Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                             NOVO MEDIAGROUP, INC.,

                          NOVO MERGER SUBSIDIARY, INC.

                                      AND

                         IRONLIGHT DIGITAL CORPORATION

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                 APRIL 16, 1998
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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SECTION ONE....................................................................1
     1.   The Merger...........................................................1
          1.1  The Merger......................................................1
          1.2  Closing; Effective Time.........................................2
          1.3  Effect of the Merger............................................2
          1.4  Articles of Incorporation; Bylaws...............................2
          1.5  Directors and Officers..........................................2
          1.6  Effect on Capital Stock.........................................2
          1.7  Surrender of Certificates.......................................5
          1.8  No Further Ownership Rights in Ironlight Capital Stock..........6
          1.9  Tax and Accounting Consequences.................................7
          1.10 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action......................7
          1.11 Withholding.....................................................7
          1.12 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates..........................7

SECTION TWO....................................................................7
     2.   Representations and Warranties of Ironlight..........................7
          2.1  Organization Standing and Power; Subsidiaries...................8
          2.2  Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws............................8
          2.3  Capital Structure...............................................8
          2.4  Authority.......................................................9
          2.5  No Conflicts; Required Filings and Consents....................10
          2.6  Financial Statements...........................................10
          2.7  Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.............................10
          2.8  Absence of Certain Changes.....................................11
          2.9  Litigation.....................................................12
          2.10 Restrictions on Business Activities............................13
          2.11 Permits; Company Products; Regulation..........................13
          2.12 Intellectual Property..........................................13
          2.13 Taxes..........................................................14
          2.14 Employee Benefit Plans.........................................15
          2.15 Certain Agreements Affected by the Merger......................16
          2.16 Material Contracts.............................................17
          2.17 Interested Party Transactions..................................18
          2.18 Minute Books...................................................18
          2.19 Complete Copies of Materials...................................18
          2.20 Accounting and Tax Matters; Pooling of Interests...............18
          2.21 Brokers' and Finders' Fees.....................................18
          2.22 Vote Required..................................................19
          2.23 Board Approval.................................................19
          2.24 Accounts Receivable............................................19
          2.25 Third Party Consents...........................................19
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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
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          2.26 Representations Complete.......................................19

SECTION THREE.................................................................19
     3.   Representations and Warranties of Novo and Merger Sub...............19
          3.1  Organization, Standing and Power...............................19
          3.2  Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws...........................20
          3.3  Capital Structure..............................................20
          3.4  Authority......................................................21
          3.5  No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.....................21
          3.6  Financial Statements...........................................22
          3.7  Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.............................22
          3.8  Absence of Certain Changes.....................................22
          3.9  Litigation.....................................................24
          3.10 Restrictions on Business Activities............................24
          3.11 Permits; Company Products; Regulation..........................24
          3.12 Intellectual Property..........................................25
          3.13 Taxes..........................................................25
          3.14 Employee Benefit Plans.........................................27
          3.15 Certain Agreements Affected by the Merger......................28
          3.16 Material Contracts.............................................28
          3.17 Broker's and Finders' Fees.....................................29
          3.18 Accounting and Tax Matters; Pooling of Interests...............29
          3.19 Interested Party Transactions..................................30
          3.20 Minute Books...................................................30
          3.21 Complete Copies of Materials...................................30
          3.22 Vote Required..................................................31
          3.23 Board Approval.................................................31
          3.24 Accounts Receivable............................................31
          3.25 Third Party Consents...........................................31
          3.26 Representations Complete.......................................31

SECTION FOUR..................................................................31
     4.   Conduct Prior to the Effective Time.................................31
          4.1  Conduct of Business of Ironlight and Novo......................31
          4.2  Actions with Respect to Agreement..............................32
SECTION FIVE..................................................................32
     5.   Additional Agreements...............................................32
          5.1  Best Efforts and Further Assurances............................32
          5.2  Consents; Cooperation..........................................32
          5.3  Blue Sky Laws..................................................33
          5.4  Shareholder's Representation Agreements........................33
          5.5  Pooling Accounting.............................................33
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          5.6  Board of Directors...............................................33
          5.7  Maintenance of Ironlight Indemnification Obligations.............33
          5.8  Organizational Structure.........................................34

SECTION SIX.....................................................................34
     6.   Conditions to the Merger..............................................34
          6.1  Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger.....34
          6.2  Additional Conditions to Obligations of Ironlight................35
          6.3  Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Novo and Merger Sub..36

SECTION SEVEN...................................................................37
     7.   Termination, Amendment and Waiver.....................................37
          7.1  Termination......................................................38
          7.2  Effect of Termination............................................38
          7.3  Amendment........................................................38
          7.4  Extension; Waiver................................................38

SECTION EIGHT...................................................................38
     8.   Escrow and Indemnification............................................38
          8.1  Survival of Representations and Warranties.......................39
          8.2  Indemnification..................................................39

SECTION NINE....................................................................39
     9.   General Provisions....................................................39
          9.1  Notices..........................................................40
          9.2  Interpretation...................................................40
          9.3  Counterparts.....................................................41
          9.4  Entire Agreement; Nonassignability; Parties in Interest..........41
          9.5  Severability.....................................................41
          9.6  Remedies Cumulative..............................................41
          9.7  Governing Law....................................................41
          9.8  Rules of Construction............................................41
          9.9  Amendments and Waivers...........................................42
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                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

     This Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of April 16, 1998, by and among NOVO MEDIAGROUP, INC., a California
corporation ("Novo"), NOVO MERGER SUBSIDIARY, INC., a California corporation
("Merger Sub") and wholly owned subsidiary of Novo, and IRONLIGHT DIGITAL
CORPORATION, a California corporation ("Ironlight").

                                    RECITALS

     A.   The Boards of Directors of Ironlight, Novo and Merger Sub believe it
is in the best interests of their respective companies and the shareholders of
their respective companies that Ironlight and Merger Sub combine into a single
company through the merger of Merger Sub with and into Ironlight (the "Merger")
and, in furtherance thereof, have approved the Merger. Pursuant to the Merger,
among other things, the outstanding shares of capital stock of Ironlight (the
"Ironlight Capital Stock") shall be converted into shares of the Common Stock of
Novo (the "Novo Common Stock"), at the rates set forth herein.

     B.   Ironlight, Novo and Merger Sub desire to make certain representations
and warranties and other agreements in connection with the Merger.

     C.   The parties intend, by executing this Agreement, to adopt a plan of
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and to cause the Merger to qualify as a
reorganization under the provisions of Sections 368(a)(1)(A) and 368(a)(2)(E) of
the Code.

     D.   The parties intend to cause the Merger to be accounted for as a
pooling of interests pursuant to APB Opinion No. 16, Staff Accounting Series
Releases 130, 135 and 146 and Staff Accounting Bulletins Topic Two.

                                   AGREEMENT

     The parties hereby agree as follows:

                                  SECTION ONE

     1.   THE MERGER.

          1.1  THE MERGER. At the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2) and
subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Agreement
and Plan of Merger attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Agreement of Merger") and
the applicable provisions of the California Corporations Code ("California
Law"), Merger Sub shall be merged with and into Ironlight, the separate
corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and Ironlight shall continue as
the surviving corporation of the Merger. Ironlight as the surviving corporation
after the Merger is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Surviving
Corporation."

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          1.2  CLOSING; EFFECTIVE TIME.  The closing of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the "Closing") shall take place as soon as
practicable, (and in no event later than three (3) business days after the
satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions set forth in Section 4 below
or at such other time as the parties agree (the "Closing Date")).  In
connection with the Closing, the parties shall cause the Merger to be
consummated by filing the Agreement of Merger, together with the required
officers' certificates, with the Secretary of State of the State of California,
in accordance with the relevant provisions of California Law (the time of such
filing being the "Effective Time"). The Closing shall take place at the offices
of Britton, Silberman & Cervantez, LLP, 461 Second Street, Suite 332, San
Francisco, California, or at such other location as the parties agree.

          1.3  EFFECT OF THE MERGER.  At the Effective Time, the effect of the
Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the Agreement of Merger and the
applicable provisions of California Law. At the Effective Time, all the
property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Ironlight and Merger Sub
shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties
of Ironlight and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of
the Surviving Corporation.

          1.4  ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION; BYLAWS.

               (a)  At the Effective Time, the Articles of Incorporation of
Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the
Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended
as provided by California Law and such Articles of Incorporation.

               (b)  At the Effective Time, the Bylaws of Merger Sub, as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by law, the
Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and such Bylaws.

          1.5  DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.  At the Effective Time, the directors of
Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors of
the Surviving Corporation, and the officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to
the Effective Time, shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, in each
case until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and
qualified.

          1.6  EFFECT ON CAPITAL STOCK.  By virtue of the Merger and without
any action on the part of Merger Sub, Ironlight or any of their respective
shareholders, the following shall occur at the Effective Time:

               (a)  CONVERSION OF IRONLIGHT CAPITAL STOCK.  All of the issued
and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, no par value per share, and
Class B Common Stock, no par value per share, of Ironlight (the "Ironlight Class
A Common Stock" and "Ironlight Class B Common Stock," respectively) issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares to be
cancelled pursuant to Section 1.6(b) and shares, if any, held by persons who
have not voted such shares for approval of the Merger and with respect to which

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such persons shall become entitled to exercise dissenters' rights in accordance
with Chapter 13 of California Law ("Dissenting Shares")) shall be converted and
exchanged for that number of shares of Novo Class A Common Stock and Novo Class
B Common Stock, respectively, as shall be determined in accordance with the
calculations set forth with respect to each share of Ironlight Class A Common
Stock and each share of Ironlight Class B Common Stock set forth on Exhibit B
attached hereto (the "Exchange Ratios"). All shares of Ironlight Capital Stock,
when so converted, shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be
cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate
representing any such shares of Ironlight Capital Stock shall cease to have any
rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger
Consideration therefor upon the surrender of such certificate in accordance
with Section 1.7, without interest.

               (b)  CANCELLATION OF IRONLIGHT CAPITAL STOCK OWNED BY NOVO OR
IRONLIGHT.  At the Effective Time, all shares of Ironlight Capital Stock that
are owned by Ironlight as treasury stock, each share of Ironlight Capital Stock
owned by Novo or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Novo or of
Ironlight immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled and
extinguished without any conversion thereof.

               (c)  IRONLIGHT STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS.

                    (i)  (A)  All options to purchase Ironlight Common Stock
(the "Ironlight Options") issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time
(whether or not exercisable, whether or not vested, and whether or not
performance-based) and granted under the Ironlight Digital Corporation 1997
Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the "Ironlight Stock Option Plan") or
otherwise, shall remain outstanding following the Effective Time. Section 2.3
of the Ironlight Disclosure Schedule (as defined below) hereto set forth a true
and complete list as of the date of this Agreement of all holders of
outstanding options, including the number of shares of Ironlight Capital Stock
subject to each such option, the exercise or vesting schedule, the exercise
price per share and the term of each such option. On the Closing Date,
Ironlight shall deliver to Novo an updated Section 2.3 of the Ironlight
Disclosure Schedule (as defined below) hereto current as of such date.

                         (B)  At the Effective Time, the Ironlight Options
shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any further action on the part of
the Company or the holder thereof, be assumed by Novo in accordance with this
Section 1.6(c). Each such Ironlight Option so assumed by Novo under this
Agreement shall continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms and
conditions to which such Ironlight Option was subject immediately prior to the
Effective Time, except that (i) each Ironlight Option that was exercisable for
Ironlight Class A Common Stock or Ironlight Class B Common Stock will be
exercisable for the number of whole shares of Novo Class A Common Stock or Novo
Class B Common Stock, respectively, equal to the product of the number of shares
of Ironlight Common Stock that were issuable upon exercise of such Ironlight
Option immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the Exchange Ratio
applicable to the Ironlight Class A Common Stock or the Ironlight Class B Common
Stock, respectively, and rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares of
Novo Class A Common Stock or Novo Class B Common Stock, respectively, and (ii)
the per share exercise

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price for the shares of Novo Class A Common Stock or Novo Class B Common Stock,
respectively, issuable upon exercise of such assumed option will be equal to the
quotient determined by dividing the exercise price per share of Ironlight Class
A Common Stock or the Ironlight Class B Common Stock, respectively, at which
such Ironlight Option was exercisable immediately prior to the Effective Time by
the Exchange Ratio applicable to the Ironlight Class A Common Stock or the
Ironlight Class B Common Stock, respectively. Exercise prices will end up being
$.00014329 per share.

                    (C)  Ironlight has not taken, and shall not take, any
action that would result in the accelerated vesting, exercisability or payment
of Ironlight Options as a consequence of the execution of, or consummation of
the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement. The Merger will not terminate
any of the outstanding Ironlight Options or accelerate the vesting,
exercisability or payment of such Ironlight Options or the shares of Novo Common
Stock which will be subject to those options upon the Novo's assumption of the
Ironlight Options in the Merger, and no term of the Ironlight Stock Option Plan
or other document evidencing the Ironlight Options contradicts with this Section
1.6(c)(i)(C).

                    (D)  It is the intention of the parties that the Ironlight
Options assumed by Novo qualify following the Effective Time as incentive stock
options as defined in Section 422 of the Code to the extent such Ironlight
Options qualified as incentive stock options prior to the Effective Time. As
soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Novo will issue to each person
who, immediately prior to the Effective Time was a holder of an Ironlight
Option, a written document evidencing the foregoing assumption of such option
by Novo.

          (d)  CAPITAL STOCK OF MERGER SUB. At the Effective Time, each share
of Common Stock of Merger Sub ("Merger Sub Common Stock") issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and exchanged
for one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock of
the Surviving Corporation. Each stock certificate of Merger Sub evidencing
ownership of any such shares shall continue to evidence ownership of such shares
of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation.

          (e)  ADJUSTMENTS. The Exchange Ratios shall be adjusted to reflect
fully the effect of any stock split, reverse split, stock dividend (including
any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into Novo Common Stock or
Ironlight Capital Stock), reorganization, recapitalization or other like change
with respect to Novo Common Stock or Ironlight Capital Stock occurring after the
date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time.

          (f)  DISSENTERS RIGHTS. Any Dissenting Shares shall not be converted
into Novo Common Stock but shall instead by converted into the right to receive
such consideration as may be determined to be due with respect to such
Dissenting Shares pursuant to California Law. Ironlight agrees that, except with
the prior written consent of Novo, or as required under California Law, it will
not voluntarily make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle,
any such purchase demand. Each holder of Dissenting Shares who, pursuant to

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the provisions of California Law, becomes entitled to payment of the fair value
for shares of Ironlight Capital Stock shall receive payment therefor (but only
after such value shall have been agreed upon or finally determined pursuant to
such provisions). If, after the Effective Time, any Dissenting Shares shall
lose their status as Dissenting Shares, Novo shall issue and deliver, upon
surrender by such holder of certificate or certificates representing shares of
Ironlight Capital Stock, the number of shares of Novo Common Stock to which
such holder would otherwise be entitled under this Section 1.6 and the
Agreement of Merger.

          (g)  FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fraction of a share of Novo Common Stock
will be issued, but in lieu thereof each holder of shares of Ironlight Capital
Stock who would otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a share of Novo Common
Stock (after aggregating all fractional shares of Novo Common Stock to be
received by such holder) shall receive from Novo an amount of cash (rounded to
the nearest whole cent) equal to the product of (i) such fraction, multiplied by
(ii) the fair market value of a share of Novo Common Stock immediately prior to
the Effective Time, as determined in good faith by Novo's Board of Directors.

     1.7  SURRENDER OF CERTIFICATES.

          (a)  EXCHANGE AGENT. ANTHONY WESTREICH shall act as exchange agent
(the "Exchange Agent") in the Merger.

          (b)  NOVO TO PROVIDE COMMON STOCK AND CASH. Promptly after the
Effective Time, Novo shall make available to the Exchange Agent for exchange in
accordance with this Section 1, through such reasonable procedures as Novo may
adopt, (i) the shares of Novo Common Stock issuable pursuant to Section 1.6(a)
and (ii) cash in the form of checks in an amount sufficient to permit payment
of cash in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section 1.6(g).

          (c)  EXCHANGE PROCEDURES. Promptly after the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation shall cause to be mailed to each holder of record of a
certificate or certificates (the "Certificates") which immediately prior to the
Effective Time represented outstanding shares of Ironlight Capital Stock, whose
shares were converted into the right to receive shares of Novo Common Stock (and
cash in lieu of fractional shares) pursuant to Section 1.6, (i) a letter of
transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of
loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon receipt of the
Certificates by the Exchange Agent, and shall be in such form and have such
other provisions as Novo may reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for use
in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for certificates
representing shares of Novo Common Stock (and cash in lieu of fractional
shares). Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent
or to such other agent or agents as may be appointed by Novo, together with such
letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with
the instructions thereto, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to
receive in exchange therefor a certificate representing the number of whole
shares of Novo Common Stock and payment in lieu of fractional shares which such
holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 1.6, and the Certificate so
surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. Until so surrendered, each Certificate
shall be deemed from and after the Effective Time, for all

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corporate purposes, other than the payment of dividends, to evidence the
ownership of the number of full shares of Novo Common Stock into which such
shares of Ironlight Capital Stock shall have been so converted and the right to
receive an amount in cash in lieu of the issuance of any fractional shares in
accordance with Section 1.6.

                  (d)   NO LIABILITY. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this Section 1.7, none of the Exchange Agent, the Surviving Corporation or
any party hereto shall be liable to any person for any amount properly paid to
a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or
similar law.

                  (e)   DISSENTING SHARES. The provisions of this Section 1.7
shall also apply to Dissenting Shares that lose their status as such, except
that the obligations of Novo under this Section 1.7 shall commence on the date
of loss of such status and the holder of such shares shall be entitled to
receive in exchange for such shares the number of shares of Novo Common Stock
to which such holder is entitled pursuant to Section 1.6 hereof.

                  (f)   DISTRIBUTIONS WITH RESPECT TO UNEXCHANGED SHARES. No
dividends or other distributions with respect to Novo Common Stock with a
record date after the Effective Time will be paid to the holder of any
unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the shares of Novo Common Stock
represented thereby until the holder of record of such Certificate shall
surrender such Certificate. Subject to applicable law, following surrender of
any such Certificate, there shall be paid to the record holder of the
certificates representing whole shares of Novo Common Stock issued in exchange
therefor, without interest, at the time of such surrender, the amount of any
such dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective
Time payable (but for the provisions of this Section 1.7(f)) with respect to
such shares of Novo Common Stock.

                  (g)   TRANSFERS OF OWNERSHIP. If any certificate for shares
of Novo Common Stock is to be issued in a name other than that in which the
Certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it will be a
condition of such issuance that the Certificate so surrendered will be properly
endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person
requesting such exchange will have paid to Novo or any agent designated by it
any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the issuance of a certificate
for shares of Novo Common Stock in any name other than that of the registered
holder of the Certificate surrendered, or established to the satisfaction of
Novo or any agent designated by it that such tax has been paid or is not
payable.

            1.8   NO FURTHER OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN IRONLIGHT CAPITAL STOCK. All
shares of Novo Common Stock issued upon the surrender for exchange of shares of
Ironlight Capital Stock in accordance with the terms hereof (including
any cash paid in lieu of fractional shares) shall be deemed to have been issued
in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of Ironlight
Capital Stock, and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the
records of the Surviving Corporation of shares of Ironlight Capital Stock which
were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the
Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the

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Surviving Corporation for any reason, they shall be cancelled and exchanged as
provided in this Section 1.

          1.9  TAX AND ACCOUNTING CONSEQUENCES. It is intended by the parties
that the Merger shall constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368 of the Code and qualify for accounting treatment as a pooling of interests.

          1.10 TAKING OF NECESSARY ACTION; FURTHER ACTION. If at any time after
the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out
the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Corporation with full
right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers
and franchises of Ironlight and Merger Sub, the officers and directors of
Ironlight and Merger Sub are fully authorized in the name of their respective
corporations or otherwise to take, and will take, all such lawful and necessary
action, so long as such action is not inconsistent with this Agreement.

          1.11 WITHHOLDING. Each of the Surviving Corporation and Novo shall be
entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of shares of Ironlight Capital Stock
such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making
of such payment under the Code or any provision of applicable state, local or
foreign tax laws. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by the Surviving
Corporation or Novo, as the case may be, such withheld amounts shall be treated
for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to such holder in respect
of which such deduction and withholding was made by the Surviving Corporation or
Novo, as the case may be.

          1.12 LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES. In the event any
Certificates shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Exchange Agent shall
issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates, upon the
making of an affidavit of that fact by the holder thereof, such shares of Novo
Common Stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares) as may be required pursuant
to Section 1.6; provided, however, that Novo may, in its discretion and as a
condition precedent to such issuance require the owner of such lost, stolen or
destroyed Certificates to agree to indemnify Novo against any claim that may be
made against Novo, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent with respect
to the Certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

                                  SECTION TWO

     2.   REPRESENTATIONS and WARRANTIES OF IRONLIGHT

          In this Agreement and specifically with regard to Sections 2 and 3 of
this Agreement, any reference to a "Material Adverse Effect" with respect to any
entity or group of entities means any event, change or effect that, when taken
individually or together with all other adverse changes and effects, is or is
reasonably likely to be materially adverse to the condition (financial or
otherwise), properties, assets, liabilities, business, operations, results of
operations

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or prospects of such entity and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or to
prevent or materially delay consummation of the Merger or otherwise to prevent
such entity and its subsidiaries from performing their obligations under this
Agreement.

          In this Agreement and specifically with regard to Sections 2 and 3 of
this Agreement, any reference to a party's "knowledge" means such party's
actual knowledge after due and diligent inquiry of officers, directors and
other employees of such party reasonably believed to have knowledge of the
matter in question.

          Except as disclosed in a document dated as of the date of this
Agreement and delivered by Ironlight to Novo prior to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and attached as Exhibit F to the Agreement and
referring to the representations and warranties in this Agreement (the
"Ironlight Disclosure Schedule"), Ironlight represents and warrants to Novo and
Merger Sub as follows:

          2.1  ORGANIZATION; SUBSIDIARIES. Ironlight is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of organization. There are no subsidiaries of Ironlight. Ironlight
has the requisite corporate power and authority and all necessary government
approvals to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business
as now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted, except where the
failure to have such power, authority and governmental approvals would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Ironlight.
Ironlight is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation to do business,
and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the
properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its business makes
such qualification or licensing necessary, except for such failures to be so
qualified or licensed and in good standing that would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Ironlight. Ironlight does not
directly or indirectly own any equity or similar interest in, or any interest
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any equity or similar
interest in, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint
venture or other business association or entity.

          2.2  ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS. Ironlight has delivered a
true and correct copy of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws or other
charter documents as applicable, of Ironlight, each as amended to date, to
Novo. Ironlight is not in violation of any of the provisions of its Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws or equivalent organizational documents.

          2.3  CAPITAL STRUCTURE. As of the Effective Time, the authorized
capital stock of Ironlight will consist of 200,000 shares of Common Stock of
which 100,000 shares were designated as Class A Common Stock and 100,000 shares
were designed as Class B Common Stock, of which there are issued and outstanding
2,263 shares of Class A Common Stock (the "Class A Common Stock"), and 5,260
shares of Class B Common Stock (the "Class B Common Stock"). There are no other
outstanding shares of capital stock or voting securities and no outstanding
commitments to issue any shares of capital stock or voting securities other than
pursuant to the exercise of options outstanding as of such date set forth in
Section 2.3 of the Ironlight Disclosure Schedule. All outstanding shares of
Ironlight Capital Stock are duly

                                       8
<PAGE>   13

authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are free of any
liens or encumbrances other than any liens or encumbrances created by or imposed
upon the holders thereof, and are not subject to preemptive rights or rights of
first refusal created by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of
Ironlight or any agreement to which Ironlight is a party or by which it is
bound. All outstanding shares of Ironlight Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock were issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state
securities laws. Ironlight has reserved 800 shares of Class B Common Stock for
issuance to employees and consultants pursuant to the Ironlight Stock Option
Plan, of which no shares have been issued pursuant to option exercises or direct
stock purchases, and 252 shares are subject to outstanding, unexercised options.
Ironlight has additionally granted options to purchase 997 shares of Class A
Common Stock pursuant to agreements separate from the Ironlight Stock Option
Plan. Section 2.3 of the Ironlight Disclosure Schedule sets forth the number of
outstanding Ironlight Options, and all other rights to acquire shares of
Ironlight Common Stock pursuant to the Ironlight Stock Option Plan and the
applicable exercise prices, vesting schedules and terms of such options, and the
names of all holders of such options. Except (i) for the rights created pursuant
to this Agreement, (ii) for Ironlight's right to repurchase any unvested shares
under the Ironlight Stock Option Plan and (iii) as set forth in this Section
2.3, there are no options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments, agreements or
arrangements of any character to which Ironlight is a party or by which
Ironlight is bound relating to the issued or unissued capital stock of Ironlight
or obligating Ironlight to issue, deliver, sell, repurchase or redeem, or cause
to be issued, delivered, sold, repurchased or redeemed, any shares of capital
stock of Ironlight or obligating Ironlight to grant, extend, accelerate the
vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend or enter into any such
option, warrant, call, right, commitment or agreement. Except as may be set
forth in Section 2.3 of the Ironlight Disclosure Schedule, there are no
contracts, commitments or agreements relating to voting, purchase or sale of
Ironlight's capital stock (i) between or among Ironlight and any of its
shareholders and (ii) to the best of Ironlight's knowledge, between or among any
of Ironlight's shareholders. The terms of the Ironlight Stock Option Plan and
all other Ironlight Options permit the assumption or substitution of options to
purchase Novo Common Stock as provided in this Agreement, without the consent or
approval of the holders of such securities, the Ironlight shareholders, or
otherwise and without any acceleration of the exercise schedule or vesting
provisions in effect for those options. True and complete copies of all
agreements and instruments relating to Ironlight Options, whether issued under
the Ironlight Stock Option Plan or otherwise, have been made available to Novo
and such agreements and instruments have not been amended, modified or
supplemented, and there are no agreements to amend, modify or supplement such
agreements or instruments in any case from the form made available to Novo.

            2.4   AUTHORITY. Ironlight has all requisite corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized
by all necessary corporate action on the part of Ironlight, subject only to the
approval of the Merger by Ironlight's shareholders as contemplated by Section
6.1(a). Ironlight's Board of Directors has unanimously approved the Merger and
this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Ironlight
and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Novo and Merger Sub,
constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Ironlight enforceable against
Ironlight in accordance with its terms.

                                       9
<PAGE>   14
          2.5  NO CONFLICTS; REQUIRED FILINGS AND CONSENTS.

               (a)  The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Ironlight
does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will
not, conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default under (with or
without notice or lapse of time, or both), or give rise to a right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any
benefit under (i) any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of
Ironlight or any of its subsidiaries, as amended, or (ii) any material mortgage,
indenture, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument, permit, concession,
franchise, license, judgment, order, degree, statue, law, ordinance, rule or
regulation applicable to Ironlight or any of its properties or assets.

               (b)  No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or
registration, declaration or filing with, any court, administrative agency or
commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality ("Governmental
Entity") is required by or with respect to Ironlight in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, except for (i) the filing of the Agreement of Merger,
together with the required officers' certificates, as provided in Section 1.2,
(ii) such consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations,
declarations and filings as may be required under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), applicable state securities laws and the
securities laws of any foreign country; and (iii) such other consents,
authorizations, filings, approvals and registrations which, if not obtained or
made, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Ironlight and would not
prevent, or materially alter or delay any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.

          2.6  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Section 2.6 of the Ironlight Disclosure
Schedule includes a true, correct and complete copy of Ironlight's unaudited
financial statements (balance sheet, statement of income and statement of cash
flows) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, and its unaudited financial
statements (balance sheet, statement of income and statement of cash flows) at,
and for the eight-month period ended February 28, 1998 (collectively, the
"Financial Statements"). The Financial Statements have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (except such Financial
Statements do not have notes thereto) applied on a consistent basis throughout
the periods indicated and with each other. The Financial Statements accurately
set out and describe the financial condition and operating results of Ironlight
as of the dates, and for the periods, indicated therein. Ironlight maintains and
will continue to maintain a standard system of accounting established and
administered in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

          2.7  ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Ironlight has no material
obligations or liabilities of any nature (matured or unmatured, fixed or
contingent) other than (i) those set forth or adequately provided for in the
Balance Sheet for the period ended February 28, 1998 (the "Ironlight Balance
Sheet"), (ii) those incurred in the ordinary course of business and not required
to be set forth in the Ironlight Balance Sheet under generally accepted
accounting principles, (iii) those incurred in the ordinary course of business
since the date of the Ironlight Balance Sheet and consistent with past practice,
and (iv) those incurred in connection with the execution of this Agreement.

                                       10
<PAGE>   15
     2.8  ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES. Except as set forth in Section 2.8 of the
Ironlight Disclosure Schedule, since February 28, 1998 (the "Ironlight Balance
Sheet Date") there has not been, occurred or arisen any:

          (a)  transaction by Ironlight except in the ordinary course of
business as conducted on that date and consistent with past practices;

          (b)  amendments or changes to the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws
of Ironlight;

          (c)  capital expenditure or commitment by Ironlight, in any
individual amount exceeding $10,000, or in the aggregate, exceeding $50,000;

          (d)  destruction of, damage to, or loss of any assets (including,
without limitation, intangible assets), business or customers of Ironlight
(whether or not covered by insurance) which would constitute a Material Adverse
Effect;

          (e)  labor trouble or claim of wrongful discharge or other unlawful
labor practice or action;

          (f)  change in accounting methods or practices (including any change
in depreciation or amortization policies or rates, any change in policies in
making or reversing accruals) by Ironlight or any revaluation by Ironlight of
any of its assets:

          (g)  revaluation by Ironlight of any of its assets;

          (h)  declaration, setting aside, or payment of a dividend or other
distribution in respect to the capital stock of Ironlight, or any direct or
indirect redemption, purchase or other acquisition by Ironlight of any of its
capital stock, except repurchases of Ironlight Common Stock from terminated
Ironlight employees at the original per share purchase price of such shares;

          (i)  increase in the salary or other compensation payable or to
become payable by Ironlight to any officers, directors, employees or advisors
of Ironlight, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, or the declaration, payment, or commitment or obligation of any kind
for the payment by Ironlight of a bonus or other additional salary or
compensation to any such person except as otherwise contemplated by this
Agreement, the establishment of any bonus, insurance, deferred compensation,
pension, retirement, profit sharing, stock option (including without limitation
the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance awards),
stock purchase or other employee benefit plan;

          (j)  sale, lease, license of other disposition of any of the assets
or properties of Ironlight, except in the ordinary course of business and not
in excess of $10,000;

                                       11
<PAGE>   16
          (k)  termination or material amendment of any material contract,
agreement or license (including any distribution agreement) to which Ironlight
is a party or by which it is bound;

          (l)  loan by Ironlight to any person or entity, or guaranty by
Ironlight of any loan, except for (x) travel or similar advances made to
employees in connection with their employment duties in the ordinary course of
business, consistent with past practices and (y) trade payables not in excess
of $25,000 in the aggregate and in the ordinary course of business, consistent
with past practices;

          (m)  waiver or release of any right or claim by Ironlight, including
any write-off or other compromise of any account receivable of Ironlight, in
excess of $25,000 in the aggregate;

          (n)  the commencement or notice or threat of commencement of any
lawsuit or proceeding against or, to the Ironlight's or Ironlight's officers'
or directors' knowledge, investigation of Ironlight or its affairs;

          (o)  notice of any claim of ownership by a third party of Ironlight's
Intellectual Property (as defined in Section 2.12 below) or of infringement by
Ironlight of any third party's Intellectual Property rights;

          (p)  issuance or sale by Ironlight of any of its shares of capital
stock, or securities exchangeable, convertible or exercisable therefor, or of
any of its securities;

          (q)  event or condition of any character that has or could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Ironlight; or

          (r)  agreement by Ironlight, or any officer or employee of Ironlight
on behalf of Ironlight to do any of the things described in the preceding
clauses (a) through (r) (other than negotiations with Novo and its
representatives regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement).

     2.9  LITIGATION.  There is no private or governmental action, suit,
proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation before any agency, court or
tribunal, foreign or domestic, or, to the knowledge of Ironlight, threatened
against Ironlight or any of its properties or any of its officers or directors
(in their capacities as such) that, individually or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Ironlight. There is
no judgement, decree or order against Ironlight or, to the best knowledge of
Ironlight, any of its directors or officers (in their capacities as such); that
could prevent, enjoin, or materially alter or delay any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, or that could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Ironlight. All litigation to which Ironlight is a
party (or, to the knowledge of Ironlight, threatened to become a party) has been
disclosed to Novo.

                                       12
<PAGE>   17
          2.10 RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESS ACTIVITIES.  There is no agreement,
judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon Ironlight which has or could
reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing
any current or future business practice of Ironlight, any acquisition of
property by Ironlight or the overall conduct of business by Ironlight as
currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted by Ironlight. Ironlight has
not entered into any agreement under which Ironlight is restricted from
selling, licensing or otherwise distributing any of its products to any class
of customers, in any geographic area, during any period of time or in any
segment of the market.

          2.11 PERMITS; COMPANY PRODUCTS; REGULATION.

               (a) To its knowledge, Ironlight is in possession of all
franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances,
exceptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders necessary for Ironlight
to own, lease and operate its properties or to carry on its business as it is
now being conducted (the "Ironlight Authorizations") and no suspension or
cancellation of any Ironlight Authorization is pending or, to the best of
Ironlight's knowledge, threatened, except where the failure to have, or the
suspension or cancellation of, any Ironlight Authorization would not have a
Material Adverse Effect on Ironlight. To its knowledge, Ironlight is not in
conflict with, or in default or violation of, (i) any laws applicable to
Ironlight or by which any property or asset of Ironlight is bound or affected,
(ii) any Ironlight Authorization, or (iii) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other instrument or
obligation to which Ironlight is a party or by which Ironlight or any property
or asset of Ironlight is bound or affected, except for any such conflict,
default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect on Ironlight.

          2.12 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

               (a)  Ironlight owns, or licenses or otherwise possesses legally
enforceable rights to use all patents, patent rights, trademarks, trademark
rights, trade names, trade name rights, service marks, copyrights, and any
applications for any of the foregoing, net lists, schematics, inventions,
technology, know-how, trade secrets, inventory, ideas, algorithms, processes,
computer software programs or applications (in both source code and object code
form), and tangible or intangible proprietary information or material
("Intellectual Property") that are used or proposed to be used in the business
of Ironlight as currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted by
Ironlight, except to the extent that the failure to have such rights has not
had and could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Ironlight. Except as set forth in Section 2.12 of the Ironlight Disclosure
Schedule, Ironlight is the sole and exclusive owner or licensee of, with all
right, title and interest in and to (free and clear of any liens), the
intellectual property described above, and has sole and exclusive rights (and
is not contractually obligated to pay any compensation to any third party in
respect thereof) to the use thereof or the material covered thereby in
connection with the services or products in respect of which Intellectual
Property is being used.

                                       13
<PAGE>   18
               (b)  All registered trademarks, service marks and copyrights held
by Ironlight are valid and existing and there is no assertion or claim (or
basis therefor) challenging the validity of any Intellectual Property of
Ironlight.

               (c)  Ironlight has secured valid written assignments from all
current consultants and employees who contributed to the creation or
development of Intellectual Property of the rights to such contributions that
Ironlight does not already own by operation of law.

               (d)  Ironlight has taken all necessary and appropriate steps to
protect and preserve the confidentiality of all Intellectual Property not
otherwise protected by patents, patent applications or copyright ("Confidential
Information"). Ironlight has a policy requiring each employee, consultant and
independent contractor to execute proprietary information and confidentiality
agreements substantially in Ironlight's standard forms and all current
employees, consultant and independent contractors of Ironlight have executed
such an agreement. To Ironlight's knowledge, all use, disclosure or
appropriation of Confidential Information owned by Ironlight by or to a third
party has been pursuant to the terms of a written agreement between Ironlight
and such third party. To Ironlight's knowledge, all use, disclosure or
appropriation of Confidential Information not owned by Ironlight has been
pursuant to the terms of a written agreement between Ironlight and the owner of
such Confidential Information, or is otherwise lawful.

          2.13 TAXES.

               (a)  For purposes of this Section 2.13 and other provisions of
this Agreement relating to Taxes, the following definitions shall apply:

                    (i)  The term "Taxes" shall mean all taxes, however
denominated, including any interest, penalties or other additions to tax that
may become payable in respect thereof, (A) imposed by any federal, territorial,
state, local or foreign government or any agency or political subdivision of
any such government, which taxes shall include, without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, all income or profits taxes (including but not limited to,
federal, state and foreign income taxes), payroll and employee withholding
taxes, unemployment insurance contributions, social security taxes, sales and
use taxes, ad valorem taxes, excise taxes, franchise taxes, gross receipts
taxes, business license taxes, occupation taxes, real and personal property
taxes, stamp taxes, environmental taxes, transfer taxes, workers' compensation,
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation premiums and other governmental charges,
and other obligations of the same or of a similar nature to any of the
foregoing, which are required to be paid, withheld or collected, (B) any
liability for the payment of amounts referred to in (A) as a result of
being a member of any affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group, or
(C) any liability for amounts referred to in (A) or (B) as a result of any
obligations to indemnify another person.

               (ii) The term "Returns" shall mean all reports, estimates,
declarations of estimated tax, information statements and returns required to
be filed in connection with any Taxes, including information returns with
respect to backup withholding and other payments to third parties.

                                       14
<PAGE>   19

          (b)  All Returns required to be filed by or on behalf of Ironlight
have been duly filed on a timely basis and such Returns are true, complete and
correct in all material respects, except as may be indicated in Section 2.13 of
the Ironlight Disclosure Schedule. All Taxes shown to be payable on such Returns
or on subsequent assessments with respect thereto, and all payments of estimated
Taxes required to be made by or on behalf of Ironlight under Section 6655 of the
Code or comparable provisions of state, local or foreign law, have been paid in
full on a timely basis, and no other Taxes are payable by Ironlight with respect
to items or periods covered by such Returns (whether or not shown on or
reportable on such Returns). Ironlight has withheld and paid over all Taxes
required to have been withheld and paid over, and complied with all information
reporting and backup withholding in connection with amounts paid or owing to any
employee, creditor, independent contractor, or other third party. There are no
liens on any of the assets of Ironlight with respect to Taxes, other than liens
for Taxes not yet due and payable or for Taxes that Ironlight is contesting in
good faith through appropriate proceedings. Ironlight has not been at any time a
member of an affiliated group of corporations filing consolidated, combined
or unitary income or franchise tax returns for a period for which the statute of
limitations for any Tax potentially applicable as a result of such membership
has not expired.

          (c)  The amount of Ironlight's liabilities for unpaid Taxes for all
periods through the date of the Financial Statements do not, in the aggregate,
exceed the amount of the current liability accruals for Taxes reflected on the
Financial Statements, and the Financial Statements properly accrue in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") all
liabilities for Taxes of Ironlight payable after the date of the Financial
Statements attributable to transactions and events occurring prior to such
date. No liability for Taxes of Ironlight has been incurred (or prior to
Closing will be incurred) since such date other than in the ordinary course of
business. No audit of the returns of or including Ironlight by a government or
taxing authority is in process, threatened or, to Ironlight's knowledge,
pending (either in writing or verbally, formally or informally).

          (d)  The Ironlight Disclosure Schedule contains accurate and complete
information regarding Ironlight's net operating losses for federal and each
state tax purposes. Ironlight has no net operating loss and credit carryovers
or other tax attributes currently subject to limitations under Sections 382,
383, or 384 of the Code.

     2.14 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.

          (a)  Section 2.14(a) of the Ironlight Disclosure Schedule lists, with
respect to Ironlight and any trade or business (whether or not incorporated)
which is treated as a single employer with Ironlight (an "ERISA Affiliate")
within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m), (o) Of the Code (i) all
employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended  ("ERISA")), (ii) all bonus, pension,
profit sharing, savings, deferred compensation or incentive plans, programs or
arrangements, (iii) other fringe or employee benefit plans, programs or
arrangements that apply to senior management of Ironlight and that do not
generally apply to all employees, and (iv) any current or former employment or
executive compensation or severance agreements, written or otherwise, as to

                                       15

<PAGE>   20
which unsatisfied obligations of Ironlight of greater than $5,000 remain for the
benefit of, or relating to, any present or former employee, consultant or
director of Ironlight (together, the "Ironlight Employee Plans"). Ironlight has
furnished to Novo a copy of each of the Ironlight Employee Plans and related
plan documents (including trust documents, insurance policies or contracts,
employee booklets, summary plan descriptions and other authorizing documents,
and, to the extent still in its possession, any material employee communications
relating thereto).

               (b)  Except as set forth in Section 2.14(b) of the Ironlight
Disclosure Schedule, (i) none of the Ironlight Employee Plans promises or
provides retiree medical or other retire welfare or life insurance benefits to
any person; (ii) there has been no "prohibited transaction," as such term is
defined in Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, with respect to
any Ironlight Employee Plan, which could reasonably be expected to have, in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) each Ironlight Employee Plan has
been administered in accordance with its terms and in compliance with the
requirements prescribed by any and all statutes, rules and regulations
(including ERISA and the Code), except as would not have, in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect, and Ironlight and any ERISA Affiliate have performed
all obligations required to be performed by them under, are not in any material
respect in default under or violation of, and have no knowledge of any
material default or violation by any other party to, any of the Ironlight
Employee Plans; (iv) neither Ironlight nor any ERISA Affiliate is subject to
any liability or penalty under the Code or ERISA with respect to any of the
Ironlight Employee Plans; and (v) all material contributions required to be
made by Ironlight and any ERISA Affiliate to any Ironlight Employee Plan have
been made on or before their due dates and a reasonable amount has been accrued
for contributions to each Ironlight Employee Plan for the current plan years.

               (c)  The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will not (i) entitle any current or former employee or other service
provider of Ironlight, or any other ERISA Affiliate to severance benefits or
any other payment (including, without limitation, unemployment compensation,
golden parachute or bonus), except as expressly provided in this Agreement, or
(ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits, or
increase the amount of compensation due any such employee or service provider.

               (d)  There has been no amendment to, written interpretation or
announcement (whether or not written) by Ironlight, or other ERISA Affiliate
relating to, or change in participation or coverage under, any Ironlight
Employee Plan which would materially increase the expense of maintaining such
Plan above the level of expense incurred with respect to that Plan for the most
recent fiscal year included in Ironlight's financial statements.

          2.15 CERTAIN AGREEMENTS AFFECTED BY THE MERGER. Neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will (i) result in any payment (including, without
limitation, severance, unemployment compensation, golden parachute, bonus or
otherwise) becoming due to any director or employee of Ironlight, (ii)
materially increase any benefits otherwise payable by Ironlight, or (iii) result
in the acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits.

                                       16
<PAGE>   21
          2.16 MATERIAL CONTRACTS.

               (a)  Subsections (i) through (ix) of Section 2.16(a) of the
Ironlight Disclosure Schedule contain a list of all contracts and agreements to
which Ironlight is a party and that are material to the business, results of
operations, or condition (financial or otherwise), of Ironlight (such contracts,
agreements and arrangements as are required to be set forth in Section 2.16(a)
of the Ironlight Disclosure Schedule being referred to herein collectively as
the "Material Contracts"). Material Contracts shall include, without limitation,
the following and shall be categorized in the Ironlight Disclosure Schedule as
follows:

                    (i)  each contract and agreement (other than routine
pricing quotes in the ordinary course of business) for the purchase of
inventory, other materials or personal property with any supplier or for the
furnishing of services (including marketing or promotional services) to
Ironlight under the terms of which Ironlight: (A) paid or otherwise gave
consideration of more than $10,000 in the aggregate during the calendar year
ended December 31, 1997, (B) is likely to pay or otherwise give consideration
of more than $10,000 in the aggregate during the calendar year ended December
31, 1998, (C) is likely to pay or otherwise give consideration of more than
$10,000 in the aggregate over the remaining term of such contract, or (D)
cannot be cancelled by Ironlight without penalty or further payment of less
than $10,000;

                    (ii) each customer contract and agreement (other than
routine pricing quotes with open acceptance and other tender bids, in each
case, entered into in the ordinary course of business and covering a period of
less than one year) to which Ironlight is a party which (A) involved
consideration of more than $25,000 in the aggregate during the calendar year
ended December 31, 1997, (B) is likely to involve consideration of more than
$25,000 in the aggregate during the calendar year ended December 31, 1998, (C)
is likely to involve consideration of more than $25,000 in the aggregate over
the remaining term of the contract, or (D) cannot be cancelled by Ironlight
without penalty or further payment of less than $10,000;

                    (iii) all management contracts with independent contractors
or consultants (or similar arrangements) to which Ironlight is a party and
which (A) involved consideration or more than $50,000 in the aggregate during
the calendar year ended December 31, 1997, (B) are likely to involve
consideration of more then $50,000 in the aggregate during the calendar year
ended December 31, 1998, or (C) are likely to involve consideration of more
than $10,000 in the aggregate over the remaining term of the contract;

                    (iv) all contracts and agreements (excluding routine
checking account overdraft agreements involving petty cash amounts) under which
Ironlight has created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed (or may create, incur,
assume or guarantee) indebtedness or under which Ironlight has imposed (or may
impose) a security interest or lien on any of its assets, whether tangible or
intangible, to secure indebtedness;

                    (v)  all contracts and agreements that limit the ability of
Ironlight or, after the Effective Time, Novo or any of its affiliates, to
compete in any line of

                                       17
<PAGE>   22
business or with any person or in any geographic area or during any period of
time, or to solicit any customer or client;

                    (vi) all other contracts or agreements (A) which are
material to Ironlight or the conduct of its businesses, (B) the absence of which
would have a Material Adverse Effect on Ironlight, or (C) which are believed by
Ironlight to be of unique value even though not material to the business of
Ironlight.

               (b)  Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have
a Material Adverse Effect on Ironlight, each Material Contract is a legal, valid
and binding agreement, and none of the Ironlight Material Contracts is in
default by its terms or has been cancelled by the other party; Ironlight is not
in receipt of any claim of default under any such agreement; and Ironlight does
not anticipate any termination or change to, or receipt of a proposal with
respect to, any such agreement as a result of the Merger or otherwise. Ironlight
has furnished Novo with true and complete copies of all such agreements together
with all amendments, waivers or other changes thereto.

          2.17 INTERESTED PARTY TRANSACTIONS. Expect for the debts listed on
Section 2.17 of the Ironlight Disclosure Schedule, Ironlight is not indebted to
any director, officer, employee or agent of Ironlight (except for amounts due as
normal salaries and bonuses and in reimbursement of ordinary expenses), and no
such person is indebted to Ironlight.

          2.18 MINUTE BOOKS. The minute books of Ironlight made available to
Novo contain a complete summary of all meetings of directors and shareholders or
actions by written consent since the time of incorporation of Ironlight through
the date of this Agreement, and reflect all transactions referred to in such
minutes accurately in all material respects.

          2.19 COMPLETE COPIES OF MATERIALS. Ironlight has delivered or made
available true and complete copies of each document which has been requested by
Novo or its counsel in connection with their legal and accounting review of
Ironlight.

          2.20 ACCOUNTING AND TAX MATTERS; POOLING OF INTERESTS. Neither
Ironlight, to the knowledge of Ironlight, nor any of their respective directors,
officers or shareholders has taken any action which would interfere with Novo's
ability to account for the Merger as a pooling of interests or would prevent the
Merger from constituting a transaction qualifying under Section 368(a) of the
Code. Neither Ironlight nor, to the knowledge of Ironlight, any of its
affiliates or agents is aware of any agreement, plan or other circumstance that
would prevent the Merger from qualifying under Section 368(a) of the Code, and
to its best knowledge after due inquiry, the Merger will so qualify.

          2.21 BROKERS' AND FINDERS' FEES. Ironlight has not incurred, nor will
it incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage or finders' fees
or agents' commissions or investment bankers' fees or any similar charges in
connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.

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<PAGE>   23
          2.22 VOTE REQUIRED.  The consent taken by action without a meeting of
shareholders by the holders of a majority of the shares of Ironlight capital
stock outstanding on the effective date of the action by written consent is the
only action by the holders of any of Ironlight's capital stock necessary to
approve this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

          2.23 BOARD APPROVAL.  The Board of Directors of Ironlight has
unanimously (i) approved this Agreement and the Merger, (ii) determined that
the Merger is in the best interests of the shareholders of Ironlight and is on
terms that are fair to such shareholders and (iii) recommended that the
shareholders of Ironlight approve this Agreement and the Merger.

          2.24 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.

               (a)  Ironlight has made available to Novo a list of all accounts
receivable of Ironlight reflected on the Financial Statements ("Accounts
Receivable") along with a range of days elapsed since invoice.

               (b)  All Accounts Receivable of Ironlight arose in the ordinary
course of business, are carried at values determined in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied. No person has any lien on any of such Accounts Receivable
and no request or agreement for deduction or discount has been made with
respect to any of such Accounts Receivable.

          2.25 THIRD PARTY CONSENTS.  Except as set forth in Section 2.25 of
the Ironlight Disclosure Schedule, no consent or approval is needed from any
third party in order to effect the Merger, this Agreement or any of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

          2.26 REPRESENTATIONS COMPLETE.  None of the representations or
warranties made by Ironlight herein or in any Schedule hereto, including the
Ironlight Disclosure Schedule, or certificate furnished by Ironlight pursuant
to this Agreement, when all such documents are read together in their entirety,
contains or will contain at the Effective Time any untrue statement of a
material fact, or omits or will omit at the Effective Time to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which made, not misleading.

                                 SECTION THREE

     3.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NOVO AND MERGER SUB.

           Except as disclosed in a document dated as of the date of this
Agreement and delivered by Novo to Ironlight prior to the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and referring to the representations and warranties in this
Agreement and attached as Exhibit G hereto (the "Novo Disclosure Schedule"),
Novo and Merger Sub hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to
Ironlight as follows:

          3.1  ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND POWER. Each of Novo and Merger Sub is
a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of its

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<PAGE>   24
jurisdiction of organization. Novo has no other subsidiaries. Each of Novo and
Merger Sub has the corporate power and authority to own its properties and to
carry on its business as now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted.
Novo is duly qualified or licensed as a foreign corporation to do business, and
is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties
owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its business makes such
qualification or licensing necessary, except for such failures to be so
qualified or licensed and in good standing that would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Novo. Novo does not directly
or indirectly own any equity or similar interest in, or any interest
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any equity or similar
interest in, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint
venture or other business association or entity.

          3.2  ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS.  Novo has delivered a true
and correct copy of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws or other charter
documents, as applicable, of Novo and Merger Sub, each as amended to date, to
Ironlight. Neither Novo nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any
material provisions of its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or equivalent
organizational documents.

          3.3  CAPITAL STRUCTURE.

               (a)  As of the Effective Time, the authorized capital stock of
Novo will consist of 20,000,000 shares of Common Stock, no par value, of which
15,000,000 are designated as Class A Common Stock of which 4,750,614 shares are
issued and outstanding and 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock are designated
Class B Common Stock, of which there are no shares issued and outstanding, and
5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, no par value, of which no shares are
issued and outstanding. 1,147,022 shares of the 4,750,614 outstanding shares
of Common Stock have been issued pursuant to option exercises, and 1,100,876
shares are subject to outstanding, unexercised options. There are no other
outstanding shares of capital stock or voting securities of Novo. 270,316
shares are subject to outstanding unexercised warrants.  All outstanding shares
of Novo Capital Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and are free of any liens or encumbrances other than any liens or
encumbrances created by or imposed upon the holders thereof, and are not
subject to preemptive rights or rights of first refusal created by statute, the
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Novo or any agreement to which Novo is a
party or by which it is bound. All outstanding shares of Novo Common Stock were
issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.
Other than as contemplated under this Agreement, there are no other options,
warrants, calls, rights, commitments or agreements of any character to which
Novo or Merger Sub is a party, or by which either of them is bound obligating
Novo or Merger Sub to issue deliver, sell, repurchase or redeem, or cause to be
issued, delivered, sold, repurchased or redeemed, any shares of the capital
stock of Novo or obligating Novo or Merger Sub to grant, extend or enter into
any such option, warrant, call, right, commitment or agreement. The shares of
Novo Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger will be duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable. Except as may be set forth in
Section 3.3 of the Novo Disclosure Schedule, there are no contracts, commitments
or agreements relating to voting, purchase or sale of Novo's capital

                                       20

<PAGE>   25
stock (i) between or among Novo and any of its shareholders and (ii) to the
best of Novo's knowledge, between or among any of Novo's shareholders.

          (b)  The authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists of 100
shares of Common Stock all of which are issued and outstanding and are held by
Novo. All outstanding shares of Merger Sub have been duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and are nonassessable and free of any liens or encumbrances
other than any liens or encumbrances created by or imposed upon the holders
thereof. There are no options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments or
agreements of any character to which Novo or Merger Sub is a party or by which
either of them is bound obligating Novo or Merger Sub to issue, deliver, sell,
repurchase or redeem, or cause to be issued, delivered, sold, repurchased or
redeemed, any shares of the capital stock of Merger Sub or obligating Novo or
Merger Sub to grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call,
right, commitment or agreement.

     3.4  AUTHORITY. Novo and Merger Sub have all requisite corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized
by all necessary corporate action on the part of Novo and Merger Sub, subject
only to the approval of the Merger by Novo's shareholders as contemplated by
Section 6.1(a) and the filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents
as required by California law. Novo's Board of Directors has unanimously
approved the Merger and this Agreement and Novo as the sole shareholder of
Merger Sub has approved the Merger. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by Novo and Merger Sub and assuming due authorization, execution and
delivery by Ironlight, constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each of
Novo and Merger Sub, respectively, enforceable against both in accordance with
its terms.

     3.5  NO CONFLICT; REQUIRED FILINGS AND CONSENTS.

          (a)  The execution and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, conflict with,
or result in any violation of, or default under (with or without notice or
lapse of time, or both), or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation
or acceleration of any obligation or loss of a benefit under (i) any provision
of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Novo or Merger Sub, as amended,
or (ii) any material mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement or
instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order, decree,
statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Novo or Merger Sub or
their properties or assets.

          (b)  No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or
registration, declaration or filing with, any Government Entity, is required by
or with respect to Novo or Merger Sub in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by Novo and Merger Sub or the consummation by Novo
and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) the
filing of appropriate merger documents as required by California Law, (ii) any
filings as may be required under the Securities Act, applicable state securities
laws and the securities laws of any foreign country, and (iii) such other
consents, authorizations, filings,

                                       21
<PAGE>   26
approvals and registrations which, if not obtained or made, would not have a
Material Adverse Effect on Novo and would not prevent, materially alter or
delay any the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     3.6  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Section 3.6 of the Novo Disclosure Schedule
includes a true, correct and complete copy of Novo's unaudited financial
statements (balance sheet, statement of income and statement of cash flows) for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, and its unaudited financial statements
(balance sheet, statement of income and statement of cash flows) at, and for
the two-month period ended February 28, 1998 (collectively, the "Financial
Statements"). The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles (except such Financial Statements do
not have notes thereto) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
indicated and with each other. The Financial Statements accurately set out and
describe the financial condition and operating results of Novo as of the dates,
and for the periods indicated therein. Novo maintains and will continue
to maintain a standard system of accounting established and administered in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

     3.7  ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Novo has no material obligations
or liabilities of any nature (matured or unmatured, fixed or contingent) other
than (i) those set forth or adequately provided for in the Balance Sheet for the
period ended February 28, 1998 (the "Novo Balance Sheet"), (ii) those incurred
in the ordinary course of business and not required to be set forth in the Novo
Balance Sheet under generally accepted accounting principles, (iii) those
incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the Novo Balance
Sheet and consistent with past practice, and (iv) those incurred in connection
with the execution of this Agreement.

     3.8  ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES. Except as may be set forth in the Novo
Disclosure Schedule and except for events and transactions that have occurred
in connection with the Merger, since February 28, 1998 (the "Novo Balance Sheet
Date") there has not been, occurred or arisen any:

          (a)  transaction by Novo except in the ordinary course of business as
conducted on that date and consistent with past practices;

          (b)  amendments or changes to the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws
of Novo;

          (c)  capital expenditures or commitment by Novo, in any individual
amount exceeding $10,000, or in the aggregate, exceeding $50,000;

          (d)  destruction of, damage to, or loss of any assets (including,
without limitation, intangible assets), business or customers of Novo (whether
or not covered by insurance) which would constitute a Material Adverse Effect;

          (e)  labor trouble or claim of wrongful discharge or other unlawful
labor practice or action;

                                       22
<PAGE>   27
                  (f)   change in accounting methods or practices (including
any change in depreciation or amortization policies or rates, any change in
policies in making or reversing accruals) by Novo or any revaluation by Novo of
any of its assets;

                  (g)   revaluation by Novo of any of its assets;

                  (h)   declaration, setting aside, or payment of a dividend or
other distribution in respect to the capital stock of Novo, or any direct or
indirect redemption, purchase or other acquisition by Novo of any of its
capital stock, except repurchases of Novo Common Stock from terminated Novo
employees at the original per share purchase price of such shares;

                  (i)   increase in the salary or other compensation payable or
to become payable by Novo to any officers, directors, employees or advisors of
Novo, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,
or the declaration, payment or commitment or obligation of any kind for the
payment by Novo of a bonus or other additional salary or compensation to any
such person except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, the
establishment of any bonus, insurance, deferred compensation, pension,
retirement, profit sharing, stock option (including without limitation, the
granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance awards),
stock purchase or other employee benefit plan;

                  (j)   sale, lease, license of other disposition of any of the
assets or properties of Novo, except in the ordinary course of business and not
in excess of $10,000;

                  (k)   termination or material amendment of any material
contract, agreement or license (including any distribution agreement) to which
Novo is a party or by which it is bound;

                  (l)   loan by Novo to any person or entity, or guaranty by
Novo of any loan, except for (x) travel or similar advances made to employees
in connection with their employment duties in the ordinary course of business,
consistent with the past practices and (y) trade payables not in excess of
$25,000 in the aggregate and in the ordinary course of business, consistent
with past practices;

                  (m)   waiver or release of any right or claim of Novo,
including any write-off or other compromise of any account receivable of Novo,
in excess of $25,000 in the aggregate;

                  (n)   the commencement or notice or threat of commencement of
any lawsuit or proceeding against or, to the Novo's or Novo's officers' or
directors' knowledge, investigation of Novo or its affairs;

                  (o)   notice of any claim of ownership by a third party of
Novo's Intellectual Property (as defined in Section 3.12 below) or of
infringement by Novo of any third party's Intellectual Property rights;

                                       23
<PAGE>   28
                  (p)   issuance or sale by Novo of any of its shares of
capital stock, or securities exchangeable, convertible or exercisable therefor,
or of any other of its securities;

                  (q)   event or condition of any character that has or could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Novo; or

                  (r)   agreement by Novo, or any officer or employee of Novo
on behalf of Novo to do any of the things described in the preceding clauses
(a) through (r) (other than negotiations with Ironlight and its representatives
regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement).

            3.9   LITIGATION. There is no private or governmental action, suit,
proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation pending before any agency,
court or tribunal, foreign or domestic, or, to the knowledge of Novo or any of
its subsidiaries, threatened against Novo or any of its subsidiaries or any of
their respective properties or any of their respective officers or directors
(in their capacities as such) that, individually or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Novo. There is no
judgment, decree or order against Novo or any of its subsidiaries or, to the
knowledge of Novo or any of its subsidiaries, any of their respective directors
or officers (in their capacities as such) that could prevent, enjoin, or
materially alter or delay any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, or that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Novo. All litigation to which Novo is a party (or, to the knowledge
of Novo, threatened to become a party) has been disclosed to Ironlight.

            3.10  RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESS ACTIVITIES. There is no agreement,
judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon Novo, which has or could
reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially
impairing any current or future business practice by Novo as currently conducted
or as proposed to be conducted by Novo. Novo has not entered into any agreement
under which Novo is not restricted from selling, licensing or otherwise
distributing any of its products to any class of customers, in any geographic
area, during any period of time or in any segment of the market.

            3.11  PERMITS; COMPANY PRODUCTS; REGULATION.

                  (a)   To its knowledge, Novo is in possession of all
franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances,
exceptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders necessary for Novo, to
own, lease and operate its properties or to carry on its business as it is now
being conducted (the "Novo Authorizations") and no suspension or cancellation of
any Novo Authorization is pending or, to the best of Novo's knowledge,
threatened, except where the failure to have, or the suspension or cancellation
of, any Novo Authorization would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Novo. To
its knowledge, Novo is not in conflict with, or in default or violation of, (i)
any laws applicable to Novo or by which any property or asset of Novo is bound
or affected, (ii) any Novo Authorization, or (iii) any note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit, franchise or other
instrument or obligation to which Novo is a party or by which Novo or any
property or asset of

                                       24
<PAGE>   29
Novo is bound or affected, except for any such conflict, default or violation
that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on Novo.

        3.12    INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

                (a) Novo owns, or licenses or otherwise possesses legally
enforceable rights to use all patents, patent rights, trademarks, trademark
rights, trade names, trade name rights, service marks, copyrights, and any
applications for any of the foregoing, net lists, schematics, inventions,
technology, know-how, trade secrets, inventory, ideas, algorithms, processes,
computer software programs or applications (in both source code and object code
form), and tangible or intangible proprietary information or material
("Intellectual Property") that are used or proposed to be used in the business
of Novo as currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted by Novo, except to
the extent that the failure to have such rights has not had and could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Novo. Except as set
forth in Section 3.12 of the Novo Disclosure Schedule, Novo is the sole and
exclusive owner or licensee of, with all right, title and interest in and to
(free and clear of any liens), the Intellectual Property described above, and
has sole and exclusive rights (and is not contractually obligated to pay any
compensation to any third party in respect thereof) to the use thereof or the
material covered thereby in connection with the services or products in respect
of which Intellectual Property is being used.

                (b) All registered trademarks, service marks and copyrights
held by Novo are valid and existing and there is no assertion or claim (or
basis therefor) challenging the validity of any Intellectual Property of Novo.

                (c) Novo has secured valid written assignments from all current
consultants and employees who contributed to the creation or development of
Intellectual Property of the rights to such contributions that Novo does not
already own by operation of law.

                (d) Novo has taken all necessary and appropriate steps to
protect and preserve the confidentiality of all Intellectual Property not
otherwise protected by patents, patent applications or copyright ("Confidential
Information"). Novo has a policy requiring each employee, consultant and
independent contractor to execute proprietary information and confidentiality
agreements substantially in Novo's standard forms and all current employees,
consultant and independent contractors of Novo have executed such an agreement.
To Novo's knowledge, all use, disclosure or appropriation of Confidential
Information owned by Novo by or to a third party has been pursuant to the terms
of a written agreement between Novo and such third party. To Novo's knowledge,
all use, disclosure or appropriation of Confidential Information not owned by
Novo has been pursuant to the terms of a written agreement between Novo and the
owner of such Confidential Information, or is otherwise lawful.

        3.13    TAXES.

                (a) For purposes of this Section 3.13 and other provisions of
this Agreement relating to Taxes, the following definitions shall apply:

                                       25
<PAGE>   30
                    (i)  The term "Taxes" shall mean all taxes, however
denominated, including any interest, penalties or other additions to tax that
may become payable in respect thereof, (A) imposed by any federal, territorial,
state, local or foreign government or any agency or political subdivision of
any such government, which taxes shall include, without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, all income or profits taxes (including but not limited to,
federal, state and foreign income taxes), payroll and employee withholding
taxes, unemployment insurance contributions, social security taxes, sales and
use taxes, ad valorem taxes, excise taxes, franchise taxes, gross receipts
taxes, business license taxes, occupation taxes, real and personal property
taxes, stamp taxes, environmental taxes, transfer taxes, workers' compensation,
Pension Benefit Guaranty corporation premiums and other governmental charges,
and other obligations of the same or of a similar nature to any of the
foregoing, which are required to be paid, withheld or collected, (B) any
liability for the payment of amounts referred to in (A) as a result of being a
member of any affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group, or (C) any
liability for amounts referred to in (A) or (B) as a result of any obligations
to indemnify another person.

                    (ii) The term "Returns" shall mean all reports, estimates,
declarations of estimated tax, information statements and returns required to
be filed in connection with any Taxes, including information returns with
respect to backup withholding and other payments to third parties.

               (b)  All Returns required to be filed by or on behalf of Novo
have been duly filed on a timely basis and such Returns are true, complete and
correct in all material respects, except as may be indicated in Section 3.13 of
the Novo Disclosure Schedule. All Taxes shown to be payable on such Returns or
on subsequent assessments with respect thereto, and all payments of estimated
Taxes required to be made by or on behalf of Novo under Section 6655 of the
Code or comparable provisions of state, local or foreign law, have been paid in
full on a timely basis, and no other Taxes are payable by Novo with respect to
items or periods covered by such Returns (whether or not shown on or reportable
on such Returns). Novo has withheld and paid over all Taxes required to have
been withheld and paid over, and complied with all information reporting and
backup withholding in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee,
creditor, independent contractor, or other third party. There are no liens on
any of the assets of Novo with respect to Taxes, other than liens for Taxes not
yet due and payable or for Taxes that Novo is contesting in good faith through
appropriate proceedings. Novo has not been at any time a member of an
affiliated group of corporations filing consolidated, combined or unitary
income or franchise tax returns for a period for which the statute of
limitations for any Tax potentially applicable as a result of such membership
has not expired.

               (c)  The amount of Novo's liabilities for unpaid Taxes for all
periods through the date of the Financial Statements do not in the aggregate
exceed the amount of the current liability accruals for Taxes reflected on the
Financial Statements, and the Financial Statements properly accrue in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") all liabilities for Taxes
of Novo payable after the date of the Financial Statements attributable to
transactions and events occurring prior to such date. No liability for Taxes of
Novo has been incurred (or prior to Closing will be incurred) since such date
other than in the ordinary course of business. No audit of the returns of or
including Novo by a government or

                                       26
<PAGE>   31
taxing authority is in process, threatened or, to Novo's knowledge, pending
(either in writing or verbally, formally or informally).

                (d) The Novo Disclosure Schedule contains accurate and complete
information regarding Novo's net operating losses for federal and each state
tax purposes. Novo has no net operating losses and credit carryovers or other
tax attributes currently subject to limitation under Sections 382, 383, or 384
of the Code.

        3.14    EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.

                (a)     Section 3.14(a) of the Novo Disclosure Schedule lists,
with respect to Novo and any trade or business (whether or not incorporated)
which is treated as a single employer with Novo (an "ERISA Affiliate") within
the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code, (i) all employee
benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), (ii) all bonus, pension, profit
sharing, savings, deferred compensation or incentive plans, programs or
arrangements, (iii) other fringe or employee benefit plans, programs or
arrangements that apply to senior management of Novo and that do not generally
apply to all employees, and (iv) any current or former employment or executive
compensation or severance agreements, written or otherwise, as to which
unsatisfied obligations of Novo of greater than $5,000 remain for the benefit
of, or relating to, any present or former employee, consultant or director of
Novo (together, the "Novo Employee Plans"). Novo has furnished to Ironlight a
copy of each of the Novo Employee Plans and related plan documents (including
trust documents, insurance policies or contracts, employee booklets, summary
plan descriptions and other authorizing documents, and, to the extent still in
its possession, any material employee communications relating thereto).

                (b) Except as set forth in Section 3.14(b) of the Novo
Disclosure Schedule, (i) none of the Novo Employee Plans promises or provides
retiree medical or other retiree welfare or life insurance benefits to any
person; (ii) there has been no "prohibited transaction," as such term is
defined in Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, with respect to
any Novo Employee Plan, which could reasonably be expected to have, in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) each Novo Employee Plan has been
administered in accordance with its terms and in compliance with the
requirements prescribed by any and all statutes, rules and regulations
(including ERISA and the Code), except as would not have, in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect, and Novo and any ERISA Affiliate have performed all
obligations required to be performed by them under, are not in any material
respect in default under or violation of, and have no knowledge of any material
default or violation by any other party to, any of the Novo Employee Plans; (iv)
neither Novo nor any ERISA Affiliate is subject to any liability or penalty
under the Code or ERISA with respect to any of the Novo Employee Plans; and (v)
all material contributions required to be made by Novo and any ERISA Affiliate
to any Novo Employee Plan have been made on or before their due dates and a
reasonable amount has been accrued for contributions to each Novo Employee Plan
for the current plan years.

                (c) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will not (i) entitle any current or former employee or other service
provider of Novo,

                                       27
<PAGE>   32
or any other ERISA Affiliate to severance benefits or any other payment
(including, without limitation, unemployment compensation, golden parachute or
bonus), except as expressly provided in this Agreement, or (ii) accelerate the
time of payment or vesting of any such benefits, or increase the amount of
compensation due any such employee or service provider.

               (d)  There has been no amendment to, written interpretation or
announcement (whether or not written) by Novo, or other ERISA Affiliate relating
to, or change in participation or coverage under, any Novo Employee Plan which
would materially increase the expense of maintaining such Plan above the level
of expense incurred with respect to that Plan for the most recent fiscal year
included in Novo's financial statements.

          3.15 CERTAIN AGREEMENTS AFFECTED BY THE MERGER. Neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will (i) result in any payment (including, without
limitation, severance, unemployment compensation, golden parachute, bonus or
otherwise) becoming due to any director or employee of Novo, (ii) materially
increase any benefits otherwise payable by Novo, or (iii) result in the
acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits.

          3.16 MATERIAL CONTRACTS.

               (a)  Subsections (i) through (ix) of Section 3.16(a) of the Novo
Disclosure Schedule contain a list of all contracts and agreements to which Novo
is a party and that are material to the business, results of operations, or
condition (financial or otherwise), of Novo (such contracts, agreements and
arrangements as are required to be set forth in Section 3.16(a) of the Novo
Disclosure Schedule being referred to herein collectively as the "Material
Contracts"). Material Contracts shall include, without limitation, the following
and shall be categorized in the Novo Disclosure Schedule as follows:

                    (i)  each contract and agreement (other than routine pricing
quotes in the ordinary course of business) for the purchase of inventory, other
materials or personal property with any supplier or for the furnishing of
services (including marketing or promotional services) to Novo under the terms
of which Novo: (A) paid or otherwise gave consideration of more than $10,000 in
the aggregate during the calendar year ended December 31, 1997, (B) is likely to
pay or otherwise give consideration of more than $10,000 in the aggregate during
the calendar year ended December 31, 1998, (C) is likely to pay or otherwise
give consideration of more than $10,000 in the aggregate over the remaining term
of such contract, or (D) cannot be cancelled by Novo without penalty or further
payment of less than $10,000;

                    (ii) each customer contract and agreement (other than
routine pricing quotes with open acceptance and other tender bids, in each case,
entered into in the ordinary course of business and covering a period of less
than one year) to which Novo is a party which (A) involved consideration of more
than $25,000 in the aggregate during the calendar year ended December 31, 1997,
(B) is likely to involve consideration of more than $25,000 in the aggregate
during the calendar year ended December 31, 1998, (C) is likely to involve

                                       28

<PAGE>   33
consideration of more than $25,000 in the aggregate over the remaining term of
the contract, or (D) cannot be cancelled by Novo without penalty or further
payment of less than $10,000;

               (iii)  all management contracts with independent contractors or
consultants (or similar arrangements) to which Novo is a party and which (A)
involved consideration or more than $50,000 in the aggregate during the calendar
year ended December 31, 1997, (B) are likely to involve consideration of more
than $50,000 in the aggregate during the calendar year ended December 31, 1998,
or (C) are likely to involve consideration of more than $100,000 in the
aggregate over the remaining term of the contract;

               (iv) all contracts and agreements (excluding routine checking
account overdraft agreements involving petty cash amounts) under which Novo has
created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed (or may create, incur, assume or
guarantee) indebtedness or under which Novo has imposed (or may impose) a
security interest or lien on any of its assets, whether tangible or intangible,
to secure indebtedness;

               (v)  all contracts and agreements that limit the ability of Novo
or after the Effective Time any of its affiliates, to compete in any line of
business or with any person or in any geographic area or during any period of
time, or to solicit any customer or client;

               (vi) all other contracts or agreements (A) which are material to
Novo or the conduct of its businesses, (B) the absence of which would have a
Material Adverse Effect on Novo, or (C) which are believed by Novo to be of
unique value even though not material to the business of Novo.

          (b)  Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect on Novo, each Material Contract is a legal, valid and
binding agreement, and none of the Novo Material Contracts is in default by its
terms or has been cancelled by the other party; Novo is not in receipt of any
claim of default under any such agreement; and Novo does not anticipate any
termination or change to, or receipt of a proposal with respect to, any such
agreement as a result of the Merger or otherwise. Novo has furnished Ironlight
with true and complete copies of all such agreements together with all
amendments, waivers or other changes thereto.

     3.17 BROKER'S AND FINDER'S FEES. Novo has not incurred, nor will it incur,
directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage or finders' fees or agents'
commissions or investment bankers' fees or any similar charges in connection
with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.

     3.18 ACCOUNTING AND TAX MATTERS; POOLING OF INTERESTS.

          (a)  Neither Novo nor, to the knowledge of Novo, any of their
respective affiliates or agents has taken any action or is aware of any
agreement, plan or other circumstance that would prevent the Merger from
constituting a transaction under Section 368(a) of the Code.

                                       29
<PAGE>   34
                (b) Neither Novo nor, to the knowledge of Novo, any of their
respective directors, officers or shareholders has taken any action which would
interfere with Novo's ability to account for the Merger as a
"pooling-of-interests."

                (c) Merger Sub is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Novo, formed
solely for the purpose of engaging in the Merger, and has carried on no
business prior to the Merger.

                (d) Immediately prior to the Merger, Novo will be in control of
Merger Sub within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code.

                (e) Novo has no plan or intention (a "Plan") to cause Ironlight
to issue additional shares of Ironlight stock following the Merger that would
result in Novo losing control of Ironlight, within the meaning of Section
368(c) of the Code.

                (f) Novo has no Plan to reacquire any of the shares of Novo
Common Stock issued in the Merger.

                (g) Novo has no Plan to liquidate Ironlight following the
Merger; to merge Ironlight with or into another corporation (other than
pursuant to a reincorporation of Ironlight in a transaction qualifying as a
reorganization under Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code); to engage in a sale,
exchange or other disposition of the then-outstanding Ironlight stock (other
than a transfer of the then-outstanding Ironlight stock to a corporation
controlled by Novo); or to cause Ironlight to sell or otherwise dispose of any
of its assets, including any assets acquired from Merger Sub, except for
dispositions made in the ordinary course of business or transfers of assets to
any corporations controlled by Ironlight.

                (h) Merger Sub will have no liabilities assumed by Ironlight
and will not transfer to Ironlight in the Merger any assets subject to
liabilities.

                (i) Following the Merger, Novo will take no action to prevent
Ironlight from continuing its historic business or from using a significant
portion of its historic business assets in a business as required by Treasury
Regulation Section 1.368-1(d).

        3.19    INTERESTED PARTY TRANSACTIONS. Except for the debts listed in
Section 3.19 of the Novo Disclosure Schedule, Novo is not indebted to any
director, officer, employee or agent of Novo (except for amounts due as normal
salaries and bonuses and in reimbursement of ordinary expenses), and no such
person is indebted to Novo.

        3.20    MINUTE BOOKS. The minute books of Novo made available to
Ironlight contain a complete summary of all meetings of directors and
shareholders or actions by written consent since the time of incorporation of
Novo through the date of this Agreement, and reflect all transactions referred
to in such minutes accurately in all material respects.

        3.21    COMPLETE COPIES OF MATERIALS. Novo has delivered or made
available true and complete copies of each document which has been requested by
Ironlight or its counsel in connection with their legal and accounting review
of Novo.

                                       30
<PAGE>   35
     3.22 VOTE REQUIRED. The consents taken by action without a meeting of
shareholders by the holders of a majority of the shares of Novo capital stock
and of all of the shares of Merger Sub capital stock outstanding on the
effective date of the action by written consent are the only actions by the
holders of any of Novo's capital stock and any of Merger Sub's capital stock,
respectively, necessary to approve this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.

     3.23 BOARD APPROVAL. The Board of Directors of Novo and Merger Sub have
unanimously (i) approved this Agreement and the Merger, (ii) determined that the
Merger is in the best interests of the shareholders of Novo and Merger Sub,
respectively, and is on terms that are fair to such shareholders and (iii)
recommended that the shareholders of Novo and Merger Sub, respectively, approve
this Agreement and the Merger.

     3.24 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.

          (a)  Novo has made available to Ironlight a list of all accounts
receivable of Novo reflected on the Financial Statements ("Accounts
Receivable").

          (b)  All Accounts Receivable of Novo arose in the ordinary course of
business, are carried at values determined in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied. No person has any lien on any of such Accounts Receivable and no
request or agreement for deduction or discount has been made with respect to any
of such Accounts Receivable.

     3.25 THIRD PARTY CONSENTS. Except as set forth in the Novo Disclosure
Schedule, no consent or approval is needed from any third party in order to
effect the Merger, this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated
hereby.

     3.26 REPRESENTATIONS COMPLETE. None of the representations or warranties
made by Novo herein or in any Schedule or Exhibit hereto, or certificate
furnished by Novo pursuant to this Agreement, when all such documents are read
together in their entirety, contains or will contain at the Effective Time any
untrue statement of a material fact, or omits or will omit at the Effective Time
to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained
herein or therein, in the light of the circumstances under which made, not
misleading.

                                  SECTION FOUR

     4.   CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME.

          4.1  CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF IRONLIGHT AND NOVO. During the period
from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the
termination of this Agreement or the Effective Time, each of Ironlight and Novo
agrees (except to the extent expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as
consented to in writing by the other), to carry on its business in the usual,
regular and ordinary course in substantially the same manner as heretofore
conducted. Each of Ironlight and Novo agrees to promptly notify the other of
any event or

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<PAGE>   36
occurrence not in the ordinary course of its business, and of any event which
could have a Material Adverse Effect.

            4.2   ACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO AGREEMENT. During the period from the
date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of
this Agreement or the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated by this
Agreement, each of Ironlight and Novo agrees that it shall not do, cause or
permit any action which would make any of its representations or warranties
contained in this Agreement untrue or incorrect or prevent it from performing
or cause it not to perform its covenants hereunder, without the prior written
consent of the other party.

                                  SECTION FIVE

      5.    ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS.

            5.1   BEST EFFORTS AND FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each of the parties to
this Agreement shall use its best efforts to effectuate the transactions
contemplated hereby and to fulfill and cause to be fulfilled the conditions to
closing under this Agreement. Each party hereto, at the reasonable request of
another party hereto, shall execute and deliver such other instruments and do
and perform such other acts and things as may be necessary or desirable for
effecting completely the consummation of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.

            5.2   CONSENTS; COOPERATION.

                  (a)   Each of Novo and Ironlight shall use its reasonable
best efforts to promptly (i) obtain from any Governmental Entity any consents,
licenses, permits, waivers, approvals, authorizations or orders required to be
obtained or made by Novo or Ironlight or any of their subsidiaries in
connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder, and (ii) make all
necessary filings, and thereafter make any other required submissions, with
respect to this Agreement and the Merger required under the Securities Act and
any other applicable federal, state or foreign securities laws.

                  (b)   Each of Novo and Ironlight shall give or cause to be
given any required notices to third parties, and use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain all consents, waivers and approvals from third parties (i)
necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereunder, (ii) disclosed or required to be disclosed in the Ironlight
Disclosure Schedule or the Novo Disclosure Schedule, or (iii) required to
prevent a Material Adverse Effect on Ironlight or Novo from occurring prior or
after the Effective Time. In the event that Novo or Ironlight shall fail to
obtain any third party consent, waiver or approval described in this Section
5.2(b), it shall use its reasonable best efforts, and shall take any such
actions reasonably requested by the other party, to minimize any adverse effect
upon Novo and Ironlight, their respective subsidiaries and their respective
businesses resulting (or which could reasonably be expected to result after the
Effective Time) from the failure to obtain such consent, waiver or approval.

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<PAGE>   37
     5.3  BLUE SKY LAWS. Novo shall take such steps as may be necessary to
comply with the securities and blue sky laws of all jurisdictions which are
applicable to the issuance of the Novo Common Stock to Ironlight shareholders in
connection with the Merger. Ironlight shall use its best efforts to assist Novo
as may be necessary to comply with the securities and blue sky laws of all
jurisdictions which are applicable in connection with the issuance of Novo
Common Stock in connection with the Merger.

     5.4  SHAREHOLDER'S REPRESENTATION AGREEMENTS. Ironlight will use its best
efforts to cause each Ironlight shareholder to execute and deliver to Novo a
Shareholder Representation Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit C (the "Shareholder's Representation Agreement") which imposes
certain restrictions regarding the resale of Novo Common Stock received in the
Merger.

     5.5  POOLING ACCOUNTING. Novo and Ironlight shall each use its best efforts
to cause the business combination to be effected by the Merger to be accounted
for as a pooling of interests. Each of Novo and Ironlight shall use its best
efforts to cause its "Affiliates" (as defined as those persons deemed affiliates
within the meaning of Rule 145 promulgated under the Securities Act.) not to
take any action that would adversely affect the ability of Novo to account for
the business combination to be effected by the merger as a pooling of interest.

     5.6  BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Immediately following the Effective Time, the
Board of Directors of Novo will consist of Kelly Rodriques, John Gaulding and
Anthony Westreich and John Gaulding shall be the chairman of the Board of
Directors. The number of authorized directors shall be five (5). The initial
directors shall elect the remaining directors, and such directors shall be
outside directors with relevant industry experience. Immediately prior to the
Effective time the directors of Novo, other than Kelly Rodriques and John
Gaulding shall resign from the Board of Directors.

     5.7  MAINTENANCE OF IRONLIGHT INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS.

          (a)  Subject to and following the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall, and Novo shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, indemnify
and hold harmless the Indemnified Ironlight Parties (as defined below) to the
extent provided in the Bylaws or Articles of Incorporation of Ironlight, in each
case as in effect as of the date of this Agreement. The Surviving Corporation
shall, and Novo shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, keep in effect such
provisions, which shall not be amended except as required by applicable law or
to make changes permitted by California Law that would enlarge the rights to
indemnification available to the Indemnified Ironlight Parties and changes to
provide for exculpation of director and officer liability to the fullest extent
permitted by California Law. For purposes of this Section 5.7, "Indemnification
Ironlight Parties" shall mean the individuals who were officers, directors,
employees and agents of Ironlight on or prior to the Effective Time.

          (b)  Subject to and following the Effective Time, Novo and the
Surviving Corporation shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the
reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, that may be incurred
by any Indemnified Ironlight Party in enforcing the rights provided in this
Section 5.7 and shall make any advances of such expenses to

                                       33
<PAGE>   38
the Indemnified Ironlight Party that would be available under the Bylaws or
Articles of Incorporation of Ironlight (in each case as in effect as of the
date of this Agreement) with regard to the advancement of indemnifiable
expenses, subject to the undertaking of such party to repay such advances in
the event that it is ultimately determined that such party is not entitled to
indemnification.

          (c)  The provisions of this Section 5.7 shall be in addition to any
other rights available to the Indemnified Ironlight Parties, shall survive the
Effective Time of the Merger, and are expressly intended for the benefit of the
Indemnified Ironlight Parties.

     5.8  ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE. Novo and Ironlight agree that the
organizational structure of Novo and Ironlight shall be integrated and combined
in the manner set forth in Exhibit H attached hereto, effective as soon as
practicable.

                                  SECTION SIX

     6.   CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER.

          6.1  CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH PARTY TO EFFECT THE MERGER.
The respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to consummate and
effect this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject
to the satisfaction on or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following
conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, by agreement of all the
parties hereto:

          (a)  SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. This Agreement and the Merger shall have
been duly approved and adopted by the holders of a majority of the shares of
the capital stock of Ironlight and Novo outstanding prior to the Effective Time.

          (b)  NO INJUNCTIONS OR RESTRAINTS; ILLEGALITY. No temporary
restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by
any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal or regulatory restraint or
prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger shall be in effect, nor
shall any proceeding brought by an administrative agency or commission or other
governmental authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, seeking any of
the foregoing be pending; nor shall there be any action taken, or any statute,
rule, regulation or order enacted, entered, enforced or deemed applicable to
the Merger, which makes the consummation of the Merger illegal. In the event an
injunction or other order shall have been issued, each party agrees to use its
reasonable diligent efforts to have such injunction or other order lifted.

          (c)  GOVERNMENTAL APPROVAL. Novo, Ironlight and Merger Sub shall have
timely obtained from each Governmental Entity all approvals, waivers and
consents, if any, necessary for consummation of or in connection with the Merger
and the several transactions contemplated hereby, including, without
limitation, such approvals, waivers and  consents as may be required under the
Securities Act and under any state securities laws.

                                       34
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        6.2     ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF IRONLIGHT. The
obligations of Ironlight to consummate and effect this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the satisfaction at or
prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions, any of which
may be waived, in writing, by Ironlight:

                (a)     REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS (i) Each of
the representations and warranties of Novo and Merger Sub in this Agreement
that is expressly qualified by a reference to materiality shall be true in all
respects as so qualified, and each of the representations and warranties of
Novo and Merger Sub in this Agreement that is not so qualified shall be true
and correct in all material respects, on and as of the Effective Time as though
such representation or warranty had been made on and as of such time (except
that those representations and warranties which address matters only as of
particular date shall remain true and correct as of such date), and (ii) Novo
and Merger Sub shall have performed and complied in all material respects with
all covenants, obligations and conditions of this Agreement required to be
performed and complied with by them as of the Effective Time.

                (b)     CERTIFICATES OF NOVO.

                        (i)     COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE OF NOVO. Ironlight shall
have been provided with a certificate executed on behalf of Novo by its
President or its Chief Financial Officer to the effect that, as of the
Effective Time, each of the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a)(i) and (ii)
above has been satisfied with respect to Novo.

                        (ii)    CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY OF NOVO. Ironlight
shall have been provided with a certificate executed by the Secretary or
Assistant Secretary of Novo certifying:

                                (A)     Resolutions duly adopted by the Board
of Directors and the shareholders of Novo authorizing the execution of this
Agreement and the execution, performance and delivery of all agreements,
documents and transactions contemplated hereby; and

                                (B)     the incumbency of the officers of Novo
executing this Agreement and all agreements and documents contemplated hereby.

                (c)     CERTIFICATES OF MERGER SUB.

                        (i)     COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE OF MERGER SUB. Ironlight
shall have been provided with a certificate executed on behalf of Merger Sub by
its President or its Chief Financial Officer to the effect that, as of the
Effective Time, each of the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a)(i) and (ii)
above has been satisfied with respect to Merger Sub.

                        (ii)    CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY OF MERGER SUB.
Ironlight shall have been provided with a certificate executed by the Secretary
or Assistant Secretary of Merger Sub certifying:

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<PAGE>   40
                                (A)     Resolutions duly adopted by the Board of
Directors and the sole shareholder of Merger Sub authorizing the execution of
this Agreement and the execution, performance and delivery of all agreements,
documents and transactions contemplated hereby; and

                                (B)     the incumbency of the officers of Merger
Sub executing this Agreement and all agreements and documents contemplated
hereby.

                (d)     LEGAL OPINION. Ironlight shall have received a legal
opinion from Novo's legal counsel substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto.

                (e)     NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGES. There shall not have
occurred any material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise),
properties, assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, business,
operations, results of operations or prospects of Novo and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.

                (f)     GOOD STANDING. Ironlight shall have received a
certificate or certificates of the Secretary of State of the State of
California and any applicable franchise tax authority of such state, certifying
as of a date no more than 5 business days prior to the Effective Time that
Merger Sub has filed all required reports, paid all required fees and taxes and
is, as of such date, in good standing and authorized to transact business as a
domestic corporation.

        6.3     ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF NOVO AND MERGER SUB.
The obligations of Novo and Merger Sub to consummate and effect this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the satisfaction
at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions, any of
which may be waived, in writing, by Novo:

                (a)     REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS. (i) each of
the representations and warranties of Ironlight in this Agreement that is
expressly qualified by a reference to materiality shall be true in all respects
as so qualified, and each of the representations and warranties of Ironlight in
this Agreement that is not so qualified shall be true and correct in all
material respects, on and as of the Effective Time as though such
representation or warranty had been made on and as of such time (except that
those representations and warranties which address matters only as of a
particular date shall remain true and correct as of such date), and (ii)
Ironlight shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all
covenants, obligations and conditions of this Agreement required to be
performed and complied with by it as of the Effective Time.

                (b)     NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGES. There shall not have
occurred any material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise),
properties, assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, business,
operations, results of operations or prospects of Ironlight.

                (c)     CERTIFICATES OF IRONLIGHT.

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<PAGE>   41
                        (i)   COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE OF IRONLIGHT. Novo and
Merger Sub shall have been provided with a certificate executed on behalf of
Ironlight by its President or its Chief Financial Officer to the effect that,
as of the Effective Time, each of the conditions set forth in Section 6.3(a)(i)
and (ii) above has been satisfied.

                        (ii)  CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY OF IRONLIGHT. Novo and
Merger Sub shall have been provided with a certificate executed by the
Secretary of Ironlight certifying:

                              (A)   Resolutions duly adopted by the Board of
Directors and the shareholders of Ironlight authorizing the execution of this
Agreement and the execution, performance and delivery of all agreements,
documents and transactions contemplated hereby;

                              (B)   The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of
Ironlight, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, including all
amendments thereto; and

                              (C)   the incumbency of the officers of Ironlight
executing this Agreement and all agreements and documents contemplated hereby.

                  (d)   THIRD PARTY CONSENTS. Novo shall have been furnished
with evidence satisfactory to it that Ironlight has obtained those consents,
waivers, approvals or authorizations of those Governmental Entities and third
parties whose consent or approval are required in connection with the Merger as
set forth in Sections 5.2(a) and (f).

                  (e)   LEGAL OPINION. Novo shall have received a legal opinion
from Ironlight's legal counsel, in substantially the form of Exhibit E.

                  (f)   SHAREHOLDER'S REPRESENTATION AGREEMENTS. Novo shall
have received from the holders of at least 75% of the Ironlight Capital Stock,
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, duly executed and
delivered Shareholder's Representation Agreements in substantially the form
attached hereto as Exhibit C.

                  (g)   RESIGNATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Novo shall have
received letters of resignation from each of the directors and officers of
Ironlight in office immediately prior to the Effective Time, which resignations
in each case shall be effective as of the Effective Time.

                  (h)   SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. Ironlight shall deliver
appropriate documentation to the effect that holders of greater than 80% of the
Capital Stock have voted in favor of the Merger.

                                 SECTION SEVEN

      7.    TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.

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<PAGE>   42
          7.1  TERMINATION. At any time prior to the Effective Time, whether
before or after approval of the matters presented in connection with the Merger
by the shareholders of Ironlight, this Agreement may be terminated and the
Merger may be abandoned:

               (a)  by mutual consent duly authorized by the Boards of
Directors of each of Novo and Ironlight;

               (b)  by either Novo or Ironlight, if, without fault of the
terminating party,

                    (i)  the Effective Time shall not have occurred on or
before May 15, 1998 (or such later date as may be agreed upon in writing by
the parties);

                    (ii) there shall be any applicable federal or state law that
makes consummation of the Merger illegal or otherwise prohibited or if any
court of competent jurisdiction or Governmental Entity shall have issued an
order, decree, ruling or taken any other action restraining, enjoining or
otherwise prohibiting the Merger and such order, decree, ruling or other action
shall have become final and nonappealable;

          7.2  EFFECT OF TERMINATION. In the event of termination of this
Agreement as provided in Section 7.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void
and there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of Novo, Merger Sub or
Ironlight or their respective officers, directors, shareholders or affiliates.

          7.3  AMENDMENT. The boards of directors of the parties may cause this
Agreement to be amended at any time by execution of an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of each of the parties; provided that an amendment made
subsequent to adoption of the Agreement by the shareholders of Ironlight or
Merger Sub shall not (i) alter or change the amount or kind of consideration to
be received on conversion of the Ironlight Capital Stock, (ii) alter or change
any term of the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation to be
effected by the Merger, or (iii) alter or change any of the terms and conditions
of the Agreement if such alteration or change would adversely affect the
shareholders of Ironlight or Merger Sub.

          7.4  EXTENSION; WAIVER. At any time prior to the Effective Time any
party may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties, (ii)
waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties made to such party
contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, and (iii) waive
compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of such
party contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a 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 EIGHT

     8.   INDEMNIFICATION.

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<PAGE>   43
          8.1  SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. All covenants to be
performed prior to the Effective Time, and all representations and warranties in
this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall
survive the consummation of the Merger and continue until one year after
consummation of Merger (the "Survival Date"); provided that if any claims for
indemnification have been asserted with respect to any such representations and
warranties prior to the Survival Date, the representations and warranties on
which any such claims are based shall continue in effect until final resolution
of any claims. All covenants to be performed after the Effective Time shall
continue indefinitely.

          8.2  INDEMNIFICATION.

          (a)  INDEMNITY BY IRONLIGHT. From and after the Effective Date,
Ironlight and Ironlight Shareholders shall severally, indemnify and hold Novo
harmless from and against all losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses
including, without limitation, interest, penalties and reasonable attorneys'
fees and shall pay the Novo on demand the full amount of any and all sums that
Novo may pay or become obligated to pay, in either case, on account of or
arising out of or resulting from any untruth or breach of any of the
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by Ironlight and/or
Ironlight Shareholders in this Agreement. As to untruths or breaches of
representations and warranties in Section 2 hereof, this indemnification shall
be only for claims submitted in writing by the Survival Date. No Ironlight
Shareholder's liability shall exceed such Shareholder's pro rata share of the
Merger Consideration assessed at the valuation used to determine the Exchange
Ratio, nor shall Ironlight's liability exceed the aggregate value of such
Merger Consideration.

          (b)  INDEMNITY BY NOVO. From and after the Effective Date, Novo shall
indemnify and hold Ironlight and Ironlight Shareholders harmless from and
against all losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses including, without
limitation, interest, penalties and reasonable attorneys' fees and shall pay
Ironlight Shareholders on demand the full amount of any and all sums that
Ironlight or any Ironlight Shareholder may pay or become obligated to pay, in
either case, on account of or arising out of or resulting from any untruth or
breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made
by Novo in this Agreement. As to untruths or breaches of representations and
warranties in Section 3 hereof, this indemnification shall be only for claims
submitted in writing by the Survival Date. The liability of the Novo shall in no
case exceed the aggregate value of the Merger Consideration, determined as of
the Effective Time.

          (c)  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, neither Ironlight nor
Ironlight Shareholders shall be required to indemnify Novo, nor shall Novo be
required to indemnify Ironlight or Ironlight Shareholders, unless and until the
aggregate amount of damages subject to indemnification pursuant to this Section
8 exceeds $25,000, at which point the indemnifying party shall indemnify the
full amount of all such damages and all claims thereafter, subject to the other
limitations on indemnification set forth in this Section 8.

                                  SECTION NINE

     9.   GENERAL PROVISIONS.

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<PAGE>   44
     9.1  NOTICES. Any notice required or permitted by this Agreement shall be
in writing and shall be deemed sufficient upon receipt, when delivered
personally or by courier, overnight delivery service or confirmed facsimile, or
48 hours after being deposited in the regular mail as certified or registered
mail (airmail if sent internationally) with postage prepaid, if such notice is
addressed to the party to be notified at such party's address or facsimile
number as set forth below, or as subsequently modified by written notice,

          (a)  if to Novo or Merger Sub, to:
               Kelly A. Rodriques
               Novo MediaGroup, Inc.
               222 Sutter Street, 6th Floor
               San Francisco, CA 94108
               Facsimile No.: (415) 646-7001
               Telephone No.: (415) 646-7000

               with a copy to:

               Britton Silberman & Cervantez LLP
               461 Second Street
               San Francisco, CA 94107
               Attention: Thomas Cervantez
               Facsimile No.: (415) 538-9001
               Telephone No.: (415) 538-9000

          (b)  if to Ironlight, to:
               Anthony Westreich
               Ironlight Digital Corporation
               222 Sutter Street, 6th Floor
               San Francisco, CA 94108
               Facsimile No.: (415) 646-7001
               Telephone No.: (415) 646-7022

               with a copy to:

               Morrison & Foerster, LLP
               425 Market Street
               San Francisco, CA 94105
               Attention: John Campbell
               Facsimile No.: (415) 268-7522
               Telephone No.: (415) 268-7000

     9.2  INTERPRETATION. When a reference is made in this Agreement to Exhibits
or Schedules, such reference shall be to an Exhibit or Schedule to this
Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The words "include," "includes" and
"including" when used herein shall be

                                       40
<PAGE>   45
deemed in each case to be followed by the words "without limitation." The phrase
"made available" in this Agreement shall mean that the information referred to
has been made available if requested by the party to whom such information is to
be made available. The phrases "the date of this Agreement," "the date hereof,"
and terms of similar import, unless the context otherwise requires, shall be
deemed to refer to April 16, 1998. The table of contents and headings contained
in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any
way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

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

        9.4     ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NONASSIGNABILITY; PARTIES IN INTEREST. This
Agreement and the documents and instruments and other agreements specifically
referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto, including the Exhibits, the
Schedules, including the Ironlight Disclosure Schedule (a) constitute the
entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral,
among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof; (b) are not
intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies hereunder,
except as set forth in Sections 1.6(a)-(c) and (g), 1.7, 1.8, 1.12, and any
provision providing for assumption of Ironlight Options by Novo shall not be
assigned by operation of law or otherwise except as otherwise specifically
provided.

        9.5     SEVERABILITY. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are
held to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to renegotiate
such provision in good faith, in order to maintain the economic position
enjoyed by each party as close as possible to that under the provision rendered
unenforceable. In the event that the parties cannot reach a mutually agreeable
and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (I) such provision shall
be excluded from this Agreement, (ii) the balance of the Agreement shall be
interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and (iii) the balance of the
Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

        9.6     REMEDIES CUMULATIVE. Except as otherwise provided herein, any
and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a party will be deemed
cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by
law or equity upon such party, and the exercise by a party of any one remedy
will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy.

        9.7     GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and all acts and transactions
pursuant hereto and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be
governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
California, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. Each of
the parties to this Agreement consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue
of the courts of the state and federal courts of San Francisco County,
California.

        9.8     RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. The parties hereto agree that they have
been represented by counsel during the negotiation, preparation and execution of
this Agreement and, therefore, waive the application of any law, regulation,
holding or rule of construction providing

                                       41
<PAGE>   46
that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed against
the party drafting such agreement or document.

        9.9     AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. Any term of this Agreement may be
amended or waived only with the written consent of the parties or their
respective successors and assigns. Any amendment or waiver effected in
accordance with this Section 9.9 shall be binding upon the parties and their
respective successors and assigns.

                      [Signature page immediately follows]

                                       42
<PAGE>   47
      Ironlight, Novo and Merger Sub have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.

                              IRONLIGHT

                              IRONLIGHT DIGITAL CORPORATION

                              By: /s/ ANTHONY WESTREICH
                                  ------------------------------

                              Name: Anthony Westreich
                                    ----------------------------
                                          (Print)

                              Title: President
                                     ---------------------------

                              Address:
                                       -------------------------

                              NOVO

                              NOVO MEDIAGROUP, INC.

                              By: /s/ KELLY RODRIGUES
                                  ------------------------------

                              Name: Kelly Rodrigues
                                    ----------------------------
                                          (Print)

                              Title: CEO
                                     ---------------------------

                              Address:
                                       -------------------------

                              MERGER SUB

                              NOVO MERGER SUBSIDIARY, INC.

                              By: /s/ KELLY RODRIGUES
                                  ------------------------------

                              Name: Kelly Rodrigues
                                    ----------------------------
                                          (Print)

                              Title: CEO
                                     ---------------------------

                              Address:
                                       -------------------------<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.14

                             NOVO MEDIAGROUP, INC.

                 1998 NOVO CLASS B COMMON STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

     1.   Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Stock Incentive Plan are to
attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial
responsibility, to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and
Consultants of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to promote the success of
the Company's business.

     2.   Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

          (a)  "Administrator" means the Board or any of the Committees
appointed to administer the Plan.

          (b)  "Applicable Laws" means the legal requirements relating to the
administration of stock incentive plans, if any, under applicable provisions of
federal securities laws, California corporate and securities laws, the Code, the
rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, and the rules
of any foreign jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents therein.

          (c)  "Award" means the grant of an Option, Restricted Stock or other
right or benefit under the Plan.

          (d)  "Award Agreement" means the written agreement evidencing the
grant of an Award executed by the Company and the Grantee, including any
amendments thereto.

          (e)  "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

          (f)  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

          (g)  "Committee" means any committee appointed by the Board to
administer the Plan.

          (h)  "Common Stock" means the Class B Common Stock of the Company.

          (i)  "Company" means Novo MediaGroup, Inc.

          (j)  "Consultant" means any person who is engaged by the Company or
any Parent or Subsidiary to render consulting or advisory services as an
independent contractor and is compensated for such services.

          (k)  "Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant" means
that the employment, director or consulting relationship with the Company, any
Parent, or Subsidiary, is not interrupted or terminated. Continuous Status as an
Employee, Director or Consultant shall not be considered interrupted in the case
of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between
locations of the Company or between the Company, its Parent, any Subsidiary, or
any successor. A leave of absence approved by the Company shall

                                       1
<PAGE>   2
include sick leave, military leave, or any other personal leave approved by an
authorized representative of the Company. For purposes of Incentive Stock
Options, no such leave may exceed ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon
expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract.

          (l)  "Corporate Transaction" means any of the following
shareholder-approved transactions to which the Company is a party:

               (i)    a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the
surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to
change the state in which the Company is incorporated;

               (ii)   the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company (including the capital stock of
the Company's subsidiary corporations) in connection with the complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

               (iii)  any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving
entity but in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the
total combined voting power of the Company's outstanding securities are
transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such
securities immediately prior to such merger.

          (m)  "Director" means a member of the Board.

          (n)  "Employee" means any person, including an Officer or Director,
who is an employee of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company
for purposes of Section 422 of the Code. The payment of a director's fee by the
Company shall not be sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company.

          (o)  "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

          (p)  "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of Common
Stock determined as follows:

               (i)   Where there exists a public market for the Common Stock,
the Fair Market Value shall be (A) the closing price for a Share for the last
market trading day prior to the time of the determination (or, if no closing
price was reported on that date, on the last trading date on which a closing
price was reported) on the stock exchange determined by the Administrator to be
the primary market for the Common Stock or the Nasdaq National Market,
whichever is applicable or (B) if the Common Stock is not traded on any such
exchange or national market system, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices of a Share on the Nasdaq Small Cap Market for the day prior to the time
of the determination (or, if no such prices were reported on that date, on the
last date on which such prices were reported), in each case, as reported in The
Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

               (ii)  In the absence of an established market of the type
described in (i), above, for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof
shall be determined by the

                                       2

<PAGE>   3
Administrator in good faith and in a manner consistent with Section 260.140.50
of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations.

     (q)  "Grantee" means an Employee, Director or Consultant who receives an
Award under the Plan.

     (r)  "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option intended to qualify as an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

     (s)  "Non-Qualified Stock Option" means an Option not intended to qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option.

     (t)  "Officer" means a person who is an officer of the Company within the
meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

     (u)  "Option" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

     (v)  "Parent" means a "parent corporation," whether now or hereafter
existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

     (w)  "Plan" means this 1998 Novo Class B Common Stock Incentive Plan.

     (x)  "Registration Date" means the closing of the first sale of Common
Stock to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed with and
declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     (y)  "Restricted Stock" means Shares issued under the Plan to the Grantee
for such consideration, if any, and subject to such restrictions on transfer,
rights of first refusal, repurchase provisions, forfeiture provisions, and
other terms and conditions as established by the Administrator.

     (z)  "Share" means a share of the Class B Common Stock.

     (aa) "Subsidiary" means a "subsidiary corporation," whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

  3. Stock Subject to the Plan.

     (a)  Subject to the provisions of Section 11(a), below, the maximum
aggregate number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to all Awards
(including Incentive Stock Options) is 600,000 Shares. The Shares may be
authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the total number of Shares which is equal to 30% of the then
outstanding shares of the Company, as calculated in accordance with the
conditions and exclusions of California Corporate Securities Rule 260.140.45.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
     (b)  If an Award expires or becomes unexercisable without having been
exercised in full, or is surrendered pursuant to an Award exchange program, or
if any unissued Shares are retained by the Company upon exercise of an Award in
order to satisfy the exercise price for such Award or any withholding taxes due
with respect to such Award, such unissued or retained Shares shall become
available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has
terminated). Shares that actually have been issued under the Plan pursuant to
an Award shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for
future distribution under the Plan, except that if unvested Shares are
forfeited, or repurchased by the Company at their original purchase price, such
Shares become available for future grant under the Plan.

  4. Administration of the Plan.

     (a)  Plan Administrator. With respect to grants of Awards to Employees,
Directors, Officers or Consultants, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the
Board or (B) a Committee (or a subcommittee of the Committee) designated by the
Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy
Applicable Laws. Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its
designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.

     (b)  Multiple Administrative Bodies. The Plan may be administered by
different bodies with respect to Directors, Officers, Consultants, and
Employees who are neither Directors nor Officers.

     (c)  Powers of the Administrator. Subject to Applicable Laws and the
provisions of the Plan (including any other powers given to the Administrator
hereunder), and except as otherwise provided by the Board, the Administrator
shall have the authority, in its discretion:

          (i)   to select the Employees, Directors and Consultants to whom
Awards may be granted from time to time hereunder;

          (ii)  to determine whether and to what extent Awards are granted
hereunder;

          (iii) to determine the number of Shares or the amount of other
consideration to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

          (iv)  to approve forms of Award Agreement for use under the Plan;

          (v)   to determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted
hereunder;

          (vi)  to establish additional terms, conditions, rules or procedures
to accommodate the rules or laws of applicable foreign jurisdictions and to
afford Grantees favorable treatment under such laws; provided, however, that no
Award shall be granted under

                                       4

<PAGE>   5
any such additional terms, conditions, rules or procedures with terms or
conditions which are inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan;

                    (vii) to amend the terms of any outstanding Award granted
under the Plan, including a reduction in the exercise price (or base amount on
which appreciation is measured) of any Award to reflect a reduction in the Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock since the grant date of the Award, provided
that any amendment that would adversely affect the Grantee's rights under an
outstanding Award shall not be made without the Grantee's written consent;

                    (viii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and
Awards granted pursuant to the Plan; and

                    (ix)   to take such other action, not inconsistent with the
terms of the Plan, as the Administrator deems appropriate.

               (d)  Effect of Administrator's Decision. All decisions,
determinations and interpretations of the Administrator shall be conclusive and
binding on all persons.

     5.   Eligibility. Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted
to Employees, Directors and Consultants. Incentive Stock Options may be granted
only to Employees. An Employee, Director or Consultant who has been granted an
Award may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Awards. Awards may be
granted to such Employees of the Company and its subsidiaries who are residing
in foreign jurisdictions as the Administrator may determine from time to time.

     6.   Terms and Conditions of Awards.

          (a)  Type of Awards. The Administrator is authorized under the Plan
to award any type of arrangement to an Employee, Director or Consultant that is
not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan and that by its terms involves
or might involve the issuance of (i) Shares, (ii) an Option or (iii) any other
security with the value derived from the value of the Common Stock. Such awards
include, without limitation, Options, or sales or bonuses of Restricted Stock,
and an Award may consist of one such security or benefit, or two or more of
them in any combination or alternative.

          (b)  Designation of Award. Each Award shall be designated in the
Award Agreement. In the case of an Option, the Option shall be designated as
either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option. However,
notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market
Value of Shares subject to Options designated as Incentive Stock Options which
become exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year
(under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000,
such excess Options, to the extent of the Shares covered thereby in excess of
the foregoing limitation, shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options. For
this purpose, Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order
in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be
determined as of the date the Option with respect to such Shares is granted.

                                       5

<PAGE>   6
          (c)  Conditions of Award. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the
Administrator shall determine the provisions, terms, and conditions of each
Award including, but not limited to, the Award vesting schedule, repurchase
provisions, rights of first refusal, forfeiture provisions, form of payment
(cash, Shares, or other consideration) upon settlement of the Award, payment
contingencies, and satisfaction of any performance criteria. The performance
criteria established by the Administrator may be based on any one of, or
combination of, increase in share price, earnings per share, total shareholder
return, return on equity, return on assets, return on investment, net operating
income, cash flow, revenue, economic value added, personal management
objectives, or other measure of performance selected by the Administrator.
Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in a payment or
vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as specified in the Award
Agreement.

          (d)  Term of Award. The term of each Award shall be the term stated
in the Award Agreement, provided however, that the term shall be no more than
ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. However, in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option granted to a Grantee who, at the time the Option is
granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting
power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the
term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be five (5) years from the date of
grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.

          (e)  Non-Transferability of Awards. Awards may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the
lifetime of the Grantee, only by the Grantee.

          (f)  Time of Granting Awards. The date of grant of an Award shall for
all purposes be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination to
grant such Award, or such other date as is determined by the Administrator.
Notice of the grant determination shall be given to each Employee, Director or
Consultant to whom an Award is so granted within a reasonable time after the
date of such grant.

     7.   Award Exercise or Purchase Price, Consideration and Taxes.

          (a)  Exercise or Purchase Price. The exercise or purchase price, if
any, for an Award shall be as follows:

               (i)  In the case of Incentive Stock Option:

                    (A)  granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant
of such Incentive Stock Option owns stock representing more than ten percent
(10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent
or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred
ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

                                       6

<PAGE>   7
               (B)  granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in
the preceding paragraph, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than
one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of
grant.

          (ii) In the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option:

               (A)  granted to a person who, at the time of the grant of such
Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power
of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per
Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of
the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

               (B)  granted to any person other than a person described in the
preceding paragraph, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than
eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of
grant.

        (iii)  In the case of the sale of Shares:

               (A)  granted to a person who, at the time of the grant of such
Award, or at the time the purchase is consummated, owns stock representing more
than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share purchase price shall be not
less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share on the
date of grant.

               (B)  granted to any person other than a person described in the
preceding paragraph, the per Share purchase price shall be not less than
eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of
grant.

         (iv)  In the case of other Awards, such price as is determined by the
Administrator.

     (b)  Consideration. Subject to Applicable Laws, the consideration to be
paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise or purchase of an Award
including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator (and,
in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall be determined at the time of
grant). In addition to any other types of consideration the Administrator may
determine, the Administrator is authorized to accept as consideration for
Shares issued under the Plan the following:

          (i)  cash;

         (ii)  check;

        (iii)  delivery of Grantee's promissory note with such recourse,
interest, security, and redemption provisions as the Administrator determines
as appropriate;

                                       7
<PAGE>   8
               (iv) if the exercise occurs on or after the Registration Date,
surrender of Shares (including withholding of Shares otherwise deliverable upon
exercise of the Award) which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender
equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Award shall
be exercised (but only to the extent that such exercise of the Award would not
result in an accounting compensation charge with respect to the Shares used to
pay the exercise price unless otherwise determined by the Administrator);

               (v)  if the exercise occurs on or after the Registration Date,
delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with such other
documentation as the Administrator and the broker, if applicable, shall require
to effect an exercise of the Award and delivery to the Company of the sale or
loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price; or

               (vi) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

          (c)  Taxes. No Shares shall be delivered under the Plan to any
Grantee or other person until such Grantee or other person has made
arrangements acceptable to the Administrator for the satisfaction of any
foreign, federal, state, or local income and employment tax withholding
obligations, including, without limitation, obligations incident to the receipt
of Shares or the disqualifying disposition of Shares received on exercise of an
Incentive Stock Option. Upon exercise of an Award the Company shall withhold or
collect from Grantee an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations.

     8.   Exercise of Award.

          (a)  Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder.

               (i)  Any Award granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such
times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator under the
terms of the Plan and specified in the Award Agreement, but in the case of an
Option, in no case at a rate of less than 20% per year over five (5) years from
the date the Option is granted.

               (ii) An Award shall be deemed to be exercised when written
notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the
terms of the Award by the person entitled to exercise the Award and full
payment for the Shares with respect to which the Award is exercised has been
received by the Company. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate
entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the
Company) of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or
receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect
to Shares subject to an Award, notwithstanding the exercise of an Option or
other Award. The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock
certificate promptly upon exercise of the Award. No adjustment will be made for
a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the
stock certificate is issued, except as provided in the Award Agreement or
Section 11(a), below.

          (b)  Exercise of Award  Following Termination of Employment, Director
or Consulting Relationship. In the event of termination of a Grantee's
Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant with the Company for
any reason other than disability or death

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

(but not in the event of a Grantee's change of status from Employee to
Consultant or from Consultant to Employee), such Grantee may, but only within
three (3) months after the date of such termination (but in no event later than
the expiration date of the term of such Award as set forth in the Award
Agreement), exercise his or her Award to the extent that the Grantee was
entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination or to such other extent
as may be determined by the Administrator. If the Grantee should die within
three (3) months after the date of such termination, the Grantee's estate or the
person who acquired the right to exercise the Award by bequest or inheritance
may exercise the Award to the extent that the Grantee was entitled to exercise
it at the date of such termination within twelve (12) months of the Grantee's
date of death, but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of
such Award as set forth in the Award Agreement. In the event of a Grantee's
change of status from Employee to Consultant, an Employee's Incentive Stock
Option shall convert automatically to a Non-Qualified Stock Option on the
ninety-first (91) day following such change of status. If the Grantee does not
exercise such Award to the extent so entitled within the time specified herein,
the Award shall terminate.

            (c) Disability of Grantee. In the event of termination of a
Grantee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant as a result
of his or her disability, Grantee may, but only within twelve (12) months from
the date of such termination (and in no event later than the expiration date of
the term of such Award as set forth in the Award Agreement), exercise the Award
to the extent otherwise entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination;
provided, however, that if such disability is not a "disability" as such term is
defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, in the case of an Incentive Stock
Option such Incentive Stock Option shall automatically convert to a
Non-Qualified Stock Option on the day three (3) months and one day following
such termination. To the extent that Grantee is not entitled to exercise the
Award at the date of termination, or if Grantee does not exercise such Award to
the extent so entitled within the time specified herein, the Award shall
terminate.

            (d) Death of Grantee. In the event of the death of a Grantee, the
Award may be exercised at any time within twelve (12) months following the date
of death (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Award as
set forth in the Award Agreement), by the Grantee's estate or by a person who
acquired the right to exercise the Award by bequest or inheritance, but only to
the extent that the Grantee was entitled to exercise the Award at the date of
death. If, at the time of death, the Grantee was not entitled to exercise his or
her entire Award, the Shares covered by the unexercisable portion of the Award
shall immediately revert to the Plan. If, after death, the Grantee's estate or a
person who acquired the right to exercise the Award by bequest or inheritance
does not exercise the Award within the time specified herein, the Award shall
terminate.

            (e) Buyout Provisions. The Administrator may at any time offer to
buy out for a payment in cash or Shares, an Award previously granted, based on
such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate
to the Grantee at the time that such offer is made.

                                       9
<PAGE>   10
      9.    Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.

      (a)   Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award
unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares
pursuant thereto shall comply with all Applicable Laws, and shall be further
subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such
compliance.

      (b)   As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require
the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any
such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any
Applicable Laws.

      10.   Repurchase Rights. If the provisions of an Award Agreement grant to
the Company the right to repurchase Shares upon termination of the Grantee's
Continuing Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant, the Award Agreement
shall provide that the repurchase price will be either:

            (a)   The higher of the original purchase price or Fair Market Value
on the date of termination of the Grantee's Continuous Status as an Employee,
Director or Consultant, if the right to repurchase must be exercised for cash or
cancellation of purchase money indebtedness for the Shares within ninety (90)
days of the termination of the Grantee's Continuous Status as an Employee,
Director or Consultant, and the right terminates when the Company's securities
become publicly traded; or

            (b)   The original purchase price, provided (i) the right to
repurchase at the original purchase price lapses at the rate of at least twenty
percent (20%) per year over five (5) years from the date the Award is granted
(without respect to the date the Award was exercised or became exercisable),
which right must be exercised for cash or cancellation of purchase money
indebtedness for the Shares within ninety (90) days of termination of the
Grantee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant, and (ii) if
the repurchase right is assignable, the assignee must pay the Company upon
assignment of the right, (unless the assignee is a one hundred percent (100%)
owned subsidiary of the Company or is the parent of the Company owning one
hundred percent (100%) of the stock of the Company) cash equal to the difference
between the original purchase price and Fair Market Value if the original
purchase price is less than Fair Market Value.

      11.   Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization or Corporate Transaction.

            (a)   Adjustments upon Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any
required action by the shareholders of the Company, the number of Shares covered
by each outstanding Award, and the number of Shares which have been authorized
for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or
which have been returned to the Plan, as well as the price per share of Common
Stock covered by each such outstanding Award, shall be proportionately adjusted
for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock
resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination
or

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other similar event resulting in an
increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock. Except as
expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any
class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall
affect, and no adjustment by reason hereof shall be made with respect to, the
number or price of Shares subject to an Award.

            (b) Corporate Transaction. In the event of a proposed Corporate
Transaction, the Administrator shall notify the Grantee at least five (5) days
prior to such proposed Corporate Transaction. To the extent it has not been
previously exercised, the Award will terminate and any restricted stock shall be
reconveyed or repurchased by the Company immediately prior to the consummation
of such proposed Corporate Transaction, unless the Award is assumed or an
equivalent Award is substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or
Subsidiary of such successor corporation. For the purposes of this subsection,
the Award shall be considered assumed if, following the Corporate Transaction,
the Award confers, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the
Corporate Transaction, (i) the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other
securities or property) received in the Corporate Transaction by holders of
Common Stock for each Share subject to the Award held on the effective date of
the Corporate Transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of
consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of
the outstanding Shares), or (ii) the right to purchase such consideration in the
case of an Option or similar Award; provided, however, that if such
consideration received in the Corporate Transaction was not solely common stock
of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the
consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be
received upon the exercise or exchange of the Award for each Share subject to
the Award to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent
equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of
Common Stock in the Corporate Transaction.

      12. Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to
occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the shareholders of the
Company. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner
terminated.

      13. Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan.

            (a) The Board may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the Plan.
To the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Laws, the Company shall obtain
shareholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree
as required.

            (b) No Award may be granted during any suspension of the Plan or
after termination of the Plan.

            (c) Any amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall not
affect Awards already granted, and such Award shall remain in full force and
effect as if the Plan had not been amended, suspended or terminated, unless
mutually agreed otherwise between the Grantee and the Administrator, which
agreement must be in writing and signed by the Grantee and the Company.

                                       11
<PAGE>   12
     14.  Reservation of Shares.

          (a)  The Company, during the term of the Plan, will at all times
reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to
satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

          (b)  The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any
regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's
counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder,
shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or
sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been
obtained.

     15.  NO EFFECT ON TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. THE PLAN SHALL NOT CONFER UPON ANY
GRANTEE ANY RIGHT WITH RESPECT TO CONTINUATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTING
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMPANY, NOR SHALL IT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH HIS OR HER
RIGHT OR THE COMPANY'S RIGHT TO TERMINATE HIS OR HER EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTING
RELATIONSHIP AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

     16.  Shareholder Approval. Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to
approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or
after the date the Plan is adopted. Such shareholder approval shall be obtained
in the degree and manner required under Applicable Laws. Any Award exercised
before shareholder approval is obtained shall be rescinded if shareholder
approval is not obtained within the time prescribed, and Shares issued on the
exercise of any such Award shall not be counted in determining whether
shareholder approval is obtained.

     17.  Information to Grantees. The Company shall provide to each Grantee,
during the period for which such Grantee has one or more Awards outstanding,
copies of financial statements at least annually and all annual reports and
other information which is provided to all shareholders of the Company.

                                       12
<PAGE>   13
                              NOVO MEDIAGROUP, INC.

                  1998 NOVO CLASS B COMMON STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

I.      NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT

        Optionee's Name and Address:        ____________________________________

                                            ____________________________________

                                            ____________________________________

        You have been granted an option to purchase shares of Common Stock of
the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option
Agreement, as follows:

        Grant Number                        ____________________________________

        Date of Grant                       ____________________________________

        Vesting Commencement Date           ____________________________________

        Exercise Price per Share            ____________________________________

        Total Number of Shares Granted      ____________________________________

        Total Exercise Price                ____________________________________

        Type of Option:                     Incentive Stock Option (ISO)

Vesting Schedule:

        Subject to other limitations set forth in this Agreement, this Option
may be exercised, in whole or in part, in accordance with the following
schedule:

        -       As to 25% of the Shares, at any time after one (1) year from the
Vesting Commencement Date.

        -       As to an additional approximately 2.777% of the remaining number
of the Shares (after deduction of the initial vesting amount of 25%) on each
monthly anniversary of the Vesting Commencement Date such that the Option shall
be fully exercisable (4) years after the Vesting Commencement Date.

                                       1
<PAGE>   14

Termination Period:

        This Option may be exercised only during the Option Period, and during
such Option Period, the exercisability of the Option shall be subject to the
limitations of Sections 6-8 and the vesting schedule set forth above. The Option
Period shall commence on the Date of Grant and except as provided in Sections
6-8, shall terminate (the "Term/Expiration Date") ten (10) years from the Date
of Grant; provided, however, that the Option Period for a person possessing more
than ten percent (10%) of the combined voting power of the Company shall
terminate five (5) years from the Date of Grant; provided further that if an
Optionee shall be terminated or otherwise leave the service of the Company for
any reason other than death or disability, then this Option shall terminate 90
days following the last day of employment of Optionee with the Company.

                                       2
<PAGE>   15

II.     AGREEMENT

        1. Grant of Option. Novo MediaGroup, Inc., a California corporation (the
"Company"), hereby grants to the Optionee named in the Notice of Stock Option
Grant (the "Optionee"), an option (the "Option") to purchase the total number of
shares of Class B Common Stock (the "Shares") set forth in the Notice of Stock
Option Grant, at the exercise price per share set forth in the Notice of Stock
Option Grant (the "Exercise Price") subject to the terms, definitions and
provisions of the 1998 Novo Class B Common Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan")
adopted by the Company, which is incorporated herein by reference. Unless
otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same
defined meanings in this Option Agreement.

        If designated in the Notice of Stock Option Grant as an Incentive Stock
Option, this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option as
defined in Section 422 of the Code. Nevertheless, to the extent that it exceeds
the $100,000 rule of Section 422(d) of the Code, this Option shall be treated as
a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

        2.      Exercise of Option.

                (a) Right to Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable during
its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Stock
Option Grant and with the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option
Agreement. In the event of termination of Optionee's Continuous Status as an
Employee, Director or Consultant, this Option shall be exercisable in accordance
with the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. This
Option shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11 of the Plan relating to
the exercisability or termination of the Option in the event of a Corporate
Transaction.

                (b) Method of Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable only by
delivery of an Exercise Notice (attached as Exhibit A) which shall state the
election to exercise the Option, the whole number of Shares in respect of which
the Option is being exercised, and such other provisions as may be required by
the Administrator. Such Exercise Notice shall be signed by the Optionee and
shall be delivered in person or by certified mail to the Secretary of the
Company accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price. The Option shall be deemed
to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such written notice accompanied
by the Exercise Price.

                No Shares will be issued pursuant to the exercise of the Option
unless such issuance and such exercise shall comply with all Applicable Laws.
Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes, the Shares shall be
considered transferred to the Optionee on the date on which the Option is
exercised with respect to such Shares.

                (c) Taxes. No Shares will be issued to the Optionee or other
person pursuant to the exercise of the Option until the Optionee or other person
has made arrangements acceptable to the Administrator for the satisfaction of
foreign, federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding
obligations.

                                       3
<PAGE>   16

        3. Method of Payment. Payment of the Exercise Price shall be by any of
the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee;
provided, however, that such exercise method does not then violate an Applicable
Law:

                (a) cash;

                (b) check;

                (c) if the exercise occurs on or after the Registration Date,
surrender of shares of Common Stock of the Company (including withholding of
Shares otherwise deliverable upon exercise of this Option) which have a Fair
Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the Exercise Price of the Shares
as to which the Option is being exercised (but only to the extent that such
exercise of the Option would not result in an accounting compensation charge
with respect to the shares used to pay the exercise price unless otherwise
determined by the Administrator);

                (d) if the exercise occurs on or after the Registration Date,
delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with such other
documentation as the Administrator and the broker, if applicable, shall require
to effect an exercise of the Award and delivery to the Company of the sale or
loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price; or

                (e) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

        4. Restrictions on Exercise. This Option may not be exercised until such
time as the Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company. In
addition, this Option may not be exercised if the issuance of the Shares subject
to the Option upon such exercise would constitute a violation of any Applicable
Laws.

        5. Termination of Relationship. In the event the Optionee's Continuous
Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates, the Optionee may, to
the extent otherwise so entitled at the date of such termination (the
"Termination Date"), exercise this Option during the Termination Period set out
in the Notice of Stock Option Grant. Except as provided in Sections 6 and 7,
below, to the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to exercise this Option
on the Termination Date, or if the Optionee does not exercise this Option within
the Termination Period, the Option shall terminate.

        6. Disability of Optionee. In the Optionee's Continuous Status as an
Employee, Director or Consultant terminates as a result of his or her
disability, the Optionee may, but only within twelve (12) months from the
Termination Date (and in no event later than the Term/Expiration Date), exercise
the Option to the extent otherwise entitled to exercise it on the Termination
Date; provided, however, that if such disability is not a "disability" as such
term is defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code and the Option is an Incentive
Stock Option, such Incentive Stock Option shall cease to be treated as an
Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option on
the day three (3) months and one day following the Termination Date. To the
extent that the Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option on the
Termination Date, or if the Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent
so entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

                                       4
<PAGE>   17

        7. Death of Optionee. In the event of the Optionee's death, the Option
may be exercised at any time within twelve (12) months following the date of
death (and in no event later than the Term/Expiration Date), by the Optionee's
estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest
or inheritance, but only to the extent the Optionee could exercise the Option at
the date of death.

        8. Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in
any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and
may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee. The
terms of this Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs
and successors of the Optionee.

        9. Term of Option. This Option may be exercised only within the term set
out in the Notice of Stock Option Grant, and may be exercised during such term
only in accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option Agreement.

        10. Company's Repurchase Right.

        (a) Grant of Repurchase Right. The Company is hereby granted the right
(the "Repurchase Right"), exercisable at any time (i) during the sixty (60) day
period following the Termination Date, (ii) during the sixty (60) day period
following an exercise of the Option that occurs after the Termination Date, or
(iii) during the sixty (60) day period immediately prior to a Corporate
Transaction, or the merger of the Company into or with a corporation that is a
member of a "controlled group" (within the meaning of Section 267(f) of the
Code) of which the Company is a member, to repurchase all or (at the discretion
of the Company and with the consent of the Optionee) any portion of the Shares.

        (b) Exercise of the Repurchase Right. The Repurchase Right shall be
exercisable by written notice delivered to each Holder of the Shares prior to
the expiration of the applicable sixty (60) day period specified above. The
notice shall indicate the number of Shares to be repurchased and the date on
which the repurchase is to be effected, such date to be not more than thirty
(30) days after the date of notice. On the date on which the repurchase is to be
effected, the Company and/or its assigns shall pay to the Holder in cash or cash
equivalents (including the cancellation of any purchase-money indebtedness) an
amount equal to the greater of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the
Termination Date, if any, or the Exercise Price previously paid for the Shares
which are to be repurchased from the Holder. Upon such payment or into escrow
for the benefit of the Holder, the Company and/or its assigns shall become the
legal and beneficial owner of the Shares being repurchased and all rights and
interest thereon or related thereto, and the Company shall have the right to
transfer to its own name or its assigns the number of Shares being repurchased,
without further action by the Holder.

        (c) Assignment. Whenever the Company shall have the right to purchase
Shares under this Repurchase Right, the Company may designate and assign one or
more employees, officers, directors or shareholders of the Company or other
persons or organizations, to exercise all or a part of the Company's Repurchase
Right.

                                       5
<PAGE>   18

        (d) Termination of the Repurchase Right. The Repurchase Right shall
terminate with respect to any Shares for which it is not timely exercised. In
addition, the Repurchase Right shall terminate, and cease to be exercisable,
with respect to all Shares upon the Registration Date.

        (e) Additional Shares or Substituted Securities. In the event of any
stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange
of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class
effected without the Company's receipt of consideration, any new, substituted or
additional securities or other property (including money paid other than as a
regular cash dividend) which is by reason of any such transaction distributed
with respect to the Shares shall be immediately subject to the Repurchase Right,
but only to the extent the Shares are at the time covered by such right.
Appropriate adjustments to reflect the distribution of such securities or
property shall be made to the price per share to be paid upon the exercise of
the Repurchase Right in order to reflect the effect of any such transaction upon
the Company's capital structure.

        (f) Corporate Transaction. Immediately prior to the consummation of a
Corporate Transaction, the Repurchase Right shall automatically lapse in its
entirety, except to the extent the Repurchase Right is to be assigned to the
successor corporation (or its parent company) in connection with such Corporate
Transaction, the right shall apply to the new capital stock or other property
(including cash paid other than as a regular cash dividend) received in exchange
for the Shares in consummation of the Corporate Transaction, but only to the
extent the Shares are at the time covered by such right. Appropriate adjustments
shall be made to the price per share payable upon exercise of the Repurchase
Right to reflect the effect of the Corporate Transaction upon the Company's
capital structure.

        11. Stop-Transfer Notices. In order to ensure compliance with the
restrictions on transfer referred to in the legends placed upon certificates
evidencing ownership of the Shares, the Company may issue appropriate "stop
transfer" instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and, if the Company
transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same
effect in its own records.

        12. Refusal to Transfer. The Company shall not be required (i) to
transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in
violation of any of the provisions of this Option Agreement or (ii) to treat as
owner of such Shares or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any
purchaser or other transferee to whom such Shares shall have been so
transferred.

        13. Lock-Up Agreement.

        (a) Agreement. Optionee, if requested by the Company and the lead
underwriter of any public offering of the Common Stock or other securities of
the Company (the "Lead Underwriter"), hereby irrevocably agrees not to sell,
contract to sell, grant any option to purchase, transfer the economic risk of
ownership in, make any short sale of, pledge or otherwise transfer or dispose of
any interest in any Common Stock or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for or any other rights to purchase or acquire
Common Stock (except Common Stock included in such public offering or acquired
on the public market after

                                       6
<PAGE>   19

such offering) during the 180-day period following the effective date of a
registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or such shorter period of time as the Lead Underwriter shall specify.
Optionee further agrees to sign such documents as may be requested by the Lead
Underwriter to effect the foregoing and agrees that the Company may impose
stop-transfer instructions with respect to such Common Stock subject until the
end of such period. The Company and Optionee acknowledge that each Lead
Underwriter of a public offering of the Company's stock, during the period of
such offering and for the 180-day period thereafter, is an intended beneficiary
of this Section 13.

        (b) Permitted Transfers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 13(a)
shall not prohibit Optionee from transferring any shares of Common Stock or
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for the Company's
Common Stock to the extent such transfer is not otherwise prohibited by this
Agreement, either during Optionee's lifetime or on death by will or intestacy to
Optionee's immediate family or to a trust the beneficiaries of which are
exclusively Optionee and/or a member or members of Optionee's immediate family;
provided, however, that prior to any such transfer, each transferee shall
execute an agreement pursuant to which each transferee shall agree to receive
and hold such securities subject to the provisions of Section 13 hereof. For the
purposes of this subsection, the term "immediate family" shall mean spouse,
lineal descendant, father, mother, brother or sister of the transferor.

        (c) No Amendment Without Consent of Underwriter. During the period from
identification as a Lead Underwriter in connection with any public offering of
the Company's Common Stock until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the
lock-up period specified in Section 16(a) in connection with such offering or
(ii) the abandonment of such offering by the Company and the Lead Underwriter,
the provisions of this Section 13 may not be amended or waived except with the
consent of the Lead Underwriter.

        14. Entire Agreement: Governing Law. The Plan is incorporated herein by
reference. The Plan and this Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their
entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Optionee
with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to
the Optionee's interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and
Optionee. This agreement is governed by California law except for that body of
law pertaining to conflict of laws.

        15. Headings. The captions used in this Agreement are inserted for
convenience and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement for construction or
interpretation.

                                       7
<PAGE>   20

        16. Interpretation. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this
Option Agreement shall be submitted by the Optionee or by the Company forthwith
to the Board or the Administrator that administers the Plan, which shall review
such dispute at its next regular meeting. The resolution of such dispute by the
Board or the Administrator shall be final and binding on all persons.

                                       NOVO MEDIAGROUP, INC.

                                       By
                                         -----------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title

        OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT TO
THE OPTION HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING CONSULTANCY OR EMPLOYMENT AT THE
WILL OF THE COMPANY (NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THIS
OPTION OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER). OPTIONEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES
THAT NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT, NOR IN THE COMPANY'S 1999 NOVO CLASS A COMMON
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN WHICH IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE, SHALL CONFER
UPON OPTIONEE ANY RIGHT WITH RESPECT TO CONTINUATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR
CONSULTANCY BY THE COMPANY, NOR SHALL IT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH OPTIONEE'S
RIGHT OR THE COMPANY'S RIGHT TO TERMINATE OPTIONEE'S EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTANCY
AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

        Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and represents that
he is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts this
Option Agreement subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof. Optionee
has reviewed the Plan and this Option Agreement in their entirety, has had an
opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option
Agreement and fully understands all provisions of the Option Agreement. Optionee
hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or
interpretations of the

                                       8
<PAGE>   21

Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan or this Option
Agreement. Optionee further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the
residence address indicated below.

  Dated:                                                                 Signed:
        --------------------------        -------------------------------
                                               Optionee

                                          Residence Address:

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

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

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

                                       9
<PAGE>   22

                                    EXHIBIT A

                              NOVO MEDIAGROUP, INC.

                  1998 NOVO CLASS B COMMON STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

                                 EXERCISE NOTICE

Novo MediaGroup, Inc.
222 Sutter Street, Sixth Floor
San Francisco, CA  94108

Attention: Secretary

-----------------------
      (date)

                                        ____ Incentive Stock Option Exercise
                                        ____ Non-Qualified Stock Option Exercise

        I hereby notify Novo MediaGroup, Inc. (the "Company") that I elect to
exercise the following stock options:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      GRANT         GRANT           # OF         PRICE/     TOTAL EXERCISE COST
      NUMBER        DATE           SHARES        SHARE       (EXCLUDING TAXES)
      ------        ----           ------        -----      -------------------
<S>                 <C>            <C>           <C>        <C>

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

      ------        ----           ------        -----
</TABLE>

        Concurrently with the delivery of this Exercise Notice to the Company, I
shall hereby pay to the Company the Total Exercise Cost for the shares purchased
in accordance with the provisions of my agreement with the Company evidencing
the option(s) specified above. Furthermore, I understand that any taxes which
may be due at the time of this exercise will be calculated and added to the
Total Exercise Cost listed above.

                                       1
<PAGE>   23

   The payment of the Total Exercise Price will be made via Check no___________.

   Please note the following:

                ____   (Please Initial) Taxes have not been withheld above the
                       minimum requirement (if any).

Signature of Optionee
                             ------------------------------------
Please print
Optionee's Name:
                             ------------------------------------

Address:
                                    ------------------------------------

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

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

Social Security Number:
                             ------------------------------------

                                       2
<PAGE>   24

                              NOVO MEDIAGROUP, INC.

                  1998 NOVO CLASS B COMMON STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

                       INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION STATEMENT

OPTIONEE              :
                                   ------------------------------------
COMPANY               :            NOVO MEDIAGROUP, INC.

SECURITY              :            COMMON STOCK

AMOUNT                :
                                   ------------------------------------
DATE                  :
                                   ------------------------------------

In connection with the purchase of the above-listed Securities, the undersigned
Optionee represents to the Company the following:

                (a) Optionee is aware of the Company's business affairs and
financial condition and has acquired sufficient information about the Company to
reach an informed and knowledgeable decision to acquire the Securities. Optionee
is acquiring these Securities for investment for Optionee's own account only and
not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any "distribution" thereof
within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act").

                (b) Optionee acknowledges and understands that the Securities
constitute "restricted securities" under the Securities Act and have not been
registered under the Securities Act in reliance upon a specific exemption
therefrom, which exemption depends upon among other things, the bona fide nature
of Optionee's investment intent as expressed herein. In this connection,
Optionee understands that, in the view of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the statutory basis for such exemption may be unavailable if
Optionee's representation was predicated solely upon a present intention to hold
these Securities for the minimum capital gains period specified under tax
statutes, for a deferred sale, for or until an increase or decrease in the
market price of the Securities, or for a period of one year or any other fixed
period in the future. Optionee further understands that the Securities must be
held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities
Act or an exemption from such registration is available. Optionee further
acknowledges and understands that the Company is under no obligation to register
the Securities. Optionee understands that the certificate evidencing the
Securities will be imprinted with a legend which prohibits the transfer of the
Securities unless they are registered or such registration is not required in
the opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company.

                                       1
<PAGE>   25

                (c) Optionee is familiar with the provisions of Rule 701 and
Rule 144, each promulgated under the Securities Act, which, in substance, permit
limited public resale of "restricted securities" acquired, directly or
indirectly from the issuer thereof, in a non-public offering subject to the
satisfaction of certain conditions. Rule 701 provides that if the issuer
qualifies under Rule 701 at the time of the grant of the Option to the Optionee,
the exercise will be exempt from registration under the Securities Act. In the
event the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, ninety (90) days thereafter (or
such longer period as any market stand-off agreement may require) the Securities
exempt under Rule 701 may be resold, subject to the satisfaction of certain of
the conditions specified by Rule 144, including: (1) the resale being made
through a broker in an unsolicited "broker's transaction" or in transactions
directly with a market maker (as said term is defined under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934); and, in the case of an affiliate, (2) the availability of
certain public information about the Company, (3) the amount of Securities being
sold during any three month period not exceeding the limitations specified in
Rule 144(e), and (4) the timely filing of a Form 144, if applicable.

        In the event that the Company does not qualify under Rule 701 at the
time of grant of the Option, then the Securities may be resold in certain
limited circumstances subject to the provisions of Rule 144, which requires the
resale to occur not less than one year after the later of the date the
Securities were sold by the Company or the date the Securities were sold by an
affiliate of the Company, within the meaning of Rule 144; and, in the case of
acquisition of the Securities by an affiliate, or by a non-affiliate who
subsequently holds the Securities less than two years, the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in sections (1), (2), (3) and (4) of the paragraph
immediately above.

                (d) Optionee hereby agrees that if so requested by the Company
or any representative of the underwriters in connection with any registration of
the offering of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act, Optionee
shall not sell or otherwise transfer any Securities or other securities of the
Company during the 180-day period following the effective date of a registration
statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act; provided, however, that
such restriction shall only apply to public offerings which include securities
to be sold on behalf of the Company to the public in an underwritten public
offering under the Securities Act. The Company may impose stop-transfer
instructions with respect to securities subject to the foregoing restrictions
until the end of such 180-day period.

                (e) Optionee further understands that in the event all of the
applicable requirements of Rule 701 or 144 are not satisfied, registration under
the Securities Act, compliance with Regulation A, or some other registration
exemption will be required; and that, notwithstanding the fact that Rules 144
and 701 are not exclusive, the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission
has expressed its opinion that persons proposing to sell private placement
securities other than in a registered offering and otherwise than pursuant to
Rules 144 or 701 will have a substantial burden of proof in establishing that an
exemption from registration is available for such offers or sales, and

                                       2
<PAGE>   26
that such persons and their respective brokers who participate in such
transactions do so at their own risk. Optionee understands that no assurances
can be given that any such other registration exemption will be available in
such event.

                (f) Optionee understands that the certificate evidencing the
Securities will be imprinted with a legend which prohibits the transfer of the
Securities without the consent of the Commissioner of Corporations of
California. Optionee has read the applicable Commissioner's Rules with respect
to such restriction, a copy of which is attached.

                                       Signature of Optionee:

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

                                       Date:
                                       -------------------------,  --------

                                       3

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