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                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                                  By and Among

                               Lakes Gaming, Inc.

                               RFC Acquisition Co.

                                       and

                              Rainforest Cafe, Inc.





                                December 22, 1999








<PAGE>   2


                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

     This Agreement and Plan of Merger (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of December 22, 1999, by and among Rainforest Cafe, Inc., a Minnesota
corporation (the "Company"), Lakes Gaming, Inc., a Minnesota corporation
("Purchaser"), and RFC Acquisition Co., a Minnesota corporation and wholly owned
subsidiary of Purchaser ("Merger Sub") .

                                   WITNESSETH

     WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Merger Sub and Purchaser and
a special committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Special
Committee") have approved the merger (the "Merger") of Merger Sub with and into
the Company in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota and the
provisions of this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, the Company, Merger Sub and Purchaser desire to make certain
representations, warranties and agreements in connection with, and establish
various conditions precedent to, the Merger.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto
agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.

                               TERMS OF THE MERGER

     1.1. THE MERGER. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, the Merger shall be consummated in accordance with the Minnesota
Business Corporation Act (the "MBCA"). At the Effective Time (as defined below),
upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, Merger Sub shall
be merged with and into the Company in accordance with the MBCA and the separate
existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon cease, and the Company, as the surviving
corporation in the Merger (the "Surviving Corporation"), shall continue its
corporate existence under the laws of the State of Minnesota as a subsidiary of
Purchaser. The parties shall prepare and execute Articles of Merger (the
"Articles of Merger") in order to comply in all respects with the requirements
of the MBCA and with the provisions of this Agreement.

     1.2. THE CLOSING; EFFECTIVE TIME. (a) The closing of the Merger (the
"Closing") shall take place at the offices of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand,
LLP, at 10 a.m. local time on a date to be specified by the parties which shall
be no later than the third business day after the date that all of the closing
conditions set forth in Article VI have been satisfied or waived (if waivable)
unless another time, date or place is agreed upon in writing by the parties
hereto.

     (b) The Merger shall become effective at the time of the filing of the
Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota in
accordance with the applicable provisions of the MBCA or at such later time as
may be specified in the Articles of Merger. The time when



<PAGE>   3


the Merger shall become effective is herein referred to as the "Effective Time"
and the date on which the Effective Time occurs is herein referred to as the
"Closing Date."

     1.3. MERGER CONSIDERATION. (a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement
and any applicable backup or other withholding requirements, each of the issued
and outstanding shares (the "Company Shares") of common stock, no par value, of
the Company (the "Company Stock") as of the Effective Time (except for
Dissenting Shares, as defined in Section 1.7 hereof) shall be converted into .55
shares (the "Exchange Ratio"), of the common stock of Purchaser, par value $.01
per share (the "Purchaser Stock"), subject to payment of cash in lieu of any
fractional share as hereinafter provided (the "Merger Consideration"). The
Exchange Ratio shall be subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of a
stock split, stock dividend or recapitalization after the date of this Agreement
applicable to shares of the Purchaser Stock or the Company Stock.

     (b) No fractional shares of Purchaser Stock shall be issued pursuant to the
Merger nor will any fractional share interest involved entitle the holder
thereof to vote, to receive dividends or to exercise any other rights of a
shareholder of Purchaser. In lieu thereof, any holder of Company Stock who would
otherwise be entitled to a fractional share of Purchaser Stock pursuant to the
provisions hereof shall receive an amount in cash pursuant to Section 1.5(d)
hereof.

     (c) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, the
shares of Merger Sub common stock outstanding immediately prior to the merger
shall be converted, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part
of the holder thereof, into one share of the common stock of the Surviving
Corporation (the "Surviving Corporation Common Stock"), which one share of the
Surviving Corporation Common Stock shall constitute all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Surviving Corporation and shall be owned by
Purchaser.

     1.4. SHAREHOLDERS' RIGHTS UPON MERGER. Upon consummation of the Merger, the
certificates which theretofore represented the Company Shares (the
"Certificates") shall cease to represent any rights with respect thereto, and,
subject to applicable Law (as defined below) and this Agreement, shall only
represent the right to receive the Merger Consideration, including the amount of
cash, if any, payable in lieu of fractional shares of Purchaser Stock into which
the Company Shares have been converted pursuant to this Agreement.

     1.5. SURRENDER AND EXCHANGE OF SHARES. (a) Prior to the Closing Date,
Purchaser shall appoint Norwest Shareowner Services or another agent reasonably
acceptable to the Company to act as exchange agent (the "Exchange Agent") for
the Merger. Promptly after the Effective Time, Purchaser shall make available,
or cause to be made available, to the Exchange Agent such certificates
evidencing such number of shares of Purchase Stock, as and when necessary, in
order to enable the Exchange Agent to effect the exchange of certificates and
make the cash payments in respect of fractional shares contemplated by Section
1.5(c) and (d) hereof.

     (b) On the Closing Date, Purchaser shall instruct the Exchange Agent to
mail to each holder of record of one or more Certificates, within five business
days of receiving from the


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<PAGE>   4


Company a list of such holders of record, (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 delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange
Agent and shall be in such form and have such other provisions as Purchaser may
reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of
the Certificates in exchange for certificates representing the applicable number
of shares of Purchaser Stock..

     (c) After the Effective Time, each holder of a Company Share shall
surrender and deliver the Certificates to the Exchange Agent together with a
duly completed and executed transmittal letter. Upon such surrender and
delivery, the holder shall receive a certificate representing the number of
whole shares of Purchaser Stock into which such holder's Company Shares have
been converted pursuant to this Agreement, together with a check in payment of
cash in lieu of any fractional share. Until so surrendered and exchanged, each
outstanding Certificate after the Effective Time shall be deemed for all
purposes to evidence the right to receive that number of whole shares of
Purchaser Stock into which the Company Shares have been converted pursuant to
this Agreement, and the payment of cash in lieu of any fractional share;
provided, however, that no dividends or other distributions, if any, in respect
of the shares of Purchaser Stock, declared after the Effective Time and payable
to holders of record after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holders of
any unsurrendered Certificates until such Certificates and transmittal letters
are surrendered and delivered as provided herein. Subject to applicable Law,
after the surrender and exchange of Certificates, the record holders thereof
will be entitled to receive any such dividends or other distributions, without
interest thereon, which theretofore have become payable with respect to the
number of shares of Purchaser Stock for which such Certificates were
exchangeable. Holders of any unsurrendered Certificates shall not be entitled to
vote Purchaser Stock until such Certificates are exchanged pursuant to this
Agreement.

     (d) No fractional shares of Purchaser Stock and no certificates or scrip
therefor, or other evidence of ownership thereof, shall be issued upon the
surrender for exchange of Certificates, no dividend or other distribution of
Purchaser shall relate to any fractional share, and such fractional share
interests shall not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a
shareholder of Purchaser. All fractional shares of Purchaser Stock to which a
holder of Company Shares immediately prior to the Effective Time would otherwise
be entitled, at the Effective Time, shall be aggregated if and to the extent
multiple Certificates of such holder are submitted together to the Exchange
Agent. If a fractional share results from such aggregation, then (in lieu of
such fractional share) the Exchange Agent shall pay to each holder of Company
Shares who otherwise would be entitled to receive such fractional share of
Purchaser Stock an amount of cash (without interest) determined by multiplying
(i) the Purchaser Average Stock Price (as defined below) by (ii) the fractional
share of Purchaser Stock to which such holder would otherwise be entitled.
Purchaser will make available to the Exchange Agent any cash necessary for this
purpose. For purposes of this paragraph, "Purchaser Average Stock Price" means
the average (rounded to the nearest full cent, with the cents rounded up if the
third decimal place is 5 or more) of the daily closing sale prices (as of the
close of the regular trading hours) of a share of Purchaser Stock as reported on
the


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<PAGE>   5


Nasdaq National Market, as reported in The Wall Street Journal, for the five
consecutive trading days ending on and including the trading day immediately
preceding the Effective Time.

     (e) At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be
closed and no transfer of Company Shares shall be made thereafter, other than
transfers of Company Shares that have occurred prior to the Effective Time. In
the event that, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the
Surviving Corporation, they shall be canceled and exchanged for shares of
Purchaser Stock or cash as provided in Section 1.3 hereof.

     (f) If consideration in respect of Company Shares is to be made to a person
other than the person in whose name a Certificate is registered, it shall be a
condition to such payment that such Certificate so surrendered shall be properly
endorsed or shall be otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person
requesting such payment shall have paid any transfer and other taxes required by
reason of such payment in a name other than that of the registered holder of the
Certificate surrendered or shall have established to the satisfaction of
Purchaser or the Exchange Agent that such tax either has been paid or is not
payable.

     (g) None of the Company, Purchaser or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to
any holder of Company Shares for any such shares of Purchaser Stock (or
dividends or distributions with respect thereto) or cash if and to the extent
that such shares or such cash are required to be deliver to a public official
pursuant to any abandoned property, escheat or similar law, rule, regulation,
statute, order, judgment or decree.

     1.6. OPTIONS. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) below with respect to
the Company's 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (the "Company
ESPP"), at the Effective Time, each then outstanding and unexercised option (the
"Company Options") exercisable for shares of Company Stock shall become fully
vested and exercisable (by virtue of their terms) and Purchaser shall cause each
holder of a Company Option to receive, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holder thereof, options exercisable for shares of
Purchaser Stock ("Purchaser Replacement Options") having the same terms and
conditions as the Company Options (including such terms and conditions as may be
incorporated by reference into the agreements evidencing the Company Options
pursuant to the plans or arrangements pursuant to which such Company Options
were granted) except that the exercise price and the number of shares issuable
upon exercise shall be divided and multiplied, respectively, by the Exchange
Ratio, and rounded to the nearest whole cent or number, respectively. Purchaser
shall use all reasonable efforts to ensure that any Company Options that
qualified as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") prior to the Effective Time continue to so
qualify after the Effective Time. Purchaser shall take all corporate action
necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of Purchaser
Stock for delivery upon the exercise of Purchaser Replacement Options after the
Effective Time. Promptly after the Effective Time, Purchaser shall file or cause
to be filed all registration statements on Form S-8 or other appropriate form as
may be necessary in connection with the purchase and sale of Purchaser Stock
contemplated


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<PAGE>   6


by such Purchaser Replacement Options subsequent to the Effective Time, and
shall maintain the effectiveness of such registration statements (and maintain
the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein) for so
long as any of the Purchaser Replacement Options registered thereunder remain
outstanding. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Purchaser shall
qualify under applicable state securities laws the issuance of such shares of
Purchaser Stock issuable upon exercise of Purchaser Replacement Options.
Purchaser's Board of Directors shall take all actions necessary on the part of
Purchaser to enable the acquisition of Purchaser Stock, Purchaser Replacement
Options and subsequent transactions in Purchaser Stock after the Effective Time
pursuant to Purchaser Replacement Options by persons subject to the reporting
requirements of Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act (as defined below)
to be exempt from the application of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange
Act, to the extent permitted thereunder.

     (b) The current offerings in process as of the date of this Agreement under
the Company ESPP shall continue, and Company Shares shall be issued to
participants thereunder on the next currently scheduled purchase dates
thereunder occurring after the date hereof as provided under, and subject to the
terms and conditions of, the Company ESPP. The Company may, consistent with past
practice, commence new offering periods under the Company ESPP on or after the
date hereof and prior to the Effective Time at an exercise price for each such
offering not less than as is required under the Company ESPP. Immediately prior
to the Effective Time, pursuant to the Company ESPP, all offerings under the
Company ESPP shall be terminated, and each participant shall be deemed to have
purchased immediately prior to the Effective Time, to the extent of payroll
deductions accumulated by such participant as of such offering period end, the
number of whole shares of Company Stock at a per share price determined pursuant
to the provisions of the Company ESPP, and each participant shall receive a cash
payment equal to the balance, if any, of such accumulated payroll deductions
remaining after such purchase of such shares. As of the Effective Time, each
participant shall receive, by virtue of the Merger, the number of whole shares
of Purchaser Stock into which the shares of Company Stock such participant has
so purchased under the Company ESPP have been converted pursuant to the Merger
as provided in Section 1.3(a) hereof, plus the cash value of any fraction of a
share of Purchaser Common Stock as provided in Section 1.5(d) hereof, plus any
dividends or distributions as provided in Section 1.5(c). The Company ESPP and
all purchase rights thereunder shall terminate effective as of the Effective
Time.

     1.7. DISSENTING SHARES Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to
the contrary, each outstanding share of Company Stock, the holder of which has
demanded and perfected such holder's right to dissent from the Merger and to be
paid the fair value of such shares in accordance with Sections 302A.471 and
302A.473 of the MBCA and, as of the Effective Time, has not effectively
withdrawn or lost such dissenters' rights ("Dissenting Shares"), shall not be
converted into or represent a right to receive the Purchaser Stock into which
shares of Company Stock are converted pursuant to Section 1.3 hereof, but the
holder thereof shall be entitled only to such rights as are granted by the MBCA.
Purchaser shall cause the Company to make all payments to holders of shares of
Company Stock with respect to such


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<PAGE>   7


demands in accordance with the MBCA. The Company shall give Purchaser (i) prompt
written notice of any notice of intent to demand fair value for any shares of
Company Stock, withdrawals of such notices, and any other instruments served
pursuant to the MBCA and received by the Company, and (ii) the opportunity to
conduct jointly all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for
fair value for shares of Company Stock under the MBCA. The Company shall not,
except with the prior written consent of Purchaser or as otherwise required by
law, voluntarily make any payment with respect to any demands for fair value for
shares of Company Stock or offer to settle or settle any such demands.

     1.8. ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS. Subject to Section 5.9 hereof,
at and after the Effective Time, (i) the Articles of Incorporation of the
Company (which, following the Effective Time, will be the Surviving Corporation)
shall be amended to be identical to the Articles of Incorporation of Merger Sub
in effect at the Effective Time, except that the name of the Surviving
Corporation shall be Rainforest Cafe, Inc., and (ii) and the Bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation shall be identical to the Bylaws of Merger Sub in effect
at the Effective Time (subject to any subsequent amendments).

     1.9. DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. At and after the Effective Time the directors
of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial
directors of the Surviving Corporation, and the officers of the Company
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the
Surviving Corporation, in each case until their successors are elected or
appointed and qualified. If, at the Effective Time, a vacancy shall exist on the
Board of Directors or in any office of the Surviving Corporation, such vacancy
may thereafter be filled in the manner provided by law.

     1.10. OTHER EFFECTS OF MERGER. The Merger shall have all further effects as
specified in the applicable provisions of the MBCA.

     1.11. REGISTRATION STATEMENT PROSPECTUS/PROXY STATEMENT.

     (a) For the purposes of (i) registering Purchaser Stock for issuance to
holders of the Company Shares in connection with the Merger with the Securities
and Exchange commission ("SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations thereunder (the "Securities Act"), and complying
with applicable state securities laws, (ii) holding the meeting of the Company's
shareholders to vote upon the approval of this Agreement and the Merger and the
transactions contemplated hereby (the "Company Proposals") and (iii) holding the
meeting of Purchaser's shareholders to vote upon issuance of Purchaser Stock to
holders of the Company Shares in the Merger as contemplated by this Agreement
(the "Purchaser Proposal"), Purchaser and the Company will cooperate in the
preparation of a registration statement on Form S-4 (such registration
statement, together with any and all amendments and supplements thereto, being
herein referred to as the "Registration Statement"), including a
prospectus/proxy statement satisfying all requirements of applicable state
securities laws, the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and

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<PAGE>   8


regulations thereunder (the "Securities Exchange Act"). Such prospectus/proxy
statement in the form mailed by the Company and Purchaser to their respective
shareholders, together with any and all amendments or supplements thereto, is
herein referred to as the "Prospectus/Proxy Statement."

     (b) The Company will furnish Purchaser with such information concerning the
Company and its subsidiaries as is necessary in order to cause the
Prospectus/Proxy Statement, insofar as it relates to the Company and its
subsidiaries, to comply with applicable Law. None of the information relating to
the Company and its subsidiaries supplied by the Company for inclusion in the
Prospectus/Proxy Statement will be false or misleading with respect to any
material fact or will omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Company agrees
promptly to advise Purchaser if, at any time prior to the meeting of the
shareholders of the Company referenced herein, any information provided by it in
the Prospectus/Proxy Statement is or becomes incorrect or incomplete in any
material respect and to provide Purchaser with the information needed to correct
such inaccuracy or omission. The Company will furnish Purchaser with such
supplemental information as may be necessary in order to cause the
Prospectus/Proxy Statement, insofar as it relates to the Company and its
subsidiaries, to comply with applicable Law after the mailing thereof to the
shareholders of the Company.

     (c) Purchaser will furnish the Company with such information concerning
Purchaser and its subsidiaries as is necessary in order to cause the
Prospectus/Proxy statement, insofar as it relates to Purchaser and its
subsidiaries, to comply with applicable Law. None of the information relating to
Purchaser and its subsidiaries supplied by Purchaser for inclusion in the
Prospectus/Proxy Statement will be false or misleading with respect to any
material fact or will omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Purchaser agrees
promptly to advise the Company if, at any time prior to the meeting of
shareholders of the Company referenced herein, any information provided by it in
the Prospectus/Proxy Statement is or becomes incorrect or incomplete in any
material respect and to provide the Company with the information needed to
correct such inaccuracy or omission. Purchaser will furnish the Company with
such supplemental information as may be necessary in order to cause the
Prospectus/Proxy Statement, insofar as it relates to Purchaser and its
subsidiaries, to comply with applicable Law after the mailing thereof to the
shareholders of the Company and Purchaser.

     (d) The Company and Purchaser agree to cooperate in making any preliminary
filings of the Prospectus/Proxy Statement with the SEC, as promptly as
practicable, pursuant to Rule 14a-6 under the Securities Exchange Act.

     (e) Purchaser will file the Registration Statement with the SEC and
appropriate materials with applicable state securities agencies as promptly as
practicable and will use all

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<PAGE>   9


reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective under
the Securities Act and all such state filed materials to comply with applicable
state securities Laws. Purchaser shall provide the Company for its review a copy
of the Registration Statement at least such amount of time prior to each filing
thereof as is customary in transactions of the type contemplated hereby and
shall not make any filing with the SEC without the prior written consent of the
Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The
Company authorizes Purchaser to utilize in the Registration Statement and in all
such state filed materials, the information concerning the Company and its
subsidiaries provided to Purchaser in connection with, or contained in, the
Prospectus/Proxy Statement. Purchaser promptly will advise the Company when the
Registration Statement has become effective, and of any supplements or
amendments thereto, and Purchaser will furnish the Company with copies of all
documents. Except for the Prospectus/Proxy Statement or the preliminary
prospectus/proxy statement, neither Purchaser nor the Company shall distribute
any written material that might constitute a "prospectus" relating to the Merger
or the Company Proposals within the meaning of the Securities Act or any
applicable state securities Law without the prior written consent of the other
party.

     1.12 TAX-FREE REORGANIZATION. The parties intend that the Merger qualify as
a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. None of the
parties will knowingly take any action that would cause the Merger to fail to
qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

     1.13. ADDITIONAL ACTIONS. If, at any time after the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised that any deeds, bills of
sale, assignments, assurances or any other actions or things are necessary or
desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving
Corporation its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights,
properties or assets of Merger Sub or the Company or otherwise carry out this
Agreement, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be
authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of Merger Sub or
the Company, all such deeds, bills of sale, assignments and assurances and to
take and do, in the name and on behalf of Merger Sub or the Company, all such
other actions and things as may be necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or
confirm any and all right, title and interest in, to and under such rights,
properties or assets in the Surviving Corporation or otherwise to carry out this
Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE II.

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     Except as set forth in the Company Securities Filings (as defined below)
filed prior to the date of this Agreement (but other than with respect to
section 2.2 and 2.3 hereof) and except as set forth in the disclosure schedule
from the Company to Purchaser to be delivered upon the execution of this
Agreement, which sets forth certain disclosures concerning the Company and its
business (the "Company Disclosure Schedule"),

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<PAGE>   10


each section of which qualifies the correspondingly numbered representation or
warranty, the Company hereby represents and warrants to Purchaser and Merger Sub
as follows:

     2.1. DUE INCORPORATION AND GOOD STANDING. The Company and each of the
Company Subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has
all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. The Company and
each of the Company Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed and in good
standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of the
property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted
by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure
to be so duly qualified or licensed and in good standing would not be reasonably
likely to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, prospects,
condition (financial or otherwise), liabilities or the results of operations of
the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, except in each case for any
such effects resulting from, arising out of, or relating to (i) general business
or economic conditions, (ii) conditions generally affecting the industry in
which the Company competes, (iii) the announcement or pendency of the Merger or
any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (iv) the taking
of any action contemplated by this Agreement (a "Company Material Adverse
Effect"). The Company has heretofore made available to Purchaser accurate and
complete copies of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as currently in
effect, of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Company
Subsidiary" shall mean any "Significant Subsidiary" (as such term is defined in
Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the SEC) of the Company.

     2.2. CAPITALIZATION. As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of
the Company consists of 50 million shares of capital stock. As of December 21,
1999, 23,346,215 shares of Company Stock were issued and outstanding. No other
capital stock of the Company is authorized or issued. All issued and outstanding
shares of the Company Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable. Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, as of the
date hereof there are no outstanding rights, subscriptions, warrants, puts,
calls, unsatisfied preemptive rights, options or other agreements of any kind
relating to any of the outstanding, authorized but unissued or unauthorized
shares of the capital stock or any other security of the Company, and there is
no authorized or outstanding security of any kind convertible into or
exchangeable, for any such capital stock or other security.

     2.3. SUBSIDIARIES.  Section 2.3 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth the name and jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each Company
Subsidiary,  each of which is wholly  owned by the Company  except as  otherwise
indicated in said  Section 2.3 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule.  All of the
capital  stock and other  interests of the Company  Subsidiaries  so held by the
Company are owned by it or a Company Subsidiary as indicated in said Section 2.3
of  the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  free  and  clear  of any  claim,  lien,
encumbrance,  security  interest or agreement with respect  thereto.  All of the
outstanding shares

                                      -9-

<PAGE>   11


of capital stock in each of the Company Subsidiaries directly or indirectly held
by the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and were issued free of preemptive rights and in compliance with
applicable Laws. No equity securities or other interests of any of the Company
Subsidiaries are or may become required to be issued or purchased by reason of
any options, warrants, rights to subscribe to, puts, calls or commitments of any
character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into or
exchangeable for, shares of any capital stock of any Company Subsidiary, and
there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which any
Company Subsidiary is bound to issue additional shares of its capital stock, or
options, warrants or rights to purchase or acquire any additional shares of its
capital stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares.

     2.4. AUTHORIZATION; BINDING AGREEMENT. The Company has all requisite
corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
including, but not limited to, the Merger, have been duly and validly authorized
by the Special Committee pursuant to the authority given to the Special
Committee by the Company's Board of Directors, and no other corporate
proceedings on the part of the Company or any Company Subsidiary are necessary
to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby (other than the requisite approval of this
Agreement and the Merger by the shareholders of the Company in accordance with
the MBCA). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by
the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to
the extent that enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally and by principles of equity regarding the
availability of remedies ("Enforceability Exceptions").

     2.5. GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS. No consent, approval, waiver or authorization
of, notice to or declaration or filing with ("Consent"), any nation or
government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any entity,
authority or body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or
administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including, without
limitation, any governmental or regulatory authority, agency, department, board,
commission, administration or instrumentality, any court, tribunal or arbitrator
or any self regulatory organization ("Governmental Authority") on the part of
the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is required in connection with
the execution or delivery by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation
by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby other than (i) the filing
of the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota
in accordance with the MBCA, (ii) filings with the SEC, state securities laws
administrators and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD"), (iii) filings under the Hart Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act
of 1976, as amended, and the rules

                                      -10-

<PAGE>   12


and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "HSR Act"), (iv) such filings as may
be required in any jurisdiction where the Company is qualified or authorized to
do business as a foreign corporation in order to maintain such qualification or
authorization and (v) those Consents that, if they were not obtained or made,
would not be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     2.6. NO VIOLATIONS. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and compliance by the
Company with any of the provisions hereof will not (i) conflict with or result
in any breach of any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or
other governing instruments of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries,
(ii) require any Consent under or result in a violation or breach of, or
constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or
give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under any
of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Company Material Contract (as
defined below), (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any lien or
encumbrance of any kind upon any of the assets of the Company or any Company
Subsidiary or (iv) subject to obtaining the Consents from Governmental
Authorities referred to in Section 2.5 hereof, contravene any applicable
provision of any statute, law, rule or regulation or any order, decision,
injunction, judgment, award or decree ("Law") to which the Company or any
Company Subsidiary or its or any of their respective assets or properties are
subject, except, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, for any
deviations from the foregoing which would not be reasonably likely to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.

     2.7. SECURITIES FILINGS; (a) The Company has made available to Purchaser
true and complete copies of (i) its Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the years
ended January 3, 1999, December 28, 1997 and December 29, 1996 as filed with the
SEC, (ii) its proxy statements relating to all of the meetings of shareholders
(whether annual or special) of the Company since December 29, 1996, as filed
with the SEC, and (iii) all other reports, statements and registration
statements and amendments thereto (including, without limitation, Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as amended) filed by the
Company with the SEC since December 29, 1996. The reports and statements set
forth in clauses (i) through (iii) above, and those subsequently provided or
required to be provided pursuant to this Section 2.7, are referred to
collectively herein as the "Company Securities Filings." As of their respective
dates, or as of the date of the last amendment thereof, if amended after filing,
none of the Company Securities Filings contained or, as to the Company
Securities Filings subsequent to the date hereof, will contain, any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted or, as to the Company Securities Filings
subsequent to the date hereof, will omit, to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each of the Company
Securities Filings at the time of filing or as of the date of the last amendment
thereof, if amended after filing, complied or, as to the Company Securities
Filings subsequent to the date hereof, will comply in all material respects with
the Securities Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as applicable.


                                      -11-

<PAGE>   13


     2.8. COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The audited consolidated financial
statements and unaudited interim financial statements of the Company included in
the Company Securities Filings (the "Company Financial Statements") have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on
a consistent basis (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto)
and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the
Company and its subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the results of their
operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of
the unaudited interim financial statements, to normal year-end audit
adjustments, any other adjustments described therein and the fact that certain
information and notes have been condensed or omitted in accordance with the
Securities Exchange Act.

     2.9. ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS; NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES.
Except as set forth in the Company Securities Filings, since January 3, 1999,
through the date of this Agreement, there has not been: (i) any event that has
had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect,
(ii) any declaration, payment or setting aside for payment of any dividend or
other distribution or any redemption or other acquisition of any shares of
capital stock or securities of the Company by the Company, (iii) any material
damage or loss to any material asset or property, whether or not covered by
insurance, or (iv) any change by the Company in accounting principles or
practices. Except for those liabilities that are fully reflected or reserved
against on the balance sheet of the Company included in its January 3, 1999 Form
10-K and for liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice, since January 3, 1999, neither the Company nor any of the
Company Subsidiaries has incurred any liability of any nature whatsoever
(whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become
due) that, either individually or in the aggregate, has had or would be
reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     2.10. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. The business of the Company and each of the
Company Subsidiaries has been operated in compliance with all Laws applicable
thereto, except for any instances of non-compliance which would not be
reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     2.11. PERMITS. (i) The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries have
all permits, certificates, licenses, approvals and other authorizations required
in connection with the operation of their respective businesses (collectively,
"Company Permits"), (ii) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries
is in violation of any Company Permit and (iii) no proceedings are pending or,
to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, to revoke or limit any Company
Permit, except, in each case, those the absence or violation of which would not
be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     2.12. LITIGATION. Except as disclosed in the Company Securities Filings,
there is no suit, action or proceeding ("Litigation") pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries which, individually or in


                                      -12-

<PAGE>   14


the aggregate, would be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, nor is there any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any
Governmental Authority outstanding against the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries which, individually or in the aggregate, would be reasonably likely
to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     2.13. CONTRACTS. Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is
a party or is subject to any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract,
lease, license, agreement or instrument that is required to be described in or
filed as an exhibit to any Company Securities Filing ("Company Material
Contract") that is not so described in or filed as required by the Securities
Act or the Securities Exchange Act, as the case may be. All such Company
Material Contracts are valid and binding and are in full force and effect and
enforceable against the Company or such Company Subsidiary in accordance with
their respective terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. Neither the
Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is in violation or breach of or
default under any such Company Material Contract where such violation or breach
would be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     2.14. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. Section 2.14 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all material Benefit Plans (as
defined below) maintained or contributed to by the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries ("Company Benefit Plan"). A "Benefit Plan" shall include (i) an
employee benefit plan as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, together with all regulations
thereunder ("ERISA"), and (ii) whether or not described in the preceding clause,
any pension, profit sharing, stock bonus, deferred or supplemental compensation,
retirement, thrift, stock purchase or stock option plan or any other
compensation, welfare, fringe benefit or retirement plan, program, policy or
arrangement providing for benefits for or the welfare of any or all of the
current or former employees or agents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or their beneficiaries or dependents; provided that Benefit Plans shall not
include any multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA (a
"Multiemployer Plan"). Each of the Company Benefit Plans has been maintained in
compliance with its terms and all applicable Law, except where the failure to do
so would not be reasonably likely to result in a Company Material Adverse
Effect. Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries contributes to,
or has any outstanding liability with respect to, any Multiemployer Plan.

     2.15. TAXES AND RETURNS. (a) The Company and each of its subsidiaries has
timely filed, or caused to be timely filed, all material Tax Returns (as defined
below) required to be filed by it, and has paid, collected or withheld, or
caused to be paid, collected or withheld, all material amounts of Taxes (as
defined below) required to be paid, collected or withheld, other than such Taxes
for which adequate reserves in the Company Financial Statements have been
established or which are being contested in good faith. There are no material
claims or assessments pending against the Company or any of its subsidiaries for
any alleged deficiency in any Tax, and the Company has not been notified in
writing of any proposed Tax claims or

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   15

assessments against the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than, in
each case, claims or assessments for which adequate reserves in the Company
Financial Statements have been established or which are being contested in
good faith or are immaterial in amount). Neither the Company nor any of the
Company Subsidiaries has any outstanding waivers or extensions of any
applicable statute of limitations to assess any material amount of Taxes.
There are no outstanding requests by the Company or any of its subsidiaries
for any extension of time within which to file any material Tax Return or
within which to pay any material amounts of Taxes shown to be due on any
return. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no liens for material
amounts of Taxes on the assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries except
for statutory liens for current Taxes not yet due and payable.

     (b) To the Company's knowledge, none of the Company or any of the Company
Subsidiaries has taken or agreed to take any action that would prevent the
Merger from constituting a reorganization qualifying under the provisions of
Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code.

     (c) There is not any employment, severance or termination agreement or
other compensation arrangement or employee benefit plan (as defined in Section
3(3) of ERISA) currently in effect which provides for the payment of any amount
(whether in cash or property or the vesting of property) as a result of any of
the transactions contemplated hereby to any employee, officer or director of
Company or any of its affiliates who is a "disqualified individual" (as such
term is defined in proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1) that would be
characterized as an "excess parachute payment" (as such term is defined in
Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code).

     (d) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Tax" shall mean any federal,
state, local, foreign or provincial income, gross receipts, property, sales,
use, license, excise, franchise, employment, payroll, alternative or added
minimum, ad valorem, transfer or excise tax, or any other tax, custom, duty,
governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever,
together with any interest or penalty imposed by any Governmental Authority. The
term "Tax Return" shall mean a report, return or other information (including
any attached schedules or any amendments to such report, return or other
information) required to be supplied to or filed with a Governmental Authority
with respect to any Tax, including an information return, claim for refund,
amended return or declaration or estimated Tax.

     2.16. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. (a) To the Company's knowledge, the Company or
its Subsidiaries own, or are licensed or otherwise possess legally enforceable
rights to use all: (i) trademarks and service marks (registered or
unregistered), trade dress, trade names and other names and slogans embodying
business goodwill or indications of origin, all applications or registrations in
any jurisdiction pertaining to the foregoing and all goodwill associated
therewith; (ii) patentable inventions, technology, computer programs and
software (including password unprotected interpretive code or source code,
object code, development documentation, programming tools, drawings,
specifications and data) and all applications and

                                      -14-

<PAGE>   16


patents in any jurisdiction pertaining to the foregoing, including re-issues,
continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, renewals or extensions; (iii)
trade secrets, including confidential and other non-public information; (iv)
copyrights in writings, designs, software programs, mask works or other works,
applications or registrations in any jurisdiction for the foregoing and all
moral rights related thereto; (v) databases and all database rights; and (vi)
Internet Web sites, domain names and applications and registrations pertaining
thereto ("Company Intellectual Property") that, in each case, are used in the
respective businesses of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries as currently
conducted, except for any such failures to own, be licensed or possess that
would not be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) To the Company's knowledge, there are no conflicts with or
infringements of any material Company Intellectual Property by any third party
and the conduct of the businesses as currently conducted does not conflict with
or infringe any proprietary right of a third party, except for any such
conflicts or infringements that would not be reasonably likely to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.

     (c) Section 2.16 (c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
complete list of all material patents, registrations and applications pertaining
to the Company Intellectual Property owned by the Company and the Company
Subsidiaries. All such Company Intellectual Property listed is owned by the
Company and/or the Company Subsidiaries, free and clear of liens or encumbrances
of any nature.

     (d) Section 2.16(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
complete list of all licenses, sublicenses and other agreements in which the
Company and its Subsidiaries have granted rights to any person to use the
Company Intellectual Property. The Company will not, as a result of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the performance of its obligations
under this Agreement, be in breach of any license, sublicense or other agreement
relating to the Company Intellectual Property.

     (e) The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries own or have the right
to use all computer software currently used in and material to the businesses,
except for any failures to own or have the right to use that would not be
reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     2.17. FINDERS AND INVESTMENT BANKERS. Neither the Company nor any of its
officers or directors has employed any broker or finder or otherwise incurred
any liability for any brokerage fees, commissions or finders' fees in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby, other than pursuant to an agreement
with U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, a copy of which has been provided to Purchaser.

     2.18. FAIRNESS OPINION. The Special Committee has received from its
financial advisor, U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, a written opinion addressed to it
for inclusion in the


                                      -15-

<PAGE>   17


Prospectus/Proxy Statement to the effect that the consideration to be received
in the Merger by the Company's shareholders is fair to the Company's
shareholders from a financial point of view.

     2.19. INSURANCE. Section 2.19 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth
a true and complete list of all insurance policies carried by, or covering the
Company and the Company Subsidiaries with respect to their businesses, assets
and properties and with respect to which records are maintained at the Company's
principal executive offices, together with, in respect of each such policy, the
amount of coverage and the deductible. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries
maintain insurance policies against all risk of a character, including without
limitation, business interruption insurance, and in such amounts as are usually
insured against by similarly situated companies in the same or similar
businesses. Each insurance policy set forth on Section 2.19 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule is in full force and effect and all premiums due thereon
have been paid in full.

     2.20. VOTE REQUIRED; OWNERSHIP OF PURCHASER CAPITAL STOCK; STATE TAKEOVER
STATUTES. (a) The approval of the Company Proposal is the only vote of the
holders of any class or series of the Company's capital stock necessary to
approve the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereunder.

     (b) Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries beneficially
owns, either directly or indirectly, any shares of Purchaser capital stock.

     (c) The Special Committee has taken all actions necessary under the MBCA to
approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Assuming for purposes
of this Section 2.20(c) that no person or entity associated or affiliated with
Purchaser or the Company, as the case may be, is an "interested shareholder" (as
such term is defined in the MBCA) of the Company or Purchaser, as the case may
be, who has not continuously been an interested shareholder of the Company or
Purchaser during the four-year period preceding the Merger, Section 302A.673 of
the MBCA applicable to a "business combination" does not, and will not, prohibit
the transactions contemplated hereunder, and the restrictions contained in
Section 302A.671 of the MBCA applicable to "control share acquisitions" will not
prohibit the authorization, execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement or the consummation of the Merger by the Company. No other "fair
price," "moratorium," or other similar anti-takeover statute or regulation
prohibits (by reason of Company's participation therein) the Merger or the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     2.21. TITLE TO PROPERTIES. Section 2.21 of the Company Disclosure Schedule
sets forth a complete list of all material real property owned in fee by Company
or any of the Company Subsidiaries and sets forth all material real property
leased by Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries as lessee as of the date
hereof (such owned and leased material real property, including all improvements
thereon, referred to collectively as the "Company Real Property"). The Company
Real Property set forth in Section 2.21 of the Company Disclosure Schedule


                                      -16-

<PAGE>   18


comprises all of the material real property necessary and/or currently used in
the operations of the business of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries. The
Company and the Company Subsidiaries have good and valid title to, or, as to
Company Real Property designated as leased, a valid leasehold interest in, all
of the Company Real Property. The Company Real Property is free of encumbrances,
except for (a) liens with respect to Taxes either not delinquent or being
diligently contested in appropriate proceedings; (b) mechanics', materialmen's
or similar statutory liens for amounts not yet due or being diligently contested
in appropriate proceedings; and (c) other exceptions with respect to title to
Company Real Property (including easements of public record) that do not and
would not materially interfere with the current and intended use of such Company
Real Property (clauses, (a), (b), and (c) being referred to herein as "Permitted
Encumbrances"), and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
will not create any encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrances) on any of
the Company Real Property. Each of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries
enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all leases of Company Real
Property, except for such breaches of the right to peaceful and undisturbed
possession that do not materially interfere with the ability of the Company and
the Company Subsidiaries to conduct their business on such property.

     2.22. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. The Company has not, and no third party has,
generated, treated, stored, released or disposed of, or otherwise placed,
deposited in or located on the Company Real Property, any toxic or hazardous
substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (including, without
limitations, asbestos, urea formaldehyde, the group of organic compounds known
as polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum products including gasoline, fuel oil,
crude oil and various constituents of such products, and any hazardous substance
as defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA"), 42 U.S.C. ' 9601-9657, as amended)
(collectively, "Hazardous Substances") except in material compliance with all
applicable Laws, and no Hazardous Substances have been generated, treated,
stored, released or disposed of, or otherwise placed, deposited in or located on
the Company Real Property except in material compliance with all applicable
Laws, nor has any activity been undertaken on the Company Real Property that
would cause or contribute to (a) the Company Real Property becoming a treatment,
storage or disposal facility in material violation of, the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act of 1976 ("RCRA"), 42 U.S.C. ' 6901 et seq., or any similar
state law or local ordinance, (b) a release or threatened release of toxic or
hazardous wastes or substances, pollutants or contaminants from the Company Real
Property in material violation of CERCLA or any similar state law or local
ordinance, or (c) the discharge of pollutants or effluents into any water source
or system, the dredging or filling of any waters or the discharge into the air
of any emissions, for which the Company does not have all material required
permits under the Federal Water Act, 33 U.S.C. ' 1251 et seq., or the Clean Air
Act, 42 U.S.C. ' 7401 et seq., or any similar state law or local ordinance, in
each case except for any such noncompliance, violations, or failures as would
not be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. There are no
substances or conditions in or on the Company Real Property that may support a
claim or cause of action under RCRA, CERCLA or any other federal, state or local
environmental statutes, regulations, ordinances or other environmental
regulatory requirements, except for any such claims or


                                      -17-

<PAGE>   19


causes of action as would not be reasonably likely to have a Company Material
Adverse Effect. There are no above ground or underground tanks that have been
located under, in or about the Company Real Property which have been
subsequently removed or filled. To the extent storage tanks exist on or under
the Company Real Property, such storage tanks have been duly registered with all
appropriate regulatory and governmental bodies and are otherwise in compliance
with applicable federal, state and local statutes, regulations, ordinances and
other regulatory requirements.

                                  ARTICLE III.

                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER

     Except as set forth in the Purchaser Securities Filings (as defined below)
filed prior to the date of this Agreement (but other than with respect to
section 3.2 and 3.3 hereof) and except as set forth in the disclosure schedule
from Purchaser to the Company to be delivered upon the execution of this
Agreement, which sets forth certain disclosures concerning Purchaser and its
business (the "Purchaser Disclosure Schedule"), each section of which qualifies
the correspondingly numbered representation or warranty, Purchaser hereby
represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

     3.1. DUE INCORPORATION AND GOOD STANDING. Purchaser, Merger Sub and each of
the Purchaser Subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated or partnership
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has all requisite
corporate or partnership power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Purchaser and
each of the Purchaser Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed and in good
standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of the
property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted
by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure
to be so duly qualified or licensed and in good standing would not be reasonably
likely to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, prospects,
condition (financial or otherwise), liabilities or the results of operations of
Purchaser and its subsidiaries taken as a whole except in each case for any such
effects resulting from, arising out of, or relating to (i) general business or
economic conditions, (ii) conditions generally affecting the industry in which
Purchaser competes, (iii) the announcement or pendency of the Merger or any of
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (iv) the taking of any
action contemplated by this Agreement ("Purchaser Material Adverse Effect").
Purchaser has heretofore made available to the Company accurate and complete
copies of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as currently in effect, of
Purchaser. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Purchaser Subsidiary" shall
mean any "Significant Subsidiary" (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of
Regulation S-X of the SEC) of Purchaser, and shall specifically include Merger
Sub.

     3.2. CAPITALIZATION. As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of
Purchaser consists of one hundred million shares of capital stock. As of
December 17, 1999, 10,628,398

                                      -18-

<PAGE>   20


shares of Purchaser Stock were issued and outstanding. No other capital stock of
Purchaser is authorized or issued. All issued and outstanding shares of the
Purchaser Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable. Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, as of the
date hereof, there are no outstanding rights, subscriptions, warrants, puts,
calls, unsatisfied preemptive rights, options or other agreements of any kind
relating to any of the outstanding, authorized but unissued or unauthorized
shares of the capital stock or any other security of Purchaser, and there is no
authorized or outstanding security of any kind convertible into or exchangeable
for any such capital stock or other security.

     3.3. SUBSIDIARIES. Section 3.3 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule sets
forth the name and jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each
Purchaser Subsidiary, each of which is wholly owned by Purchaser. All of the
capital stock and other interests of the Purchaser Subsidiaries so held by
Purchaser are owned by it or a Purchaser Subsidiary as indicated in said Section
3.3 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, free and clear of any claim, lien,
encumbrance, security interest or agreement with respect thereto. All of the
outstanding shares of capital stock in each of the Purchaser Subsidiaries
directly or indirectly held by Purchaser are duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable and were issued free of preemptive rights and in
compliance with applicable Laws. No equity securities or other interests of any
of the Purchaser Subsidiaries are or may become required to be issued or
purchased by reason of any options, warrants, rights to subscribe to, puts,
calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or
rights convertible into or exchangeable for, shares of any capital stock of any
Purchaser Subsidiary, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or
arrangements by which any Purchaser Subsidiary is bound to issue additional
shares of its capital stock, or options, warrants or rights to purchase or
acquire any additional shares of its capital stock or securities convertible
into or exchangeable for such shares. All of the shares of Purchaser Stock
issuable in accordance with this Agreement in exchange for Company Stock will
be, when so issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and shall be delivered free and clear of all liens, claims,
charges and encumbrances of any kind or nature whatsoever, including any
preemptive rights of any holder of capital stock of Purchaser.

     3.4. AUTHORIZATION; BINDING AGREEMENT. Purchaser and Merger Sub have all
requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, including, but not limited to, the Merger, have been duly and validly
authorized by the respective Boards of Directors of Purchaser and Merger Sub, as
appropriate, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Purchaser, Merger
Sub or any Purchaser Subsidiary are necessary to authorize the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
(other than the requisite approval of the Purchaser Proposal by the shareholders
of

                                      -19-

<PAGE>   21


Purchaser and the requisite approval by the sole shareholder of Merger Sub of
this Agreement and the Merger). This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by each of Purchaser and Merger Sub and constitutes the
legal, valid and binding agreement of Purchaser and Merger Sub, enforceable
against each of Purchaser and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, subject
to the Enforceability Exceptions.

     3.5. GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS. No Consent from or with any Governmental
Authority on the part of Purchaser or any of the Purchaser Subsidiaries is
required in connection with the execution or delivery by Purchaser of this
Agreement or the consummation by Purchaser of the transactions contemplated
hereby other than (i) the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of
State of the State of Minnesota in accordance with the MBCA; (ii) filings with
the SEC, state securities laws administrators and the NASD; (iii) filings under
the HSR Act; (iv) such filings as may be required in any jurisdiction where
Purchaser is qualified or authorized to do business as a foreign corporation in
order to maintain such qualification or authorization; and (v) those Consents
that, if they were not obtained or made, would not be reasonably likely to have
a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.

     3.6. NO VIOLATIONS. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and compliance by Purchaser
and Merger Sub with any of the provisions hereof will not (i) conflict with or
result in any breach of any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws
or other governing instruments of Purchaser or any of the Purchaser
Subsidiaries, (ii) require any Consent under or result in a violation or breach
of, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a
default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration)
under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Purchaser Material
Contract (as defined below), (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any
lien or encumbrance of any kind upon any of the assets of Purchaser or any
Purchaser Subsidiary or (iv) subject to obtaining the Consents from Governmental
Authorities referred to in Section 3.5 hereof, contravene any Law to which
Purchaser or any Purchaser Subsidiary or its or any of their respective assets
or properties are subject, except, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv)
above, for any deviations from the foregoing which would not be reasonably
likely to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.

     3.7. SECURITIES FILINGS. Purchaser has made available to the Company true
and complete copies of (i) its Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended
January 3, 1999, as filed with the SEC, (ii) its proxy statements relating to
all of the meetings of shareholders (whether annual or special) of Purchaser
since December 31, 1998, as filed with the SEC, and (iii) all other reports,
statements and registration statements and amendments thereto (including,
without limitation, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form
8-K, as amended) filed by Purchaser with the SEC since December 31, 1998, The
reports and statements set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) above, and those
subsequently provided or required to be provided pursuant to this Section 3.7,
are referred to collectively herein as the "Purchaser Securities Filings." As of
their respective dates, or as of the date of the last amendment thereof, if
amended after filing, none of the Purchaser Securities Filings contained

                                      -20-

<PAGE>   22


or, as to Purchaser Securities Filings subsequent to the date hereof, will
contain, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or, as to Purchaser
Securities Filings subsequent to the date hereof, will omit, to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each
of the Purchaser Securities Filings at the time of filing or as of the date of
the last amendment thereof, if amended after filing, complied or, as to
Purchaser Securities Filings subsequent to the date hereof, will comply in all
material respects with the Securities Exchange Act or the Securities Act, as
applicable.

     3.8. PURCHASER FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The audited consolidated financial
statements and unaudited interim financial statements of Purchaser included in
the Purchaser Securities Filings (the "Purchaser Financial Statements") have
been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis (except as may be indicated therein or in the
notes thereto) and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Purchaser and its subsidiaries as at the dates thereof and the
results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject,
in the case of the unaudited interim financial statements, to normal year-end
audit adjustments, any other adjustments described therein and the fact that
certain information and notes have been condensed or omitted in accordance with
the Securities Exchange Act.

     3.9. ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS; NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES.
Except as set forth in the Purchaser Securities Filings, since December 31,
1998, through the date of this Agreement, there has not been: (i) any event that
has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse
Effect, (ii) any declaration, payment or setting aside for payment of any
dividend or other distribution or any redemption or other acquisition of any
shares of capital stock or securities of Purchaser by Purchaser, (iii) any
material damage or loss to any material asset or property, whether or not
covered by insurance, or (iv) any change by Purchaser in accounting principles
or practices. Except for those liabilities that are fully reflected or reserved
against on the consolidated balance sheet of Purchaser included in its January
3, 1999, Form 10-K and for liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, since January 3, 1999, neither Purchaser
nor any of the Purchaser Subsidiaries has incurred any liability of any nature
whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due
or to become due) that, either individually or in the aggregate, has had or
would be reasonably likely to result in a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.

     3.10. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. The business of Purchaser and each of its
subsidiaries has been operated in compliance with all Laws applicable thereto,
except for any instances of non-compliance which would not be reasonably likely
to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.

     3.11. PERMITS. (i) Purchaser and its subsidiaries have all permits,
certificates, licenses, approvals and other authorizations required in
connection with the operation of their


                                      -21-

<PAGE>   23


respective businesses (collectively, "Purchaser Permits"), (ii) neither
Purchaser nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any Purchaser Permit
and (iii) no proceedings are pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser,
threatened, to revoke or limit any Purchaser Permit, except, in each case, those
the absence or violation of which would be reasonably likely to have a Purchaser
Material Adverse Effect.

     3.12. LITIGATION. Except as disclosed in the Purchaser Securities Filings,
there is no Litigation pending or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened
against, Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries which, individually or in the
aggregate, would be reasonably likely to have a Purchaser Material Adverse
Effect, nor is there any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any
Governmental Authority outstanding against Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries
which, individually or in the aggregate, would be reasonably likely to have a
Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.

     3.13. CONTRACTS. Neither Purchaser nor any of its subsidiaries is a party
or is subject to any material note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, lease,
license, agreement or instrument that is required to be described in or filed as
an exhibit to any Purchaser Securities Filing ("Purchaser Material Contract")
that is not so described in or filed as required by the Securities Act or the
Securities Exchange Act, as the case may be. All such Purchaser Material
Contracts are valid and binding and are in full force and effect and enforceable
against Purchaser or such subsidiary in accordance with their respective terms,
subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. Neither Purchaser nor any of its
subsidiaries is in violation or breach of or default under any such Purchaser
Material Contract where such violation or breach would be reasonably likely to
have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.

     3.14. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. Section 3.14 of the Purchaser Disclosure
Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all material Benefit Plans
maintained or contributed to by Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries ("Purchaser
Benefit Plan"). Each of the Purchaser Benefit Plans has been maintained in
compliance with its terms and all applicable Law, except where the failure to do
so would not be reasonably likely to result in a Purchaser Material Adverse
Effect. Neither Purchaser nor any of its subsidiaries contributes to, or has any
outstanding liability with respect to, any Multiemployer Plan.

     3.15. TAXES AND RETURNS. (a) Purchaser and each of the Purchaser
Subsidiaries has timely filed, or caused to be timely filed, all material Tax
Returns required to be filed by it, and has paid, collected or withheld, or
caused to be paid, collected or withheld, all material amounts of Taxes required
to be paid, collected or withheld, other than such Taxes for which adequate
reserves in the Purchaser Financial Statements have been established or which
are being contested in good faith. There are no material claims or assessments
pending against Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries for any alleged deficiency
in any Tax, and Purchaser has not been notified in writing of any proposed Tax
claims or assessments against Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries (other than,
in each case, claims or assessments for which adequate reserves in the Purchaser
Financial Statements have been established or which are being contested in good

                                      -22-
<PAGE>   24


faith or are immaterial in amount). Neither Purchaser nor any of its
subsidiaries has any waivers or extensions of any applicable statute of
limitations to assess any material amount of Taxes. There are no outstanding
requests by Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries or any extension of time within
which to file any material Tax Return or within which to pay any material
amounts of Taxes shown to be due on any return. To the knowledge of Purchaser,
there are no liens for material amounts of Taxes on the assets of Purchaser or
any of its subsidiaries except for statutory liens for current Taxes not yet due
and payable.

     (b) To Purchaser's knowledge, none of Purchaser or any of the Purchaser
Subsidiaries has taken or agreed to take any action that would prevent the
Merger from constituting a reorganization qualifying under the provisions of
Section 368(a)(1)(B) of the Code.

     (c) There is not any employment, severance or termination agreement or
other compensation arrangement or employee benefit plan (as defined in Section
3(3) of ERISA) currently in effect which provides for the payment of any amount
(whether in cash or property or the vesting of property) as a result of any of
the transactions contemplated hereby to any employee, officer or director of
Purchaser or any of its affiliates who is a "disqualified individual" (as such
term is defined in proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1) that would be
characterized as an "excess parachute payment" (as such term is defined in
Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code).

     3.16. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. (a) Purchaser or its subsidiaries own, or are
licensed or otherwise possess legally enforceable rights to use all; (i)
trademarks and service marks (registered or unregistered), trade dress, trade
names and other names and slogans embodying business goodwill or indications of
origin, all applications or registrations in any jurisdiction pertaining to the
foregoing and all goodwill associated therewith; (ii) patentable inventions,
technology, computer programs and software (including password unprotected
interpretive code or source code, object code, development documentation,
programming tools, drawings, specifications and data) and all applications and
patents in any jurisdiction pertaining to the foregoing, including reissues,
continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, renewals or extensions; (iii)
trade secrets, including confidential and other non-public information; (iv)
copyrights in writings, designs, software programs, mask works or other works,
applications or registrations in any jurisdiction for the foregoing and all
moral rights related thereto; (v) databases and all database rights; and (vi)
Internet Web sites, domain names and applications and registrations pertaining
thereto ("Purchaser Intellectual Property") that are used in the respective
businesses of Purchaser and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, except for
any such failures to own, be licensed or possess that would not be reasonably
likely to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) To Purchaser's knowledge, there are no conflicts with or infringements
of any material Purchaser Intellectual Property by any third party and the
conduct of the businesses as currently conducted does not conflict with or
infringe any proprietary right of a third party

                                      -23-

<PAGE>   25


except for any such conflicts or infringements that would not be reasonably
likely to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect..

     (c) Section 3.16(c) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
complete list of all material patents, registrations and applications pertaining
to the Purchaser Intellectual Property owned by Purchaser and its subsidiaries.
All such Purchaser Intellectual Property listed is owned by Purchaser and/or its
subsidiaries, free and clear of liens or encumbrances of any nature.

     (d) Section 3.16(d) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
complete list of all material licenses, sublicenses and other agreements in
which Purchaser and its subsidiaries have granted rights to any person to use
the Purchaser Intellectual Property. Purchaser will not, as a result of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the performance of its obligations
under this Agreement, be in breach of any license, sublicense or other agreement
relating to the Purchaser Intellectual Property.

     (e) Purchaser and its subsidiaries own or have the right to use all
computer software currently used in and material to the businesses except for
any failures to own or rights to use that would not be reasonably likely to have
a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.

     3.17. FINDERS AND INVESTMENT BANKERS. Neither Purchaser nor any of its
officers or directors has employed any broker or finder or otherwise incurred
any liability for any brokerage fees, commissions or finders' fees in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby, other than pursuant to an agreement
with Wasserstein Perella & Co., the material terms of which have been disclosed
to the Company.

     3.18. FAIRNESS OPINION. Purchaser's Board of Directors has received from
its financial advisor, Wasserstein Perella & Co., a written opinion addressed to
it for inclusion in the Prospectus/Proxy Statement to the effect that the
Exchange Ratio is fair to Purchaser from a financial point of view.

     3.19. NO PRIOR ACTIVITIES. Except for obligations or liabilities incurred
in connection with its incorporation or organization or the negotiation and
consummation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, Merger
Sub has not incurred any obligations or liabilities, and has not engaged in any
business or activities of any type or kind whatsoever or entered into any
agreements or arrangements with any person or entity.

     3.20. INSURANCE. Section 3.20 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a true and complete list of all insurance policies carried by, or covering
Purchaser and its subsidiaries with respect to their businesses, assets and
properties and with respect to which records are maintained at Purchaser's
principal executive offices, together with, in respect of each such policy, the
name of the insurer, the policy number, the type of policy, the amount of
coverage and the deductible. Purchaser and its subsidiaries maintain insurance
policies against all risks of


                                      -24-

<PAGE>   26


a character, including without limitation, business interruption insurance, and
in such amounts as are usually insured against by similarly situated companies
in the same or similar businesses. Each insurance policy set forth on Section
3.20 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule is in full force and effect and all
premiums due thereon have been paid in full.

     3.21. VOTE REQUIRED; OWNERSHIP OF COMPANY CAPITAL STOCK; STATE TAKEOVER
STATUTES. (a) The approval of the Purchaser Proposal is the only vote of the
holders of any class or series of Purchaser's capital stock necessary to approve
the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereunder.

     (b) Neither Purchaser nor any of the Purchaser Subsidiaries beneficially
owns, either directly or indirectly, any shares of Company capital stock.

     (c) The Board of Directors of Purchaser has taken all actions necessary
under the MBCA, including approving the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Assuming for purposes of this Section 2.20(c) that no person or
entity associated or affiliated with Purchaser or the Company is an "interested
shareholder" (as such term is defined in the MBCA) of the Company or Purchaser,
as the case may be, who has not continuously been an interested shareholder of
the Company or Purchaser, as the case may be, during the four-year period
preceding the Merger, Section 302A.673 of the MBCA applicable to a "business
combination" does not, and will not, prohibit the transactions contemplated
hereunder, and the restrictions contained in Section 302A.671 of the MBCA
applicable to "control share acquisitions" will not prohibit the authorization,
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the
Merger by Purchaser or Merger Sub. No other "fair price," "moratorium," or other
similar anti-takeover statute or regulation prohibits (by reason of Purchaser's
or Merger Sub's participation therein) the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

     3.22. TITLE TO PROPERTIES. Section 3.22 of the Purchaser Disclosure
Schedule sets forth a complete list of all material real property owned in fee
by Purchaser or any of the Purchaser Subsidiaries and sets forth all material
real property leased by Purchaser or any of the Purchaser Subsidiaries as lessee
as of the date hereof (such owned and leased material real property, including
all improvements thereon, referred to collectively as the "Purchaser Real
Property"). The Purchaser Real Property set forth in Section 3.22 of the
Purchaser Disclosure Schedule comprises all of the material real property
necessary and/or currently used in the operations of the business of Purchaser
and the Purchaser Subsidiaries. Purchaser and the Purchaser Subsidiaries have
good and valid title to, or, as to Purchaser Real Property designated as leased,
a valid leasehold interest in, all of the Purchaser Real Property. The Purchaser
Real Property is free of encumbrances, except for Permitted Encumbrances, and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not create any
encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrances) on any of the Purchaser Real
Property. Each of Purchaser and the Purchaser Subsidiaries enjoys peaceful and
undisturbed possession under all leases of Purchaser Real Property, except for
such breaches of the right to peaceful and undisturbed possession that do

                                      -25-

<PAGE>   27


not materially interfere with the ability of the Purchaser and the Purchaser
Subsidiaries to conduct their business on such property.

     3.23. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. Purchaser has not, and no third party has,
generated, treated, stored, released or disposed of, or otherwise placed,
deposited in or located on the Purchaser Real Property, any Hazardous Substances
except in material compliance with all applicable Laws, and no Hazardous
Substances have been generated, treated, stored, released or disposed of, or
otherwise placed, deposited in or located on the Purchaser Real Property except
in material compliance with all applicable Laws, nor has any activity been
undertaken on the Purchaser Real Property that would cause or contribute to (a)
the Purchaser Real Property becoming a treatment, storage or disposal facility
in material violation of RCRA,, or any similar state law or local ordinance, (b)
a release or threatened release of toxic or hazardous wastes or substances,
pollutants or contaminants from the Purchaser Real Property in material
violation of CERCLA or any similar state law or local ordinance, or (c) the
discharge of pollutants or effluents into any water source or system, the
dredging or filling of any waters or the discharge into the air of any
emissions, for which Purchaser does not have all material required permits under
the Federal Water Act, 33 U.S.C. ' 1251 et seq., or the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C.
' 7401 et seq., or any similar state law or local ordinance, in each case except
for any such noncompliance, violations, or failures as would not be reasonably
likely to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. There are no substances or
conditions in or on the Purchaser Real Property that may support a claim or
cause of action under RCRA, CERCLA or any other federal, state or local
environmental statutes, regulations, ordinances or other environmental
regulatory requirements, except for any such claims or causes of action as would
not be reasonably likely to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. There are
no above ground or underground tanks that have been located under, in or about
the Purchaser Real Property which have been subsequently removed or filled. To
the extent storage tanks exist on or under the Purchaser Real Property, such
storage tanks have been duly registered with all appropriate regulatory and
governmental bodies and are otherwise in compliance with applicable federal,
state and local statutes, regulations, ordinances and other regulatory
requirements.

     3.24 OTHER TRANSACTIONS. Other than the Merger, there is no significant
acquisition or disposition (as defined in Form 8-K) involving Purchaser or any
subsidiary of Purchaser that is probable (as used in Rule 11-01 of Regulation
S-X of the SEC) or would otherwise be required to be disclosed under the
requirements of the securities laws and the rules and regulation of the SEC
applicable in the context of the sale of stock by Purchaser (a "Pending
Purchaser Transaction").

                                   ARTICLE IV.

                       ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

     The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

                                      -26-

<PAGE>   28


     4.1. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY AND THE COMPANY SUBSIDIARIES. (a)
Unless Purchaser shall otherwise agree in writing and except as expressly
contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth on the Company Disclosure
Schedule (the inclusion of any item having been consented to by Purchaser),
during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, (i) the
Company shall conduct, and it shall cause its subsidiaries to conduct, its or
their businesses in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice, and
the Company shall, and it shall cause its subsidiaries to, use its or their
reasonable commercial efforts to preserve intact its business organization, to
keep available the services of its officers and employees and to maintain
satisfactory relationships with all persons with whom it does business and (ii)
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries will:

     (A) amend or propose to amend its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws (or
comparable governing instruments) in any material respect;

     (B) authorize for issuance, issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or
propose to issue, grant, sell, pledge or dispose of any shares of, or any
options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions or rights of any kind to acquire
or sell any shares of, the capital stock or other securities of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries including, but not limited to, any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of stock of any class of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, except for (i) the issuance of Company Shares
pursuant to the exercise of stock options outstanding on the date of this
Agreement in accordance with their present terms and stock options referred to
in clause (ii) below, (ii) the issuance, in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice, of stock options to new employees, and (iii)
subject to the limitations set forth in Section 1.6, the grant of purchase
rights pursuant to the Company ESPP or the issuance of Company Stock upon the
exercise of such purchase rights;

     (C) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock or
declare, pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash,
stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock,
other than dividends or distributions to the Company or a subsidiary of the
Company, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or
offer to acquire any shares of its capital stock or other securities other than
pursuant to commitments outstanding on the date of this Agreement in accordance
with their present terms;

     (D) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, (a) create, incur or assume any debt, except refinancing of existing
obligations on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or its
subsidiaries than the existing terms; (b) assume, guarantee, endorse or
otherwise become liable or responsible (whether directly, indirectly,
contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any person; (c) make any
capital expenditures or make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or
investments in, any other person (other than to a Company subsidiary and
customary travel, relocation or business advances to employees); (d) acquire the
stock or assets of, or merge or consolidate with, any other person; (e)
voluntarily incur any material liability or obligation (absolute, accrued,
contingent or otherwise); or (f) sell,

                                      -27-

<PAGE>   29


transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of, or encumber, or agree to
sell, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber, any assets
or properties, real, personal or mixed material to the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole other than to secure debt permitted under (a) of
this clause (D); or

     (E) increase in any manner the compensation of any of its officers or
employees or enter into, establish, amend or terminate any employment,
consulting, retention, change in control, collective bargaining, bonus or other
incentive compensation, profit sharing, health or other welfare, stock option or
other equity, pension, retirement, vacation, severance, deferred compensation or
other compensation or benefit plan, policy, agreement, trust, fund or
arrangement with, for or in respect of, any shareholder, officer, director,
other employee, agent, consultant or affiliate other than as required pursuant
to the terms of agreements in effect on the date of this agreement or otherwise
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

     (b) The Company shall, and the Company shall cause each of its subsidiaries
to, use its or their reasonable commercial efforts to comply in all material
respects with all Laws applicable to it or any of its properties, assets or
business and maintain in full force and effect all the Company Permits necessary
for, or otherwise material to, such business.

     4.2. NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS. The Company shall give prompt notice
to Purchaser if any of the following occur after the date of this Agreement: (i)
receipt of any notice or other communication in writing from any third party
alleging that the Consent of such third party is or may be required in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, provided that
such Consent would have been required to have been disclosed in this Agreement;
(ii) receipt of any material notice or other communication from any Governmental
Authority (including, but not limited to, the NASD or any securities exchange)
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) the
occurrence of an event which would be reasonably likely to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect or (iv) the commencement or threat of any Litigation
involving or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any of their
respective properties or assets, or, to its knowledge, any employee, agent,
director or officer, in his or her capacity as such, of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries which, if pending on the date hereof, would have been required
to have been disclosed in this Agreement or which relates to the consummation of
the Merger.

     4.3. ACCESS AND INFORMATION. Between the date of this Agreement and the
Effective Time, the Company will give, and shall direct its accountants and
legal counsel to give, Purchaser and its respective authorized representatives
(including, without limitation, its financial advisors, accountants and legal
counsel), at all reasonable times, access as reasonably requested to all offices
and other facilities and to all contracts, agreements, commitments, books and
records of or pertaining to the Company and its subsidiaries, will permit the
foregoing to make such reasonable inspections as they may require and will cause
its officers promptly to furnish Purchaser with (a) such financial and operating
data and other information

                                      -28-

<PAGE>   30


with respect to the business and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries
as Purchaser may from time to time reasonably request, and (b) a copy of each
material report, schedule and other document filed or received by the Company or
any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the requirements of applicable securities
laws or the NASD.

     4.4. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. As soon as practicable, the Company will take
all steps necessary to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of
its shareholders for the purpose of approving the Company Proposals and for such
other purposes as may be necessary or desirable in connection with effectuating
the transactions contemplated hereby. Except as otherwise contemplated by this
Agreement, the Special Committee will use reasonable commercial efforts to
obtain any necessary approval by the Company's shareholders of the Company
Proposals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless the Special Committee, after
consultation with its outside legal counsel, determines that to do so could
create a reasonable possibility of a breach of the fiduciary duties of the
Special Committee under applicable law, the Company, acting through its Special
Committee, shall include in the Prospectus/Proxy Statement the recommendation of
the Special Committee that shareholders of the Company vote in favor of the
Company Proposals.

     4.5. REASONABLE COMMERCIAL EFFORTS. Subject to the terms and conditions
herein provided, the Company agrees to use its reasonable commercial efforts to
take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all
things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective as
promptly as practicable the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including, but not limited to, (i) obtaining all Consents from
Governmental Authorities and other third parties required for the consummation
of the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) timely making
all necessary filings under the HSR Act. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereof, the Company agrees to use reasonable commercial efforts to
take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all
things necessary to satisfy the other conditions to Closing set forth herein.

     4.6. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. So long as this Agreement is in effect, the
Company shall not, and shall cause its affiliates not to, issue or cause the
publication of any press release or any other announcement with respect to the
Merger or the transactions contemplated hereby without the consent of Purchaser,
except where such release or announcement is required by applicable Law or
pursuant to any applicable listing agreement with, or rules or regulations of,
the NASD, in which case the Company, prior to making such announcement, will
consult with Purchaser regarding the same.

     4.7. COMPLIANCE. In consummating the Merger and the transactions
contemplated hereby, the Company shall comply in all material respects with the
provisions of the Securities Exchange Act and the Securities Act and shall
comply, and/or cause its subsidiaries to comply or to be in compliance, in all
material respects, with all other applicable Laws.

                                      -29-

<PAGE>   31


     4.8. NO SOLICITATION. (a) The Company shall, and shall direct and use
reasonable efforts to cause its officers, directors, employees, representatives
and agents to, immediately cease any discussions or negotiations with any
parties that may be ongoing with respect to a Company Takeover Proposal (as
defined below). The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its
subsidiaries to, nor shall it authorize or permit any of its officers, directors
or employees or any investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant
or other representative retained by it or any of its subsidiaries, directly or
indirectly, to (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage (including by way of
furnishing information), or take any other action knowingly designed or
reasonably likely to facilitate, any inquiries or the making of any proposal
which constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Company
Takeover Proposal or (ii) participate in any discussion or negotiations
regarding any Company Takeover Proposal; provided, however, that if, at any time
prior to the Company Shareholder Meeting, the Special Committee determines in
good faith, and after consultation with outside legal counsel to the Company,
that the failure to do so could create a reasonable possibility of a breach of
its fiduciary duties to the Company's shareholders under applicable Law, the
Special Committee may, in response to a Company Takeover Proposal, and subject
to compliance with Section 4. 8 (c), (x) furnish information with respect to the
Company to any person pursuant to a customary confidentiality agreement (as
determined by the Company after consultation with outside legal counsel) and (y)
participate in negotiations regarding such Company Takeover Proposal. "Company
Takeover Proposal" means any inquiry, proposal or offer from any person relating
to any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries or more than a majority of any
class of equity securities of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, any tender
offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any person
beneficially owning more than a majority of any class of equity securities of
the Company or any Company Subsidiary, any merger, consolidation, share
exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or
similar transaction involving the Company or any Company Subsidiary, other than
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision
to the contrary contained in this Section 4.8, the provision by the Company of
copies of its SEC Filings by its investor relations department to third parties
in a manner consistent with its historical practices, shall not be deemed a
violation of this Section 4.8.

     (b) Except as set forth in this Section 4.8, neither the Company nor the
Special Committee nor any other committee of the Board of Directors shall (i)
withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify, in a manner
adverse to Purchaser, the approval or recommendation by such Special Committee
of the Company Proposals, (ii) approve or recommend, or propose publicly to
approve or recommend, any Company Takeover Proposal or (iii) cause the Company
to enter into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition
agreement or other similar agreement (each, a "Company Acquisition Agreement")
related to any Company Takeover Proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the
event that prior to the Company Shareholder Meeting, the Special Committee
determines in good faith, and after consultation with outside legal counsel,
that the failure to do so could create a reasonable possibility of a breach of
its fiduciary duties to the Company's shareholders under applicable

                                      -30-

<PAGE>   32


Law, the Special Committee may (subject to this and the following sentences) (x)
withdraw or modify its approval or recommendation of the Company Proposals or
(y) approve or recommend a Company Superior Proposal (as defined below) or
terminate this Agreement (and concurrently with or after such termination, if it
so chooses, cause the Company to enter into any Company Acquisition Agreement
with respect to any Company Superior Proposal), but in each of the cases set
forth in this clause (y), only at a time that is after the second business day
following Purchaser's receipt of written notice advising Purchaser that the
Special Committee Board has received a Company Superior Proposal, specifying the
material terms and conditions of such Company Superior Proposal, and identifying
the person making such Company Superior Proposal. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "Company Superior Proposal" means any bona fide proposal made by a
third party to acquire, directly or indirectly, for consideration consisting of
cash and/or securities, more than a majority of the combined voting power of the
Company Shares then outstanding or all or substantially all the assets of the
Company, and otherwise on terms which the Special Committee determines in its
good faith judgment (after consultation with its advisors) to be more favorable
to the Company's shareholders than the Merger (taking into account all factors
relating to such proposed transaction deemed relevant by the Board of Directors
of the Company, including, without limitation, the financing thereof and all
other conditions thereto).

     (c) In addition to the obligations of the Company set forth in paragraphs
(a) and (b) of this Section 4.8, the Company shall promptly advise Purchaser
orally and in writing of any request for information or of any Company Takeover
Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such request or the Company
Takeover Proposal and the identity of the person making such request or Company
Takeover Proposal.

     (d) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit the Special
Committee from taking and disclosing to its shareholders a position contemplated
by Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act or from making
any disclosure to the Company's shareholders if, in the good faith judgment of
the Special Committee, after consultation with outside counsel, failure so to
disclose would create a reasonable possibility of a breach of its fiduciary
duties to the Company's shareholders under applicable law; provided, however,
neither the Company nor the Special Committee, shall, except as permitted by
Section 4. 8 (b), withdraw or modify, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify,
its position with respect to the Company Proposals or approve or recommend, or
propose publicly to approve or recommend, a Company Takeover Proposal.

     4.9. TAX OPINION CERTIFICATE. The Company shall execute and deliver a
certificate in a form satisfactory to the counsel of Purchaser and the Company
signed by an officer of the Company setting forth factual representations and
covenants that will serve as a basis for the tax opinions required pursuant to
Sections 6.2(e) and 6.3(f) of this Agreement (the "Company Tax Opinion
Certificate").


                                      -31-

<PAGE>   33


     4.10. SEC AND SHAREHOLDER FILINGS. The Company shall send to Purchaser a
copy of all material public reports and materials as and when it sends the same
to its shareholders, the SEC or any state or foreign securities commission.

     4.11. LETTER OF COMPANY'S ACCOUNTANTS. The Company shall use all reasonable
efforts to cause to be delivered to Purchaser and the Company a letter of Arthur
Andersen LLP, the Company's independent auditors, dated a date within two
business days before the date on which the Registration Statement shall become
effective and addressed to Purchaser, in form reasonably satisfactory to
Purchaser and customary in scope and substance for letters delivered by
independent public accountants in connection with registration statements
similar to the Registration Statement.

                                   ARTICLE V.

                        ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF PURCHASER

     Purchaser covenants and agrees as follows:

     5.1. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS OF PURCHASER AND THE PURCHASER SUBSIDIARIES. (a)
Unless the Company shall otherwise agree in writing and except as expressly
contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth in the Purchaser Disclosure
Schedule (the inclusion of any item having been consented to by the Company),
during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, (i)
Purchaser shall conduct, and it shall cause its subsidiaries to conduct, its or
their businesses in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice, and
Purchaser shall, and it shall cause its subsidiaries to, use its or their
reasonable commercial efforts to preserve intact its business organization, to
keep available the services of its officers and employees and to maintain
satisfactory relationships with all persons with whom it does business and (ii)
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither Purchaser nor any of
its subsidiaries will:

     (A) amend or propose to amend its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws (or
comparable governing instruments) in any material respect;

     (B) authorize for issuance, issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or
propose to issue, grant, sell, pledge or dispose of any shares of, or any
options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions or rights of any kind to acquire
or sell any shares of, the capital stock or other securities of Purchaser or any
of its subsidiaries including, but not limited to, any securities convertible
into or exchangeable for shares of stock of any class of Purchaser or any of its
subsidiaries, except for the issuance of shares of Purchaser Stock pursuant to
the exercise of stock options outstanding on the date of this Agreement in
accordance with their present terms;

     (C) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock or
declare, pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash,
stock or property or any combination


                                      -32-

<PAGE>   34


thereof) in respect of its capital stock, other than dividends or distributions
to Purchaser or a subsidiary of Purchaser, or directly or indirectly redeem,
purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to acquire any shares of its capital
stock or other securities;

     (D) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, (a) create, incur or assume any debt, except refinancing of existing
obligations on terms that are no less favorable to Purchaser or its subsidiaries
than the existing terms; (b) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become
liable or responsible (whether directly, indirectly, contingently or otherwise)
for the obligations of any person; (c) make any capital expenditures or make any
loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person
(other than to a Purchaser subsidiary and customary travel, relocation or
business advances to employees); (d) acquire the stock or assets of, or merge or
consolidate with, any other person; (e) voluntarily incur any material liability
or obligation (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise); or (f) sell,
transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of, or encumber, or agree to
sell, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber, any assets
or properties, real, personal or mixed, material to Purchaser and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole other than to secure debt permitted under (a) of
this clause (D); or

     (E) increase in any manner the compensation of any of its officers or
employees or enter into, establish, amend or terminate any employment,
consulting, retention, change in control, collective bargaining, bonus or other
incentive compensation, profit sharing, health or other welfare, stock option or
other equity, pension, retirement, vacation, severance, deferred compensation or
other compensation or benefit plan, policy, agreement, trust, fund or
arrangement with, for or in respect of, any shareholder, officer, director,
other employee, agent, consultant or affiliate other than as required pursuant
to the terms of agreements in effect on the date of this Agreement and such as
are in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

     (b) Purchaser shall, and Purchaser shall cause each of its subsidiaries to,
use its or their reasonable commercial efforts to comply in all material
respects with all Laws applicable to it or any of its properties, assets or
business and maintain in full force and effect all the Purchaser Permits
necessary for, or otherwise material to, such business.

     5.2. NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS. Purchaser shall give prompt notice to
the Company if any of the following occur after the date of this Agreement: (i)
receipt of any notice or other communication in writing from any third party
alleging that the Consent of such third party is or may be required in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, provided that
such Consent would have been required to have been disclosed in this Agreement;
(ii) receipt of any material notice or other communication from any Governmental
Authority (including, but not limited to, the NASD or any securities exchange)
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) the
occurrence of an event which would be reasonably likely to have a Purchaser
Material Adverse Effect or (iv) the commencement or threat of any Litigation
involving or affecting Purchaser or any of its

                                      -33-
<PAGE>   35


subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or assets, or, to its
knowledge, any employee, agent, director or officer, in his or her capacity as
such, of Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries which, if pending on the date
hereof, would have been required to have been disclosed in this Agreement or
which relates to the consummation of the Merger.

     5.3. ACCESS AND INFORMATION. Between the date of this Agreement and the
Effective Time, Purchaser will give, and shall direct its accountants and legal
counsel to give, the Company and its authorized representatives (including,
without limitation, its financial advisors, accountants and legal counsel) , at
all reasonable times, access as reasonably requested to all offices and other
facilities and to all contracts, agreements, commitments, books and records of
or pertaining to Purchaser and its subsidiaries or to any Pending Purchaser
Transactions, if any, and to the parties thereto, will permit the foregoing to
make such reasonable inspections as they may require and will cause its officers
promptly to furnish the Company with (a) such financial and operating data and
other information with respect to the business and properties of Purchaser and
its subsidiaries as the Company may from time to time reasonably request and (b)
a copy of each material report, schedule and other document filed or received by
Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the requirements of applicable
securities laws or the NASD.

     5.4. REASONABLE COMMERCIAL EFFORTS. Subject to the terms and conditions
herein provided, Purchaser agrees to use its reasonable commercial efforts to
take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all
things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective as
promptly as practicable the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including, but not limited to, (i) obtaining all Consents from
Governmental Authorities and other third parties required for the consummation
of the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) timely making
all necessary filings under the HSR Act. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereof, Purchaser agrees to use reasonable commercial efforts to
take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all
things necessary to satisfy the other conditions to Closing set forth herein.

     5.5. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. So long as this Agreement is in effect,
Purchaser shall not, and shall cause its affiliates not to, issue or cause the
publication of any press release or any other announcement with respect to the
Merger or the transactions contemplated hereby without the consent of the
Company, except where such release or announcement is required by applicable Law
or pursuant to any applicable listing agreement with, or rules or regulations
of, the NASD, in which case Purchaser, prior to making such announcement, will
consult with the Company regarding the same.

     5.6. COMPLIANCE. In consummating the Merger and the transactions
contemplated hereby, Purchaser shall comply in all material respects with the
provisions of the Securities Exchange Act and the Securities Act and shall
comply, and/or cause its subsidiaries to comply or to be in compliance, in all
material respects, with all other applicable Laws.


                                      -34-

<PAGE>   36


     5.7. SEC AND SHAREHOLDER FILINGS. Purchaser shall send to the Company a
copy of all material public reports and materials as and when it sends the same
to its shareholders, the SEC or any state or foreign securities commission.

     5.8. TAX OPINION CERTIFICATE. Purchaser shall execute and deliver a
certificate in a form satisfactory to the counsel of the Company and Purchaser,
signed by an officer of Purchaser setting forth factual representations and
covenants that will serve as a basis for the tax opinions required pursuant to
Sections 6.2(e) and 6.3(f) of this Agreement ("Purchaser Tax Opinion
Certificate").

     5.9. INDEMNIFICATION. (a) As of the Effective Time, the indemnification and
exculpation provisions contained in the Bylaws and the Articles of Incorporation
of the Surviving Corporation shall be at least as favorable to individuals who
immediately prior to the Closing Date were directors, officers, agents,
employers of the Company or otherwise entitled to indemnification under the
Company's Bylaws or Articles of Incorporation (an "Indemnified Party") as those
contained in the Bylaws and the Articles of Incorporation of the Company,
respectively, and shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for a
period of six years after the Closing Date in any manner that would adversely
affect the rights thereunder of any Indemnified Party. The Company hereby
covenants that it shall, to the fullest extent permitted under Minnesota law and
regardless of whether the Merger becomes effective, indemnify, defend and hold
harmless, and after the Effective Time, Purchaser and the Surviving Corporation
shall jointly and severally, to the fullest extent permitted under Minnesota
law, indemnify, defend and hold harmless, each Indemnified Party against any
costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees), judgments, fines,
losses, claims, damages, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement in
connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, including,
without limitation, liabilities arising out of this Agreement or under the
Securities Exchange Act, occurring through the Closing Date, and in the event of
any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation (whether arising
before or after the Effective Time), (i) the Company or the Surviving
Corporation shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel selected by
the Indemnified Parties, which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Company or the Surviving Corporation, promptly as statements therefor are
received, and (ii) the Company and the Surviving Corporation will cooperate in
the defense of any such matter; provided, however, that neither the Company nor
the Surviving Corporation shall be liable for any settlement affected without
its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); and
provided, further, that neither the Company nor the Surviving Corporation shall
be obliged pursuant to this Section 5.9 to pay the fees and disbursements of
more than one counsel for all Indemnified Parties in any single action except to
the extent that, in the opinion of counsel for the Indemnified Parties, two or
more of such Indemnified Parties have conflicting interests in the outcome of
such action. Purchaser shall cause the Surviving Corporation to reimburse all
expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses, incurred by any
person to enforce the obligations of Purchaser and the Surviving Corporation
under this Section 5.9. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Purchaser shall
cause the Surviving Corporation to advance expense in connection with the
foregoing indemnification.

                                      -35-

<PAGE>   37


     (b) If the Surviving Corporation or any of its successors or assigns (i)
consolidates with or merges into any other person and shall not be the
continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or
(ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any
person, then and in each suc