Product or Collaboration Product, plus (ii) Sublicense Revenues.

     1.32   "Net Revenue" means the total revenue received by a Party for sale
or other disposition of a Product by such Party or an Affiliate or Sublicensee
of such Party to a Third Party less the following to the extent actually
incurred or allowed with respect to such sale or disposition: (i) reasonable
costs paid, if any, by the Party to a Third Party on account of apheresis
performed as part of or in association with the Product; (ii) discounts,
including cash discounts, or rebates, retroactive price reductions or allowances
actually allowed or granted from the billed amount; (iii) credits or allowances
actually granted upon claims, rejections or returns of Products, including
recalls, regardless of the Party requesting such; (iv) freight, postage,
shipping and insurance charges paid for delivery of Product, to the extent
billed; and (v) taxes, duties or other governmental charges levied on or
measured by the billing amount when included in billing, as adjusted for rebates
and refunds.

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       4
<PAGE>

     1.33   "Patent" means (i) a valid and enforceable patent, including any
extension, registration, confirmation, reissue, re-examination or renewal
thereof; and (ii) to the extent valid and enforceable rights are granted by a
governmental authority thereunder, a patent application.

     1.34   "Patent Costs" means the fees and expenses paid to outside legal
counsel and other Third Parties, and filing and maintenance expenses, incurred
in connection with the establishment, maintenance of rights under Patents
applicable to Products including the costs of patent interference proceedings.

     1.35   "Pre-Reconciliation Profit" shall have the meaning assigned to it in
Section 5.2(c).

     1.36   "Product" means a Collaboration Product or a Kirin Product.

     1.37   "Reasonable Efforts" shall mean efforts and resources commonly used
in the research-based pharmaceutical industry for the research, development and
commercialization of a product at a similar stage in its product life taking
into account the establishment of the product in the marketplace, the
competitiveness of the marketplace, the proprietary position of the product, the
regulatory structure involved, the profitability of the product and other
relevant factors.

     1.38   "Regulatory Approval" means any approvals, licenses, registrations
or authorizations of any federal, state or local regulatory agency, department,
bureau or other government entity, necessary for the manufacture, use, storage,
import, transport or sale of Products in a regulatory jurisdiction.

     1.39   "Separation Devices" means any Dendreon device, including all
containers and proprietary reagents comprising such device, that is intended for
use by Dendreon and its licensees for the isolation and purification of
Dendritic Cells for use in human therapy by activation or loading with specific
antigen, engineered antigen or antigen gene, and infusion into a patient.

     1.40   "Sublicensee" shall mean any Third Party expressly licensed by a
Party to make and sell one or more Products. A Sublicensee shall not include
distributors or sales agents that do no more than purchase and resell finished
Products on behalf of a Party.

     1.41   "Sublicense Revenues" means all revenues received by either Party
from Third Parties from sublicensing of the manufacture, use and sale of Kirin
Products or Collaboration Products for sale in the Joint Territory.

     1.42   "Third Party" means any entity other than Dendreon or Kirin or an
Affiliate of Dendreon or Kirin.

     1.43   "Third Party Royalties" means all royalties payable by either of the
Parties to Third Parties in respect of the manufacture, use or sale of Kirin
Products or Collaboration Products in the Joint Territory.

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       5
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 2

                               JOINT DEVELOPMENT

     2.1  Overview.  Dendreon and Kirin agree that they will jointly develop
Kirin Products and Collaboration Products in the Joint Territory pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement. All such joint development efforts of the Parties, or
either Party, shall be in accordance with the Development Plan for each Kirin
Product or Collaboration Product. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, each Party agrees that neither Party may clinically develop a Kirin
Product or Collaboration Product for sale or distribution in the Joint
Territory, or license any Third Party to do so, except jointly with the other
Party pursuant to this Agreement. However, as discussed further in Article 6, it
is agreed that, if one Party determines that it does not wish to proceed with
such joint development of a particular Product, the other Party shall be
permitted to do so on its own pursuant to the terms of Article 6.

     2.2  Joint Development Committee.  The Parties shall form a Joint
Development Committee for the development of such Kirin Product or Collaboration
Product, comprised of six (6) members, with three (3) members being appointed
and replaced by Dendreon and three (3) members being appointed and replaced by
Kirin. The Parties may subsequently agree to change the size of the JDC, as
appropriate to meet the needs of the Parties in managing the joint efforts under
this Agreement. The JDC shall (a) prepare the Development Plan for the Kirin
Product or Collaboration Product, and modify or amend it as appropriate, based
on the results of the development efforts on such product, during the
development process; and (b) perform such other duties and obligations as the
Parties specifically delegate to it in writing by mutual written agreement of
the Parties.

     2.3  JDC Meetings.  JDC meetings shall take place at such mutually
convenient times and places as determined by the JDC, with the expectation that
meetings will alternate between appropriate offices of each Party. The JDC shall
determine the frequency of its meetings and how such meetings will be conducted
and recorded.

     2.4  Decision-Making and Issue Resolution.  All decisions of the Joint
Development Committee shall be unanimous by the members of such committee. If
the JDC fails to reach unanimous agreement on an issue needing resolution, the
matter shall be referred for good faith discussion and resolution by a senior
executive officer designated by each Party for such purpose.

     2.5  Joint Development.  For each Product selected by the Parties for joint
development hereunder by mutual written agreement, Dendreon and Kirin agree that
they will jointly conduct, or have conducted, all the clinical and other
development work in the Joint Territory on such Product in accordance with the
Development Plan developed by the JMC for such Product. Each Party agrees not to
incur any expenses or costs in excess of the Development Budget (as defined
below) within such Development Plan except as mutually agreed in writing by the
Parties.

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       6
<PAGE>

     2.6  Development Plans and Budgets.  Promptly after the selection of a
particular Product for development by the Parties, the JDC shall prepare and
provide to each Party for final approval a development plan for such Product in
the Joint Territory (the "Development Plan").  The Development Plan shall
include all needed details regarding the clinical development and other work to
be undertaken to develop such Product in the Joint Territory, including an
allocation of all such work as appropriate to each Party (or to selected Third
Party contractors, as agreed), and shall establish a budget (the "Development
Budget") for all costs and expenses to be incurred by each Party in conducting
the work allocated to it under such Development Plan.  Each Party shall
diligently review the proposed Development Plan and shall either approve the
plan or provide the JDC any requested changes and comments.  If a Party provides
such requested changes or comment to a proposed Development Plan, the JDC shall
promptly thereafter prepare a revised draft of the Development Plan,
accommodating such changes and comments, and resubmit such revised Development
Plan for approval by the Parties as provided above.  Once the Parties have
agreed on the Development Plan proposed by the JDC, such Development Plan shall
be effective and shall control and govern the Parties' development effort in the
Joint Territory with respect to the applicable Product, subject to any
subsequent amendments or modifications to such Development Plan as provided
below.  From time to time during the development of such Product, the JDC shall
review the Development Plan in light of the results of the development work and
any other relevant Information and shall amend or modify the Development Plan as
appropriate, provided that the JDC may not increase the applicable Development
Budget without the written approval of each Party.  At least sixty (60) days
prior to January 1 of any year in which the Parties are developing a particular
Product hereunder, the JDC shall review the applicable Development Budget for
such Products and shall submit a revised and updated Development Budget for the
coming calendar year to each of the Parties for approval as provided above.
Upon such approval, the Development Budget shall be effective for the
development of such Product in the Joint Territory during such calendar year,
subject further to amendment of the applicable Development Plan.

     2.7  Costs of Joint Development.  All Development Costs incurred or
expended by a Party hereunder in conducting the joint development work on a
Product hereunder allocated to it under the applicable Development Plan shall
initially be borne by the Party incurring such costs and expenses, subject to
reimbursement as provided herein. Each Party shall calculate and maintain
records of all the Development Costs incurred or expended by the Party during
its performance of development on a Product, in accordance with generally
accepted accounting procedures consistently applied throughout such Party's
organization and such other procedures to be agreed upon between the Parties.
Each Party shall report quarterly to the other on the Development Costs it has
incurred in each calendar quarter, on a Product-by-Product basis, and the
purpose (referencing the activities within the applicable Development Plan) for
which such costs were incurred or expended, with such reports to be submitted
within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) calendar
quarters and ninety (90) days after the end of the calendar year. The Parties
shall seek to resolve promptly and in good faith any questions or issues related
to such accounting statements, and in any event within ninety (90) days
following receipt.

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       7
<PAGE>

     2.8  Reimbursement of Development Costs.

          (a)  For each particular calendar quarter during which Development
Costs are incurred hereunder, Party shall review the Development Costs report
submitted by the other Party and compare such submission to the applicable
Development Budgets. The Parties will then meet, via designated senior officers
from each Party with financial accounting responsibility, to discuss the reports
and reach agreement on the total amount of Development Costs that each Party may
properly apply to the joint development work hereunder. It is understood and
agreed that a Party will not be entitled to obtain credit or reimbursement for
any Development Costs incurred by the Party in excess of the amount set forth in
the applicable Development Budget for accomplishing the relevant task or
objective. If such officers cannot reach agreement promptly, the matter will be
submitted to senior executive officers of each Party for prompt resolution, with
the understanding the each Party will provide access to any Information relating
to the development work undertaken by such Party, and the actual calculation of
costs and expenses incurred therefor, with respect to Products during such
calendar quarter for which such Party seeks reimbursement or credit hereunder
for the related Development Costs.

          (b)  Once the Parties have agreed on the total amount of Development
Costs incurred or expended during a particular calendar quarter that are
creditable or reimbursable by the Parties as provided in subsection (a) above,
such total shall be divided in half and such amount compared to the total
reimbursable Development Costs incurred by each Party during such quarter (as
agreed above). The Party that bore less than its one-half share of the total
costs shall reimburse the other Party for such difference, in cash, within sixty
(60) days of such determination, subject to subsection (c) below.

     2.9  Audit Rights.  Each Party shall have the right to have an independent
accounting firm audit the other Party's relevant records to determine the
accuracy of the Development Costs reported by such other Party under Section 2.7
above.  Such audit right shall be exercised under terms similar to the audit
provisions set forth in Section 10.2 below.

     2.10 Manufacture and Supply.    The Parties shall agree in good faith upon
commercially reasonable terms for the manufacture and supply of clinical
supplies of Collaboration Products and Kirin Products in the Joint Territory on
a Product-by-Product basis.

                                   ARTICLE 3

                            JOINT COMMERCIALIZATION

     3.1  Overview.  Dendreon and Kirin agree that they will jointly
commercialize Kirin Products and Collaboration Products in the Joint Territory
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, that if the Parties
cannot agree on whether a particular Product should be commercialized in the
Joint Territory, the Party who wishes to commercialize such Product may do so
pursuant to the terms of Article 6. All such joint commercialization efforts of
the Parties, or either Party, shall be consistent with the applicable
Commercialization Plan for

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       8
<PAGE>

each Kirin Product or Collaboration Product.  Except as otherwise provided in
this Agreement, each Party agrees that neither Party may clinically develop a
Kirin Product or Collaboration Product for sale or distribution in the Joint
Territory, or license any Third Party to do so, except jointly with the other
Party pursuant to this Agreement.

     3.2  Joint Commercialization Committee.  Promptly after the Effective Date,
the Parties shall form the Joint Commercialization Committee, comprised of six
(6) members, with three (3) members being appointed and replaced by Dendreon and
three (3) members being appointed and replaced by Kirin.  The Parties may
subsequently agree to change the size of the JCC, as appropriate to meet the
needs of the Parties in managing the joint efforts under this Agreement.  The
JCC shall (a) prepare the Commercialization Plan for each Kirin Product or
Collaboration Product, and modify or amend it as appropriate, based on the
results of the commercialization efforts on such product, during the development
process; and (b) perform such other duties and obligations as the Parties
specifically delegate to it in writing by mutual written agreement of the
Parties.

     3.3  JCC Meetings.  JCC meetings shall take place at such mutually
convenient times and places as determined by the JCC, with the expectation that
meetings will alternate between appropriate offices of each Party. The JCC shall
determine the frequency of its meetings and how such meetings will be conducted
and recorded.

     3.4  Decision-Making and Issue Resolution.  All decisions of the Joint
Development Committee shall be unanimous by the members of such committee.  If
the JCC fails to reach unanimous agreement on an issue needing resolution, the
matter shall be referred for good faith discussion and resolution by a senior
executive officer delegated by each Party for such purpose.

     3.5  Commercialization Program.  The Joint Commercialization Committee
shall develop and maintain a detailed commercialization plan for each Product
which sets forth all the programs and actions to be taken for the
commercialization of such Product in the Joint Territory (the "Commercialization
Plan"). The initial Commercialization Plan with respect to a Product shall be
prepared, reviewed and approved as soon as practicable after the JCC determines
that such Product is sufficiently likely to achieve Regulatory Approval in the
Joint Territory to justify commencing pre-launch activities for such Product in
the Joint Territory. Each Commercialization Plan shall include at a minimum the
following Information: (a) a comprehensive marketing, sales, pricing,
manufacturing, distribution and licensing strategy for the applicable Product in
the Joint Territory, including the efforts allocated to each Party to conduct
such marketing, promotion and sales and any proposed arrangements with Third
Parties to be utilized or proposed to be agreed upon, and (b) market forecasts,
in units of product and local currency, and competitive analysis for the
applicable Product in the Joint Territory, and (c) a budget for the Allowable
Expenses that each Party may incur in such marketing and sales efforts with
respect to the Product allocated to such Party under the Commercialization Plan
(the "Commercialization Budget"). The Commercialization Plan shall be submitted
to Dendreon and Kirin for approval and shall be updated and approved on an
annual basis, prior to sixty (60) days before the end of each calendar year.

     3.6  Sublicensees.  In territories within the Joint Territory where one
Party has been allocated under the applicable Commercialization Plan the sole
responsibility for

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       9
<PAGE>

commercializing a Product, such Party may sublicense to one or more third
parties any or all of such commercialization activities with respect to such
Product. In all territories within the Joint Territory where the
commercialization efforts for a Product are allocated to both Parties under the
applicable Commercialization Plan, a Party shall have the right to sublicense or
contract with third parties to perform the commercialization efforts allocated
to such Party only with the prior written approval of the other Party, such
approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. All amounts received by the
Parties for sublicensing any rights to develop and/or commercialize any Product
in the Joint Territory shall be deemed to be Sublicense Fees.

                                   ARTICLE 4

                              RIGHTS AND LICENSES

     4.1  Commercial License to Dendreon.  Subject to the terms of this
Agreement, Kirin hereby grants to Dendreon a sole and co-exclusive license
(i.e., exclusive as to all parties except as to Kirin), with the right to grant
sublicenses under the Kirin Technology and the Collaboration Technology solely
to clinically develop, make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale and import
Kirin Products and Collaboration Products in the Joint Territory as permitted
under this Agreement.

     4.2  Commercial License to Kirin.  Subject to the terms of this Agreement,
Dendreon hereby grants to Kirin a sole and co-exclusive license (i.e., exclusive
as to all parties except as to Dendreon), with the right to grant sublicenses
under the Dendreon Technology solely to clinically develop, make, have made,
use, sell, offer for sale and import Kirin Products in the Joint Territory as
permitted under this Agreement.

     4.3  License Limitations and Covenants.  Each Party covenants and agrees
that it shall not use or practice the intellectual property rights of the other
Party licensed under this Agreement except as expressly permitted by this
Agreement. Except for the rights specifically granted in this Agreement, each
Party expressly reserves all rights Controlled by it or its Affiliates to all
products and intellectual property rights, and reserves the right to utilize or
allow Third Parties to utilize such products and intellectual property rights in
any manner consistent with the terms of this Agreement.

     4.4  Restrictions on Sale.  Kirin and its Affiliates shall not resell
Separation Devices purchased pursuant to this Agreement except as part of a
Kirin Product or a Collaboration Product, and shall not use Separation Devices
for any purpose other than those purposes permitted in this Agreement, the
License Agreement or the Research and License Agreement.  Dendreon shall retain
all rights to manufacture or have manufactured the Separation Devices.  Dendreon
and its Affiliates shall not use Kirin Antigen for any purpose other than those
purposes permitted in this Agreement, the License Agreement or the Research and
License Agreement.

     4.5  Use of Separation Devices by Kirin Collaborators.  With Dendreon's
prior written approval, which may be withheld for any reason, Kirin may provide
certain academic or medical doctor collaborators with a limited number of
Separation Devices solely for use by such individuals in research and
development purposes in the Field; provided, however, that before any such
delivery Kirin shall require such collaborator: (i) to be appropriately trained
in the use

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       10
<PAGE>

of the Separation Devices, (ii) to share the results of any and all research and
development performed using the Separation Devices with Kirin and Dendreon;
(iii) not to sell, distribute or otherwise provide such Separation Devices to
Third Parties; and (iv) unless such antigen is within the public domain, to
grant Dendreon an option to license any specific antigen, engineered antigen or
antigen gene used or developed in conjunction with the use of the Separation
Devices. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties, Kirin obtains no
license or rights under this Agreement to make or to practice any of the
Dendreon Technology to make Separation Devices or any other devices or products
for use in the isolation or purification of Dendritic Cells or any other cells.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, Kirin may use Separation
Devices to isolate Dendritic Cells only as part of preparing a Kirin Product or
Collaboration Product or performing a service comprising a Kirin Product or
Collaboration Product, or with Dendreon's prior written consent, as provided in
Section 4.5.

                                   ARTICLE 5

                                 PROFIT SHARING

     5.1  Share of Marketing Profits.  During the term of this Agreement,
Dendreon and Kirin each shall be entitled to receive and retain fifty percent
(50%) of the Marketing Profits realized from the sale or other commercialization
of Kirin Products and Collaboration Products in the Joint Territory, as
calculated in Section 5.2.

     5.2  Calculation of Marketing Profits.

          (a)  All Allowable Expenses incurred or expended by a Party hereunder
in conducting the commercialization work for a Product in accordance with the
applicable Commercialization Plan shall initially be borne by the Party
incurring such costs and expenses, subject to reimbursement as provided herein.
Each Party shall calculate and maintain records of all the Allowable Expenses
incurred or expended by the Party during its performance of such
commercialization efforts on a Product and of all Net Revenues and Sublicense
Revenues received by the Party hereunder, in accordance with generally accepted
accounting procedures consistently applied throughout such Party's organization
and such other procedures to be agreed upon between the Parties. Each Party
shall report quarterly to the other on the Allowable Expenses it has incurred or
expended in each calendar quarter and all Net Revenues and Sublicense Revenues
received by the Party in such quarter, on a Product-by-Product basis, and the
purpose (referencing the activities within the applicable Commercialization
Plan) for which such costs were incurred or expended, with such reports to be
submitted within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3)
calendar quarters and ninety (90) days after the end of the calendar year. The
Parties shall seek to resolve promptly and in good faith any questions or issues
related to such accounting statements, and in any event within ninety (90) days
following receipt.

          (b)  For each particular calendar quarter during which Allowable
Expenses are incurred hereunder, each Party shall review the Allowable Expenses
report submitted by the other Party and compare such submission to the
Commercialization Plan for the applicable Product. The Parties will then meet,
via designated senior officers from each Party with financial accounting
responsibility, to discuss the reports and reach agreement on the total

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       11
<PAGE>

amount of Allowable Expenses that each Party may properly apply to the
calculation Marketing Profit. If such officers cannot reach agreement promptly,
the matter will be submitted to senior executive officers of each Party for
prompt resolution, with the understanding the each Party will provide access to
any Information relating to the commercialization work undertaken by such Party,
and the actual calculation of costs and expenses incurred therefor, with respect
to Products during such calendar quarter for which such Party seeks
reimbursement or credit.

          (c)  Once the Parties have agreed on the total amount of Allowable
Expenses incurred or expended during a particular calendar quarter that are
creditable or reimbursable by the Parties as provided in Section 5.2(b) above,
such amount shall be subtracted from the total Net Revenues and Sublicense Fees
received by the Parties for all applicable Products during such quarter, and the
remainder shall be deemed the total "Marketing Profit" for such quarter. In
addition, the Parties shall determine the profit of each Party, prior to
reconciliation as set forth in Section 5.3, by subtracting the amount of
Allowable Expenses incurred or expended by such Party during a particular
calendar quarter that are creditable or reimbursable by the Parties as provided
in Section 5.2(b), from the total Net Revenues and Sublicense Fees for all
applicable Products during such quarter that were collected and retained by such
Party, and the remainder shall be deemed such Party's "Pre-Reconciliation
Profit" for such quarter.

          (d)  For the calculation of Marketing Profits and Pre-Reconciliation
Profits hereunder for a particular quarter, all amounts of Allowable Expenses
incurred or expenses during such quarter in currencies other than U.S. Dollars,
and all amounts of Net Revenues and Sublicense Fees received in currencies other
than U.S. Dollars, shall be converted to the U.S. Dollars equivalent for
purposes of making such calculations, with such conversion effected by using the
currency exchange rate into U.S. Dollars as quoted in the Wall Street Journal on
the last business day of such quarter.

     5.3  Reconciliation Payments.  To the extent that one Party's Pre-
Reconciliation Profit (as calculated in Section 6.2(c)) for a particular quarter
exceeds one-half of the Marketing Profit for such quarter, such Party shall pay
the amount (in U.S. Dollars) of such excess to the other Party within thirty
(30) days of the Parties' having determined such amounts, so that each Party
retains one-half of the Marketing Profit for such quarter, after calculating all
Allowable Expenses and Net Revenues for such quarter.

     5.4  Term of Profit Sharing.  The Parties obligation to share Marketing
Profits hereunder shall expire with respect to a particular Product being sold
or otherwise commercialized in a country of the Joint Territory on the later to
occur of: (a) the expiration of the last to expire of the Collaboration Patents,
Dendreon Patents or Kirin Patents covering such Product in such country, or (b)
the date on which such Collaboration Product or Kirin Product ceases to be
promoted, marketed or sold in such country under the trademark for it designated
by the Parties pursuant to the applicable Development Plan or Commercialization
Plan.  Upon the expiration of such sharing obligation pursuant to the foregoing,
each Party shall have the right to commercialize such Product in such country,
without obligation to the other Party, and the license rights granted under
Article 4 with respect to such Product in such country shall be automatically
deemed to be non-exclusive, fully-paid, perpetual and irrevocable licenses as to
such Product in such country.

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       12
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 6

                 SINGLE PARTY DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION

     6.1  Single Party Development and Commercialization.  Subject to the terms
of this Article 6, if the Parties cannot agree on whether to clinically develop
or commercialize a particular Product in the Joint Territory pursuant to
Sections 2.1 or 3.1, or if a Party decides to terminate its clinical development
activities or commercialization activities with regard to a particular Product
pursuant to Section 11.2, the Party which wants to proceed with or continue such
clinical development or commercialization (the "Active Party") may do so, at its
discretion, without the financial support or involvement of the other Party (the
"Inactive Party"). If a Party becomes an Inactive Party, the Active Party shall
have a perpetual, royalty-free right to use any data jointly obtained by the
Parties relating to the Product(s) for which the other Party became an Inactive
Party, to develop and commercialize such particular Products in the Joint
Territory.

     6.2  Royalties.  The Active Party shall pay the Inactive Party a royalty on
the sales of Products as follows:

          (a)  for Kirin Products

               (i)    Where Dendreon is the Active Party, a royalty equal to
[ * ] of the Net Revenue based on sales of the Kirin Product sold by Dendreon,
its Affiliates or any of its Sublicensees in the Joint Territory; or

               (ii)   Where Kirin is the Active Party, a royalty equal to [ * ]
of the Net Revenue based on sales of the Kirin Product sold by Kirin, its
Affiliates or any of its Sublicensees in the Joint Territory.

          (b)  for Collaboration Products

               (i)    Where Dendreon is the Active Party, a royalty equal to
[ * ] of the Net Revenue based on sales of the Collaboration Product sold by
Dendreon, its Affiliates or any of its Sublicensees in the Joint Territory; or

               (ii)   Where Kirin is the Active Party, a royalty equal to [ * ]
of the Net Revenue based on sales of the Collaboration Product sold by Kirin,
its Affiliates or any of its Sublicensees in the Joint Territory.

     6.3  Recovery of Investments.  If a Party becomes the Inactive Party
pursuant to Section 11.2, the Active Party shall pay the Inactive Party, in
addition to the royalties set forth in Section 6.2, a royalty equal to [ * ] of
the Net Revenue based upon sales of the applicable Product sold by the Active
Party, its Affiliates, or any of its Sublicensees in the Joint Territory, until
such time as the sum of the royalties paid to the Inactive Party pursuant to
this Section 6.3 is equal to the sum of any costs and expenses made by the
Inactive Party in accordance with the applicable Development Budget or
Commercialization Budget for the applicable Product prior to such Party's
inactivity.

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       13
<PAGE>

     6.4  Royalty Reduction.

          (a)  If Kirin or Dendreon, as applicable, sells a particular
Collaboration Product in a country where, at the time of sale, there is no
issued Collaboration Patent that claims such Collaboration Product or its
manufacture or use, then the amount of royalty owed by such Party to the other
Party under Section 6.2 shall be reduced by [ * ] with respect to such sale.

          (b)  If Kirin or Dendreon, as applicable, sells a Kirin Product in a
country where, at the time of sale, there is no issued Dendreon Patent or Kirin
Patent that claims such Kirin Product or its manufacture or use, then the amount
of royalty owed by such Party to the other Party under Section 6.2 shall be
reduced by [ * ] with respect to such sale.

     6.5  Payment of Royalties.  Royalties under this Article 6 shall accrue
upon the sale of the particular Collaboration Product or Kirin Product (deemed
to occur on the earlier of transfer of title or invoice date), and royalties
that have accrued during a particular calendar quarter shall be paid by the
Party owing such royalties within sixty (60) days after the end of each such
calendar quarter. Such royalties shall be calculated on the basis of Net Revenue
in the local currency of each country, and converted into U.S. Dollars and paid
in U.S. Dollars on the basis of the average currency exchange rate for the
applicable calendar quarter quoted by Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank (or its successor)
for currency exchange in excess of one million U.S. dollars ($1,000,000).

     6.6  Manner of Payment.  Remittance of payments under this Article 6 will
be made by means of wire or electronic transfer to the receiving Party's account
in a bank to be designated by such Party in writing.

     6.7  Reports.  All amounts payable under this Agreement shall be
accompanied by a report listing the gross selling price of each Collaboration
Product or Kirin Product sold during such period on a product-by-product and
country-by-country basis, and the calculation of Net Revenue based on such
sales, including all other information necessary to determine the appropriate
amount of such royalty payments, and any additional information or reports
required under the Agreement.

     6.8  Withholding of Taxes.  All turnover, income and other taxes levied on
account of the royalties accruing or made to a Party under this Article 6 shall
be paid by such Party. If provision is made in law or regulation for withholding
of taxes of any type, levies or other charges with respect to any royalty
payable under this Article 6 by a Party to the other Party, then such paying
Party shall be entitled to deduct such tax, levy or charge from the royalty or
other payment to be made by such Party and pay such tax, levy or charge to the
proper taxing authority. A receipt of payment of the tax, levy or charge secured
shall be promptly delivered to the other Party, together with copies of all
pertinent communications from or with such governmental authorities with respect
thereto. Such paying Party agrees to cooperate with the other Party in any
effort in claiming any exemption from such deductions or withholdings under any
double taxation or similar agreement or treaty from time to time in force and in
minimizing the amount required to be so withheld or deducted, such cooperation
to consist of providing receipts of payment of such withheld tax or other
documents reasonably available to the paying Party.

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       14
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 7

                                CONFIDENTIALITY

      7.1  Confidentiality; Exceptions.  Except to the extent expressly
authorized by this Agreement or otherwise agreed in writing, the Parties agree
that, for the term of this Agreement and for ten (10) years thereafter, the
receiving Party shall keep confidential and shall not publish or otherwise
disclose or use for any purpose other than as provided for in this Agreement any
Information and other information and materials furnished to it by the other
Party pursuant to this Agreement (collectively, "Confidential Information").
However, the foregoing obligations of non-use and non-disclosure shall not apply
to any Information or materials to the extent that the receiving Party can
establish by competent proof that such Information or materials:

           (a)  was already known to the receiving Party, other than under an
obligation of confidentiality, at the time of disclosure by the other Party;

           (b)  was generally available to the public or otherwise part of the
public domain at the time of its disclosure to the receiving Party;

           (c)  became generally available to the public or otherwise part of
the public domain after its disclosure and other than through any act or
omission of the receiving Party in breach of this Agreement; or

           (d)  was disclosed to the receiving Party, other than under an
obligation of confidentiality, by a Third Party who had no obligation to the
disclosing Party not to disclose such information to others.

     7.2   Authorized Disclosure.  Each Party may disclose the other's
Confidential Information to the extent such disclosure is reasonably necessary
in filing or prosecuting patent applications, prosecuting or defending
litigation, complying with applicable govern-mental regulations or conducting
preclinical or clinical trials, provided that if a Party is required by law or
regulation to make any such disclosure of the other Party's Confidential
Information, it will except where impracticable for necessary disclosures, for
example in the event of medical emergency, give reasonable advance notice to the
other Party of such disclosure requirement and, except to the extent
inappropriate in the case of patent applications, will use commercially
reasonable efforts to secure confidential treatment of such Confidential
Information required to be disclosed.

     7.3   Survival.  This Article 7 shall survive the termination or expiration
of this Agreement for a period of five (5) years.

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       15
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 8

                             INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

     8.1  Ownership and Patent Prosecution. Unless specifically and expressly
granted herein, no licenses or rights under either Party's intellectual property
rights are implied or granted in this Agreement.  Each Party shall retain full
ownership of all its inventions and intellectual property.  The prosecution of
any Patents, patent applications and any and all other intellectual property
rights associated with the clinical development and commercialization of Kirin
Products and Collaboration Products shall be governed by the terms of the
License Agreement and the Research and License Agreement.

     8.2  Patent Infringement in the Joint Territory.  If either Party believes
that a Third Party is infringing a Kirin Patent, Dendreon Patent or
Collaboration Patent in the Joint Territory which claims a Kirin Product or
Collaboration Product being developed, marketed or sold in the Joint Territory,
such Party shall give the other Party prompt notice of such belief and all
Information supporting such belief.  The Parties will use good faith efforts to
coordinate and cooperate in any such action, negotiation and/or settlement of
the alleged infringement.  The costs of such Patent enforcement shall be deemed
to be Allowable Expenses of the Parties, and all amounts recovered from the
Third Party infringer based on such actions, negotiation or settlement shall be
deemed to be "Sublicense Fees" received in the calendar quarter in which such
amounts are paid.

     8.3  Defense and Settlement of Third Party Claims in the Joint Territory.
If a Third Party makes a claim or allegation against a Party (or both Parties)
that a Patent, trademark, trade secret or other intangible right owned or
licensed by it is infringed or misappropriated by the manufacture, use or sale
of any Collaboration Product or Kirin Product in the Joint Territory, the
Parties shall immediately meet to discuss the matter and shall establish a plan
for a common defense of such claim or allegation. The Parties shall cooperate
and provide each other all reasonable assistance in defending against any such
claims, provided that each Party shall have the right to defend itself. The
costs and expenses of each Party in defending against any such action (including
without limitation the amount of any judgment, award, decree or settlement
actually paid to such Third Party by a Party) will be deemed to be Allowable
Expenses of the Party paying such amounts in the calendar quarter paid, to the
extent that such costs and expenses relate directly to defense or settlement of
claims or allegations concerning Products made, used and sold in the Joint
Territory under this Agreement. If there is an opportunity to settle or
otherwise resolve any such infringement or misappropriation claim or allegation
via taking a license from such Third Party, the Party that becomes aware of such
opportunity shall immediately discuss such opportunity with the other Party and
the Parties shall discuss in good faith whether and how to negotiate and enter
into a license with such Third Party. It is understood and agreed that a Party,
in negotiating and entering into any such license, may not negotiate terms for
such a license that cover rights outside the Joint Territory unless such terms
do not differentiate between Products in the Joint Territory and products sold
by such Party outside the Joint Territory in a manner that may be unfair to the
other Party. If any such a Third Party license is taken, all amounts paid to
such Third Party under such license to the extent directly relating to or
allocable to the manufacture, use or sale of Products in the Joint Territory

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       16
<PAGE>

under this Agreement shall be deemed to be Allowable Expenses of the Party
making such payments, in the calendar quarter such payments are made.

                                   ARTICLE 9

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     Each of the Parties hereby represents and warrants to the other Party as
follows:

     9.1   This Agreement is a legal and valid obligation binding upon such
Party and enforceable in accordance with its terms.

     9.2   The execution, delivery and performance of the Agreement by such
Party does not conflict with any agreement, instrument or understanding, oral or
written, to which it is a Party or by which it is bound, nor violate any law or
regulation of any court, governmental body or administrative or other agency
having jurisdiction over it.

     9.3   Such Party has not granted any right to any Third Party relating to
such Party's respective intellectual property rights licensed hereunder in the
Field which would conflict with the rights granted to the other Party hereunder.

                                  ARTICLE 10

                          REPORTS, RECORDS AND SAMPLES

     10.1  Sharing of Information.  Dendreon and Kirin will make available and
disclose to each other all Information known by Dendreon and Kirin concerning
the development and commercialization of Kirin Products and Collaboration
Products in the Joint Territory during the term of this Agreement.  The Parties
will exchange at least monthly verbal or written reports in English presenting a
meaningful summary of the development and commercialization done under this
Agreement.  Each Party will make regular presentations to the other of its
activities under this Agreement, other than within the Joint Management
Committee (or any applicable subcommittee), and additionally on an informal
basis, to inform the other Party of the work done under this Agreement.

     10.2  Records and Audit.  For a period of three (3) years after the royalty
period to which the records relate, each Party shall keep complete and accurate
records pertaining to the sale or other disposition of the Collaboration
Products or Kirin Products commercialized by it, in sufficient detail to permit
the other Party to confirm the accuracy of all payments due hereunder.  A Party
entitled to payments hereunder shall have the right to cause an independent,
certified public accountant reasonably acceptable to the other Party (and who
has executed a confidentiality agreement with the Party to be audited) to audit
such records to confirm the Net Revenue, Sublicense Fees, Allowable Expenses and
royalty payments; provided, however, that such auditor shall not disclose the
audited Party's confidential information to the other Party, except to the
extent such disclosure is necessary to verify the amount of royalties and other
payments due under this Agreement.  In no event may such accountant disclose the
names of specific customers, price lists, or the prices charged to specific
customers.  A copy of any report

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       17
<PAGE>

provided by such accountant shall be provided to the audited Party at the time
that it is provided to the auditing Party. Such audits may be exercised once a
year, within three (3) years after the royalty or other payment period to which
such records relate, upon a mutually acceptable date(s) and upon not less than
thirty (30) days advance notice, and shall be conducted during normal business
hours. Any amounts shown to be owing by such audits shall be paid immediately
with interest in the amount of one percent (1%) per month (or the maximum amount
permitted by law, if less) from the date first owed until paid. The auditing
Party shall bear the full cost of such audit unless such audit discloses that
royalties actually paid by the audited Party are more than five percent (5%)
less from the amount of royalties and/or other payments actually owed. In such
case, the audited Party shall bear the full cost of such audit. The terms of
this Section 10.2 shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement
for a period of two (2) years.

     10.3  Materials.  The Parties intend to maintain an open and extensive
exchange of research materials that relate to Kirin Products and Collaboration
Products being developed or commercialized in the Joint Territory during the
course of the collaboration hereunder.  Information obtained by the other Party
in the testing of such materials will be promptly disclosed to the Party
providing the sample, and all such Information will be considered Information to
be protected by both Parties under the restrictions of Article 7.  ANY MATERIALS
EXCHANGED BETWEEN THE PARTIES ARE SUPPLIED WITH NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THEY ARE FREE FROM THE RIGHTFUL CLAIM OF ANY THIRD
PARTY, BY WAY OF INFRINGEMENT OR THE LIKE.  NEITHER PARTY MAKES ANY
REPRESENTATIONS THAT THE USE OF THE MATERIALS WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY PATENT OR
PROPRIETARY RIGHTS OF ANY THIRD PARTIES.

     10.4  Publicity Review.  If either Party is required by law or regulation
to make a public disclosure or announcement concerning any activities conducted
pursuant to or arising out of this Agreement or the subject matter thereof, such
Party shall give reasonable prior advance notice of the proposed text of such
disclosure or announcement to the other Party for its review and comment. The
terms of this Agreement may also be disclosed to: (i) Third Parties with the
consent of the other Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld so
long as such disclosure is made under a binder of confidentiality, and (ii)
investors, potential investors, underwriters and potential underwriters of
Dendreon, so long as such disclosure is made under a binder of confidentiality.

     10.5  Publications.  Each Party agrees that it shall not publish or present
the results of studies carried out as part of the development of any Kirin
Product or Collaboration Product under this Agreement without the opportunity
for prior review by the other Party.  Each Party shall provide to the other the
opportunity to review any proposed abstracts, manuscripts or presentations
(including information to be presented verbally) which relate to the Field at
least thirty (30) days prior to their intended submission for publication and
such submitting Party agrees, upon written request from the other Party, not to
submit such abstract or manuscript for publication or to make such presentation
until the other Party is given a reasonable period of time to secure patent
protection for any material in such publication or presentation which it
believes is patentable.

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       18
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE 11

                              TERM AND TERMINATION

     11.1  Term.  This Agreement shall commence as of the Effective Date and,
unless sooner terminated as provided herein, shall continue in effect until the
latest of (i) the expiration of the last to expire of the Kirin Patents,
Dendreon Patents or Collaboration Patents in the Joint Territory which claim
Kirin Products or Collaboration Products, or (ii) the date on which the Parties
are no longer obligated to share Marketing Profits for any Kirin Product or
Collaboration Product pursuant to Article 5, or pay royalties pursuant to
Article 6.

     11.2  Termination of Joint Development and/or Joint Commercialization.
Upon ninety (90) days written notice to the other Party, a Party may terminate,
in its sole discretion, its development and/or commercialization obligations
with regard to a particular Product. Upon any such termination, the terms of
Article 6 shall apply, and the Active Party shall have no further obligations to
the Inactive Party with regard to such Product, except as set forth therein.

     11.3  Termination for Breach.  If either Party materially breaches this
Agreement and such breach is not cured within sixty (60) days of written notice
thereof from the non-breaching Party, the breaching Party's licenses granted in
this Agreement shall terminate and the non-breaching Party shall retain an
exclusive, royalty-free right under the Dendreon Technology, Kirin Technology
and Collaboration Technology to make, have made, use and sell Kirin Products and
Collaboration Products developed or sold in the Joint Territory prior to the
breach of the Agreement.  The breaching Party will assist the non-breaching
Party in every proper way to effect the license granted above.  The breaching
Party shall further deliver to the non-breaching Party such relevant tangible
materials embodying such Dendreon Technology, Kirin Technology and Collaboration
Technology as may be necessary or useful to the exercise of the non-breaching
Party of the license hereunder.

     11.4  Surviving Rights.  The obligations and rights of the Parties under
Articles 7, 8, and 12 and Sections 10.4, 10.5, 13.6 and 13.7 of this Agreement
will survive termination for the period set forth therein, and if none is
provided, perpetually.

                                  ARTICLE 12

                                INDEMNIFICATION

     12.1  Indemnification by Kirin.  Kirin shall indemnify, defend and hold
Dendreon harmless from and against any and all liability, damage, loss, cost
(including reasonable attorneys' fees) and expense resulting from any claim of
bodily injury or property damage (a) relating to the development, manufacture,
use, distribution or sale of any Kirin Product or Collaboration Product by
Kirin, its Affiliates, Sublicensees, employees or agents in the Joint Territory,
or (b) due to the negligence or willful misconduct of Kirin or its Affiliates,
Sublicensees, employees or agents.

     12.2  Indemnification by Dendreon.  Dendreon shall indemnify and hold Kirin
harmless from and against any and all liability, damage, loss, cost (including
reasonable

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       19
<PAGE>

attorneys' fees) and expense resulting from any claim of bodily injury or
property damage (a) relating to the development, manufacture, use, distribution
or sale of any Kirin Product or Collaboration Product by Dendreon, its
Affiliates, Sublicensees, employees or agents in the Joint Territory, or (b) due
to the negligence or willful misconduct of Dendreon or its Affiliates,
Sublicensees, employees or agents.

                                  ARTICLE 13

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

     13.1  Assignment.  Neither Party shall assign any of its rights and
obligations hereunder except (i) as incident to the merger, consolidation,
reorganization or acquisition of stock affecting actual voting control or of
substantially all of the assets of the assigning Party; or (ii) to an Affiliate;
provided, however, that in no event shall either Party's rights and obligations
hereunder be assigned without prior written notice to the other Party. In any
case, neither Party may make an assignment of its assets which renders it unable
to perform its material obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their permitted
successors and assigns.

     13.2  Retained Rights.  Nothing in this Agreement shall limit in any
respect the right of either Party to conduct research and development outside
the Field and to develop and market products outside the Field using such
Party's technology, but no license to use the other Party's technology to do so
is granted herein expressly or by implication. Further, Dendreon retains the
right, independent of this Agreement, to develop and market Dendreon Products in
the Joint Territory, or to license others to do so.

     13.3  Force Majeure.  Neither Party shall lose any rights hereunder or be
liable to the other Party for damages or losses on account of failure of
performance by the defaulting Party if the failure is occasioned by government
action, war, fire, explosion, flood, strike, lockout, embargo, act of God, or
any other similar cause beyond the control of the defaulting Party, provided
that the Party claiming force majeure has exerted all reasonable efforts to
avoid or remedy such force majeure; provided, however, in no event shall a Party
be required to settle any labor dispute or disturbance.

     13.4  Further Actions.  Each Party agrees to execute, acknowledge and
deliver such further instruments, and to do all such other acts, as may be
necessary or appropriate in order to carry out the purposes and intent of this
Agreement.

     13.5  No Trademark Rights.  Except as explicitly provided herein or as
otherwise provided in the License Agreement, no right, express or implied, is
granted by the Agreement to use in any manner the name "Dendreon" or "Kirin" or
any other trade name or trademark of the other Party in connection with the
performance of the Agreement.

     13.6  Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally or by facsimile
transmission (receipt verified), telexed, mailed by registered or certified mail
(return receipt requested), postage prepaid, or sent by express courier service,
to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       20
<PAGE>

Party as shall be specified by like notice; provided, that notices of a change
of address shall be effective only upon receipt thereof):

          If to Dendreon, addressed to:

          Dendreon Corporation
          3005 1st Avenue
          Seattle, WA  98121-1010
          Attention: C. S. Henney
          Telephone: (206) 256-4545
          Telecopy:  (206) 256-0571

          With copy to:

          Cooley Godward LLP
          Five Palo Alto Square, 4th Floor
          Palo Alto, CA  94306
          Attention:  Barclay James Kamb, Esq.
          Telephone:  (650) 843-5052
          Telecopy:   (650) 857-0663

          If to Kirin, addressed to:
          Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd.

          26-1, Jingumae 6-chome
          Shibuya-ku
          Tokyo 150-8011, Japan
          Attention:  Akihiro Shimosaka
          Research and Product Development Department
          Telephone:  (03) 5485-6805
          Telecopy:   (03) 3499-6152

     13.7  Dispute Resolution. If any dispute, controversy or claim arises out
of or in connection with this Agreement, the Parties shall use reasonable
efforts to settle it by friendly negotiation within sixty (60) days of notice
from one Party to the other of such dispute, controversy or claim, before
pursuing any other remedies available to them. If either Party fails or refuses
to participate in such negotiations, or if, in any event, the dispute,
controversy or claim is not resolved to the satisfaction of both Parties within
the sixty (60) day period, any such dispute, controversy or claim shall be
settled by arbitration. Any such arbitration shall be conducted in accordance
with the Japan-American Trade Arbitration Agreement of September 16, 1952. The
Parties agree that any such arbitration shall be conducted in the English
language in a location within the United States selected by the Party that did
not initiate such arbitration, and the Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California and the United
States of America. The arbitrators shall include one independent, un-affiliated
nominee selected by each Party and a third neutral arbitrator selected by such
nominees. The Parties agree that any arbitration panel shall include members
knowledgeable as

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       21
<PAGE>

to the evaluation of biopharmaceutical technology.  Judgment upon the award
rendered may be entered in the highest state or federal court or forum, state or
federal, having jurisdiction; provided, however, that the provisions of this
Section 13.7 shall not apply to any dispute or controversy as to which any
treaty or law prohibits such arbitration.  The prevailing Party shall be
entitled to reasonable attorney's fees and costs to be fixed by the arbitrators.

     13.8  Waiver.  Except as specifically provided for herein, the waiver from
time to time by either of the Parties of any of their rights or their failure to
exercise any remedy shall not operate or be construed as a continuing waiver of
same or of any other of such Party's rights or remedies provided in this
Agreement.

     13.9  Severability.  If any term, covenant or condition of this Agreement
or the application thereof to any Party or circumstance shall, to any extent, be
held to be invalid or unenforceable, then the remainder of this Agreement, or
the application of such term, covenant or condition to Parties or circumstances
other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable, shall not be
affected thereby and each term, covenant or condition of this Agreement shall be
valid and be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.

     13.10  Ambiguities.  Ambiguities, if any, in this Agreement shall not be
construed against any Party, irrespective of which Party may be deemed to have
authored the ambiguous provision.

     13.11  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement and any agreements referenced
herein set forth all the covenants, promises, agreements, warranties,
representations, conditions and understandings between the Parties hereto with
regard to the subject matter discussed herein and supersedes and terminates all
prior agreements and understanding between the Parties with regard to the
subject matter discussed herein. There are no covenants, promises, agreements,
warranties, representations conditions or understandings, either oral or
written, between the Parties with regard to the subject matter discussed herein
other than as set forth in this Agreement or any agreements referenced herein.

     13.12  Headings.  The Section and Paragraph headings contained herein are
for the purposes of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the
contents of the Section or Paragraphs to which they apply.

     In Witness Whereof, the Parties have executed this Agreement in duplicate
originals by their proper officers as of the date and year first above written.

     DENDREON CORPORATION                 KIRIN BREWERY CO., LTD.

     By:    /s/ David L. Urdal            By:   /s/ Akihiro Shimosaka
            ------------------------            ----------------------------
                                                  General Manager
     Title: Executive Vice President      Title:     Licensing Department
            ------------------------            ----------------------------

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       22
<PAGE>

                                   Exhibit A

                             Collaboration Patents

[*] = Certain confidential information contained in this document, marked by
brackets, has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       23<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.10

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

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                 BY AND BETWEEN

                            COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.

                                       AND

                         MEGABANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                          Dated as of November 4, 1999

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

<PAGE>   2

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                            <C>                                                                              <C>
ARTICLE I. THE MERGER.............................................................................................1
         SECTION 1.1           The Merger.........................................................................1
         SECTION 1.2           Effective Time.....................................................................1
         SECTION 1.3           Certain Effects of the Merger......................................................2
         SECTION 1.4           Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws..............................................2
         SECTION 1.5           Directors and Officers.............................................................2
         SECTION 1.6           Conversion of Shares...............................................................2
         SECTION 1.7           Shareholders' Meeting..............................................................3
         SECTION 1.8           Registration of the Compass Common Stock...........................................3
         SECTION 1.9           Tax Consequences...................................................................4
         SECTION 1.10          Closing............................................................................4
         SECTION 1.11          Modification of Structure..........................................................5

ARTICLE II. DISSENTING SHARES; EXCHANGE OF SHARES.................................................................5
         SECTION 2.1           Dissenting Shares..................................................................5
         SECTION 2.2           Exchange of Shares.................................................................5

ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY........................................................6
         SECTION 3.1           Organization and Qualification.....................................................7
         SECTION 3.2           Company Capitalization.............................................................7
         SECTION 3.3           Subsidiary Capitalization; Other Securities........................................7
         SECTION 3.4           Authority Relative to the Agreement................................................8
         SECTION 3.5           No Violation.......................................................................8
         SECTION 3.6           Consents and Approvals.............................................................9
         SECTION 3.7           Regulatory Reports.................................................................9
         SECTION 3.8           Securities Issuances...............................................................9
         SECTION 3.9           Financial Statements...............................................................9
         SECTION 3.10          Absence of Certain Changes.........................................................10
         SECTION 3.11          Company Indebtedness...............................................................12
         SECTION 3.12          Litigation.........................................................................12
         SECTION 3.13          Tax Matters........................................................................12
         SECTION 3.14          Employee Benefit Plans.............................................................13
         SECTION 3.15          Employment Matters.................................................................16
         SECTION 3.16          Leases, Contracts and Agreements...................................................16
         SECTION 3.17          Related Company Transactions.......................................................17
         SECTION 3.18          Compliance with Laws...............................................................17
         SECTION 3.19          Insurance..........................................................................17
         SECTION 3.20          Loans..............................................................................17
         SECTION 3.21          Fiduciary Responsibilities.........................................................17
         SECTION 3.22          Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights.................................................18
         SECTION 3.23          Environmental Compliance...........................................................18
         SECTION 3.24          Regulatory Actions.................................................................19
         SECTION 3.25          Title to Properties; Encumbrances..................................................19
</TABLE>

                                       i

<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>
<S>                            <C>                                                                               <C>
         SECTION 3.26          Shareholder List..................................................................20
         SECTION 3.27          Dissenting Shareholders...........................................................20
         SECTION 3.28          Takeover Laws.....................................................................20
         SECTION 3.29          Employee Stock Options............................................................20
         SECTION 3.30          Accounting Matters................................................................20
         SECTION 3.31          Year 2000 Representation..........................................................20
         SECTION 3.32          Title Companies...................................................................21
         SECTION 3.33          Representations Not Misleading....................................................21

ARTICLE IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.......................................................................21
         SECTION 4.1           Organization and Authority........................................................21
         SECTION 4.2           Authority Relative to Agreement...................................................21
         SECTION 4.3           Financial Reports.................................................................22
         SECTION 4.4           Capitalization....................................................................23
         SECTION 4.5           Consents and Approvals............................................................23
         SECTION 4.6           Availability of the Compass Common Stock..........................................23
         SECTION 4.7           Regulatory Actions................................................................23
         SECTION 4.8           Takeover Laws.....................................................................23
         SECTION 4.9           Accounting Matters................................................................24
         SECTION 4.10          Representations Not Misleading....................................................24
         SECTION 4.11          Litigation........................................................................24
         SECTION 4.12          Absence of Certain Changes........................................................24

ARTICLE V. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY..............................................................................24
         SECTION 5.1           Affirmative Covenants of the Company..............................................24
         SECTION 5.2           Negative Covenants of the Company.................................................26

ARTICLE VI. ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS................................................................................28
         SECTION 6.1           Access To, and Information Concerning, Properties and Records.....................28
         SECTION 6.2           Filing of Regulatory Approvals....................................................28
         SECTION 6.3           Miscellaneous Agreements and Consents.............................................29
         SECTION 6.4           Company Indebtedness..............................................................29
         SECTION 6.5           Best Good Faith Efforts...........................................................29
         SECTION 6.6           Exclusivity.......................................................................29
         SECTION 6.7           Public Announcement...............................................................30
         SECTION 6.8           Employee Benefit Plans............................................................30
         SECTION 6.9           Merger of Bank....................................................................31
         SECTION 6.10          Environmental Investigation; Right to Terminate Agreement.........................31
         SECTION 6.11          Proxies...........................................................................33
         SECTION 6.12          Exchange Agreement................................................................33
         SECTION 6.13          Year 2000 Investigation...........................................................34
         SECTION 6.14          Director and Officer Indemnification..............................................34
         SECTION 6.15          Exercise of Convertible Securities................................................35
         SECTION 6.16          Actions Respecting Debentures.....................................................35
         SECTION 6.17          Publication of 30 Days of Post Combination Results................................35
</TABLE>

                                       ii

<PAGE>   4

<TABLE>
<S>                            <C>                                                                              <C>
         SECTION 6.18          Notification of Related Party Transactions........................................36

ARTICLE VII. CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER............................................................36
         SECTION 7.1           Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger........................36
         SECTION 7.2           Conditions to the Obligations of Compass and Merger Sub
                               to Effect the Merger............................................................. 37
         SECTION 7.3           Conditions to the Obligations of the Company to Effect the Merger.................39

ARTICLE VIII. TERMINATION; AMENDMENT; WAIVER.....................................................................40
         SECTION 8.1           Termination.......................................................................40
         SECTION 8.2           Effect of Termination.............................................................42
         SECTION 8.3           Amendment.........................................................................42
         SECTION 8.4           Extension; Waiver.................................................................42
         SECTION 8.5           Termination Fee...................................................................42

ARTICLE IX. SURVIVAL.............................................................................................42
         SECTION 9.1           Survival of Representations and Warranties........................................42

ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS.........................................................................................43
         SECTION 10.1          Expenses..........................................................................43
         SECTION 10.2          Brokers and Finders...............................................................43
         SECTION 10.3          Entire Agreement; Assignment......................................................43
         SECTION 10.4          Further Assurances................................................................43
         SECTION 10.5          Enforcement of the Agreement......................................................44
         SECTION 10.6          Severability......................................................................44
         SECTION 10.7          Notices...........................................................................44
         SECTION 10.8          Governing Law.....................................................................45
         SECTION 10.9          Descriptive Headings..............................................................45
         SECTION 10.10         Parties in Interest...............................................................45
         SECTION 10.11         Counterparts......................................................................45
         SECTION 10.12         Incorporation by References.......................................................45
         SECTION 10.13         Certain Definitions...............................................................45
</TABLE>

                                      iii

<PAGE>   5

ATTACHMENTS

         EXHIBITS

             A.       Pooling Transfer Restrictions Agreement

             B.       Exchange Agent Agreement

             C.       Pooling of Interest Criteria

             D.       Voting Agreement and Irrevocable Proxy

             E.       Opinion of Counsel for the Company and the Bank

             F.       Opinion of Counsel for Compass and Merger Sub

             G.       Representations Certificate

             H.       Release

             I.       Release

             J.       Tax Opinion

LIST OF SCHEDULES

Schedule 3.2       Company Capitalization

Schedule 3.3       Subsidiary Capitalization; List of Equity Ownership

Schedule 3.5       Violations of Law; Conflicts of Interest; Share Litigation;
                   Termination of Existence

Schedule 3.6       Company Prior Consents

Schedule 3.7       Regulatory Reports

Schedule 3.10      Absence of Material Changes or Adverse Effects

Schedule 3.12      Company Legal Proceedings

Schedule 3.13      Tax Liabilities

Schedule 3.14(a)   Employee Welfare Benefit Plans

                                       iv

<PAGE>   6

Schedule 3.14(b)   Employee Pension Benefit Plans

Schedule 3.14(c)   Deferred Compensation, Bonus and Stock Purchase Plans

Schedule 3.14(l)   Additional Payments Due Under Deferred Compensation, Bonus,
                   Employee Welfare Benefit Plans and Employee Pension Benefit
                   Plans

Schedule 3.15      Employment Contracts and Collective Bargaining Agreements

Schedule 3.16      Leases, Subleases, Contracts and Agreements; Participations;
                   Default of Contracts; Marketable Title

Schedule 3.17      Related Company Transactions

Schedule 3.18      Compliance with Laws

Schedule 3.19      Insurance Policies

Schedule 3.20      Loans Exceeding Legal Lending Limit, Troubled Loans

Schedule 3.22      Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights

Schedule 3.23      Environmental Compliance

Schedule 3.24      Regulatory Actions; Agreements

Schedule 3.25      Title to Properties; Title Policies; Property

Schedule 3.29      Stock Option Plans

Schedule 4.2       Compass Prior Consents

Schedule 5.1(j)    List of Accounts and Safe Deposit Boxes

Schedule 5.1(k)    List of Liabilities and Obligations of the Company and the
                   Bank

Schedule 6.11      List of Proxy Holders Voting Affirmatively for the Agreement

Schedule 10.13(f)  List of Officers with Knowledge

                                       v

<PAGE>   7

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

         AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER ("Agreement") dated as of November 4,
1999, by and between Compass Bancshares, Inc. a Delaware corporation
("Compass"), and MegaBank Financial Corporation, a Colorado corporation
("Company").

         WHEREAS, Compass desires to affiliate with the Company and its wholly
owned subsidiary, MegaBank, a federal savings bank (the "Bank"), and the Company
and the Bank desire to affiliate with Compass in the manner provided in this
Agreement;

         WHEREAS, Compass and the Company believe that the Merger (as defined
herein) of the Company with a to-be-formed subsidiary ("Merger Sub") of Compass
incorporated under the laws of the State of Colorado to be added as a party to
this Agreement after the date hereof in the manner provided by, and subject to
the terms and conditions set forth in, this Agreement and all exhibits,
schedules and supplements hereto is desirable and in the best interests of their
respective institutions and shareholders;

         WHEREAS, Compass, Merger Sub and the Company intend the Merger to
qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and the regulations
thereunder; and

         WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of the Company and Compass
have approved this Agreement and the proposed transactions substantially on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants hereinafter set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending
to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.

                                   THE MERGER

         SECTION 1.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereof, and in accordance with the Colorado Business Corporation Act (the
"CBCA"), Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company (the "Merger") as
soon as practicable following the satisfaction or waiver, if permissible, of the
conditions set forth in Article VII hereof. Following the Merger, the Company
shall continue as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation") and
the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease. Compass shall not be
deemed a party to the Merger for the purposes of Section 7-111-106 of the CBCA.

         SECTION 1.2 Effective Time. The Merger shall be consummated by the
filing by the Colorado Secretary of State of Articles of Merger, in the form
required by and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the CBCA,
and by the issuance of a Certificate of Merger by the Secretary of State of
Colorado. (The date of such issuance and filing or such

<PAGE>   8

other time and date as may be specified in the Articles and Certificate of
Merger shall be the "Effective Time").

         SECTION 1.3 Certain Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the
effects set forth in Article 7-111-106 of the CBCA.

         SECTION 1.4 Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws. The Articles of
Incorporation and the By-Laws of the Company, in each case as in effect at the
Effective Time, shall be the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the
Surviving Corporation.

         SECTION 1.5 Directors and Officers. The directors and officers of
Merger Sub at the Effective Time shall be the directors and officers of the
Surviving Corporation and shall hold office from the Effective Time until their
respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in the manner
provided in the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Surviving
Corporation, or as otherwise provided by law.

         SECTION 1.6 Conversion of Shares.

         (a) Each share of the Company's common stock, no par value per share
("Company Common Stock" or "Shares"), issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time ("Common Shares Outstanding"), other than Dissenting
Shares (as defined in Section 2.1), shall, by virtue of the Merger and without
any action on the part of the holder thereof, be converted into and represent
the right to receive the consideration payable as set forth below (the "Merger
Consideration") to the holder of record thereof, without interest thereon, upon
surrender of the certificate representing such Share. For the purposes of
determining the number of Common Shares Outstanding, the number of Shares issued
and outstanding shall be increased by the number and class of Shares that may be
acquired upon exercise or conversion of any warrant, option, convertible
debenture or other security entitling the holder thereof to acquire Shares which
is in effect or outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and shall
include, without limitation, Shares issuable in respect of the Empire Merger
Agreement (as defined in Section 10.13(g) hereof) due to the consummation of the
Merger. At the Closing, the Company shall calculate and certify to Compass the
Common Shares Outstanding.

         (b) Each holder of Company Common Stock shall receive for each share of
Company Common Stock held immediately prior to the Effective Time Merger
Consideration equal to the quotient of 3,370,000 shares of Compass Common Stock,
par value $2.00 per share ("Compass Common Stock") divided by the Common Shares
Outstanding. In no event, however, shall Compass be obligated to issue any more
than 3,370,000 shares of Compass Common Stock in exchange for all Common Shares
Outstanding. The ratio of the number of shares of Compass Common Stock to be
exchanged for each Share, respectively, shall be adjusted appropriately to
reflect any stock dividends or splits with respect to Compass Common Stock,
where the record date or payment occurs prior to the Effective Time.

         (c) Compass will not issue any certificates for any fractional shares
of Compass Common Stock otherwise issuable pursuant to the Merger. In lieu of
issuing such fractional shares, Compass shall pay cash to any holder of Shares
otherwise entitled to receive such fractional share. Such cash payment shall be
based on the average of the closing sale price for

                                       2

<PAGE>   9

Compass Common Stock as reported by the NASDAQ National Market System for the
twenty days of trading preceding the fifth trading day prior to the Effective
Time ("Average Closing Price").

         (d) Each share of capital stock of Merger Sub issued and outstanding
immediately before the Effective Time shall be converted into 7,769,709 shares
of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.

         SECTION 1.7 Shareholders' Meeting. The Company, acting through its
Board of Directors, shall, in accordance with applicable law:

         (a) duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting (the
"Shareholders' Meeting") of its shareholders as soon as practicable after the
Registration Statement (as defined herein) is declared effective by the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for the purpose of approving and
adopting this Agreement;

         (b) require no greater than the minimum vote required by applicable
law, or its Articles of Incorporation, if greater, of each class of the Shares
in order to approve the Merger;

         (c) include in the Proxy Statement (defined in Section 1.8(a)) below)
the unanimous recommendation of its Board of Directors that the shareholders of
the Company vote in favor of the approval and adoption of this Agreement; and

         (d) use its best efforts to obtain the approval and adoption of the
Merger by shareholders holding at least the minimum number of shares of each
class of the shares entitled to vote at the Shareholders' Meeting to approve the
Merger under applicable law or its Articles of Incorporation, if greater.

         SECTION 1.8 Registration of the Compass Common Stock.

         (a) Compass shall prepare a registration statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") to be filed by Compass with the SEC under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"), covering the shares of
Compass Common Stock to be issued to Company shareholders in the Merger,
including the proxy statement and prospectus and other proxy solicitation
materials of the Company constituting a part thereof (the "Proxy Statement").
The Company agrees to cooperate, and to cause its Subsidiaries to cooperate,
with Compass, its counsel and its accountants, in the preparation of the
Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement; and provided that the Company
and its Subsidiaries have cooperated as required above, Compass agrees to file
the Registration Statement with the SEC as promptly as reasonably practicable
and shall use reasonable efforts to cause such filing to occur within 50 days
after execution of this Agreement, subject to the receipt of all necessary
information on the part of the Company for inclusion in the Registration
Statement and Proxy Statement. Each of the Company and Compass agrees to use all
reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective
under the Securities Act as promptly as reasonably practicable after filing
thereof. Compass also agrees to use all reasonable efforts to obtain, prior to
or at the effective date of the Registration Statement, all necessary state
securities law or "Blue Sky" permits and approvals required to carry out the
Merger contemplated by this Agreement. The

                                       3

<PAGE>   10

Company agrees to furnish to Compass all information concerning the Company, its
Subsidiaries, officers, directors and stockholders as may be requested in
connection with the foregoing.

         (b) Each of the Company and Compass agrees, as to itself and its
Subsidiaries, that none of the information supplied or to be supplied by it for
inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Registration Statement will,
at the time the Registration Statement and each amendment or supplement thereto,
if any, becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, and (ii) the
Proxy Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto will not, at the date of
mailing to the Company stockholders and at the time of the Shareholders' Meeting
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading or any statement which, in the light of the circumstances under
which such statement is made will be false or misleading, with respect to any
material fact, or which will omit to state any material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein not false or misleading or necessary to correct
any statement in any earlier statement in the Proxy Statement or any amendment
or supplement thereto. Each of the Company and Compass further agrees that if it
shall become aware prior to the Effective Time of any information furnished by
it that would cause any of the statements in the Proxy Statement to be false or
misleading with respect to any material fact, or to omit to state any material
fact necessary to make the statements therein not false or misleading to
promptly inform the party thereof and to take the necessary steps to correct the
Proxy Statement.

         (c) Compass agrees to advise the Company promptly after Compass
receives notice thereof, of the time when the Registration Statement has become
effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any
stop order or the suspension of the qualification of Compass Common Stock for
offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threat of any
proceeding for any such purpose or of any request by the SEC for the amendment
or supplement of the Registration Statement.

         (d) Within 30 days after the date hereof, the Company shall enter into
and cause each Company shareholder who is an "affiliate" (as defined in SEC Rule
405) of the Company to enter into with Compass a written agreement in
substantially the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.

         SECTION 1.9 Tax Consequences. It is intended by the parties hereto that
the Merger shall constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code, and the parties hereto hereby adopt this Agreement as a
"plan of reorganization" within the meaning of Sections 1.368-2(g) and
1.368-3(a) of the United States Treasury Regulations.

         SECTION 1.10 Closing. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereof, as soon as practicable after the vote of the shareholders of the Company
in favor of the approval and adoption of this Agreement has been obtained, and
the satisfaction or waiver, if permissible, of the conditions set forth in
Article VII hereof, the Company and Merger Sub shall execute and deliver the
Articles of Merger as described in Section 1.2, and the parties hereto shall
take all such other and further actions as may be required by law to make the
Merger effective; provided,

                                       4

<PAGE>   11

however, that the Effective Time shall not occur prior to April 1, 2000, unless
otherwise agreed. Prior to the filing referred to in this Section, a closing
(the "Closing") will be held at the office of Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP in
Houston, Texas (or such other place as the parties may agree) for the purpose of
confirming all of the foregoing.

         SECTION 1.11 Modification of Structure. Notwithstanding any provision
of this Agreement to the contrary, Compass may elect with the prior written
consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), subject
to the filing of all necessary applications and the receipt of all required
regulatory approvals, to modify the structure of the transactions contemplated
hereby so long as (i) there are no adverse federal income tax consequences to
the shareholders of the Company as a result of such modification, (ii) the
consideration to be paid to holders of Company Common Stock under this Agreement
is not thereby changed in kind or reduced in amount solely because of such
modification, (iii) such modification will not be likely to materially delay or
jeopardize receipt of any required regulatory approvals, and (iv) adversely
affect the rights, privileges, and preferences of the Company Subordinated
Debentures (as defined herein).

                                  ARTICLE II.

                      DISSENTING SHARES; EXCHANGE OF SHARES

         SECTION 2.1 Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, Shares which are issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time and which are held by shareholders who have not
voted such Shares in favor of the Merger and who shall have delivered a written
demand for payment of the fair value of such Shares within the time and in the
manner provided in Article 113 of the CBCA (the "Dissenting Shares") shall not
be converted into or be exchangeable for the right to receive the Merger
Consideration provided in Section 1.6 of this Agreement, unless and until such
holder shall have failed to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost
his right to appraisal and payment under the CBCA. If any such holder shall have
so failed to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost such right,
such holder's Shares shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted into and
to have become exchangeable for, at the Effective Time, the right to receive the
Merger Consideration without any interest thereon.

         SECTION 2.2 Exchange of Shares.

         (a) At or prior to the Effective Time pursuant to an exchange agent
agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Exchange
Agreement"), Compass shall (i) deposit with Continental Stock Transfer and Trust
Company (the "Exchange Agent") the shares of Compass Common Stock in the amounts
provided in Section 1.6 to effect the exchange of Compass Common Stock for
certificates formerly representing shares of Company Common Stock; and (ii)
deposit or cause to be deposited with the Exchange Agent, prior to the Effective
Time cash in an aggregate amount estimated to be sufficient to make the cash
payments in lieu of fractional shares of Compass Common Stock pursuant to
Section 1.6 hereof and to make the appropriate cash payments, if any, to holders
of Dissenting Shares (such amounts being hereinafter referred to as the
"Exchange Fund"). The Exchange Agent shall, pursuant to irrevocable instructions
jointly given by the Company and Compass, promptly make the

                                       5

<PAGE>   12

payments in lieu of fractional shares out of the Exchange Fund upon surrender of
Shares in accordance with Section 2.2(b) hereof. Payments to dissenting
shareholders shall be made as required by Article 113 of the CBCA. The Exchange
Fund shall not be used for any other purpose, except as provided in this
Agreement.

         (b) Promptly after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent shall mail to
each record holder of an outstanding certificate or certificates which as of the
Effective Time represented Shares (the "Certificates"), a form letter of
transmittal approved by the Company and Compass (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
instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates for payment
therefor. Upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of a Certificate, together with
such letter of transmittal duly executed, the holder of such Certificate shall
be entitled to receive in exchange therefor cash and Compass Common Stock in the
amount provided in Section 1.6 hereof, and such Certificate shall forthwith be
canceled. No interest will be paid or accrued on the cash payable upon surrender
of the Certificate and no dividend will be disbursed with respect to the shares
of Compass Common Stock until the holder's Shares are surrendered in exchange
therefor. If payment or delivery of Compass Common Stock is to be made to a
person other than the person in whose name the Certificate surrendered is
registered, it shall be a condition of payment that the Certificate so
surrendered shall be properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer
and that the person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other
taxes required by reason of the payment and delivery of Compass Common Stock to
a person other than the registered holder of the Certificate surrendered or
establish to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such tax has
been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 2.2, each Certificate (other than Certificates
representing Dissenting Shares) shall represent for all purposes the right to
receive the Merger Consideration without any interest thereon.

         (c) After the Effective Time, the stock transfer ledger of the Company
shall be closed and there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer books of
the Company of the Shares which were outstanding immediately prior to such time
of filing. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the
Surviving Corporation, they shall be promptly presented to the Exchange Agent
and exchanged as provided in this Article II.

         (d) Any portion of the Exchange Fund (including the proceeds of any
investments thereof) that remains unclaimed by the shareholders of the Company
for six months after the Effective Time shall be paid to Compass, and the
holders of Shares not theretofore presented to the Exchange Agent shall look to
Compass only, and not the Exchange Agent, for the payment of any Merger
Consideration in respect of such shares.

                                  ARTICLE III.

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

         The Company hereby makes the representations and warranties set forth
in this Article III to Compass. The Company has delivered to Compass the
Schedules to this Agreement referred to in this Article III prior to the date
hereof. The Company agrees at the Closing to provide

                                       6

<PAGE>   13

Compass and Merger Sub with supplemental Schedules reflecting any changes
thereto between the date of such Schedules and the date of the Closing.

         SECTION 3.1 Organization and Qualification. The Company is a Colorado
corporation and a unitary savings and loan holding company under the Home
Owners' Loan Act, as amended, and is duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Colorado and all laws, rules, and
regulations applicable to unitary savings and loan holding companies. The Bank
is a federal savings bank, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the United States of America, and is not a member of the
Federal Reserve System. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined in
Section 10.13(a)) has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on
its business as now being conducted and to own, lease and operate its properties
and assets as now owned, leased or operated. Except as set forth on Schedule
3.17, the Company does not own or control any Affiliate (as defined in Section
3.17) other than the Bank. True and correct copies of the Articles of
Incorporation or Association, Bylaws and charter documents of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, with all amendments thereto through the date of this
Agreement, have been delivered by the Company to Compass. The Company's
Subsidiaries are duly qualified or licensed to do business and are in good
standing in the State of Colorado. The nature of the business of the Company and
its Subsidiaries and their respective activities, as currently conducted, do not
require them to be qualified to do business in any jurisdiction other than the
State of Colorado.

         SECTION 3.2 Company Capitalization. As of the date hereof, the
authorized capital stock of the Company consists solely of (a) 50,000,000 shares
of Company Common Stock, of which 7,769,709 shares are issued and outstanding,
of which 99,000 shares are subject to option, and none of which are held in
treasury, and (b) 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, no par value per share,
none of which are outstanding. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.2, there are no
outstanding subscriptions, options, convertible securities, rights, warrants,
calls, or other agreements or commitments of any kind issued or granted by, or
binding upon, the Company or its Subsidiaries to purchase or otherwise acquire
any security of or equity interest in the Company or its Subsidiaries. Except as
set forth on Schedule 3.2, there are no outstanding subscriptions, options,
rights, warrants, calls, convertible securities or other agreements or
commitments obligating the Company to issue any shares of the Company, or to the
knowledge of the Company, irrevocable proxies or any agreements restricting the
transfer of or otherwise relating to shares of its capital stock of any class.
All of the Shares that have been issued have been duly authorized, validly
issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and are free of preemptive rights.
There are no restrictions applicable to the payment of dividends on the Shares
except pursuant to the CBCA and applicable banking laws and regulations and all
dividends declared prior to the date hereof have been paid.

         SECTION 3.3 Subsidiary Capitalization; Other Securities. All of the
issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company's Subsidiaries
(i) are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, (ii)
except as referred to in Schedule 3.3 are free and clear of any liens, claims,
security interests and encumbrances of any kind, and (iii) there are no
irrevocable proxies with respect to such shares and there are no outstanding or
authorized subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, or other agreements
or commitments of any kind restricting the transfer of, requiring the issuance
or sale of, or otherwise relating to any of such

                                       7

<PAGE>   14

shares of capital stock to any person. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.3
hereto, the Company owns, directly, all of the issued and outstanding capital
stock of its Subsidiaries. Set forth on Schedule 3.3 hereto is a list of all
equity ownership by the Company or its Subsidiaries for the account of the
Company or its Subsidiaries in any other person other than the Bank (the "Other
Securities"). The Company or its Subsidiaries own each Other Security free and
clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest or charge. The Other
Securities represent less than five percent of the outstanding equity securities
of each such person. Neither Empire/MB Real Estate Corporation nor Empire/MB
Land Company (the "Real Estate Subsidiaries") has commenced operations or has
any assets other than its initial capitalization by the Company.

         SECTION 3.4 Authority Relative to the Agreement. The Company has full
corporate power and authority, and, except for the approval by the Company's
shareholders, no further proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary,
to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby which have been duly and validly authorized by its Board of
Directors. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company
and is a duly authorized, valid, legally binding and enforceable obligation of
the Company, subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, or other similar laws relating to creditors' rights generally and
general equitable principles, and subject to such shareholder approvals and such
approval of regulatory agencies and other governmental authorities having
authority over the Company as may be required by statute or regulation. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby will not conflict with, or result in any
violation or breach of or default under the respective Articles of Incorporation
or Association or By-Laws of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 3.5 No Violation. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.5, neither
the execution, delivery nor performance of this Agreement in its entirety, nor
the consummation of all of the transactions contemplated hereby, following the
receipt of such approvals as may be required from the Company's shareholders,
the SEC, the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS"), the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System ("FRB"), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
("FDIC"), the Commissioner for the Colorado Division of Banking ("Commissioner")
and the Alabama Superintendent of Banks ("Superintendent") and any required
notification to the Colorado Division of Insurance ("Insurance Division") will
(i) violate (with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time), any
law, order, writ, judgment, injunction, award, decree, rule, statute, ordinance
or regulation applicable to the Company or its Subsidiaries or (ii) be in
conflict with, result in a breach or termination of any provision of, cause the
acceleration of the maturity of any debt or obligation pursuant to, constitute a
default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration)
under, or result in the creation of any security interest, lien, charge or other
encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries
pursuant to, any terms, conditions or provisions of any note, license,
instrument, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or
understanding or any other restriction of any kind or character, to which the
Company or its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their assets or
properties are subject or bound. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.5, there are
no proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or its Subsidiaries,
threatened, against the Company, its Subsidiaries or involving the Shares, at
law or in equity or before or by any foreign, federal, state, municipal or other
governmental court, department, commission, board, bureau, agency,
instrumentality or other person which may result in liability

                                       8

<PAGE>   15

to Compass or Merger Sub upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or which would prevent or delay such consummation. Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.5, or as contemplated hereby, the corporate existence, business
organization, assets, licenses, permits, authorizations and contracts of the
Company and its Subsidiaries will not be terminated or impaired by reason of the
execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, assuming
the receipt of required shareholder and regulatory approvals.

         SECTION 3.6 Consents and Approvals. The Company's Board of Directors
(at a meeting called and duly held) has unanimously determined that the Merger
is fair to the Company's shareholders and has unanimously resolved to recommend
approval and adoption of this Agreement by the Company's shareholders. Except as
described in Schedule 3.6 hereto, no prior consent, approval or authorization
of, or declaration, filing or registration with any person, domestic or foreign,
is required of the Company in connection with the execution, delivery and
performance by the Company of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby or the resulting change of control of its Subsidiaries, except the filing
of the Articles of Merger under the CBCA, and such approvals as may be required
from the SEC, the FRB, the OTS, the Superintendent, the Commissioner and holders
of Shares under the CBCA and notification to the Insurance Division.

         SECTION 3.7 Regulatory Reports. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.7,
the Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all reports, registrations and
statements, together with any amendments required to be made thereto, that are
required to be filed with the FRB, the OTS, the Commissioner, the FDIC, or any
other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over any such persons, other than
plans, reports or information listed on Schedule 3.7.

         SECTION 3.8 Securities Issuances. All issuances of securities by the
Company and its Subsidiaries have been registered under the Securities Act, the
Securities Act of the State of Colorado, and all other applicable laws or were
exempt from any such registration requirements. The Company and its Subsidiaries
have made all filings required to be made in compliance with the Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). None of the information contained in any
filing by the Company or any Subsidiary is false or misleading with respect to
any material fact, or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleadings.

         SECTION 3.9 Financial Statements. The Company has provided Compass with
a true and complete copy of the audited consolidated statement of financial
position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 1997,
and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and
changes in cash flows for the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997, plus
management prepared consolidating financial statements of the Company's
Subsidiaries, and the consolidated statements of financial position of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as of March 31 and June 30 1999 and the related
consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and changes in cash
flows for the three- and six- month periods ended March 31 and June 30, 1999,
and promptly following their availability the Company will provide Compass with
the Company's audited consolidated statement of financial position of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1999 and the related
consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and changes in cash flow
for the year

                                       9

<PAGE>   16

ended December 31, 1999 (such consolidated statements of financial position and
the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and changes
in cash flows are collectively referred to herein as the "Consolidated Financial
Statements"), plus all management prepared consolidating financial statements
for its Subsidiaries (collectively, with the Consolidated Financial Statements
and the notes and schedules thereto, referred to as the "Financial Statements").
Except as described in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the
Consolidated Financial Statements, including the consolidated statement of
financial position and the related consolidated statements of income,
shareholders' equity and changes in cash flows (including the related notes
thereto) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, fairly present the financial
position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the
results of operations and changes in consolidated financial position of the
Company and its Subsidiaries for the periods then ended, in conformity with
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") applied on a basis consistent
with prior periods (subject, in the case of the unaudited interim financial
statements, to normal year-end adjustments and in the case of unaudited interim
financial statements and management prepared consolidating financial statements,
to the fact that they do not contain all of the footnote disclosures required by
GAAP), except as otherwise noted therein, and the accounting records underlying
the Consolidated Financial Statements accurately and fairly reflect in all
material respects the transactions of the Company and its Subsidiaries. As of
their dates, the Consolidated Financial Statements conformed, or will conform
when delivered, in all material respects with all applicable rules and
regulations promulgated by the FRB, the OTS, the Commissioner, and the FDIC.
Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have any liabilities or obligations of
a type which should be included in or reflected on the Financial Statements if
prepared in accordance with GAAP, whether related to tax or non-tax matters,
accrued or contingent, due or not yet due, liquidated or unliquidated, or
otherwise, except as and to the extent disclosed or reflected in the Financial
Statements. The Company will provide Compass with the unaudited consolidated and
unconsolidated statements of financial position of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of the end of each month hereafter, prepared on a basis
consistent with prior periods and promptly following their availability, the
Company will provide Compass with the Thrift Financial Reports of its
Subsidiaries for all periods ending after June 30, 1999. The Company and its
Subsidiaries have no off balance sheet liabilities associated with financial
derivative products or potential liabilities associated with financial
derivative products.

         SECTION 3.10 Absence of Certain Changes. Except as and to the extent
set forth on Schedule 3.10, since June 30, 1999 (the "Balance Sheet Date")
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has:

         (a) made any amendment to its Articles of Incorporation or Association
or Bylaws or changed the character of its business in any material manner;

         (b) suffered any Material Adverse Effect (as defined in Section
10.13(b));

         (c) entered into any agreement, commitment or transaction except in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with prudent banking practices;

                                       10

<PAGE>   17

         (d) except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
prudent banking practices, incurred, assumed or become subject to, whether
directly or by way of any guarantee or otherwise, any obligations or liabilities
(absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise);

         (e) permitted or allowed any of its property or assets to be subject to
any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, restriction or
charge of any kind (other than statutory liens not yet delinquent) except in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with prudent banking practices;

         (f) except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
prudent banking practices, canceled any debts, waived any claims or rights, or
sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of any of its properties or assets;

         (g) disposed of or permitted to lapse any rights to the use of any
trademark, service mark, trade name or copyright, or disposed of or disclosed to
any person other than its employees or agents, any trade secret not theretofore
a matter of public knowledge;

         (h) except for regular salary increases granted in the ordinary course
of business within the Company's or its Subsidiaries' 1999 budgets and
consistent with prior practices, granted any increase in compensation or paid or
agreed to pay or accrue any bonus, percentage compensation, service award,
severance payment or like benefit to or for the credit of any director, officer,
employee or agent, or entered into any employment or consulting contract or
other agreement with any director, officer or employee or adopted, amended or
terminated any pension, employee welfare, retirement, stock purchase, stock
option, stock appreciation rights, termination, severance, income protection,
golden parachute, savings or profit-sharing plan (including trust agreements and
insurance contracts embodying such plans), any deferred compensation, or
collective bargaining agreement, any group insurance contract or any other
incentive, welfare or employee benefit plan, program or agreement maintained by
the Company or its Subsidiaries, for the directors, employees or former
employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries ("Employee Benefit Plan");

         (i) directly or indirectly declared, set aside or paid any dividend or
made any distribution in respect to its capital stock or redeemed, purchased or
otherwise acquired, or arranged for the redemption, purchase or acquisition of,
any shares of its capital stock or other of its securities, except for dividends
paid to the Company by its Subsidiaries;

         (j) organized or acquired any capital stock or other equity securities
or acquired any equity or ownership interest in any person (except through
settlement of indebtedness, foreclosure, the exercise of creditors' remedies or
in a fiduciary capacity, the ownership of which does not expose the Company or
its Subsidiaries to any liability from the business, operations or liabilities
of such person);

         (k) issued, reserved for issuance, granted, sold or authorized the
issuance of any shares of its capital stock or subscriptions, options, warrants,
calls, rights or commitments of any kind relating to the issuance or sale of or
conversion into shares of its capital stock;

                                       11

<PAGE>   18

         (l) made any or acquiesced with any change in any accounting methods,
principles or practices;

         (m) experienced any change in relations with customers or clients of
the Company or its Subsidiaries which could have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company or its Subsidiaries;

         (n) except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or as
otherwise permitted hereunder, entered into any transaction, or entered into,
modified or amended any contract or commitment, other than in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with prudent banking practices; or

         (o) agreed, whether in writing or otherwise, to take any action the
performance of which would change the representations contained in this Section
3.10 in the future so that any such representation would not be true in all
material respects as of the Closing.

         SECTION 3.11 Company Indebtedness. The Company has delivered to Compass
true and complete copies of all loan documents ("Company Loan Documents")
related to indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than deposits
("Company Indebtedness"), and made available to Compass all material
correspondence concerning the status of Company Indebtedness.

         SECTION 3.12 Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12, there
are no actions, suits, claims, investigations, reviews or other proceedings
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or its Subsidiaries, threatened
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or involving any of their
respective properties or assets, at law or in equity or before or by any
foreign, federal, state, municipal, or other governmental court, department,
commission, board, bureau, agency, or other instrumentality or person or any
board of arbitration or similar entity ("Proceeding"). The Company will notify
Compass immediately in writing of any Proceedings against the Company or its
Subsidiaries other than mechanics liens arising in the ordinary course of
business in respect of the loan assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 3.13 Tax Matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries have duly
filed all tax returns that they were required to file (the "Filed Returns"). All
such Filed Returns were correct and complete in all material respects. The
Company and its Subsidiaries have paid, or have established adequate reserves
for the payment of, all federal income taxes and all state and local income
taxes and all franchise, property, sales, employment, foreign or other taxes
required to be paid with respect to the periods covered by the Filed Returns.
None of the Company or its Subsidiaries currently is the beneficiary of any
extension of time within which to file any tax return. With respect to the
periods for which returns have not yet been filed, the Company and its
Subsidiaries have established adequate reserves determined in accordance with
GAAP for the payment of all federal income taxes and all state and local income
taxes and all franchise, property, sales, employment, foreign or other taxes.
Except as described in Schedule 3.13, the Company and its Subsidiaries have no
direct or indirect liability for the payment of federal income taxes, state and
local income taxes, and franchise, property, sales, employment or other taxes in
excess of amounts paid or reserves established. There are no liens for any taxes
on any assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries except for liens for taxes not
yet due or for taxes being

                                       12

<PAGE>   19

contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in
accordance with GAAP. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13, the Company has not
entered into any tax sharing agreement or other agreement regarding the
allocation of the tax liability of the Company or the Bank or similar
arrangement with its other Subsidiaries. Set forth on Schedule 3.13 are the
dates of filing of all Filed Returns for all fiscal years since and including
January 1, 1990 and any amendments thereto which relate to federal or state
income or franchise taxes. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have filed
any Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") Forms 1139 (Application for Tentative
Refund). Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13, there are no pending questions
raised in writing by the IRS or other taxing authority for taxes or assessments
of the Company or its Subsidiaries, nor are there any outstanding agreements or
waivers extending the statutory period of limitation applicable to any tax
assessment or deficiency against the Company or its Subsidiaries for any period.
The Company and its Subsidiaries have withheld and paid over all taxes to the
proper governmental authorities required to be so withheld and paid over in
connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor,
creditor, stockholder or other third party. The Company and its Subsidiaries are
neither obligated to make any payments nor are they parties to any agreement
that under certain circumstances could obligate them to make any payments that
will not be deductible under Section 280G of the Code. Except as disclosed in
Schedule 3.13, the Company and its Subsidiaries have never agreed to make, nor
is the Company or its Subsidiaries required to make, any adjustment under
Section 481(a) of the Code by reason of a change in the method of accounting or
otherwise. The Company and its Subsidiaries have not, with regard to any assets
held, acquired or to be acquired, filed a consent to the application of Section
341(f) of the Code. None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has been a United
States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2)
of the Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii)
of the Code. None of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) has been a member of
an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income tax return (other than
a group the common parent of which was the Company) or (ii) has any liability
for the taxes of any person (other than any of the Company and its Subsidiaries)
under Reg. Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or
foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise. Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any reason to believe that any
conditions exist that might prevent or impede the Merger from qualifying as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. For the
purposes of this Agreement, the term "tax" shall include all federal, state,
local and foreign taxes and related governmental charges and any interest or
penalties payable in connection with the payment of taxes.

         SECTION 3.14 Employee Benefit Plans. With respect to all employee
benefit plans and programs in which employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries
participate the following are true and correct:

         (a) Schedule 3.14(a) lists each "employee welfare benefit plan" (as
defined in Section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended ("ERISA")) maintained by the Company or its Subsidiaries or any
entity which is a member of a controlled group or affiliated service group with
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under ERISA Section 4001 or Section 414
of the Code (such Subsidiaries and entities collectively, "ERISA Affiliates") or
to which the Company or ERISA Affiliates contribute or are required to
contribute, including any multiemployer welfare plan (such employee welfare
benefit plans being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Welfare Benefit
Plans") and sets forth (i) the

                                       13

<PAGE>   20

amount of any liability of the Company or ERISA Affiliates for contributions
more than thirty days past due with respect to each Welfare Benefit Plan as of
the date hereof and as of the end of any subsequent month ending prior to the
Closing and (ii) the annual cost attributable to each of the Welfare Benefit
Plans; no Welfare Benefit Plan provides for continuing benefits or coverage for
any participant, beneficiary or former employee after such participant's or
former employee's termination of employment except as may be required by Section
4980B of the Code and Sections 601-608 of ERISA;

         (b) Schedule 3.14(b) lists each "employee pension benefit plan" (as
defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA and not exempted under Section 4(b) or 201 of
ERISA) maintained by the Company or an ERISA Affiliate or to which the Company
or ERISA Affiliates contribute or are required to contribute, including any
multiemployer plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA) (such employee pension
benefit plans being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Pension Benefit
Plans");

         (c) Schedule 3.14(c) lists each deferred compensation plan, bonus plan,
stock option plan, employee stock purchase plan, restricted stock, excess
benefit plan, incentive compensation, stock bonus, cash bonus, severance pay,
golden parachute, life insurance, all nonqualified deferred compensation
arrangements, rabbi trusts, cafeteria plans, dependent care plans, all unfunded
plans and any other employee benefit plans or programs, agreements, arrangements
or commitments not required under a previous subsection to be listed (other than
normal policies concerning holidays, vacations and salary continuation during
short absences for illness or other reasons) maintained by the Company or ERISA
Affiliates (referred to as ("Other Programs");

         (d) All of the Pension Benefit Plans and Welfare Benefit Plans and any
related trust agreements or annuity contracts (or any other funding instruments)
and all Other Programs comply currently, and have complied in the past, in all
material respects, both as to form and operation, with the provisions of ERISA,
the Code and with all other applicable laws, rules and regulations governing the
establishment and operation of the Pension Benefit Plans, Welfare Benefit Plans
and all Other Programs; all necessary governmental approvals relating to the
establishment of the Pension Benefit Plans have been obtained; and with respect
to each Pension Benefit Plan that is intended to be tax-qualified under Section
401(a) or 403(a) of the Code, a favorable determination letter as to the
qualification under the Code of each such Pension Benefit Plan and each material
amendment thereto has been issued by the Internal Revenue Service (and nothing
has occurred since the date of the last such determination letter which resulted
in, or is likely to result in the revocation of such determination);

         (e) Each Welfare Benefit Plan, each Pension Benefit Plan and each Other
Program has been administered in all material respects in compliance with the
requirements of the Code, ERISA and all other applicable laws, and all reports
and disclosures required by ERISA, the Code and any other applicable laws with
respect to each Welfare Benefit Plan, each Pension Benefit Plan and each Other
Program have been timely filed;

         (f) Neither the Company, any Company Subsidiary nor any plan fiduciary
of any Welfare Benefit Plan or Pension Benefit Plan has ever engaged in any
transaction in violation of

                                       14

<PAGE>   21

Section 406 of ERISA (for which transaction no exemption exists under Section
408 of ERISA) or in any "prohibited transaction" as defined in Section
4975(c)(1) of the Code (for which no exemption exists under Section 4975(c)(2)
or 4975(d) of the Code);

         (g) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate is, or has been within
the past five years, a contributing sponsor (as defined in Section 4001(a)(13)
of ERISA) of a Pension Benefit Plan subject to the provisions of Title IV of
ERISA, nor has the Company or any ERISA Affiliate maintained or participated in
any employee pension benefit plan (defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) subject to
the provision of Title IV of ERISA. In addition, neither the Company nor any
ERISA Affiliate (i) is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, (ii) has
maintained or contributed to, or has participated in or agreed to participate
in, a multiemployer plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), or (iii) has
made a complete or partial withdrawal from a multiemployer plan (as defined in
Section 3(37) of ERISA) so as to incur withdrawal liability as defined in
Section 4201 of ERISA (without regard to subsequent reduction or waiver of such
liability under Section 4207 or 4208 of ERISA);

         (h) True and complete copies of each Welfare Benefit Plan, each Pension
Benefit Plan and each Other Program, related trust agreements or annuity
contracts (or any other funding instruments), summary plan descriptions, the
most recent determination letter issued by the Internal Revenue Service with
respect to each Pension Benefit Plan, the most recent application for a
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to each
Pension Benefit Plan and Annual Reports on Form 5500 Series filed with any
governmental agency for each Welfare Benefit Plan, Pension Benefit Plan and
Other Program for the three most recent plan years, have been made available to
Compass;

         (i) All Welfare Benefit Plans, Pension Benefit Plans, and Other
Programs related trust agreements or annuity contracts (or any other funding
instruments), are legally valid and binding and in full force and effect and
there are no promised increases in benefits (whether expressed, implied, oral or
written) under any of these plans nor any obligations, commitments or
understandings to continue any of these plans, (whether expressed, implied, oral
or written) except as required by Section 4980B of the Code and Sections 601-608
of ERISA;

         (j) There are no claims pending with respect to, or under, any Pension
Benefit Plan, Welfare Benefit Plan or any Other Program, other than routine
claims for plan benefits, and there are no disputes or litigation pending or, to
the knowledge of Company and its Subsidiaries threatened, with respect to any
such plans;

         (k) No action has been taken, nor has there been a failure to take any
action that would subject any person or entity to any liability for any income,
excise or other tax or penalty in connection with any Pension Benefit Plan,
Welfare Benefit Plan or any Other Program, other than for income taxes due with
respect to benefits paid; and

         (l) Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 3.14(l), neither the
execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transaction
contemplated hereby will (i) result in any payment to be made by the Company or
any ERISA Affiliate (including, without limitation, severance, unemployment
compensation, golden parachute (defined in Section 280G

                                       15

<PAGE>   22

of the Code), or otherwise) becoming due to any employee, director or
consultant, or (ii) increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Welfare
Benefit Plan, Pension Benefit Plan, or any Other Program.

         SECTION 3.15 Employment Matters. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.15,
neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to any oral or written
contracts or agreements granting benefits or rights to employees or any
collective bargaining agreement or to any conciliation agreement with the
Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any federal,
state or local agency which requires equal employment opportunities or
affirmative action in employment. There are no unfair labor practice complaints
pending against the Company or any Company Subsidiary before the National Labor
Relations Board and no similar claims pending before any similar state, local or
foreign agency. To the knowledge of the Company, there is no activity or
proceeding of any labor organization (or representative thereof) or employee
group to organize any employees of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, nor of
any strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages, lockouts, or threats thereof, by or with
respect to any such employees. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws respecting
employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and
wages and hours, and neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries are engaged in any
unfair labor practice.

         SECTION 3.16 Leases, Contracts and Agreements. Schedule 3.16 sets forth
an accurate and complete description of all leases, subleases, licenses,
contracts and agreements to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a
party or by which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is bound which obligate
or may obligate the Company or any Company Subsidiary for an amount in excess of
$50,000 per lease, sublease, license, contract or agreement over the entire term
of any such agreement or any leases, subleases, licenses, contracts or
agreements with a current term of one year or longer (the "Contracts"). The
Company has made available to Compass true and correct copies of all Contracts.
For the purposes of this Agreement, the Contracts shall be deemed not to include
loans made by, repurchase agreements made by, spot foreign exchange transactions
of, bankers acceptances of, agreements with Bank customers for trust services,
or deposits by the Company or its Subsidiaries, but does include unfunded loan
commitments and letters of credit issued by the Company or its Subsidiaries
where the borrowers' total direct and indirect indebtedness to its Subsidiaries
is in excess of $50,000. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.16, no participations
or loans have been sold which have buy back, recourse or guaranty provisions
which create contingent or direct liabilities of the Company or its
Subsidiaries. All of the Contracts are legal, valid and binding obligations of
the parties to the Contracts enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject
to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other
similar laws relating to creditors' rights generally and to general equitable
principles, and are in full force and effect. Except as described in Schedule
3.16, all rent and other payments by the Company and its Subsidiaries under the
Contracts are current, there are no existing defaults by the Company or its
Subsidiaries under the Contracts and no termination, condition or other event
has occurred which (whether with or without notice, lapse of time or the
happening or occurrence of any other event) would constitute a default. The
Company and each of its Subsidiaries has a good and valid leasehold interest in
each parcel of real property leased by it free and clear of all mortgages,
pledges, liens, encumbrances and security interests.

                                       16

<PAGE>   23

         SECTION 3.17 Related Company Transactions. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.17, there are no agreements, instruments, commitments, extensions of
credit, tax sharing or allocation agreements or other contractual agreements of
any kind between or among the Company, whether on its own behalf or in its
capacity as trustee or custodian for the funds of any employee benefit plan (as
defined in ERISA), and any of its Affiliates (including its Subsidiaries). The
term "Affiliate" as used in this Agreement means, with respect to any person,
any person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under
common control with, such person in question. For the purposes of this
definition, "control" (including, with correlative meaning, the terms
"controlled by" and "under common control with") as used with respect to any
person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

         SECTION 3.18 Compliance with Laws. Except as set forth on Schedule
3.18, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default in respect
to or is in violation of (i) any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree of
any court, or (ii) in any material respect, any statute, law, ordinance, rule,
order or regulation of any governmental department, commission, board, bureau,
agency or instrumentality, federal, state or local, including (for purposes of
illustration and not limitation) capital and FRB reserve requirements, capital
ratios and loan limitations of the OTS or the FDIC, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not constitute such a default
or violation as to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company and its
Subsidiaries have all permits, licenses, and franchises from governmental
agencies required to conduct their businesses as they are now being conducted.

         SECTION 3.19 Insurance. The Company and its Subsidiaries have in effect
the insurance coverage (including fidelity bonds) described in Schedule 3.19 and
have had similar insurance in force for the last 5 years. There have been no
claims under such bonds within the last 5 years and neither the Company nor its
Subsidiaries is aware of any facts which would form the basis of a claim under
such bonds. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has any reason to believe
that the existing fidelity coverage would not be renewed by its carrier on
substantially the same terms. The Company has made available to Compass true and
accurate copies of the policies and declaration pages evidencing such insurance
coverage.

         SECTION 3.20 Loans. Each loan reflected as an asset in the Financial
Statements is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the obligor of each
loan, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other similar laws
relating to creditors' rights generally and to general equitable principles;
provided, however, that no representation or warranty is made as to the
collectibility of such loans. The Company's Subsidiaries do not have in their
portfolios any loan exceeding their legal lending limit, and except as disclosed
on Schedule 3.20, the Company's Subsidiaries have no known significant
delinquent, substandard, doubtful, loss, nonperforming or problem loans.

         SECTION 3.21 Fiduciary Responsibilities. The Company and its
Subsidiaries have performed in all material respects all of their respective
duties as a trustee, custodian, guardian or as an escrow agent in a manner which
complies in all material respects with all applicable laws, regulations, orders,
agreements, instruments and common law standards.

                                       17

<PAGE>   24

         SECTION 3.22 Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights. Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.22, neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries require the use of any
material patent, patent application, invention, process, trademark (whether
registered or unregistered), trademark application, trade name, service mark,
copyright, or any material trade secret for the business or operations of the
Company or its Subsidiaries. The Company and its Subsidiaries own or are
licensed or otherwise have the right to use the items listed in Schedule 3.22.

         SECTION 3.23 Environmental Compliance. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.23:

         (a) The Company, its Subsidiaries and any Property owned or operated by
any of them have been and are in compliance with all applicable Environmental
Laws (as defined in Section 10.13(c)). There is no past or present event,
condition or circumstance that could (1) interfere with the conduct of the
business of the Company or its Subsidiaries in the manner now conducted relating
to such entity's compliance with Environmental Laws, (2) constitute a violation
of, or serve as the basis of liability pursuant to, any Environmental Law or (3)
which could have a Material Adverse Effect upon the Company or any Company
Subsidiary;

         (b) The Company, its Subsidiaries, and their Properties have not been,
and are not now subject to any actual, or, to the knowledge of the Company or
any Company Subsidiary, any potential or threatened Proceeding pursuant to any
Environmental Law and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has
received any notice (whether from any regulatory body or private person) of any
actual or alleged violation of, or liability pursuant to, any Environmental Law;

         (c) There is no Property for which the Company or any Company
Subsidiary is or was required to obtain any permit, license, or other
authorization under RCRA, FWPCA, TSCA, CAA, or any state or local counterparts
to any of the foregoing.

         (d) Neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has generated any
Hazardous Substances for which it was required under an Environmental Law to
execute any hazardous waste disposal manifest;

         (e) There are no underground or above ground storage tanks on or under
any Property nor any Hazardous Substances (except for asbestos containing
material ("ACM")) at, in, on, under or emanating from any Property in any
quantity or concentration exceeding any standard or limit established pursuant
to any Environmental Law;

         (f) There is no ACM present in any Controlled Property except
non-friable ACM which can be managed in place in compliance with Environmental
Laws without air monitoring, removal or encapsulation and which is managed under
and in compliance with an operations and maintenance program.

         (g) For purposes of this Section 3.23 and Section 6.10, "Property"
includes (1) any property (whether real or personal) which the Company or any
Company Subsidiary currently or in the past has leased, operated or owned or
managed in any manner including without limitation any property acquired by
foreclosure or deed in lieu thereof ("Controlled Property") and (2) property now
held as security for a loan or other indebtedness by the

                                       18

<PAGE>   25

Company or any Company Subsidiary or property currently proposed as security for
loans or other credit the Company or any Company Subsidiary is currently
evaluating whether to extend or has committed to extend ("Collateral Property").
With respect to any Collateral Property, the representations of this Section
3.23 shall be limited to the knowledge of the Company. With respect to any
Controlled Property formerly leased, operated, owned or managed by the Company
or any Company Subsidiary, the representations of this Section 3.23 shall be
construed to relate to conditions, events, facts or circumstances which existed,
occurred or commenced prior to the latest date of any leasehold interest,
operation, ownership or management of such Controlled Property by the Company or
any Company Subsidiary.

         SECTION 3.24 Regulatory Actions. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.24,
there are no actions or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company
and its Subsidiaries, threatened against the Company or its Subsidiaries by or
before the OTS, the FDIC, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Colorado
Department of Health and Environment or any other nation or government, any
state or political subdivision thereof, or any entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.24, neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries are subject to a formal or informal agreement, memorandum of
understanding, enforcement action with or any type of financial assistance by
any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such entity. Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have taken or agreed to take any action or
has knowledge of any fact or circumstance that would materially impede or delay
receipt of any required regulatory approval. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.24, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not received or been made aware of
any complaints or inquiries under the Community Reinvestment Act, the Fair
Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act or any other state or federal
anti-discrimination fair lending law and, to the knowledge of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, there is no fact or circumstance that would form the basis of
any such complaint or inquiry.

         SECTION 3.25 Title to Properties; Encumbrances. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.25, in notes to the Financial Statements, or for such encumbrances
arising by operation of law, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has
unencumbered, good, legal, and indefeasible title to all its properties and
assets, real and personal, including, without limitation, all the properties and
assets reflected in the Financial Statements except for those properties and
assets disposed of for fair market value in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with prudent banking practice since the date of the Financial
Statements. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.25, the Company has a title policy
in full force and effect from a title insurance company which, to the best of
Company's knowledge, is solvent, insuring good and indefeasible title to all
real property owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries in favor of the Company
or its Subsidiaries, whichever is applicable. The Company has made available to
Compass all of the files and information in the possession of the Company or its
Subsidiaries concerning such properties, including any title exceptions which
might affect indefeasible title or value of such property. The Company and its
Subsidiaries each hold good and legal title or good and valid leasehold rights
to all assets that are necessary for them to conduct their respective businesses
as they are currently being conducted. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.25, the
Company owns all furniture, equipment, art and other property used to transact
business presently located on its premises. Except as set forth on Schedule
3.25, no Property has been deed recorded or otherwise

                                       19

<PAGE>   26

been identified in public records or should have been recorded or so identified
as containing Hazardous Substances.

         SECTION 3.26 Shareholder List. The Company has provided to Compass
prior to the date of this Agreement a list of the holders of Shares and the
holders of any outstanding warrant, option, convertible debenture or other
security entitling the holder thereof to acquire Shares as of September 30, 1999
containing the names, addresses and number of Shares or such other securities
held of record, which is accurate in all respects as of such date, and the
Company will promptly, and in any event prior to the mailing of the Proxy
Statement, advise Compass of any significant changes thereto.

         SECTION 3.27 Dissenting Shareholders. The Company and the Bank, and
their respective directors, have no knowledge of any plan or intention on the
part of any Company shareholders to make written demand for payment of the fair
value of such Shares in the manner provided in Article 113 of the CBCA.

         SECTION 3.28 Takeover Laws. This Agreement and the Merger contemplated
hereby are not subject to the requirements of any "moratorium," "control share,"
"fair price," "affiliate transactions," "business combination" or other
antitakeover laws and regulations of any state applicable to the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 3.29 Employee Stock Options. Except as set forth on Schedule
3.29, there are no Company employee stock option plans or provisions in any
other plan, program, or arrangement providing for the issuance or grant of any
other interest in respect of the capital stock of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary.

         SECTION 3.30 Accounting Matters. Neither the Company nor any of its
affiliates has taken or agreed to take any action that would prevent Compass
from accounting for the business combination to be effected by the Merger as a
pooling of interests, including, without limitation, any action inconsistent
with the provisions of Exhibit C hereto.

         SECTION 3.31 Year 2000 Representation. All software, firmware,
hardware, equipment, microprocessing chips and other data processing devices and
services (both as a recipient and as a provider), capabilities and facilities
utilized by, and material to the business operations or financial condition of,
the Company and its Subsidiaries are or will be able to record and process all
calendar dates (whether before, in or after the year 2000) correctly and will be
able to communicate with other applicable systems in a manner that resolves any
ambiguities as to century in a properly defined manner (collectively, "Year 2000
Compliant"). The Company and its Subsidiaries have adequately assessed the Year
2000 Compliant status of all vendors, suppliers, service providers, customers
and business partners or venturers ("Critical Third Parties") whose goods,
services or business activities are material to the business operations or
financial condition of the Company or its Subsidiaries. The Company and its
Subsidiaries have developed adequate contingency plans to prevent material loss
to or liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the event the Company's
or its Subsidiaries' property or services or any Critical Third Party (or their
respective critical suppliers, vendors, service providers, customers and
business partners and venturers) fails to be Year 2000 Compliant. The Company
has contingency plans for cash availability and liquidity sources.

                                       20

<PAGE>   27

         SECTION 3.32 Title Companies. Each Subsidiary of the Company which is a
title insurance or escrow company has (i) paid to its underwriters all premiums
to which each underwriter is entitled, and (ii) complied in all material
respects with all requirements set forth in the underwriting agreements to which
such Subsidiary is a party, including without limitation, all underwriting and
title examination guidelines. No Company Subsidiary which is a title insurance
or escrow company has used escrow or trust funds as collateral for loans or for
other corporate purposes.

         SECTION 3.33 Representations Not Misleading. No representation or
warranty by the Company in this Agreement, or in any exhibit or schedule
furnished to Compass or Merger Sub by the Company or its Subsidiaries under and
pursuant to this Agreement, contains or will contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
contained herein or therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were
made, not misleading.

                                  ARTICLE IV.

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                                   OF COMPASS

         Compass hereby makes the representations and warranties set forth in
this Article IV to the Company. Compass has delivered to the Company the
Schedules to this Agreement referred to in this Article IV prior to the date
hereof. Compass agrees at the Closing to provide the Company with supplemental
Schedules reflecting any changes thereto between the date of such Schedules and
the date of Closing.

         SECTION 4.1 Organization and Authority.

         (a) Compass is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has all requisite
corporate power and authority to conduct its business as now conducted, to own,
lease and operate its properties and assets as now owned, leased or operated and
to enter into and carry out its obligations under this Agreement.

         (b) Compass is a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company
Act of 1956, as amended, and in good standing under all laws, rules and
regulations applicable to bank holding companies. Compass is duly qualified or
licensed and in good standing in each jurisdiction which requires such
qualification where it owns or leases properties or conducts business.

         SECTION 4.2 Authority Relative to Agreement. Compass has full corporate
power and authority and no further corporate proceedings on the part of Compass
are necessary to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby, all of which have been duly and validly
authorized by Compass' Board of Directors. This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by Compass and is a duly authorized, valid, legally binding and
enforceable obligation of Compass, subject to the effect of bankruptcy,

                                       21

<PAGE>   28

insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other similar laws relating to
creditors' rights generally and general equitable principles, and subject to
such shareholder approvals and such approval of regulatory agencies and other
governmental authorities having authority over Compass as may be required by
statute or regulation. Compass is not in violation of or default under its
Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws or any agreement, document or instrument
under which Compass is obligated or bound, or any law, order, judgment,
injunction, award, decree, statute, rule, ordinance or regulation applicable to
Compass or any of its Subsidiaries, the violation or breach of which could have
a Material Adverse Effect on Compass and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Except as set forth on Schedule 4.2, neither the execution, delivery nor
performance of this Agreement in its entirety, nor the consummation of all the
transactions contemplated hereby, following the receipt of such approvals as may
be required from the SEC, the OTS, the FRB, the FDIC, the Commissioner and the
Superintendent and any notification to the Insurance Division will (i) conflict
with or result in any violation or breach of or default under its Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws; (ii) violate (with or without the giving of notice or
passage of time), any law, order, writ, judgment, injunction, award, decree,
rule, statute, ordinance or regulation applicable to Compass, or (iii) be in
conflict with, result in a breach or termination of any provision of, cause the
acceleration of the maturity of any debt or obligation pursuant to, constitute a
default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration)
under, or result in the creation of any security interest, lien, charge or other
encumbrance upon any property or assets of Compass pursuant to, any terms,
conditions or provisions of any note, license, instrument, indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust or other agreement or understanding or any other restriction of
any kind or character, to which Compass is a party or by which any of its assets
or properties are bound. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.2, there are no
proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Compass, threatened, against
Compass, at law or in equity or before any foreign, federal, state, municipal or
other governmental court, department, commission, board, bureau, agency,
instrumentality or other person which may result in liability to the Company or
its Subsidiaries on the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
which would prevent or delay such consummation. Except as set forth in Schedule
4.2, or as contemplated hereby, the corporate existence, business, organization,
assets, licenses, permits, authorizations and contracts of Compass will not be
terminated or impaired by reason of the execution, delivery or performance by
Compass of this Agreement or consummation by Compass of the transactions
contemplated hereby, assuming receipt of the required regulatory approvals.

         SECTION 4.3 Financial Reports. Compass has previously furnished the
Company a true and complete copy of (i) the 1998 Annual Report to Shareholders,
which report (the "Compass 1998 Annual Report") includes, among other things,
consolidated balance sheets of Compass and its Subsidiaries as of December 31,
1998 and 1997, the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders'
equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 and
(ii) Compass' quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31 and
June 30, 1999 (the "Quarterly Reports") which reports include among other things
unaudited balance sheets of Compass and its Subsidiaries as of March 31 and June
30, 1999 and 1998, respectively, and the related unaudited consolidated
statements of income and cash flows for the three- and six-month periods ending
March 31 and June 30, 1999 and 1998. The financial statements contained in the
Compass 1998 Annual Report and such Quarterly Reports have been prepared in
conformity with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior periods. The
consolidated balance sheets of Compass and its Subsidiaries as of December 31,
1998 and

                                       22

<PAGE>   29

1997 contained in the Compass 1998 Annual Report fairly present the consolidated
financial condition of Compass and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof, and
the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash
flows of Compass and its Subsidiaries contained therein fairly present the
results of operations and cash flows thereof for the fiscal years then ended.
The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Compass and its Subsidiaries
as of March 31 and June 30, 1999 and 1998, contained in Compass' Quarterly
Reports, fairly present the financial condition, the results of the operations
and changes in cash flows thereof as of such dates and for the periods
indicated. For the purposes of this Agreement, all financial statements referred
to in this Section 4.3 shall be deemed to include any notes to such financial
statements. Compass has made all filings required to be made in compliance with
the Exchange Act. None of the information contained in the Compass 1998 Annual
Report or Compass' Quarterly Reports is false or misleading with respect to any
material fact, or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.

         SECTION 4.4 Capitalization. The shares of Compass Common Stock to be
issued pursuant to this Agreement, when so issued, will be duly and validly
authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and not issued in violation
of any preemptive rights. As of July 31, 1999, Compass had 113,629,765 shares of
common stock, $2.00 per share par value, issued and outstanding. None of the
shares of Compass Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement will be
subject to any lien, charge, encumbrance, claim, rights of others, mortgage,
pledge or security interest, and none will be subject to any agreements or
understandings among any persons with respect to the voting or transfer of such
shares of Compass Common Stock except as contemplated hereby.

         SECTION 4.5 Consents and Approvals. No prior consent, approval or
authorization of, or declaration, filing or registration with any person,
domestic or foreign, is required of or by Compass in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance by Compass of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby or the resulting change in control of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, except the filing of Articles of Merger under the
CBCA and such approvals as may be required from the SEC, the FRB, the OTS, the
Commissioner, the Superintendent and the FDIC and any notification to the
Insurance Division.

         SECTION 4.6 Availability of the Compass Common Stock. Compass has
available a sufficient number of authorized and unissued shares of Compass
Common Stock to pay the Merger Consideration, and Compass will not take any
action during the term of this Agreement that will cause it not to have a
sufficient number of authorized and unissued shares of the Compass Common Stock
to pay the Merger Consideration.

         SECTION 4.7 Regulatory Actions. Neither Compass nor any of its
Subsidiaries have taken or agreed to take any action or has knowledge of any
fact or circumstance that would materially impede or delay receipt of any
required regulatory approval.

         SECTION 4.8 Takeover Laws. This Agreement and the Merger contemplated
hereby are not subject to the requirements of any "moratorium," "control share,"
"fair price," "affiliate transactions," "business combination" or other
antitakeover laws and regulations of any state applicable to Compass or any of
its Subsidiaries.

                                       23

<PAGE>   30

         SECTION 4.9 Accounting Matters. Neither Compass nor any of its
affiliates has taken or agreed to take any action that would prevent Compass
from accounting for the business combination to be effected by the Merger as a
pooling of interests, including, without limitation, any action inconsistent
with the provisions of Exhibit C hereto.

         SECTION 4.10 Representations Not Misleading. No representation or
warranty by Compass in this Agreement nor exhibit or schedule furnished to the
Company under and pursuant to this Agreement, contains or will contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements contained herein or therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

         SECTION 4.11 Litigation. There are no material Proceedings pending, or
to the knowledge of Compass or its Subsidiaries, threatened against Compass or
its Subsidiaries or involving any of their respective properties or assets which
are required to be disclosed, but have not been so disclosed, in filings
required to be made with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act.

         SECTION 4.12 Absence of Certain Changes. Since June 30, 1999, no event
has occurred or circumstances arisen that, individually, or taken together, with
all other facts, circumstances and events, would have required a filing with the
SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act which has not been so filed.

                                   ARTICLE V.

                            COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

         SECTION 5.1 Affirmative Covenants of the Company. For so long as this
Agreement is in effect, the Company shall, and shall use its best efforts to
cause its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Acquired Companies") to, from the
date of this Agreement to the Closing, except as specifically contemplated by
this Agreement:

         (a) operate and conduct the businesses of the Acquired Companies in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with prudent banking practices;

         (b) preserve intact the Acquired Companies' corporate existence,
business organization, assets, licenses, permits, authorizations, and business
opportunities;

         (c) comply with all material contractual obligations applicable to the
Acquired Companies' operations;

         (d) maintain all the Acquired Companies' properties in good repair,
order and condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted, and maintain the
insurance coverages described in Schedule 3.19 (which shall list all Property
insured by such coverages) or obtain comparable insurance coverages from
reputable insurers which, in respect to amounts, types and risks insured, are
adequate for the business conducted by the Acquired Companies and consistent
with the existing insurance coverages;

                                       24

<PAGE>   31

         (e) in good faith and in a timely manner (i) cooperate with Compass and
Merger Sub in satisfying the conditions in this Agreement, (ii) assist Compass
and Merger Sub in obtaining as promptly as possible all consents, approvals,
authorizations and rulings, whether regulatory, corporate or otherwise, as are
necessary for Compass and Merger Sub and the Company (or any of them) to carry
out and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including
all consents, approvals and authorizations required by any agreement or
understanding existing at the Closing between the Company and any governmental
agency or other third party, (iii) furnish information concerning the Acquired
Companies not previously provided to Compass required for inclusion in any
filings or applications that may be necessary in that regard and (iv) perform
all acts and execute and deliver all documents necessary to cause the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated at the earliest
possible date;

         (f) timely file with the OTS, and the FDIC, all financial statements
and other reports required to be so filed by any of the Acquired Companies and
to the extent permitted by applicable law, promptly thereafter deliver to
Compass copies of all financial statements and other reports required to be so
filed;

         (g) comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and
regulations, domestic and foreign;

         (h) promptly notify Compass upon obtaining knowledge of any default,
event of default or condition with which the passage of time or giving of notice
would constitute a default or an event of default under the Company Loan
Documents and promptly notify and provide copies to Compass of any material
written communications concerning the Company Loan Documents;

         (i) between the date of this Agreement and Closing, promptly give
written notice to Compass upon obtaining knowledge of any event or fact that
would cause any of the representations or warranties of the Company contained in
or referred to in this Agreement to be untrue or misleading in any material
respect;

         (j) deliver to Compass a list (Schedule 5.1(j)), dated as of the
Effective Time, showing (i) the name of each bank or institution where the
Acquired Companies have accounts or safe deposit boxes, (ii) the name(s) in
which such accounts or boxes are held and (iii) the name of each person
authorized to draw thereon or have access thereto;

         (k) deliver to Compass a list (Schedule 5.1(k)), dated as of the
Effective Time, showing all liabilities and obligations of the Acquired
Companies, except those arising in the ordinary course of their respective
businesses, incurred since the Balance Sheet Date, certified by an officer of
Company;

         (l) shall continue to have contingency plans for cash availability and
liquidity sources;

         (m) promptly notify Compass of any material change or inaccuracies in
any data previously given or made available to Compass or Merger Sub pursuant to
this Agreement; and

                                       25

<PAGE>   32

         (n) provide access, to the extent that the Company or its Subsidiaries
have the right to provide access, to any or all Property (as defined in Section
3.23) so as to enable Compass to physically inspect any structure or components
of any structure on such Property, including without limitation surface and
subsurface testing and analyses.

         SECTION 5.2 Negative Covenants of the Company. Except with the prior
written consent of Compass or as otherwise specifically permitted by this
Agreement, the Company will not and will use its best efforts not to permit the
Bank, or any other Subsidiary of the Company, to, from the date of this
Agreement to the Closing:

         (a) make any amendment to its articles of incorporation or association
or bylaws;

         (b) make any change in the methods used in allocating and charging
costs, except as may be required by applicable law, regulation or GAAP and after
notice to Compass;

         (c) make any change in the number of shares of the capital stock issued
and outstanding, or issue, reserve for issuance, grant, sell or authorize the
issuance of any shares of its capital stock or subscriptions, options, warrants,
calls, rights or commitments of any kind relating to the issuance or sale of or
conversion into shares of its capital stock;

         (d) contract to create any obligation or liability (absolute, accrued,
contingent or otherwise) except in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with prudent banking practices;

         (e) contract to create any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or
encumbrances, restrictions, or charge of any kind (other than statutory liens
for which the obligations secured thereby shall not become delinquent), except
in the ordinary course of business and consistent with prudent banking
practices;

         (f) cancel any debts, waive any claims or rights of value or sell,
transfer, or otherwise dispose of any of its material properties or assets,
except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with prudent banking
practices;

         (g) sell any real estate owned as of the date of this Agreement or
acquired thereafter, which real estate qualifies as "other real estate owned"
under accounting principles applicable to it, except in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with prudent banking practices and applicable banking
laws and regulations;

         (h) dispose of or permit to lapse any rights to the use of any material
trademark, service mark, trade name or copyright, or dispose of or disclose to
any person other than its employees any material trade secret not theretofore a
matter of public knowledge;

         (i) except as set forth on Schedule 3.10 and except for regular salary
increases granted in the ordinary course of business within the Company or its
Subsidiaries' 1999 budgets and consistent with prior practices, grant any
increase in compensation or directors' fees, or pay or agree to pay or accrue
any bonus or like benefit to or for the credit of any director, officer,

                                       26

<PAGE>   33

employee or other person or enter into any employment, consulting or severance
agreement or other agreement with any director, officer or employee, or adopt,
amend or terminate any Employee Benefit Plan or change or modify the period of
vesting or retirement age for any participant of such a plan;

         (j) declare, pay or set aside for payment any dividend or other
distribution or payment in respect of shares of its capital stock, except for
dividends from the Bank to the Company;

         (k) except through settlement of indebtedness, foreclosure, the
exercise of creditors' remedies or in a fiduciary capacity, acquire the capital
stock or other equity securities or interest of any person;

         (l) make any capital expenditure or a series of expenditures of a
similar nature in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate;

         (m) make any income tax or franchise tax election or settle or
compromise any federal, state, local or foreign income tax or franchise tax
liability, or, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with prudent
banking practices, make any other tax election or settle or compromise any other
federal, state, local or foreign tax liability;

         (n) except for negotiations and discussions between the parties hereto
relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or as otherwise
permitted hereunder, enter into any transaction, or enter into, modify or amend
any contract or commitment other than in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with prudent banking practices;

         (o) except as contemplated by this Agreement, adopt a plan of complete
or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring,
recapitalization, or other reorganization or business combination of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries;

         (p) issue any certificates of deposit except in the ordinary course of
business and in accordance with prudent banking practices;

         (q) make any investments except in the ordinary course of business and
in accordance with prudent banking practices;

         (r) modify, amend, waive or extend either the Company Loan Documents or
any rights under such agreements;

         (s) modify any outstanding loan, make any new loan, or acquire any loan
participation, unless such modification, new loan, or participation is made in
the ordinary course of business and in accordance with prudent banking
practices;

         (t) sell or contract to sell any part of the Company's or its
Subsidiaries' premises;

         (u) change any fiscal year or the length thereof;

                                       27

<PAGE>   34

         (v) take or agree to take any action that would prevent Compass from
accounting for the business combination to be effected by the Merger as a
pooling of interests, including, without limitation, any action inconsistent
with the provisions of Exhibit C hereto;

         (w) prepay in whole or in part the Company Indebtedness;

         (x) commence operations or acquire any assets into the Real Estate
Subsidiaries; or

         (y) enter into any agreement, understanding or commitment, written or
oral, with any other person which is in any manner inconsistent with the
obligations of the Company and its directors and its Subsidiaries under this
Agreement or any related written agreement. Nothing contained in this Section
5.2 or in Section 5.1 is intended to influence the general management or overall
operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries in a manner not permitted by
applicable law and the provisions thereof shall automatically be reduced in
compliance therewith.

                                  ARTICLE VI.

                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

         SECTION 6.1 Access To, and Information Concerning, Properties and
Records. During the pendency of the transactions contemplated hereby, the
Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, give Compass, its legal counsel,
accountants and other representatives full access, during normal business hours
and upon reasonable advance notice, throughout the period prior to the Closing,
to all of the Company's and its Subsidiaries' properties, books, contracts,
commitments and records, permit Compass to make such inspections (including
without limitation physical inspection of the surface and subsurface of any
property thereof and any structure thereon) as they may require and furnish to
Compass during such period all such information concerning the Company and its
Subsidiaries and their affairs as Compass may reasonably request. All
information disclosed by the Company to Compass which is confidential and is so
identified to Compass as confidential shall be held confidential by Compass and
its representatives, except to the extent counsel to Compass, in its reasonable
opinion, has advised it such information is required to or should be disclosed
in filings with regulatory agencies or governmental authorities or in proxy
materials delivered to shareholders of the Company. In the event this Agreement
is terminated pursuant to the provisions of Article VIII, upon the written
request of the Company, Compass agrees to destroy or return to the Company all
copies of such confidential information.

         SECTION 6.2 Filing of Regulatory Approvals. Compass and the Company
shall use their reasonable efforts to file all notices and applications to the
FRB, the OTS, the Superintendent, the Commissioner, the FDIC and the Insurance
Division which Compass deems necessary or appropriate to complete the
transactions contemplated herein, including the merger of the Bank and Compass
Bank ("Compass Bank") on or before December 1, 1999. Compass will deliver to the
Company and its counsel, and the Company will deliver to Compass and its
counsel, copies of all non-confidential portions of any such applications.

                                       28

<PAGE>   35

         SECTION 6.3 Miscellaneous Agreements and Consents. Subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, Compass and the Company agree to use all
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or
cause to be done, all things necessary, proper, or advisable under applicable
laws and regulations to consummate and make effective, as soon as practicable
after the date hereof, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Compass
and the Company shall use their respective best efforts to obtain or cause to be
obtained consents of all third parties and governmental and regulatory
authorities necessary or desirable for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein.

         SECTION 6.4 Company Indebtedness. Prior to the Effective Time, the
Company shall pay all regularly scheduled payments on all Company Indebtedness
and shall cooperate with Compass in taking such actions as are reasonably
appropriate or necessary in connection with the redemption, prepayment,
modification, satisfaction or elimination of any outstanding indebtedness of the
Company or its Subsidiaries with respect to which a consent is required to be
obtained to effectuate the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and has not been so obtained.

         SECTION 6.5 Best Good Faith Efforts. All parties hereto agree that the
parties will use their best good faith efforts to secure all regulatory
approvals necessary to consummate the Merger and other transactions provided
herein and to satisfy the other conditions to Closing contained herein.

         SECTION 6.6 Exclusivity. (a) The Company agrees that it shall not, and
shall cause its Subsidiaries and its and its Subsidiaries' officers, directors,
agents and advisors and affiliates not to, solicit or encourage inquiries or
proposals with respect to, or engage in any negotiations concerning, or provide
any confidential information to, or have any discussions with, any person
relating to, any Acquisition Proposal. It shall immediately cease and cause to
be terminated any activities, discussions or negotiations conducted prior to the
date of this Agreement with any parties. The Company shall promptly advise
Compass following the receipt by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any
Acquisition Proposal and the substance thereof (including the identity of the
person making such Acquisition Proposal), and advise Compass of any developments
with respect to such Acquisition Proposal immediately upon the occurrence
thereof. For purposes of this Section 6.6 an "Acquisition Proposal" means any
tender or exchange offer, proposal for a merger, consolidation or other business
combination or similar transaction involving the Company or its Subsidiaries or
any proposal or offer to purchase or acquire in any manner all or a majority of
the voting ownership, beneficial ownership or right to vote securities in, or a
majority of the assets or deposits of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
other than the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, provided, however,
that nothing contained in this Section 6.6 shall prohibit the Board of Directors
of the Company from furnishing information to, or entering into discussions,
negotiations or an agreement with, any person or entity that makes an
unsolicited Acquisition Proposal after the date hereof if, and only to the
extent that the Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with and
based upon the written opinion of outside counsel, concludes in good faith that
such action is necessary for the Board of Directors of the Company, to comply
with its fiduciary duties to its shareholders under applicable law.

                                       29

<PAGE>   36

         (b) The Board of Directors of the Company shall not (i) withdraw or
modify the approval or recommendation by such Board of Directors of this
Agreement or the Merger, (ii) approve or recommend an Acquisition Proposal or
(iii) enter into any agreement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, unless
the Company receives an Acquisition Proposal and the Board of Directors of the
Company concludes in good faith, after consultation with and based upon the
written opinion of outside counsel, that in order to comply with its fiduciary
duties to its shareholders under applicable law it is necessary for the Board of
Directors to withdraw or modify its approval or recommendation of this Agreement
or the Merger, approve or recommend such Acquisition Proposal or enter into an
agreement with respect to such Acquisition Proposal. Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Agreement to the contrary, any action by the Board of
Directors permitted by this Section 6.6(b) shall not constitute a breach of this
Agreement by the Company.

         SECTION 6.7 Public Announcement. Subject to written advice of counsel
with respect to legal requirements relating to public disclosure of matters
related to the subject matter of this Agreement, the timing and content of any
announcements, press releases or other public statements concerning the proposal
contained herein will occur upon, and be determined by, the mutual consent of
the Company and Compass.

         SECTION 6.8 Employee Benefit Plans. Compass presently intends that,
after the Effective Time, Compass, the Company and its Subsidiaries will not
make additional contributions to the employee benefit plans that were sponsored
by the Company or an ERISA Affiliate immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Compass agrees that the employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries who are
retained as employees of Compass or Compass Bank will be entitled to participate
as newly hired employees in the employee benefit plans and programs maintained
for employees of Compass and its affiliates, in accordance with the respective
terms of such plans and programs, and Compass shall take all actions necessary
or appropriate to facilitate coverage of the Company's and its Subsidiaries'
employees in such plans and programs from and after the Effective Time, subject
to the following:

         (i) Employee Welfare Benefit Plans and Programs: Each employee of the
Company and its Subsidiaries retained by Compass will be entitled to credit for
prior service with the Company and its Subsidiaries for all purposes under the
employee welfare benefit plans and other employee benefit plans and programs
(other than those described in subparagraph (ii) below and any stock option
plans) sponsored by Compass to the extent the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
sponsored a similar type of plan which the Company or Company Subsidiary
employee participated in immediately prior to the Effective Time. To the extent
permitted under Compass' existing insurance contracts, any waiting period and
preexisting condition exclusion applicable to such plans and programs shall be
waived with respect to any such Company or Company Subsidiary employee. For
purposes of determining each Company or Company Subsidiary employee's benefit
for the year in which the Merger occurs under the Compass vacation program, any
vacation taken by a Company or Company Subsidiary employee preceding the
Effective Time for the year in which the Merger occurs will be deducted from the
total Compass vacation benefit available to such employee for such year. Compass
agrees that for purposes of determining the number of vacation days available
with respect to each Company employee for the year in which the Merger occurs,
that the number of vacation days for such

                                       30

<PAGE>   37

year shall be determined under the Company or its Subsidiaries vacation policies
in effect as of January 1, 1999.

         (ii) Employee Pension Benefit Plans: Each Company and Company
Subsidiary employee retained by Compass shall be entitled to credit for past
service with the Company and its Subsidiaries for the purpose of satisfying any
eligibility or vesting periods applicable to the Compass employee pension
benefit plans which are subject to Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Code
(including, without limitation, the Compass 401(k)/ESOP Plan). Notwithstanding
the foregoing, Compass shall not grant any prior years of service credit to
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to any defined
benefit pension plans sponsored (or contributed to) by Compass; instead, Company
and Company Subsidiary employees shall be treated as newly hired employees of
Compass as of the date following the Effective Time for purposes of determining
eligibility, vesting and benefit accruals thereunder.

         The Company shall take such actions as may be necessary to terminate
the 401(k) plan sponsored by the Company effective immediately prior to the
Effective Time.

         SECTION 6.9 Merger of Bank. Compass presently intends to cause the Bank
to merge into Compass Bank immediately after the Effective Time, and the Company
agrees to cause the Bank and its other Subsidiaries to execute documents and
take actions (conditioned on the Merger being effective) and otherwise cooperate
with Compass during the time the Merger transaction is pending in order to
facilitate such merger of the Bank into Compass Bank immediately after the
Closing.

         SECTION 6.10 Environmental Investigation; Right to Terminate Agreement.

         (a) Compass and its consultants, agents and representatives, shall have
the right to the same extent that the Company and its Subsidiaries have such
right, but not the obligation or responsibility, to inspect any Controlled
Property, upon reasonable advance notice, including, without limitation, for the
purpose of conducting asbestos surveys and sampling, and other environmental
assessments and investigations ("Environmental Inspections"). Compass' right to
conduct Environmental Inspections shall include the right to sample and analyze
air, sediment, soil and groundwater of any Controlled Property to the same
extent that the Company or its Subsidiaries have such right. Compass may conduct
such Environmental Inspections at any time subject to Section 6.10(d) below.

         (b) Using an approach and scope which is equivalent to the written
environmental policies of Compass, a copy of which has been delivered to the
Company, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall cause to be performed, and
subsequently evaluate the results of, an environmental investigation of any
Property acquired, leased, foreclosed, managed or controlled by the Company or
its Subsidiaries, or in which the Company or its Subsidiaries acquires a
security interest, in each case between the date hereof and the Closing Date,
and the scope and results of which shall be acceptable to Compass in its sole
reasonable discretion. The Company shall not be required to conform its
commitment language to customers to the commitment language used by Compass,
subject to the Company's compliance with the foregoing sentence.

                                       31

<PAGE>   38

         (c) Compass shall notify the Company of any Environmental Inspections
of Controlled Property which it intends to conduct, and the Company may place
reasonable restrictions on the time of such inspections. Upon Compass'
notification to the Company of the Controlled Property upon which it intends to
conduct such physical inspections, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall notify
the owner of such Controlled Property and use their reasonable best efforts to
secure access to such Controlled Property for Compass. Compass shall notify the
Company on or prior to January 15, 2000 of any Controlled Properties that, in
the sole discretion of Compass, are not acceptable and require further
assessment, remediation, correction, or monitoring ("Environmental Response").
Compass shall order Phase I environmental reports within 15 days of the
execution of this Agreement.

         (d) (1) With respect to any Controlled Property that Compass has
notified the Company is not acceptable and requires Environmental Response, the
Company shall promptly prepare a remediation plan acceptable to Compass, and use
best efforts to obtain approval of such remediation plan by the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment or any other appropriate
governmental authority ("Environmental Regulatory Authority"), if approval is
necessary, and implement the same on or prior to Closing.

             (2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, and without limiting any rights
of Compass to terminate this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated to
incur aggregate expenditures in excess of $500,000 in connection with
Environmental Response, preparing and obtaining approval by the appropriate
Environmental Regulatory Authority of remediation plans with respect to
Controlled Properties (the "Aggregate Environmental Expense Limit"); provided,
however, that the determination of the Aggregate Environmental Expense Limit
shall include the aggregate expenses in connection with Environmental Response
and preparing and obtaining approval by the appropriate Environmental Regulatory
Authority of remediation plans with respect to Controlled Property (as defined
under the Ancillary Agreements as defined herein), under this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements.

         (e) Each party hereto agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the other
party for any claims for damage to the Controlled Property or injury or death to
persons in connection with any Environmental Inspection of the Controlled
Property to the extent such damage, injury or death is directly attributable to
the negligent actions or negligent omissions of such indemnifying party. Compass
shall have no liability or responsibility of any nature whatsoever for the
results, conclusions or other findings related to any Environmental Inspection.
If this Agreement is terminated, then except as otherwise required by law,
Compass shall have no obligation to make any reports to any governmental
authority of the results of any Environmental Inspection, but such reporting
shall remain the responsibility of and within the discretion of the Company.
Compass shall have no liability to the Company or its Subsidiaries for making
any report of such results to any governmental authority.

         (f) Compass shall have the right to terminate this Agreement in the
following circumstances:

             (i) the factual substance of any warranties set forth in Section
3.23 is not true and accurate irrespective of the knowledge or lack of knowledge
of the Company, and

                                       32

<PAGE>   39

losses, damages, Environmental Response costs, liabilities (INCLUDING WITHOUT
LIMITATION STRICT LIABILITIES), fines, penalties, costs and expenses which might
arise therefrom could reasonably be expected to exceed the Aggregate
Environmental Expense Limit;

              (ii) if the Environmental Inspection identifies any past or
present event, condition or circumstance that, based on the reasonable estimates
of the environmental professionals referred to in this Section 6.10, may
currently or in the future require expenditures by the Company or its
Subsidiaries, in connection with (1) Environmental Response of any Controlled
Property (including without limitation eventual removal of asbestos-containing
material), (2) preparing and obtaining approval by the appropriate Environmental
Regulatory Authority of remediation plans with respect to Controlled Properties,
or (3) any violations of applicable Environmental Laws, which expenditures
individually or in the aggregate may exceed the Aggregate Environmental Expense
Limit;

              (iii) Compass is not permitted to conduct an Environmental
Inspection of any currently Controlled Property and Property that becomes
Controlled Property after the date hereof to the extent it deems appropriate,
consistent with the provisions of Section 6.10(a);

              (iv) If on or before Closing, for each Controlled Property
identified by Compass as unacceptable and requiring Environmental Response, the
Company does not deliver to Compass written evidence acceptable to Compass that
the Company has used best efforts to develop a remediation plan approved by the
applicable Environmental Regulatory Authority, and implemented the same.

         (g) The Company agrees to make available to Compass and its
consultants, agents and representatives all documents and other material
relating to environmental conditions of the Property in its possession
including, without limitation, the results of all other environmental
inspections and surveys. The Company also agrees that all engineers and
consultants who prepared or furnished such reports may discuss such reports and
information with Compass and shall be entitled to certify the same in favor of
Compass and its consultants, agents and representatives in such a manner which
will entitle Compass to rely upon such reports and make all other data available
to Compass and its consultants, agents and representatives. At the written
request of the Company, Compass agrees to provide the Company with a copy of all
environmental reports prepared by its consultants as a result of the
Environmental Inspections.

         SECTION 6.11 Proxies. The Company acknowledges that the persons listed
in Schedule 6.11 have agreed that they will vote the Shares owned by them in
favor of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, subject to
required regulatory approvals, and that they will retain the right to vote such
Shares during the term of this Agreement and have given Compass a proxy to vote
such Shares in favor of the Merger if they should fail to do so, pursuant to a
Voting Agreement and Irrevocable Proxy in substantially the form attached hereto
as Exhibit D.

         SECTION 6.12 Exchange Agreement. Immediately prior to the Effective
Time, the Company and Compass agree to enter into, and Compass agrees to cause
Merger Sub to enter into, the Exchange Agreement with the Exchange Agent, or if
the Exchange Agent refuses to

                                    33

<PAGE>   40

serve as exchange agent, such other exchange agent as shall mutually agreed to
by the Company and Compass.

         SECTION 6.13 Year 2000 Investigation.

         (a) Using an approach and scope which is equivalent to the Year 2000
risk management policies and procedures for Year 2000 credit exposure of Compass
previously delivered to the Company ("Year 2000 Inspection"), the Company and
its Subsidiaries shall cause to be performed, and subsequently evaluate the
results of, a Year 2000 Inspection of issuers of municipal investment securities
where the investment in the securities of any one issuer equals or exceeds
$125,000, in each case between the date hereof and the Closing Date, and the
scope and results of which shall be acceptable to Compass in its sole reasonable
discretion.

         (b) The Company shall provide to Compass on or before December 15,
1999, its initial assessment of all municipal issuers and their appropriate
contracting parties or providers subject to Year 2000 Inspections.

         (c) The Company shall use its best efforts to remediate any borrowers
or municipal issuers which are assessed as high risk as a result of Year 2000
Inspections.

         (d) The Company agrees to (i) charge-off prior to the Effective Time
securities with respect to municipal issuers, and (ii) add in, prior to the
Effective Time, to the Company's and its Subsidiaries' loan loss reserves 110%
of the collateral deficit for borrowers, as to each such issue or loan
determined to be high risk and of uncertain collectibility and are not capable
of remediation each as a result of Year 2000 Inspections. The borrowers and the
amount of the collateral deficit for any such borrower shall be determined
jointly between the Company and Compass, each party to be reasonable in its
making a determination.

         (e) The Company has performed unit tests on deposit, loan, ACH, fund
transfer, federal line, and telecom switches to determine their Year 2000
Compliant status and has taken remedial action or shall take remedial action as
required by the results of such tests in a manner reasonably satisfactory to
Compass.

         SECTION 6.14 Director and Officer Indemnification.

         (a) Following the Effective Time and for a period of five years
thereafter, Compass shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the present and
former directors, officers and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(each, an "Indemnified Party") against all costs or expenses, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or
liabilities incurred in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative,
arising out of actions or omissions accruing at or prior to the Effective Time)
including, without limitation, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement)
to the fullest extent that the Company and its Subsidiaries are permitted to
indemnify (and advance expenses to) its directors, officers and employees under
the Company's and its Subsidiaries' Articles of Incorporation or Association,
the Company's and the Subsidiaries' By-laws and indemnification agreements
between the Company and any of its

                                       34

<PAGE>   41

Subsidiaries and their respective directors and officers, as in effect on the
date hereof; provided that any determination required to be made with respect to
whether an officer's, director's, or employee's conduct complies with the
standard set forth under the Company's Articles, the Company's and the
Subsidiaries' By-laws, and other indemnification agreements between the Company
or its Subsidiaries and their respective directors and officers shall be made by
independent counsel (which shall not be counsel that provides material services
to Compass, the Company or the person seeking indemnification hereunder)
selected by Compass and reasonably acceptable to such officer or director or
employee. The indemnification provisions currently contained in the Articles of
Incorporation or Association, Bylaws and written agreements of the Company and
its Subsidiaries shall not be amended after the date hereof.

         (b) Compass agrees that the Company and its Subsidiaries may obtain
extended reporting coverage (otherwise known as "tail coverage") under the
Company and its Subsidiaries' existing directors and officers liability policy
or other similar coverage for two years; provided, however, that the premium
expense for such coverage shall not exceed $30,000 in the aggregate over such
two-year period.

         (c) Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under
Section 6.14(a) upon learning of any action, claim, suit, proceeding or
investigation described above shall promptly notice Compass thereof; provided,
that the failure to so notify shall not affect the obligations of Compass under
Section 6.13(a) unless and to the extent that Compass is actually prejudiced as
a result of such failure.

         (d) If Compass or any of its successors or assigns shall consolidate
with or merge into any other entity and shall not be the continuing or surviving
entity of such consolidation or merger or shall transfer all or substantially
all of its assets to any entity, then and in each case, proper provisions shall
be made so that the successors and assigns of Compass shall assume the
obligations set forth in this Section 6.13.

         SECTION 6.15 Exercise of Convertible Securities. The Company shall use
its best efforts to cause each holder of outstanding warrants, options, rights,
convertible debentures or other securities entitling the holder thereof to
acquire Shares (collectively, the "Convertible Securities") to exercise or
convert such Convertible Securities in full prior to the Effective Time.

         SECTION 6.16 Actions Respecting Debentures. Compass and the Company
agree to take such actions as are necessary to satisfy the requirements of the
Indenture relating to the MB Capital I 8.75% Junior Subordinated Debentures
("Company Subordinated Debentures") in the event of a business combination
between the Company and Compass.

         SECTION 6.17 Publication of 30 Days of Post Combination Results.
Compass shall publish at the earliest opportunity combined financial results of
Compass and the Company covering the first 30 days after the Effective Time so
as to permit Company Affiliates and Compass Affiliates to sell immediately after
such publication shares of Compass Common Stock under the rules applicable to
"pooling of interests" accounting treatment; provided, however, that Compass
shall not be required to so publish financial results if the Effective Time
occurs in the second month of any calendar quarter other than its regular
quarterly press release.

                                       35

<PAGE>   42

         SECTION 6.18 Notification of Related Party Transactions. The Company
shall notify Compass in writing of, and provide Compass a reasonable opportunity
to object to, the entering into any new transactions with Affiliates of the
Company, other than origination of loans and the sale of loan participations to
First State Bank of Hotchkiss each in the ordinary course of business and in
accordance with prudent banking practices.

                                  ARTICLE VII.

                    CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER

         SECTION 7.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.
The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger are subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions prior to the Effective Time:

         (a) the receipt of regulatory approvals which approvals shall not have
imposed any condition or requirement which in the reasonable judgment of Compass
would adversely impact the economic or business benefits of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise would in the judgment of Compass be
so burdensome as to render inadvisable the consummation of the Merger, and the
expiration of any applicable waiting period with respect thereto;

         (b) the Closing will not violate any injunction, order or decree of any
court or governmental body having competent jurisdiction;

         (c) the approval of the Merger by the Company's shareholders entitled
to vote at the Shareholders' Meeting;

         (d) a registration statement covering the Compass Common Stock to be
issued in the Merger shall be effective under the Securities Act and any
applicable state securities or "blue sky" acts and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of such registration statement shall be in effect and no
proceedings for such purpose, or any proceedings under the SEC or applicable
state securities authorities rules with respect to the transactions contemplated
hereby, shall be pending before or threatened by the SEC or any applicable state
securities or blue sky authorities;

         (e) the shares of Compass Common Stock to be issued in the Merger shall
have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ, subject to official notice of
issuance; and

         (f) Compass and the Company shall have received an opinion of counsel
from counsel to Compass in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit J
to the effect that on the basis of certain facts, representations, and opinions
set forth in such opinion that the Merger will qualify as a reorganization under
Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may require
and rely upon and may incorporate by reference representations and covenants,
including those contained in certificates of officers and/or directors of
Compass, Merger Sub, the Company and others.

                                       36

<PAGE>   43

         SECTION 7.2 Conditions to the Obligations of Compass and Merger Sub to
Effect the Merger. The obligations of Compass and Merger Sub to effect the
Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions
prior to the Effective Time:

         (a) all representations and warranties of the Company shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and at and as of the
Closing, with the same force and effect as though made on and as of the Closing;

         (b) the Company shall have performed in all material respects all
obligations and agreements and in all material respects complied with all
covenants and conditions, contained in this Agreement to be performed or
complied with by it prior to the Effective Time;

         (c) there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect with
respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries;

         (d) the directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall have
delivered to Compass an instrument in the form of Exhibit H attached hereto
dated the Effective Time releasing the Company and its Subsidiaries from any and
all claims of such directors (except as to their deposits and accounts, and as
to their rights of indemnification pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation,
Association or Bylaws of the Company and the Bank) and shall have delivered to
Compass their resignations as directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

         (e) the executive officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall
have delivered to Compass an instrument in the form of Exhibit H attached hereto
dated the Effective Time releasing the Company and its Subsidiaries from any and
all claims of such officers (except as to deposits and accounts and accrued
compensation permitted by their respective agreements with the Company or its
Subsidiaries and as to their rights of indemnification pursuant to the Articles
of Incorporation, Association or Bylaws of the Company and the Bank);

         (f) Compass shall have received the opinions of counsel to the Company
acceptable to it as to the matters set forth on Exhibit D attached hereto;

         (g) the holders of no more than the lesser of (i) 10% of the Shares or
(ii) such number of Shares that shall not disqualify the Merger for
pooling-of-interest accounting treatment, shall have demanded or be entitled to
demand payment of the fair value of their shares as dissenting shareholders;

         (h) Compass shall have received a letter from Arthur Andersen, LLP,
dated as of the Effective Time, to the effect that the Merger will qualify for
pooling-of-interests accounting treatment if closed and consummated in
accordance with this Agreement;

         (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Company Indebtedness shall
not exceed $50,000,000;

         (j) Compass shall have received from holders of the Company's capital
stock receiving at least 50% of the total Merger Consideration a representation
that they have no plan or intention to sell or otherwise dispose of (i) shares
of the Company prior to and in connection

                                       37

<PAGE>   44

with the Merger to the Company or any party related to the Company or Compass
and (ii) shares of Compass Common Stock received pursuant to the Merger to
Compass or any party related to Compass.

         (k) Compass shall have determined, in its sole reasonable judgment,
that the liabilities and obligations set forth on Schedule 5.1(k) do not have a
Material Adverse Effect;

         (l) all warrants, options, rights, convertible debentures or other
securities entitling the holder thereof to acquire Shares shall have been
exercised or converted, or shall have expired, lapsed or terminated, prior to
the Effective Time;

         (m) all software, firmware, hardware, equipment, microprocessing chips
and other data processing devices and services (both as a recipient and as a
provider), capabilities and facilities utilized by, and material to the business
operations or financial condition of, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall
have been able to record and process all calendar dates since the date of this
Agreement correctly and shall have been able to communicate with other
applicable systems in a manner that resolves any ambiguities as to century in a
properly defined manner;

         (n) all Critical Third Parties of the Company and its Subsidiaries are
Year 2000 Compliant in all material respects;

         (o) the transactions contemplated by those certain Agreements and Plans
of Merger of even date herewith between Nagrom LLC, Osage 3734 LLC and 1996
Newton LLC, respectively, and Compass ("Ancillary Agreements") shall have been
simultaneously consummated herewith;

         (p) The Real Estate Subsidiaries shall not have commenced any
operations or acquired any assets;

         (q) that certain Consulting Agreement dated March 3, 1997 between First
Fidelity Service Corp. and the Bank shall have been terminated without cost to
the Company or its Subsidiaries;

         (r) that certain Amended and Restated Stock Purchase Agreement by and
among the Company, Thomas R. Kowalski, the Ryan R. Kowalski Trust, the Realtek
Company Profit Sharing Plan and Trust, Thomas Investment Partnership and Orchard
Valley Financial Corporation dated as of December 4, 1997 and as further amended
on September 1, 1998 shall have been terminated without cost to the Company or
its Subsidiaries;

         (s) the Key Man Life Insurance Policy in the amount of $3,000,000 on
the life of Thomas R. Kowalski shall have been cancelled;

         (t) the Company and its Subsidiaries shall have accrued and paid all
professional fees incurred in connection with this transaction and all change of
control payments to employees of Empire Title and Escrow Corporation ("Empire")
prior to the Effective Time;

                                       38

<PAGE>   45

         (u) United General Title Insurance Company ("United") shall have
consented to the change of controlling interest in Empire and waived its right
to terminate that certain Title Policy Issuing Agreement ("United Agreement")
dated March 1, 1999 between United and Empire to the extent such consent and
waiver is required under the United Agreement;

         (v) the Company shall have obtained all necessary consents to continue
access to information maintained by Colorado Record Data, LLC;

         (w) The Company or Empire shall have obtained clarification from First
American Title Insurance Company ("First American") under the Underwriting
Agreement dated July 1, 1995 to the effect that the amount of fees Empire shall
remit to First American is 15% of the total amount of fees for First American
title policies issued through Empire's offices;

         (x) Section 3.3 of the Empire Merger Agreement shall have been amended
to provide that such Section 3.3 shall terminate as of the Effective Time; and

         (y) Compass shall have received certificates dated the Closing executed
by the Chairman of the Board of the Company and by the Chairman of the Board of
its Subsidiaries, and the Secretary or Cashier of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, respectively, certifying in such reasonable detail as Compass may
reasonably request, to the effect described in Sections 7.2(a), (b), (c), (g),
(i), (l) and (p).

         SECTION 7.3 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company to Effect the
Merger. The obligations of the Company to effect the Merger are subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions prior to the Effective Time:

         (a) all representations and warranties of Compass shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and at and as of the
Closing, with the same force and effect as though made on and as of the Closing;

         (b) Compass and Merger Sub shall have performed in all material
respects all obligations and agreements and in all material respects complied
with all covenants and conditions contained in this Agreement to be performed or
complied with by either of them prior to the Effective Time; and

         (c) the Company shall have received the opinion of counsel to Compass
and Merger Sub acceptable to it, as to the matters set forth on Exhibit E
attached hereto;

         (d) the Company and its Subsidiaries shall have delivered to the
directors and executive officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries an
instrument in the form of Exhibit I attached hereto dated the Effective Time
releasing such directors from any and all claims of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (except as to indebtedness or other contractual liabilities);
provided, however, that such releases shall not release an action against such
directors by Compass or Merger Sub in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;

                                       39

<PAGE>   46

         (e) the Company shall have received certificates dated the Closing,
executed by an appropriate officers of Compass and Merger Sub, respectively,
certifying, in such detail as the Company may reasonably request, to the effect
described in Sections 7.3(a) and (b);

         (f) there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect with
respect to Compass; and

         (g) the Company shall have received immediately prior to the filing of
the Registration Statement, the opinion of Hovde Financial, Inc. and Howe Barnes
Investment, Inc. to the effect that the Merger and the Merger Consideration to
be received by the shareholders of the Company in connection with the Merger is
fair to such shareholders from a financial point of view.

                                 ARTICLE VIII.

                         TERMINATION; AMENDMENT; WAIVER

         SECTION 8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the
Merger contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time notwithstanding approval
thereof by the shareholders of the Company, but prior to the Effective Time:

         (a) by mutual written consent duly authorized by the Boards of
Directors of Compass and the Company;

         (b) by Compass (i) if Compass learns or becomes aware of a state or
series of facts or one or more breaches or inaccuracies of any representation or
warranty of the Company contained in Article III which constitutes a Material
Adverse Effect, (ii) pursuant to Section 6.10, (iii) if Compass learns or
becomes aware of a state or series of facts or one or more breaches or
inaccuracies of any representation or warranty with respect to Empire Title and
Escrow Corporation and/or its Subsidiaries such that, in Compass' reasonable
discretion, Compass or Empire Title and Escrow Corporation and/or its or their
Subsidiaries may be subject to potential financial losses or potential
liabilities in excess of $300,000 in the aggregate; provided, however, that any
such losses or liabilities shall not include for these purposes compensation
payable to employees of Empire pursuant to those certain Employment Agreements
dated April 5, 1999 and additional merger consideration payable to shareholders
of Empire pursuant to the Empire Merger Agreement; or (iv) if any of the
conditions to Closing contained in Section 7.1 or 7.2 are not satisfied or
waived in writing by Compass;

         (c) by the Company if the conditions to Closing contained in Section
7.1 or 7.3 are not satisfied or waived in writing by the Company;

         (d) by Compass or the Company if the Effective Time shall not have
occurred on or before the expiration of eight months from the date of this
Agreement or such later date agreed to in writing by Compass and the Company;

         (e) by Compass or the Company if any court of competent jurisdiction in
the United States or other United States (federal or state) governmental body
shall have issued an

                                       40

<PAGE>   47

order, decree or ruling or taken any other action restraining, enjoining or
otherwise prohibiting the Merger and such order, decree, ruling or other action
shall have been final and nonappealable;

         (f) by Compass or the Company in the event one or more of the Ancillary
Agreements are terminated;

         (g) by the Company if the Company learns or becomes aware of a state or
series of facts or one or more breaches or inaccuracies of any representation or
warranty of Compass contained in Article IV which constitutes a Material Adverse
Effect;

         (h) by the Company in the event the Company enters into an agreement
with respect to an Acquisition Proposal in accordance with the provisions of
Section 6.6(b) of this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may only
terminate this Agreement pursuant to this subsection (h) if it simultaneously
with such termination delivers to Compass the termination fee provided for in
Section 8.5 hereof;

         (i) by Compass (a) if there shall have been a breach of Section 6.6
hereof, or (b) if at anytime, the Company shall have failed to make its
recommendation referred to in Section 1.7 hereof, withdrawn such recommendation
or modified or changed such recommendation in a manner adverse in any respect to
the interests of Compass; or

         (j) by the Company at any time during the two business day period
following the fifth trading day prior to the Closing, if both of the following
conditions are satisfied:

              (1) the Average Closing Price is less than $23.00; and

              (2) (i) the number obtained by dividing the Average Closing Price
by the Starting Price shall be less than (ii) the number obtained by dividing
the Average Index Value by the Index Value on the Starting Date and subtracting
0.15 from the quotient in this clause 2(ii).

              For purposes of this Section 8.1(f), the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated:

              "Average Index Value" means the average of the Index Values for
the twenty days of trading preceding the fifth trading day prior to the
Effective Time.

              "Index Value" on a given date means the Index Value of the NASDAQ
Index Banks as published by NASDAQ.

              "Starting Date" means November 4, 1999.

              "Starting Price" shall mean the last reported sale price per share
of Compass Common Stock on the Starting Date, as reported by NASDAQ/National
Market System.

                                       41

<PAGE>   48

         SECTION 8.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination and
abandonment of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof, this Agreement
shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability on the
part of any party or its directors, officers or shareholders, other than the
provisions of Sections 6.1 (as it pertains to confidentiality), 6.10, 8.2, 8.5,
10.1 and 10.8 of this Agreement. Nothing contained in this Section 8.2 shall
relieve any party from liability for any breach of this Agreement.

         SECTION 8.3 Amendment.

         (a) To the extent permitted by applicable law, this Agreement may be
amended by action taken by or on behalf of the Board of Directors of the
Company, Compass and, if required, Merger Sub at any time before or after
adoption of this Agreement by the shareholders of the Company but, after any
submission of this Agreement to such shareholders for approval, no amendment
shall be made which reduces the Merger Consideration or which materially and
adversely affects the rights of the Company's shareholders hereunder without any
required approval of such shareholders. This Agreement may not be amended except
by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of all the parties.

         (b) The parties hereto hereby agree to enter into an amendment of this
Agreement for the purpose of adding Merger Sub as a party hereto, which
amendment shall be made prior to any submission of this Agreement to
shareholders of the Company for their approval. As a condition to the Company's
entry into such an amendment, Merger Sub shall deliver to the Company a
certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit G attached hereto.

         SECTION 8.4 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time,
the parties may (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto, (ii) waive any
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or in any
document, certificate or writing delivered pursuant hereto, or (iii) waive
compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein. Any
agreement on the part of any party to any such extension or waiver shall be
valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such
party.

         SECTION 8.5 Termination Fee. If the Company either (x) violates its
obligations set forth in Section 6.6 hereof and this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 8.1(i)(a), or (y) prior to termination of this Agreement
receives any Acquisition Proposal and this Agreement is thereafter terminated
pursuant to Sections 8.1(h) or 8.1(i) as a result of receipt of such Acquisition
Proposal, then the Company shall pay to Compass an aggregate fee of $4,000,000
in cash at the time of such termination.

                                  ARTICLE IX.

                                    SURVIVAL

         SECTION 9.1 Survival of Representations and Warranties. The parties
hereto agree that all of their respective representations and warranties
contained in this Agreement shall not survive after the Effective Time.

                                       42

<PAGE>   49

                                   ARTICLE X.

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 10.1 Expenses. (a) All costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including
without limitation, attorneys' fees, accountants' fees, other professional fees
and costs related to expenses of officers and directors of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses. Each
party hereto hereby agrees to and shall indemnify the other parties hereto
against any liability arising from any such fee or payment incurred by such
party.

         (b) In recognition of the significant expenditure of management time
and resources and substantial out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Compass and its
Affiliates in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement and the
investigation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and in light of the
difficulty in calculating the value of such management time, resources and other
expenses, the Company agrees to pay Compass in the event that the Company's
shareholders do not approve the Merger and there is no Acquisition Proposal,
$200,000 in cash; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to
make payment under this Section 10.1(b) if the Company is required to pay a
termination fee pursuant to Section 8.5. In the event that each of the
conditions to Closing contained in Sections 7.1 and 7.2 are fully satisfied and
Compass fails to consummate the Merger, Compass shall pay to the Company an
amount equal to $200,000.

         SECTION 10.2 Brokers and Finders. Other than Hovde Financial, Inc. and
Howe Barnes Investments, Inc. which have been engaged by the Company, all
negotiations on behalf of Compass and the Company relating to this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been carried on by the
parties hereto and their respective agents directly without the intervention of
any other person in such manner as to give rise to any claim against Compass,
Merger Sub, the Company or its Subsidiaries for financial advisory fees,
brokerage or commission fees, finder's fees or other like payment in connection
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

         SECTION 10.3 Entire Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement (a)
constitutes the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof 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, and (b) shall not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise,
provided that Compass may assign its rights and obligations or those of Merger
Sub to any direct or indirect, wholly-owned, subsidiary of Compass, but no such
assignment shall relieve Compass of its obligations hereunder.

         SECTION 10.4 Further Assurances. From time to time as and when
requested by Compass or its successors or assigns, the Company, the officers and
directors of the Company, or its Subsidiaries, shall execute and deliver such
further agreements, documents, deeds, certificates and other instruments and
shall take or cause to be taken such other actions, including those as shall be
necessary to vest or perfect in or to confirm of record or otherwise the
Company's or its Subsidiaries' title to and possession of, all of their
respective property, interests, assets, rights, privileges, immunities, powers,
franchises and authority, as shall be reasonably necessary or

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<PAGE>   50

advisable to carry out the purposes of and effect the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.

         SECTION 10.5 Enforcement of the Agreement. The parties hereto agree
that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of
this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or
were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be
entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement
and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, this being in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

         SECTION 10.6 Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect.

         SECTION 10.7 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given when delivered if in person, by cable, telegram or telex or by
telecopy, or five business days after mailing if delivered by registered or
certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective
parties as follows:

         if to Compass or Merger Sub:

                  Charles E. McMahen
                  Vice Chairman
                  Compass Bank
                  24 Greenway Plaza
                  Houston, Texas 77046
                  Telecopy No.: (713) 993-8535

                  Daniel B. Graves
                  Associate General Counsel
                  Compass Bancshares, Inc.
                  15 South 20th Street
                  Birmingham, Alabama 35233
                  Telecopy No.:  (205) 933-3043

         with a copy to:

                  Annette L. Tripp
                  Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP
                  3400 Chase Tower, 600 Travis
                  Houston, Texas 77002
                  Telecopy No.:  (713) 223-3717

                                       44

<PAGE>   51

         if to the Company:

                  Thomas R. Kowalski
                  MegaBank Financial Corporation
                  8100 East Arapahoe Road, Suite 214
                  Englewood, Colorado 80112
                  Telecopy No.:  (303) 741-4473

         with a copy to:

                  Ernest J. Panasci
                  Slivka Robinson Waters & O'Dorisio, A Professional
                    Corporation
                  1099 18th Street, Suite 2600
                  Denver, Colorado 80202-1926
                  Telecopy No: (303) 297-2750

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
(provided that notice of any change of address shall be effective only upon
receipt thereof).

         SECTION 10.8 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, regardless of
the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of
laws thereof.

         SECTION 10.9 Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings are
inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or
to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

         SECTION 10.10 Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other person any
rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this
Agreement.

         SECTION 10.11 Counterparts. This 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.

         SECTION 10.12 Incorporation by References. Any and all schedules,
exhibits, annexes, statements, reports, certificates or other documents or
instruments referred to herein or attached hereto are incorporated herein by
reference hereto as though fully set forth at the point referred to in the
Agreement.

         SECTION 10.13 Certain Definitions.

         (a) "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" shall mean, when used with reference
to an entity, any corporation, fifty percent of the outstanding voting
securities of which are owned directly or indirectly by such entity or any
partnership, joint venture, business trust, or other enterprise in which any
entity has, directly or indirectly, any equity interest.

                                       45

<PAGE>   52

         (b) "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean any material adverse
circumstance, event or series of events or circumstances with respect to the
financial condition, assets, liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent or
otherwise), reserves, business or results of operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole (or when the reference is to Compass, to Compass
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole).

         (c) "Environmental Laws" shall mean all federal, state and local laws,
ordinances, rules, common law, regulations, guidance documents, directives, and
decisions, interpretations and orders of courts or administrative agencies or
authorities, relating to the release, threatened release, recycling, processing,
use, handling, transportation treatment, storage, disposal, remediation,
removal, inspection or monitoring of, or exposure to, Hazardous Substances or
protection of human health or safety or the environment (including, without
limitation, wildlife, air, surface water, ground water, land surface, and
subsurface strata), including, without limitation, the Comprehensive
Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended
("CERCLA"), the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended
("SARA"), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended
("RCRA"), Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, as amended ("HSWA"), the
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended ("HMTA"), the Toxic
Substances Control Act ("TSCA"), Occupational Safety and Health Act ("OSHA"),
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended ("FWPCA"), Clean Air Act
("CAA"), and any and all regulations promulgated pursuant to any of the
foregoing, as amended.

         (d) "Hazardous Substances" shall mean those substances included within
the statutory or regulatory definitions, listings or descriptions of
"pollutant," "hazardous material," "contaminant," "toxic waste," "hazardous
substance," "hazardous waste," "solid waste," or "regulated substance" pursuant
to CERCLA, SARA, RCRA, HSWA, HMTA, TSCA, OSHA, and/or any other Environmental
Laws, as amended, and shall include, without limitation, any material, waste or
substance which is or contains explosives, radioactive materials, oil or any
fraction thereof, asbestos, or formaldehyde. To the extent that the laws or
regulations of the State of Colorado establish a meaning for "hazardous
substance," "hazardous waste," "hazardous material," "solid waste," "pollutant,"
"contaminant," "regulated substance," or "toxic waste," which is broader than
that specified in any of CERCLA, SARA, RCRA, HSWA, HMTA, TSCA, OSHA or any other
Environmental Law such broader meaning shall apply.

         (e) "Release" shall mean any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring,
emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping,
disposing, discarding or abandoning.

         (f) "Knowledge" or "known" -- An individual shall be deemed to have
"knowledge" of or to have "known" a particular fact or other matter if (i) such
individual is actually aware of such fact or other matter, or (ii) a prudent
individual could be expected to discover or otherwise become aware of such fact
or other matter in the course of conducting a reasonably comprehensive
investigation concerning the truth or existence of such fact or other matter. A
corporation or bank shall be deemed to have "knowledge" of or to have "known" a
particular fact or other matter if any individual who is serving, or who has at
any time served, as

                                       46

<PAGE>   53

a director or officer serving in the capacities set forth on Schedule 10.13(f)
hereto (or in any similar capacity) of the corporation or bank, has, or at any
time had, knowledge of such fact or other matter.

         (g) "Empire Merger Agreement" shall mean that certain Agreement and
Plan of Merger dated as of April 1, 1999 among the Company, MB Title Company,
Empire Title and Escrow Corporation, John P. Dwyer, Jr., James A. Cimino, Brian
R. Gray, Linda J. Kelsey, Roger W. Smith, Jr., Gregory C. Erpelding and Lynn T.
Cisneros.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                       47

<PAGE>   54

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be
executed on its behalf by its officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the
day and year first above written.

ATTEST:                                COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.

By                                     By
    ---------------------------            ------------------------------------
Its:                                   Its

ATTEST:                                MEGABANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION

By                                     By
    ---------------------------            ------------------------------------
Its:                                   Its

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